Three classic fairy tales­­—the stories of Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel—get a more sinister retelling in this three-novella collection by Burgo. Cinderella grapples with depression and a sense of dread about getting what she thought she wanted, Snow White’s mother hones her psychopathic tendencies to try to kill her daughter, and Rapunzel must deal with mommy issues and self-worth. Burgo creates strong narratives that add nuance and sophistication to these tales; the titular grimness manifests as sexual violence, rape fantasies, and ruthless seductresses. For portions from a male point of view, Packer makes a spectacular narrator with a resonant English accent and brooding tone reminiscent of Christopher Lee in his Hammer Films days. He does create believable and complex female character voices, but it seems strange to choose a male reader for a production that focuses on nearly all female protagonists. A New Rise paperback. (BookLife)