Retell Me A Story

Let’s talk about books, baby. Let’s talk about books and me.

Oh wait. Those aren’t the right words.

But seriously, let’s talk about books. More specifically, retellings.

I love a good retelling. Whether they are a retelling of fairy tales, classic literature, Shakespeare, or mythology.

I’ve read a decent number of story retellings and recently I’ve wondered why I read them. I mean, I’ve already read the original, why waste my time reading another version? The more I thought about it, the more answers I got. I read them because I love the original so much I don’t want the story to end. I read them because I like that other authors pay homage to them. The Litter Mermaid is one I’d like to read a new take on. The Beauty and the Beast. I could read a thousand BATB books. I read retellings because if I couldn’t bring myself to finish the original I would like to know if someone else can capture my attention enough to finish the story. There are many other reasons but to spell them out would take a lot longer. Therefore, I am going to tell you my five favorite retellings, why I love them so much, as well as my top five retellings I’m looking forward to reading, and why I’m looking forward to them. Maybe these books will get you into the retellings spirit.

1. Mr. Darcy’s Diary by Amanda Grange

I have seen the Pride and Prejudice movies and I loved them. I tried to read the book and it did not go as well. I got one hundred pages into it and could not finish it. But then I discovered Mr. Darcy’s Diary. To date I have read this book seven times. I love it so much. I love this retelling because, as the title might suggest, the story is told by Darcy in the form of his diary. You get a look into how he felt and the reasons why he did what he did. This book makes him a much more sympathetic character and much more loveable. It make me love Elizabeth and Darcy much more as a couple.

2. Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

I have not read the original Hansel and Gretel by the Grimm Brothers but I am decently familiar with the story. I love fairy tales. Like, hardcore. But I also love a modern setting. Sweetly does this perfectly. Ansel and Gretchen are siblings who have been thrown out of their house by their stepmother. Shocker, evil stepmother. Then their car breaks down and they need a place to stay. Low and behold they find a candy maker to live with. Can anyone say crazy witch in disguise. Not soon after, Gretchen notices alarming things going on around town, like several teenage girls have gone missing. This book is so great. Talk about another book I’ve read multiple times. It takes the famous story of Hansel and Gretel and turns it on its head, several times. It’s intriguing. It’s mysterious. It blends other fairy tales together. Plus, it’s got hot guys, and who can go wrong with that.

3. Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce.

Jackson has a series of fairy tale retellings. Along with Sweetly, she has Cold Spell which is a retelling of the Snow Queen, Fathomless, which is a retelling of the little mermaid, and Sisters Red, a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. LRRH is fantastic. The whole, “What big teeth you have, Grandma.” “The better to eat you with my dear.” Who wouldn’t get freaked out by that as a child? I certainly never took a basket over to granny’s house. Sisters Red takes the tale of LRRH and plays with it. Little Red is no longer a damsel in distress, but a pair of bad ass werewolf slaying sisters. There is intense drama, a high count of feels in this book. Also, there is a dual POV which is another favorite thing of mine.

4. Beastly by Alex Flinn

Beastly is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, perhaps my favorite Disney movie ever. I capital LOVE this story. It’s all about changing your ways and becoming a better person for the one you love. It’s about redemption and sacrifice. And oh, the feels. Beastly is a modern retelling of that. The boy is cursed by a witch for being a terrible person and must find love within a certain period of time to break the curse. Very similar to the original. Perhaps that is why I love it so much. It is so close to the original I don’t feel the need to explain it. However, one thing I will say, in the movie version the beast does not have fur but has scaring and tattoos. The concept with this is that everything he projected onto his peers verbally was now on his body. That concept blew me away and made me want to treat people a little better.

5. Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Graham-Smith

This story is incredible. I am a bit of a history buff. Not a large one, but history fascinates me. Ancient history, the Native Americans, yesterday. It is all so interesting. I am so in love with this story because it combines two of my favorite things, history and vampires. And the fact that they make Abe Lincoln, one of the most well-known presidents, a vampire hunter is mindboggling. Shout out to Seth Graham-Smith for this book. He blended the historical facts of Abe Lincoln’s life and some gruesome vampires seamlessly. Good on you, Seth.

Now, for the retellings I am most excited to read.

1. Wild by Alex Mallory

Wild is retelling of Tarzan. I am a giant nerd with a giant array of interests so don’t be surprised when I say that I love Tarzan. Especially the Disney movie with the little elephant that says, “Mom are you sure this water’s sanitary. It looks questionable to me.” I laugh every single time. I’m excited for this book because though a lot of times with Hans Christian Anderson and the Grimm Brothers the originals are dark stories with dark endings but Disney likes to lighten them up. I’m hoping with Wild Alex Mallory will take the Tarzan story and return it to its dark roots.

2. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

The Wizard of Oz is a classic. So when I first heard about Dorothy Must Die I was a little skeptical. But then I heard what the premise of the book was and I got excited. I honestly didn’t know how Danielle Paige was going to approve upon the original, but I think she might have. Dorothy Must Die takes place after Dorothy has gotten to Oz and saved it. After that she has all this power and it goes to her head, essentially turning her evil. An evil Dorothy, how exciting. Because of this the whole of Oz is turned upside down.

3. Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Cruel Beauty is another Beauty and the Beast retelling. This time, it is vastly different. The Beast is this demon that rules over the kingdom. And the girl must marry the Beast, get in his good graces, and then kill him as vengeance for the death of her mother. Crazy. I’m looking forward to this book to see how Hodge stays true to the original but also plays with it.

4. Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Tiger Lily is a retelling of Peter Pan. Okay. That is semi wrong. Tiger Lily is set before Peter belonged with Wendy. This is a story about Peter and Tiger Lily. Tiger Lily doesn’t believe in love or happy endings until she meets Peter. Imagine that. Loving the hot new stranger in a YA novel. I somewhat suffer from the Peter Pan complex so I can relate to his struggle. I’m excited to read this book but I’d like to explore more about Peter and why he is the way he is and how he interacts with other characters.

5. Crave by Cathy Yardley

Crave is a retelling of Snow White. And I do believe it is the first Snow White adaptation I’ve come across. It’s not a YA novel. It’s a romance. There are definitely no cuddly little dwarves singing “Hi-ho off to work we go.” But, with as little information as I have about it, I would like to see where it goes and how it plays with the Snow White story.

Retellings are some of my favorite books to read. They offer a new vision. A modern twist. Hotter guys. Scarier villains. But no matter the reason, I hope you can find a retelling you love as much I do.