Story Retellings: Latest Books That Retell an Old Story

In recent times, a lot of classics have been given tweaks to adapt them to the 21^st century world. What ensues is a story that has already been loved and adored, but with elements suited to current society, stripped of the misogyny and other problematic aspects. Today, we’ve made a list of the best story retellings in relatively recent times. All of these are latest books that retell an old story.

Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price

This novel offers a unique take on Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice by compounding a murder mystery into it. With the same setting, characters and basic plot that is sure to make readers reminisce about their favourite classic, this book adds an element on feminism to the book. The book strikes such a good balance between preserving Austen’s spirit and adding novel, exciting touches that it’s a must read.

Bright Raven Skies by Kristina Perez

This is a retelling of the French classic, Tristan and Isseult, and a conclusion to the Sweet Black Waves trilogy. It follows our protagonists Tristan and Eseult, who are currently missing, and Branwell who is trying to find them. With rival families, undying love and a tragic end, this is reminiscent of the original, but adds a twist of magic and fantasy which makes things interesting.

Anna K by Jenny Lee

This is a Korean reimagination of the revered Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. Except, it adds to it more entertainment, more gossip and more drama. The book brings contemporary adolescent issues into light, but it also tackles the age old themes the original is renowned for – betrayal, forbidden love and longing. This book is one that will keep you immersed in the confluence of the archaic and the modern and will give you the best of both worlds.

A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

This isn’t the retelling of one single story, but that of a whole legend of Greece – the Trojan War. Lots and lots of literature has been written about the famous war, but this is the first time a story has been told from the perspective of women. This book weaves together narratives of several unsung women during the Trojan war and paints pretty pictures of their lives.

The Code For Love And Heartbreak by Jillian Cantor

This is a young adult romance reimagination of Jane Austen’s classic novel Emma. Emma Woodhouse, here, is a Math genius, but without any of the original’s people smarts. In her senior year Coding Club, Emma teams up with George to create a matchmaking website which computes compatibility on the basis of numbers. Her coding is flawless, but soon she discovers that no one seems to be following the algorithm, including her own heart. Couples she matched seem to be breaking up, and there is chaos everywhere. This iu a beautiful modern retelling of Emma, with all its essential elements given a little tweak.

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

This wonderful piece of Chinese fantasy fiction is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet set in Shanghai. Here, we follow two rival underworld gangs, Scarlet Gang and White Flower Gang. Their respective heirs, Juliette and Roma, are at constant odds with each other and the gang rivalry breeds as never before, when a foreign authority poses danger. Alone, they have to hope of defeating it, but together something may happen. However, undercurrents of love and atmospheres of tension and hatred complicate things.

Straight On Till morning by Liz Braswell

This is the story of Peter Pan from the perspective of 16 year old Wendy. Wendy’s life has become excessively boring, with her brothers abroad and her silly governess job. Her only escape is in the respite of writing books about a fictional place called Neverland. So when she realizes that she can go to the place via a cruise ship, she is up for it. But soon Wendy realizes that Neverland isn’t what she imagined it to be, and definitely not as perfect. Soon she must team up with Tinker Bell to destroy Captain Hook’s plan to destroy Neverland, It is up to them to save Peter Pan. This is a cute little story that will make you smile.

Also Read: Best Non-Fiction Books of All Time You Should Read This Summer