Sophie Anderson grew up in Swansea, studied at Liverpool University, and has worked as a geologist and science teacher. The House with Chicken Legs is her first novel.One of Anderson's five favorite fairy tales that smash stereotypes, as shared at the Waterstones blog:
"Little Knife"Read about the other entries on the list.
In this original fairy tale by Leigh Bardugo, the duke’s daughter, Yeva, is so beautiful everyone falls in love with her; people try to steal her, and men fight over her. When Yeva turns sixteen, the duke declares she must marry before the town is torn apart, and he sets challenges for suitors. A rich prince uses his wealth tocomplete the tasks, and a poor man uses the river’s magic, but neither pay attention to Yeva’s wishes.
"Little Knife" takes the familiar fairy tale narrative of a rich man’s daughter being offered as a prize and gives it a fresh new ending. Yeva is saved from her predicament, not by the prince or the poor man, but by a powerful female water spirit.
"Little Knife" is found in The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo, with breath-taking illustrations by Sara Kipin, along with five other tales full of twists and turns that smash all kinds of stereotypes.
--Marshal Zeringue
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