Written by contributor Julia Fleur
With the holidays right around the corner, we could all use a little bit of extra magic in our lives. What better way to enchant, than to immerse yourself into a fairytale world. These YA retellings are all based on famous stories, and are perfect for the cold winter months when you just need that bit of extra magic.
Blood Heir by Amelie Wen Zhao
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
Blood Heir is a retelling of Anastasia. Set in the fictional universe of the Cyrilian Empire, crown princess Ana has made a deal with a con man in order to prove her innocence in her father’s murder case. This is a dark, but enthralling debut, following a lost princess when the world is against her. This is perfect for the winter months!
Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
A mix of Snow White and Swan Lake, Blanca & Roja follows two sisters who are bound to a bevy of swans. But, there’s a twist: magic will soon turn one of them into a human girl, while the other one is forced to remain a swan. This is a story of sisterhood, love, and magic that you don’t want to miss!
Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
This Mulan retelling follows tailor Maia, who, in order to enter a tailoring competition, has to disguise herself as a boy and make her way through the trials. This book has a Project Runway feel, mixed with some delightful magic! Lim effortlessly transports readers to an East-Asian inspired world that will leave you breathless.
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
A list of retellings just simply isn’t complete without a mention of The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. This series follows a group of characters, that are all based on famous fairytales, but sets itself in a sci-fi world. Cinder is the first in a series of six books, and tackles the tale of Cinderella. Get ready to be transported into a completely different, but enchanting world!
A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
Beauty and the Beast meets real life in this fantasy rendition of the classic fairytale. We follow Harper, who has cerebral palsy. In order to sustain her family, she braves the Washington streets to survive. Attempting to rescue a woman, she is transported to a magical land where a prince is destined to endlessly repeat his eighteenth year of life. This unique retelling combines modern world aesthetics with fairytale storylines, and is unlike anything you have ever read before!
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
Based on the stories of 1001 Nights, Renee Ahdieh’s The Wrath and the Dawn is about Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan, who takes the life of a different bride every single night. Shahrzad volunteers to end his reign of terror by becoming the eighteen-year-old Caliph’s next victim. However, the two soon become connected through a web of enchanting stories. While this is Ahdieh’s debut novel, and many of her works have since graced our shelves, this is a definite must-read!
Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
Based on The Labyrinth and tales of German folklore, Wintersong is about Liesl who grew up with stories about the Goblin King. When her sister is kidnapped by the Goblins, Liesl sets out to save her. Using her musical abilities, she aims to enchant the king and free her family. This is an intricate, musical and whimsical retelling that is perfect for the holidays
To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
Finally, a list of fairytale retellings without a Little Mermaid inspired story would just not be complete. To Kill a Kingdom is centered around deathly Siren Lira, who takes a prince’s heart every single year ever since she’s been alive. When she kills one of her own kind, her mother transforms her into a human as a form of punishment. The only way to change back into a siren is to kill the prince, so she becomes a part of his crew. While based on the famous Anderson tale, To Kill a Kingdom is much darker and more thrilling than you could have ever imagined.
