mm okay, so I had read about this as "lesbian Sleeping Beauty" (the panel with the kiss had been circulating) so I was here for that. But, it's not really that? I'm not really sure what it IS. I think I have already read this story (and not just in the sense that I read the original fairy tale)... okay I googled and yes, it was previously published as a short story without the illustrations.

It's a clever short story but this is a strange volume. I have it filed as a graphic novel at the library? It's really a fairy tale picture book that would probably be too upsetting for most picture book reading kids. I don't think there are many authors who could get away with publishing a weird fancy illustrated short story like this, but of course Neil Gaiman is one of them. I wish it were part of an anthology or something. I don't know???

It is beautifully illustrated and a lovely volume but I couldn't help but feel a little bit like, "Oh, that's it?" hmm.