Tuesday 15 August 2017

Books For Fairytale Lovers (that aren't retellings!)

There is a lot of love for retellings in YA, and although I haven't read too many, there are some I really love. I grew up reading fairytale books, so books that reimagine those stories like The Land of Stories books by Chris Colfer have a nostalgic kind of magic for me. But there are some books that manage to hold that kind of magic that aren't retellings. For some of them it's the language, for others the setting just has a feeling.




Like with many of Patrick Ness' books, I think it's best to go in to A Monster Calls knowing very little about it. But what I will say is that it is structured a lot like a fairytale, playing more on the darkness present within old children's stories.

I wasn't sure I'd like The Night Circus when I first started it, but I ended up falling in love with it's magic. The circus is alive and intricate yet simple, and comes with a history that feels timeless and permanent.

I read The Night Parade a couple of years ago so my memory of it isn't too great, but I do remember loving the elements of Japanese Buddhist mythology woven into the story and how the adventure felt like the ones I would read when I was younger.

Timekeeper is more of an odd-one-out on this list as it's not the atmosphere that had the fairytale essence for me. But there were myths and fairytales mentioned in the book, and there were many strands that I think tied Timekeeper to the story of Rapunzel.


Do you agree with the books I chose? What are some of your favourite retellings? Can you think of any books that aren't retellings but remind you of fairytale stories?

This post was inspired by a prompt 'Book Recommendations for X' on Top 10 Tuesday, which is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

26 comments:

  1. The King of Elfland's Daughter gives me fairytale vibes :) Have you read it?
    A Monster Calls <3 one of my favorite ones!

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    1. I haven't heard of it but I'll definitely check it out! A Monster Calls is also one of my favourites. I love Patrick Ness' books and how individually beautiful they all are.

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  2. YAS The Night Circus is one of my favourite books of all time! It is perfect for fairytale lovers. The Night Parade and Timekeeper sounds awesome too. Great list :D

    Rekha @ Million Book Mill

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    1. I know, right! I think that's part of the reason The Night Circus is so well loved - it has a young fairytale-esque feeling that works for younger and older people alike. Thanks, Rekha!

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  3. I haven't read any of these books, but the Timekeeper does sound really interesting.

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    1. Timekeeper is adorable and I'd highly recommend it. It's a steampunk story which I haven't read before, and it has a super cute romance.

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  4. A Monster Calls is one of my favourite books. I'm glad to see it on your list! :-)

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    1. It's also one of my favourites! I love Patrick Ness' books and it's hard for me to not put at least one of them on every TTT list :')

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  5. I haven't read any of the books you've listed, but I have heard a lot of good things about The Night Circus 🙂

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    1. The positive reviews of The Night Circus are why I picked it up in the first place. I might not have otherwise which would have been such a shame because it's now a favourite despite it being nothing like anything I normally read.

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  6. What a great topic! I love the fairy tale feel of a story but one can only read so many retellings! I've heard amazing things about The Night Circus and I think the rest of these need to be on my TBR as well!

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    1. Thank you, Katherine! I completely agree - sometimes I'm looking for a bit of nostalgia that isn't so on-the-nose as a retelling. I'd absolutely recommend all of these books - A Monster Calls and The Night Circus are two favourites of mine :)

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  7. Ooh I love Timekeeper! So excited for the sequel :)
    My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/15/top-ten-tuesday-120/

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    1. It's so cute, isn't it?! I'm quite excited for Chainbreaker myself, and I hear the cover reveal is soon!

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  8. I really enjoyed The Night Circus! Will have to look into these others now as well.

    Here is my TTT.

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    1. I'm glad to hear it! It makes me happy when a book I love is also loved by so many others. I'd definitely check the others on this list out too :)

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  9. I really want to try Timekeeper soon - it sounds great!

    Check out my TTT and my current giveaway

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    1. I really liked it! It was really cute and I'm excited to see where the series goes. Also I'm in love with that cover, so if anything read it for that!

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  10. I love A Monster Calls. Such a good book. It has great illustrations, too.

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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    1. It is a stunning read. I actually don't have an illustrated copy but I need to read it! I might have to borrow my friend's copy.

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  11. I loveee the Night Circus. So much. Every time I think about it, I wish that the author comes out with another book or piece of writing. I still have to read the rest of the books you listed though! Especially Timekeeper and A Monster Calls. Awesome list Helia!

    - Aila @ One Way Or An Author

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    1. I'd love to see more from Erin Morgenstern because The Night Circus was such a beauty. But for now I'm happy to reread it to rediscover the magic. I loved Timekeeper and am obsessed with A Monster Calls (or anything by Patrick Ness tbh) and if highly recommended them! Thanks Alia <3

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  12. Aazing picks, I loved 'A Monster Calls' so much and 'The Night Circus' is top of my TBR right now! I would recommend 'A Girl Of Ink & Stars' by Kiran Millwood Hargrave and 'Fearless' by Tim Lott! Not actual fairy tales but had a great fairy tale vibe!

    Great choices, feel free to check out my TTT list on unreliable narrators :)

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    1. Thanks Katrina! A Monster Calls deserves all the love (I still need to watch the movie!) and I'd absolutely recommend you read The Night Circus. I haven't read A Girl of Ink and Stars or Fearless but I'll definitely check them out. I'm always about reading more books with fairy tale vibes!

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  13. I loved Timekeeper & totally agree! The Hearts We Sold is a great paranormal with a fairytale feel with deals with Daemons. Anna Marie McLemore's books have such a magical feeling. Hard to go wrong with magical realism.

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    1. Timekeeper is the cutest! I haven't heard of The Hearts We Sold but it sounds really interesting. And I've been meaning to read Anna Marie McLemore's boos for ages because of all the wonderful things I've heard about them. I might need to read more magical realism in general.

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