Review of The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories

The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories is back as promised with my review. The first time around I answered a fun writing prompt for author Ekta Garg's WOW Women on Writing blog tour. You can read my musings on fairy tales HERE.

More About The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories

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.

More About Ekta Garg

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: @EktaRGarg

Thoughts About The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories

Why don't we read more short story collections? With such busy lives sometimes just the idea of starting a 300 page book feels so overwhelming. But a short story collection is so reader friendly. Only have 10 minutes? That's fine. Enjoy a complete story in just 20 pages.

Since my life is pretty busy right now I was happy to be introduced to The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories. I expected to read a story one night, another story a few nights later...fit it in whenever I had a chance. And that may be perfect for you but I found the stories so fascinating that I binge read it in two sittings! These stories are addictive.

The idea behind The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories is to explore the story behind well known fairy tales. What happened to main or minor characters before or after the story we all know so well? Ekta Garg has an amazing imagination to plunge into the unseen lives of characters we all know so well. And her effect lasts long after you have finished the book. You'll find yourself reading something else and wondering Ekta style. Why don't these two minor characters like each other? What happened to the bystanders who witnessed the kidnapping? did the widow ever find love again? You will drive yourself crazy! But secretly, you'll love it.

Ekta has given us a whole new way to look at classic fairy tales -- and every other story in our lives.

A Little Extra

I had to include an image of all of Ekta's books because I absolutely LOVE her covers. They are so bright they practically leap off the bookshelf and into your arms. I cannot be the only person to pick up a book and wonder, "Wait, did I already read this?" because book covers are getting too...familiar. A bestseller book has a fun cover and suddenly there are tons of titles by other authors with oddly familiar book covers or fonts. Thanks for the great covers, Ekta. Also, thanks to her cover designer Kevin Stone. Learn more about the totally original books beneath the totally original covers of In the Heart of the Linden Wood and The Truth About Elves.