There are certain stories, you know, that never quite leave us alone. They nestle into the corners of our hearts when we are small, and there they remain—patient as enchanted roses, persistent as curses—until some clever soul comes along and tells them to us all over again, but differently this time, and somehow even more wonderfully.
If you have ever wished to return to those beloved tales but find them dressed in new finery, with sharper wit and deeper magic, then you have come to exactly the right place. Here, we present the very finest fairy tale retellings to enchant your reading hours in 2025 and 2026.
The Wendy by Erin Michelle Sky and Steven Brown
One might suppose that Peter Pan’s tale has been told quite enough times already—but one would be entirely wrong, for here is The Wendy, and it is rather magnificent.
This is not merely a retelling but a reimagining so thoroughly charming that readers have declared it “better than the original.” Set in 1780s England, it follows an orphaned girl named Wendy Darling who dreams of commanding her own ship. In an era when young ladies were expected to concern themselves with matrimony and motherhood, Wendy trains in navigation, sword fighting, and cannon fire. She eventually joins England’s secret service to protect the realm from magical threats—including a certain flying boy with wings and a mischievous fairy companion.
What makes this retelling extraordinary is its voice—a delightfully witty narrator who speaks of the most fantastical occurrences in the most matter-of-fact tones. Wendy herself possesses the most expressive eyebrows in all of literature, and a secret kiss hiding in the corner of her mouth. Readers have called it “a modern classic,” praised its “tongue-in-cheek humor,” and confessed to staying up far too late to finish it. The complete trilogy—The Wendy, The Navigator, and The Captain—is now available, so you needn’t wait a single moment to continue the adventure.
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
In a frozen kingdom where winter has overstayed its welcome, a moneylender’s daughter named Miryem proves so skilled at her trade that rumors spread she can spin silver into gold. Unfortunately, the King of Winter hears these rumors and finds them rather intriguing.
Naomi Novik weaves Rumpelstiltskin, Russian folklore, and Eastern European Jewish traditions into something wholly original. The New York Times called it “rich in both ideas and people, with the vastness of Tolkien and the empathy of Le Guin.” Winner of the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel.
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
At the edge of the Russian wilderness, where winter lasts most of the year, young Vasilisa loves her nurse’s fairy tales—especially the stories of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon. When her new stepmother forbids the household from honoring their protective spirits, the old stories prove far more real than anyone supposed.
This debut novel deftly weaves Slavic mythology into a gorgeously atmospheric tale of magic struggling against the encroachment of modernity. It launched a beloved trilogy and established Arden as a master of folkloric fantasy.
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
What if Cinderella were a cyborg mechanic in futuristic New Beijing, and instead of a ball, there were a deadly plague and a ruthless lunar queen threatening Earth? Marissa Meyer answers these questions with tremendous style in this opening volume of The Lunar Chronicles.
The New York Times called Meyer “the reigning queen” of reimagined fairy tales. This ingenious series continues through Scarlet (Red Riding Hood), Cress (Rapunzel), and Winter (Snow White), each book introducing new heroines while advancing an increasingly epic plot.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
When huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a terrifying creature arrives to demand retribution—and drags her into a magical land of immortal faeries. Drawing inspiration from Beauty and the Beast and the Scottish ballad of Tam Lin, Sarah J. Maas crafted a sweeping fantasy romance.
This series has sold over thirteen million copies and spawned an entire romantasy phenomenon. Be advised: the later books contain mature content more suitable for adult readers.
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Every ten years, a wizard called the Dragon takes a young woman from the village to serve in his tower. When Agnieszka is chosen, she discovers not only that she possesses magic of her own, but that a malevolent force in the nearby Wood threatens everything she loves.
Winner of the Nebula Award, Uprooted draws from Polish folklore and Baba Yaga tales while crafting an entirely original story. Readers praise its surprising depth and the way its Beauty-and-the-Beast echoes transform into something far more complex.
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
In 1920s Alaska, a childless couple builds a figure from snow during the season’s first snowfall. The next morning, they glimpse a wild, feral girl running through the trees—a child who seems to have stepped directly from the Russian fairy tale of the Snow Maiden.
This Pulitzer Prize finalist reimagines folklore against the harsh beauty of the Alaskan frontier. It is a quiet, luminous book about love, loss, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.
Little Thieves by Margaret Owen
Here is a delicious twist: a Goose Girl retelling told from the perspective of the wicked maid who stole the princess’s identity. Vanja Schmidt has made a comfortable life impersonating a noblewoman, but when she crosses the wrong god, she finds herself cursed to transform into jewels unless she can break the spell.
Publishers Weekly gave it a starred review, calling it “part heist, part adventure, with a slow-burning romance.” Perfect for readers who enjoy their fairy tales with clever schemes and found families.
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
Each night, the young Caliph takes a new bride. Each dawn, she is executed. When Shahrzad volunteers to marry him—armed with a plan for revenge and an endless supply of stories—she discovers the monster she intended to destroy may not be what he seems.
This #1 New York Times bestseller reimagines One Thousand and One Nights with lush prose and an enemies-to-lovers romance. TIME Magazine named it one of the 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time.
Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust
In a frozen kingdom, a young queen with a glass heart and a princess made of snow must navigate a curse that pits them against each other—unless they can break free of the fairy tale altogether.
This feminist Snow White retelling earned multiple starred reviews for its “compellingly flawed characters” and “pitch-perfect pacing.” A beautiful story about mothers and daughters, identity, and choosing your own ending.
Finding Your Perfect Fairy Tale Retelling
The magic of retellings lies in their promise: that stories we love can surprise us again, that old tales contain meanings we never noticed, that there is always another way to tell the truth. Whether you prefer your fairy tales with cyborgs or winter demons, heists or slow-burning romance, there is an enchantment here waiting for you.
And should you wish to begin with an adventure featuring a determined heroine, expressive eyebrows, and magic that smells green and tastes like pickles—well, you know just where to start.
