Fairytales. Many of us have grown up with different versions of them, whether it was the storybook received as a birthday gift, or the classic Disney movie watched huddled in the warmth of a pillow fort. Fairytales remind us of our childhoods and of whimsical, wonderful worlds where the most beautiful things can happen. Yet, as we may have discovered while growing older, fairytales can also be quite strange and dark – after all, the versions from our childhoods were based on the Brothers Grimm originals. So perhaps it is this connection to our childhoods that makes fairytale retellings so appealing. Or perhaps it is the excitement in reading a story that is so familiar, yet vastly different when told from a new and refreshing perspective. Or perhaps it is the intrigue in discovering the hidden darkness beneath the beautiful mask we once thought to be the reality that created wonderful dreams.
Perhaps it is for these very reasons I find myself possessing a sort of obsessive fascination with fairytale retellings, getting my hands on any book loosely based on a fairytale and greedily gobbling it up within hours. And perhaps you might also have a similar fascination, or are intrigued enough to explore the world of fairytale retellings. That is why I have compiled a list of a few of my favourite fairytale retellings that you should add to your TBR (To Be Read). And if you happen to see slight favouritism towards a particular fairytale, I’d say it’s a trick of light.
- Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer
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The Lunar Chronicles is one of my all-time favourite fairytale retelling series, with Cinder holding a special place in my heart. Although Cinder is based on the classic tale of Cinderella, it is anything but conventional. This sci-fi fantasy story is set in plague ravaged New Beijing, where second-class citizen Linh Cinder, a cyborg mechanic, lives with a stepmother who blames her for her stepsister’s illness. From space, the ruthless Lunar people watch and wait, ready to make a move and, unbeknownst to the people on Earth, their fate rests in the hands of none other than Cinder. As Cinder’s life becomes intertwined with Prince Kai’s, she finds herself having to deal with an intergalactic struggle and a forbidden attraction on the side.
I have no words to accurately describe how much I love this series. The characters, the plot, the world building – everything is so perfect to me that while reading I didn’t lose interest for even a single second. What makes it even more remarkable is that each book in the series is based on a separate fairytale. The second book, Scarlet, is based on Little Red Riding Hood. Each book in the series focuses on a different set of characters, and yet, seamlessly continues the story from the previous book. The characters meeting each other is such an exciting experience to read – it felt like a crossover within the same series. This series is definitely a 10000000/10 on my list.
- A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1) by Sarah J. Maas
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Another absolute favorite series of mine is A Court of Thorns and Roses, commonly referred to as ACOTAR by fans. Although the name might not be a dead giveaway, the story is based on the classic Beauty and the Beast. The story centers around Feyre, who survives only through her ability to hunt and kill, as the forest she and her family live in is cold and harsh, with long winter months. On account of this, she cannot help but fight to hunt the same deer a wolf has set its eye on … but to do that, she must kill the wolf. And killing such a creature always comes at a price, which is how she finds herself being dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, and her captor, face obscured by a mask, is hiding more than his piercing gaze suggests. As she starts to learn why her presence is so closely guarded and discovers new sides of her captor, her feelings for him begin to shift and she finds the faerie world becoming an even deadlier place. She learns that if she doesn’t want to lose him forever, she’ll have to figure out how to break an ancient curse that ails the land.
Honestly, this synopsis does little justice to the actual magnificence of the story, especially since it is a series, and the second book is even more amazing than the first. However, this book is so gripping that I was hooked from the very first line, Feyre’s personality making me root for her until the very end. The character development and fictional world building is some of the best I’ve ever delved into, and I truly recommend this series to everyone I meet. In fact, I’m currently re-reading the series and am halfway through the second book, enjoying every minute of it. A scale can’t really define my love for this series, so I’ll just have to say ∞ /10.
- Among the Beasts & Briars by Ashley Poston
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Among the Beasts & Briars, as you may already have inferred from the name, is also loosely based on the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast. This story centers around a girl named Cerys, who lives in a utopia-like place called Aloriya. Aloriya is a place with no famine, no disease, and no bloodshed – only everlasting peace. It is this way because of the first king who made a bargain with the Lady of the Wilds who rules the forest bordering the kingdom. Nevertheless, as Aloriya flourishes, the forest becomes wilder, darker, and more cursed. Cerys is no stranger to the darkness of the forest, as when she was younger, she barely escaped the woods that took the lives of her mother and friends. She even carries a part of the curse’s magic in her blood. Though as the royal gardner’s daughter, the most danger she faces now is the annoying fox that won’t leave her alone. However, when a new queen is crowned, the woods descend upon the kingdom with a vengeance, leaving Cerys no choice but to flee. With no company other than the annoying fox and a strange powerful bear, she embarks on a journey to seek out the Lady of the Wilds hoping she can help save her homeland.
Among the Beasts & Briars is one of the most unique retellings of Beauty and the Beast I’ve read – a true masterpiece. The story kept me on the edge of my seat, and the terrifyingly beautiful world kept me fascinated as I rooted for Cerys until the very end. Whereas it is an unconventional fairytale, it takes a refreshing approach to the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast. Definitely a 10/10 on my list.
- Entwined by Heather Dixon Wallwork
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Entwined is a standalone must-read if you love the tale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses and want to read its retelling with an added unique and refreshingly dark twist. The story centers around Azalea, a princess who finds herself trapped in a world of dashing suitors, beautiful gowns, and glorious balls she once imagined herself enjoying. The Keeper, however, understands her plight, for he is trapped as well within the palace walls and has been for centuries. So when he extends an invitation of escape to Azalea and her eleven sisters, they cannot resist the offer. Every night, the twelve princesses step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his forest of silver, but they discover that there is a cost. The Keeper likes to keep things and Azalea may not be able to escape his web before it becomes too late.
Entwined was the dark twist to the Twelve Dancing Princesses that I didn’t know I needed until I found it. The dynamics of the sisters were entertaining and heartwarming, and the intrigue and darkness surrounding the Keeper made it impossible to lose interest. I give it a 9/10 on my list!
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Hunted by Meagan Spooner
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Hunted is another standalone Beauty and the Beast retelling that everyone needs to add to their TBR. The story centers around Yeva, a huntress who knows the Beast’s forest like the back of her hand. Although she grew up with the city’s highest aristocrats, she knows the forest next to her father’s lodge holds secrets and that her father was the only hunter who ever came close to discovering them. So when her father loses all his fortune, moving Yeva and her sisters to the outskirts of the town, she is relieved. Her relief stems from no longer having to deal with insipid aristocrats or being forced to submit to a wealthy gentleman she has no interest in marrying. Suddenly, when her father goes missing in the forest, despite her sister’s protests, she sets out to track the creature he had been obsessively tracking: the Beast.
Hunted is another exceptional twist on the classic Beauty and the Beast tale that I really enjoyed reading. I mean, who wouldn’t love Beauty as a huntress? The Beast was intriguingly dark, Yeva was a character worth rooting for, and the plot, one that keeps the reader’s interest hooked, overall a wicked delight to read. Definitely a solid 8/10. The only reason I gave it an eight is because at some parts in the story, the pace got a little slow for my taste. Still, this is a retelling worth adding to your TBR!