MasukPustaka
Cari
In Kissing The Witch, How Are Old Tales Reshaped Into New Skins?
Reading this lyrical, subversive collection by Emma Donoghue, curious how classic fairy tales morph into empowering queer feminist stories. What themes emerge from this transformative retelling?
2026-07-26 19:54:00
73
Ikuti7
Share
Book Fan
Veterinarian
2 Jawaban
ZanePrice
Plot Detective
Driver
I think people sometimes miss the metafictional layer. The book is about the act of storytelling as transformation. Each character literally passes the narrative to the next, shedding their old story like a skin and stepping into a new one. The 'new skins' are the tales themselves, constantly being retold and reinterpreted. The kiss is the moment of connection between teller and listener, author and reader, that allows that transformation to happen. It argues that no story is ever finished or fixed; its meaning changes with every telling. So the old tale of 'Cinderella' is reshaped simply by being told from a new angle within this specific chain. The book’s structure is its most brilliant argument—the form itself demonstrates the continuous reshaping of narrative.
2026-07-28 01:04:03
4
SilasWade
Bookworm
Chef
I have a soft spot for the practical, almost mundane details woven into the magic. The protagonist in the Cinderella story isn't just oppressed; she's doing exhausting physical labor. The witch isn't in a remote tower; she might be the strange but competent woman living at the edge of the village. This grounding in reality makes the moments of magic—the transformations, the kisses—feel more potent. The new skin is one of texture. You can feel the ash on Cinderella's skin, the rough wool of a cloak, the warmth of a shared bed. It brings the fairy tale into a tactile, bodily realm, which makes its emotional punches land so much harder.
2026-07-28 15:31:32
4Lihat Semua Jawaban
Pindai kode untuk mengunduh Aplikasi
Buku Terkait
Classic Faery Tales Rewritten For Adults Only
CityKim
0
5.0K
0
5.0K
Seven Classic Faery Tales are given a very adult makeover.
You are entering a world of myth, magic, and Immortals.
Throw in the humans for the added spice of erotica and violence.
Mix together and you have dark adult faery tales ........
Do not read if easily offended!
Baca SekarangThe Lycan King’s Witch: Beneath the Crimson Moon
Natalia Chavez
0
2.1K
0
2.1K
When Anastasia, a lower level green witch, finally flees from a vengeful wolf pack, she finds herself soul-bond to the very thing she hates, a Lycan. Not only is he a Lycan, but he’s none other than Dominiko, the Lycan King himself! She thought struggling to accept him was the worst of her worries until she is faced with a catch 22. She must overcome her prejudice, embrace her power, and choose between the witches and Lycans, all while a war threatens to tear both worlds apart. Could she really go against her own people? Or will the Lycan kings hope for peace work?
Baca SekarangThe Witch's Last Embrace
Against the Flow
8
6.1K
8
6.1K
Because I saved my husband during a car accident, I lost my eyesight.
He wept, promising to treat me well for the rest of our lives to repay my sacrifice.
I cooperated with the treatment wholeheartedly, hoping for a full recovery. But on the day I finally regained my sight, I stumbled upon something that shattered my world.
In our marital home, his first love lay beneath him, her flushed face betraying the passion of the moment. Their bodies intertwined, and the air around them thick with stifled moans—a vivid tableau of infidelity.
"She's just a blind woman. Why haven't you divorced her yet?" the woman murmured impatiently, her voice laced with disdain as she moved against him.
My husband, immersed in pleasure, still mumbled an excuse. "My love, just a little longer. Soon, we'll be together openly…"
I turned and left without a word, pretending I had seen nothing.
As I walked away, I remembered the witch's sacrificial ritual in the misty forest—only a few days away.
My husband's betrayal cut deep, carving wounds I couldn't ignore. I made up my mind to return to the forest, to embrace my identity as a witch once more, and to sever all ties with him.
Yet, after I disappeared, word reached me that he was searching for me everywhere like a madman. Rumor had it he had completely lost his mind.
Baca SekarangA Kissing Spell
MadlainQ
9.9
71.1K
9.9
71.1K
When she learnt that she is a witch her life turned upside down, yet she never wanted magic to control her life.
It all changed once she found out she accidently began casting a spell she needs to complete before her 30th birthday. Now, she can either make her fated one kiss her, or she will die…
The problem is, her destined person is immune to magic, which will her uneasy task even more complicated.
Find out where the ill fate will lead a beginner witch and a cold man in expensive suit…
Baca SekarangThe Witch's Curse
L. COSTA
0
2.5K
0
2.5K
Sinopse Ingles
Kataleya is a witch who was born on Titiana Island. A beautiful woman, who was hurt as a child by cruel men who abused her body. Angry, hurt and vengeful, Kataleya killed them all using her supernatural powers. Even after revenge, her heart remained wounded, becoming a dark witch, promising that she would never be touched again.
With these hands, I cursed you, I condemn you, every man who dares to touch me. With my anger, my sorrow I condemn you to the most painful death.
Those were the witch's words, if untouchable and anyone who touched her would die in the most painful way. Years later he meets Igor, the captain of the 7 seas who fears no one. He needs to travel to certain islands in search of treasure, but only witches can find it. They are cursed islands, but they hide the most valuable objects. Igor will take Katelya with him and the two will set off on this new adventure, the problem is when the two feel attracted to each other. They fall madly in love with each other, but Katelaya is untouchable. Kataleya finds herself lost because she will have to resist or else her love will die in the most painful way. Will she be able to resist! Love will be able to undo the spell.
Baca SekarangWitches: The Rising
davidtaiwo5220
0
1.9K
0
1.9K
The era of witches is gone forgotten but for a few that has lived through it. A teenage girl will discover her powers in a most unlikely manners. In a world predominantly governed by humans, how will our squad fare?
Baca SekarangPertanyaan Terkait
Why does Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins rewrite fairy tales?
4 Jawaban2026-03-27 08:49:45
Emma Donoghue's 'Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins' is such a fascinating reimagining of classic fairy tales because it twists them into something deeply personal and subversive. The book doesn’t just retell stories—it peels back the layers of familiar narratives to reveal hidden desires, queer perspectives, and feminist critiques. Take Cinderella, for example. Instead of a passive girl waiting for a prince, she’s given agency, questioning the very structure of her 'happily ever after.'
What I love is how Donoghue weaves these tales together, creating a tapestry where one story bleeds into the next. It feels like a conversation between characters across time, challenging the idea that these myths are fixed or one-dimensional. The title itself, 'Kissing the Witch,' hints at reclaiming the monstrous, the taboo—the women traditionally vilified in folklore. It’s not just revision for the sake of novelty; it’s about asking, 'Whose voices were erased?' and 'What happens if we center them instead?' The result is a collection that’s lush, provocative, and deeply satisfying for anyone tired of the same old tropes.
What is the ending of Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins?
4 Jawaban2026-03-27 21:54:12
Emma Donoghue's 'Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins' wraps up in a way that feels both haunting and liberating. The final story, 'The Tale of the Kiss,' subverts the traditional witch archetype by weaving intimacy and agency into its conclusion. The protagonist doesn’t just escape or defeat the witch—she becomes her, embracing power and desire in a way that flips fairy-tale tropes on their head. It’s raw, poetic, and deeply feminist, leaving you with this lingering sense of transformation rather than a tidy 'happily ever after.'
What I love about the ending is how it ties back to the book’s larger theme: reclaiming narratives. Each story in the collection reimagines classic tales (Cinderella, Snow White, etc.) through queer, subversive lenses, but the last one feels like the ultimate rebellion. The witch isn’t a villain; she’s a mirror, a teacher, a lover. It’s the kind of ending that makes you close the book slowly, just to sit with the weight of it.
How does Kissing the Witch reinterpret classic fairy tale heroines?
5 Jawaban2026-07-26 11:45:19
The narrative structure itself is a reinterpretation. The frame story of the witch and the maiden sets up a dialogue that challenges the very nature of storytelling. Who gets to tell the story? Who gets to define the happy ending? By weaving the tales together, Donoghue suggests a sisterhood of experience that transcends individual plots. It's a masterclass in how form can reinforce theme. You can't just read one story in isolation; the power is in the cumulative effect.
What queer themes run through Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins?
6 Jawaban2026-07-26 19:44:30
The prince is a recurring joke, and that’s thematic. He’s often hapless, shallow, or just a symbol of a boring destiny. The queer energy is in the collective eye-roll the characters (and the reader) share about him. Rejecting him isn’t just about choosing a woman; it’s about rejecting an entire system of value—looks, status, empty charm—in favor of something substantive, even if it’s mysterious and feared.
Who are the main characters in Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins?
4 Jawaban2026-03-27 00:59:26
Emma Donoghue's 'Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins' is this wild, poetic reimagining of classic fairy tales where the characters twist and turn in ways you wouldn't expect. The main figures are all women—Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, and others—but they're stripped of their usual damsel-in-distress roles. Instead, they're complex, flawed, and often queer, which is so refreshing. The book's structured like a nesting doll of stories; one character's tale leads into another's, and suddenly you're seeing connections between them that make you rethink the original tales entirely.
What I love is how Donoghue gives them agency. Cinderella isn't waiting for a prince; she's questioning the witch who helped her. The Beauty and the Beast dynamic gets flipped into something tender and mutual. Even the 'witch' figures aren't villains—they're mentors, lovers, or just women who refuse to fit into society's boxes. It's a book that lingers in your mind because it doesn't just retell stories—it cracks them open and lets something new spill out.
Is Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins worth reading?
4 Jawaban2026-03-27 23:42:10
I picked up 'Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins' on a whim, drawn by its promise of reimagined fairy tales. What surprised me was how deeply it subverts expectations—these aren’t just retellings but radical reinventions that peel back the layers of classic stories to expose their hidden complexities. Emma Donoghue’s prose is lyrical yet sharp, weaving connections between tales like 'Cinderella' and 'The Little Mermaid' in ways that feel both fresh and inevitable. The book’s feminist lens is subtle but powerful, especially in how it redefines agency for female characters.
What stayed with me longest was the structure—each story flows into the next, creating a tapestry that feels like a conversation across time. It’s not a light read; some twists are unsettling, but in a way that makes you rethink the original tales. If you enjoy Angela Carter’s 'The Bloody Chamber' or Margaret Atwood’s fairy tale revisions, this’ll likely resonate. I found myself rereading passages just to savor the language.
What books are similar to Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins?
4 Jawaban2026-03-27 19:22:31
If you loved the feminist twists in 'Kissing the Witch', you'll probably adore 'The Bloody Chamber' by Angela Carter. Carter's collection is a masterclass in reimagining fairy tales with dark, sensual, and subversive flair. Both books peel back the sugary coating of classic stories to reveal something raw and real underneath.
Another gem is 'Deerskin' by Robin McKinley, which tackles trauma and recovery within a fairy-tale framework. McKinley’s prose is hauntingly beautiful, much like Donoghue’s, and she isn’t afraid to explore the darker corners of these 'happily ever afters.' For something more contemporary, 'All the Ever Afters' by Danielle Teller offers a grounded, gritty take on Cinderella’s stepmother. It’s less magical but just as thought-provoking.
Where can I read Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins for free?
4 Jawaban2026-03-27 22:56:26
I totally get the urge to hunt down free reads—budgets can be tight! 'Kissing the Witch' is one of those gems that reimagines fairy tales with such a fresh, queer twist. While I adore Emma Donoghue’s work, I’d gently nudge you toward supporting authors when possible. Libraries are your best legal bet; many offer digital loans via apps like Libby or OverDrive. Sometimes older titles pop up there, or you might find used copies for pennies online.
If you’re strapped for cash, keep an eye out for publisher promotions—Tor.com and similar sites occasionally give away classics. Just... maybe don’t dive into sketchy PDF sites? The formatting’s usually awful anyway, and it’s heartbreaking for indie authors. This book’s worth savoring properly—maybe even as a treat after saving up a bit!
How does Kissing the Witch connect each fairy tale through its endings?
4 Jawaban2026-07-26 06:37:14
It creates a fascinating dissonance. You know the original tales, so you have an expectation of how they should end. Donoghue's ending disrupts that, leaving you in a state of creative unease. That unease is precisely the energy that propels you into the next story, which promises another disruption. The connection is the shared rhythm of disruption. Once you get into that rhythm, you start reading the endings not for closure, but for the next delicious, subversive jolt.
How does Kissing the Witch portray power and desire in its retellings?
4 Jawaban2026-07-26 13:28:22
I saw it as a series of lessons. Each protagonist is, in a way, a student. The witch (or witch-figure) is the teacher. The power dynamic is pedagogical. The teacher holds knowledge (power), and the student desires it. But it’s not a simple transfer. The student must be ready, must ask the right questions, must sometimes challenge the teacher. The ‘happy ending’ is graduation—moving into a state of self-possessed knowledge where you no longer need the teacher in the same way.
Pertanyaan Populer
Jelajahi dan baca novel bagus secara gratis
Akses gratis ke berbagai novel bagus di aplikasi GoodNovel. Unduh buku yang kamu suka dan baca di mana saja & kapan saja.
Baca buku gratis di Aplikasi
Pindai kode untuk membaca di Aplikasi
