Book Lists 4/7

Hades and Persephone Retellings

Jun 9, 2023
2 min read

Updated: Apr 9

The story of Hades and Persephone is probably the most well known love story in Greek mythology. (It's my personal favorite out of all the Greek myths!) If you find yourself craving more Hades and Persephone stories, you should take a look at this list of clean/sweet romance retellings.

I’ll start this list off with two special call outs:

The Gate of Myth and Power trilogy by K.M. Shea (yes! that's me!)

This is a funny, urban fantasy retelling in which my version of Persephone disguises herself as a cat, and is unwillingly adopted by Noctus–the elf king of death aka my version of Hades–as his new pet. It’s an unusual start to the story, but you’ll see lots of familiar Greek characters, like Kerberos and Charon!

Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt

I love this book. You NEED to read it! It’s so fun, and twisty, but so cute! (The publisher put a darker cover on it right now–I have no idea why. It’s the quintessential fantasy romance, so don’t be scared off by it!) It is single-handedly is responsible for turning me into a fantasy romance nut.

The rest of the recommendations on our list were put together by from the reader community (thanks to Discord Admin Vin for organizing these). We asked for no spice and low language suggestions only but check the reviews if content is a concern for you.

Abandon by Meg Cabot

Seeking Persephone by Sarah M. Eden

Of Earth and Shadows by Kimberly A. Rogers

Dark King and the Eternal Dance by Alesha Adamson

The Concord Coalition by Kenley Davidson

The Hollow Kingdom by Clare B. Dunkle

Linnet and the Prince by Alydia Rackham

Phone Home, Persephone by Kate McMullan

Persephone the Phony by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Persephone the Daring by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

The Darkest Summer by Rebecca Greenwood

Peaceweaver by Everly Haywood

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

The Soulless Slipper by Abigail Manning

Tempting Hades by Emma Hamm

This Rotting Heart by Celeste Baxendell

Dawn by Camille Peters

Snapdragon by Sarah Beran

The Spring Maiden by Allison Anderson

This list is pretty short right now as the majority of the Hades and Persephone retelling are spicy, but I will add to this list whenever I find a new book that applies!

If you're looking for more books for your TBR I have a whole series of these blog posts featuring book recommendations and lists of popular retellings. Click here to start reading through all of them or use the Book Lists category to filter them.

Cinderella Fairy Tale Retellings

Jun 1, 2020
4 min read

Updated: Jul 7

Is Cinderella one of your favorite fairy tales? Then I guarantee this book list will have your next favorite read as it has a wide range of genres (contemporary, fantasy, sci-fi, historical) and so many stories with a great twist on the original story!

The best part is, this full list was built from recommendations from readers on Facebook so it think of them as a book rec from your friend!

As a side note, while I enjoy the Disney Cinderella movie, I am an active anti-fan of Cinderella’s prince because he is so useless! This is why I gave the prince in my retelling (Cinderella and the Colonel) a much more active role. My version of Cinderella is the third book in my fairy tale retelling series and it's available to read in Kindle Unlimited or buy on Amazon right now!

But back to the retelling list! I’ll start with some of my favorite Cinderella retellings, followed by tons more suggestions from my followers on social media. (There are 100 books in this full list!)

Here are my favorite Cinderella stories:

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine – Can a Cinderella retelling be more perfect than this story? Tons of fun world building in this book as well (the movie doesn’t give it justice).

Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix – Unusual in that it tells the story of what comes after the big slipper reveal. The book cover makes it look like a modern story but it’s actually a YA epic fantasy world setting.

The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey – This retelling isn’t squeaky clean, but it’s a fun reimagining of Cinderella that puts a really interesting twist on the typical fairy tale world retellings take place in.

And of course, there is Cinderella and the Colonel by K.M. Shea 🙂 (Buwahah, yes, a daring plug of my own story.)

And now for a mega list of more suggestions from my reader community! (I asked for no spice and low language recs but check the reviews if that is a concern for you.)

Of Glass and Glamour by Chanda Hahn

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George

Bewitching by Alex Flinn

Before Midnight: A Cinderella Story by Cameron Dokey

Cinder Luna by Marie Soleil

Cinder & Ella – by Kelly Oram

The Captive Maiden Melanie Dickerson

Meet Me at Midnight by Monique Brasher

Ashes by MK Harkins

Ella & the Billionaire's Ball by Catelyn Meadows

Kingdom of Cinders by Deborah Grace White

Traitor’s Masque by Kenley Davidson

Cinderella by Jenni James

The Ugly Stepsister by Arisa May

Ella by Jessilyn Stewart Peaslee

Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers by Brittany Fichter

Soot and Slipper by Kate Stradling

Midnight’s Curse by Tricia Mingerink

The Mystery Princess by Melanie Cellier

The Midnight Prince by Angie Grigaliunas

Chasing Cinders by Elizabeth D. Marie

Out of the Ashes Alicia Buck

Charm by J.A Armitage

Fated by Kaylin Lee

Isabella and the Slipper by Victorine E. Lieske

Geekerella by Ashley Poston

Phoenix & Ashes by Mercedes Lackey

Ellie and the Prince by J.M. Stengl

The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis

Princess of Midnight by Lucy Tempest

Disenchanted: The Trials of Cinderella by Megan Morrison

Back by Midnight by Dee J. Stone

The Reluctant Godfather by Allison Tebo

Riches to Rags by Casey Bond

The Stepsister's Lament by S.R. Nulton

Cinders By Finley Aaron

A Lady Most Fitting by Sienna Peake

Met by Midnight by Janeen Ippolito

The Vampire's Masquerade by Nellie Peters

The Midnight Heiress by Ashtyn Newbold

So this is Love by Elizabeth Lim

The Glass Gate by Hanna Sandvig

Cold Hearted by Serena Valentino

Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts by Nancy Campbell Allen

The Stepsister and the Slipper by Nina Clare

The Blood Spell by C. J. Redwine

Shard of Glass by Emily Deady

Glass Midnight by Kayla Eshbaugh

Heart of Glass by Laura Burton and Jessie Cal

The Midnight Blizzard by Mary Mecham

Cinderstellar by J M Page

The Earl of Highmott Hall by Nina Clare

The Coronation Ball by Melanie Cellier

Not Cinderella’s Type by Jenni James

Callie and the Pumpkin Seed by Sarah Beran

Bella at Midnight by Diane Stanley

The Peasant's Dream by Melanie Dickerson

Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly

At Midnight by Suzanna Fowers

If the Boot Fits by Karen Witemeyer

Princess of Mirrors by A. G. Marshall

Hidden at Starshine by Leialoha Humpherys

Ella & the Seven Dwarves by Sara Farnsworth

Bride of the Midnight Prince by Anastasis Blythe

Framed in Florals by Abigail Manning

To Shatter a Slipper by Abigail Manning

A Lady Most Alluring by Amy Newbold

Ashen by H.L. Burke

The Other Slipper by Kenechi Udogu

The Secret Slipper by Amanda Tero

The Stroke of Eleven by Kyle Robert Shultz

Curse of the Midnight King by Yakira Goldsberry

Dragon's Maid by Kimberly Rogers

Dance of Hearts by Byrd Nash

Mask of Scarlet by Sarah Pennington

Sinful Cinderella by Anita Valle

Reign by Chanda Hahn

Iron by Madisyn Carlin

Of Stars and Ashes by K.M. Carroll

Cursed Beauty by Dorian Tsukioka

The Swan and the Slipper by Sarah Beran

Once Upon a Midnight Clear by Michelle Miles

A Midnight Hope by Stefanie Lozinski

Once Upon a Dragon by Amberlyn Holland

Football Stars Don't Date Cinderella by Lucy Winton

Slippers and Thorns by Erin Halbmaier

Rook Di Goo by Jenni Saur

Of Glass and Cinders by Tiani Davids

Fae of Cinders by Cara E. Ruegg

Cinders of Glass by Celeste Baxendell

Legacy of Glass by Melanie Cellier

Flaming the Cinders by Katelyn Daliath

Ella and the Elf by Anabelle Raven

Pumpkin War by Kendra Elise Ardnek

Crown and Cinder by Kendra Elise Ardnek

Whew, that was a lot of books! I hope you found something new and happy reading!

If you love other fairy tales too I have a whole series of these blog posts featuring book recommendations and lists of book retellings. Click here to start reading or use the Book Lists category to filter them.

Fun Urban Fantasy Reads!

May 12, 2020
3 min read

Updated: Aug 19

Urban fantasy combines fantasy elements with a modern setting, which is AWESOME! But because it is one of the biggest subgenres of fantasy it can be tough to find a series you love.

To help you out I've teamed up with the avid readers in my communities to put this list together! It includes books in Kindle Unlimited and books that you should be able to borrow from your local library with a variety of tropes and romance levels represented so there should be something for everyone!

Please note: These books vary a lot on language and level of romance spice! Make sure you check out the reviews so you don’t end up with something you’re not comfortable with!

My Top Picks for Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance:

Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs: This series is the classic, quintessential urban fantasy series! Mercy Thompson is smart, kick-butt, and is pals with some of the baddest werewolves in town. Check this out if you want a masterfully told, classic! (Warning, there is some strong language!)

City Between by W. R. Gingell: This isn’t going to come to as a surprise to many of you, but I ADORE this series! It has tricky fae, vain vampires, twisty worlds, witty dialogue, action, and more. It’s so, so good! If you haven’t picked it up yet, you need to.

1-800-Where-R-U by Meg Cabot: This series squeaks the line of urban fantasy–it’s technically more supernatural–but if you want a hilarious/ laugh out loud YA series with mystery and adventure, this series is for you. (For more of an UF flare you could check out Cabot’s “The Mediator,” But 1-800-Where-R-U is funnier. Just sayin’!)

My Urban Fantasy Trilogies:

Yes I'm going to do a shameless plug for my books, but considering they've earned over 100,000 reviews across Amazon and Goodreads I feel like there are many readers who would agree with this recommendation!

Hall of Blood and Mercy by K. M. Shea: Vampires, wizards, and fae, oh my! This trilogy follows the scrappy wizard, Hazel Medeis, and her misadventures as she gets kicked out of her house and moves in with a pack of vampires.

Court of Midnight and Deception by K. M. Shea: What can possibly go wrong when a half-fae just minding her own business gets caught up in the search for the new ruler of the Night Court? Features a slow burn romance between a reluctant fae queen and the assassin who tried to kill her.

Pack of Dawn and Destiny by K. M. Shea: When werewolves start turning feral and mindlessly attacking innocent humans Hunter Pip will be forced to team up with werewolf Alpha Greyson to crush the source of the outbreak. (Forbidden Romance AND Fated Mates combined!)

Gate of Myth and Power by K. M. Shea: Chloe can turn into a cat! Unfortunately for her Noctus, the deadly elf king secretly living in her city, decided to do a good deed and adopts the "stray cat" that the local fae are picking on. This story is a retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth (yes, really!).

Magic on Main Street by K. M. Shea: By night, they fight in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse. By day, they are friendly next-door neighbors. Neither of them know that their alter egos are archenemies. An enemies to lovers romance with a Vampire and a Vampire Slayer!