Dark Retellings of Children’s Classics

After weeding through the numerous Alice in Wonderland retellings, Beddor’s wartime series is still one of my favorites. Princess Alyss, heir to the Wonderland throne, is on the run from her dangerous and scheming aunt. Lost in Victorian London, Alyss meets a kind writer who listens to her incredible tales of the apocalyptic Wonderland. Meanwhile, Royal Guard Mattigan seeks Alyss to bring her home as the rightful Queen. 

Separated at birth, Ria and Rani live opposite lives. Ria is a scavenger, living on the stolen scraps, evading danger at every corner. Rani is kept inside the palace walls, longing for her chance to see the world outside. When Rani and Ria meet, their resemblance is unmistakable. They plan to switch lives, but at what cost?  This fantasy adventure is a clever retelling of Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper, with twin co-authors!

After Briseis’s aunt wills Briseis her estate, Bri hopes that spending time at the rural estate’s gardens will help her learn to control her gift. Since she was young, Bri has been able to grow blooms from seeds with a single touch. Gardens of flowers, plants, herbs and even an apothecary wait for Bri and her parents at the new estate. When new neighbors ask Bri for cures and elixirs, suddenly Bri is caught up in a world she’s never known. This lush blend of The Secret Garden and Greek mythology is full of sinister secrets and dark intrigue. 

The holiday season wouldn’t be complete without the annual clanking of the ghost Marley’s chains. This novel imagines Jacob Marley as a young man, as he earned the chains that he would wear in the afterlife. Marley and Scrooge meet as students, where they quickly pick up on each other’s less charitable traits. As young men, they build their business on greed and deception, cashing in on illegal trade. Their youthful brotherhood smashed by pure ambition and greed, Marley and Scrooge have little left in common. This sinister novel adds tangible weight to Marley’s chains. 

Yes, the Arthurian Legends are solidly in the legends and folklore category, but there are at least three Arthurian retellings that are considered children’s classics, so let’s roll with this one. After the death of her mother, Bree finds escape in a program for exceptionally bright students. Her first night on campus reveals a secret society of magicians, called the Legendborn, who protect against magical attacks. Bits and pieces from Bree’s memory begin to resurface, and she’s determined to join the Legendborn.  Secrets and magic fuel this gritty reimagining of the Knights of the Round Table epic. 

Even if you’ve listened to Idina Menzel belt out “Defying Gravity” 7000 times, Maguire’s haunting and politically unstable Oz may feel unfamiliar. Wicked chronicles the life of Elphaba Thropp, the green girl, from university days of animal rights activism, to dark magic and illicit love affairs. Religious and political overtones, combined with violence, sex, and profanity make Wicked very much an adult take on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. 

Inspired by West African mythology, this retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid is the mysterious tale Disney could never give us. As a Mami Wata, Simi collects the souls of those who die at sea and sends them with blessings. When Simi witnesses a living boy tossed overboard, she goes against everything she knows to save him. To atone for her choice, Simi must make a dangerous journey to the Supreme Creator, because the fate of all Mami Wata is in her hands.  

On Christmas Eve, as Marietta dances her final ballet, the world around her shifts from Edwardian Theater to a deep, snowy forest covered in sweets. This magical world is more sinister than it appears at first glance. When Marietta is trapped by the cruel King Gelm, she allies herself with Gelm’s other prisoners to attempt escape. This fantastical retelling of E.T.A. Hoffman’s The Nutcracker and the Mouseking is full of twists and turns, perfect for cozy winter reading.