A Lapp folktale about a boy who gets betrayed, but because of that meets his future wife. She and her family are elves, but not the kind you may be familiar with from modern fantasy.

👣️Footnotes🎶️

Read along: “The Project Gutenberg EBook of the Brown Fairy Book, by Andrew Lang.” 2021. Gutenberg.org. 2021. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/31201/31201-h/31201-h.htm#Page_190.

Public domain,  (P) 2021 Oeni Media

This tale is about a boy who steals a magic book from a hill-man and ends up wrapped around a beautiful princess's finger. 

👣️Footnotes🎶️

Read along: “The Orange Fairy Book, by Various.” 2016. Gutenberg.org. 2016. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3027/3027-h/3027-h.htm#link2H_4_0035. 

Public domain,  (P) 2021 Oeni Media

A heart-rending tragedy has to be righted. Luckily the nuns from the spinning convent lend a hand. The stakes are incredibly high for the hero of this yarn. 

👣️Footnotes🎶️

Read along: “The Project Gutenberg Canada EBook of ‘The Yellow Fairy Book’, by Andreww Lang (ed.).” 1894. Gutenberg.org. 2021. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/28314/28314-h/28314-h.htm#THE_SEVEN-HEADED_SERPENT. 

Public domain,  (P) 2021 Oeni Media

Meet Fear Doirich (Dark Man), the fine looking gentleman... I mean, weazened looking agent of the fairy/spirit world. The Good People are causing trouble for mortals and it'll take guts to make things right again. But don't let on if you can see their true form.  

👣️Footnotes🎶️ 

Read along: “The Lilac Fairy Book, by Andrew Lang.” 2016. Gutenberg.org. 2016. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3454/3454-h/3454-h.htm#link2H_4_0006.  

Public domain,  (P) 2021 Oeni Media

The hero of this West Highland's tale gets scared to the point of wanting to give up, is headstrong and gets into trouble with fairy folk, he also listens to advice and values friendship. Like many of the heroes in folklore, he's imperfect and some aspects of his character are very relatable.

His wife is probably the real superhero here.

Oh, and I was really excited to read about the waterfalls. Alas.

If you listen at least the first half of the episode you will learn how to mispronounce Gruagach about two dozen times. I dislike violence, but I was relieved when I found out I wouldn't have to say that creature's name again after what happened to it.

👣️Footnotes🎶️

Read along: “The Lilac Fairy Book, by Andrew Lang.” 2016. Gutenberg.org. 2016. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3454/3454-h/3454-h.htm#link2H_4_0009. 

Public domain,  (P) 2021 Oeni Media

The story most people know as Snow White has long roots in Europe's ancestral memory. While the pristine beauty of the princess-in-a-box is fascinating to the dwarfs, mirrors and prince, the jealous queen steals the show. Especially at the end.

👣️Footnotes🎶️

Read along: “The Red Fairy Book, by Various.” 2016. Gutenberg.org. 2016. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/540/540-h/540-h.htm#link2H_4_0033. 

Public domain,  (P) 2021 Oeni Media

Two girls, a foul-mouthed dwarf, a cuddly bear and a surprisingly kind and open-minded mother. 

👣️Footnotes🎶️

Read along: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Blue_Fairy_Book/Snow-white_and_Rose-red 

Public domain,  (P) 2021 Oeni Media

This little tale features a supreme pre-Christian goddess in the character of Mother Holle. Hard work is rewarded and laziness is punished. Or that's how it should be. Old Mother Frost is fair and just, let that be a warning. 

👣️Footnotes🎶️

Read along: “The Red Fairy Book,” Various. Wikisource. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Red_Fairy_Book/Mother_Holle.

Public domain,  (P) 2021 Oeni Media

What if you could ask for the gift of beauty, of charm, or eloquence maybe? Would it help you live a full life, or leave you wanting? A charming little tale about a hard choice and how to be happy. It packs a lot of wisdom for its size.

Notes:  

Read along: “The Green Fairy Book, by Various.” Www.gutenberg.org, www.gutenberg.org/files/7277/7277-h/7277-h.htm#link2H_4_0007. Accessed 7 Mar. 2021. 

Performance and background music by Moodrise.

This is a tale well known in Russian and Slavic regions, and well beyond.  This variant was included in the Red Fairy Book, but there are many more.  Like in the tale Blue Beard, there is a closet that must under no circumstance be opened.  Following Ivan Tsarevich on this epic quest for his beloved warrior princess Marya Morevna you'll encounter magical beings and forces of nature, and a baba yaga.  Enjoy! 

And as a bonus. Nearly 15 extra minutes with just the soundtrack to carry you away to your own epic dreams.

Notes:  

Read along: “The Red Fairy Book.” n.d. Www.Gutenberg.org. Accessed December 28, 2020. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/540/540-h/540-h.htm. 

Cover art from "The Abduction of Marya Morevna by Ivan Tsarevich." Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin (1876–1942). Accessed December 28, 2020. https://www.akg-images.com/archive/Die-Entfuhrung-Marja-Morevnas-durch-Iwan-Zarewitsch-2UMDHU4BH769.html 

Performance and background music by Moodrise.