New fiction retellings and reimagined classics to read

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Some of my favourite books take a familiar story and look at it from an entirely different angle. Maybe it's a villain who finally gets to tell her side, a mythological figure whose story has been overlooked, or a beloved classic reimagined with a completely new heroine.

There are so many new fiction retellings and reimagined classics to discover. I've rounded up recently published books inspired by Greek mythology, fairy tales, classic novels, historical figures, and folklore. You'll find everything from feminist reimaginings of Moby-Dick and Jane Eyre to fresh takes on Cinderella, Medusa, Aphrodite, and King Arthur.

Some stay close to the original stories, while others take familiar characters and premises somewhere entirely unexpected.

New fiction retellings and reimagined classics

What are fiction retellings?

Fiction retellings take familiar stories, characters, myths, or historical events and give them a new perspective. Some follow the original plot fairly closely, while others change the setting, introduce new characters, or imagine what might have happened if events had unfolded differently.

One of the things I love about this category is how varied it can be. A retelling doesn't have to be a fairy tale or a Greek myth. It can revisit a classic novel, give a historical woman the chance to tell her own story, or turn a familiar villain into the central character.

Here are some of the most popular types of fiction retellings to look out for:

• 🏛️ Greek mythology retellings — Revisit the gods, goddesses, heroes, and overlooked figures of ancient mythology. Think Medusa, Aphrodite, Persephone, and the women whose stories have often been told from someone else's perspective.

• 🏰 Fairy tale retellings — Familiar stories like Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, and Rapunzel get new characters, unexpected twists, and sometimes much darker endings.

• 📖 Classic literature reimaginings — Authors revisit well-known novels such as Jane Eyre, Moby-Dick, and Rebecca, changing the perspective or imagining a different version of events.

• 👑 Historical fiction reimaginings — Real historical figures, particularly women whose lives have been shaped by other people's accounts, get a chance to reclaim their stories.

• 🐉 Folklore and legend retellings — Ancient legends, monsters, and traditional tales provide inspiration for new fantasy, horror, and literary fiction

Whether you're drawn to mythology, fairy tales, classic literature, or historical figures, these books offer a fresh way to revisit stories you may already know.

Looking for more books?

Continue discovering your next read:

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