Book Recs: LGBT Retellings (Fairy Tales)

I mentioned on twitter the other day that I was thinking of making a post like this and everyone was very into the idea. I mean, what’s better than taking a classic story we all know & putting a gay spin on it, right?

I put a parenthesis in the title of this rec list and there’s a very simple reason for it: there are going to be two more in the “series”! One for classic books (think Peter Pan or Sherlock Holmes) and one for mythologies (in a very broad meaning of the word). So look out for those!

Before we start, let me make an honorary mention of Ash by Malinda Lo, the lesbian retelling of Cinderella. It’s not on the list itself because I can’t rec you a book you all already know, can I? But just in case you forgot for a second…

And now, let’s go boldly into the world of LGBT fairy tales!

See also: LGBT retellings of folklore, fairy tales, classic books & books about historical figures

In the Vanishers’ Palace

Aliette de Bodard
Goodreads
Rep: lesbian mc, bi mc, Vietnamese setting and characters
Original Story: Beauty and the Beast

Why Should I Read It?

Aliette’s writing is absolutely mesmerising, but that’s not even the best part about her stories! What I love most about her works is how bold her imagination is. I mean, here? You get a bi dragon. Who else can give you that much?

Related: Charlotte’s review of In the Vanishers’ Palace

The Winter Duke

Claire Eliza Bartlett
Goodreads
Rep: wlw relationship
Original Story: Sleeping Beauty

Why Should I Read It?

Well this is an upcoming release, so I don’t know more about it than you, guys. But. K.A. Doore recommends it & I trust her with my life.

Related: Interview with K.A. Doore

Thorn

Anna Burke
Goodreads
Rep: wlw mcs
Original Story: Beauty and the Beast

Why Should I Read It?

Yes, this is a second retelling of Beauty and the Best on my list. Yes, this one is also sapphic. No, it’s not the last one I put on here. It’s a lot darker than the Disney version (although let’s be real, people turned into talking furniture was creepy as hell), cold & icy – and Burke paints that atmosphere masterfully.

Related: Charlotte’s review of Thorn

Cinderella Boy

Kristina Meister
Goodreads
Rep: genderfluid mc, bi li
Original Story: Cinderella

Why Should I Read It?

I appreciate Cinderella Boy for how romantic it is. It’s a delicate story, very clearly about teenagers & yet (or maybe because of that?) broaching important topics in a casual way, like misogyny or homophobia. I know there are people who complain about the ending, but honestly? It’s one of my favourite love stories of all time.

The Raven and the Reindeer

T. Kingfisher
Goodreads
Rep: wlw relationship
Original Story: Snow Queen

Why Should I Read It?

This is a little bit of enemies to lovers, just a touch, with the love interest being a bandit princess (who has, in fact, killed a man or two). And if you still need more encouragement, there’s a raven by the name Sound of Mouse Bones Crunching Under the Hooves of God & some really cool magic.

Beast

Brie Spangler
Goodreads
Rep: trans li
Original Story: Beauty and the Beast

Why Should I Read It?

Another contemporary take on a fairy tale, since honestly? Those are always super interesting, just taking the major themes of a story & making them work in a modern world…

Girls Made of Snow and Glass

Melissa Bashardoust
Goodreads
Rep: wlw relationship
Original Story: Snow White
CWs: suicide, violence/death, child abuse, and misogyny

Why Should I Read It?

If you’re looking for a sweet, tender, slow-blossoming romance – this is the retelling for you. And if you’re also looking for an interesting magic system and an original understanding of villains, you really don’t have to search any further.

Kissing the Witch

Emma Donoghue
Goodreads
Rep: wlw relationships
Original Story: various

Why Should I Read It?

We all used to read fairy tales from giant books full of different stories, so really, it’s no wonder that the same format should apply to retellings of them. It’s even better than reading them as a kid, because this time the stories are written by a lesbian.

Finding Aurora

Rebecca Langham
Goodreads
Rep: bi mc, wlw relationship
Original Story: Sleeping Beauty

Why Should I Read It?

A classic tale told from a different perspective – always a good approach. Especially if that new approach means your protagonist is a bisexual girl & the romance turns up in the place where you didn’t even think of looking for it (before starting the novella, I mean).

Cinder Ella

S.T. Lynn
Goodreads
Rep: Black trans lesbian mc, lesbian li
Original Story: Cinderella

Why Should I Read It?

Frankly, I don’t understand why there aren’t more Cinderella retellings where she’s trans – the original fairy tale gives a perfect set up for it. Thankfully we at least have this tender story!

Like I said, there are going to be two more posts like this – we are nowhere near the end of our LGBT retellings adventure!

And before I go today, I want to direct y’all to Corvid Queen. It’s a journal of feminist folklore & fairy tales from Sword & Kettle Press. They post new short stories every Friday and granted, not all of them are retellings & not all of them are LGBT-friendly, but – they’re always a breath of fresh air.

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