Our teen book spotlight this week is on books that are all about fairy tale retellings! These are stories that have been inspired by books that are considered to be fairy tales that have been written in the past and are now used as inspiration for newer books. Some follow the storylines pretty consistently while others completely turn the story on its head with role reversals, different points of view, settings, or even introducing elements such as science fiction and fantasy. Some of them may be from fairy tales titles that you have heard of before while others may be completely new to you and now you may feel the need to go back to the original source material and read that version as well. These books and more can be found by searching the catalog using the search tag #yafairytaleretelling as well as on Libby and Hoopla. Check back next week for a new teen book spotlight and if you have any book suggestions, please let us know!!
Gilded by Marissa Meyer--A poor miller's daughter named Serilda is a talented storyteller, but when she is caught by the sinister Erlking and his undead hunters, her talents allow her to claim that she can spin straw into gold, a lie that saves her life. She is brought to his castle where the king orders her to spin straw into gold or be killed for telling lies. She soon meets Gild, a poltergeist that agrees to help her in exchange for her golden necklace. Erlking gives her two more ultimatums, but Serilda has nothing left to give Gild by the third demand. Things get even more complicated when Serilda and Gild begin to fall for one another.
A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer--In a retelling of “Beauty and the Beast,” Harper, a high school senior with cerebral palsy, is abducted and wakes up in Ironrose Castle in Emberfall, a magical land, occupied by the ageless Prince Rhen, who has been cursed to relive his eighteenth year over and over again until he finds love. Every autumn he becomes human, but after three months, becomes a murderous beast. She learns that every year, Rhen’s guard, who was also cursed, abducts a girl in hopes Rhen will woo her and break the curse. With no intention of becoming a bride, Harper attempts to negotiate with the enchantress who cursed Rhen, but learns she plans to invade Emberfall, causing Harper to reconsider what’s truly important.
Beastly by Alex Flinn--A modern retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" from the point of view of the Beast, a vain Manhattan private school student who is turned into a monster and must find true love before he can return to his human form.
Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim--On the day of her betrothal ceremony to a warlord's son, Princess Shiori'anma loses control of a paper bird she crafted with forbidden magic, and meets a shapeshifting dragon. When she witnesses her stepmother Raikama's ability to transform into a demon, Raikama turns her brothers into cranes, and places a spell on her that leaves her voiceless, without magic, and homeless. Shiori soon realizes a coup is underfoot and it will be up to her to stop a war and the power struggle to seize the throne. To succeed, she'll need to join forces with her paper bird, the shapeshifting dragon Seryu, and her former betrothed.
Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao--Beautiful eighteen-year-old Xifeng, raised by a cruel aunt who says the stars destined her to be Empress of Feng Lu, chooses to spurn the man who loves her and exploit the dark magic that can make her dream real.
Entwined by Heather Dixon--Shortly after the death of their mother, Azalea, heir to the throne of Eathesbury, and her 11 sisters discover a secret passage that leads under their castle. In this secret pavilion, aided by the mysterious Keeper, the sisters can dance as long as they wish, breaking the rules of mourning in the process. Although their dancing at first seems innocent, Azalea soon becomes suspicious of the Keeper and his intentions, wondering about his plans for her in particular. Gradually, the truth of the situation comes to light, giving rise to a dark shadow from the past and an evil that threatens to consume them all.