Elizabeth Klett – Author Anthony Avina

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A fantastic narrator brings to life some of the worlds most iconic fairy tales in this enthralling audiobook, “Wonder Tales” by Various Authors and Narrated by Elizabeth Klett.

The Synopsis

This collection of 40 fairy tales contains well-known favorites from authors like the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, Oscar Wilde, Charles Perrault, Madame de Beaumont, and Joseph Jacobs. It also collects rare gems from folk-tale traditions around the world, from Germany to China, from Scandinavia to Arabia, from Russia to Japan, and from Italy to Canada. These beautiful, frightening, funny, romantic, and whimsical stories will introduce you to princesses in peril, beastly brides and grooms, adults and children behaving badly, daring and adventurous girls, and clever and devious tricksters. These wondrous tales will be enjoyed by listeners both young and old.

The Review

A beautiful collection of both iconic and popular fairy tales blended with phenomenal stories from various regions from around the world, “Wonder Tales” is a masterpiece of storytelling. The narrator does an amazing job of bringing these memorable stories to life, leaning into the various characters and their personalities with ease.

What really stands out about this collection is truly the far range of stories that the book holds. From legendary tales such as “Beauty and the Beast” and “Cinderella” to more obscure stories specific to regions around the world like the Japanese story of “Momotaro”, in which a young boy born of a peach and given to a childless couple by the gods must battle a horde of demons known as the Oni, this collection had a bit of everything.

The only thing of note for modern readers would be that some of these classics from Hans Christen Andersen to the Brothers Grimm have definitely aged, and more modern tales would be preferable for many in regards to societal standards and ethical reasons. However, the heart of these stories and the narration make this a must-have collection overall.

The Verdict

An auditory and literary journey like no other, narrator Elizabeth Klett’s performance of “Wonder Tales” is as magical as the fairy tales themselves. While some of the stories could benefit from some modern day improvements, the heart and passion of these stories is still felt to this day, and the fans of fantasy-driven fairy tale stories and the classic, non-Hollywood style context of these classics will love the narrator’s perfect rendition of these iconic masterpieces. If you haven’t yet, grab your copy today!

Rating: 8/10