Fairy Tale Ending: A Creepy Little Bedtime Story (Creepy Little Bedtime Stories Book 5) by William F. Aicher is a horror short story that does the fairy tale spin-off just right. And by the time I was done with it, my jaw was on the floor. Okay, figuratively…but you get the picture. It was a terrifying, grotesque, fast-paced journey that pulled me in right away. I admit that I am not a fan of the horror genre in general, so I was squeamish, uncomfortable…and fascinated at the same time. I think that’s probably a good sign of a great horror story. What I loved the most, though, was the familiarity of the old fairy tales and the twist of the macabre woven in. I highly recommend it.
The story follows a Little Red Riding Hood-like woman who goes to visit her grandmother. She, unfortunately, catches the eye of a Huntsman who has some nefarious things in mind to do to her. As the story goes, more classic fairy tales are showcased throughout in a twisted and horrific way. It didn’t find the story particularly scary. The horror factor comes from blood, gore, twisted situations, and shock value. I wish I could say more, but I don’t want to deprive a potential reader of the twists and turns of this story. All I can say is that I thought it was horror done extremely well but tolerable to a dabbler in the genre like me.
I was impressed by the quality and style of the writing and how Aicher was able to capture the enchantment of a fairytale world but completely wreck it with chilling, grotesque terror. Right off the bat, the reader knows the tone will be dark by the thoughts of the Huntsman, but his character is contrasted so much by the innocence and of the woman. I will admit that this is actually my first fairy tale retelling (I guess this never piqued my curiosity), but it felt fresh and unique in ways I would assume other writers haven’t touched. My only complaint was that I didn’t read it in one sitting (kids).
Overall, Fairy Tale Ending had everything one could want in a horror short story. It was dark and horrific with the added whimsy of a fairy tale setting that made for a great contrast. As the title suggests, it made for the perfect “creepy bedtime” read. If you are a horror fan, you have to add this one to your list. If you aren’t, I’d suggest giving this a try anyhow. It’s a fantastic story that left me speechless at the end. This is a definite recommendation from me. Five stars.
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Top reviews from other countries
J. M. Brister
A terrifying, grotesque, fast-paced journey
Reviewed in the United States on 15 February 2021Verified Purchase
Rin Hoshigumo
Evil & Exciting
Reviewed in Canada on 20 December 2019Verified Purchase
Stephen Hollands
Great fun to read...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 July 2019Verified Purchase
H. W. Stone
I hated this.
Reviewed in the United States on 12 September 2022Verified Purchase
Catherine Morrison
A new take on some old tales
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 March 2021Verified Purchase
