7 Queer Fairy Tale Retellings You Should Read

7 Queer Fairy Tale Retellings You Should Read

From Cinderella to Peter Pan, fairy tales are some of the most timeless stories ever. Although the original fairy tales were quite dark, they've been endlessly reworked into stories of love, bravery, and happy endings—it's no wonder that queer creators would put their own twists on the beloved tales!

Here are seven queer fairy tale retellings for all of your magical needs! 

1. Ash by Malinda Lo

If you've ever wanted a lesbian retelling of Cinderella, then this is the book for you. This book's Cinderella is named Ash, a young girl grieving the death of her father and enduring her evil stepmother. One day, Ash meets Kaisa, Huntress to the King, and eventually falls in love. However, Ash has already been claimed by the fairy Sidhean, and must fight to love who she chooses.
 

2. Peter Darling by Austin Chant

What if Peter Pan was a transgender boy that developed a love-hate romance with Captain Hook? In Peter Darling, this is exactly what happens after Peter returns to Neverland years after being forced to exist as Wendy Darling. As Peter learns to embrace his true self, he must rethink the role he plays in Neverland.

3. Cinder Ella by S.T. Lynn and Tami Veldura

In this transgender retelling of Cinderella, a royal ball allows Ella to become the girl she knows she is and fall in love with the beautiful Princess Lisabella. When Ella's steppmother dumps her on the far edge of the kingdom, Ella must find the courage to find her way back to the life she wants.

4. The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror by Daniel Ortberg

Sprinkling witty dark humor into remixes of classic tales such as Beauty and the Beast and The Six Swans, the short stories in this collection discusses uncomfortable things while entertaining you.

5. Winterglass by Benjanun Sriduangkaew

Loosely based on Han Christen Anderson's The Snow Queen, this novella is set in an alternate Southeast Asia. It tells the story of General Lussadh, the right hand to The Winter Queen, and Nuwa, an insurgent attempting to take the queen down. 

6. Unburied Fables anthology

Featuring many different kinds of love and relationships, this anthology is perfect for those on the asexual spectrum, polyamorous queers, and more. If you need a different kind of happy ending, feel free to check out these stories!

7. No Man of Woman Born by Ann Mardoll

This upcoming collection of fantasy stories features characters that are either trans, non-binary, or gender questioning. Based on the title alone, you can bet that these stories will have the Lord of the Rings epicness of Eowyn's "I am no man" moment, but with a lot more trans goodness. Pre-order the book & get it this July!