10 Favorite Fractured Fairy Tales (that are fun for adults!)

Beauty by Robin McKinley
I’ve always loved a good fairy tale retelling and this is one of the ones I remember best from my childhood. My mom read this Beauty and the Beast retelling aloud to us and I woke up in the middle of the night to see her reading it in the hallways because she couldn’t wait to see how it would turn out! I love that this one gives you way more backstory for Beauty’s family and I really love her sisters and their sweet relationship. It has such great character development and it’s just a delight all around. (also Spindle’s End by Robin McKinley and Rose Daughter)

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
I really enjoyed the December book from the 2023 Everyday Reading Book Club. This one is set in Alaska in the 1920s, following a couple who has recently arrived trying to make it as homesteaders. It’s pretty bleak for them until they find a little girl, Faina, who lives alone in the forest. This one is based on a Russian folk tale.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles)
The first book in this series was the August book for the 2023 Everyday Reading Book Club and it was so delightful. YA fantasy novels aren’t my normal cup of tea, but I loved this fractured fairy tale version of Cinderella. Each book in this 4 book series tells the story of a different fractured fairy tale: Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White.
 

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher
I read this one in the fall and it was such a fun Halloween read for me (but could really be read any time of the year). It’s based on the fairytale The Goose Girl and it is filled with sinister magic, fantasy, and one dangerous witch! I also loved the romance between older characters!

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
This was one of the very first books I ever wrote about on Everyday Reading and it’s still one of my all-time favorites. It’s a full-cast audio performance and our whole family loves Shannon Hale’s writing. All four books in the series are TERRIFIC and my husband and I listened to and then my older girls have LOVED listening to the whole series (most of them are included in Audible Plus and then I bought the final book in the series for them). (Full review here.)

Ella Enchanted by Gail Levine
This clever, funny, and sweet retelling of Cinderella might be one of my top five all-time favorite books! Ella was cursed shortly after birth to obey any order given to her and there doesn’t seem to be any way for her to break the curse on her own. Which means she’ll need to track down the elusive fairy that cursed her in the first place and convince her to remove the curse. And don’t forget about dreamy Prince Char, who absolutely adores Ella. Their chemistry is adorable and their banter the sweetest!

Tangled Up in You by Christina Lauren
This one was so light and fluffy (it is a retelling of Disney’s Tangled) but it was just SO FUN and enjoyable and one of those books that I blew through in 2 days because it was just pure delight. Funny, romantic, and clever. I can’t ask for more!

Enchantment by Orson Scott Card
I have read at least a dozen Orson Scott Card books and this retelling of Sleeping Beauty is so enchanting! Ivan stumbles upon a sleeping princess in the Carpathian forest as a child but flees in fear. Years later, unable to shake the memory, he returns to find her unchanged and awakens Katerina with a kiss—only to be drawn into a world lost in time. Now, Ivan must navigate a realm of magic and danger where destiny, love, and legend collide.

A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce
This is a beautifully written retelling of Rumpelstiltskin that I loved every second of! I couldn’t guess how it was going to all play out and I thought it was beautifully told and executed. (Full review here)

The Daughters of Eville Series by Chanda Hahn
This is not your average fairytale! It is something more sinister. In this 7 book series, each book contains 1 of 7 vengeful sisters, 1 of 7 fairytale kingdoms, and 1 of 7 adopted daughters of Lady Eville.

Spicy Retellings by Emily Mcintire
The Never After Series is a collection of six complete standalones inspired by different villains – including retellings of Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, and Aladdin. Please be advised that these are dark steamy romances and are intended for adult audiences. P.S. This entire series is included on Kindle Unlimited. 

As Old as Time by Liz Braswell
This entire YA series (14 books in all) takes classic Disney movie stories and reimagines them in the most surprising ways. In this installment, when Belle touches the Beast’s enchanted rose, she sees memories of the mother she thought she’d lost – who is none other than the enchantress who cursed the castle. Now, Belle and the Beast must unravel a 21-year-old mystery that ties their families together. P.S. Much of the series is included in Kindle Unlimited!

Finding Beauty in the Beast by Jessilyn Steward Peaslee
The tables are turned in this Beauty and the Beast retelling. Beastly Princess Rose, scorned and humiliated, vows to marry the suitor who brings her the best gift, but to his shock, she chooses Corbin after he offers a simple red rose. Trapped in an isolated castle, Corbin must confront his past and find the courage to see beyond the beast to the beauty within.

Beastly Beauty by Jennifer Donnelly
In this gender-swapped Beauty and the Beast retelling, Arabella, a fiery young woman whose refusal to conform, leads to a devastating curse that traps her and those she loves in a castle. Years later, when a cynical thief named Beau stumbles into her prison, the castle’s enchanted inhabitants believe he can break the curse. But Beau only wants to escape. To find freedom, Arabella and Beau must confront their deepest fears, learning that the most powerful prisons are the ones they create for themselves.(Her book, Lost in a Book, also came highly recommended.)

4 Kingdoms Series by Melanie Cellier
If you end up liking this stand-alone but interconnected fairy tale retelling series, there are 6 books, plus two additional sequel series!

Making Faces by Amy Harmon
After reading her books The Outlaw Noble Salt (one of my all-time favorite book of 2024) and What the Wind Knows, I have become quite the Amy Harmon fan. This Beauty and the Beast retelling follows a broken soldier and the girl who has always seen beyond appearances.

Briar Rose by Jane Yolen
Rebecca grew up with her grandmother Gemma, always telling her stories about Sleeping Beauty. But when Gemma is on her deathbed, she insists that she is Briar Rose, so Rebecca embarks on a journey to uncover the truth. And what she really begins to understand is that the story of Briar Rose is actually the story of her grandmother’s experiences during the Holocaust.

Mountains Made of Glass by Scarlett St. Claire
Gesela’s village is plagued by endless curses, and when she tries to break one, she unknowingly kills an Elven prince, bringing his vengeful brothers upon her. As punishment, she is sent to live with their seventh brother, a so-called beast. He offers her a deal – guess his true name in seven days, and she can go free. But to break his curse as well, she must speak his name with love.

Beauty and the Baron by Sally Britton
With her father in prison and their bookshop sold to pay his debts, Rose Sinclair has no choice but to seek help from the notorious Baron Norcliffe, Henry Covington. Despite his cold reputation, Henry offers her a position as a maid, and as they spend time together, Rose uncovers his hidden compassion while he is drawn to her unwavering optimism. But when a figure from Henry’s past reemerges, their fragile hope is threatened, forcing them to decide what they are willing to risk for love. This Beauty and the Beast retelling is part of a 6 book series of regency fairytale retellings – and has been described as wholesome and clean and can be read in any order.

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
This one is often described as a Russian fairytale, so think fantasy, but set in medieval Russia. A young girl with hidden powers, her evil stepmother trying to take over the village – this one truly fits the bill for a Russian fairytale.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George
Gifted (or cursed) with the ability to understand animals, the Lass agrees to accompany a mysterious polar bear to his castle in exchange for a fortune for her family. But when she discovers he is a prince enchanted by a troll queen, she must embark on a perilous journey to break the spell before he is forced to marry a troll princess.

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
This historical fantasy series based on the The Six Swans is set in ancient Ireland and each book focuses on a different woman from a four generation family. It’s full of supernatural abilities, historical battles, and even some romance.

Timeless Fairytale series by KM Shea
The Timeless Fairy Tales are a series of fairy tale adaptations all set in the same fantasy world. In the first installment, Elle’s misstep lands her in an enchanted chateau with a broken leg, and she is forced to rely on its ill-tempered owner, the cursed Prince Severin. Though he has lost hope of breaking his beastly curse, Elle’s playful spirit and his hidden kindness slowly draw them together—until secrets from Elle’s past and political tensions threaten everything. This is a Beauty and the Beast retelling that is humorous, adventurous, and filled with clean romance. The entire series is available on Kindle Unlimited.

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
In this Rumpelstiltskin retelling, Miryem, the daughter of a struggling moneylender, takes charge of collecting debts and earns a reputation for turning silver into gold. But when her boast draws the attention of the Staryk king—an icy fey ruler—she is thrust into a dangerous challenge that could alter the fate of two kingdoms. With two unlikely allies, she must uncover a secret that threatens both human and Staryk lands.

An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
This book is perfect for any Bridgerton fans out there. This third book in the Bridgerton series, follows Sophie Beckett, a young woman of lower social standing who catches the eye of the wealthy Benedict Bridgerton at a masquerade ball. Their romance unfolds amidst secrets and societal barriers, creating a Regency-era retelling of the classic Cinderella story.

My Salty Mary by Cynthia Hand
If you have been around for a while you will know that I LOVE My Lady Jane (it’s one of those books I’ve gotten more positive feedback on than almost any other book I’ve ever recommended). My Salty Mary is the 6th book in the series and is based VERY loosely on the true story of infamous lady pirate Mary Read remixed with the story of the Little Mermaid. If it’s anything like My Lady Jane, it will be full of laughs, ridiculous plot twists and a must-listen on audiobook.

Shattered Snow by Rachel Huffmire
If you couldn’t guess by the title, this is a twisty retelling of Snow White – mixed with a little time travel. When Countess Margaretha von Waldeck discovers a mysterious mirror that plunges her world into shadows and ice, her future unravels. Time-traveling vigilante Keltson Grammar, who rescues lost souls through hidden mirrors, sends an assistant to save her from being poisoned—but a mistake puts a deadly huntsman on their trail. If Keltson is caught, Margaretha’s fate will be sealed, and his own future will end behind bars.

Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi
Seeking a fresh start, Boy Novak arrives in Flax Hill, Massachusetts, where she marries widower Arturo Whitman and becomes captivated by his daughter, Snow. But when Boy gives birth to Bird, she is forced to confront buried secrets about Arturo’s family, unraveling the carefully crafted illusions around them.

The Lost Story by Meg Schaffer
As children, best friends Jeremy and Rafe vanished into a West Virginia forest for six months, returning with no memory of where they had been. Fifteen years later, Jeremy ,a renowned missing persons investigator, knows the truth: they were in a magical and perilous realm. When Emilie’s sister disappears in the same forest, Jeremy, Rafe, and Emilie must return to that mysterious world, forcing them to face the secrets and dangers they left behind. This sounds like an intriguing retelling of The Chronicles of Narnia.

Wicked: The Life and times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
I knew this one was bound to grace this list, especially after the movie just came out! Based on life before the The Wizard of Oz, this one is a must-read.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer
Before she was the Queen of Hearts, Catherine was just a girl who dreamed of love and baking—not the crown. Though the King of Hearts desires her, she falls instead for Jest, the charming court joker, risking everything for a chance at true love. But in a world of magic and madness, destiny has its own plans, threatening to turn her dreams into a nightmare.

The Scarlet Rose by Valia Lind
Beauty and the Beast…but make it the traditional Russian version. After Nikita’s father makes a dangerous deal with Gavriil, the cursed prince of Skazka, she steals a ring to take his place. Inside the castle, she discovers a cursed royal, magic, and a growing connection with Gavriil, who is slowly turning into a wolf. As she searches for a way to break the curse, Nikita must risk everything to save him before his humanity is lost forever.

Crimson Bound by Rosamond Hodge
In this Little Red Riding Hood-inspired tale, Rachelle, once destined to protect her village, is instead bound to the dark forces she sought to defeat. Years later, tasked with guarding the king’s son, she forces him to help her find a legendary sword that could save their world. As they navigate a treacherous court of power and secrets, they uncover hidden magic, conspiracies, and a love that could either redeem or destroy them.

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily forms an unbreakable bond with the handsome young Peter Pan, risking everything to be with him. But when Wendy Darling arrives and dangers close in, Tiger Lily learns that the most dangerous threats come from within the hearts of those she trusts most.

Hooked by Annette K Larson
In this Peter Pan retelling, Cecily has built a safe life as a lady’s maid, and vows to never trust a men again. But Falstone, the princess’s guard begins to change her mind about love. When Captain Huckley resurfaces from her past (and hopes to reclaim her) will she find the courage to escape and take a chance at true love?

The Hagenheim Series by Melanie Dickerson
Royalty, romance, and danger? This Sleeping Beauty retelling has it all! Rose is appointed as a healer’s apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, where she must prove herself or face an unwanted marriage. When Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is injured, Rose tends to him and she begins to develop feelings for him. But because he is betrothed to someone else, their growing connection is forbidden. Torn between love and duty, will Rose choose the right path?

Villains Series by Seven Valentino
This YA 12 book series is perfect for Disney lovers! Each book follows a twisted tale of a Disney villain with characters like Maleficent, the Evil Queen, and even the elusive Captain Hook.