Once Upon a Curse: Stories and Fairy Tales for Adult Readers


Anna Kashina - 2012
    Each beautifully crafted story brings an unusual twist to the traditional tale, from Cinderella’s story told from the not-so-kind fairy godmother’s point of view, to the Bluebeard tale showing the lure of this dark and dangerous man that drives young girls to rush willingly to their fate.Foreword by Anna Kashina“A Necklace of Rubies” by Cindy Lynn Speer“Come Lady Death” by Peter S. Beagle; “Summer Wind” by Nancy Kress“Stronger than Time” by Patricia C. Wrede“Words Like Pale Stones” by Nancy Kress“Every Word I Speak” by Cindy Lynn Speer“Remains” by Siobhan Carroll“Frayed Tapestry” by Imogen Howson“The Cold Blackness Between” by Lucy A. Snyder“Solstice Maiden” copyright by Anna Kashina“But Can You Let Him Go” by Cindy Lynn Speer

Once Upon A Quest


Annie BelletC. Gockel - 2018
     WEST OF THE MOON by Annie Bellet When her twin brother sacrifices his freedom to save their starving family, Lina embarks on a quest through a magical forest to save him and restore their fortunes. A BELL IN THE NIGHT by Evelyn Snow For Stevie Silver, waking the beautiful boy in the glass box is only the beginning, as her mysterious past catches up with her. MISTRESS BOOTSI by Anthea Sharp A girl sets out to seek her fortune - and luckily, she has a clever cat for a companion… WHITE ROSE by Phaedra Weldon Jack Frost must find his true love and save her from the Snow Queen’s icy shards before he loses her - and his chance at humanity - forever. THE GOBLIN AND THE TREASURE by Alethea Kontis Out-of-work soldier Kira Kobold is handpicked by the High Wizard Zelwynn to go on a quest. Her companions? A growly ogress, a surly dwarf, a dimwitted troll, and an overly optimistic goblin. This wasn’t exactly the quest she was looking for… THE RUINS OF OZ by Alexia Purdy The Land of Oz was the last place Thea thought she’d find herself after falling through her mother’s enchanted mirror. If the stories she’s been told are real, why is the Emerald City in ruins? A TOUCH OF GOLD by Rachel Morgan When Tilly helps two strangers escape from danger, she becomes part of their quest to keep a powerful magical ability out of the wrong hands ... MAGIC AND MACHINERY by Jamie Ferguson Maude works with machinery, not magic. Can she find a way to escape the magician’s grasp and free her beloved brother? BLOW YOUR HOUSE DOWN by Nikki Jefford In a brave new world, three wizards journey through wild shifter territories to find somewhere to begin anew. BANE AND BALM by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson When the stream providing healing water to Claire’s sick aunt dries up, she must venture into the dreaded Dorcha Forest, where she discovers a stranger willing to risk his freedom in order to help her on her quest. CAT WHITE by Kay McSpadden He thought he was following the music, but a white cat led him to realize life held more adventure than he’d guessed. KING ARTHUR AND THE CHALICE OF LIFE by Julia Crane Camelot may be at peace, but betrayal and death lurk within the mists surrounding it. FEAR OF FALLING by Shawntelle Madison Cast from her griffin’s nest, Ireti is forced into the cruel world of the ground-walkers below. Before she can fly, Ireti must find the strength to walk, and the key to acceptance lies in an undiscovered place—between two worlds. THE MERROW’S GOLDEN RING by Sara C. Roethle Ailios was taught to never believe a promise from one of the Faie, but that doesn’t stop her from doing it anyway. TAKE MY MONSTERS by C. Gockel In the wilds of the barbarian north, Roman slave Margusa meets a warrior enchanted and enslaved by an Elf Queen. To set him free, Margusa must first confront the monsters within herself...

The Outspoken Princess and The Gentle Knight: A Treasury of Modern Fairy Tales


Jack D. Zipes - 1994
    Magnificent, original full-page and spot illustrations by Stephane Poulin enhance the text.

Beasts and Maidens


M.E. Timmons - 2012
    Forced to live in the forest, their only hope of becoming human again is an annual ceremony.Going into the forest is forbidden, but Selene doesn't always follow the rules. After befriending a beast, she knows very well that they're just like everyone else on the inside.Selene uses her powers as a witch to do everything she can to free the beasts from their fate, but the curse isn't easy to break, and no matter what she tries, it might not be enough.

Cursed Beauty


Dorian Tsukioka - 2014
    Adelaide has lived her entire life cursed with a birthmark that makes people shy away. When an invitation to the Elder Prince’s ball falls in her lap, she knows attending would only cause people to shun her more. A fairy godmother feels her pain and offers her a pair of glass slippers that not only transform her ragged dress to an elegant gown, but also removes the mark that covers her face. However, Adelaide soon learns that the beautiful slippers can steal away more than just her birthmark, leaving her cursed in a far worse way. This retelling of the classic Cinderella story will resound with readers of young adult fiction who love paranormal fantasy, fairy tales, and a splash of romance.

Of Beasts and Beauties


Miranda Honfleur - 2018
     Five novels retell the classic story of Beauty and the Beast, each with its own twist. Meet a dark-elf prince, a dragonian princess, a brooding vigilante, mighty superheroes, and futuristic guards, and watch as Beast meets Beauty, falling in love across fantasy, science fiction, and romantic suspense. Each of these novels is only available as part of this set, so don't miss them: enter the enchanted castle and break the spell today!

Finding Ever After: four fairytale-ish novellas


Pepper D. Basham - 2019
    Linked by an illustrated book of fairytales, each novella is an enchanting combination of a beloved classic sprinkled with the author’s own brand of fairy dust. Stairs and Stardust is set in 1913 Asheville, NC at the beautiful Biltmore Estate and includes a budding children’s book illustrator, an out-of-the box heir, and a teensy bit of Cinderella romance. Entanglements has a Rapunzel twist and is set in 1920’s Boston between a reluctant heiress, a charming piano tuner, and a game of chess. Twice Upon A Time is a Beauty-And-The-Beast inspired tale that brings a romance novelist back home to her family's pecan farm... and the ex-fiance she left behind. Once Bitten is a nod to Snow White that includes a fake date with a handsome woodsman, seven geeks, and the world's best apple tarts.

Swan Sister: Fairy Tales Retold


Ellen Datlow - 2003
    Just as fairy-tale magic can transform a loved one into a swan, the contributors to this book have transformed traditional fairy tales and legends into stories that are completely original, yet still tantalizingly familiar.The stories include a Rapunzel whose most confining prison is her loneliness; a contemporary rendering of the Green Man myth; two different versions of Red Riding Hood; a tale that grew out of a Celtic folk song; Sleeping Beauty's experience of her enchantment; two works inspired by the Arabian Nights; and more.FAIRY TALES TOLD BYBruce CovilleGregory FrostNeil GaimanNina Kiriki HoffmanKathe KojaTanith LeeLois MetzgerChristopher RoweWill ShetterlyMidori SnyderKatherine VazJane YolenPat York

Once Upon a Time: New Fairy Tales


Paula Guran - 2013
    Brilliant dreams and dazzling nightmares with meaning for today and tomorrow...“The Giant In Repose” Nathan Ballingrud.“Eat Me, Drink Me, Love Me” Christopher Barzak.“Tales That Fairies Tell” Richard Bowes.“Warrior Dreams” Cinda Williams Chima.“Blanchefleur” Theodora Goss.“The Road of Needles” Caitlín R. Kiernan.“Below the Sun Beneath” by Tanith Lee.“The Coin of Heart’s Desire” Yoon Ha Lee.“Sleeping Beauty of Elista” Ekaterina Sedia.“Egg” Priya Sharma.“Lupine” Nisi Shawl.“Castle of Masks” by Cory Skerry: this version © 2013 Cory Skerry.(An earlier version appeared in Fairy Tales in Split Vision, ed. Cindy Lynn Speer, Drollerie Press, 2009).“Flight” © 2013 Angela Slatter.“The Lenten Rose” Genevieve Valentine.“The Hush of Feathers, the Clamour of Wings” A. C. Wise.“Born and Bread” Kaaron Warren.“The Mirror Tells All” Erzebet YellowBoy.“The Spinning Wheel’s Tale” Jane Yolen.

Through a Tangled Wood


Jamie Campbell - 2013
    From Beauty and the Beast, to Hansel and Gretel, to the Ugly Duckling, these stories will be sure to pull you into a fantastical world of princes, romance, and maybe a little science fiction."Plan B" by Katie French. When Nolan is selected as one of the few candidates to work in the Breeders' hospital, he thinks all his troubles are over. Now he can afford precious medicine to save his ailing father. He’s heard of the Breeders’ cruelty, of their inhuman experiments, but he’s sure they’re fabrications. Then he stumbles into the Plan B room and learns how truly awful the Breeders can be. "Tailless" by Ariele Sieling. A retelling of the Ugly Duckling, set on a far away planet in an unknown galaxy. While fighting a war with her people's biggest enemy, young Bode struggles to understand why she feels out of place in her community, and why she, unlike her comrades, was born without a tail."I Am the Maid" by Sarah Dalton. A hostile zombie killing Maid Marian meets an ill-behaved ex-soldier Robin in this post-apocalyptic retelling of Robin Hood. When a young girl falls deathly sick, the two are forced to join forces in order to outwit the Sheriff, and the mysterious Guy Gisbon."Three Wishes" by Marijon Braden. When Aladdin rubbed the magic lamp, things went pretty well for him. But a few thousand years later, the world has changed and the genie is old, cranky, and doesn't play fair. Young Alison thinks she's found the answer to all her prayers, but instead finds that having wishes come true isn't all it's cracked up to be."Killing Snow White" by Jamie Campbell. A magical retelling of the story of Snow White, told entirely by the Evil Queen who supposedly tried to poison her. Think Snow White is innocent? Think again."A House in the Woods" by H.S. Stone. At the conclusion of a scavenger hunt for Old World artifacts, Hansel and Gretel find themselves lost on the outskirts of the city after dark. They stumble upon a house in the nearby woods, hoping that they will find help inside, but the house's inhabitant has other ideas.“Flight” by Zoe Cannon. A retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Dragged to the palace at swordpoint, commanded to cure the cursed prince with a kiss, Lucia wants nothing more than to return to her solitary world of books and magical study. But she soon discovers that she and the prince share more in common than she could have imagined… and that the truth behind his curse could destroy—or save—them both.

Five Enchanted Roses


Anne Elisabeth Stengl - 2015
    An abbey looms as the final defense between mortals and ghouls of the underworld. In the stillness of a throne room, statues stand forever frozen in a moment of terror. Monsters and men stalk their prey deep in the jungle’s shadows. A rose blooms in the dead of winter, sheltered in the ruins of an ancient Scottish castle.And only true love can free the Beast from his prison.ESPRIT DE LA ROSE ~ WITHER ~ STONE CURSE ~ ROSARA AND THE JUNGLE KING ~ THE WULVER'S ROSE

Grimoire Saga Box Set


S.M. Boyce - 2014
    This epic series challenges traditional notions of good and evil, pits monsters against each other, unravels the secrets of magic, and showcases the power buried within us all.From betrayal to seduction, romance to murder—the Grimoire Saga has it all.This set includes:Lichgates: Grimoire Saga #1Treason: Grimoire Saga #2Heritage: Grimoire Saga #3Also included:An exclusive preorder discount code for the final book, Illusion: Grimoire Saga #4. Illusion releases November 3, 2014. Sign up here for release notifications for Boyce’s work.

Enchanted Kingdoms


J.A. ArmitageStacey O'Neale - 2021
    Each novel-length story features a different take on your favorite fairytale.Your every fantasy will come to life in ways you could never have imagined, packed full of heart-wrenching romance, gripping adventure, and magic that will weave you in its spell.Scroll up and one-click now to grab this limited edition set before the clock strikes midnight!All proceeds benefit Puzzle Peace United, a children's autism charity.From the AuthorFairytales include:Alice in Wonderland by J. A. Armitage and J.A. CulicanCinderella by Kimbra SwainSnow White and Rose Red by Eileen Mueller and A.J. PonderBeauty and the Beast by Beth HaleAladdin by Zara QuentinRumpelstiltskin by Craig HalloranSleeping Beauty by Stacey O'NealeWizard of Oz by Amanda MarinSnow White and the Seven Dwarves by Lacy SheridanRed Riding Hood by May DawsonRapunzel by Anne StrykerSinbad the Sailor by Cassidy TaylorRobin Hood by Jacque StevensLittle Match Girl by Lee Ann WardThe Snow Queen by Laura Burton and Jessie CalLittle Mermaid by Nda GrantThe Pied Piper by Alice IvinyaMulan by Charlotte Daniels and Charlie DanielsThe Nightingale by IreAnne Chambers and Rachel McManamayThe Girl without Hands by Daphne MooreNix of the Mill Pond by Astrid V.JThumblina by Robin D. Mahle and Elle Madison

Black Pearls: A Faerie Strand


Louise Hawes - 2008
    . . and they lived happily ever after.” Remember the fairy tales you put away after you found that no princess is as beautiful as common sense and happy endings are just the beginning?Well, the old tales are back, and they’ve grown up! Black Pearls brings you the stories of your childhood, told in a way you’ve never heard before. Instead of lulling you to sleep, they’ll wake you up—to the haunting sadness that waits just inside the windows of a gingerbread cottage, the passion that fuels a witch’s flight, and the heartache that comes, again and again, at the stroke of midnight.Make no mistake: these stories are as dark as human nature itself. But they shine, too, lit with the fire of our dreams and our hunger for magic.

Cinderella's Phantom Prince and Beauty's Mirror


Jenni James - 2017
    . . two paranormal fairytale retellings by bestselling authors. Cinderella’s Phantom Prince by Jenni James Prince Adrian died tragically twenty years before, and until he met Adeline, his life had been quite lonely indeed. Suddenly, it is full of intrigues and a yearning desire to get to know the contradictory maiden. One moment, she is a prim and proper miss, and the next, a pillar of pluck and determination. Mostly, he finds he wants to protect her from the onslaught of her family—and the role of servant they have forced her to play. Adeline Moses was not royalty at all—she was merely a companion to her two stepsisters, the daughters of Lady Attlepate. So when she finds herself falling for a princely ghost during a summer party, all the rules of etiquette and her station in life seem to be tossed out the window. Now she is attempting to spend as much time with the prince as she can without her stepsisters ruining what little bit of happiness she has found. Their hearts feel alive for the first time in ages, yet a bit battered too, for how can such an unlikely pair find their happily ever after? Beauty’s Mirror by Rose Fairbanks Leonard Sundridge must find true love before his stepdaughter’s sixth birthday or he will die, cursed by his phantom wife to this fate unless he learns to love. But he cannot leave the estate grounds, and no one has ever loved him. Five years later, an angry and bitter prisoner in his own home, he hires a governess for Rosie in what may be his first selfless act ever. Arabella Beauley once believed in magical tales, but when nothing can save her mother, she forsakes fanciful stories. When her brother incurs a debt to the duke of Erroll, she chooses to work off his debt as a governess. Bella expected merely to give French lessons. Instead, the strange happenings at Sundridge Castle engulf her. Is the duke as rough and beastly as others have said? You’ve never read a Beauty and the Beast story like this before!