Late in 2022, I walked down to German Village’s “The Book Loft” for an author’s reading. Melanie Gillman was reading from her newly released book Other Ever Afters. Released by Penguin Random House, the book contains seven fairy tales for the modern age. In these tales, there was nothing short of magic where monsters were heroes and princes could be villains.
Each tale has a unique spin on the classic fairy tale structure. Some stories, such as “New Name,” about the ghost of a grandfather, have elements of sorrow with a dash of creepiness. Others, like “Goose Girl,” about a queen that has to make sacrifices to attract a peasant woman, are heartfelt, warm, and anti-authoritarian. “Hsthete,” about a mystical creature trying to help a young woman attract the attention of her fiancé, fit so well in that classic fairy tale structure that Mother Goose herself would’ve tipped her hat to Melanie.
The clean art style fits perfectly for young audiences, while the writing carries immensely complex themes in a very subtle fashion. However, the book is illustrated in colored pencil, giving it a remarkable texture and making it truly unique. You can find Other Ever Afters wherever books are sold, but why not support the shops that support the Scribbler, like the Laughing Ogre, Dragon’s Lair, or World’s Greatest Comics, to find your copy?