You know what i love more than fairy tales? The insane retelling’s that are much too realistic sometimes.
Let’s be real: Disney gave us ballgowns, talking teapots, and catchy songs, but it also seriously sugarcoated the original fairy tales. Like, did Sleeping Beauty give consent? Was Ariel really okay trading her voice for a man she just met? And don’t even get me started on Cinderella’s questionable foot-fetish plotline. If you’ve ever side-eyed those happily-ever-afters and thought, “Hmm, this could use more trauma, morally grey women, and maybe a little blood magic,” you’re in the right place.
These aren’t your pastel-filtered, animal-sidekick-filled bedtime stories. We’re talking twisted, feminist, witchy, and sometimes downright terrifying takes on the classics, perfect for readers who want their fairy tales with a sharp edge and a splash of dark lipstick. From vengeful queens to cursed girls who don’t need saving, these books rewrite the old narratives and hand the mic to the messy, powerful, complicated women at the heart of the tales.
So grab your poisoned apple, sharpen your stilettos, and dive into this list of 12 Fairy Tale Retelling Books That Are Darker Than Disney. Just remember, this time, the wolf doesn’t always lose, the princess isn’t always sweet, and happily-ever-after might come at a cost.
1. The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber is a fervently feminist and cunning retelling of traditional fairy tales, such as Beauty and the Beast, Little Red Riding Hood, and Bluebeard, but with a twist. By removing the innocence and adorning these stories with blood and lace, Carter exposes the twisted desires and sinister power dynamics that lie beneath the surface. Despite being in grave danger, her heroines are bold, inquisitive, and shrewd, they are not damsels.
Not only does The Bloody Chamber retell legends, it reclaims them with its gothic, sumptuous style and savage, erotic edge. If you enjoy fairy tales with a dark, sparkling bite, lots of intellect, and a little lipstick, this is the book for you. Disney would never be able to. This is stiletto storytelling.
2. To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
Forget singing crabs and naiveté; Alexandra Christo’s To Kill a Kingdom is a grimly delectable retelling of The Little Mermaid. Lira, a deadly siren princess who literally tears out princes’ hearts, is the main character in this version. She is truly iconic. She finds herself on a ship with a prince who hunts her species after being cursed to live as a human.
There are daggers, secrets, and a great deal of tension between lovers. You can’t help but root for Lira since she is a tough, morally complicated protagonist, the world is mystical and gritty, and the banter is witty. It’s a fairy tale with a dash of blood-red lipstick and black velvet. This is a must-have if you enjoy sass, marine monsters, and strong, independent heroines.
3. Malice by Heather Walter
Malice by Heather Walter is a gorgeously dark and sapphic twist on Sleeping Beauty, told from the “villain’s” perspective, and it’s deliciously subversive. Alyce, a misunderstood outcast with dangerous magic, lives in a kingdom that fears her. But when she forms a deep, slow-burn bond with Princess Aurora, the girl she’s destined to curse, everything changes. It’s queer, magical, and full of morally gray choices, making you question who the real villain is.
The romance is soft and sharp all at once, and the world is rich with secrets, poison roses, and courtly backstabbing. Think gothic fairy tale meets queer rebellion, with a heroine who’s tired of being called a monster. If you like your magic dark and your love stories defiant, Malice totally slays.
4. Darling by K. Ancrum
Darling by K. Ancrum is a bold, edgy reimagining of Peter Pan that trades Neverland for the neon-lit shadows of modern-day Chicago. Wendy is pulled into a whirlwind night with Peter, a magnetic, mysterious boy who’s way more dangerous than charming. This isn’t your childhood fairy tale; it’s gritty, fast-paced, and dripping with thriller vibes. Tinkerbell’s jealous, the Lost Boys are sketchy, and Captain Hook? Way more terrifying. Wendy is smart, curious, and totally out of her depth, but she doesn’t back down.
Ancrum weaves in themes of trust, manipulation, and found family, all with sleek, moody writing that keeps you guessing. If you’re into street-smart heroines, unsettling vibes, and fairy tales with a dark heart and a twist of glam, Darling is an unforgettable ride.
5. The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy
A frightening and heartbreaking version of the traditional fairy tale set in Nazi-occupied Poland is Louise Murphy’s The True Story of Hansel and Gretel. Here, Jewish youngsters Hansel and Gretel are compelled to escape into the forest and are given a new name in order to survive. Through the eyes of two courageous children, it explores survival, sacrifice, and the horrors of war, not candy houses or evil witches. Murphy creates a potent and intensely emotional work by fusing the gloomy fairy tale with actual historical events.
There is beauty and resiliency in addition to the story’s unflinching tragedy and poetic prose. It’s a book that stays with you, full of bravery, wit, and silent power. This fairy tale strikes hard, in the greatest way, if you’re looking for something that feels emotionally rich and painfully true.
read more about this much too realistic story at: goodreads
6. House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig is a gothic, seaside retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, but with ghosts, curses, and a haunting sense of dread. Set in a grand manor by the sea, the story follows Annaleigh, one of twelve sisters mysteriously dying off, one by one. While her sisters dance at magical balls in hidden realms, Annaleigh starts to question whether something sinister is behind their glittering nights. The vibe? Moody, romantic, and eerie in the best way.
There’s a slow unravelling of secrets, dreamy romance, and some truly chilling twists. Think candlelight, haunted hallways, and gowns soaked in saltwater and sorrow. If you’re into spooky elegance, sisterhood, and fairy tales with a dark lace veil, this book will sweep you away.
7. Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth
Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth is a lush, historical retelling of Rapunzel, but it’s far more spellbinding and grown-up than any version you’ve heard before. Set in Renaissance Italy and 17th-century France, the story weaves together the lives of three fiercely complex women: a disgraced French noblewoman, the witch Selena Leonelli, and the girl locked in the tower. Forsyth blends history, magic, and myth with rich, romantic prose and serious feminist fire.
This isn’t just about long hair and waiting to be rescued, it’s about survival, storytelling, and reclaiming your voice. With a dark fairy tale heart and a painterly, sensual atmosphere, Bitter Greens reads like a gothic tapestry. If you love heroines who break their own curses and stories that linger like perfume, this one’s pure magic.
8. Queen of Snow by Laura Byron and Jessie Cal
The world of the fairy tale is anything but lovely in Laura Byron and Jessie Cal’s darkly entrancing retelling of Snow White, Queen of Snow. This is a tale of revenge, secrets, and unspoken power rather than a defenceless maiden waiting for a prince. After awakening in an unfamiliar, cursed world where she has no memory, the heroine discovers that she is involved in a lethal game of magic and treachery.
Witches, warlocks, poisoned truths, and forbidden love are only a few of the many dangers in the world. With just the correct amount of sexual tension and intrigue, the writing is incisive and quick-paced. Queen of Snow is a very captivating experience if you enjoy fairy tales that have a girly edge and seem like high-stakes fantasy, complete with gowns, grit, and girls reclaiming their thrones.
9. Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly
Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly flips the script on Cinderella, focusing not on the glass slipper girl, but on one of the “ugly” stepsisters left behind. Isabelle is fierce, angry, and smart, but she’s been told all her life that beauty is all that matters. After literally cutting off parts of her foot to fit the slipper (yep, it gets dark), she begins a journey to reclaim herself, not as a villain, but as a girl who dares to rewrite her story.
With touches of magical realism, feminist themes, and even the personifications of Fate and Chance playing games with her life, this book is sharp, funny, and empowering. Stepsister is all about embracing your flaws, defying expectations, and being bold enough to become your own heroine.
10. Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao
Julie C. Dao’s glitzy, gloomy adaptation of Snow White, Forest of a Thousand Lanterns, is set in a fantasy world with East Asian influences and tells the story from the Evil Queen’s point of view. Beautiful, ambitious, and destined for greatness, Xifeng’s path is paved with treachery, blood, and evil magic. She must choose how much of her soul she is prepared to give up for power as she ascends from an impoverished village girl to a prospective empress.
Richly woven mythology, poisonous decisions, and palace intrigue abound in this exquisitely written work. Xifeng is a complicated, cruel, and intriguing girl who isn’t your usual fairy tale heroine. If you enjoy villain origin stories, elaborate costumes with sharp edges, and heroines who would rather rule than be rescued, this novel is for you. It is brilliant, dark, and completely engrossing.
11. The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
Anyone who like a little mystery wrapped in magic will love Melissa Albert’s The Hazel Wood, a gorgeously creepy journey into the realm of dark fairy tales. Alice is drawn into the eerie Hazel Wood itself, where nightmares are more than just stories, after her grandmother, a well-known writer of eerie fairy tales, vanishes. Sharp and evocative, the writing blends gothic elements with modern sass and a feisty protagonist who is both shrewd and unyielding.
With its twists, strange magic, and just enough danger to keep you interested, this book has the sensation of a secret whispered between pages. The Hazel Wood is your new favourite if you’re in the mood for a dark fairy tale with a contemporary twist.
12. Beastly by Alex Flinn
Beastly by Alex Flinn is a sleek, modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast with a darker, emotionally raw twist. Set in New York City, it follows Kyle, a vain, arrogant teen who gets cursed and transformed into a literal beast by a witch he wrongs. Told from his perspective, the story dives into themes of self-worth, loneliness, and redemption, while still serving major YA romance energy. Lindy, the girl he’s forced to win over, is smart, kind, and totally not the princess type, which makes their slow-burn connection even sweeter.
It’s angsty in all the right ways, but also funny and surprisingly touching. If you’re into fairy tales with a makeover, brooding boys learning how to love, and inner beauty triumphing, Beastly is your vibe.
more reads: horror and romance
