Looking for a read that feels like it’s straight out of a book of Grimm’s fairy tales?
You’ve come to the right place to build up your YA fantasy TBR pile. Here are five fresh fairy tales for the young adult audience, each as inventive and unique as the next. For fans of retellings of the classic fables, we’ve got fractured fairy tales that combine the originals’ hallmark elements with innovative new additions. And for readers looking for original stories, check out these completely new narratives with that classic fairy tale feel.
The Secret World of Briar Rose by Cindy Pham
Sleeping Beauty is reimagined in viral book reviewer and author Cindy Pham’s New York Times bestselling debut, one of the biggest YA fantasy releases of the past summer. While certain hallmarks of the story remain, many key aspects of the classic fairytale have been abandoned. There’s no heroic prince to be found here; instead, heroine Corin is a thief and a cynic who’s on a desperate search for her runaway sister. It soon turns out that Elly has gone in search of Princess Amelia, the last heir of Gyldan whose eternal sleep has cast the kingdom into lawlessness. And Elly’s found a magical way to Amelia — not just into her castle, but also into her sleeping subconscious.
Together, the two sisters delve into the enchanting dreamscape where Amelia lives as her alter ego of Briar Rose, free of Gyldan’s chaos. But the deeper they travel inside, the more Corin suspects there is more going on than at first glance. By tackling themes of grief and mental health, The Secret World of Briar Rose adds depth and complexity to the traditional fairytale and provides for a thought-provoking and ultimately healing read.
The Yonder by Donald Samson, illustrated by Heidi Nisbett
Fairytales are full of unwise bargains with entities of dubious morality, and The Yonder is no exception. As the character Magpie accompanies his companion Constance into an otherworldly realm in search of her husband, the two soon come across the Devil. Magpie makes the mistake of wagering with the Devil and ends up owing a soul to Death — one he hopes won’t be his own. That’s only the beginning of his and Constance’s journey deeper into the tangled woods that threaten to swallow them whole.
Using recognizable folklore as a foundation, Samson builds up an entirely original story with fresh new characters and plotlines while keeping the story beats familiar enough for those in search of a sense of nostalgia. Peppered with atmospheric black and white illustrations, The Yonder evokes memories of flipping through the fairytale tomes of childhood; but there’s a sinister gravity to this book that takes it several steps further than the bedtime stories of early childhood. Complex enough for readers both young and old to enjoy its twists and turns, the story threads of The Yonder weave together into a multilayered tale of ill-advised promises, impossible debts and the enduring power of love.
Read our full review of The Yonder here.
Cursed Ever After by Andy C. Naranjo
Born on a day that brings bad luck, Risa has been blamed her for anything and everything that goes wrong in her village. The good news is that after seventeen years, she’s finally getting free and leaving that unpleasant, judgmental place behind. The bad news is that her ticket out involves an unwelcome travel buddy. Due to owing a witch a favor, Risa must escort the infuriatingly charming Prince Javi through the dangerous Bosque all the way to his wedding. And with a girl who seems to attract bad luck wherever she goes, Risa soon learns that the rule very much applies amidst the shadows of the dark and sinister forest.
With a fairytale romp as fun and clever as this, it’s hard to believe Cursed Ever After is Andy C. Naranjo’s debut novel. She weaves familiar fairytale tropes together with a hearty dash of humor that adds a cheekiness and self-awareness to the overall story. But fans of drama and high stakes will still have a great read thanks to the murderous cults, assassination attempts and inner turmoil Risa struggles with after a lifetime of being seen as a harbinger of bad luck. But as the events of Cursed Ever After soon teach her (and young readers), the preconceived notions of other people don’t make us who we are.
Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
As the current reigning queen of the YA fairytale retelling, Elizabeth Lim simply must be included on this list. Six Crimson Cranes stands out as one of her most recognizable titles, and for good reason; blending Cinderella, Hans Christian Andersen’s The Wild Swans, the Chinese legend of Change’e and The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter from Japanese folklore, Lim alchemizes a familiar fairytale into something extraordinary. The story centers Shiori, a princess who’s been forced into an arranged marriage not of her own choice — which ends up being the pivotal moment for her long-hidden, forbidden magic to reveal itself in front of everyone.
But while the public display helps Shiori escape the wedding, she’s soon faced with a far darker fate — the wrath of her evil stepmother, Raikama. Bound by a terrible curse of her stepmother’s doing, Shiori must journey outside the only kingdom she’s ever known if she wants to save her brothers. And ironically, her desperate plan might just rely on the boy she was desperate to avoid marrying. With a captivating tale that includes some of the more unsettling horror elements of Grimm’s fairy tales, Six Crimson Cranes ramps up the stakes for the ultimate YA fantasy retelling.
Click here to see a range of other Cinderella retellings our staff recommends, ranging from YA to adult titles.
Deadly Ever After by Brittany Johnson
Two girls wake from death to find themselves in an unearthly space known as the Garden, ruled over by the gods. They can gain a second chance at life, according to the deities, if they find and kiss their one true love. But if they kiss the wrong person, their death will remain permanent.
Balancing the highest of stakes with tender discussions of healing from the wounds of those closest to us, Deadly Ever After manages to include a softness to it that lets a romance blossom. Amala is a princess who’s been forced into the mold that everyone demands of her: perfect, poised, compliant, and ideally as silent as possible. Kha’dasia, meanwhile, is a hardened warrior who’s always been told she’s too much for those around her. While the girls come from completely different walks of life, they soon find common ground in the Gardens and help each other take the first steps towards healing — and perhaps building something special, if they can manage to snatch a second chance at life. Deadly Ever After takes “true love’s kiss,” perhaps the most ubiquitous fairy tale trope of all time, and twists it into something entirely new.
