While I know this is not my first post on retellings, I hope that it's been long enough that this will hit some fresh readers who maybe haven't read my other posts and also I've got over 2 years of additional reading done since then and I have NEW BOOKS FOR MY LIST! I've tagged each title with "new" to show which ones were not previously on my list of favorites. Everything else is an old favorite that's still going strong!Without further ado let's begin!
Beauty and the Beast
- The Rose of Prophecy (out of print)
While BatB is super popular and I absolutely love the original and the potential it holds, I don't tend to like many of the retellings. Enter this awesome novella that won first place for BatB retellings hands down.
She is afraid. Not because she is alone. Not because thick roiling clouds obscure the moon. Not because the wind rushes through the forest like a wild dragon. She is afraid because she is late. And to be late means death.
This book solves one of my MAJOR issues with both the original and its various retellings. It always bothered me that the father put his daughter in the position to sacrifice herself to the beast. LIKE WHY THE HECK TELL HER THAT'S AN OPTION!
Anyway, that's always been my big issue with BatB, but there's some other fun changes the author makes that I enjoyed. I liked that the sister's were kind as well as beautiful. Without giving spoilers, I really loved the twist on why Beauty was late returning to the castle. I loved the twist on why the Beast did everything he did and the reason there was the whole "father or daughter" ultimatum.
Sadly this little novella has been unpublished and since it was in ebook form only there's no way to get a copy of it. Since I can't really recommend a book that no longer exists, this'll be the last time it makes my list.
Sadly this little novella has been unpublished and since it was in ebook form only there's no way to get a copy of it. Since I can't really recommend a book that no longer exists, this'll be the last time it makes my list.
- The Whispered Kiss (NEW!)
The only adult novel on my list, Whispered Kiss, is a fairly clean romance(perspective and all) and while it's definitely more romance heavy--too many details--than I personally prefer, I think it'd be considered light/clean romance for most romance readers. With the sea at its side, the beautiful township of Bostchelan was home to many-including the lovely Coquette de Bellamont, her three sisters, and beloved father.
In Bostchelan, Coquette knew happiness, and as much contentment as a young woman whose heart had been broken years before could know. Thus, Coquette dwelt in gladness until the day her father returned from his travels with an astonishing tale to tell. Antoine de Bellamont returned from his travels by way of Roanan bearing a tale of such great adventure to hardly be believed. Further, at the center of Antoine's story loomed a man-the dark Lord of Roanan. Known for his cruel nature, heartlessness, and tendency to violence, the Lord of Roanan had accused Antoine de Bellamont of wrong doing and demanded recompense. Antoine had promised recompense would be paid-with the hand of his youngest daughter in marriage.
Thus, Coquette found herself lost-thrust onto a dark journey of her own. This journey would find her carried away to Roanan Manor-delivered into the hands of the dark and mysterious Lord of Roanan who dominated it.
The heavy romance in this keeps it from being something I recommend often(due to many of my friends preferring less sensual content as well) and it did lessen my enjoyment of the story. However it did some really unique things with the story. The father is actually a selfish jerk (instead of the author trying to sell a loving father who ALWAYS tells Beauty she can save him if she gives herself up) which made me happy that it solved my issue of how a loving father could do what he did. Because he's not a loving father! HA!
I also liked that Coquette and Valor actually knew each other prior to the books events. They were sweethearts that were not allowed to marry. Their separation was bad for both but it brought out the best in Coquette and the worst in Valor so that when we meet them in the story we see someone who is Beastly inside and someone who is Beautiful.
- A Tale of Beauty and Beast (NEW!)
Princess Sophia has helped her twin sister Lily save the duchy of Marin. But now Sophie faces an even greater threat when she sets out to free the cursed kingdom of Palinar from its beastly prince. Alone, and with danger on every side, Sophie must navigate a magical castle and its even more mysterious master to discover the secret to breaking the curse.Except the more time she spends with Prince Dominic, the more she starts to question who exactly she's supposed to be saving. With time running out for the trapped inhabitants, and the reappearance of an old enemy, Sophie may have to choose between saving the kingdom and following her heart.There's plenty of ties to the original fairy tale and yet the story spins out in a fun and unique way. I honestly was sad that I didn't get to see more of Sophie and Dominic's story because I really really liked the slow build up to the romance. It made sense that it was slow and I loved how it was handled. But that made it so that by the time the characters admit their feelings and can show them, the story is about over! And at that point i was all in on their relationship and wanted some more of those romance moments.
Princess and the Pea
I so badly wish this was a story that saw more retellings because for whatever reason it really inspires authors to make an AMAZING book.
- The Princess and the Pea(NEW!)
Only a true princess can save the kingdom. Alaric wants to be king. He wants to continue the peace and prosperity his father created in Aeonia. But with enemies questioning his bloodline, he’ll have to put his heart on the line and marry a stranger to secure his right to rule. Only a match with a true princess will silence his critics and protect his future.
Lina’s lineage is shocking at best and deadly at worst. Over a century ago, she put herself into an enchanted sleep to seal away a horde of dark creatures. Now both Lina and the goblins are awake. Without friends or resources, Lina must seek the help of the Council of Kings. To get close enough to them to ask for aid, she’ll need to convince everyone she’s a true princess.
As Alaric searches for a true princess to marry, Lina tries to convince the world she is one. But while they try to save the kingdom on their own, they may find what they need is each other.
On the rare occasion I want to shake an author and say, "Why did you do this to your amazing book?" This was one of those times. This sat on my kindle forever because it's title is literally the same as the tale it's based on. No creativity there. The cover is pretty in a simple way, but by no means eye-catching. So there it sat. And it's sequel(The Frog Prince mentioned later on) suffers from the same issues. The author couldn't be bothered to think of a title and the covers aren't selling it. Ugh!
Anyway, all that to say that this is AMAZING. Easily tied with long time front-runner Violet Eyes.
I mean . . . come on. Lina is a FREAKING SHADOW WARRIOR! She's so amazing! She's not some peasant that gets swooped up by a prince or a princess that meets her handsome true love. No. Not Lina. She's not a princess or a commoner. She's a magical, kickass, shadow warrior that's been fending off dark creatures for over a hundred years. She's a flipping legend by the time she awakes. Only she's not just a story. She's legit and so are the dangers she fights against. Now she has to somehow face this monstrous force in a time where everyone's forgotten about these dangers and her league of warriors is no longer in existence.
Overall a very unique retelling of The Princess and the Pea. Stellar writing and characterizations. Two in the morning, people! That's how late I was up to finish this. It was something I started that night and 7 pages in realized I was NOT going to bed that night. Nope. Not until that book was finished.
The only reason this doesn't beat out the other contender is because the romance/love interest was rather lackluster. I think if the author had actually written a non-romance of the story it would've been MUCH better. Easily could've ended up being #1 if this had gone the friendship route instead.
Anyway, all that to say that this is AMAZING. Easily tied with long time front-runner Violet Eyes.
I mean . . . come on. Lina is a FREAKING SHADOW WARRIOR! She's so amazing! She's not some peasant that gets swooped up by a prince or a princess that meets her handsome true love. No. Not Lina. She's not a princess or a commoner. She's a magical, kickass, shadow warrior that's been fending off dark creatures for over a hundred years. She's a flipping legend by the time she awakes. Only she's not just a story. She's legit and so are the dangers she fights against. Now she has to somehow face this monstrous force in a time where everyone's forgotten about these dangers and her league of warriors is no longer in existence.
Overall a very unique retelling of The Princess and the Pea. Stellar writing and characterizations. Two in the morning, people! That's how late I was up to finish this. It was something I started that night and 7 pages in realized I was NOT going to bed that night. Nope. Not until that book was finished.
The only reason this doesn't beat out the other contender is because the romance/love interest was rather lackluster. I think if the author had actually written a non-romance of the story it would've been MUCH better. Easily could've ended up being #1 if this had gone the friendship route instead.
- Violet Eyes
When a storm brings the dashing Prince Richard to her family's farm, Violet falls in love at first sight. Richard also gives Violet his heart, but he knows his marriage is destined to be an affair of state, not of passion. For the king and queen have devised a contest to determine who will win their son's hand in marriage.To be reunited with her prince, Violet must compete against princesses from across the land. It will take all of her wits - and a little help from an unexpected source - if Violet is to demonstrate the depth of her character and become Richard's bride.
This book gets a lot of hate--among the few who've read it--but I really do love it. Yes, I appreciate some of the complaints and understand them, but this idea of the WHY behind such a hairbrained test was genius for me. I loved the twist at the end and I loved that not all of the "other girls" were horrible brats like how some books what their special snowflake to stand out so they make her the only nice female.
This introduced some truly unique ideas to the Princess and the Pea and for that reason (and the fact that the love interests actually met prior rather than meeting one rainy night as the girl bangs on the door) this still holds a spot on my list.
Twelve Dancing Princesses
Hi, my name is Kristen and I'm an addict. A TDP addict. I'm really trying to narrow this down because either this is a super popular tale to retell or I just happen to read and love a ton of them. Or possibly both. So believe me when I say this is the narrowed down list. The first four I couldn't honestly say which one I liked the best. It's a four way tie. The last one is also a favorite that I couldn't NOT mention.
This introduced some truly unique ideas to the Princess and the Pea and for that reason (and the fact that the love interests actually met prior rather than meeting one rainy night as the girl bangs on the door) this still holds a spot on my list.
Twelve Dancing Princesses
Hi, my name is Kristen and I'm an addict. A TDP addict. I'm really trying to narrow this down because either this is a super popular tale to retell or I just happen to read and love a ton of them. Or possibly both. So believe me when I say this is the narrowed down list. The first four I couldn't honestly say which one I liked the best. It's a four way tie. The last one is also a favorite that I couldn't NOT mention.
- A Dance of Silver and Shadow (NEW!)
When Princess Liliana and her twin sister set sail for new lands, Lily hopes to find adventure and romance. But the people of Marin live under the shadow of a curse—one powerful enough to destroy entire kingdoms. To protect them all, Lily and eleven other princesses are forced to participate in a mysterious and secret tournament.Lily spends her nights competing in a magical underground realm and her days unraveling the dangers of this new court. Although she needs the help of the Marinese prince, Lily knows she can't let herself grow too close to him. There's no time for romance when the duchy is about to fall to the encroaching darkness and the winner of the tournament faces a terrible fate.
But Lily and her twin have a secret advantage. And Lily grows increasingly determined to use their magical bond to defeat the tournament, save the princesses, and free Marin. Except she might have to sacrifice true love to do it.
Let's stop a moment to appreciate the absolute beauty of this cover. In fact, every story in the TDP section is gorgeous. Major props to the cover artists.
Lots of new twists. The world building was very well done. The characters all had the right amount of development. I couldn't put this down and was up late into the night to finish it.
Unlike any retelling I've seen, these princesses aren't sisters(or at least not all of them). A Princess Tourney has been called and by the ancient laws of the land, all eligible princesses within the borders of the participating kingdoms MUST attend. They are forbidden to speak of the trials(magically forbidden) and have to perform their best to prevent a death curse from falling on someone they care about.
There's multiple layers to this story, there's plenty of personalities, the story begs to not be put down.
Unlike any retelling I've seen, these princesses aren't sisters(or at least not all of them). A Princess Tourney has been called and by the ancient laws of the land, all eligible princesses within the borders of the participating kingdoms MUST attend. They are forbidden to speak of the trials(magically forbidden) and have to perform their best to prevent a death curse from falling on someone they care about.
There's multiple layers to this story, there's plenty of personalities, the story begs to not be put down.
- The Firethorn Crown
Princess Lily, the eldest of twelve sisters and heir to a mighty kingdom, desperately seeks a break from her mother's matchmaking. Tradition forbids marriage with the man Lily loves, so she would rather rule alone than marry someone who only wants the crown.Fleeing an overzealous suitor, Lily stumbles into a secret underground kingdom where she and her sisters encounter a mysterious sorcerer-prince and become entangled in a curse that threatens the safety of her family and her people. Lily can free them, but the price for freedom may be more than she's willing to pay.The Firethorn crown is an amazing story that really rounds out the charcters more than the original. It also takes the love interest from a different quarter, as well as having more male characters than just the "failed princes" and the love interest. There's lots of potential for more stories and some of the best descriptions I've ever seen in any book.
Twelve princesses suffer from a puzzling (if silly) curse, and anyone who ends it will win a reward. Reveka, a sharp-witted and irreverent apprentice herbalist, wants that reward. But her investigations lead to deeper mysteries and a daunting choice—will she break the curse at the peril of her own soul?I've never once contacted an author to ask if they'd write a sequel for something. Until this book. Yes, I'm way above the target age range. This was simply a brilliant book that combined two awesome stories to create a deep tale with fascinating characters. I dearly hope there'll be a sequel, and I'd love for it to be YA targetted.
Book Links: Amazon and Goodreads
A tale of twelve princesses doomed to dance until dawn… Galen is a young soldier returning from war; Rose is one of twelve princesses condemned to dance each night for the King Under Stone. Together Galen and Rose will search for a way to break the curse that forces the princesses to dance at the midnight balls. All they need is one invisibility cloak, a black wool chain knit with enchanted silver needles, and that most critical ingredient of all—true love—to conquer their foes in the dark halls below. But malevolent forces are working against them above ground as well, and as cruel as the King Under Stone has seemed, his wrath is mere irritation compared to the evil that awaits Galen and Rose in the brighter world above.I've read this a couple of times and I love it for a lot of the reason I love The Firethorn Crown, good development of the princesses, a unique love interest, and room for each princess to have her own story. Unlike most TDP stories, this one gives a good bit of the story from (the MMC)Galen's pov and that really helped take this to the next level.
- Entwined
Just when Azalea should feel that everything is before her—beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing—it's taken away. All of it. And Azalea is trapped. The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. So he extends an invitation.
Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest, but there is a cost. The Keeper likes to keep things. Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.
Book Links: Amazon and Goodreads
King Thrushbeard
A very, very bad traveling minstrel.
But Alek isn’t what he seems like on the surface, and neither is Rinda. She won’t take this marriage lying down, and schemes to find herself a new husband – a king. But as she and Alek travel together, they learn that not only are appearances deceiving, but goals can change in the blink of an eye, and love can get in the way of the strongest plans…
A rarely retold story that shines unexpectedly from an author who doesn't write retellings, or even fantasy for that matter. This book was so amazing that I hope it won't be her only foray into the genre. The best part of this is how the two main characters are developed. Rinda has a reason for her tasteless comments and hoity toity attitude. While Alek also has a reason for choosing to come for a bride that was nasty to him and that he doesn't love(because let's be honest, one short meeting where the other person insults you is not going to result in love).
The only complaint I have is that this isn't part of a retelling series!
Little Mermaid
Luckily, Dylan is not alone. She is befriended by Prince Callan, a kind, human prince whose country is being pulverized by the sea witch. Combining the strength of humans and the intelligence of the selkies, the pair unites to save their people.
But when the storm is over will Dylan choose to stay with Callan, or return to the sea and leave him behind…forever?"
There's a ton of retellings of the Little Mermaid but I always have some quibble with it. This one addressed so many issues I have with various versions of this tale. One of my favorite parts is when Dylan realizes the prince is the same guy she'd saved months ago. The guy she was extremely annoyed about saving and that he was so heavy and kept falling off the piece of wood she put him on, forcing her to continuously stick with him. The guy she'd mostly forgotten about while he's been obsessedwith finding her. It was just so humorous compared to the lovesick mermaid we know who spots a handsome guy and saves him because she things he's hawt and then pines after him.
Dylan's got her own reasons for being stuck in her human form, and it's definitely not because she is chasing down some guy she doesn't even know.
Peter Pan
While I definitely enjoyed the first two books in the series the most, I also liked the the last two books and can happily recommend the whole shebang. This is middle grade but appeals to a wide range of people.
This tells the story of Peter Pan, the Lost Boys, Hook, Tinkerbell, and all the rest before we meet them in the original story. There's danger, adventure, pirates(of course!), a secret society whose mission it is to protect the world, and a darkness so purely evil that it gives you shivers.
Book Links: Amazon and Goodreads
Cinderella
Here's a classic that's a hard sell for me. I really, really, really, do not like Cinderella. Right up there with Snow White for one of my least favorite fairy tales. As a result, it's a story that despite having a ton of retellings . . . I'm just so picky about.
An old favorite that I think just about anyone who's read retellings has read. Gail Carson Levine has delivered some truly stellar fantasy tales over the years and as a 90's child I really appreciated growing up with these. Ella Enchanted was my second favorite of her books and is still my favorite Cinderella story. I've awell-worn well-loved copy that I've kept with me since childhood.
In case you haven't read it, I'll just share the blurb and let you discover the rest!
At birth, Ella is inadvertently cursed by an imprudent young fairy named Lucinda, who bestows on her the "gift" of obedience. Anything anyone tells her to do, Ella must obey. Another girl might have been cowed by this affliction, but not feisty Ella: "Instead of making me docile, Lucinda's curse made a rebel of me. Or perhaps I was that way naturally." When her beloved mother dies, leaving her in the care of a mostly absent and avaricious father, and later, a loathsome stepmother and two treacherous stepsisters, Ella's life and well-being seem to be in grave peril. But her intelligence and saucy nature keep her in good stead as she sets out on a quest for freedom and self-discovery as she tries to track down Lucinda to undo the curse, fending off ogres, befriending elves, and falling in love with a prince along the way.
Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest, but there is a cost. The Keeper likes to keep things. Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.
Book Links: Amazon and Goodreads
King Thrushbeard
- The Scarecrow King(NEW!)
A very, very bad traveling minstrel.
But Alek isn’t what he seems like on the surface, and neither is Rinda. She won’t take this marriage lying down, and schemes to find herself a new husband – a king. But as she and Alek travel together, they learn that not only are appearances deceiving, but goals can change in the blink of an eye, and love can get in the way of the strongest plans…
A rarely retold story that shines unexpectedly from an author who doesn't write retellings, or even fantasy for that matter. This book was so amazing that I hope it won't be her only foray into the genre. The best part of this is how the two main characters are developed. Rinda has a reason for her tasteless comments and hoity toity attitude. While Alek also has a reason for choosing to come for a bride that was nasty to him and that he doesn't love(because let's be honest, one short meeting where the other person insults you is not going to result in love).
The only complaint I have is that this isn't part of a retelling series!
Little Mermaid
- The Little Selkie(NEW!)
Luckily, Dylan is not alone. She is befriended by Prince Callan, a kind, human prince whose country is being pulverized by the sea witch. Combining the strength of humans and the intelligence of the selkies, the pair unites to save their people.
But when the storm is over will Dylan choose to stay with Callan, or return to the sea and leave him behind…forever?"
There's a ton of retellings of the Little Mermaid but I always have some quibble with it. This one addressed so many issues I have with various versions of this tale. One of my favorite parts is when Dylan realizes the prince is the same guy she'd saved months ago. The guy she was extremely annoyed about saving and that he was so heavy and kept falling off the piece of wood she put him on, forcing her to continuously stick with him. The guy she'd mostly forgotten about while he's been obsessedwith finding her. It was just so humorous compared to the lovesick mermaid we know who spots a handsome guy and saves him because she things he's hawt and then pines after him.
Dylan's got her own reasons for being stuck in her human form, and it's definitely not because she is chasing down some guy she doesn't even know.
Peter Pan
- Peter and the Starcatchers
While I definitely enjoyed the first two books in the series the most, I also liked the the last two books and can happily recommend the whole shebang. This is middle grade but appeals to a wide range of people.
This tells the story of Peter Pan, the Lost Boys, Hook, Tinkerbell, and all the rest before we meet them in the original story. There's danger, adventure, pirates(of course!), a secret society whose mission it is to protect the world, and a darkness so purely evil that it gives you shivers.
Book Links: Amazon and Goodreads
Cinderella
- Ella Enchanted
An old favorite that I think just about anyone who's read retellings has read. Gail Carson Levine has delivered some truly stellar fantasy tales over the years and as a 90's child I really appreciated growing up with these. Ella Enchanted was my second favorite of her books and is still my favorite Cinderella story. I've a
In case you haven't read it, I'll just share the blurb and let you discover the rest!
At birth, Ella is inadvertently cursed by an imprudent young fairy named Lucinda, who bestows on her the "gift" of obedience. Anything anyone tells her to do, Ella must obey. Another girl might have been cowed by this affliction, but not feisty Ella: "Instead of making me docile, Lucinda's curse made a rebel of me. Or perhaps I was that way naturally." When her beloved mother dies, leaving her in the care of a mostly absent and avaricious father, and later, a loathsome stepmother and two treacherous stepsisters, Ella's life and well-being seem to be in grave peril. But her intelligence and saucy nature keep her in good stead as she sets out on a quest for freedom and self-discovery as she tries to track down Lucinda to undo the curse, fending off ogres, befriending elves, and falling in love with a prince along the way.
Book Links: Amazon and Goodreads
Jane Montjoy is tired of being a lady. She's tired of pretending to live up to the standards of her mother's noble family-especially now that the family's wealth is gone and their stately mansion has fallen to ruin. It's hard enough that she must tend to the animals and find a way to feed her mother and her little sister each day. Jane's burden only gets worse after her mother returns from a trip to town with a new stepfather and stepsister in tow. Despite the family's struggle to prepare for the long winter ahead, Jane's stepfather remains determined to give his beautiful but spoiled child her every desire.
When her stepfather suddenly dies, leaving nothing but debts and a bereaved daughter behind, it seems to Jane that her family is destined for eternal unhappiness. But a mysterious boy from the woods and an invitation to a royal ball are certain to change her fate...
This was rather slow-paced, but I actually really enjoyed it. I loved the twist of the Cinderella being a bratty little rich kid, the dad being an over-indulgent parent, the stepmother being mentally disturbed, and the stepsister's trying to survive despite everything.
The real twist for me was that it was the parents who really caused a lot of the issues. Cinderella's dad spoiled her, never corrected her, and was basically a horribly lenient parent. We see the effect this has on Cinderella and though she is a brat, with time, as her dad is no longer feeding her behavior, she starts to mellow out and by the end we at least see some potential for her to grow into a decent young woman.
The mother was intriguing in her blinded belief that the family is still rich and respected and I really felt for the sisters who were trying to survive despite the mother's actions that made this difficult. The romance was sweet and I wish there'd been more of it. I loved the slowness of it. This was no insta-love and that was refreshing. I wish there'd have been more time spent on it as the chemistry and such was good.
I'd recommend this for anyone that wants a light and fluffy read and is okay with something slower-paced with little action. The characters are really the key here.
- The Stepsister's Tale
Jane Montjoy is tired of being a lady. She's tired of pretending to live up to the standards of her mother's noble family-especially now that the family's wealth is gone and their stately mansion has fallen to ruin. It's hard enough that she must tend to the animals and find a way to feed her mother and her little sister each day. Jane's burden only gets worse after her mother returns from a trip to town with a new stepfather and stepsister in tow. Despite the family's struggle to prepare for the long winter ahead, Jane's stepfather remains determined to give his beautiful but spoiled child her every desire.
When her stepfather suddenly dies, leaving nothing but debts and a bereaved daughter behind, it seems to Jane that her family is destined for eternal unhappiness. But a mysterious boy from the woods and an invitation to a royal ball are certain to change her fate...
This was rather slow-paced, but I actually really enjoyed it. I loved the twist of the Cinderella being a bratty little rich kid, the dad being an over-indulgent parent, the stepmother being mentally disturbed, and the stepsister's trying to survive despite everything.
The real twist for me was that it was the parents who really caused a lot of the issues. Cinderella's dad spoiled her, never corrected her, and was basically a horribly lenient parent. We see the effect this has on Cinderella and though she is a brat, with time, as her dad is no longer feeding her behavior, she starts to mellow out and by the end we at least see some potential for her to grow into a decent young woman.
The mother was intriguing in her blinded belief that the family is still rich and respected and I really felt for the sisters who were trying to survive despite the mother's actions that made this difficult. The romance was sweet and I wish there'd been more of it. I loved the slowness of it. This was no insta-love and that was refreshing. I wish there'd have been more time spent on it as the chemistry and such was good.
I'd recommend this for anyone that wants a light and fluffy read and is okay with something slower-paced with little action. The characters are really the key here.
Book Links: Amazon and Goodreads
- A Wish of Glass(NEW!)
The love of her new step-sister, Blessing, proves an unexpected gift in her time of need. Yet even as their friendship blooms, Isidore begins to see that Blessing is everything she herself has always wanted to be, but is not. Jealousy grips Isidore as she watches this beautiful new sister steal away all she holds dear.
Driven to desperation, Isidore turns to the fey folk once more. She has only one wish to claim from them, one chance to make things right. But she must tread carefully. For wishes, like hearts, are easily broken. And obtaining the one thing she desires could mean destroying the one thing she truly needs.
One of the interesting points is you can't say for sure who's story this is. Is it Cinderella's story? Or the Ugly Stepsister? It could be either. That made it layered right from the start.
Isi(who I won't reveal if she's Cinderella or the stepsister) loses her mother, has an estranged father, and when her father finally starts to be part of her life he suddenly remarries. Now she's in a new home and has a step-mother and a step-sister. Her life is spiraling and she never was on solid ground before that. Isi's got so many problems, but I loved watching her growth as I went on this journey with her.
I thought the romance was unneeded, but otherwise I found this to be a Cinderella retelling that stands out by miles from every other story of its kind.
- Princess of Glass(New! Only because somehow it missed my last list)
Hoping to escape the troubles in her kingdom, Princess Poppy reluctantly agrees to take part in a royal exchange program, whereby young princes and princesses travel to each other's countries in the name of better political alliances--and potential marriages. It's got the makings of a fairy tale--until a hapless servant named Eleanor is tricked by a vengeful fairy godmother into competing with Poppy for the eligible prince.
Though I don't love this as much as the first book in the series, I did really, really love this. I've always been disappointed that the author didn't continue and give each sister her own book.
Fated (NEW!)
All Cinderella wants is to take care of her family.
After working tirelessly for five years to prove herself among the city’s elite, she’s about to graduate and win a coveted spot in city government. Then it all blows up in her face—literally.
A violent, anonymous force has been targeting commoners in horrifying attacks. Now they’ve set their sights on Cinderella. Either that, or she’s losing her mind. It doesn’t help that she’s falling for a mage who’s way out of her league.
Just as she manages to recover from the attack that left her scarred and traumatized, the city’s mysterious enemy destroys what’s left of her future. But when they go after her family, they cross the line. The whole city is in danger now.
How much is Cinderella willing to risk to save the city that has always hated her?
This is probably the most unique spin on Cinderella that I've read. I'm not a fan of Cinderella's story for many reasons, but this handled those amazingly. Cinderella is not a weak-willed, broken person. She's determined, smart, ambitious, and kind.
She wins the rare honor to attend the Academy where if she graduates well she can improve her family's circumstances. Instead of being cruel, her step-mother and sisters(who aren't really related) are generally nice people who unfortunately need to stay hidden to stay safe. They've allowed rumors to circulate that Ella is mistreated and so on in hopes that it'll keep her protected.
Everything comes crashing down when an attack on the Academy during the finals not only puts Ella in the "hospital" draining her family's finances, but also snatches away her chance to complete the exam.
Schooling down the drain and her dream vanishing before her eyes, Cinderella tries to pick up the pieces of her life. Scarred, and without a hope of advancing, she pours her energy into the bakery. Alongside is a mage who's been blacklisted. Together they combine their talents to take their business to new heights.
But someone out there doesn't want them to succeed and Ella can't tell if the creepy threats she's getting are real or just her traumatized mind cooking up things after the attack.
The Frog Prince(All new!)
Wow! So this didn't even make it on my list two years ago. Since then I've definitely hit the jackpot with this slimy tale! You're not getting just one or even two recommendations, but FOUR because they were all so good that why not give you more story options? But which one is you FAVORITE, Kristen! If you had to pick one. I'll at least answer that. It was the Green-Eyed Prince. No doubt in my mind that it blew every other retelling of the Frog Prince out of the water. (see what I did there?)
Nolan asks an old herb woman to transform him into a creature that is disgusting to any female—a frog. The spell will last thirty days unless the princess does the impossible and kisses him. Now the true test begins. Will Blythe prove to be as monstrously annoying as he believes she is, or will he learn to see past his judgments and find a loving princess waiting for him?
All Cinderella wants is to take care of her family.After working tirelessly for five years to prove herself among the city’s elite, she’s about to graduate and win a coveted spot in city government. Then it all blows up in her face—literally.
A violent, anonymous force has been targeting commoners in horrifying attacks. Now they’ve set their sights on Cinderella. Either that, or she’s losing her mind. It doesn’t help that she’s falling for a mage who’s way out of her league.
Just as she manages to recover from the attack that left her scarred and traumatized, the city’s mysterious enemy destroys what’s left of her future. But when they go after her family, they cross the line. The whole city is in danger now.
How much is Cinderella willing to risk to save the city that has always hated her?
This is probably the most unique spin on Cinderella that I've read. I'm not a fan of Cinderella's story for many reasons, but this handled those amazingly. Cinderella is not a weak-willed, broken person. She's determined, smart, ambitious, and kind.
She wins the rare honor to attend the Academy where if she graduates well she can improve her family's circumstances. Instead of being cruel, her step-mother and sisters(who aren't really related) are generally nice people who unfortunately need to stay hidden to stay safe. They've allowed rumors to circulate that Ella is mistreated and so on in hopes that it'll keep her protected.
Everything comes crashing down when an attack on the Academy during the finals not only puts Ella in the "hospital" draining her family's finances, but also snatches away her chance to complete the exam.
Schooling down the drain and her dream vanishing before her eyes, Cinderella tries to pick up the pieces of her life. Scarred, and without a hope of advancing, she pours her energy into the bakery. Alongside is a mage who's been blacklisted. Together they combine their talents to take their business to new heights.
But someone out there doesn't want them to succeed and Ella can't tell if the creepy threats she's getting are real or just her traumatized mind cooking up things after the attack.
The Frog Prince(All new!)
Wow! So this didn't even make it on my list two years ago. Since then I've definitely hit the jackpot with this slimy tale! You're not getting just one or even two recommendations, but FOUR because they were all so good that why not give you more story options? But which one is you FAVORITE, Kristen! If you had to pick one. I'll at least answer that. It was the Green-Eyed Prince. No doubt in my mind that it blew every other retelling of the Frog Prince out of the water. (see what I did there?)
- The Frog Prince
Nolan asks an old herb woman to transform him into a creature that is disgusting to any female—a frog. The spell will last thirty days unless the princess does the impossible and kisses him. Now the true test begins. Will Blythe prove to be as monstrously annoying as he believes she is, or will he learn to see past his judgments and find a loving princess waiting for him?
Blythe and Nolan find themselves dreading their arranged marriage(their only communication being through letters). Nolan decides that to be fair to his intended, he would test her before deeming the match unsuitable.
His solution: to turn himself into a frog for 30 days or until he receives a kiss from Blythe. He figures he can truly judge her character by how she treats a disgusting, slimy frog of no importance.
I loved that there was a motive--and a good one--for the prince being a frog and requesting what he did of the princess.
- The Green-Eyed Prince
Kartek has the weight of the world on her shoulders and what she drops is not a mere toy but something she desperately needs. And though the dropping was a bit of her own fault because she was fiddling with it, I completely understood why she'd needed to get away from her chaotic life and just have a minute of peace. She beats herself up about it but to me it made her human.
I really hate to say more and spoil this story. So I'll leave you with a strong urge to read this. Great characters, a nice handling of the romance, and just wow.
- A Midwinter's Wedding
But not everything in the Northhelmian court is as it appears. With her brother distracted by the wedding, only Ferdinand, the ugliest man at court, will listen to Cordelia's concerns. An observant princess and a strangely amphibious soldier may be the only thing standing between all Four Kingdoms and disaster.
This is part of a series, but is capable of standing alone and was by far my favorite despite being a novella that was shoehorned between books 3 and 4. Great romance and I actually loved both the main characters. Cordelia was fun and smart. Ferdy was sweet and brave. I liked that Cordelia is honest with herself in the fact that she wanted to go to this wedding to snag someone rich and handsome(preferably a prince). And she admits it's not a good thing that she judges on appearance.
Ferdy listens to Cordelia--as in actually listens. She realizes this and it's so cool to watch their relationship develop as they grow to respect one another.
- The Frog Prince
After a disastrous Princess Test, Carina tries to pick up the pieces and prove she is still a trustworthy spy. But all her evidence points to magical interference, and her father won’t believe such preposterous theories without proof. She’ll have to solve this mystery fast to salvage her reputation, but can she do it alone?
All he needs is a kiss
When Carina refuses to attend his brother’s wedding, Prince Stefan crosses the ocean to change her mind. But the perfect surprise turns into a perfect disaster when a witch transforms him into a frog. Only a kiss from Princess Carina can break the curse, and she doesn’t seem inclined to kiss anyone. Can Stefan win her heart before it’s too late?
Or will dark magic sweep them all away?
This is a second book (to the Princess and the Pea) so be warned with that!
Proof that it doesn't pay to get your brother a nice present!!! Okay, maybe it does . . .
I mean, all Stefan wants is to get his brother a wedding present. That's it. Simple. But oh, first he has to be a landlubber stumbling over his own feet on a ship that doesn't get to the right destination anyway! Then he gets attacked, and cursed, and sheesh, couldn't the girl have just shown up to the wedding?!
Now he's a frog in another country trying to win a kiss from a princess who has way too much going on to deal with some weird frog and his drama. Carina has a list of problems and she didn't sign up for a frog stalker.
One tough princess in a hard life and a cursed prince who just wanted to get a stinking present for frog's sake!
The Snow Queen
And when a young warrior following the Tradition disappears, leaving his sweetheart and mother to fear the worst, Aleksia's powers are needed as never before.
Now, on a journey through a realm of perpetual winter, it will take all her skills, a mother's faith and a little magic to face down an enemy more formidable than any she has ever known.
This one is my favorite of the Five Hundred Kingdom series.
The Snow Queen starts off near the end of the traditional tale and continues on from that point in the Snow Queen's point of view. This story twists the roles of the characters and gives the Snow Queen a new motivation for her actions. Her personality and how well she plays her role made me instantly love her. The majority of the story is original content since it's a "what happened after" type of retelling.
Book Links: Amazon and Goodreads
The Goose Girl
- The Goose Girl
Anidora-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree spent the first years of her life listening to her aunt's incredible stories, and learning the language of the birds. Little knowing how valuable her aunt's strange knowledge would prove to be when she grew older. From the Grimm's fairy tale of the princess who became a goose girl before she could become a queen, Shannon Hale has woven an incredible, original and magical tale of a girl who must understand her own incredible talents before she can overcome those who wish her harm.This is another book that's made its way into my library and I've read it at least twice. There's two stand out things for me in this tale. The first is the addition of Ani having magic. There are different forms of "speaking" in Ani's world and she has one of those forms. The second is that this book feels very much like the original tale only fleshed out.
The talking blood and horse head are absent(unless I'm forgetting), but otherwise this feels like Hale took the original story and expanded it and filled in all the blanks. Most retelling are tweaking the plot in some way, but this stands out as unique because so much was the same.
I the rest of the series(which are not retellings, but stories from other characters in the world) was okay, but they failed in my mind to measure up to this one and I didn't even add the last two books to my collection. This can be read as a standalone and though I have a friend who'll shoot me for saying so, I'd have been happy stopping with this one.
Book Links: Amazon and Goodreads
