Book Review: Love in Colour Mythical Tales From Around the World, Retold by Bolu Babalola

Love in Colour: Mythitcal Tales From Around the World, Retold

by Bolu Babalola

💐💐💐💐 (four stars, as rated in colorful bouquets of flowers!)

I was given an Advanced Reader Copy of this book via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Oooh what an unexpected delight this book was! I have such a soft spot for retellings of traditional stories, so of course I had to read this collection. ESPECIALLY, when I figured out that the majority of them were given highly original twists… FOR EXAMPLE, I invite you, if I may, to imagine Mount Olympus but as…. *dun dun dun*… an office building?!?!? Y’all. I am HERE for all of that water cooler gossip. Like, can you even imagine!? BAH.

As with any anthology, some stories packed a better punch than their counterparts. A few of them hit with so much ka-PLOW that I was genuinely, SHOOK when I finished the story. While others settled much more gently. I wouldn’t say I enjoyed one style more than the other. Also, just so we’re clear, there are a handful of completely original stories at the end that deserve praise in their own right. 

Would certainly recommend this book. Honestly, I’m only docking that last star because I wanted more queer relationships from this collection and am bummed that I only got the one. Also, that cover is making it onto my list of favorites without question!

Content Warnings for this book: bullying, body shaming, death, arranged marriage, hospitalization, violence, war, slut shaming, sex

This book will be available in US markets on April 13, 2021.

I have been exploring the world of short stories this year. How outrageous that I’d more or less shied away from them before? Out of curiosity, do you prefer shorts or long form novels? And would you mind sharing with me why?

Happy Sunday to you!

Sarah