I love retellings and reimagining because they take a tale we know and love, and infuses it with new life. There is the same comfort but also a new adventure within the pages- check out some of my favorites!
An anti-colonial Rumpelstiltskin retelling featuring a fierce yet strong FMC who uncovers not everything in her world is as it seems, including those she loves most. This is written beautifully and is emotionally evocative!
The Unnamed (The Book of Names Duology, Book 1)
A Cinderella retelling focusing on the maybe-not-quite-so-evil-step-mother. This is one of my favorites of all time, the writing, the depth to the characters and the emotion. It covers themes of womanhood, motherhood, and patriarchy. If you enjoyed E...
Lady Tremaine (Reese's Book Club Pick)
You can probably guess from the cover, but this is a Red Riding Hood retelling! It’s a little bit spooky (FMC can see ghosts), quite spicy (he’s a big, bad wolf), and has heapings of feminine rage (the patriarchy REALLY sucks). It’s a great dark fant...
Song of the Dark Wood
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table get reenvisioned in this incredible YA Fantasy. Bree Matthew’s life gets turned upside down upon discovering a secret society at UNC-Chapel Hill. This was filled with unique magic, explorations of grief,...
Legendborn
This is a contemporary YA horror-romance retelling of Frankenstein! The mortuary setting is dripping with gothic imagery and eerie atmosphere. The emotion was intense and the plot had me glued to the pages!
Make Me a Monster
This sapphic Bluebeard horror retelling had me SCARED! I’m talking jumping at every noise, hiding under the covers scared. The chilling atmosphere sets the stage for everything to be suspicious and nothing to be trusted 👀
A Thousand Monstrous Forms: A Novel
The Brides of Dracula retold with a fresh, queer perspective in the Dark Fantasy Romance. Short but definitely not so sweet, the powerful prose in this had a lasting impact on me.
A Dowry of Blood
One of the most beautiful and heartbreaking stories I’ve ever read. We know the warrior, now we get to know the man and his greatest love- Patroclus. Miller’s writing is absolutely beautiful.
The Song of Achilles
You know the monster, now meet the maiden. This was a great Medusa retelling that explores the complex nature of villainy. It reframes Medusa in a compelling and human way- which makes her transition all the more devastating.