Beauty and the Beast Tales

There are many...many variations of Beauty and the beast just like many fairy tales.

Here are some of the best retellings of the beautiful and one of the most famous fairy tales.


Beauty and the Beast is a traditional fairy tale. Its first published version was written by French author Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve in the middle 18th century. It was a novel-length story intended for adult readers and addressing the issues of the marriage system of the day in which women had no right to choose their husband or to refuse to marry. The best-known version of the tale appeared sixteen years later. Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont simplified and shortened the Villeneuve's work and published it in a magazine for young ladies. The new abridged version became more successful, and Madame de Beaumont is regarded now as the author of the classic story. This edition includes remarkable illustrations by Walter Crane. Crane's work in children's books in cooperation with the publisher Edmund Evans earned him worldwide fame in the late 19th century.

 From the Faerie Tale Collection This version of beauty and the beast has a Prince who becomes a wolf by night and a man by day. The prince finds himself on his way of abdicating his throne until he finds hope. Hope in the form of a distant cousin who detests him very much. The Beast within Well as it says this is the beasts side of the famous Disney Tale. It has many many good reviews on Good Reads and on Amazon.com.

Beauty by Robin McKinley I have read this and often pick it up to go over it again! I love the tale in all its beautiful glory. McKinley describes with a flourish all beautiful places in the book especially the new cabin the family moves into and Beast's Castle. Here is another tale where you meet the sisters of Beauty as well as her mother and father. We also learn more of the business that sent them from their beautiful rich home out into a village far away from the city. I loved this book and it seems well loved by many others as well. If you would like an interesting take on the story of Beauty and the Beast then this is for you. Beastly if You have seen the movie be prepared for a slightly different experience. While the acting in the movie was wonderful the book in itself is more lovely then anything in the movie. I read this book long before a film was thought of or a trailer was even made. Its wonderfully witty and funny. Here there are witty chats in a 'fairy tale chat room' for those that have been changed or are seeking to change. I will let you read the book to find out who he talks to there. This is another of my favorite retellings and its very charming and will make you laugh.

 Beast by Donna Jo Napoli I read this in the 11th grade and I loved it. Here we have a Persian prince who is cursed by a Pari, a fairy. So he travels leaving his beloved homeland. In this book we find the prince is something quite normal looking yet not so much. We get to read about the wilds of Africa the land of the Lion (hint hint)and from there to home to England. Its told from the Prince's point of view and its really a fun read. if you get this for your kid they should only read it if they are 17 or older.

 Beauty and the Beast by Sarah Winter This version of the tale we find a Prince Leopold who as a child treats an old woman very harshly at the river bank. This woman returns upon his eighteenth birthday finding same rude child but in the body of a young man. Here is when the mystery begins as his parents tragically lose their lives that very night and he himself vanishes with no trace. The village bellow becomes haunted by a nameless entity. Here now we find Jolie sometime later who is being married off by her father, to secure her a happy future. He goes to check on one of his ships after settling this marriage deal and loses himself in a storm. Of course he finds himself at the old palace the village still told tales of and he stays there and the next day picks a rose for dear Jolie. Then he must make a very hard decision...

 Five Enchanted Roses This is five stories for Beauty and the Beast they are all very lovely and different. Perfect for a fairytale lover!! This book has favorable reviews on both Amazon and Good Reads. Very Rich and charming story telling.

 Cruel Beauty
The romance of Beauty and the Beast meets the adventure of Graceling in a dazzling fantasy novel about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Nyx has always known her destiny. Her fate. To stop the tyranny, to kill her husband and free her people. But things get in her way when she moves to the Palace upon the mountaintop. She had always known she must complete her task at all costs...she never knew one of the costs would be her heart.

Of Beast and Beauty
Isra is a girl raised in the city of Yuan. but not like a normal girl. She is being raised as a sacrifice to keep the city in safety. When Isra starts a forbidden friendship with Gem someone who had been captured outside of the dome that protects the City. Can Forbidden love break the curse requiring Isra's sacrifice?

  Beauty and the Clock Work Beast
In this retelling of the classic French fairytale Beauty and the Beast, Keuser has melded magic, clockpunk, and romance to create a story that expands on the themes of both original versions as well as that of the 1995 Disney classic.

Rose of Prophecy

Part of the legend of light series. 

The prince away at war, her brothers fighters in the war. 
Her father returning home weary and Ill with a Scarlet Flower that would change her world. A flower he claimed would never wither. Then swept off to a castle in the heart of Mosswood, Surrounded by roses and Mystery. 

There is a price which must be paid, or a sacrifice which must be made.

  

Scales A fresh Retelling of Beauty and the Beast

  Reader Review from Patreon: "The subtlety here is wonderful - nothing seems overdone and like any good fairytale, the familiar elements allow us to take a shortcut to the core of the story. We're all familiar with jealous suitors and jealous siblings and handsome men with flashing blue eyes, but from poor Ailse to Amber (who listens better than he claims to), you can feel a sort of presence underneath their actions... something that is thinking very fast to reconcile the past and the future and move the people around them to the right places. Of course Oralia is the shining example here, pushing off her suitors on her sister when she doesn't want them and picking them up again when she needs to make someone jealous, but what is she really after? She surely knows the obstacles to marrying a minstrel, and she of all people seems likely to go after power, not talent. Sir Roderick thinks he knows how to drive Amber away from Oralia and have her to himself, but does he understand how Oralia works at all? And then there's Ele, and somehow by being her quiet, reserved self she manages to have a good old time in her simple dress with her enchanting minstrel friend. I was expecting her to be at the center of some sort of disaster at the feast, but she knows herself and her sister too well for that. I'm also impressed by her mother's choice to let her have her independence and not force her to play to her sister's whims. This whole cast looks to be a shade quicker on the uptake than your average fantasy court - another thing I always liked about the old fairytales. I can't wait to meet the witches and see these clever people put to the test!" -Melissa

Before Beauty

A prince raised to be a warrior, loses himself along the path.  In his pain he makes a wrong choice that changes his life. But his life is not the only one he has changed.
A girl in the village Isa has suffered his temper before . The prince's last outburst cut off much with the curse including the city's protection. 
An enemy crouches lying in wait. Can past hurts be mended to save the future?
 

Beauty Modern Wicked Fairy Tales
Former beauty queen kidnapped soon to be dead because of her husband. no. because she now knew truths. she knew too much. But an unlucky or maybe lucky accident leaves her in the middle of no where in a cabin with a masked man, and her husband who wanted her dead.

Beauty and the Beast Tales from around the World

  
I have this book and was thrilled by it! who would have thought so many variations of the story existed in the world...or how far they went back.


Romance novels 

Loving an ugly Beast
 Known as a beast for his size and scars Benton keeps a solitary life a life he thinks he will continue quite alone. Until she, Nissa came to the village. Plain by some standards, He thinks she will change his life. Nissa is sad when her friend disappears and suddenly is replaced by a very handsome charming man, a man intent on courting her.

Benton found himself a fairy godmother who made him handsome but can he win Nissa's love in his new form or will her past destroy their chances?

Beauty and the Highland Beast

Powerful and dangerous highlander Dair Sinclair was once the favored son of his clan, The Sinclairs of Carraig Brigh. With Dair at the helm, Sinclair ships circled the globe bringing home incredible fortune. Until one deadly mission when Daire is captured, tortured and is unable to save his young cousin. He returns home breaking under the weight of his guilt and becomes known as the Madman of Carraig Brigh.
When a pagan healer predicts that only a virgin bride can heal his son’s body and mind, Daire’s father sets off to find the perfect wife for his son. At the castle of the fearsome McLeods, he meets lovely and kind Fia MacLeod.
Although Daire does his best to frighten Fia, she sees the man underneath the damage and uses her charm and special gifts to heal his mind and heart. Will Daire let Fia love him or is he cursed with madness forever?

When Beauty Tamed the Beast

“Eloisa James’s writing is absolutely exquisite.”
—New York Times bestselling author Teresa Medeiros

“Nothing gets me to a bookstore faster than a new novel by Eloisa James.”

—New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn

 A wonderful spin on a much-beloved fairy tale, Eloisa James’s When Beauty Tamed the Beast is heart-soaring and fun historical romance at its finest. No wonder People magazine raves about her books, saying, “Romance writing does not get much better than this.” Eloisa’s delightful take on Beauty and the Beast unfolds in Regency England, where a beastly, bad-tempered Earl matches wits with a brazen beauty who has vowed to make the handsome grump fall in love with her in two short weeks.


The Beauty's Beast
  Lady Kathryn’s father sends her to court to find a husband, but being penniless and disinterested doesn't bode well for her success. Bored by the petty intrigues of court, her frustration and loneliness are eased when the king charges her with the care of his newest acquisition: a wolf he and his hunters have recently captured. What the king doesn't realize is his remarkable pet was once Gabriel, his favorite knight, cursed into wolf form by an unfaithful wife.

The beast’s uncanny intelligence and human-like behavior convince Kathryn that he is more than what he seems. Resolving to help him, she doesn't count on the greatest obstacle being Gabriel himself. The longer he stays in wolf form as a captive of the court, the harder it becomes for him to remember his humanity and to fight his wolfish urges to maim and kill.

Only Kathryn’s affection and determination stand between Gabriel the wolf and Gabriel the man. But when the one who betrayed him returns to court, will Kathryn’s love be enough to keep Gabriel from exacting a brutish revenge that will condemn the wolf to death?

The Last Unicorn and more

Here I am again with another amazing book, but with this there are now two versions. One for the purists who want the book to read and imagine the imagery themselves or for those who want splendid gorgeous pictures as they read.

The Last Unicorn 
 is remembered by many people and was Written by Peter S. Beagle.
I loved this and I first saw it as an animated film (also shared here) it was years later I found the wonderful book. Now there is a Graphic Novel of it and I couldn't be more delighted. The pictures are beautiful and you feel like you could just step right into the scenes of the forest!

If you have any little daughter, niece, sister, cousin or god daughter who loves magic and unicorns and princesses and knights and magic, this has all of the above!

For those of who who do not know the story it is about a Unicorn who goes searching for more of her own kind and makes friends along the way with a wizard,  a cook, and even learns about human emotion along the way. Its Adventure, Magic, Love, and Battle!

Another wonderful book from the spectacular writer of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh.  Robert C O'Brien. 

The Silver Crown 
 A secret gift on her birthday, A Mysterious Fire and men in green hats... Ellen has had the strangest birthday ever and her entire family seems to be gone in a puff of smoke she tries to go find her mysterious aunt to try and figure things out. Then she finds out she's being hunted.... I read this when I was in the Fifth Grade. I still love going back sometimes and picking it up.

Warning! This book is a bit dark and has some mature themes such as fire destroying the heroine's home, A murder, a near kidnapping.
Only let your kids read it if they understand its only a book, and if they are more mature for their age.

The Ordinary Princess by M. M Kaye 

 In a world where princesses all have long ridiculous names like Amethyst Alexandra Augusta Araminta Adelaide Aurelia Anne,  seventh princesses in a royal family are always a big deal. Fairies always come to a christening of a seventh daughter. Seventh daughters are always the prettiest of them all. Unless...your have a crotchety fairy godmother who does not like being kept waiting. 
And that is what got Princess Amy her very, very..VERY extra ordinary gift. Her godmother made her ORDINARY! 
Kaye tells this tale with a lot of wit and charm and Princess Amy is a very lovable character. Little girls will adore the detail of this book and the pretty Ink drawings reminiscent of old leather back fairy tales like the Brothers Grimm. 

I highly enjoyed this book as a kid and my niece (age is very young not yet 12 thank you) adores it! This is a kid who is also a harry potter fan!
If you have a little girl who adores princesses this is a cute book for her.

The Moorchild by Eloise Mcgraw

A child stolen in the night switched with a strange new child. A child half human half Folk.
Saaski has always been different. Thin and gangly...and a strange allergy to iron. She grows up taunted and feared by the villagers where she she lives with her Da and Mumma. But when she regains memories of her past. Her true past. She is determined to set things right.

Here you enter a lush detail of myths and and old folktales. The dedication of the book is for children who have felt different.
Its a very enchanting story and I recommend letting your kid read this about the age of 12 or 14. As it deals with Prejudices and in a way Bullying.   The theme of the book comes through though and that is To be true to one's self.

The Enchanted Castle by E. Nesbit

An enchanted garden...A splendid castle ....and A sleeping Princess....a Magic Ring

Join Gerald, Kathy and Jimmy as they go on a amazing adventure! 

 This is a fun and great story for kids of all ages (even the ones still kids at heart!)
This story is Enchanting (pardon the pun) Engaging  and fun. Its a Mystery in a way as well. If you liked or Loved Harry Potter then E. Nesbit's books are for you.

 Amazon.com Review
A plot summary makes this story sound ordinary by children's literature standards: the summer adventures of four children who discover an enchanted castle and a magic ring. But Edith Nesbit's adored classic (written in 1907) is so much more than the description suggests. Right from the start, the author plays with the idea of magic, teasing us with a sleeping princess who turns out to be a fake. Elsewhere, the magic is "real" as can be--in fact, though written nearly 100 years ago, The Enchanted Castle prefigures the magical realism of modern novels in the matter-of-fact way it weaves the uncanny into the children's everyday life. And, while few authors are confident enough to parody bad writing, Nesbit does it hilariously (and ever so gently) through one character's tendency to "talk like a book": "'To brush his hair and his clothes... was to our hero but the work of a moment,' said Gerald." Things turn scary when the Ugly Wuglies, fake people made from painted cardboard masks, old clothes, and broomsticks, come to life. But on the whole this book about enchantment--much praised by such luminaries as H.G. Wells and Noel Coward--is, simply, enchanting. (Ages 6 and older) --Richard Farr --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

The School of Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

By now many kids have read this book and fallen in love with the story and characters. I though I am not a child anymore am one of the millions enchanted by this series. I have read all three wonderful, spectacular books. The story is about two girls. One bright and brilliant and like a fairy tale. The other distant and solitary and dark.


 What will happen to two good friends torn apart by schools who say they cannot be friends?


 “In the forest of primeval A school for Good and Evil Twin towers like two heads One for the pure And one for the wicked Try to escape you'll always fail, The only way out is Through a fairytale.” ― Soman Chainani, The School for Good and Evil

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones and More fun books

I know many people by now (I sincerely hope many) have seen the beautiful movie Howl's Moving Castle.

but how many of you knew it was a book written right here in America? I guess a few of you may shout WHAT?!
I read this book sometime before I even heard of the film and was excited to see it. While it differs in many ways from the original story it was just so much fun to see.

Now then as for the books it was also part of a series.
If you have seen this movie you NEED to get this book! Get on on kindle if you must (many have switched over to the kindle I have both) or get the paperback. You will not regret it but I must press remember it is NOT like the film.

No matter what if you are a fantasy lover this is the book to grab and grab now. Its full of fun and humor and is just pure delightful.

Some more fun books are these here

Flunked now this is a pretty funny book. I was skeptical I am a bit picky when it comes to books. Who is not picky about books? No one.

Flunked is by the famous authoress of the award winning series Secrets of My Hollywood Life.

Called "Charming Fairy Tale Fun" by Sarah Mlynowski who wrote the Whatever After series.

Its a slightly twisted fairytale about a sassy girl named Gilly (not wicked by any means) who steals to keep her family afloat. until she's caught that is and sent to a reform school. Who runs this school you ask? None other then the most famous all of a stepmothers of course! The teachers? Other villains. Yep all the big baddest of the bad. The Evil Queen, The Big Bad Wolf....yeah not a good day for her.
Your kids will love reading about Gilly's adventure with her new friends from school.

Then we have Fairy Godmothers Inc
Kate is having problems and she's an experienced godmother! She's supposed to help Rellie (Cinderella) who doesn't want any dress, the younger brother of the prince is after Kate instead of Rellie, oh what is a fairy godmother to do?!

This is a funny and quite charming retelling of the cinderella story and is bound to make you laugh.


 Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story

For this godmother things went horribly horribly WRONG. Lil is a quiet girl who shelves books in a tiny bookstore in Manhattan. What's so special about her...she is or WAS a fairy godmother. Not only a fairy godmother she was THE Fairy Godmother. The Fairy responsible for Cinderella's Happily Ever After. Or she was supposed to be. Instead she fell in love with the prince her self and trotted off to the ball in Cindy's place getting herself banished. Now she has a chance at redemption to find a soul mate for a vintage loving girl who seems to have a penchant for finding love in all the wrong places. (pardon the pun)

grab this to find out what happens to Lil and see if she manages to get herself redeemed and to go home.


My Fairly Dangerous Godmother. why add this book? It is hilariously funny that is why!

Janette Rallison has witty take on this fairy godmother. What does the star of our story get? A cellphone carrying high heeled fairy godmother in training. who seems to have a problem with messing up wishes. She sends her charge on a trip to the well known tale The Little Mermaid and even on to be a sister in the tale of the The Twelve dancing Princesses.  How does a girl fix wishes that are permanent?! with the help of a quest and a handsome thief of course.
This story is so full of charm and wit you may find yourself laughing absurdly. (do not read on public transportation unless you can ignore starring bystanders)

Publishers Weekly has called Rallison’s fairy tale retellings "Hilarious."
Praise for My Fair Godmother: "With comical chaos erupting everywhere, this magical (and romantic!) adventure will keep you grinning.!" -Girls' Life
"A charming YA treat ... funny with plenty of laugh out loud lines and moments" -Romantic Times.
The best books By Rallison

Good afternoon! - The Unicorn Chronicles

Hello fairy tale and Fantasy lovers.

This blog will be dedicated to showing and sharing the best books fantasy has to offer. New and old of course!

I will review the books as well.

Enjoy!


The first books I will mention are a series by Bruce Coville as a kid I read many of his books. The Unicorn
Chronicles among them were the best! Of course then there were only two books and I was dying for more. Now the series is finished and deserves a new crop of readers!

The story centers on Cara a girl who lives with her dear grandmother and is sent on a wild adventure into the Land of Luster. She meets many friends and learns more about herself and extraordinary family on the way.