As a queer woman growing up, it was pretty easy to neg on all things fairy-tale. Perhaps I had reason to, as mockery of all things Disney has grown popular in recent years. The truth, though, was that no matter how eye-rollingly saccharine and over-the-top fairy tales were, my biggest criticism was that I couldn’t see myself or people like me in their pages or on my television screen.
That bitterness put me off fairy tales right up until I discovered a pivotal genre: queer fairy-tale retellings. Queer retellings have grown increasingly popular over the years. The breadth of mythological tales gives authors room to add their own spin, transforming old heteronormative stories into something fresh and exciting.
To celebrate Adult Fairy Tales Week, we’ve rounded up the best queer fairy-tale reads — from young adult romance to spine-chilling horror — that you owe it to yourself to read at least once. Sexton’s short novella that reimagines the classic tale, staying true to the original while adding a fun, gay twist. Eldon Cinder wants only to see his friend, Prince Xavier, one last time at the royal ball.
But only women are invited to dance with the prince. So Eldon visits a local witch, who grants his wish — with a huge catch. Sexton’s take on the tale is deliciously and deliriously camp, but with an edge to her prose that doesn’t cause Cinder to feel ridiculous.
The story runs on the short side, but that only enhances the pacing, making Cinder an easy read to finish in one sitting. What’s better than one queer fairy-tale reimagining? Multiple of them, of course!
Featuring authors that ranged from students to seasoned professional writers, Unburied Fables tackles a variety of different fairy-tale classics like Beauty and the Beast, as well as more unknown, non-Western tales that you may not have heard of before. As with any anthology, the quality of each story varies but that’s what makes Unburied Fables so intriguing in the first place. There’s something for everyone, from a polyamorous twist to an aromantic protagonist who doesn’t really want to be in a fairy-tale at all.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
