10 Reviews: Best Fairy Tale Books for Adults (May 2023)

Hades abducted Persephone and lured her into eating a pomegranate in the underworld. In this retelling, Sylvie is haunted by her sister’s unsolved murder. Sylvie goes home 16 years after her sister’s murder to care for her sick mother, only to discover her sister’s lover (whom she thinks killed her) works at her mother’s care center. This exciting book examines mother-daughter and sister relationships while gently revealing secrets.

"I really enjoyed the twists and turns, and I was surprised by them. Thank you for writing this great novel Megan. I truly enjoyed the read!"

by LP

This modern fairy tale is based on the Popol Vuh, the Mayan creation narrative. It’s about Casiopea, a young woman who unlocks a locked trunk in her grandfather’s room, unleashing Xilbaba, the Mayan God of Death. His brother overthrew the Underworld and confined him. Alibaba and Casiopea journey across Jazz-Age Mexico to regain their strength. Love, death, and life are weighed as they travel across the country.

"Never thought I’d describe a book about a god of death as “cute”, but here we are and I adored it."

by Amazon Customer

In the folklore of Eastern Europe and Russia, there is a figure known as Baba Yaga. Baba Yaga is a mystical entity who takes the shape of a malformed woman and lives in the woods, where she abducts infants. Baba Yaga Laid an Egg takes the myth and combines it into a story about what it is to be a modern woman, maturing, and love. This story is told from the perspective of four different women who are fictional and live in Eastern Europe.

"An imaginative take on women's, and especially mature women's, treatment and role in society. There are three eggs here, and all are worth finding. This is a brilliant novel ...."

by TheToucan

The story of The Bear and the Nightingale follows a young girl who is able to communicate with supernatural animals from Russian stories she was told about when she was a child, rather than focusing on a single myth or piece of folklore in particular. The author Katherine Arden uses a lot of different aspects from a variety of classic folktales and weaves them together into a story that is both fantastical and foreboding about coming of age.

"Interesting story with great weaving of fact and fable. Well paced story climax and room for the next in the trilogy."

by Kindle Customer

This fairy tale comes from the famous Hansel and Gretel: Poor laborer’s children left in the woods wind up in a witch’s sweets home and are cooked for dinner. Harriet, the daughter of a poor laborer with an amazing gingerbread recipe, is taken by Gretel’s mother to sell gingerbread for pennies, without rights. Hansel and Gretel is a jumping-off point for a twisted, fascinating, and wonderfully bizarre story about family and class.

"A shifting, shimmering enchantment of different worlds. It is as if you’ve seen the story and the characters solely from your peripheral vision. As soon as you try to look something head-on, it disappears. I’ll be digesting this one for a long time."

by Deliala J Yasin

Zélie Adebola can recall. She recalls how the monarchy sought to bury her mother as if she had never existed while also stealing her magic. She is aware of what happened, and she won’t let them off the hook. But will she allow the intensity of her retaliation to crush her spirit? This West-African mythology-inspired series will enthrall you from beginning to end with its vivid world-building and fearless heroine.

"This book was extremely well written and captivating. I will be ordered the second book right away."

by kris

After Robin’s death, the residents of Locksley are at a loss in “a badass, gender-flipped, feminist retelling” of the Robin Hood story, as described by Amie Kaufman. What’s the worst of it? The oh-so-evil Guy of Gisborne is eager to fulfill his job as protector and take Marian as his wife, but she won’t have anything to do with it if she has any say in the matter. As a result of a difficult decision, Marian decides to be her own hero when necessary.

"This book was so good. It had all my favorites, action, adventure, suspense and Romance sprinkled dangerously in. This on is going on my keep shelf."

by Dame Primus

This tale transfers Mulan’s story to 15th-century Lithuania, where she has joined the German duke’s son, Wolfgang, to train for an approaching war in which she may prove herself to her sexist community. The two hate each other (aside from her masking her identity). They share secrets and become closer over time. Mulan must decide if she would reveal her actual identity to save her family, kingdom, and Wolfgang.

"The Warrior Maiden is another fun and entertaining read. I love the way Dickerson retells a fairytale! They are fresh, captivating, and full of faith!"

by Nancy

It’s a great one for all of you who are die-hard fans. Princess Amara, a beloved TV character of Imogen Lovelace’s, is in jeopardy of being axed from Starfield. The actress playing Princess Amara, Jessica Stone, on the other hand, can’t wait to be free of her responsibilities. Imogen and Jessica are on a journey and save Starfield and find their own blissfully ever after when they are mistaken for each other, sparking a chain of events that threatens the entire TV show.

"This sequel is so adorable and pure! I can feel my heart getting melty just thinking about it! It's such a love letter to fandom!"

by The Kawaii Slartibartfast

This is a reimagination of the beautiful Little Mermaid. It talks about Mermaid Gaia. She is held captive by her father in the waters that lie just off the shore of the beautiful island of Ireland. When she finally snaps and swims to the surface, she is greeted by a charming young guy who is a member of the human race. Gaia, despite their differences, has an instantaneous feeling of understanding from him and yearns to be a part of his universe. But how much of her freedom is she willing to surrender in exchange for it?

"Fantastic! I absolutely loved this book, it turned out so much better than I thought it would, especially how the beginning started! A feminist retelling of “The Little Mermaid” and so much more!"

by TinyNavajo