Don't Tell Me Stories

A gut-wrenching graphic novel that weaves real-life testimonies of women, into a powerful visual narrative, juxtaposing the darkness of their experiences with the hope for a future where such violence is relegated to the realm of fiction 

In this harrowing, immersive proposal, a new twist is given to traditional fairy tales to show, from a new perspective, their relevance and pertinence in the 21st century. 

Sleeping Beauty fell into a forced sleep and when she woke up, she had been raped; Belle suffered the jealousy of the Beast until he almost managed to nullify her; Bluebeard exploited a past relationship like a parasite until he nearly killed her; Donkeyskin normalized her father's abuse until she rebelled against him; a girl traveled to another country with a promise of work that turned into sexual slavery; and Little Red Riding Hood went to the festivals in her hometown and was raped by five wolves. All these are real testimonies. 

Sandra Sabatés has interviewed women who live next to us, young women who deal with their ghosts while trying to rebuild their lives. They are also survivors like the protagonists of classic tales, although the stories collected here are far from childish. What remains is the harshness of a reality that refuses to disappear, but also the hope that the day will come when monsters only live in fiction.