This seems to be a year of mythology and fairytales for me - mostly reclaimed, diverse, feminist, and queer tellings.

I love me a bit of academics in my reading, but in some books, it can cross the line to too much reading to learn, and too little reading for enjoyment. Tales from beyond the rainbow is a product of Pete Jordi Wood’s MA thesis, so I was worried that this would be the case, but thankfully, he hit just the right balance.

Another thing I was worried about was that the fairytales would all be filled with dysphoria and oppression. But in some, queer life and love were simply part of the tale. It would be unrealistic not to have these factors present in other tales, though: fiction mirrors life, after all.

This collection does not disappoint, and it is one I’d happily purchase as hardcopy.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.8

Thank you to @netgalley and @penguinbookssouthafrica for an e-arc of this beautiful book in exchange for my honest opinion.

'These are the fairy tales that history forgot - or concealed. Tales in which gender is fluid and where queer stories can have a happy ending'

The author took 10 fairy / folklore tales and reclaimed them into stories of adventure, resilience and celebrating LGBTQ+ characters.

In this moving collection we travel across the world, visiting and witnessing tales from afar.

🌈 The girl in the market
❤️ Double-flower temple
🌈The falcon in the garden
❤️The spinners and the sorcerer
🌈 Marco and the mountain of God
❤️ The tale of the Rabbit God
🌈 The soldier and the peasant
❤️ The ivory City
🌈 A princess and a prince
❤️ The dog and the sailor

I loved how each story was collected with love and care by the author and retold in the most important way. I appreciated that Wood spent so much time in SUCH a short book, giving credit to where the stories and their inspiration originated from, including the illustrators and explaining why it was imperative that this book be written ❤️

These stories were so beautiful and sad, let me tell you - yes they may have a happy ending in the end, but don't be fooled thinking it's your 'skips off into the sunset' happy ending - not for everyone. But the message is there, the message is clear to you as the reader, and it hits so much deeper when it's heart breaking and real.

I cannot choose a fav but If I ABSOLUTELY had to, I would pick..... The girl in the market, double flower temple and the tale of the rabbit God.

This was such a short collection, I devoured it in a couple of hours.

I believe EVERYONE should read these stories ✌️ do it!

The ONLY reason it is not rated higher is because some of stories left my heart wanting, no, needing more of them then I got, I needed MORE 🙈😂

This book was more than a delight to read, more than a joy , it was enchanting , I love fairytales and it was wonderful to read 10 brand new to me tales, each one with LGBTQ+ characters as the heart of the tale. Pete Jordan Wood literally enchanted me with these fairytales, I was addicted and couldn’t tear myself from the pages.

This book has so many positive messages, each story is unique, has its own message, kindness, fairness, equality, acceptance, I could go on and on, but it’s just so wonderful to read so many different LGBTQ tales, where they are the main character and not just cast in a supporting role, they are gloriously and deservedly centre stage, and each one gets their HEA, in one way or another (no spoilers)

Every story is illustrated by a different artist and I have to be honest, I don’t think I could pick a favourite, they are all so beautiful and each one perfectly fits the tale it’s art is for. The hardback edition will make a beautiful gift as the cover is gorgeous and the hardcover has gold foiling, plus the endpapers are fabulous too.

Pete Jordi Wood collected these stories, collected isn’t the word, he sought them out, travelled the world, it was his quest to find the stories hidden over time and intentionally by white western patriarchy, I am so grateful to him for this. I’m a heterosexual woman, I’m not the target audience of these stories, but I’m ecstatic that we can all have a happy ending, I don’t need to say representation is not only important, but essential and I hate that so many in the past and still are denied representation they are entitled to. I love that finally there are books like this that children will be able to turn to, see themselves in and relate to, when in the past this just wasn’t available.


I loved each tale, there wasn’t one I didn’t love, although I do hold a special place in my heart for The Girl In The Market, The Falcon in the Garden and The Ivory City. This is a wonderful anthology for the middle grade reader , it’s target audience , but also for adults to read with their children, to read for themselves. This book is not just there for the LGBTQ children, it’s their for parents, friends, their whole community to help support them and give a connection. It’s truly a gift.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I won't write a long write-up about each and every story as that will take too long. But I devoured this collection and it filled with such joy to read them.

I do have my fave stories in this collection - The Girl In The Market (illustarted by Mario Hounkanrin), Double-Flower Temple (illustrated by Xin Tang) and The Soldier and the Peasant (illustarted by Nontira Kigle), but all the tales were lovely to read.

Each tale are illustrated by a different artists and each were different and unique. Barring the names I mentioned up, we have Anshika Khullar, Ez Silva, Jenn So, Sasha Staicu, Sophia Watts, Zat Vornik and Pete Jordi Wood, with the cover illustarted by Harry Woodgate. I have a soft spot for the illustrations involved in the stories of Double-Flower Temple, The Soldier and the Peasant and The Ivory City (this is illustarted by Anshika Khullar).

I think this is a wonderful collection and I think, for many a middle grade reader out there, this will be essential reading and maybe even a lifeline.