Fairy-tale Inspired Books
Happy holidays! I thought I'd throw out a fun Tuesday Thirteen list today, this one having a theme of fairy-tale inspired books.
I haven't read some of these books in ten years, but for some reason they still haunt me. Here are my favorite fairy-tale inspired books (in no particular order)! I had to cap it at thirteen otherwise the list might never end. Though, there is a shortage of good fairy tale re-tellings, for some reason... I wonder why that is? Are there any really good ones I should know about that aren't on this list?
- Spindle's End - Robin McKinley
- Enchantment - Orson Scott Card
- Spellbound - Ru Emerson
- Golden - Cameron Dokey
- Seven Daughters and Seven Sons - Barbara Cohen and Bahija Lovejoy
- The Book of Atrix Wolfe - Patricia McKillip
- Deerskin - Robin McKinley
- Briar Rose - Jane Yolen
- The Door in the Hedge - Robin McKinley
- Phoenix and Ashes - Mercedes Lackey
- The Lark and the Wren - Mercedes Lackey
- The Pearl of the Soul of the World - Meredith Ann Pierce
- Sabriel - Garth Nix
Actually, there is this one retelling of the frog prince and I can't remember the title of it.
I do know that the prince was turned into a frog as part of a magical conspiracy, and that the princess/girl fell in love with him when he was a frog, and that his own brother/uncle/relative throws him across the room so he hits the wall with a sickening crack. The girl, distraught, thinks the frog died, but he actually just broke the spell by angering his relative into chucking him across the room.
Anyone know the book I'm talking about? It was really good. Anyone have any books to add to the list?
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December 22nd, 2008 - 10:04
Yes! You need to read “Jack of Kinrowan” by Charles DeLint… it’s a new setting of Jack the Giant Killer. Good stuff.
December 22nd, 2008 - 14:39
Have you read Princess Bubble? That is my favorite.
December 22nd, 2008 - 20:30
Hee…I’ve read a few on your list, but titles that come immediately to my mind are historical romances.
December 22nd, 2008 - 20:43
love that kinda stuff, still… thx belinda :)
season’s blessings to you and yours :)
December 23rd, 2008 - 07:56
Have you read Sherry Thomas? OMG I’ve just discovered her, she’s such a GOOD writer. Historical Romance isn’t “normally” my thing, but I think I’m slowly becoming a fan of the genre. Right now I’m devouring “Private Arrangements” by her, and she’s also go another book out called: “Delicious” that I THINK is supposed to be a bit of a Cinderella story.
December 23rd, 2008 - 14:03
Word Nerd – Thanks! I’ll add it to my To Be Read list.
Karen – No, I haven’t, what’s it about? The title suggests something funny.
Evangeline – I love historical romance that takes inspiration from fairy tales. Name a few! I’d love to find more.
Laughingwolf – Thanks! Season’s blessings to you and yours as well.
Zoe – Yes, I read Private Arrangements and loved it. I’ve been meaning to pick up Delicious because, as you said, it’s a Cinderella story.
December 25th, 2008 - 08:16
The standard that I set fairy-tale inspired historical romances is Judith Ivory–Beast and Sleeping Beauty are absolutely, breathtakingly good. Both are on the shortlist of books I’m willing to re-read time and time again.
Happy Christmas!
December 25th, 2008 - 16:22
Hey Evangeline those sound good, I’ll have to check them out.
December 31st, 2008 - 14:57
Evangeline – This is the second or third time I’ve heard about Judith Ivory’s Beast/Sleeping Beauty, I’m definitely going to add them to my To Be Read list.
December 31st, 2008 - 15:11
I just bought Beast off Amazon, hopefully it’ll be good. I trust Evangeline’s taste in books.
January 2nd, 2009 - 00:22
Hey Belinda!
There’s a YA series by Patricia C. Wrede called ‘The Enchanted Forest Chronicles’ filled with fairy-tale like elements. It starts with a princess who thinks the local princes are insipid and decides that she’d rather volunteer to be a dragon’s captive. It’s a thoroughly traditional situation. Her parents couldn’t possibly complain…
One of my favorite series when I was younger. :)
For a straight retelling (but adult material, be warned), there’s ‘The Bloody Chamber’, by Angela Carter. Very realistic retelling of one of the more disturbing fairy tales.