Once Upon a Nightmare: The Dark Origins of Fairy Tales: You Can't Make This Stuff Up! The Strangest True Stories in History

Happily ever after? Not even close.Before they were bedtime stories, fairy tales were blood-soaked cautionary tales full of murder, mutilation, betrayal, and soup made from children. (Yes, really.)In Once Upon a Nightmare, we rip off the glittery facade and dig into the dark, bizarre origins of over 30 “beloved” fairy tales—like Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, The Little Mermaid, Snow White, and more.Cinderella’s stepsisters? Self-mutilation and eye-pecking pigeons.Little Red Riding Hood? Basically a fable about predatory men.The Little Mermaid? Think less musical, more body horror and eternal regret.Rumpelstiltskin? Loan shark with a baby collection.Packed with history, sarcasm, and just the right amount of horror, this book is a reminder that the original fairy tales were never about dreams coming true—they were about not getting eaten, cursed, or emotionally wrecked.Ready to ruin your childhood? Let’s get started! Great for lovers of history, trivia, bizarre, and weird things.