Short Story Saturday was created by Lauren at 365 Days of Reading.  I can’t guarantee that I’ll post a review every Saturday but I will post one as often as I can!

I am currently reading Two And Twenty Dark Tales: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes.

Short Story: Pieces of Eight
Author: Shannon Delany and Max Scialdone
Anthology: Two And Twenty Dark Tales

Summary: Pieces of Eight is a retelling of the Mother Goose nursery rhyme, Sleep, Baby, Sleep.

My thoughts: I have to say Pieces of Eight might just end up being my favorite story from this collection.  It’s a bit longer, has a lot more depth, and the writing of Shannon Delany and Max Scialdone was fabulous.  Also, this one wasn’t quite as dark as the other stories in the book and I really enjoyed the little bits of humor mixed in.

Overall, I haven’t read a full length book by Shannon Delany yet but after loving this short story I will definitely be picking up her books.

img:is([sizes=”auto” i], [sizes^=”auto,” i]) { contain-intrinsic-size: 3000px 1500px }

img.wp-smiley, img.emoji {
display: inline !important;
border: none !important;
box-shadow: none !important;
height: 1em !important;
width: 1em !important;
margin: 0 0.07em !important;
vertical-align: -0.1em !important;
background: none !important;
padding: 0 !important;
}

/*! This file is auto-generated */
.wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none}

:root{–wp–preset–aspect-ratio–square: 1;–wp–preset–aspect-ratio–4-3: 4/3;–wp–preset–aspect-ratio–3-4: 3/4;–wp–preset–aspect-ratio–3-2: 3/2;–wp–preset–aspect-ratio–2-3: 2/3;–wp–preset–aspect-ratio–16-9: 16/9;–wp–preset–aspect-ratio–9-16: 9/16;–wp–preset–color–black: #000000;–wp–preset–color–cyan-bluish-gray: #abb8c3;–wp–preset–color–white: #ffffff;–wp–preset–color–pale-pink: #f78da7;–wp–preset–color–vivid-red: #cf2e2e;–wp–preset–color–luminous-vivid-orange: #ff6900;–wp–preset–color–luminous-vivid-amber: #fcb900;–wp–preset–color–light-green-cyan: #7bdcb5;–wp–preset–color–vivid-green-cyan: #00d084;–wp–preset–color–pale-cyan-blue: #8ed1fc;–wp–preset–color–vivid-cyan-blue: #0693e3;–wp–preset–color–vivid-purple: #9b51e0;–wp–preset–gradient–vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,rgb(155,81,224) 100%);–wp–preset–gradient–light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(122,220,180) 0%,rgb(0,208,130) 100%);–wp–preset–gradient–luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);–wp–preset–gradient–luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,rgb(207,46,46) 100%);–wp–preset–gradient–very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(238,238,238) 0%,rgb(169,184,195) 100%);–wp–preset–gradient–cool-to-warm-spectrum: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(74,234,220) 0%,rgb(151,120,209) 20%,rgb(207,42,186) 40%,rgb(238,44,130) 60%,rgb(251,105,98) 80%,rgb(254,248,76) 100%);–wp–preset–gradient–blush-light-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%);–wp–preset–gradient–blush-bordeaux: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(254,205,165) 0%,rgb(254,45,45) 50%,rgb(107,0,62) 100%);–wp–preset–gradient–luminous-dusk: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,203,112) 0%,rgb(199,81,192) 50%,rgb(65,88,208) 100%);–wp–preset–gradient–pale-ocean: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 0%,rgb(182,227,212) 50%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%);–wp–preset–gradient–electric-grass: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(202,248,128) 0%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%);–wp–preset–gradient–midnight: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(2,3,129) 0%,rgb(40,116,252) 100%);–wp–preset–font-size–small: 13px;–wp–preset–font-size–medium: 20px;–wp–preset–font-size–large: 36px;–wp–preset–font-size–x-large: 42px;–wp–preset–spacing–20: 0.44rem;–wp–preset–spacing–30: 0.67rem;–wp–preset–spacing–40: 1rem;–wp–preset–spacing–50: 1.5rem;–wp–preset–spacing–60: 2.25rem;–wp–preset–spacing–70: 3.38rem;–wp–preset–spacing–80: 5.06rem;–wp–preset–shadow–natural: 6px 6px 9px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);–wp–preset–shadow–deep: 12px 12px 50px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);–wp–preset–shadow–sharp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);–wp–preset–shadow–outlined: 6px 6px 0px -3px rgba(255, 255, 255, 1), 6px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);–wp–preset–shadow–crisp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);}:where(.is-layout-flex){gap: 0.5em;}:where(.is-layout-grid){gap: 0.5em;}body .is-layout-flex{display: flex;}.is-layout-flex{flex-wrap: wrap;align-items: center;}.is-layout-flex > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}body .is-layout-grid{display: grid;}.is-layout-grid > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;}.has-black-color{color: var(–wp–preset–color–black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color: var(–wp–preset–color–cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color: var(–wp–preset–color–white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color: var(–wp–preset–color–pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color: var(–wp–preset–color–vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color: var(–wp–preset–color–luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color: var(–wp–preset–color–luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color: var(–wp–preset–color–light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color: var(–wp–preset–color–vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color: var(–wp–preset–color–pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color: var(–wp–preset–color–vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color: var(–wp–preset–color–vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color: var(–wp–preset–color–black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color: var(–wp–preset–color–cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color: var(–wp–preset–color–white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color: var(–wp–preset–color–pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color: var(–wp–preset–color–vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color: var(–wp–preset–color–luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color: var(–wp–preset–color–luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(–wp–preset–color–light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(–wp–preset–color–vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(–wp–preset–color–pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(–wp–preset–color–vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color: var(–wp–preset–color–vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color: var(–wp–preset–color–black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color: var(–wp–preset–color–cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color: var(–wp–preset–color–white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color: var(–wp–preset–color–pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color: var(–wp–preset–color–vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color: var(–wp–preset–color–luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color: var(–wp–preset–color–luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(–wp–preset–color–light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(–wp–preset–color–vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(–wp–preset–color–pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(–wp–preset–color–vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color: var(–wp–preset–color–vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background: var(–wp–preset–gradient–vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background: var(–wp–preset–gradient–light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background: var(–wp–preset–gradient–luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background: var(–wp–preset–gradient–luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background: var(–wp–preset–gradient–very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background: var(–wp–preset–gradient–cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background: var(–wp–preset–gradient–blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background: var(–wp–preset–gradient–blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background: var(–wp–preset–gradient–luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background: var(–wp–preset–gradient–pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background: var(–wp–preset–gradient–electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background: var(–wp–preset–gradient–midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size: var(–wp–preset–font-size–small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size: var(–wp–preset–font-size–medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size: var(–wp–preset–font-size–large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size: var(–wp–preset–font-size–x-large) !important;}
:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;}
:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;}
:root :where(.wp-block-pullquote){font-size: 1.5em;line-height: 1.6;}

.ubb-content-warning {
background: #E61C20;
color: #ffffff;
}

.ubb-about-author {
background: #ffffff;
border: 0px none #000000;
color: #000000;
}

.ubb-tabs ul li a {
color: #787878;
}

.ubb-tabs li.ubb-active-link, .ubb-tabs-content {
background: #ffffff;
border: 1px solid #e6e6e6;
}

.ubb-tabs li.ubb-active-link {
border-bottom-color: #ffffff;
}

.ubb-tabs li.ubb-active-link a {
color: #000000;
}

.ubb-related-post:hover {
background: #F1F1F1;
}

.ubb-spoiler .ubb-thespoil {
background: #ffff99;
}

a { color: #85a2bf }a:hover { color: #ffc0ba }.button, button, input[type=”submit”], .expanding-archives-title, .naked-social-share ul .nss-site-count, .naked-social-share ul a:hover, .widget.highlight, .naked-social-widget-sites a { background: #000000 }.expanding-archives-collapse-section, .naked-social-share ul a { border-color: #000000 }.naked-social-share ul a { color: #000000 }.widget.highlight .widget-title span { background: #000000 !important }.button:hover, button:hover, input[type=”submit”]:hover, .expanding-archives-title:hover, .naked-social-widget-sites a:hover { background: #898282 }.widget.highlight .button, .widget.highlight button, .widget.highlight input[type=”submit”] { background: #000000; color: white; }body{ font-family: “Lora”;font-weight: 400;font-size: 15px;line-height: 1.6;color: #333333; }.site-title{ font-family: “Lora”;font-weight: 400;font-size: 40px;line-height: 1.2;text-transform: lowercase; }h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6{ font-family: “Lora”;font-weight: 400;line-height: 1.4;color: #6b6b6b;text-transform: none; }.widget-title{ font-family: “Playfair Display”;font-weight: 400;font-style: italic;font-size: 15px;line-height: inherit;color: #323232;text-transform: none; }@media (min-width: 768px) { .site-branding { margin: 48px auto; } }

.sfsi_plus_subscribe_Popinner {
width: 100% !important;
height: auto !important;
border: 1px solid #b5b5b5 !important;
padding: 18px 0px !important;
background-color: #ffffff !important;
}

.sfsi_plus_subscribe_Popinner form {
margin: 0 20px !important;
}

.sfsi_plus_subscribe_Popinner h5 {
font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif !important;

font-weight: bold !important;
color: #000000 !important;
font-size: 16px !important;
text-align: center !important;
margin: 0 0 10px !important;
padding: 0 !important;
}

.sfsi_plus_subscription_form_field {
margin: 5px 0 !important;
width: 100% !important;
display: inline-flex;
display: -webkit-inline-flex;
}

.sfsi_plus_subscription_form_field input {
width: 100% !important;
padding: 10px 0px !important;
}

.sfsi_plus_subscribe_Popinner input[type=email] {
font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif !important;

font-style: normal !important;
color: !important;
font-size: 14px !important;
text-align: center !important;
}

.sfsi_plus_subscribe_Popinner input[type=email]::-webkit-input-placeholder {
font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif !important;

font-style: normal !important;
color: !important;
font-size: 14px !important;
text-align: center !important;
}

.sfsi_plus_subscribe_Popinner input[type=email]:-moz-placeholder {
/* Firefox 18- */
font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif !important;

font-style: normal !important;
color: !important;
font-size: 14px !important;
text-align: center !important;
}

.sfsi_plus_subscribe_Popinner input[type=email]::-moz-placeholder {
/* Firefox 19+ */
font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif !important;

font-style: normal !important;
color: !important;
font-size: 14px !important;
text-align: center !important;
}

.sfsi_plus_subscribe_Popinner input[type=email]:-ms-input-placeholder {
font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif !important;

font-style: normal !important;
color: !important;
font-size: 14px !important;
text-align: center !important;
}

.sfsi_plus_subscribe_Popinner input[type=submit] {
font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif !important;

font-weight: bold !important;
color: #000000 !important;
font-size: 16px !important;
text-align: center !important;
background-color: #dedede !important;
}

/*! Flickity v2.0.2
http://flickity.metafizzy.co
———————————————- */.flickity-enabled{position:relative}.flickity-enabled:focus{outline:0}.flickity-viewport{overflow:hidden;position:relative;height:100%}.flickity-slider{position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%}.flickity-enabled.is-draggable{-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent;tap-highlight-color:transparent;-webkit-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none}.flickity-enabled.is-draggable .flickity-viewport{cursor:move;cursor:-webkit-grab;cursor:grab}.flickity-enabled.is-draggable .flickity-viewport.is-pointer-down{cursor:-webkit-grabbing;cursor:grabbing}.flickity-prev-next-button{position:absolute;top:50%;width:44px;height:44px;border:none;border-radius:50%;background:#fff;background:hsla(0,0%,100%,.75);cursor:pointer;-webkit-transform:translateY(-50%);transform:translateY(-50%)}.flickity-prev-next-button:hover{background:#fff}.flickity-prev-next-button:focus{outline:0;box-shadow:0 0 0 5px #09f}.flickity-prev-next-button:active{opacity:.6}.flickity-prev-next-button.previous{left:10px}.flickity-prev-next-button.next{right:10px}.flickity-rtl .flickity-prev-next-button.previous{left:auto;right:10px}.flickity-rtl .flickity-prev-next-button.next{right:auto;left:10px}.flickity-prev-next-button:disabled{opacity:.3;cursor:auto}.flickity-prev-next-button svg{position:absolute;left:20%;top:20%;width:60%;height:60%}.flickity-prev-next-button .arrow{fill:#333}.flickity-page-dots{position:absolute;width:100%;bottom:-25px;padding:0;margin:0;list-style:none;text-align:center;line-height:1}.flickity-rtl .flickity-page-dots{direction:rtl}.flickity-page-dots .dot{display:inline-block;width:10px;height:10px;margin:0 8px;background:#333;border-radius:50%;opacity:.25;cursor:pointer}.flickity-page-dots .dot.is-selected{opacity:1}.slideout-menu{position:fixed;left:0;top:0;bottom:0;right:auto;z-index:0;width:256px;overflow-y:auto;-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch;display:none}.slideout-menu.pushit-right{left:auto;right:0}.slideout-panel{position:relative;z-index:1;will-change:transform}.slideout-open,.slideout-open .slideout-panel,.slideout-open body{overflow:hidden}.slideout-open .slideout-menu{display:block}.pushit{display:none}

.ios7.web-app-mode.has-fixed header{ background-color: rgba(3,122,221,.88);}

Skip to content

Kait Rose

Short Story Saturday: Pieces of Eight by Shannon Delany and Max Scialdone

November 10, 2012 • 5 stars, Max Scialdone, review, Shannon Delany, short story • 4 Comments

Short Story Saturday was created by Lauren at 365 Days of Reading.  I can’t guarantee that I’ll post a review every Saturday but I will post one as often as I can!

I am currently reading Two And Twenty Dark Tales: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes.

Short Story: Pieces of Eight
Author: Shannon Delany and Max Scialdone
Anthology: Two And Twenty Dark Tales

Summary: Pieces of Eight is a retelling of the Mother Goose nursery rhyme, Sleep, Baby, Sleep.

My thoughts: I have to say Pieces of Eight might just end up being my favorite story from this collection.  It’s a bit longer, has a lot more depth, and the writing of Shannon Delany and Max Scialdone was fabulous.  Also, this one wasn’t quite as dark as the other stories in the book and I really enjoyed the little bits of humor mixed in.

Overall, I haven’t read a full length book by Shannon Delany yet but after loving this short story I will definitely be picking up her books.

#sfsi_plus_floater .sfsi_plus_twt_tool_bdr .sfsi_plus_inside{margin-top: -18px;}