By Sally Nicholls (author) , John Broadley (illustrator)
"Three smart sisters outwit the Devil in this fiery re-telling of a classic folktale."
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October 2026 Book of the Month
Companion to Godfather Death , Sally Nicholls’ Three Brides for the Devil is a beautifully-told, strikingly-illustrated, fabulously-resonant folktale. Its compelling opening sets a cunning, sharp-edged tone: “There are fairy tales where a man marries a proud or shrewish woman and turns her into an obedient wife.
I hear even Mr Shakespeare wrote a tale like that once. There are other tales where a woman opens a forbidden door, and terrible things happen to her. This story is a little different”. And then comes the Devil, riding into town disguised as a handsome man “with a sharp black beard and a wicked glint in his eye”, and with one aim: to find an obedient wife.
After chancing upon three fatherless sisters, the Devil thinks he’s found exactly what he wants: “three meek, obedient girls” who are also sisters. Having long dreamed of living a life of luxury, the eldest sister, Carlotta, is quick to be convinced by the handsome Devil’s looks and wealth, and the pair are soon married at the church door, with an amusing authorial injection exemplifying the kind of wit that ripples through the book: “The Devil wasn’t keen on marrying at the altar, for reasons I don’t think I need to explain”.
On leaving her sisters, Carlotta is given free rein of the grand house owned by her new husband (“an excellent kisser”), except for one door that must never be opened. Of course, curiosity gets the better of Carlotta, who opens the door... After the Devil works through two disobedient sisters, it falls to the youngest, Margarita, to execute an exceptional coup.
While cleverly biding her time to beat the Devil at his own game, Margarita’s sharp-tongued asides are a joy (“’What a gift it is to have an obedient wife!’ said the Devil happily. ‘What a gift it is to have a stupid husband,’ muttered Margarita”), as is the story’s denouement.
In Nicholls’ hands, this traditional tale is brilliantly witty, and perfectly paired with John Broadley’s illustrations. While the backgrounds of his woodcut-esque illustrations evoke classic editions of Slavic folktales, his characters display a degree of modernity in their expressions. Taken together, the text and illustrations make Three Brides for the Devil a glorious gift for readers who adore fairy-tale retellings with gleefully empowering feminist messages, and those who appreciate the beauty of exquisitely-produced books.
How do you outwit the devil himself?
When the Devil rides into town looking for a wife, he has one rule - she must be obedient.
Coming across the house of a widow and her three daughters, he thinks he has found what he is looking for.
But can these sisters play him at his own game?
A stunning and powerful fairytale based on the Bluebeard legend, written as a companion to Nicholls’ celebrated Grimm retelling, Godfather Death.
Praise for Godfather Death:
'An outstanding reworking of an old tale' New Statesman, Picture Book of the Year
Sally Nicholls is a highly acclaimed writer for children, best known for her sensitive portrayal of difficult subjects for a younger age group. Her books have been translated into over 20 languages and her YA novel about the suffrage movement, Things a Bright Girl Can Do was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.
Sally grew up in Stockton-on-Tees, and after school, travelled the world, working for a period at a Red Cross hospital in Japan. Sally's first novel, Ways to Live Forever , won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and she has been shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, the Costa Children's Book Award, and the Carnegie Medal, twice.
She lives in Liverpool with her husband and two sons.
Photo credit Joe Ratzer
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How do you outwit the devil himself? When the Devil rides into town looking for a wife, he has one rule - she must be obedient.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Three Brides for the Devil and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-14 years old
Three Brides for the Devil features in the following genres: Featured Books for 9+ readers, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Featured Books for 13+ readers, Books of the Month, Recommendations, Star Books, Adventure Stories, Stories about Family and Friends, Fantasy / Magical, Horror & Ghost Stories, Thrillers, Traditional Tales, Gift Books, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Hallowe’en, Holidays and celebrations, Holidays, events and seasonal interest, Interest qualifiers, Children’s / Teenage stationery and miscellaneous items
Hardback. £11.69, down from the £12.99 cover price. In Stock.
Three Brides for the Devil was written by Sally Nicholls and published by Andersen Press
Three Brides for the Devil has 48 pages
£11.69, reduced from £12.99. In Stock.
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