Once Upon a Realm
Remixed Fairy Tales by Diverse Voices
Genre: YA fairytale retellings set in fantasy, sci-fi, and dystopian worlds
with stories by K.R.S. McEntire, Montrez, Alicia Ellis, R.L. Medina, E.M. Lacey, Krystina Coles
A biracial teen is forced into a betrothal with an enigmatic lord. A Latina teen races to recover her stolen identity and escape a dark fae court. A Black teen with forbidden abilities rescues his lover from a dystopian regime.
In Once Upon A Realm, familiar fairy tales are reenvisioned and reborn as six authors from Black and/or Latina backgrounds create novella-length stories that transport readers to fantasy, sci-fi, and dystopian worlds. Each story shatters stereotypes and challenges traditional narratives, inviting readers to see themselves reflected in tales of adventure, magic, romance, and strength. Fans of The Lunar Chronicles, A Blade So Black, A Curse So Dark and Lonely, and Cinderella is Dead will fall in love with these fresh, fierce takes on fairy tales.
This collection includes:
Red in the Woods by K. R. S. McEntire, inspired by Little Red Riding Hood
Shadow and Song by Montrez, inspired by Peter Pan
Circuits and Nerve by Alicia Ellis, inspired by Hansel and Gretel
These Sapphire Walls by Krystina Coles, inspired by Bluebeard
A Bloodstained Sun by E. M. Lacey, inspired by Snow White
Waking Up by R. L. Medina, inspired by Sleeping Beauty
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From Red in the Woods by K. R. S. McEntire, part of Once
Upon A Realm
“I think I’m just nervous about your grandma. She’s been
leaving more often, staying away longer.” Tears filled his eyes. He turned his
head and tried to blink them away before Fable could notice.
“Look at me,” Fable said,
her voice more confident than usual. “You don’t have to hide your pain from me.
You can show me how you feel.”
He brushed the dampness
on his cheek away before fixing his gaze on her. His inquisitive stare left
Fable perplexed. Why was he afraid to reveal his emotions? He was her best
friend. Didn't he understand that she was a refuge where he could be himself?
She had never felt freer than when she was with him and she had assumed he felt
the same.
“What if she doesn’t come
back? I’ll be out here all alone.”
Fable pulled him back
into her arms. “You’ll never be alone,” she promised.
Uncertainty flickered in
his eyes, and Fable continued to hold him. They didn’t speak, but their silence
was comfortable. She listened to his quick breathing slow down while she
listened to wolves and other wild animals shuffle about outside.
“You’ll never be alone,”
she whispered again.
He slipped an arm around
her waist and held her close, lacing his fingers between her fingers once
again.
Moments passed by, and
his eyes were perfectly dry, but he still didn’t seem ready to let her go. His
hands became warm, and he couldn't seem to stop fidgeting, his thumb brushing
against hers in a nervous rhythm. His grip tightened as if he needed the
physical connection to ground himself amidst a whirlwind of emotions.
“You okay?” Fable asked.
She noticed sweat starting to pool on his forehead even tho the crisp night air
had cooled the cabin.
“Y…Yes.”
A smile tugged at the
corners of Fable's lips. He was cute when he was nervous, and the sight of him
caused butterflies to dance in her stomach. But what did he have to be nervous
about? It was just the two of them.
“Fable…” he said, but the
word trailed off at the end, as if he wasn’t sure how to say whatever it was
that he wanted to say.
“Yes?”
He leaned forward, a
question in his eyes as he looked up at her. As they held each other in the
blanket fort, tension seemed to electrify the air around them.
He stole a glance at her
lips, his gaze lingering for a heartbeat too long, and she sensed his desire to
kiss her. Fable's heart raced in anticipation as she offered a subtle nod and a
shy but hopeful smile.
He closed the distance
between them and his lips met hers in a tender, cautious kiss—their first kiss.
A warm glow spread through her as his kiss grew more sure and confident. He
pulled away, and a shy grin played on his lips. She could sense a shift in
their friendship to something that felt like more. He rested his head on her
chest, and she held him until he fell asleep as she watched the full moon shine
outside of the cabin window.
A Short Interview with R.L. Medina
Q:Tell something about yourself and how you became an
author?
I’ve been writing stories since I was eight and knew I wanted
to be an author. Though it wasn’t until I became a mom that I got serious about
it and started publishing.
Q:What is something unique/quirky about you?
I love to eat lemons and hate wearing socks.
Q:Where were you born/grew up at?
I was born in the Amazon region of Bolivia and grew up in
upstate NY, North Carolina and Florida where I still live.
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Thanks for sharing. I would enjoy reading this one.
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