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Retelling romance books

Fairy tales, myths and classics, remixed and made a lot hornier. 10 books so far, including A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Touch of Darkness and Gild.

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  1. A Court of Thorns and Roses

    Sarah J. Maas · Book 1 of 6 in A Court of Thorns and Roses

    Spice 3/5 · Steamy

    A huntress, a cursed fae lord and a Beauty and the Beast retelling that is secretly the opening act for book two.

    • Beauty and the Beast
    • Retelling
    • Deadly trials

  2. A Touch of Darkness

    Scarlett St. Clair · Book 1 in Hades x Persephone Saga

    Spice 4/5 · Spicy

    Persephone is a journalist, Hades runs a nightclub, and they make a very bad bargain. Modern Greek myth with plenty of spice.

    • Retelling
    • Forbidden love
    • Rivals to lovers

  3. Gild

    Raven Kennedy · Book 1 of 5 in The Plated Prisoner

    Spice 3/5 · Steamy

    King Midas's golden favourite in a golden cage. It starts slow, then turns into the revenge-and-rot fantasy of your dreams.

    • Captor / captive
    • Retelling
    • Revenge plot

  4. Hooked

    Emily McIntire

    Spice 4/5 · Spicy

    A modern Captain Hook as a crime lord, and Wendy as his ticket to revenge. First in the Never After villain retellings.

    • Retelling
    • Villain gets the girl
    • Revenge plot

  5. Neon Gods

    Katee Robert · Book 1 in Dark Olympus

    Spice 5/5 · Scorching

    Modern Hades and Persephone in a city run by the Thirteen. Very kinky, very fast.

    • Retelling
    • Forbidden love
    • Morally grey MMC

  6. Bonded by Thorns

    Elizabeth Helen · Book 1 in Beasts of the Briar

    Spice 4/5 · Spicy

    Beauty and the Beast, but there are four cursed fae beasts and she does not have to choose.

    • Beauty and the Beast
    • Retelling
    • Found family

  7. Scarred

    Emily McIntire

    Spice 4/5 · Spicy

    A Lion King retelling where Scar is the hero. Yes, really. The royal ward and her villain.

    • Retelling
    • Age gap
    • Villain gets the girl

  8. The Never King

    Nikki St. Crowe · Book 1 of 5 in Vicious Lost Boys

    Spice 5/5 · Scorching

    Wendy's granddaughter, a feral grown-up Peter Pan and his Lost Boys. A deliciously dark Neverland.

    • Retelling
    • Villain gets the girl
    • Captor / captive

Often paired with retelling

Retelling books: FAQ

What are the best retelling books?

Reader favourites include A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas; A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair; Gild by Raven Kennedy; Hooked by Emily McIntire; Neon Gods by Katee Robert. Use the spice filter above to narrow it to your heat level.

What are the spiciest retelling books?

For explicit retelling romance, try Neon Gods by Katee Robert; The Never King by Nikki St. Crowe; A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair; Hooked by Emily McIntire; Bonded by Thorns by Elizabeth Helen. These are rated 4 or 5 out of 5 on our spice scale.

Are there standalone retelling books?

If you do not want to commit to a series, try Hooked by Emily McIntire; Scarred by Emily McIntire.