Literary Lists: Fairytale Retellings (That I Want To Read)

So firstly I feel like I should admit that before looking it up properly I thought that Top Ten Tuesdays was just a name that people gave to their own top ten lists that they posted on a Tuesday. If you think the same (although unless you’re as new to Blogging as me then I guess you already know all about it) then I strongly recommend that you look it up properly here as it’s a great idea and a superb way to bring Bloggers together. I fully intend to check it out every Tuesday and see what different people pick for each subject.

As I only want to post a feature once a month (at least whilst I’m still new to Blogging) and already have several list ideas in mind I’ve decided to post my lists on a Wednesday under the title of Literary Lists but the idea was still inspired by the idea of Top Ten Tuesdays and I may try joining in with the proper ones in the future – when the idea of posting a weekly feature doesn’t seem quite so daunting. Why Literary Lists? Because I’m a sucker for alliteration and I figured it makes sense as this Feature is going to be a series of lists linked to books in one way or another.

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I may be posting this blog, like many others, later than I originally intended to but at least it ties in fairly well with May considering the release of Stepsister earlier on this month. I absolutely adored this novel and can’t recommend it highly enough.

Lately I’ve been obsessed with looking up Fairytales and their retellings – even if I am yet to get on and actually read any of them, other than the one mentioned above. I have a desperate to desire to check out as many retellings as possible and also dive into the original classic collections like The Brothers Grimm, The Tales Of Mother Goose, The Complete Works of Hans Christian Andersen and The Book Of One Thousand And One Arabian Nights. I also hope to check out a couple of Fairytales and the Folklore of different cultures and countries since I’m sure there’s one hell of a lot that I’ve never heard of before. If you have any recommendations – whether they’re retellings, originals or just books that have an overall ‘fairytale feel’ to them – then let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear about them.

Forest Of A Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao

Retelling of: The Evil Queen Legend
Series / Standalone

A beautiful peasant in a forgotten village who is destined for greatness, but only if she embraces the darkness within her.

I love learning about the villains in stories and think this book sounds absolutely fascinating. I’m looking forward to the East Asian fantasy setting too.

The Bear And The Nightingale by Katherine Arden

Retelling of: Morozko / Russian Fairy Tales
Series / Standalone

So I may be wrong with my retelling label (I didn’t spend too long searching for what this was a retelling of as I was determined to avoid spoiling the story for myself) but I know that it’s based on Russian Fairy Tales and it sounds absolutely intoxicating.

Chilling stories, a blue-eyed winter demon, a new stepmother, evil forest creatures and a village stalked by misfortune.

How could I resist a blurb like that?

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

Retelling of: Rumpelstiltskin
Series / Standalone

A girl who gains a reputation for being able to change silver to gold after hardening her heart against her fellow villagers to collect what is owed to her family; and the cold creatures that haunt the wood whose king learns of her reputation.

I’m definitely planning to read this ASAP as it sounds utterly unique and I’ve seen so many good reviews for it. Also I have a weakness for books with strong female leads.

Girls Made Of Snow And Glass by Melissa Bashardoust

Retelling Of: Snow White
Series / Standalone

Magicians, un-beating glass hearts, complex relationships and rivalry.

It also intertwines the stories of both Snow White and her stepmother which I’m particularly fascinated by. Who doesn’t love getting to see the villain’s back-story?

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Retelling Of: Beauty And The Beast
Series / Standalone

A Beauty and the Beast retelling where ‘Beauty’ (in this case Nyx) has been training to kill the beast her entire life! Plus it contains an enchanted castle with a shifting maze of magical rooms, a nine hundred year old curse and a love story where the heroine finds herself falling for her sworn enemy. Naturally this is one fairytale retelling that I’m desperate to sink my teeth into.

Hunted by Meagan Spooner

Retelling Of: Beauty And The Beast
Series / Standalone

‘Who will survive: the Beauty, or the Beast?’

Another Beauty And The Beast retelling with a strong, fiery sounding ‘Beauty’. After her father goes missing Yeva decides to go after the beast that her father had been obsessively tracking before his disappearance. Her hunt leads her to a cursed valley, a ruined castle and a world full of fairy tale creatures.

Don’t forget to check out Meagan Spooner’s new retelling of Robin Hood (which sounds awesome) that came out this year: Sherwood

A Curse So Dark And Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

Retelling Of: Beauty And The Beast
Series / Standalone

Fall in love, break the curse. 
Break the curse, save the kingdom.

Yet another Beauty And The Beast retelling (I wouldn’t say its necessarily my favourite Fairytale – there just seem to be a lot of fantastic sounding retellings of it around). A contemporary fantasy retelling of the story this time with a heroine who has cerebral palsy and a prince whose cursed to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over again.

Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore

Retelling Of: Snow White, Rose Red & Swan Lake
Series / Standalone

Blanca (obedient and graceful) and Roja (vicious and manipulative) aren’t just sisters but also rivals. One day they will be pulled into a dangerous game that will leave one of them a girl and trap the other in the body of a swan. But when some local boys are drawn into the game, the swans’ spell intertwines with the strange and unpredictable magic lacing the woods.

Is it bad that I haven’t read a book by this author yet? They all sound amazing – and have such breathtaking covers – but I still need to get around to picking one up.

Winterspell by Claire Legrand

Retelling Of: The Nutcracker
Series / Standalone

‘A dark, timeless fairy tale about love and war, longing and loneliness, and a girl who must learn to live without fear.’

Since seeing the film last year – and knowing there was another movie version that I loved growing up – I’d love to read a retelling of The Nutcracker. This one, with its promise of a dangerous, seductive faery queen and 1899 New York City setting sounds like the perfect one to start with. Also I’m fairly certain that it was bought to my attention by an author’s recommendation on Fantastic Fiction but I can’t remember whose now.

The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury

Retelling Of: Aladdin
Series / Standalone

This is a retelling of Aladdin which focuses upon the Jinni from the lamp and is set in a world where magic is forbidden and our central character’s very existence is illegal. If that wasn’t enough the Jinni finds herself falling for Aladdin and torn between her heart and her freedom. Plus look at that cover! It’s gorgeous.

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So there you have it, ten of the Fairytale Retellings that I most want to read. There are honestly so many out there that I’m sure I’ll revisit the subject in some form in the future.

What are your favourite Fairytale Retellings? Are there any films or series that you think are worth checking out if you have an interest in these classic tales? Do you know any retellings that focus on lesser known stories? Let me know in the comments section below.

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