“Olly Owl, Fairy Tale Lawyer” by Leisa Braband
by ReadersMagnet | August 26, 2025 | Literary Executive Review | 0 Comments
When most people think of a fairy tale, they usually think it’s the stuff for children’s books. Yet at the same time, we’ve seen quite a number of spinoffs that reimagine classic characters like Snow White and the Three Little Pigs.
Leisa Braband’s Olly Owl, Fairy Tale Lawyer falls well within this category. And like many books with the same twists, they are a fun read!
Its premise puts all the world’s most famous fairy tales taking place in the aptly named Fair Tale Land. However, it seems like not all these tales ended as happily as their original versions implied!
This is where the book’s titular character comes in, confronting a number of cases from many famous names. But even if Olly is dedicated to maintaining his reputation, numerous challenges abound. This is a collection of stories that cleverly transform old favorites into intriguing courtroom dramas!
What to Expect
Without giving too much of the book away, readers can expect a lot of surprising twists to some well-known favorites. There are a total of six different cases in the book, each one representing a famous fairy tale.
These include Little Red Riding Hood, Humpty Dumpty, and even a sort of Christmas special case featuring Santa Claus and Frosty the Snow Man.
Each one has been carefully crafted to introduce funny elements or new angles that turn the old stories into legal disputes that Olly must do his best to settle. For example, the Seven Dwarves now have an official name for their mining employer (who is now charged with something rather serious). Similar twists are introduced in Olly’s reinvestigation of the Big Bad Wolf versus the Three Little Pigs.
However, the innovative storytelling doesn’t stop there. These twists also have a good deal of educational content thrown in. Those expecting this to be a children’s book might be a bit intimidated by how each case actually represents real-life legal challenges (such as lawsuits against unions, countersuits, lawyer rivalries, and more).
That said, it’s still pretty good material for older children and even adults looking into creative stories that play around with fairy tale themes. According to the author, many of these were inspired by her own decades of experience working in multiple legal offices. Particularly, she was well-known for hosting the annual “Bring Your Child to Work Day” and used fairy tales as the basis for fun mock trial activities.
Naturally, many of the silly stories and twists made their way in when she was writing this book.
Some Words On Its Design
The design of the book might certainly contrast with the actual contents to a degree. They are fairly simple but colorful. They are reminiscent of old cartoons, along with a few 90s-era edutainment video games.
Each case is prefaced by some sort of official banner for Olly’s law practice, followed by the basic details of the case written in medieval-style lettering. This is an interesting nod to the way fairy tales were depicted the first time they were adapted onscreen.
The details describing each case also have some neat, subtle hints as to what readers can expect before they dive in. These even include the type of trial that will be taking place, as well as the forms of representation each party has.
Combined with the contents of the book, it definitely adds up to the impression that this is an earnest attempt at using fairy tales to inspire funny court cases.
A Word from Our Executive
This book has a really fun premise! There have been so many interesting spins on fairy tales, but this one is pretty original. We always see owls being cast like they’re old and wise forest sages. Turning one into a lawyer instead sounds both believable; yet, at the same time, it’s still innovative!
As for the different cases, they are also a very intriguing read. I admit, it’s hard to pin down what age group this one is for. The plots aren’t too complex, but I think adults and maybe older kids would enjoy these. Many familiar characters like the Big Bad Wolf and Humpty Dumpty have been reimagined in a lot of unexpected ways.
There are a lot of interesting details about the characters as well. I love how all the judges are different animals with all their quirks, and even some have backstories from other fairy tales! Don’t let the cartoon illustrations fool you. These legal battles in a fairy tale world could inspire even more ideas, so I highly recommend it!
Case Dismissed and Happily Ever After (?)
This book definitely has a lot going for it that will really attract a broad audience. Olly presents himself as a very ambitious (and at times crafty) attorney, but remains ever dedicated to justice. The many cases present a lot of interesting examples of using fairy tales to illustrate legal systems (and even some social issues on the side).
Without a doubt, that will check the boxes for many types of readers (whether it’s readers of fairy tale fantasy or courtroom fiction fans). So, it’s best not to treat Olly Owl, Fairy Tale Lawyer as a sweet-n-simple children’s story. It’s a well-thought-out collection of tales that is packed with highly imaginative takes.Olly Owl, Fairy Tale Lawyer by Leisa Braband is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and ReadersMagnet Bookstore.
