Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Happily
AUTHOR: Kim Fielding
PUBLISHER: Tin Box Press
LENGTH: 39 pages
RELEASE DATE: February 18, 2025
BLURB:
Fairy tales always have happy endings—or so the tradition says. Sit down with Piers and enjoy a pint or two of his famous ale while he tells the real story about that beanstalk.
REVIEW:
Oh my goodness! What a clever clever story 
Be sure to read the Author’s note.
Piers owns a tavern. He’s well into middle age and he’s been through a lot. He and his business partner Anne have come through their trials and are content with their lives now having a home and hearth and food and a livelihood to count on. Piers is a brewer and he’s in a good place. He’s a bit scarred up and also has a limp left over from a war he was conscripted into and nearly lost his life.
On this particular evening, another man, John has stopped at the tavern. Piers offers him a place by the fire, some ale and food and a story. That is Piers other talent – telling a story. He has a third talent, but it’s not for public consumption 
John, for his part is quite interested in Piers’ stories and is grateful for the food and drink. John has a talent too – for music. But he’s lost his instrument. Piers just happens to have a lute some past patron had left behind that John can try if he so desires.
John’s song brings Piers to tears. He offers John the spare room for the night since Anne spend the night elsewhere at this point most nights The next day, he finishes his tale and John surprises him with his own story. It’s quite shocking, but Piers recover pretty quickly. There is more to John than meets the eye. Perhaps he’d like to stay a while longer.
I’m not going to spoil this interesting twist on a well known story. Let’s just say that once again, Kim Fielding has managed to surprise and delight with this story after the story. It’s a quick read that will engage the reader immediately and told in such a way as to keep the reader waiting for the twist. A lovely short story that delivers. Recommended.
RATING: 
BUY LINK:
