The Doomsday Book of Fairy Tales - by Emily Brewes (Paperback)

About the Book

"An astounding tale about a dangerous quest in an eerie post-climate collapse world. Twenty-five years earlier, when the Vanderchucks followed their neighbours into the Underground, Jesse thought that was it. Then Jesse's little sister, Olivia, ran away, and their mother died. Now, years later, Jesse meets a talking dog and everything changes. Fighting illness and a hostile world with no sympathy, Jesse and Doggo embark on a fool's errand to find Olivia -- or die trying. Along the way, Jesse spins a series of stories from threads of memories, weaving together the past, present, and future."--

Book Synopsis

Twenty-five years after humanity's narrow escape from climate collapse, Jesse Vanderchuck meets a talking dog named Doggo. Together, they leave the Underground to find Jesse's sister and a new life. Throughout, Jesse weaves a series of fantastic fairy tales from threads of memory.

Review Quotes

The Doomsday Book of Fairy Tales weaves hope, heartbreak, and delusion into a compelling story of surviving past any chance of thriving.

[A] solid, genre-bending debut ... Dark and a little absurd, this will appeal to fans of intimate postapocalyptic tales.

A fantastical and magical debut infused with heart, longing and our need for companionship. A story within a story, Brewes skillfully guides the reader through a dystopian landscape where, against all odds, dreams and hope continue to thrive.

Emily Brewes endows the book with a sense of lightness despite the grim backdrop ... The Doomsday Book of Fairy Tales offers one image of what might lie ahead if humanity plays its cards wrong.

Jesse's persistent mystery illness and the fear with which disease is treated in general bring an extra 'ripped from the headlines' urgency to the work ... Recommended for those who enjoy dying underground cities like those found in the Fallout vaults or Jeanne DuPrau's The City of Ember (2003) but also want a more personal, meditative story.

Showcasing author Emily Brewes's genuinely entertaining and narrative-driven storytelling style, The Doomsday Book of Fairy Tales is a deftly sculpted work of literary fiction that will linger in the mind and memory long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon the shelf.

The Doomsday Book of Fairy Tales weaves hope, heartbreak, and delusion into a compelling story of surviving past any chance of thriving.-- "Books That Burn"

[A] solid, genre-bending debut ... Dark and a little absurd, this will appeal to fans of intimate postapocalyptic tales.-- "Publishers Weekly"

A fantastical and magical debut infused with heart, longing and our need for companionship. A story within a story, Brewes skillfully guides the reader through a dystopian landscape where, against all odds, dreams and hope continue to thrive.-- "Brian Francis, author of Break in Case of Emergency"

Emily Brewes endows the book with a sense of lightness despite the grim backdrop ... The Doomsday Book of Fairy Tales offers one image of what might lie ahead if humanity plays its cards wrong.-- "The Miramichi Reader"

Jesse's persistent mystery illness and the fear with which disease is treated in general bring an extra 'ripped from the headlines' urgency to the work ... Recommended for those who enjoy dying underground cities like those found in the Fallout vaults or Jeanne DuPrau's The City of Ember (2003) but also want a more personal, meditative story.-- "Booklist"

Showcasing author Emily Brewes's genuinely entertaining and narrative-driven storytelling style, The Doomsday Book of Fairy Tales is a deftly sculpted work of literary fiction that will linger in the mind and memory long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon the shelf.-- "Midwest Book Review"

About the Author

Emily Brewes grew up in the wilds of northern Ontario, where she learned to be afraid of nature, especially bugs. She now writes wistfully of its rugged beauty and haunting landscapes. Emily lives in Nova Scotia.