Fairy Tales and Legends Retold

Once upon a time…and then adventures happened…and then they all lived happily ever after…right? Well, maybe! These are fairy tales and traditional legends as they are meant to be enjoyed. Whether gritty, funny, dark, witty, creative or just plain spectacular, these authors will make you re-think what you thought you knew about fairy tales.

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McKinley, Robin - Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast
In this more complex version of the traditional fairy tale, Beauty is, in fact, not so pretty as her older sisters. She is, however, intelligent and her character truly comes to life in this delightful, traditional re-telling of a classic fairy tale.

Napoli, Donna Jo - Bound
This Cinderella story takes place in China. Elements of traditional Chinese culture, such as foot binding, for example, meld with the Cinderella story to create a complex, issue oriented story rich in historical detail and full of intelligent, well-rounded characters.

Lackey, Mercedes - Firebird
A young Russian nobleman, Ilya Ivanovitch, is unknowingly cursed when he glimpses the firebird stealing cherries from his father’s orchard. He begins an adventure that will eventually lead him to face and defeat a sorcerer not even the mightiest warriors could conquer. This book is a light hearted introduction into Russian folklore, written in an easy, natural style that makes the reader feel she has grown up hearing these stories all her life.

Johnson, Kij - The Fox Woman
Those who are interested in Japanese fairy tales will enjoy this tale of a trickster fox, who falls in love with a human man and appears in human form to seduce him away into her world. This book has a literary feel and an ambiguous ending. It is very focused on the inner lives of the characters, and offers a fascinating and accessible glimpse into the lives of Heian-era Japanese nobility.

Kay, Guy Gavriel - The Last Light of the Sun
lightly on Norse and Celtic legend, set in the British Isles during the time of the Viking raids, this is the story of five seemingly unconnected individuals and how their lives unexpectedly intertwine due to small decisions they make. The author’s solid research and complex writing style brings depth and a literary feel to the novel.

Maguire, Gregory - Mirror, Mirror
This complex retelling of Snow White is set against the backdrop of the Italian Borgia family in the 16th century. Lucrezia Borgia’s fate cast as the evil queen is as grotesque as it would be in any true fairy tale. The story is elaborately written, with some plot twists added to the traditional tale.

McKiernan, Dennis - Once Upon A Winter's Night
This book is based on the Scandinavian fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon. Similar to the story of Cupid and Psyche, the storyline is mythic and character centered. Written in a descriptive, lyrical style that draws the reader in, this is the story of Camille, a farmer’s daughter who marries a prince of faerie. She must journey to find her lost love and lift the curse placed upon him.

Lackey, Mercedes - Reserved for the Cat
Recently fired from the Paris Opera Ballet, Ninette Dupond finds herself following the advice of a telepathic cat who claims to be sent by her father, a magician. This puss in boots retelling is a quick, fun read. Although it has some gritty moments within, it has an overall light feel and a traditional happy ending.

Fletcher, Susan - Shadow Spinner
This is an elaboration on the tale of Shahrazad in Arabian Nights. The main character is Marjan, who is forced to sneak from the palace each night and bring back tales to Shahrazad that she may tell the sultan. The pace is measured, with descriptive detail that will draw the reader into the story.

Murphy, Louise - The True Story of Hansel and Gretel
In Nazi-occupied Poland, two Jewish children are abandoned by their parents in the hopes of saving them from the Nazis. They are taken in by an eccentric old woman, placing her in danger of the ovens of the concentration camps. This mirror image of the classic Grimm tale transforms the old archetypes. It is a dark, gritty tale that offers a message of hope.

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Submitted by Amanda Kerstiens, S524: Readers Advisory for Adults course in the School of Library and Information Science at Indiana University.