With spooky season behind us as hints of winter set in, the fairytale genre resurfaces as one of the major themes of the season. We’re no strangers to fairytales, be it Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen or even the watered-down Disney versions. Despite being familiar with countless fairytales across time, there’s always retellings that spin out as refreshing, and thrilling. To match the spirit of a chilly winter that’s setting, here are ten modern-day novels retelling fairytales that stay true to the original dark, macabre and twisted themes.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Evident from its title, Marissa Meyer’s Cinder is a unique spin on Cinderella that merges sci-fi and fairy tale and provides a unique retelling experience. Set in a dystopian setting, Meyer explores the concept of a demi-cyborg Cinderella in an imaginative universe that integrates the classic elements of a fairy tale into a futuristic galactic surrounding. It is rare to see these three genres combined but even rarer to see it executed on a phenomenal level. Cinder is available for young adult audiences providing wonderful characterisation and authentic storytelling.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Beauty and the Beast meets a literal faerie tale. A Court of Thorn and Roses is a high-fantasy novel that invests itself in its world-building and story arcs. Delve into the world of fae-lords, fairies, mythical creatures and mystical settings. Feyre, the human protagonist, battles to survive while being taken captive by the Lord of the Spring Court, following an incident where she ended up killing a beast of the fae. Maas invests her time to bring to life an aesthetic and alluring world that provides a respite from mundane fantasy lore while bringing to life tropes from a fan-favourite classic and infusing it with newer lesser-known myths such as that of the Tam Lin.

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

Alexandra Christo’s debut novel is a stand-alone one, making it perfect for a low-commitment read. Inspired heavily by The Little Mermaid, the novel follows a siren-princess-turned-human ostracised by her own people. Princess Lira is forced into a corner when she entails the help of siren-hunter Elian, promising to aid him in finding the solution to do away with all siren-kind. The game of wits commences as Lira labours to turn back into a siren while Elian ravages on a deadly quest to end siren-kind for good. It boils down to a matter of who succeeds first.

The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter

Voicing the marginalised, the oldest candidate on this list, Cheltenham Festival Literary Prize winner, The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter is an anthology of short stories that reinvents the narratives of numerous famous fairy tales. Uniquely, it is developed from the perspective of giving voice to the females who have so long been repressed. The Bloody Chamber is a macabre canvas filled with gruesome narrations that send chills down your spine. It explores acutely themes of desire and sexuality while exploring the context of fairy tales and their foundations. It is an intriguing, quirky and crisp read for the season.

Midnight in Everwood by M.A. Kuzniar

A must-read for fairy tale and historical fiction lovers, Kuzniar’s Midnight in Everwood is an enthralling retelling of the Russian classical favourite The Nutcracker. If you’ve enjoyed The Bear and the Nightingale, this is a perfect match. Set in 1906, it traces the story of Marietta, a driven skilled dancer who wants to perform one last time before bidding adieu to the art. Things take a turn when the neighbour next-door’s set leads her into a whole new world called Everwood. Novel in its approach, the story is familiar and beautiful and invites readers to have an ethereal winter experience in its mystical land.

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

2018 Goodreads Choice Award nominee in the genre of fantasy, Novik’s novel is based on the Russian fairy tale of Rumpelstiltskin. The young-adult fiction devises together Eastern-European folklore with magical Russian tales to set an outrightly charming faerie-retelling. Escape into the mysterious world of three young women fighting against harsh circumstances to survive, bestowed to men unjustly through deceit and trickery. They must work together to do away with the evils in the Staryk land, all while keeping their name a secret, lest they lose all power.

Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore

Slip into your favourite pair of red shoes and enjoy McLemore’s young-adult fantasy retelling of the infamous fairy tale Red Shoes. Andersen’s tale is notorious for its dark and disturbing plot. Dark and Deepest Red is a milder, queer-friendly retelling that dilutes shock effect and opts for a commentary on sensitive issues. McLemore switches between 1518, Strasbourg , then plagued by a curse that caused women to dance till they died, and present day where our protagonist Rosella battles to solve the mystery behind the red shoes that have latched themselves to her feet before her time runs out. Dark and Deepest Red is a retelling you’re sure to enjoy as we transition from fall to winter.

The Raven and the Reindeer by T. Kingfisher

Light and humorous, T. Kingfisher’s The Raven and the Reindeer is a heart-warming short read that presents Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen with a queer twist to it. The novel is subtle yet sublime in its utterance of inclusivity, questions on gender and identity and is a fantastical modern rendition that remains true to its roots yet diverse in its approach. If you’re into fairy tales and are craving some queer fiction, we recommend this for an extremely light, breezy yet warming winter read that’ll melt your heart quicker than that of the Snow Queen.

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

A cocktail of European fairy tale, East-Asian myth and legends, Six Crimson Cranes is an unpredictable and novel take on The Six Swans. Banished for having powers, the novel follows the quest of Shiori, the sole princess of her Kiata, who must battle against time to save her brothers, now cranes, as well as rescue her kingdom from the clutches of dark power. This Asian retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s tale brings forth a multi-cultural fusion of age-old dragons, curses and fairy-tale legends spun with a twist of ferociousness that makes it a gripping read.

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

Finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Series in 2020, The Bear and the Nightingale is the debut novel by Katherine Arden that navigates feminine identity and individuality through the retelling of the Russian Fairytale of Vasilisa the Great. Arden captures the uncertain atmosphere of superstition, magic and alienation exquisitely through her protagonist Vasya who defends her community yet is essentially shunned. What makes it a perfect seasonal read is its lyrical prose combined with a slow-paced medieval, magical and wintry setting that brings to life an exquisite, somewhat-hidden Russian lore.