Top Ten Tuesday #43 – Fairytales Retold

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. They’d love to share their lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

So I know I’m a little late today, but I have a good reason. I was up late reading one of the books that is on today’s top ten list 😉 Today’s topic is “Ten Fairytale Retellings I’ve Read/Want To Read (or you could do fairytales I want to be retold or fairytales I love).”

If you’ve followed the blog for any length of time you’ll know that I’m new to fairytale retellings. I’ve never cared for them, but that changed this year when I read the Lunar Chronicles 😀 So I’m going to cheat just a little. I’ve included movies on my list today in addition to books 😉

Ten Fairytales Retold

Fairest by Marissa Meyer – The Lunar Chronicles was a turning point for me. Up til that point I just didn’t care about reading retellings of my favorite classics. Marissa Meyer changed that for me! I love her spin on Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White. She blends science fiction and fantasy into a clean young adult read. They are exciting and I know I’m not the only one a little anxious for the last book this November!!! BUT my favorite from the Lunar Chronicles is Fairest. It’s the story of the evil queen retold to fit Levana. And dang the author for making me not only empathize with her but even like her just a little!

Splintered by A.G. Howard – Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland has always been one of my favorite classic fairytales and I adore A.G. Howard’s spin on this classic. I read the first book back in January and just recently read the last two (finishing up Ensnared today!). This story is addicting and I love the imagery!!! Just beautiful and horrific all at the same time 😀

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas – This book is one of my favorite reads from this year so far! Sarah J Maas has created a wonderful world based loosely on the classic Beauty and the Beast. I read it in one sitting, forgoing sleep to do so. The imagery, the world-building, and the characters….I just love it all!!!

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge – Another story loosely based on Beauty and the Beast, Rosamund Hodge’s version is much darker and pulls from some Greek/Roman mythology as well. This is another one I read in one sitting. I was both enthralled and horrified by the story. It falls into a gothic horror category in my opinion and I can’t wait to read more from this author! She has a way with words 😀

Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge – I couldn’t include Cruel Beauty and NOT include this one by the same author! Crimson Bound is a loose, and I mean VERY loose, retelling of Red Riding Hood mixed with some ancient mythology and prose. Like Cruel Beauty it falls in a gothic horror category. Despite that, or maybe because of it, I couldn’t sit the book down. It’s haunting and stayed with me long after I finished the book. I literally had to pull out an old favorite to get over the hangover this book left me with.  

Promiscuous by Isobel Irons – I adore this book!!! It’s a young adult/new adult contemporary retelling of Cinderella. But don’t go into this book thinking it’s all fluff! The author deals with some heavy social stigmas: rape, anorexia, self-worth….just to name a few. Also it’s written as if the main character is speaking to you directly, making it a quick read. It isn’t for the faint hearted but I highly recommend it!!!

Second on the Right by Elizabeth Los – This was a favorite of mine from last year and is a retelling of Peter Pan. The author though choses to tell us Hook’s story and I fell in love from page one! It’s a unique spin to the old classic and I loved every word 😀

Ever After by Wendy Loggia – Bet you didn’t know this was also a book 😉 I loved the movie as a kid and when they released a book based of the screen play I loved it even more!!! This will always be one of my favorite Cinderella retellings!

Tin Man – I love The Wizard of Oz! It was one of my favorites growing up and it still is. I’ve read the entire series to my four year old and plan to do so again soon. He enjoyed them as much as I. So it should come as no shock that if a book or movie about Oz comes out, I read/watch it 😀 However not many can get this world right and make it their own. My favorite retelling and it isn’t quite a retelling so much as a continuation is Tin Man, a SyFy mini series. I love it!!! It’s on Netflix if you’ve never seen it, I highly suggest you remedy that ASAP.

Maleficent – I loved this spin on the classic Sleeping Beauty! And who knew that Angelina Jolie would pull off evil so well?! I liked the visual effects and also the little nuances that paid tribute to the original animated Disney classic.

Your turn!! What’s your favorite retelling?

 

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