I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Ekta R. Gary shares the unique moments that lead up to or occur between the iconic stories of fairy tales in the book “The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories.”
The Synopsis
Have you ever wondered why Jack and Jill needed that pail of water in the first place? Or how Sleeping Beauty managed to prick her finger despite a royal order to destroy every spindle in the kingdom?
Fairy tales and nursery rhymes have given us some of the most iconic characters and images in storytelling; think Cinderella’s glass slipper or Jack’s oversized beanstalk. But what about the in-between moments? The ones that never made it to the page?
In this enchanting micro-collection of short stories, award-winning author Ekta R. Garg explores the untold scenes between the lines of some of our most loved tales. Find out what the Wicked Witch of the East was doing in the road before Dorothy’s house fell on her. Learn where Goldilocks came from. Meet the conmen who convinced the emperor he had new clothes and more.
Rediscover the wit, heart, and magic of the classics, and see them as you’ve never seen them before in The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories.
Purchase a copy of The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories on Amazon. You can also add this to your GoodReads reading list.
The Review
This was such a fantastic collection of fairy tale short stories. Although a short read, the collection does an incredible job of creating powerful characters that are both familiar and unique at the same time, such as the Princess found in The Beauty Before She Sleeps. The rich imagery in each story feels both bright and visceral, and each tale expertly weaves together substantial emotional depth for these characters, much like the Witch and her apprentice and their familial connection in The Witch’s Apprentice.
What made these stories so unique was how they were found in the moments people rarely think of when it comes to iconic stories. From exploring how the Wicked Witch of the East ended up under Dorothy’s house to why both Jack and Jill needed a pail of water to begin with, these stories are a love letter to both fan fiction and fairy tales overall. The satire and wit that the dialogue brought to life were an outstanding balance to the self-reflection and introspective themes that these stories wove into their fabric.
The Verdict
Thoughtful, compelling, and entertaining, author Ekta R. Garg’s “The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories” is a must-read collection of short stories. The twists and turns of each story, along with their unique takes, dynamic characters, and memorable themes, will keep readers enthralled and eager for more. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
A Reviewer, Editor, Author, and Dreamer of stories and books, Ekta has worked in niche publishing since 2005—she’s written and edited about everything from healthcare to home improvement to Hindi films! Ekta judges writing contests, hosts writing workshops, and podcasts about great books and how to write them. She’s currently the Content Coordinator of Neighbors of SW Champaign, a hyper-local magazine focusing on and lifting up the Champaign, Illinois, community. Ekta’s award-winning holiday novella, The Truth About Elves, and her award-winning fairy tale for grown-ups, In the Heart of the Linden Wood, are available from Atmosphere Press.
Website: https://ektargarg.com
Blog: https://thewriteedge.wordpress.com
Instagram: @EktaRGarg
X.com: @EktaRGarg
Facebook: https://facebook.com/ReviewerEditorAuthorDreamer
Blog Tour Calendar
August 25 @ WOW! Women on Writing
Join us as we celebrate the launch of The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg. Read an interview with the author and enter for a chance to win a copy of the book.
https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
August 27 @ Chapter Break
Visit Julie’s blog for her review of The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.
August 29 @ CK Sorens’ Instagram
Join Carrie for her review of The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.
https://instagram.com/ck_sorens
August 30 @ One Writer’s Journey
Visit Sue’s blog for an excerpt from The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.
September 2 @ One Writer’s Journey
Stop by Sue’s blog again for her review of The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.
September 4 @ The Faerie Review
Join Lily for her review of The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.
https://www.thefaeriereview.com
September 4 @ Knotty Needle
Visit Judy’s blog for a guest post by author Ekta Garg on how to set goals and actually keep them.
http://knottyneedle.blogspot.com
September 5 @ Chapter Break
Visit Julie’s blog again for a guest post by author Ekta Garg on how to choose the theme of your book…or let it choose you. You can also read her review of The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories.
September 5 @ All Things Writing
Caitrin interviews author Ekta Garg about her writing journey and short story collection The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories.
https://www.caitrincking.com/blog
September 7 @ What Is That Book About
Visit Michelle’s blog for an excerpt from The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg
https://www.whatisthatbookabout.com
September 7 @ Shoe’s Seeds and Stories
Visit Linda’s blog for her review of The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.
https://lschuelerca.wordpress.com/
September 9 @ Words by Webb
Join Jodi for her response to our tour-themed prompt on what’s something in a fairy tale that she wished she saw more of.
https://www.jodiwebbwriter.com/blog
September 10 @ A Wonderful World of Words
Visit Joy’s blog for her review of The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.
https://awonderfulworldofwordsa.blogspot.com/
September 12 @ Musings of a Literary Wanderer
Visit Angela’s blog for her review of The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.
https://musingsofaliterarywanderer.blogspot.com/
September 12 @ Author Anthony Avina’s blog
Visit Anthony’s blog for an excerpt from The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.
https://www.authoranthonyavina.com
September 13 @ Chapter Break
Visit Julie’s blog for her response to our tour-themed prompt about her thoughts on why fairy tales still resonate with readers today.
September 13 @ Boots Shoes and Fashion
Join Linda’s blog for her interview with Ekta Garg about her book The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories.
https://bootsshoesandfashion.com
September 14 @ Shoe’s Seeds and Stories
Visit Linda’s blog again for her response to our tour-themed prompt about what were some of her favorite fairy tales growing up.
https://lschuelerca.wordpress.com/
September 15 @ Beverley A. Baird’s blog
Visit Beverley for her review of The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com
September 16 @ A Wonderful World of Words
Visit Joy’s blog again for an excerpt from The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories.
https://awonderfulworldofwordsa.blogspot.com/
September 16 @ Words by Webb
Join Jodi for her review of The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.
https://www.jodiwebbwriter.com/blog
September 16 @ CK Sorens Newsletter
Don’t miss Carrie’s feature of Ekta Garg’s The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories.
September 17 @ Beverley A. Baird’s Blog
Join Beverley again for a guest post by Ekta Garg on finding your voice as a writer.
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com
September 18 @ Knotty Needle
Visit Judy’s blog for her response to our tour-themed prompt about her thoughts on why fairy tales still resonate with readers today.
http://knottyneedle.blogspot.com
September 19 @ Beverley A. Baird’s blog
Visit Beverley again for her response to our tour-themed prompt on which fairy tale she would alter and how she would do it.
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com
September 20 @ Sarandipity’s
Visit Sara’s blog for her interview with author Ekta Garg about her book The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories.
https://sarandipitys.com/blog/
September 21 @ A Storybook World
Visit Deirdra’s blog for a guest post by Ekta Garg on using the word “perfect” to empower your writing.
https://www.astorybookworld.com/
September 21 @ Boys’ Mom Reads
Join Karen’s blog for her review of The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.
https://karensiddall.wordpress.com/
September 23 @ Sandy Kirby Quandt
Visit Sandy’s blog for her review of The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.
September 24 @ Writer Advice
Visit B. Lynn Goodwin’s blog for a guest post by Ekta Garg on why she chose the hybrid publishing route.
September 24 @ Author Anthony Avina’s blog
Stop by Anthony’s blog for his review of The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.
https://www.authoranthonyavina.com
September 25 @ Knotty Needle
Stop by Judy’s blog again for her review of The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.
http://knottyneedle.blogspot.com
September 26 @ Just Katherine
Visit Katherine’s blog for her review of The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg. You can also check out her response to our tour-themed prompt on what she hasn’t seen in a fairy tale that we wish we saw more of.
https://justkatherineblog.wordpress.com
September 27 @ Jill Sheets’ Blog
Visit Jill’s blog again for her interview with author Ekta Garg about her book The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories.
