May 303 min read

Once Upon a Realm by: Diverse Voices —New Release Book Tour & Giveaway

Today we are featuring "Once Upon a Realm." A New Release collection by diverse voices that write remixed fairy tales. Check out the details below and read to the bottom to find out what you could win if you follow along on the tour.

♡๑ஓSHORT INTERVIEW WITH KRYSTINA COLES ஓ๑♡

What is something unique/quirky about you?

I was born with a rare deformity called Stahl's ear, which made me look like a Fae child with my pointy ears as a baby. My mom, a huge Trekkie, always says she thought I was Vulcan, like Spock. But I think I'm a changeling, and no one can convince me otherwise. I mostly grew out of it, but if you look closely, you can still see the little points in my ears.

What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?

I took a train (or three) from San Diego to New Orleans for the series I'm currently working on. The whole trip was a whirlwind. My best friend and I toured the city while I took notes on its history with the supernatural. We saw the LaLaurie Mansion and Congo Square, met with a tarot reader, walked through the Lafayette Cemetery, and even spent a night at a speakeasy with vampires in the French Quarter.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

I loved leaning into the gothic fantasy themes of These Sapphire Walls. It's my favorite story I've written so far. Digging into the beautiful and the grotesque, the haunting imagery, and the dark romance of it all was new and so much fun, and I hope my passion shows in my storytelling.

Once Upon A Realm by: Diverse Authors, Promo Graphic

♡๑ஓONCE UPON A REALMஓ๑♡

Remixed Fairy Tales by Diverse Voices

Genre: YA fairytales retellings set in fantasy, sci-fi, and dystopian worlds with stories by K.R.S. McEntire, Montrez, Alicia Ellis, R.L. Medina, E.M. Lacey, Krystina Coles

A biracial teen is forced into a betrothal with an enigmatic lord. A Latina teen races to recover her stolen identity and escape a dark fae court. A Black teen with forbidden abilities rescues his lover from a dystopian regime.

In Once Upon A Realm, familiar fairy tales are reenvisioned and reborn as six authors from Black and/or Latina backgrounds create novella-length stories that transport readers to fantasy, sci-fi, and dystopian worlds. Each story shatters stereotypes and challenges traditional narratives, inviting readers to see themselves reflected in tales of adventure, magic, romance, and strength. Fans of The Lunar Chronicles, A Blade So Black, A Curse So Dark and Lonely, and Cinderella is Dead will fall in love with these fresh, fierce takes on fairy tales.

This collection includes:

Red in the Woods by K. R. S. McEntire, inspired by Little Red Riding Hood

Shadow and Song by Montrez, inspired by Peter Pan

Circuits and Nerve by Alicia Ellis, inspired by Hansel and Gretel

These Sapphire Walls by Krystina Coles, inspired by Bluebeard

A Bloodstained Sun by E. M. Lacey, inspired by Snow White

Waking Up by R. L. Medina, inspired by Sleeping Beauty