The Best Fairytales and Retellings

The best of fairytale books and retellings. These can be collections of classic or modern fairytales, retellings of fairytales, or fiction with a fairytale setting.

For the best books based on the King Arthur legends click here

For the best books based on mythology click here
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3.82 avg rating — 178,297 ratings
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14

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3.51 avg rating — 672,803 ratings
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15

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16

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3.95 avg rating — 36,786 ratings
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17

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4.04 avg rating — 121,232 ratings
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18

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4.03 avg rating — 508,557 ratings
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19

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3.83 avg rating — 25,153 ratings
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20

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4.30 avg rating — 4,374,017 ratings
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21

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4.16 avg rating — 93,770 ratings
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22

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4.28 avg rating — 697,705 ratings
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23

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3.93 avg rating — 46,738 ratings
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24

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3.54 avg rating — 62,046 ratings
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25

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3.48 avg rating — 22,018 ratings
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26

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4.03 avg rating — 369,999 ratings
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27

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3.79 avg rating — 21,623 ratings
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28

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3.75 avg rating — 34,907 ratings
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29

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4.21 avg rating — 62,597 ratings
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30

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3.94 avg rating — 24,113 ratings
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31

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4.23 avg rating — 454,636 ratings
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32

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3.99 avg rating — 22,562 ratings
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33

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3.96 avg rating — 84,785 ratings
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34

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3.79 avg rating — 15,014 ratings
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35

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3.87 avg rating — 37,924 ratings
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36

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3.91 avg rating — 27,737 ratings
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37

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4.20 avg rating — 95,812 ratings
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38

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3.86 avg rating — 28,150 ratings
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39

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3.99 avg rating — 19,376 ratings
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40

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3.91 avg rating — 63,675 ratings
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41

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4.20 avg rating — 78,238 ratings
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42

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4.06 avg rating — 22,980 ratings
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43

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4.32 avg rating — 194,896 ratings
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44

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4.01 avg rating — 24,893 ratings
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45

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4.23 avg rating — 219,749 ratings
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46

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4.21 avg rating — 14,276 ratings
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47

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3.75 avg rating — 19,552 ratings
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48

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4.40 avg rating — 398,716 ratings
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49

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3.98 avg rating — 142,987 ratings
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50

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3.91 avg rating — 17,805 ratings
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51

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4.05 avg rating — 78,037 ratings
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52

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4.24 avg rating — 3,082,811 ratings
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53

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3.81 avg rating — 11,948 ratings
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54

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3.61 avg rating — 13,908 ratings
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55

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3.80 avg rating — 11,203 ratings
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56

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4.07 avg rating — 211,177 ratings
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57

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3.79 avg rating — 12,210 ratings
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58

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4.18 avg rating — 217,378 ratings
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59

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3.86 avg rating — 10,536 ratings
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60

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4.03 avg rating — 396,090 ratings
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61

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4.14 avg rating — 175,768 ratings
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62

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3.46 avg rating — 12,102 ratings
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63

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3.81 avg rating — 9,162 ratings
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64

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3.61 avg rating — 7,106 ratings
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65

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4.09 avg rating — 17,616 ratings
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66

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3.76 avg rating — 8,564 ratings
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67

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3.70 avg rating — 165,990 ratings
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68

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4.21 avg rating — 54,819 ratings
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69

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4.05 avg rating — 56,543 ratings
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70

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3.75 avg rating — 18,086 ratings
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71

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3.82 avg rating — 6,160 ratings
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72

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4.16 avg rating — 120,316 ratings
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73

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3.83 avg rating — 9,671 ratings
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74

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4.02 avg rating — 258,517 ratings
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75

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3.29 avg rating — 31,941 ratings
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76

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77

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4.20 avg rating — 11,094 ratings
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78

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3.84 avg rating — 5,801 ratings
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79

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4.10 avg rating — 9,045 ratings
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80

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81

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3.69 avg rating — 7,634 ratings
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82

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83

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84

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4.29 avg rating — 108,285 ratings
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85

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4.12 avg rating — 5,703 ratings
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86

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3.87 avg rating — 8,798 ratings
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87

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3.70 avg rating — 9,911 ratings
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88

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3.96 avg rating — 11,030 ratings
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89

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3.65 avg rating — 11,823 ratings
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90

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3.78 avg rating — 7,725 ratings
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91

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3.99 avg rating — 10,997 ratings
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92

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4.08 avg rating — 8,391 ratings
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93

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3.95 avg rating — 134,048 ratings
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94

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3.92 avg rating — 1,534 ratings
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95

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3.63 avg rating — 20,501 ratings
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96

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3.85 avg rating — 18,719 ratings
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97

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3.94 avg rating — 34,298 ratings
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98

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3.63 avg rating — 37,621 ratings
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99

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4.03 avg rating — 9,247 ratings
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100

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3.86 avg rating — 7,574 ratings
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2,784 books · 9,159 voters · list created June 26th, 2008 by Rora.
2209 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


Laura 1163 books
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Wealhtheow 4761 books
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Femmy 1609 books
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Erin 1214 books
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Heather 1515 books
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Jennifer 3878 books
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Leit 1709 books
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Cindy 10622 books
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More voters…


Comments Showing 1-50 of 100 (100 new)


message 1: by Maren (new)

Maren Fabulous list--I look forward to exploring more of the books on it...


message 2: by Nathalie (new)

Nathalie wonderful list!


message 3: by Tanya (new)

Tanya Great resource! Can't wait to read my way through it! :)


message 4: by Adele (new)

Adele Wow, definitely some must-reads!


message 5: by Marisa (new)

Marisa I am going to check out so many of the books on here now!


message 6: by [deleted user] (new)

I also want to read some of these as I love fairy tales especially ones for adults.


message 7: by Anna (new)

Anna Great list, I've been wanting to read some more fairytale retellings lately and this list is giving me a place to start. I do think there should be one addition though, The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley. Her other books set in the same world are on there and I think that its at least as good as those.


message 8: by Tracy (new)


message 9: by Tracy (new)

Tracy I love this list! There are definitely some that will be added to my to-read bookshelf.


message 10: by Amy (new)

Amy  Brobst Is there a way to add all these to a toread shelf?


message 11: by J.T (new)

J.T Thanks for the List. Although I've been having trouble finding what retelling tales I want to read.


message 12: by Nan (new)

Nan Great list, but some of these are not fairy tales--especially The Hero & The Crown by McKinley.


message 13: by Emma (new)

Emma My favorite is The Princess Bride, although The Book of Lost Things is excellent, as is Fables: Legends in Exile.


message 14: by Lee Anne (new)

Lee Anne One of my favorites "The Frog Princess" by E. D. Baker is not on the list. So sad!



message 15: by Lee Anne (new)

Lee Anne Or "The Princess and the Peabodys" by Betty G. Birney


message 16: by Pao (new)

Pao Must read everything on that list!


message 17: by Rachel (new)

Rachel So excited to have found this list! Fairy tales are a passion of mine.


message 18: by Jan (new)

Jan Super list - lots to add to my wishlist


A.Roma 🇵🇸 wow, what a long list of books.


message 20: by [deleted user] (new)

I don't know how it's possible that people actually voted for The Looking Glass Wars. That was definitely the worst book I've ever read in my life...


message 21: by Cowgalutah (new)

Cowgalutah I love the looking glass wars. It was a fun new twist. I will be adding a few of these to my to read list.


message 22: by Breanna (new)

Breanna I'm pretty sure that "The Frog Princess" by E.D. Baker was on the list. Once I'm shocked was not on there was "The Goose Girl" by Shannon Hale. I love that book.


message 23: by ALM (new)

ALM I completely LOVE The Princess Bride. Such a good book.


message 24: by Breanna (new)

Breanna Oops. The Goose Girl is on there.



message 25: by Breanna (new)

Breanna Lee Anne wrote: "One of my favorites "The Frog Princess" by E. D. Baker is not on the list. So sad!
"


I love that book, too. It is on- book 78.
:) which one out of the series is your favorite?



message 26: by Hope (new)

Hope Wow I dont see Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede on here.... or the rest of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles... Please Add them if you can!


message 27: by cc (new)

cc What?? Daughter Of The Forest isn't number one?? What the...
I don't think McKinley's "Sunshine" is a retelling... and it sure isn't a fairytale. Excelent book though.


Renna Mira (AKA Enna Isilee) I LOVE THIS LIST!! Sure, there are some non-fairy tale retellings on here, but I want to read those too!


message 29: by Naomi (new)

Naomi I love this list. I wish there was a way to add it to a "favorites" so I don't forget about it.


message 30: by Priscilla (new)

Priscilla I live and breath fairy tales, this list rocks!


message 31: by [deleted user] (new)

Why is Enna Burning on there? That's not a fairy tale.


message 32: by Mikel (new)

Mikel Hope wrote: "Wow I dont see Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede on here.... or the rest of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles... Please Add them if you can!"

The Enchanted Forest Chronicles have since been added to the list. Great books, they are some of the wittiest retellings I've ever read.


message 33: by Hope (new)

Hope Mikel wrote: "Hope wrote: "Wow I dont see Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede on here.... or the rest of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles... Please Add them if you can!"

The Enchanted Forest Chronicles h..."


Sweeeet! Love those books. :D


message 34: by Moira (new)

Moira ....who added....Hemingway?


message 35: by Ken (new)

Ken reading farytales is my life. its so amazing reading how they change them. wait why isnt Dealing with dragons written by patricia c. wrede on here.


message 36: by Delaney (new)

Delaney what a wonderful list! i have a hard time browsing books and this gave me a lot of possiblities!


message 37: by Chocholic21 (new)

Chocholic21 omg i've got like... 10 books to read !!!

i love fairy tales with a twist, or an adult version of a classic fairy tale XXX

i could recommend loads of books on that list !!!


message 38: by LPR (new)

LPR I had to go down ten places before I found a book I hadn't read and adored. Ella Enchaned is my all-time favorite book.
How is Percy Jackson a fairy tale??? It is clearly mythology. great book, but seriously take it off!!
I <3 Prince Char, and I am devoted to Finn.


message 39: by Aug (new)

Aug Dinash I LOVE The books of Bayern, but I haven't had time to read all of them yet. I also LOVE Ella Enchanted and For Biddles Sake.


message 40: by Comicfairy (new)

Comicfairy ...how are the Brothers Grimm not even listed in the Top 100?! If you can have Percy Jackson, then you can damn well have the Bros Grimm. lol


message 41: by Jessica Mae (new)

Jessica Mae I didn't even know some of these were retellings (of the books I've heard of)

Can someone tell me what fairy tale Posion Study by Maria V. Snyder is retelling? Along with The Princess Bride and Daughter of the Forest? Thanks!


Renna Mira (AKA Enna Isilee) Poison Study is not a retelling. Neither is The Princess Bride. However, the Princess Bride has kind of become a fairy tale.

At least, that's my understanding. Someone may correct me if I'm wrong.


message 43: by Jessica Mae (new)

Jessica Mae Carla wrote: "What?? Daughter Of The Forest isn't number one?? What the...
I don't think McKinley's "Sunshine" is a retelling... and it sure isn't a fairytale. Excelent book though."


Is Daughter of the Forest a retelling? Or are you referring to it as a fairy tale?


message 44: by Jessica Mae (new)

Jessica Mae Enna Isilee (Squeaky Books) wrote: "Poison Study is not a retelling. Neither is The Princess Bride. However, the Princess Bride has kind of become a fairy tale.

At least, that's my understanding. Someone may correct me if I'm wrong."


Oh, I kind of thought that fairy tales were from wayyyyyyyy back when and didn't realize new ones could be made.


Renna Mira (AKA Enna Isilee) Merriam-Wester defines a fairy tale as:

a : a story (as for children) involving fantastic forces and beings (as fairies, wizards, and goblins) —called also fairy story

b : a story in which improbable events lead to a happy ending

So almost anything can be a fairy tale, really. And note that this list is best fairytales AND retellings.


message 46: by cc (last edited Mar 08, 2011 04:07PM) (new)

cc Jessica Ellen wrote: "Carla wrote: "What?? Daughter Of The Forest isn't number one?? What the...
I don't think McKinley's "Sunshine" is a retelling... and it sure isn't a fairytale. Excelent book though."

Is Daughter o..."


Hello! Well Daughter of the Forest is not a fairy tale, but historical fantasy inspired in one, more precisely in The Six Swans by the Brothers Grimm. ;)


message 47: by Carma (new)

Carma Alicaya oh my god, what a great list of books. so many books to read and so little time i have!!!! I want them all!!!


message 48: by Nicole (new)

Nicole The best parts of my childhood all in one place!


message 49: by Lynette (new)

Lynette ~ Talia's Tomes ~ I have a question for y'all:
I once read a REALLY good princess book, but I can't remember the title, can anyone help me?


So, it was about this girl who lived in an out-of-the-way town, but she knew she was the REAL princess, she knew that the Queen had given her to a Knight to keep safe until she could return to the throne. The current princess, was a fake. One day, this girl realizes she is in danger, so she convinces her guy friend to travel to the castle with her, to claim her rightful spot as Princess.
I can't say anymore because it might give away the story, but, does anyone know what book it is????
Thanks


message 50: by Nan (new)

Nan Hi Lynette--It's called Palace of Mirrors and it's by Margaret Peterson Haddix.


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