Into the Forest discussion

Finding this group has been like finding the largest nesting doll imaginable, and I'm both overwhelmed and excited to read through more posts.

I know there is such a wealth of book recommendations here already, but I thought I would make a little list of some of my favorite books that seem to me to be infused with a particular mood/aesthetic and see what other books you might know of in the same vein.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I like these books because there is a very strong fairy tale element to them, and overall they seem timeless in some way (I'm not so into a lot of the modern fairytale re-tellings, as there's too much of an emphasis on modernity, technology, pop culture etc. for me usually)

The only book recently that takes place in an obviously modern setting that I LOVED was Far, Far Away by Tom McNeal. I would be so happy to find another book like this to read, but I have yet to find one in the usual threads of book recommendations (like Amazon's "customers who bought this book also looked at...")

Right now I'm reading Maria Tartar's compilation of some of the Grimm's tales called The Grimm Reader, and I do love it, although it's more for the comforting familiarity than for anything new. I'm really craving a book that has a strong aesthetic of the Grimm's stories... something with lots of forests and wolves and cottages with curling smoke, some magic sprinkled in. I know there must be some great books out there that would satisfy.

Thank you in advance, and so glad to have found this fantastic group!

Far Far Away
The Grimm Reader: The Classic Tales of the Brothers Grimm
The Graveyard Book
The Book of Lost Things
The Night Circus

Hm. I really have no idea waht to recommend, since all of those seem quite different to me!

So, just going off "dark", there's Angela Carter - The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories would be a good place to start.

Tannith Lee's another popular one. Red as Blood, or Tales from the Sisters Grimmer is a popular one, but she's written novel-length retellings too.

I have not replied yet for the same reason! I've been wracking my brain trying to find titles that meet all the criteria:

Daughter of the Forest has forests, collages and magic, but more Celtic than Grimms

Bitter Greens a bit dark, very fairytale, no forests also not Grimm's, as it's based on Rapunzel

Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast lots of forests and magic, but not particularly dark and also not Grimm's
Deerskin I believe this one actually is a retelling of a Grimm's tale. Is Donkeyskin Grimm's? In any case the subject matter is pretty dark and there are also forests.

The True Story of Hansel and Gretel this one actually is Grimm's and there are lots of forests, but actually no magic. It's a realistic retelling of the tale set during WW2

The Child Thief Very dark and there is magic but not Grimm's as it's a retelling of Peter Pan

I agree The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories and Red as Blood, or Tales from the Sisters Grimmer would meet the criteria you're looking for. I was not crazy about them myself, but a lot of people in this group really like them in particular Angela Carter.

Lila wrote: "Deerskin I believe this one actually is a retelling of a Grimm's tale. Is Donkeyskin Grimm's? ..."

It's originally French, I think, but there's a version in Grimm's. "Allerleirauh."

Deerskin is one of my favorites, actually.

I really liked Alice: The Wanderland Chronicles. It's a new take on Alice in Wonderland. It's like Alice meets World War Z, but the plot is beyond just surviving. It's really interesting.
Alice: The Wanderland Chronicles

Hmm, you might like The Bear and the Nightingale, forests, magic, and dark, but based on Russian folklore. Similarly, you might like Uprooted.

For Grimms, you might try The Seventh Bride, a Bluebeard retelling.

In non-Grimms, try The Darkest Part of the Forest.

I quite enjoyed all of these.

Although it is based on Hans Christian Andersen rather than Grimm, I think Anne Ursu's Breadcrumbs has a similar aesthetic to "Far Far Away." Part of the book is set in modern times, but it has sort of an "out-of-time" feel to it like McNeal's book does.

I'll let you know if I think of others.

Gosh, I can't believe I forgot to recommend Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan. One of my favorite books ever -- it's a retelling of "Snow White and Rose Red" and I think it fits the tone and style you are looking for.

So many of my favorite books are already on this list, but I'd like to add In the Night Garden and In the Cities of Coin and Spice.

Also possibly When the Moon Was Ours if you'd go in the direction of magical realism, or Every Heart a Doorway if you'd go in the direction of portal fantasy.

Maybe also Cruel Beauty and/or Crimson Bound? Those are dark, kinda angsty YA retelling mash-ups.

Kelsey wrote: "So many of my favorite books are already on this list, but I'd like to add In the Night Garden and In the Cities of Coin and Spice.

Also possibly [book:When the Moon Wa..."

Every single one of those sounds absolutely amazing! You just expanded my TBR.

The Evil Wizard Smallbone by Delia Sherman

More whimsical than dark, but certainly has dark elements.

Cat Valente's Fairyland series is fantastic, it has a lot of whimsical darkness, and a lot of fairy tale/Grimm tropes sprinkled throughout.

arrgghh! there are so many books I want to read that it's all a little overwhelming. Time to make a new bookshelf. I am so happy I found this group!

Marianna wrote: "arrgghh! there are so many books I want to read that it's all a little overwhelming. Time to make a new bookshelf. I am so happy I found this group!"

I know how you feel! My reading list just keeps growing and growing since I joined this group!

I just thought of another book to recommend, Forests of the Heart by Charles de Lint!
It's not particularly dark or Grimms inspired, but it does have forests, magic, suspense and an overall very mythic feel to it.
It is technically part of the Newford series, but is standalone. It has completely different characters than the other books, so it's not necessary to read the other books first. In fact it's one of the novels I recommend for people who have never read de Lint and want to try him.

I don't know if it's an a**hole move to recommend my own book, buuuuuuut I'm doing it. (*waves* hi everyone!) The Fairytale's Daughter started getting a lot of buzz on WattPad, so moved it over to Amazon/Kindle. It's about the children of fairytale characters, but jumps back in time to give you backstory on the traditional characters you know and love - with a twist. (Sleeping Beauty pricked her finger on purpose and Cinderella *may* have slipped something in Prince Charming's drink. How else to explain him falling for her so quickly when he was already engaged to someone else?!) Definitely some darkness, definitely some romance, definitely some humor, and getting rave reviews all over the place. Would love it if you checked it out! xoxo

Carolyn wrote: "I don't know if it's an a**hole move to recommend my own book, buuuuuuut I'm doing it. (*waves* hi everyone!) The Fairytale's Daughter started getting a lot of buzz on WattPad, so moved it over to ..."<
That sounds like such a cool premise! I'm adding that to my reading list!

Well I've written stories based on fairy tales, albeit obscure ones -- Over the Sea, To Me -- and ones that use motifs from fairy tales -- A Diabolical Bargain -- and have heard other people describing my stories, such as Madeleine and the Mists, as fairy-tale-like. . .

Whimsical, not so often.

Marianna wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "I don't know if it's an a**hole move to recommend my own book, buuuuuuut I'm doing it. (*waves* hi everyone!) The Fairytale's Daughter started getting a lot of buzz on WattPad, so m..."

Thanks Marianna! If you get to it (SO many books, so little time, right?!), I think you'll love it.

Thanks, I will look at it.

Okay, guys...
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I just joined this group and I am really excited about it and all these wonderful recommendations! I loved The Night Circus so will have to check out some of these suggestions.

Can I recommend The Girl Who Drank the Moon The Girl Who Drank the Moon? Just read it and thought it was wonderful. Takes place in a deep forest and a small town bordering it. It has a darker edge to the story, but I also found it whimsical and enchanting.

Kerri wrote: "Can I recommend The Girl Who Drank the Moon?..."

That one keeps catching my eye! I"m glad to hear it's good.

I really like Entwined by Heather Dixon. It's based on the Twelve Dancing Princesses story and it's a fun whimsical retelling. It's not super super dark but there are definitely some Tim Burton-esque elements especially towards the end.

Lots of good recommendations here, and I'm adding one: Tales from the Hidden Grove Not as dark as Angela Carter, but certainly whimsical and faraway.

And how about Joan Aiken's stories? A Harp of Fishbones and Other Stories, All But a Few and A Small Pinch of Weather. Some are set in the past, some in the "present" (mid 20th century), but they are all masterpieces in my opinion.

Oh, I've read Joan Aiken!
I read this one: The Kingdom Under the Sea. The illustrations are gorgeous.

They used bright marbled paper as the back ground, then overlayed some intricate paper-cut silhouettes.

Yes, they're gorgeous, aren't they? And the stories are lovely. The Kingdom Under the Sea is retellings, though, whereas the other anthologies are her own stories - original and whacky or whimsical.