"The beautiful spring came, and when nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also."
Spring is a season of growth and renewal, and there’s something about the fresh air and sunshine that makes everything seem a little more hopeful. For book lovers, spring also means a fresh crop of new releases to dive into, and this year’s lineup of fairy tale retellings is particularly exciting. As the gloom of winter gives way to the hope of spring, these stories offer a chance to escape into magical worlds and explore timeless themes through a modern lens. So grab a blanket, find a sunny spot, and let’s take a look at some of the most anticipated fairy tale retellings hitting shelves this spring.
Welcome to the ancient land of Terra, where curses run rampant throughout all the kingdoms and where the royalty desperately attempt to break their curses and claim their own happily ever afters.
Princess Gabriella wasn’t cursed at birth like the other royals.
Although not cursed, she feels as if she might as well have been for the threat of the neighboring kingdom of Lune is ever present. This threat of war has forced her into growing up with a unique set of skills. Not only can she amaze with her beauty and grace on the dance floor, but her skill with a blade is unparalleled by any of the knights in her kingdom.
Prince Wesley isn’t sure that he’ll live to see himself crowned king, as his curse prevents him from being king unless someone loves him for himself and not his crown. His uncle, the regent believes if he wears a mask and keeps his identity a secret he can find a maiden to love him for who he truly is. Hidden all his life from everyone his mask hides more than just his face—he fears that no matter who he meets, or gets close to all they will ever see is the mysterious masked prince—not who he truly is underneath it.
Glass Midnight is the second book in The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles, a series of clean stand-alone but connected, fairytale retellings. If you enjoy clean romance, adventure, and witty banter, The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles is for you!
Release date: April 11
An invincible princess and a dance with death…
A Retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses
Princess Ruby is the only biological daughter of the emperor out of her eleven sisters. Despite being classified as her father’s favorite, she’s barely even permitted to step outside the palace due to the emperor’s overprotectiveness. Some citizens believe she’s kept confined because she’s too treasured, while others believe it’s because she’s secretly ugly, but only her father and sisters know the true reason she’s locked away…
Aiden is a common builder whose mother is slowly slipping away due to illness. He’d do anything to save her, even join the criminal group, the basilisks, in exchange for a magical extension of her life. With the emperor hosting a competition in search of a male heir, Aiden must now infiltrate the event and feed the basilisks whatever information they request. Should be easy enough. Or at least, it would have, until things take a turn for the worst when his fellow competitors begin to drop dead.
Aiden’s job description never included murder, yet he still feels the basilisks are responsible, or worse… his intel helped them do it. Ruby may be a cherished princess, but she’s powerless to protect others. If she wants to stop the killer, she’ll need inside help from a competitor she feels she can trust… and she did like that Aiden fellow. Will Aiden help her save the other competitors, or will she be dancing with danger on her own?
The Ruby Realm is a collection of clean, intercepting stories, best enjoyed when read as a series.
Release date: April 11
She’ll die if she touches a rose. He turns everything he touches into gold. Together, they just might be able to save both of their countries.
Lady Ro was supposed to be the luckiest girl in the empire, betrothed to the crown prince despite her curse. That was until the man who tried to kidnap her reveals her entire life is a lie, but even the truth doesn’t make sense. If she’s the heir to a throne, why had she been cursed by an ally?
Ro doesn’t know who she is anymore, but she’ll take the only man who has been honest with her and go looking for answers. After discovering years of lies and manipulation, she’s determined not to let anyone use her again. But with a rebellion on one end of the empire and an invasion on the other, does Ro have any choice but to be their puppet?
Midas was sent to capture the crown prince’s betrothed and hold her hostage to give his country a chance against the empire’s invasion. He didn’t expect she’d be a princess that was supposed to be dead with a rebellion brewing in her name.
He knows better than anyone what it’s like to be cursed. While he has no hope of finding answers, Ro does. He just can’t let himself fall in love with her. With a golden touch, closeness is a tragedy. Can he be Ro’s right-hand man without condemning them both?
Release date: April 18
Can a marriage without trust produce love strong enough to save not only two hearts, but an entire kingdom?
Adrienne’s family has little of value other than her ability to harness magic. They’ve finally saved enough to send her away to study, and all she wants is to use her songcraft to lift their fortunes. What she didn’t count on was her selfish, profligate father reappearing just in time to ruin everything.
Prince Herleif is the rightful king of Frossenland, but his throne is out of reach given everyone believes him dead. That, and he spends his days as a giant bear. He hasn’t lost hope—all he has to do is wait out his curse without slipping up and bringing disaster on his kingdom. Marriage would be too dangerous to contemplate, for more reasons than one. Until he witnesses a scene in a tavern that’s too barbaric to ignore. How could he fail to intervene on behalf of the girl whose father is all but selling her?
Neither Adrienne nor Herleif predicted their marriage. And only Herleif knows the true extent of the danger they’re risking. Even as unexpected feelings begin to grow, how can Adrienne trust a husband who offers her nothing but secrets? When she gives in to fear, she unleashes devastation not only on Herleif, but on Frossenland. Now she must harness her shaky songcraft before it’s too late. Because she’s the only one with the power to save her husband and her kingdom.
Song of Winds is the third installment in The Singer Tales, a series of interconnected standalone novels set on the continent of Providore, where magic is harnessed by singers. Each story follows a different heroine navigating everything from miniature elves to brutish giants as she chases her own happily ever after. If you enjoy strong heroines, clean romance, and fantasy worlds with a dash of intrigue, discover the world of The Singer Tales today.
Release date: May 5
A villainous Peter Pan retelling
A pirate, a pixie, and a plot to foil Peter Pan…
James Hook never meant to become a pirate, and never dreamed that he would turn against best friend, Peter Pan. Every adventure and eternal youth awaited them… until a pixie exposes a shocking revelation. Tinkerbell’s information forces James into acknowledging that, far from being the benevolent hero he painted himself to be, Peter Pan was kidnapping innocent children.
After accepting the traumatic loss of his hand and of the family he can barely remember, James deserts Pan. In the fight to rescue the Lost Boys, Hook will risk everything, even if that means becoming the most notorious villain in Neverland… or losing the fiery pixie who is stealing his heart.
Can the original Lost Boy vanquish Neverland’s greatest threat?
Release date: May 9
In addition to the above releases, we have a few teasers for you!
- Spring of Sparkling Song by Sarah Beran is scheduled for release April 18 – No details yet, but keep an eye out for it!
- The Rose Realm, a short story collection by Abigail Manning coming out on May 8!
- And Thorns of Gold, the thrilling conclusion to Celeste Baxendell’s Bewitching Fairy Tales series, is rumored to be out the end of May!
As the snow gives way to spring, I can’t help feeling excited for all the new releases. And I’m definitely going to be adding them to my wishlist!
What about you – what book are you most excited for?