32 Fairy Tale Retellings to Enchant Your Reading Life

Be sure to tune into this week’s Book Gang podcast to hear more behind Rachel Hochhauser’s incredible writing journey.

This hypnotic debut offers readers a fresh slant on the Cinderella story, reframing the evil stepmother with unseen challenges and motivations on the infamous night of the ball, flipping the well-known fairytale on its head.

Lady Etheldreda Verity Isolde Tremaine Bramley has lost two husbands and is now left to maintain a run-down manor and secure futures for her daughters. When a royal ball promises a way out of poverty, she gambles everything—only to discover hope in the most unanticipated alliance.

Hochhauser's writing feels as timeless as the story itself, shining in details that could only be captured by a mother, the ultimate observer and protector of her children. As the narrative escalates into a soapy crescendo, we glimpse behind palace walls where nothing is as it seems.

Contemplating what truly makes a happily-ever-after anyway, Lady Tremaine gazes at her daughters as they observe the natural world, ever ready to protect them from any threat. "I want to reach for them. Pull them close. But I do not have enough hands to hold them all. So, instead, I watch them. Absorb each detail. Twin sable braids and blond curls. Freckles and scars and mud."

This distinctive catalog is one any mother will know well, and it feels as if someone took a scalpel to my heart and peered inside to see how I observe and love my own children. This story is pure magic and establishes Rachel as a talent to watch.

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Ward delivers a harrowing tale in this new Peter Pan retelling.

Set deep in the unforgiving Colorado Rockies, the story begins when Riley, a resourceful young teen, awakens in the dead of night and flees with her little brother, Oliver, from their abusive home.

They’re chasing whispers of Nowhere,  an abandoned ranch once owned by a reclusive movie star now whispered about as a refuge for runaways.

What Riley discovers is that Nowhere isn’t just a hideout, but a place with ghosts in the ashes, guarded by fiercely territorial children and steeped in secrets.

Told through multiple interwoven perspectives — including the siblings and documentary filmmakers — you can chase the legend of Nowhere together.

Though not a direct retelling of a single classic tale, The Swan's Daughter earns its fairy-tale adjacency through its swan-maiden mythology, cursed royalty, enchanted competitions for marriage, and the kind of lyrical, fate-driven romance that feels pulled from the oldest storybooks.

Prince Arris fears marriage because a wish to a sea witch dooms every ruler of Malys to die and turn into a tree the day after their wedding. In this kingdom where love and death mix, the tournament of brides offers both hope and danger.

Then there’s Demelza, a veritas swan whose song reveals hidden truths. Forced into hiding but full of sharp wit and courage, she makes a deal with Arris—her truth-telling for his protection.

Their journey leads through sparkling caves, risky courts, and dances where love and danger blur.

This dark, twisted retelling of The Goose Girl mixes eerie magic with sharp humor and real danger.

Fourteen-year-old Cordelia has never had a normal life. Under her mysterious sorceress mother’s strict rule, she’s been trained to be silent and “obedient,” with only her horse Falada for comfort.

When her mother’s plans bring them to a wealthy squire’s grand manor and his watchful sister Hester, Cordelia finds a rare chance for freedom—and a frightening way out of the only home she’s known. As secrets come to light and threats grow, Cordelia must face what it costs to escape her mother’s magic and what it means to protect those she cares about.

Marissa Meyer takes the chilling Bluebeard legend and turns it into a captivating mix of romance, mystery, and ghostly suspense.

Mallory Fontaine is a con artist who uses her ghost-sight and a family story she doesn’t really deserve. She and her sister sell fake charms and lead tours of the infamous House Saphir, where Count Bastien Saphir committed grisly murders.

When Armand Saphir—the count’s handsome heir—hires them to clear his ancestral home of restless spirits, Mallory jumps at the chance for easy money and maybe some respect. But old and new murders, clever ghosts, and hidden monsters turn the job into a deadly game.

Between teasing ghosts and a growing attraction to Armand, Mallory must decide if her heart is worth risking—even if the house might never let her go.

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Described as a reimagined Beauty and the Beast, Ivey spins a dark yarn in her mesmerizing third novel, which left me in a puddle of tears after I finished the final page.

Single mother Birdie struggles to get by in a rough Alaskan town while waiting tables, often with her young daughter, Emaleen, by her side at a local inn.

When Arthur Neilsen—a reclusive stranger with a haunting backstory—rescues Emaleen from the woods, Birdie is drawn to both him and the untamed world he inhabits.

Against all warnings from wary locals, she and Emaleen follow him deep into the remote mountains, where life begins in his dusty, neglected, moss-covered home, which the girls immediately fill with great care and love.

But the dream unravels when Emaleen spots Arthur through a pair of binoculars roaming the woods wearing only a bear skin.

This eerie detail shifts the novel's trajectory, leading to a haunting exploration of Arthur's chilling origin story as a child—crafted with the same depth and wonder that defined Ivey's magical realism debut, The Snow Child.

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Adelmann's page-turning plot depicts an unusual support group meeting in a New York City basement with women who have been victims of fairy tales. Some women are true fairy tale characters, like Little Red Riding Hood. Others are modern-day fairy tale characters, like Ashlee E. on a Bachelor reality dating show series.

Each victim gets the floor (and a chapter) on what has happened to them. When viewed through a modern lens, we have a more sympathetic and layered account that makes us even more uncomfortable than the original tale.

For example, think about Gretel's sugar addiction and dental problems after her traumatizing capture. How would this change their eating habits? What if the story wasn't even true, and there was a completely different version of this commonly told fable?

Thanks to the chapter setup, it reads like a short story series. It was as addictive as any reality TV show, but be mindful of the warnings about the fairy tale crimes and the graphic repercussions of each fictional victim.

If Pinocchio met Wall-E with a side of Swiss Family Robinson, you'd get something like this quirky, heartwarming sci-fi fairy tale.

In a world where machines rule and humans are all but extinct, Victor and his misfit family of robots live a peaceful, hidden existence—until their past catches up with them.

TJ Klune brings his signature blend of humor and found-family warmth to this story, making it both a whimsical adventure and a quietly profound meditation on love, identity, and what it means to be human.

FUN FACT: Klune spent six months interviewing individuals on the autism spectrum to authentically portray Victor, aiming to contrast human complexity with the robots surrounding him.

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A dark and mesmerizing reimagining of Baba Yaga, this story follows estranged siblings Bellatine and Isaac Yaga, who inherit a house with chicken legs—yes, actual chicken legs.

As they embark on a cross-country puppet show tour, a sinister force known as the Longshadow Man pursues them, unraveling long-buried family secrets.

Thistlefoot combines Eastern European folklore, Jewish myth, and real history into a compelling family saga.

This lush retelling of The Goose Girl follows Princess Alyrra, who welcomes an arranged marriage to escape her cruel family—until she's betrayed and magically stripped of her identity.

Forced to survive as a lowly goose girl while an imposter takes her place, Alyrra must decide whether to fight for the throne or choose the quiet life she's come to love.

In a note to readers, Initsar shared, "If you are looking for a kick-butt heroine who takes names, Thorn is not the book for you. I wrote this story for myself, because I am not a kick-butt heroine, and if it came down to that, I would most certainly not save the day. But I truly believe that regular girls can save the day--girls who have seen the worst of humanity, who have faced sorrow and fear and hopelessness and were pretty sure they didn't have what it would take, and yet kept on going."

Intisar is the author of the Dauntless Path books (beginning with Thorn) and The Sunbolt Chronicles.

Marissa Meyer's Heartless is a standalone novel that serves as a prequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, focusing on the backstory of the Queen of Hearts.

Meyer's gives us context to Wonderland's most fearsome ruler, following Cath as she navigates court politics, a forbidden love with a charming joker, and the crushing weight of royal expectations.

Meyer's is an expert at breathing new life into classic tales, and this Alice in Wonderland retelling is no exception—equal parts whimsical and heartbreaking. This origin story proves that even the most infamous villains were once just hopeful girls with hungry hearts.

This One Thousand and One Nights retelling is the kind of sweeping, romantasy that you'll want to devour in one sitting.

When Shahrzad volunteers to marry the monstrous boy-king who murders his brides each dawn, she plans to take her revenge—until she realizes there's more to him than the rumors suggest.

Lush prose, slow-burning romance, and a heroine who wields stories as both weapon and shield make this a must-read for anyone who loves fairy tales with a bite.

FUN FACT: The Wrath & the Dawn is the first book in a duology, followed by The Rose & the Dagger. The series has been praised for its rich Middle Eastern cultural context and intricate world-building, earning a spot on the New York Times bestseller list!

The second installment in Alix E. Harrow's Fractured Fables series throws us back into the multiverse of fairy tales, this time with a twist on Snow White that questions what happens after the happily ever after.

Zinnia Gray has made a career out of fixing fairy tales, but when she gets pulled into a mirror and face-to-face with an aging Evil Queen who refuses to go quietly, she starts to wonder if villains deserve a second chance, too.

Harrow's writing is as sharp and enchanting as ever, giving us a meta, feminist, and another wildly fun take on fractured fairy tales.

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Maas has shared that the A Court of Thorn and Roses romantasy series was inspired by three of her all-time favorite fairy tales: Beauty and the Beast, East of the Sun, West of the Moon, and Tam Lin.

Feyre, a young huntress, is taken captive by the fae after killing a wolf and must navigate the dangers of the fae realm. As she grows closer to the mysterious Tamlin, she learns that there is much more at stake than her own freedom.

Maas's world-building is rich, and the romance and intrigue will captivate readers, making this an essential read for fans of magical retellings.

This popular book series includes five novels. Her books have sold more than twelve million copies and have been published in thirty-seven languages!

Gregory Maguire is the master of fairy tale subversion, peeling back the layers of familiar stories to reveal something darker, richer, and undeniably human.

Wicked flips The Wizard of Oz on its head, giving us a deeply imagined backstory for Elphaba, the so-called Wicked Witch of the West. In Maguire's Oz, politics, prejudice, and power struggles shape a world far more complex than the one Dorothy saw.

This novel explores what it means to be labeled a villain when you're just trying to survive. But it is important to know that the stage adaptation is very different from this novel, which focuses more heavily on the politics of Oz.

Inspired by The Wild Swans, Princess Shiori'anma harbors a forbidden secret: magic courses through her veins.

On the day of her betrothal ceremony, an accidental display of her powers catches the attention of her stepmother, Raikama, who curses Shiori and her six brothers.

Transformed into cranes, her brothers can only regain their human forms at night, while Shiori is rendered voiceless; each word she utters will result in one of her brothers' deaths.

Banished from her kingdom, Shiori embarks on a perilous quest to break the curse, relying on her resilience, a sentient paper crane named Kiki, a shapeshifting dragon, and the very boy she was betrothed to marry.

Lim weaves a tale with stunning world-building, an irresistible slow-burn romance, and a heroine who refuses to break. This is a must-read.

What if Cinderella's happily ever after became a nightmare for every girl who came after her? In this fiercely feminist retelling, girls in the Kingdom of Lille are forced to attend an annual ball where men select their wives—or else they disappear.

Unwilling to accept this fate, Sophia flees and discovers the truth about Cinderella's legend, igniting a revolution that could change everything.

With queer romance, sharp social commentary, and a heroine who refuses to be silenced, this is a Cinderella story like you've never seen before.

FUN FACT: Kalynn Bayron, the author of Cinderella Is Dead is also a classically trained vocalist!

Red Riding Hood meets the apocalypse in this brutal, gripping retelling.

In a world ravaged by disease and violence, Red is determined to survive and reach the safety of her grandmother's house—but the journey is treacherous, and the biggest threat isn't the virus but the predators who roam the woods.

Along the way, she confronts the dangers of the wild and the darker side of humanity, challenging those traditional notions of vulnerability and strength.

FUN FACT: Christina Henry is renowned for her dark retellings of classic fairy tales, including Alice and Lost Boy, which reimagine the stories of Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan, respectively.

West African mythology meets The Little Mermaid in this lush and lyrical fantasy. Simi is a Mami Wata, a mermaid tasked with guiding souls lost at sea to the afterlife—until she saves a drowning boy and defies the gods in the process.

With its rich mythology, breathtaking world-building, and a story that blends adventure with deep emotional stakes, this is a must-read for Children of Blood and Bone fans.

FUN FACT: Natasha Bowen, of Nigerian and Welsh descent, drew inspiration from her heritage and African folklore to craft this compelling narrative. Her dedication to authenticity led her to consult with an Ifá priest to deepen her understanding of Yoruba culture and the Orísha deities, enriching the novel's cultural depth.

This haunting historical retelling sets Hansel and Gretel against the horrors of WWII.

As the war draws to a close, a Jewish father and stepmother make the heart-wrenching decision to abandon their two children in a dense forest, hoping to increase their chances of survival.

Renaming themselves "Hansel" and "Gretel" to conceal their Jewish identities, the siblings wander through the woods until they encounter Magda, an elderly woman labeled a "witch" by local villagers. Magda takes them in, and together they navigate the perils of a land ravaged by war, confronting both human cruelty and the enduring spirit of hope.

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Cinder kicks off the Lunar Chronicles with a futuristic, action-packed twist on the classic tale, featuring a heroine who's as much mechanic as a princess.

Set in a futuristic world plagued by a deadly disease, the story follows Linh Cinder, a skilled mechanic who is also a cyborg—a status that makes her a second-class citizen.

When Prince Kai brings his broken android to her for repair, Cinder becomes entangled in a web of secrets and conflict. As she uncovers truths about her past, she faces choices that could shape the future of Earth and its colonies.

FUN FACT: Marissa Meyer began developing the concept for Cinder during the 2008 National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) contest, where she initially wrote a story focusing on a futuristic version of Puss in Boots. This early work laid the foundation for her later decision to create a series of fairy tale retellings set in the future.

What happens when the girl who once flew to Neverland grows up? In Wendy, Darling, A.C. Wise gives us a feminist, psychological take on Peter Pan, in which Wendy—now an adult and a mother—must return to Neverland to save her kidnapped daughter.

But this time, she sees through the magic to the dark truths hidden beneath. If you've ever wondered what happens after the fairy tale ends, this haunting and beautifully written novel will stay with you.

Arden's memorable debut novel retells a Russian fairy tale about Frost, a blue-eyed winter demon.

Vasilisa, a young girl who can see the ancient spirits of the forest, finds herself caught between the old ways and the new.

After her mother dies, her father brings home a bride who forbids the family from honoring the household spirits. This refusal leads to a series of unfortunate events, and Vasilisa must defy everyone she loves and use the gifts she has long concealed as her village falls under the grip of an oppressive winter.

FUN FACT: The novel is the first in Arden's Winternight Trilogy, with the subsequent books being The Girl in the Tower and The Winter of the Witch. The trilogy was a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Series.

This Beauty and the Beast retelling gives us a fierce, no-nonsense heroine and a cursed prince trapped in a brutal time loop.

Harper, a young woman from Washington, D.C., living with cerebral palsy, is unexpectedly transported to the magical land of Emberfall. There, she encounters Prince Rhen, who is bound by a curse that repeatedly forces him to relive the same season, each cycle ending with his transformation into a monstrous form.

Harper becomes entwined in Rhen's quest to break the curse, facing challenges that test her resilience and perceptions of heroism.

With action, romance, and a fresh take on familiar tropes, this is perfect for readers who love their fairy tales with a side of high-stakes fantasy.

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In this Rumpelstiltskin retelling, Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders. Her dad has been far too kind to those he has loaned money to, and Miryem decides to step up on his behalf. Due to her ability to bring in the riches, she soon becomes known as the girl who spins silver into gold.

When her boasting attracts the attention of the king of the Staryk—grim fey creatures who seem more ice than flesh—she unwittingly spins a web that draws in a peasant girl whose father plans to wed her to the Tsar.

But the Tsar isn't who he seems, and his secret threatens to consume them all. Torn between these choices, Miryem, along with two unlikely allies, embarks on a quest to save the world.

FUN FACT: Naomi Novik expanded Spinning Silver from a short story she originally published in 2016, transforming it into a novel that garnered several prestigious awards, including the 2019 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel.

This Peter Pan reimagining asks: What if Wendy's granddaughter had a daughter of her own—one who's gone missing—and Peter Pan is the reason why?

Holly has established herself as a successful skincare entrepreneur, cherishing her son, Jack, while keeping the tragic events of her past at bay. However, her life takes a wild turn when she learns that her daughter, Eden—who has been in a coma for nearly a decade—has mysteriously vanished.

Suspecting the involvement of the real and perilous Peter Pan, Holly launches a daring quest to rescue Eden, confronting the haunting legacy of her family's history

Be sure to check the content warnings on this novel before reading.

FUN FACT: The inspiration for Darling Girl was drawn from the life of the Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie, particularly the profound impact of his brother David's tragic death on his perspective of love and eternal youth.

Elle Wittimer, a devoted fan of the cult-classic sci-fi series Starfield, finds solace in her late father's cherished show while navigating the challenges posed by her unsupportive stepmother and stepsisters.

When Elle discovers a cosplay contest at ExcelsiCon—a convention founded by her father—she seizes the opportunity to honor his memory and connect with her beloved fandom. The contest offers a chance to meet the actor playing Prince Carmindor in the upcoming Starfield reboot.

Teen heartthrob Darien Freeman, selected to play Prince Carmindor, struggles with the pressures of fame and fears of not meeting the expectations of die-hard fans. But, through a series of anonymous text messages, Elle and Darien find a bond unlike any other.

In this Beauty and the Beast retelling, Beauty is no conventional heroine, but when she takes her father's place in the Beast's castle, she finds herself unraveling the mysteries of his curse and discovering love where she least expects it.

Published in 1978, this novel marked McKinley's debut and has since become a beloved classic in the realm of fairy tale retellings.

Interestingly, some readers have noted similarities between McKinley's portrayal and Disney's 1991 animated adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, particularly in Beauty's love for books and the enchanted household items, sparking discussions about possible influences.

Cinderella meets reality TV in this body-positive, charming romance.

Cindy, a plus-size aspiring designer, joins a Bachelor-style dating show—only to realize that the prince might actually be falling for her. With Julie Murphy's signature humor and heart, this is a delightful, empowering take on happily ever afters.

If you are on the hunt for more books like this, Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone shared their favorite plus-size characters on the Book Gang podcast to celebrate their latest romance collaboration adventures.

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What happens when fairy tale princesses are programmed to serve—and what happens when one of them starts to want something more?

The Kingdom is a Disney-meets-Westworld fever dream set in a futuristic theme park where android princesses exist to make guests' dreams come true.

But when one of them is accused of murder, we're thrown into a gripping mystery that questions autonomy, humanity, and the cost of happily ever after.

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Revisiting this novel for book club was such a treat this past year. I forgot how beautifully Frankel weaves a fairy tale into her gorgeous family drama.

While I hesitate to frame the acceptance that is showered upon this child as they explore their gender identity feels like a fairy tale, I hope one day it is a story that feels more grounded in everyone's reality as the years go by.

In This Is How It Always Is, Penn's bedtime fairy tales also serve as a profound parallel to the family's real-life experiences. These stories, woven throughout the novel, mirror the journey of their youngest child, Claude, who identifies as Poppy.

As the family navigates the journey of gender identity, the evolving fairy tale reflects their challenges and growth, pulling the story together in the best little happily ever after.

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This novel offers a spellbinding audiobook experience, making it an unforgettable fairy tale adventure.

Seventeen-year-old Alice and her mother have spent their lives on the run, constantly dodging the streak of bad luck that seems to haunt them.

But when Alice's estranged grandmother—an elusive author of cult-classic tales—dies in her mysterious estate, their luck takes a dire turn.

Alice's mother is kidnapped by a figure from the Hinterland, a cruel supernatural realm inspired by her grandmother's stories, leaving behind a chilling warning for Alice to stay away from the Hazel Wood.

Ignoring her mother's advice, she launches a perilous quest to find the magical Hazel Wood, accompanied by a classmate and die-hard fan of her grandmother's work. As you may guess, secrets are uncovered and truths revealed.

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