Stories On Repeat — Retellings and Reimaginings in Fantasy

A retelling is a reimagination of a classic tale, where authors take stories we already know and love and add a unique twist to them. Whether that’s in terms of the setting, point of view, themes, or characters, they are able to put their own stamp on beloved source material that has entertained for decades, centuries, or even millennia. Retellings have endured popularity over the years within the fantasy genre due to the immense enjoyment that they bring. Combining the comfort of familiarity with tales as old as time, with the suspense that comes with consuming something brand-new, readers get the ultimate reading experience.

📖 Fairytales

Fairytales such as Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, and Little Red Riding Hood are all great examples of archetypal stories. They feature recurring narrative patterns, plots, and character types that are universal across cultures and throughout history. They are recognisable and resonate deeply with the human experience; think a rags to riches story, or a hero overthrowing a villain. They have similar structures so audiences come to understand the characters and themes almost intuitively. Archetypal stories form a great foundation for writers to work with, providing key themes that are still malleable enough to manipulate in unique ways.

🔱 Mythology

Myths and legends often explore the depths of human nature, consisting of themes such as love and loss, betrayal and revenge, and desire and power. Myths, just like stories, pass down morals through generations. And these themes will forever remain relevant, which is how these mythological tales surpass the test of time. Now, they are often revisited to bridge the gap between outdated narratives and contemporary values.

🎭 Plays

Plays make great source material for retellings because they can be easily expanded upon in written form. Writers can add depth, introduce more context, and otherwise flesh out the original, skeletal scripts that were written for the stage. Shakespeare, for instance, has inspired many modern fantasy stories with Romeo and Juliet type tropes, and there are many Macbeth retellings on the market, too.

🗺️ Genre Bending

Relocating stories to somewhere different, such as a dystopian world or a space setting, can change the genre of the original tale completely! This gives the writer a fresh canvas and can provide a unique backdrop for characters to embark on their adventure.

👫 Perspective Shifts

Retellings often tell the story from a villain or a side character’s point of view. This provides the reader with a different angle to consume the story from, and for the author, the opportunity to explore different themes. Perspective shifts can also be seen in the incorporation of new characters, to give voices to marginalised groups and introduce representation that the original tales never offered.

💜 Modernisation

Retellings have the power to introduce contemporary views on gender, power, and relationships, and update any problematic themes from the original tales. They can add valuable perspectives and increase inclusivity.

🧜‍♀️ Sea Witch by Sarah Henning

Everyone knows what happens in the end. A mermaid, a prince, a true love’s kiss. But before that young siren’s tale, there were three friends. One feared, one royal, and one already dead. Sea Witch is the origin story of Ursula, the villainous Sea Witch from The Little Mermaid.

🐉 The Night Ends With Fire by K. X. Song

Inspired by the legend of Mulan, a legendary Chinese folk heroine, The Knight Ends With Fire follows a young woman determined to choose her own destiny. Disguised as a boy in the army, she starts to have visions of a sea dragon spirit that offers her true power and freedom, but for a deadly price.

You can purchase the FairyLoot Exclusive Edition of the sequel, The Dragon Wakes With Thunder, here.

👠 Cinder by Marissa Meyer

A Cinderella retelling with a sci-fi twist! Cinder is a gifted mechanic and also a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the centre of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction.

👰 The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. But when Shahrzad’s dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, she vows vengeance and is determined to end the Caliph’s reign of terror. The Wrath and the Dawn is a retelling of the classic collection of Middle Eastern folk tales, One Thousand and One Nights.

🥀 These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

A Romeo and Juliet retelling, set in 1920s Shanghai! A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is Juliette Cai, a former flapper who has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang. Their only rivals are the White Flowers, and behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, who was Juliette’s first love…and first betrayal.

🏛️ Circe by Madeline Miller

Based on the Greek goddess, Circe. Circe is a strange child, neither powerful like her father nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power: the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.

🩶 Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken

Inspired by medieval stories on the legendary King Arthur, Silver in the Bone is steeped in Celtic lore. It is a tale of a teenage girl who seeks her destiny in the cursed ruins of Avalon, driven by love, revenge, and pure adrenaline!

You can purchase the FairyLoot Exclusive Edition of the sequel, The Mirror of Beasts, here.

👑 A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year, Prince Rhen thought he could be saved easily if a girl fell for him. But that was before he turned into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. Before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope. A Curse So Dark and Lonely is a Beauty and the Beast retelling.