Books Like Avatar: The Last Airbender

 Long Ago the Four Nations Live Together...

    On February 21, 2005, a show about a boy named Aang who just wanted to go penguin sledding but was destined to save the world premiered. Along the way, he teams up with siblings Katara and Sokka, the little but fierce Toph, and once foe Zuko to defeat the evil Fire Nation. The series was called Avatar: The Last Airbender. The show had an amazing magic system: those known as benders could control one of the four elements water, earth, fire, and air. One could control them all, known as the Avatar. 

    The series was a hit and a sequel series aired in 2012 called The Legend of Korra a failed live-action movie released in theaters. Now after many years, a live-action adaptation of the series will premiere on Netflix in 2024, and an animated movie along with a second sequel series is planned for 2025. For those who need something to hold them over until then here are five books with similar magic systems to read.

Book One: The Rise of Kyoshi

    This first book is a prequel to Avatar the Last Airbender, following one of the past Avatars, Kyoshi, as she discovers her identity and sets out for revenge.

Book Name: The Rise of Kyoshi

Author Name(s): F.C. Yee, Michael Dante DiMartino

Genre: Fantasy

Release Date: July 16, 2019

Book Number: 1 of 4

Number of Pages: 442 pages

Book Description:

    F. C. Yee’s The Rise of Kyoshi delves into the story of Kyoshi, the Earth Kingdom–born Avatar. The longest-living Avatar in this beloved world’s history, Kyoshi established the brave and respected Kyoshi Warriors but also founded the secretive Dai Li, which led to the corruption, decline, and fall of her own nation. The first of two novels based on Kyoshi, The Rise of Kyoshi maps her journey from a girl of humble origins to the merciless pursuer of justice who is still feared and admired centuries after she became the Avatar.

Book Two: Set Fire to the Gods

     This book follows two teens participating in the same elemental tournament. One to avenge her mother, the other to save his family from homelessness.

Book Name: Set Fire to the Gods

Author Name(s): Sara Raasch, Kristen Simmons

Genre:  Fantasy

Release Date: August 4, 2020

Book Number: 1 of 2

Number of Pages: 432 pages

Book Description:

    Ash is descended from a long line of gladiators, and she knows the brutal nature of war firsthand. But after her mother dies in an arena, she vows to avenge her by overthrowing her fire god, whose temper has stripped her country of its resources.

    Madoc grew up fighting on the streets to pay his family's taxes. But he hides a dangerous secret: he doesn't have the earth god’s powers like his opponents. His elemental gift is something else—something that hasn't been seen in centuries.

    When an attempted revenge plot goes dangerously wrong, Ash inadvertently throws the fire and earth gods into a conflict that can only be settled by deadly, lavish gladiator games. The fights put Madoc in Ash's path, and she realizes that his powers are the weapon her rebellion needs—but Madoc won’t jeopardize his family, regardless of how intrigued he is by the beautiful warrior.

    But when the gods force Madoc’s hand, he and Ash uncover an ancient war that will threaten more than one immortal—it will unravel the world.

Book Three: Children of Blood and Bone

    This book is full of adventure and action, set in a world based in Africa!

Book Name: Children of Blood and Bone

Author Name: Tomi Adeyemi

Genre: Fantasy

Release Date: March 6, 2018

Book Number: 1 of 3

Number of Pages: 544 pages

Book Description:

    Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji was killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.

    Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

    Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feeling for an enemy.

Book Four: Air Awakens

    This book follows a girl working in a library as she discovers her hidden powers, leading to a grand and dangerous adventure.

Book name: Air Awakens

Author Name: Elise Kova

Genre: Fantasy

Release Date: August 27, 2015

Book Number: 1 of 5

Number of Pages: 342 pages

Book Description:

    A library apprentice, a sorcerer prince, and an unbreakable magic bond...

    The Solaris Empire is one conquest away from uniting the continent, and the rare elemental magic sleeping in seventeen-year-old library apprentice Vhalla Yarl could shift the tides of war.

    Vhalla has always been taught to fear the Tower of Sorcerers, a mysterious magic society, and has been happy in her quiet world of books. But after she unknowingly saves the life of one of the most powerful sorcerers of them all—the Crown Prince Aldrik—she finds herself enticed into his world.

    Now she must decide her future: Embrace her sorcery and leave the life she’s known or eradicate her magic and remain as she’s always been. And with powerful forces lurking in the shadows, Vhalla’s indecision could cost her more than she ever imagined.

Book Five: Red Queen

    The last book sees two groups of people; those with powers and those without and one girl who will change the kingdom forever.

Book Name: Red Queen

Author Name: Victoria Aveyard

Genre: Dystopian

Release Date: February 10, 2018

Book Number: 1 of 4

Number of Pages: 388 pages

Book Description:

    The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.

    That is until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Fearful of Mare's potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.

    But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance—Reds against Silvers, Prince against Prince, and Mare against her own heart.

Conclusion

      I hope these books scratch your Avatar the Last Airbender itch. If there are any more books that give off the same vibes, let me know in the comments below!

Classic Book Recommendations

New Spins on Classic Books

    Phantom of the Opera, Little Woman, and The Tree Musketeers. These are just a small number of books considered classics today. Most were written after most fairy tales and are also known to inspire authors to create their own versions of these stories. In this post, I will be recommending five books where the authors take their own spin on classic books.

Book 1: A Blade So Black

    This first book twists Wonderland even further with nightmares roaming through its field and finding ways to our world!

Book Name: A Blade So Black

Author Name: L.L. McKinney

Genre: Fantasy

Release Date: September 25, 2018

Book Number: 1 of 3

Number of Pages: 384 pages

Book Description:

    The first time the Nightmares came, it nearly cost Alice her life. Now she's trained to battle monstrous creatures in the dark dream realm known as Wonderland with magic weapons and hardcore fighting skills. Yet even warriors have a curfew.

    Life in real-world Atlanta isn't always so simple, as Alice juggles an overprotective mom, a high-maintenance best friend, and a slipping GPA. Keeping the Nightmares at bay is turning into a full-time job. But when Alice's handsome and mysterious mentor is poisoned, she has to find the antidote by venturing deeper into Wonderland than she’s ever gone before. And she'll need to use everything she's learned in both worlds to keep from losing her head . . . literally.

Book 2: Phantom Heart

    This next book takes The Phantom of the Opera and sets it in the modern day with a Ghost Hunters twist!

Book Name: Phantom Heart

Author Name: Kelly Creagh

Genre: Paranormal

Release Date: August 17, 2021

Book Number: 1 of ???

Number of Pages: 528 pages

Book Description:

    Seventeen-year-old Stephanie Armand doesn’t believe in ghosts or spirits. Despite her six-year-old sister, Charlie, insisting a masked figure is hiding in her closet, and the rumors at school, Stephanie isn’t convinced her father’s latest renovation project–a crumbling Victorian mansion–houses the soul of a monster.

    So, when the very charming (and paranormal-obsessed) Lucas Cheney takes an interest in both Stephanie and her notorious home, the supernatural and romantic activity escalates to an all-time high. And that doesn’t even take into account the dashing, British-accented eighteen-year-old boy, Erik, who’s taken up residence in Stephanie’s nightly dreams. A boy who may have something to do with the man in the mask, and the strange occurrences taking place at Moldavia.

Book 3: Legendborn

    This book takes the Arthurian legend and brings it to the modern day with great action and mystery.

Book Name: Legendborn

Author Name: Tracy Deonn

Genre: Fantasy

Release Date: September 15, 2020

Book Number: 1 of ???

Number of Pages: 501 pages

Book Description:

    After her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews wants nothing to do with her family memories or childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at UNC–Chapel Hill seems like the perfect escape—until Bree witnesses a magical attack on her very first night on campus.

    A flying demon feeding on human energies.

    A secret society of so-called “Legendborn” students that hunt the creatures down.

    And a mysterious teenage mage who calls himself a “Merlin” and who attempts—and fails—to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw.

    The mage’s failure unlocks Bree’s own unique magic and a buried memory with a hidden connection: the night her mother died, another Merlin was at the hospital. Now that Bree knows there’s more to her mother’s death than what’s on the police report, she’ll do whatever it takes to find out the truth, even if that means infiltrating the Legendborn as one of their initiates.

    She recruits Nick, a self-exiled Legendborn with his own grudge against the group, and their reluctant partnership pulls them deeper into the society’s secrets—and closer to each other. But when the Legendborn reveals themselves as the descendants of King Arthur’s knights and explains that a magical war is coming, Bree has to decide how far she’ll go for the truth and whether she should use her magic to take the society down—or join the fight.

Book 4: One for All

    Ever wanted to read a gender-bent version of the Three Musketeers? What about one with a main character with a disability? Then One for All is for you!

Book Name: One for All

Author Name: Lillie Lainoff

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release Date: March 8, 2022

Book Number: Standalone

Number of Pages: 389 pages

Book Description:

    Tania de Batz is most herself with a sword in her hand. Everyone in town thinks her near-constant dizziness makes her weak, nothing but “a sick girl”; even her mother is desperate to marry her off for security. But Tania wants to be strong, independent, a fencer like her father—a former Musketeer and her greatest champion.

    Then Papa is brutally, mysteriously murdered. His dying wish? For Tania to finish school. But L’Académie des Mariées, Tania realizes, is no finishing school. It’s a secret training ground for a new kind of Musketeer: women who are socialites on the surface, but strap daggers under their skirts, seduce men into giving up dangerous secrets, and protect France from downfall. And they don’t shy away from a swordfight.

    With her newfound sisters at her side, Tania feels for the first time like she has a purpose like she belongs. But then she meets Étienne, her first target in uncovering a potential assassination plot. He’s kind, charming, and breathlessly attractive—and he might have information about what really happened to her father. Torn between duty and dizzying emotion, Tania will have to lean on her friends, listen to her own body, and decide where her loyalties lie…or risk losing everything she’s ever wanted.

    This debut novel is a fierce, whirlwind adventure about the depth of found family, the strength that goes beyond the body, and the determination it takes to fight for what you love.

Book 5: So Many Beginnings

    Finally, a twist on the classic Little Women from a new book series known as Classic Remix!

Book Name: So Many Beginnings

Author Name: Bethany C. Morrow

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release Date: September 7, 2021

Book Number: 2 of 8

Number of Pages: 304 pages

Book Description:

    North Carolina, 1863. As the American Civil War rages on, the Freedmen's Colony of Roanoke Island is blossoming, a haven for the recently emancipated. Black people have begun building a community of their own, a refuge from the shadow of the old life. It is where the March family has finally been able to safely put down roots with four young daughters:

    Meg, a teacher who longs to find love and start a family of her own.

    Jo, a writer whose words are too powerful to be contained.

    Beth, a talented seamstress searching for a higher purpose.

    Amy, a dancer eager to explore life outside her family's home.

    As the four March sisters come into their own as independent young women, they will face first love, health struggles, heartbreak, and new horizons. But they will face it all together.

A Conclusion

    Have you read any of these books? Do any of these books sound interesting? Which will you be picking up? Let me know in the comments below!

 Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag

    In this video, I answer the Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag question!

Questions:

1.  Best book you’ve read so far in 2022?
2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2022?
3. New release you haven’t read yet but want to?
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of 2022?
5. Biggest disappointment?
6. Biggest surprise?
7. New favorite author? Newest fictional crush?
8. Newest favorite character?
9. Book that made you cry?
10. Book that made you happy?
11. Favorite book-to-movie adaptation you’ve seen so far this year?
12. Most beautiful book you bought this year?
13. Most beautiful book you bought this year?
14. What books do you really need to read by the end of this year?

Video

    What are your answers to some of these questions? Let me know in the comments below. It would also help if you went on YouTube and liked and commented there as well!

Mulan Book Recommendations

She Took Her Father’s Place

    Believed to have origins in the Northern Wei dynasty of China, the Ballad of Mulan has captured the imaginations of millions around the world. The story depicts the journey of Hua Mulan as she disguises herself as a man to take her father’s place in the Chinese army as the country fights the Rouran nomads. In some versions, she fights for many years with no one discovering her identity and declines a position of high office offered by the emperor. She retires to live with her family, only then revealing her true gender to her fellow soldiers. In other versions, she is captured by the enemy and to avoid being forced into servitude she takes her life.

    Though there have been many adaptations over the years, the most well-known is the 1998 adaptation by Disney. This and the original ballad have inspired others to write their own versions of the tale or been inspired by having the element of a girl disguised as a boy for one reason or another. We will explore five book adaptations of the story in this post.

Book 1: Flame in the Mist

    This first book recommendation has a young woman concealing her gender to better investigate why a group of bandits want her dead.

Book Name: Flame in the Mist

Author Name(s): Renee Ahdieh

Genre: Fantasy

Release Date: May 16, 2017

Book Number: 1 of 2

Number of Pages: 392 pages

Book Description:

    The only daughter of a prominent samurai, Mariko has always known she’d been raised for one purpose and one purpose only; to marry. Never mind her cunning, which rivals that of her twin brother, Kenshin, or her skills as an accomplished alchemist. Since Mariko was not born a boy, her fate was sealed the moment she drew her first breath.

    So, at just seventeen years old, Mariko is sent to the imperial palace to meet her betrothed, a man she did not choose, for the very first time. However, the journey is cut short when Mariko’s convoy is viciously attacked by the Black Clan, a dangerous group of bandits who’ve been hired to kill Mariko before she reaches the palace.

    The lone survivor, Mariko narrowly escapes to the woods, where she plots her revenge. Dressed as a peasant boy, she sets out to infiltrate the Black Clan and hunt down those responsible for the target on her back. Once she’s within their ranks, though, Mariko finds for the first time she’s appreciated for her intellect and abilities. She even finds herself falling in love—a love that will force her to question everything she’s ever known about her family, her purpose, and her deepest desires.

Book 2: Crown of Feathers

Book Name: Crown of Feathers
Author Name(s): Nicki Pau Preto
Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: February 12, 2019
Book Number: 1 of 3
Number of Pages: 496 pages
Book Description:

    I had a sister, once…

    In a world ruled by fierce warrior queens, a grand empire was built upon the backs of Phoenix Riders—legendary heroes who soared through the sky on wings of fire—until a war between two sisters ripped it all apart.

    “I promised her the throne would not come between us.”

    Sixteen years later, Veronyka is a war orphan who dreams of becoming a Phoenix Rider from the stories of old. After a shocking betrayal from her controlling sister, Veronyka strikes out alone to find the Riders—even if that means disguising herself as a boy to join their ranks.

    “But it is a fact of life that one must kill or be killed. Rule or be ruled.”

    Just as Veronyka finally feels like she belongs, her sister turns up and reveals a tangled web of lies between them that will change everything. Meanwhile, the new empire has learned of the Riders’ return and intends to destroy them once and for all.

Book 3: To Best the Boys

    This book has a girl disguising herself as a boy to participate in a boy’s only competition for a chance at higher education.

Book Name: To Best the Boys

Author Name(s): Mary Weber

Genre: Dystopia

Release Date: March 19, 2019

Book Number: Standalone

Number of Pages: 314 pages

Book Description:

    The task is simple: don a disguise. Survive the Labyrinth. Best the boys.

    In a thrilling new fantasy from the bestselling author of the Storm Siren Trilogy, one girl makes a stand against society and enters a world made exclusively for boys.

    Every year for the past fifty-four years, the residents of Pinsbury Port have received a mysterious letter inviting all eligible-aged boys to compete for an esteemed scholarship to the all-male Stemwick University. The poorer residents look to see if their names are on the list. The wealthy look to see how likely their sons are to survive. Rhen Tellur opens it to see if she can derive which substances the ink and parchment are created from, using her father’s microscope.

    In the province of Caldon, where women train in wifely duties and men pursue collegiate education, sixteen-year-old Rhen Tellur wants nothing more than to become a scientist. As the poor of her seaside town fall prey to a deadly disease, she and her father work desperately to find a cure. But when her mum succumbs to it as well? Rhen decides to take the future into her own hands—through the annual all-male scholarship competition.

    With her cousin, Seleni, by her side, the girls don disguises and enter Mr. Holm’s labyrinth, to best the boys and claim the scholarship prize. Not everyone is ready for a girl who doesn’t know her place. And not everyone survives the deadly maze.

Book 4: Princess of Thorns

    This next book recommendation has the daughter of Sleeping Beauty trying to save her kingdom with the help of a cursed prince.

Book Name: Princess of Thorns

Author Name(s): Stacey Jay

Genre: Fantasy

Release Date: December 9, 2014

Book Number: Standalone

Number of Pages: 388 pages

Book Descriptions:

    Game of Thrones meets the Grimm's fairy tales in this twisted, fast-paced romantic fantasy adventure about Sleeping Beauty's daughter, a warrior princess who must fight to reclaim her throne.

    Though she looks like a mere mortal, Princess Aurora is a fairy blessed with enhanced strength, bravery, and mercy yet cursed to destroy the free will of any male who kisses her. Disguised as a boy, she enlists the help of the handsome but also cursed Prince Niklaas to fight legions of evil and free her brother from the ogre queen who stole Aurora's throne ten years ago.

    Will Aurora triumph over evil and reach her brother before it's too late? Can Aurora and Niklaas break the curses that will otherwise forever keep them from finding their one true love?

Book 5: Reflection-A Twisted Tale

    This last book Recommendation asks the question: What if Disney’s Mulan had to travel to the underworld?

Book Name: Reflection-A Twisted Tale

Author Name(s): Elizabeth Lim

Genre: Fantasy

Release Date: March 27, 2018

Book Number: 4 of 13 (more in Development)

Number of Pages: 408 pages

Book Description:

    What if Mulan had to travel to the Underworld?

    When Captain Shang is mortally wounded by Shan Yu in battle, Mulan must travel to the Underworld, Diyu, in order to save him from certain death. But King Yama, the ruler of Diyu, is not willing to give Shang up easily.

    With the help of Shang's great lion guardian ShiShi, Mulan must traverse Diyu to find Shang's spirit, face harrowing obstacles, and leave by sunrise⁠—or become King Yama's prisoner forever.

    Moreover, Mulan is still disguised as the soldier called Ping, wrestling with the decision to reveal her true identity to her closest friend.

    Will Mulan be able to save Shang before it's too late? Will he ever be able to trust her again? Or will she lose him—and be lost in the Underworld⁠—forever?

Conclusion

     Do any of these books sound like interesting reads? Have you read any of them? Let me know in the comments below!

Fairy/Fae Book Recommendations

 The Magical Fairies of Folklore 

    Though sometimes used to describe many different magical creatures, such as goblins or gnomes, a particular image pops up When people think of the word Fairy. A small humanoid with wings. Sometimes these wings look like butterfly wings or, in the Case of The Peter and the Star Catchers series, Bird-like wings. Sometimes they can be mischievous. Other times fairies can be helpful. Another known name is Fae. In this post, I will recommend five Fairy/Fae books (Except A Court of Thorns and Roses as it is over-recommended).

Book 1: The Spiderwick Chronicles 1- The Feild Guide

    This book uses the word fairy to describe loads of magical creatures but is still a great read. Tony DiTerlizzi's pictures spread throughout both the book and series is the fantastic icing on the cake!

Book Name: The Spiderwick Chronicles-The Field Guide

Author Name(s): Tony DiTerlizzi, Holly Black

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Release Date: May 1, 2003

Book Number: 1 of 5

Number of Pages: 114 pages

Book Description:

    After finding a mysterious, handmade field guide in the attic of the ramshackle old mansion they’ve just moved into, Jared; his twin brother, Simon; and their older sister, Mallory, discover that there’s a magical and maybe dangerous world existing parallel to our own—the world of faerie.

    The Grace children want to share their story, but the faeries will do everything possible to stop them...

Book 2: The Iron King

    This next book has a girl discovering she is the daughter of a fairy king. Follow her journey as she tries to save those closest to her.  

Book Name: The Iron King

Author Name(s): Julie Kagawa

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Release Date: January 19, 2010

Book Number: 1 of 10

Number of Pages: 363 pages

Book Description:

    Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.

    Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.

    When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

    But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil, no faery creature dare face, and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

Book 3: Wings

 This book starts with a girl waking up to a strange flower-like thing growing on her back. Wait. Could they be wings! An interesting twist on fairies for sure!

Book Name: Wings

Author Name(s): Aprilynne Pike

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Release Date: May 5, 2009

Book Number: 1 of 5

Number of Pages: 290 pages

Book Description:

    Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.

    Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.

    In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

Book 4: The Faerie Path

    This book has a girl bring back life to a desolate fairy wasteland after she mysteriously vanished 5 years prior.   

Book Name: The Faerie Path

Author Name(s): Frewin Jones

Genre: Fantasy

Release Date: February 1, 2007

Book Number: 1 of 6

Number of Pages: 312 pages

Book Description:

    Swept away into a court of magic and beauty, she discovers she is Tania, the lost princess of the youngest daughter of Oberon and Titania. Since Tania's mysterious disappearance on the eve of her wedding five hundred years before, Faerie has been sunk in darkness and gloom. The courtly Lord Gabriel Drake, whom Tania was once to marry, has found her and brought her back. With Tania's return, Faerie comes alive again as a land of winged children, glittering balls, and fantastic delights. But Tania can't forget Anita's world or the boy she loved there. Torn between two loves and between two worlds, Tania slowly comes to discover why she disappeared so long ago. She possesses a singular magical ability and she must use it to stop a sinister plan that threatens the entire world of Faerie.

Book 5: The Cruel Prince

    What if you were a human raised in a world of fairies? That is exactly what happens to the main character Jude in this story as she tries to win a place in the High Court of Faerie. 

Book Name: The Cruel Prince

Author Name(s): Holly Black

Genre: Fantasy

Release Date: January 2, 2018

Book Number: 1 of 3

Number of Pages: 370 pages

Book Description:

    Of course, I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

    And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

    Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

    To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.

    As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

Conclusion 

    Do any of these books sound interesting to read? Have you read any of them? Let me know in the comments below! I might do a part two in the future as there are a lot of fairy books out there!

Cinderella Book Recommendations

 From Rags at Riches

    Her stepmother and step-sisters made her work from dawn to dusk and sleep in a small, cold room. when the chill became too much to bear, she would sleep near the kitchen fire where cinders would fall on her. this is where she got her name, Cinderella. There have been many versions of Cinderella from many countries throughout history. It is believed the first version was either from Ancient Greece or Asia but did not become well known until French author Charles Perrault published it in a book featuring other Fairy Tales in 1697. For this post, I will be recommending five retellings of Cinderella for you to read. 

Book 1: Geekerella

    This first book features Cinderella in a contemporary setting. If you love geek culture and the con scene then you will love all the references in this book! 

Book Name: Geekerella

Author Name: Ashley Poston

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: April 4, 2017

Book Number: 1 of 3

Number of Pages: 320 pages

Book Description:

    Cinderella goes to the con in this fandom-fueled twist on the classic fairy tale.

    Part romance, part love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs, Geekerella is a fairy tale for anyone who believes in the magic of fandom. Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic sci-fi series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball, and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. With savings from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck (and her dad’s old costume), Elle’s determined to win…unless her stepsisters get there first.

    Teen actor Darien Freeman used to live for cons—before he was famous. Now they’re nothing but autographs and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Carmindor is all he’s ever wanted, but the Starfield fandom has written him off as just another dumb heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, Darien feels more and more like a fake—until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise.

Book 2: Cinder

    The Next book is the amazing debut of one of my favorite authors, Marissa Meyer. In this series, The Lunar Chronicles takes Fairy Tales and places them in a futuristic world!

Book Name: Cinder

Author Name: Marissa Meyer

Genre: Science Fiction

Release Date: January 3, 2012

Book Number: 1 of 6

Number of Pages: 400 pages

Book Description:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless Lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg.

She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Book 3: Cinder & Glass

    This next book places Cinderella in a more real, historical setting. She also goes by the name Cendrillon in this story, which is a common alternate name used in different versions of the tale.    

Book Name: Cinder & Glass

Author Name: Melissa De La Cruz

Genre: Historical Fiction/ Romance

Release Date: March 8, 2022

Book Number: 1 of to be determined

Number of Pages: 336 pages

Book Description:

    For this princess, winning the crown is no fairytale.

    1682. The king sends out an invitation to all the maidens in France: their presence is requested at a number of balls and events that will be held in honor of the dashing Prince Louis, who must choose a bride.

    Cendrillon de Louvois has more grace, beauty, and charm than anyone else in France. While she was once the darling child of the king's favorite adviser, her father's death has turned her into the servant of her stepmother and cruel stepsisters--and at her own chateau, too!

    Cendrillon--now called Cinder--manages to evade her stepmother and attend the ball, where she catches the eye of the handsome Prince Louis and his younger brother Auguste.

    Even though Cendrillon has an immediate aversion to Louis and a connection with Auguste, the only way to escape her stepmother is to compete with the other women at court for the Prince's hand.

    Soon, as Cendrillon glows closer to Auguste and dislikes the prince more and more, she will have to decide if she can bear losing the boy she loves in order to leave the life she hates.

    Melissa de la Cruz takes a lush, romantic hand to this retold fairy tale classic.

Book 4: So This Is Love

    This book is part of the Disney Twisted Tales series, where one part of a Disney movie is changed, twisting everything in the story. This one asks: What if Cinderella never tried on the glass slipper?

Book Name: So This Is Love-A Twisted Tale

Author Name: Elizabeth Lim

Genre: Fantasy/ Romance

Release Date: April 7, 2020

Book Number: 9 of 13 ( More in development)

Number of Pages: 416 pages

Book Description:

    Unable to prove that she's the missing princess, and unable to bear life under Lady Tremaine any longer, Cinderella starts work at the palace as a seamstress. However, when Cinderella finds herself witness to a grand conspiracy to take the king - and the prince - out of power, she is faced with questions of love and loyalty to the kingdom. Cinderella must find a way to stop the villains of past and present... before it's too late.

Book 5: The Peasant's Dream

    This last recommendation takes the Cinderella story and gender swaps it! If you want a nice, sweet read this book is a perfect candidate!

Book Name: The Peasant's Dream

Author Name: Melanie Dickerson

Genre: Historical Fiction/ Romance

Release Date: July 7, 2020

Book Number: 11 of 11

Number of Pages: 311 pages

Book Description:

    In this reverse reimagining of the Cinderella story, secrets and dangerous enemies threaten a fairy-tale romance.

    Adela, daughter of the Duke of Hagenheim, is rarely allowed outside the castle walls. But one day, longing for freedom, she sneaks away to the market disguised as a peasant. There, she meets a handsome young woodcarver named Frederick.

    Frederick, a poor farmer, is the sole provider for his family, and he often has to defend his mother from his father’s drunken rages. He dreams of making a living carving beautiful images into wood, and he is thrilled when the Bishop of Hagenheim commissions him to carve new doors for the cathedral. As Frederick works on the project, he and Adela meet almost daily, and it doesn't take long for them to fall in love. Yet her true identity remains hidden from him.

    When disaster separates them, Adela and Frederick find themselves caught in the midst of deceptions far more dangerous than innocent disguises. As the powerful lords set against them proceed with their villainous plans, secrets emerge that put Frederick and Adela's future at risk.

Conclusion

    Do any of these books sound interesting to read? Have you read any of them? Let me know in the comments below! I might also do a part two as there are so many Cinderella Retellings out there!