3 Fairy Tale Retelling To Read✨📖

There's something enchanting about the stories we remember from our childhood.

Belle, Jasmine, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White. They all have origins going back for many years, but yet they continue to delight us even as we grow older.

The story of Snow White, originally numbered as Tale 53, was first published in the 1812 edition of Grimm’s Fairy Tales.

It’s a tales as old as time…

A beautiful princess named Snow White incurs the jealousy of her vain stepmother queen, who orders her death but the huntsman spares her. Snow White finds refuge with seven little people, but the queen discovers she's alive and tricks her into eating a poisoned apple that puts her in a death-like sleep. Eventually, the prince finds her in a glass coffin, and when the poisoned apple piece is dislodged from her throat, Snow White awakens. They marry, while the wicked queen is punished by being forced to dance in red-hot iron shoes until she dies.

Such a whimsical happy tale. lol

In celebration of the new movie, Harney & Sons has just released their newest literary-inspired blend, and it's as fun to drink as is it to read the fairy tale story that inspired it!

My tea arrived in the signature tin, decorated with illustrations that remind me of a book cover design of the classic tale… red apples, and the silhouette of Snow White herself. When I opened the tin… Ah! that smell. It’s both sweet and comforting… it’s like an immersive experience every time I open one of my tins from them! (and it’s one of the big reasons I’m such a fan. I love the keepsake tins!)

The Snow White tea combines delicate white tea leaves with notes of apple, vanilla, and a hint of spice that will have you thinking about those famous enchanted apples… though thankfully no curses attached to these!

What makes this blend special is how it captures the essence of the story: the sweetness of Snow White's kindness, the warmth of her refuge with her new found friends, and yes, even a hint of that famous apple🍎—though I promise this one brings only delight to your taste buds, not eternal sleep!

You know I have loads of their black teas, Paris is my absolute fav, but Snow White has won me over. It’s light, crisp, and refreshing.

Shop the link below and use code HARNEY5 to save 5% off your order. ☕

This new tea has me thinking about my enduring love for fairy tale retellings. There's something magical about seeing familiar stories transform into new tales in the hands of different storytellers.

Today, I thought I would share 3 fairytale retellings I found on my bookshelves.

The Shadow in the Glass by JJA Harwood offers a dark and atmospheric retelling of Cinderella set in Victorian London, where wishes come with terrible prices. The protagonist, Eleanor, makes a deal with a mysterious woman who promises to grant her seven wishes—but each comes at a devastating cost. This isn't your Disney Cinderella; it's a haunting exploration of desire, power, and what we're willing to sacrifice to change our fate.

Check it out HERE.

Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright reimagines the tale of the girl in the red cape with a complexity that the original only hinted at. Set in a medieval village terrorized by a werewolf, this version delves into themes of coming-of-age, desire, and the wildness that exists both in the forest and within ourselves. The atmosphere is rich with tension, and the line between human and wolf becomes increasingly blurred.

Check it out HERE.

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire (of Wicked fame) turns the Cinderella story inside out by telling it from the perspective of one of the supposedly "ugly" stepsisters. Set in 17th century Holland, this retelling challenges our preconceptions about beauty, goodness, and the stories we tell ourselves about others. Maguire's rich prose makes the historical setting come alive, and his nuanced characters remind us that few people are truly wicked or purely good.

Check it out HERE.

P.S. - I just watched Wicked with my son and sister-in-law and we loved it!

Recently, I've ventured into more contemporary retellings with Beautiful Villain: A Dark & Spicy Modern Jay Gatsby and Charming Devil by the same author, which reimagine classic literary characters in modern settings with decidedly steamier storylines. These books prove that even the most canonical of stories can be reinvented for new audiences, bringing fresh perspectives to timeless tales.

Check out Beautiful Villain HERE.

Check out Charming Devil HERE.

I love how authors who reimagine classic tales help us see these stories—and ourselves—differently. They remind us that stories can change… they evolve over time just like we do, each retelling has new magic waiting for readers to discover it.

There's something wonderfully fitting about sipping tea while losing myself in a clever retelling. I invite you to slow down, to savor, to day dream that you are in a fairy tale. Cheers!

What are your favorite fairy tale retellings?

Share in the comments below so we can all add to our never ending tbr. :)

Happy reading,
Melissa

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*thank you to Harney and Sons for gifting me a tin of the delicious Snow White tea