Captivating Fairy Tale Retellings
For many, their reading journey began with fairytales. Cinderella’s glass slipper, Little Red Riding Hood’s deadly encounter with the Big Bad Wolf, and Peter Pan’s Neverland adventures define childhood memories. And as time passes, our love for these stories and fables remains, but we crave more. More action. More romance. More magic. And more characters with depth.
Enter fairy tale retellings and reimaginings. Whether you’re craving a nail-biting adventure or a swoon-worthy romance, or you can’t wait to watch Snow White in theaters, these literary fiction and young adult novels breathe new life into some of your favorite timeless tales. From the stories that inspired classic Disney movies to ancient folklore passed down through generations, this list has you covered.
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1
Add to BookshelfSnow & Poison
by Melissa de la Cruz
From Melissa de la Cruz, New York Times bestselling author of The Isle of the Loss, comes a historical fantasy retelling of Snow White. It’s the 17th century in Bavaria and Lady Sophie’s got a problem — she’s in love with Philip, heir to the Spanish throne. When his father, the king, finds out, he commands her death. Will this Snow White get a happy ending? Or will love cost her her life?
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2
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Iron Widow (Book 1)
by Xiran Jay Zhao
The rise of Wu Zetian, the only female Emperor in Chinese history, is retold in this dystopian sci-fi story that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. Epically brutal with a diverse set of characters and a female main character full of angst, this instant #1 New York Times bestseller will leave you speechless and wanting more.
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3
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Akata Witch
by Nnedi Okorafor
Inspired by Nigerian culture and politics, and African cosmology, folklore, and tradition, New York Times bestselling author Nnedi Okorafor tells the story of Sunny Nwazue, an albino living in Nigeria. When it’s discovered she possesses latent magical powers, she must head off to train how to control them. Imaginative, inventive, and enchanting, this series, affectionately dubbed the “the Nigerian Harry Potter,” is packed with mythological wonder and will leave you in awe.
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4
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The Bear and the Nightingale
by Katherine Arden
Winter lasts most of the year at the edge of the Russian wilderness, and in the long nights, Vasilisa and her siblings love to gather by the fire to listen to their nurse’s fairy tales. Above all, Vasya loves the story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon. Wise Russians fear him, for he claims unwary souls, and they honor the spirits that protect their homes from evil. Then Vasya’s widowed father brings home a new wife from Moscow. Fiercely devout, Vasya’s stepmother forbids her family from honoring their household spirits, but Vasya fears what this may bring. And indeed, misfortune begins to stalk the village.
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5
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Midnight Strikes
by Zeba Shahnaz
Despite being an outsider, Anaïs attended the kingdom’s glittering anniversary ball. Suddenly, at the stroke of twelve, an explosion kills everyone at the palace. But then, she suddenly wakes up in her bedroom, hours before the ball. How? Stuck in a time loop, she’s forced to relive the deadly event over and over again. With fantastical world-building and plot twists, this Cinderella needs to figure out how to make it past midnight.
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6
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Boy, Snow, Bird
by Helen Oyeyemi
Boy Novak arrives by chance in a small town in Massachusetts looking, she believes, for beauty. She marries Arturo Whitman, a local widower, and becomes stepmother to his winsome daughter, Snow. A wicked stepmother is a creature Boy never imagined she’d become, but elements of the familiar tale of aesthetic obsession begin to play themselves out when the birth of Boy’s daughter, Bird, who is dark-skinned, exposes the Whitmans as light-skinned African-Americans passing for white. In seeking an understanding that is separate from the image each presents to the world, Boy, Snow, and Bird confront the tyranny of the mirror to ask how much power surfaces really hold.
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7
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The Princess and the Fangirl
by Ashley Poston
From New York Times bestselling romance author Ashley Poston comes a geeky love story that will send your heart swooning. Imogen Lovelace, an ordinary girl, and Jessica Stone, a famous actress in the Starfield franchise, switch places at ExcelsiCon. While it’s creepy how the two look so much alike, they couldn’t be any more different, which is what makes this modern-day Prince and the Pauper and Cinderella mashup so wonderfully entertaining!
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8
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Off With Their Heads
by Zoe Hana Mikuta
In a world where Saints are monsters and Wonderland is the dark Forest where they lurk, young witches and lovers Carousel Rabbit and Iccadora Alice Sickle were once both imprisoned in that Forest for a crime they didn’t commit. But their freedom came at a devastating cost. Fierce, fantastical, and utterly uncanny, this Korean-inspired reimagining of Alice in Wonderland will send readers down a dizzying rabbit hole and into a world drenched in blood and betrayal.
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9
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When You Wish Upon a Star
by Elizabeth Lim
What if there’s more to the Blue Fairy’s story than we thought? When Geppetto wished for Pinocchio to be a real boy, he never realized that it would turn both of them into pawns in a bet between the Blue Fairy and the Scarlet Fairy, her rival — who also happens to be her sister. Granting wishes comes with a price, and the Scarlet Fairy is ready to collect. Lose yourself in the origin story of one of Disney’s most timeless characters and her revenge-seeking sibling.
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10
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Kill the Beast
by Serena Valentino
It’s time to rethink everything you know about Beauty and the Beast. From New York Times bestselling author Serena Valentino comes a tale as old as time … from the villain’s point of view. When Gaston was growing up, he and the prince were close friends. But a tragedy forces them on separate paths … and curses. Now, Gaston has his eye on one goal, making sure he’s the one who kills the Beast of Gévaudan. Creative with characters full of depth, this story will have you second-guessing who the true villain truly is.
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11
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Island Witch
by Amanda Jayatissa
Set in 19th-century Sri Lanka and inspired by local folklore, Island Witch follows the daughter of a traditional demon-priest, who is used to keeping mostly to herself. Influenced by the new religious practices brought in by the British Colonizers, the villagers who once respected her father’s craft have turned on the family. Now someone — or something — is viciously seizing upon men in the jungle. But instead of enlisting Amara’s father’s help, the villages have accused him of carrying out the attacks himself. As she tries to clear her father’s name, Amara finds herself haunted by dreams that eerily predict the dark forces on her island.
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12
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Spinning Silver
by Naomi Novik
In this imaginative retelling of the Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale, Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders, but her father’s inability to collect his debts has left his family on the edge of poverty. Hardening her heart, Miryem sets out to claim what is owed and soon gains a reputation for being able to turn silver into gold. When an ill-advised boast draws the attention of the king of the Staryk — grim fey creatures who seem more ice than flesh — Miryem’s fate, and that of two kingdoms, will be forever altered. She will face an impossible challenge and, along with two unlikely allies, uncover a secret that threatens to consume the lands of humans and Staryk alike.
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13
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The Bone Spindle
by Leslie Vedder
With a perfect blend of romance and adventure, this debut novel from Leslie Vedder is perfect for fairy tale lovers with a penchant for action! When Fi, a book-loving treasure hunter pricks her finger on a spindle, she gets stuck with the spirit of Briar Rose, a sleeping prince. She teams up with Shane, a warrior from the north to break the curse. Witch Hunters, dark magic, and LGBTQ+ romance, what more can you ask for in a new fantasy read?
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14
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Song of Silver, Flame Like Night
by Amélie Wen Zhao
There’s no shortage of dragons, magic, and fast-paced action! In a fallen kingdom, one girl carries the key to discovering the secrets of her nation’s past — and unleashing the demons that sleep at its heart. Inspired by ancient Chinese mythology and folklore, it’s the perfect read for fans of Chinese xianxia fantasy stories. And when you’re finished, pick up the highly anticipated sequel Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White.
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15
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The New Camelot
by Robyn Schneider
The epic finale of the Emry Merlin trilogy has arrived and it’s got just as much fun, magic, and snark as its predecessors! Life is falling into place for Emry Merlin. She’s Camelot’s official court wizard and Arthur’s official girlfriend. But new danger with dark magic is on the horizon. Are Emry and Arthur’s skills (and love) enough to bring peace to the kingdom? Brace yourself, this teen rom-com has it all: Witty banter, romance, and nonstop action.
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Bravely
by Maggie Stiefvater
Princess Merida of DunBroch craves a change, maybe even an adventure or two. Her wish comes true when a supernatural being is determined to demolish the realm. Merida has one year to save everything (and everyone) she loves, or she loses it all. Perfect for fans of Hans Christian Anderson and Brothers Grimm, this story starts a few years after the classic animated Disney film ends.
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17
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Curses
by Lish McBride
A gender-swapped retelling of Beauty and the Beast? Say less! Merit Crava is forced to live as a beast after refusing to marry a prince. Tevin Dumont, a handsome villager, was traded for his mother’s freedom. The two agree to help each other out of their sticky situation. The last thing they expected was to fall in love … especially with each other.
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Silver in the Bone
by Alexandra Bracken
From the critically acclaimed author of Lore comes a contemporary fantasy inspired by Celtic lore and perfect for fans of Arthurian myth. Tamsin Lark may not have been born with magic, but she must team up with her rival and journey to the cursed ruins of Avalon in search of a powerful ring from Arthurian legend. Plunge into a world of dark magic, sorceresses, and adrenaline-fueled action with this inventive dark fantasy featuring a side of enemies-to-lovers romance.
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The Girl in Red
by Christina Henry
It’s not safe for anyone alone in the woods. But the woman in the red jacket has no choice. Not since the Crisis came and decimated the population. There are worse threats in the woods than the things that stalk their prey at night. Sometimes, there are men. Men with dark desires, weak wills, and evil intents. And sometimes, just sometimes, there’s something worse than all of the horrible people and vicious beasts combined. Red doesn’t like to think of herself as a killer, but she isn’t about to let herself get eaten up just because she is a woman alone in the woods …
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