35+ Fairytale Retellings Perfect to Binge Read on Kindle Unlimited!
Are you looking for great Fairytale retellings with strong female characters?
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a total book worm. if you see me staring at my cell phone while I am out and about I am most likely reading a book on it. I am not kidding. I had already read 43 books this year before we even got to March, and now that we have been directed to stay at home I have even more time to read! I not bragging, just sharing how deep my love of reading is. While I love all sorts of books (yes I am an eclectic readers) some of my favorite books are fairytale retellings.
Fairytales have been around for a long time. For example, one of the oldest recorded versions of Cinderella dates back to the 1st century AD and depicts the story of a Greek slave girl who ends up marrying the king of Egypt. That's right despite what you may have heard The Grimm version is not the original version of this tale or even the oldest. In fact, even the French version by Charles Perrault (which is the version that Disney based their movie off of) is older than the Grimm's recorded version. Each retelling has elements in common with the others that went before it and most have elements that are distinctly different. This isn't a bad thing. For it means that each story has unique lessons they can teach the reader.
Despite the popular belief that fairytales are harmful and teach youth unrealistic expectations of love and life, that has never been the purpose of these tales. For centuries fairytales have been passed down from generation to generation by mothers and wise women to actually teach and prepare young minds for the realities of life while encouraging them to rise above their circumstances to live their best lives.
Would it shock you that one of the most popular subjects discussed by intellectuals in the great salons of Europe was Fairytales? Indeed, if you look closely at these universal tales passed down in many cultures there is much you can learn from them.
If you are like me and love a good fairytale (where both the heroine and hero are strong characters) then you will love the following Fairytale retellings that are all available not only to buy (both as physical books and ebooks) they are also all available on Amazon Unlimited.
Right now with librarys closed as well as many book stores I have come to really appriciate Kindle Unlimited (Learn More about Kindle Unlimited Amazon's ebook subscription service here) for it has made binge reading books during this time od social distancing and quarantines possible.
35+ Fairytale Retellings That Are Freaking Amazing!
The following are some of my all-time favorite Fairytale retellings. 35+ books spanning 6 amazing Fairytale Series!
Though some elements in each retelling are the same, each of these stories is quite unique and enchanting. They all have strong female characters who fight for what they love and believe in.
In addition to being available as physical books, all of these tales are also available as ebooks that you can purchase to read on your phone, tablet or computer. Best of all they are all on Kindle Unlimited (if you don't have Kindle unlimited Get It HERE)
The Timeless Fairy Tale Series
This 11 book series by K.M. Shea covers some of the most iconic of fairytales but each is told in a powerful and unique way. Beauty is a Spy, Cinderella is a Duchess in a conquered Kingdom, Rumplestilskin is a handsome craftmage (and a good man).
All of these tales are entwined in the same world that is under attack by forces of evil. As the tales progress they become more and more entwined as the royals from every kingdom realize that the only way they can save their people from this new and unknown threat is to work together and trust in an apprentice Enchantress Angelique.
Beauty & The Beast, The Wild Swans, CInderella & The Colonel, Rumplestilskin, The Little Selkie, Puss in Boots, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, The Frog Prince, The Twelve Dancing Princesses & Snow White
The Snow Queen Trilogy
This is a prequel trilogy to the Timeless Fairytale Series by K.M. Shea. It tells the story of the Snow Queen. A princess born with magic confined first to a tower then exiled to a remote fortress in the icy mountains (rather than killed or sold into slavery as was the custom for magic users). Then a magical army comes and princess Rakel is the only one who can stop them and save the people who had feared, despised and rejected her. what will she do??
The first 2 books in this trilogy focus on the story of the Snow Queen herself and the last book is a collection of short stories about the Snow Queen and other characters you are introduced to in the first 2 books. Heart of Ice, Sacrifice, Snowflakes.
I actually recommend reading it before you start the Timeless Fairytale series or at least before you get to book 4 in the series for it will come into play in the story.
The Four Kingdoms Fairytale Series
Long ago the mysterious magical high king decreed that if your country is ruled by a King and Queen bound in true love then it will prosper. To aid in this he endowed his Fairy Godmothers with some of his power and sent them off into the world to find and aid the worth in finding true love to bless their kingdoms. Yet after centuries the 4 kingdoms fell away and stopped following the High king (which many do not even believe is real) and fairy godmothers became scarce.
Now a new generation is here and they are each turning back to the High King and with the aid of their long lost fairy godmothers are fighting the evil that has entrenched itself across the land. This is a 5 book series: The Princess Companion: A Retelling of The Princess and the Pea, The Princess Fugitive: A Reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood, The Princess Pact: A Twist on Rumpelstiltskin, The Princess Game: A Reimagining of Sleeping Beauty, and The Princess Search: A Retelling of The Ugly Duckling
Additionally, for those in love with the characters in this series they will enjoy these short stories that tell what happens to beloved side characters introduced in each of the main books. A Midwinter's Wedding: A Retelling of The Frog Prince, Happily Ever Afters: A Reimagining of Snow White and Rose Red, The Coronation Ball: A Four Kingdoms Cinderella Novelette
Beyond the Four Kingdoms Fairytale Series
In this sequel series to the 4 Kingdom fairytale series we learn that long ago when the 4 kingdoms fell away from following the High King, there were many who pleaded with the High King to lead them away to a new land where they could continue to follow him in safety and peace. And so they have led away across the ocean to a new land to found new Kingdoms dedicated to the High King. Then for their protection, a magic fog appeared in the ocean which no ship (from either direction) could cross.
Now, these new kingdoms have fallen into darkness and their lands and people have been cursed. but the High King and his fairy godmothers have not forgotten them. The mist is lifted and the last unmarried princesses of the Four Kingdoms arrive in this new land seeking alliances (not knowing about the cursed state of the land and people beyond the 4 kingdoms) and they must find a way to save the people they come to love. This is a 6 book series that is every bit as riveting as the first. A Dance of Silver and Shadow: A Retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, A Tale of Beauty and Beast: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast, A Crown of Snow and Ice: A Retelling of The Snow Queen, A Dream of Ebony and White: A Retelling of Snow White, A Captive of Wing and Feather: A Retelling of Swan Lake, A Princess of Wind and Wave: A Retelling of The Little Mermaid.
Destined Fairytale Series
This is an entwined fairytale series that retells the classic fairy tales in a dystopian world where mages had once ruled and enslaved non-mages until a twist of events led non-mages to enslave mages. Add a population decimating plague, an addicting drug and intrigue with magic and the tales are told in a very unique way.
So far there are 5 books in this series (Book 6 has been written but is going through editing before being released soon) Fated: Cinderella's Story, Hidden: Rapunzel's Story, Twisted: Belle's (Beauty & the Beast) Story, Betrayed: Ruby's (Little Red Ridinghood) Story, Hunted: Alba's (snow White) Story.
Fairy Tale Adventures Series
In this fairytale adventures the world you will meet a shadow hunter spelled to sleep for over a hundred years in order to save the kingdom she loves from an invasion of evil trolls now awake to find everyone she loved long gone and her beloved kingdom in danger again. A princess spy reviled by her family and people who she secretly fights to save. And a Half human, Half Mermaid princess trying to find love and acceptance in either world and finding none until she finds it in the last place expected. Here she must fight without a voice to save a people and a King against a threat she did not know had followed her since birth.
There are currently 3 books available in this series but it is clear when reading the last book that there will be more... Princess of Shadows: The Princess and the Pea, Princess of Secrets: The Frog Prince, Princess of Mermaids: The Little Mermaid
Did I miss one of your favorite fairytale retellings available on Amazon's Kindle Unlimited? Let me know in the comments. I am always on the lookout for more good books to read.
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Loved the fairytale retellings!