56 books like The Sevenwaters

I love everything Juliet Marillier writes. She is so good at using her knowledge of folklore to create magical stories in which the heroine must save the day. This book departs from her usual Celtic setting, taking us instead to Transylvania in the time of the Ottoman Empire and a reimagining of the Twelve Dancing Princesses.

The setting takes five sisters from a crumbling castle at the edge of the Wildwood to the Faerie Kingdom at the heart of that wood. I love how the Wildwood seems to tailor itself to the ages and personalities of the sisters. So, five-year-old Stela spends her time with cute and playful creatures, while elder sister Tatiana falls under the spell of Sorrow, one of the Night People. Protagonist Jena has her own love story with the talking frog Gogu.

When I first discovered a copy of The Singer—left well-worn and dog-eared by its previous owner—I felt I had immediately picked up a book that was written in a beautiful ancient language.

In its simplistic style, the story explored an entire society through the lens of their need for truth, sacrifice, and redemption. The story spoke to me in a way none ever had. I was left in a whirl of soul-searching—critiquing my own world and its dominant values and ideals, examining my spiritual beliefs. But most of all, I was left in a state of quiet wonder.

The truth really was plain to see. Beautiful and simplistic, I just needed to open my eyes and take hold of it.

I grew as a person after reading Outlaws of Sherwood, largely because McKinley penned this mythic retelling of the story in such an introspective way.

I realized that life was grounded in reality, not in the fantastical, possibly “legendary” things that are said about us… or done to us. I also realized the difficult choices I had to make in the midst of conflict didn’t entirely define me—though they might in the eyes of everyone else.

What was more influential to my own life story (and vitally important) was my own inner perspective—the way I viewed myself, the way I related to my own situation, whether healthy or unhealthy. This story shaped me as a person and set the stage for me as an inward-looking writer.

This reimagining of the La Llorona legend hooked me with its perfect, gorgeous first line and would not let me go.

I loved author Maria DeBlassie’s unique voice and her loving depiction of the Southwest US. But most of all, I love the way Weep, Woman, Weep digs in to intergenerational trauma, and the way women inherit it from their mothers and, if they aren’t careful, pass it on to their daughters in return.

This is a story first and foremost of resilience, though. I wept all the way through, and it was so worth it. 

This book has everything I want in a fairy tale novel: an immersive setting, green magic, romance, shape-shifting creatures, and of course, resilience and healing.

Before I read Kell Wood’s debut novel, I had never thought about the long-term consequences Hansel and Gretel surely experienced at the hands of the witch in the gingerbread house, but now I can’t un-see it. Of course, these two people, now young adults, would have some serious (but unique) struggles.

Also, I love it when an author weaves multiple fairy tales and/or folkloric elements into a story, and Woods is fantastic at this!

No book I’ve read before or since has made me feel seen the way Wendy, Darling does.

Author A.C. Wise perfectly captures the way a person’s past experience can be traumatic, and yet they still cling to it and think of it nostalgically. It felt like the author was inside my head (or I was in hers—but she was able to articulate things I never could). It’s cathartic and emotionally hard-hitting, and the writing is gorgeous. I love that Wendy is far from perfect but loves her found family fiercely and is on a path toward sorting herself out.

And yes, I know that some people don’t think of Peter Pan as a proper fairy tale, but I love this book too much to leave it out.

There is nothing about this book, and the heroine in it, that isn’t fun and hilarious. Jen is mouthy and wild, and more than willing to tempt Decebel—a hunky, dangerous werewolf—to throw all his rules against getting involved with humans to the wind. This grumpy and sunshine book hooked me before the grumpy/sunshine trend was even a thing. But don’t let the fun fool you—dark magic is at work, and they will be up against life-and-death odds if they’re going to make it as a couple. 

Tenebris Rache. I hated him, I really did. But, there was also something niggling at the back of my mind. I devoured all nine books, and by the end, I was cheering for this man, and one of my favorite female characters of the series. Buroker writes the complexities of life and relationships so well, you don’t even see the moment it all changes coming. And then you’re hooked, because deep down, we all know the best bad guys have a wound in need of healing. 

A passionate, paranormal romance between a witch and the chasseur who hunts her, Blood & Honey is filled with shapeshifting warriors, werewolves, and mermaids. As a French teacher, I loved the fantasy setting reminiscent of medieval France, the places like La Forêt des Yeux, and the two opposing families of witches—les Dames Blanches and les Dames Rouges—the French names of the colors depicting the distinction in the magic practiced.

Magnar is the Leader of the Wolves of Clan Sutherland, a band of shapeshifting warriors who fight to defend their kingdom in the Orkney Isles of medieval Scotland. This tale of the sizzling paranormal romance between Magnar and Elspeth is filled with Fae magic, Celtic legend, and men who transform into fierce, savage wolves.