Not everyone grows out of fairy tales—we did not, and we suspect that perhaps you never quite did either, dear reader. If you fell under the spell of Gail Carson Levine’s enchanting stories, with their clever heroines and whimsical magic, then you shall be most pleased to discover these kindred tales. For there exists a world of books where princesses refuse to behave as princesses ought, where curses are broken by wit rather than waiting, and where adventure calls to those bold enough to answer.
We have gathered here the finest fairy tale retellings for those who adored Ella Enchanted and all of Levine’s delightful works—books that share that same sparkle of humor, that same celebration of resourceful heroines, and that same irresistible magic that makes one stay up reading far past bedtime.
The Wendy by Erin Michelle Sky and Steven Brown
Now, we must begin with a most extraordinary tale, for it concerns a young woman who desired something that young women in 1780s England were absolutely, positively forbidden to desire. She wanted to be a sailor. Not just any sailor, mind you, but a captain with her own ship and crew, traveling wherever the wind might take her.
This is Wendy Darling—not the Wendy you think you know, but The Wendy, as she comes to be called, and therein lies a tale. An orphan with expressive eyebrows and a mouth that hides a secret kiss (which appears only in certain circumstances), Wendy possesses skills that would make any naval officer green with envy. She can navigate by the stars, fire a cannon, and fence with deadly precision.
The story unfolds with all the delightful narration and whimsy of the original Peter Pan, yet reimagined into something wonderfully fresh. Captain Hook proves a worthy adversary; Tinker Bell sparkles with mischief; and Peter himself remains as enigmatic as moonlight on water. Readers have declared it “a retelling better than the original” and “one of the best retellings in years.” The complete trilogy awaits those who fall under its spell.
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Here is a princess who must learn to rescue herself, which, as we know, is far more satisfying than being rescued by someone else. Crown Princess Ani possesses the gift of speaking with birds—a useful talent that becomes rather essential when her treacherous lady-in-waiting steals her identity and leaves her for dead.
Forced to hide as a simple goose girl, Ani must discover courage she never knew she possessed. Shannon Hale weaves a tale of identity and belonging that earned the Josette Frank Award and has captured hearts ever since. The prose flows like water over smooth stones, and the magic feels as natural as breathing. This is the sort of book one reads slowly, savoring each page, then immediately reads again.
Beauty by Robin McKinley
The fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast has been told a thousand times, but never quite like this. Robin McKinley’s debut novel, now beloved for over forty years, introduces us to a Beauty who takes no pride in her appearance but rather in her love of books and horses—a girl after our own hearts, we think.
When her father inadvertently promises her to a Beast, Beauty goes willingly, for she is nothing if not honorable. What follows is a gradual blossoming of trust and affection that feels both timeless and utterly fresh. McKinley’s prose possesses a fairy tale quality that sets the standard for all retellings that followed. This is the book that launched a genre, and it remains among the finest.
Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
Princess Cimorene has had quite enough of embroidery, thank you very much. She would rather learn fencing, magic, and Latin—all terribly improper for a princess, according to absolutely everyone. When faced with marriage to a spectacularly boring prince, she does what any sensible young woman would do: she runs away to become a dragon’s princess.
Do note the distinction—she is not a princess captured by a dragon but rather one who volunteers for the position. The dragon Kazul is rather pleased with the arrangement, as Cimorene makes an excellent cook and proves remarkably useful when oily wizards come lurking about. This tale sparkles with wit and features perhaps the most pragmatic heroine in all of fairy tale literature.
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
In a mountain village where linder stone is quarried and traditions run deep, young Miri suddenly finds herself conscripted to attend an academy. The king’s priests have divined that the prince’s future bride lives among the mountain folk, and so every girl of age must learn the ways of princesses.
What follows is not the story one might expect. Yes, there is competition, but there is also friendship forged in adversity, mysteries solved through cleverness, and a heroine who discovers that the things that make her different also make her extraordinary. This Newbery Honor book has sold over a million copies, and we suspect you shall soon understand why.
Spindle’s End by Robin McKinley
The curse upon Princess Briar-Rose is well known—she shall prick her finger on a spindle and fall into endless sleep. But what becomes of a princess spirited away to a village where no one knows her royal blood, raised among practical folk who call her Rosie?
This Sleeping Beauty grows up loving animals and honest work, entirely ignorant of her destiny. When her twenty-first birthday approaches, she must face a fairy’s ancient vengeance with courage, friendship, and perhaps a most unexpected kiss. McKinley’s prose is luminescent, her characters unforgettable. One reviewer called it a book where “the writing is so good, and the novel has so much heart, that the plot almost doesn’t matter.”
East by Edith Pattou
A white bear arrives at a farmhouse with a bargain: come away with him, and the family’s misfortunes shall end. Rose, who has always felt the pull of wandering in her blood, agrees—and thus begins a journey that will take her farther than she ever imagined, to a land east of the sun and west of the moon.
Based upon the Norwegian fairy tale, this book weaves together multiple voices and perspectives into a tapestry of love, sacrifice, and the lengths to which one will go to break an impossible curse. The historical details and Nordic folklore blend seamlessly with magic, creating a world one can almost feel in one’s bones on cold winter nights.
The Wide-Awake Princess by E.D. Baker
Princess Annie has a peculiar gift—or perhaps a peculiar curse, depending upon one’s perspective. Magic simply does not work on her. While her sister Gwendolyn has been blessed with beauty and charm, Annie remains utterly immune to enchantment.
When Gwendolyn pricks her finger and the entire castle falls asleep, Annie alone remains awake. She must venture forth to find her sister’s true love and break the spell, encountering along the way a rather wonderful collection of familiar fairy tale characters with delightfully unexpected twists. This is Sleeping Beauty told from the sidelines, and the view proves most entertaining indeed.
Rump: The (Fairly) True Tale of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff
In a kingdom where your name determines your destiny, imagine the misfortune of being named only “Rump.” Our hero has spent his entire twelve years as the butt of everyone’s jokes, until he discovers an old spinning wheel and a gift for turning straw into gold.
But magic, as his friend Red Riding Hood warns him, comes with a price. With each thread he spins, Rump weaves himself deeper into an ancient curse. This Texas Bluebonnet finalist tells the villain’s story, and what a tale it turns out to be—full of pixies, trolls, poison apples, and the courage to discover who you truly are.
Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George
Twelve princesses wake each morning with their dancing shoes worn through, and no one can discover why. When Galen, a young soldier turned gardener, arrives at the palace with his late mother’s magical knitting and a soldier’s determination, he sets himself to solving the mystery.
What he discovers is a curse, a King Under Stone, and twelve sisters in desperate need of rescue—though, in the manner of the best fairy tales, the rescuing proves rather more complicated than expected. Jessica Day George crafts a tale of curses broken through courage and love, with the sort of cozy magic that wraps around you like a warm blanket.
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Sophie Hatter is cursed by the Witch of the Waste and transformed into an old woman—which, she decides, is the perfect excuse to finally leave her hat shop and have an adventure. She marches straight into the moving castle of the terrible wizard Howl, who is rumored to eat the hearts of young women.
What she finds instead is a fire demon named Calcifer, a contract needing breaking, and a wizard far more vain and cowardly than truly terrible. Diana Wynne Jones turns fairy tale expectations delightfully upside down in this beloved classic, where nothing is quite what it seems and true love takes the most unexpected forms.
The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy
What becomes of Prince Charming after the story ends? As it happens, there are four of them—the princes from Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty—and not a single one has been remembered by name. The bards call them all simply “Prince Charming,” which is rather unfair.
When these four overlooked princes band together, hilarity ensues. This is fractured fairy tale comedy at its finest, full of bumbling heroics, unexpected friendships, and the discovery that perhaps the sidekicks deserve their own story after all. Readers who appreciate Levine’s humor shall find much to love here.
There you have it, dear reader—a treasure chest of fairy tale retellings for those whose hearts still flutter at the promise of “once upon a time.” Each book carries that same spark that made Gail Carson Levine’s stories so beloved: clever heroines, magical worlds, and the certainty that courage and kindness shall triumph in the end.
Now, off you go. Adventure awaits, and as every proper fairy tale reader knows, the best stories are the ones you haven’t read yet.
