12 Of Your Favorite YA Retellings of a Myth or Legend
This Riot Recommendation is sponsored by Penguin Teen.
Eighteen-year-old Xifeng is beautiful. The stars say she is destined for greatness, that she is meant to be Empress of Feng Lu. But only if she embraces the darkness within her. Set in an East Asian-inspired fantasy world filled with both breathtaking pain and beauty, Forest of a Thousand Lanterns possesses all the hallmarks of masterful fantasy: dazzling magic, heartbreaking romance, and a world that hangs in the balance. Fans of Heartless, Stealing Snow, and Red Queen will devour this stunning debut.
Whether rooted in history, religion, or folklore, retellings of myths and legends always make for an interesting, usually epic, read. King Arthur and Greek Mythology may come to mind first but there are so many myths and legends told throughout history and around the world that this is a well that will never run dry and lends itself perfectly for a YA retelling. So we asked you to tell us your favorite YA retelling of a myth or legend, and you answered. Here are 12 of your favorites! And I Darken by Kiersten White The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh The Marsh King’s Daughter by Karen Dionne The Firebrand by Marion Zimmer Bradley Prophecy by Ellen Oh The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan Vengeance Bound by Justina Ireland Summer of the Mariposas by Guadalupe Garcia McCall Antigoddess by Kendare Blake The Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski The Storyteller’s Daughter by Cameron Dokey Five Hundred Kingdoms by Mercedes Lackey
Eighteen-year-old Xifeng is beautiful. The stars say she is destined for greatness, that she is meant to be Empress of Feng Lu. But only if she embraces the darkness within her. Set in an East Asian-inspired fantasy world filled with both breathtaking pain and beauty, Forest of a Thousand Lanterns possesses all the hallmarks of masterful fantasy: dazzling magic, heartbreaking romance, and a world that hangs in the balance. Fans of Heartless, Stealing Snow, and Red Queen will devour this stunning debut.
Whether rooted in history, religion, or folklore, retellings of myths and legends always make for an interesting, usually epic, read. King Arthur and Greek Mythology may come to mind first but there are so many myths and legends told throughout history and around the world that this is a well that will never run dry and lends itself perfectly for a YA retelling. So we asked you to tell us your favorite YA retelling of a myth or legend, and you answered. Here are 12 of your favorites! And I Darken by Kiersten White The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh The Marsh King’s Daughter by Karen Dionne The Firebrand by Marion Zimmer Bradley Prophecy by Ellen Oh The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan Vengeance Bound by Justina Ireland Summer of the Mariposas by Guadalupe Garcia McCall Antigoddess by Kendare Blake The Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski The Storyteller’s Daughter by Cameron Dokey Five Hundred Kingdoms by Mercedes Lackey