Welcome to the third installment of fringe (pun-intended) retellings, because this article is all about Rapunzel. We’ve covered Cinderella and Red Riding Hood earlier this month, and now it’s time for a criminally underrated fairytale to get its due. If you’re interested in writing a Rapunzel retelling, read on, because knowing what’s out there is the first step to writing your own. This article is the third of a four-part series this month, so keep an eye out for Beauty and the Beast next week. The Original Greatest: Cress by Marissa Meyer I feel like most people shy away from writing this retelling because of the long hair and imprisonment in the original, but Meyer proved it could be done and then some, stretching retelling conventions in this sci-fi retelling because this Rapunzel—Cress—is trapped on a satellite. Cress is the third book in The Lunar Chronicles, trying together fairytale characters from books one and two. However, there is nothing fairytale about this story. The six main characters—including Cinder and Scarlet— plot to overthrow Queen Levana and stop her Earthen take-over before it’s too late. The Bald One?: Golden by Cameron Dokey Yep, that’s right, Rapunzel is bald in this one. But don’t be turned off, readers celebrate this book for being inventive, enchanting, and “exactly what a true fairy tale should be” (Cara on Goodreads). In Dokey’s version, Rapunzel’s mother loses her daughter because she fails to love her unconditionally. Sixteen years later, Rapunzel lives with the sorceress Melisande, who reveals she has a second daughter in dire need of Rapunzel’s help. Two and a half days to break Rue’s curse—will they make it? Read it to find out. The Underrated Gem: Golden Braids and Dragon Blades by Melanie Karsak Karsak blends Rapunzel and Arthurian legend in this steampunk, London-inspired universe. Rapunzel is the heir to Camelot and must solve a mystery with Agent Ewan Goodman about a secret society and the roots of King Arthur’s Britannia. This book happens to be the fourth book in Karsak’s Steampunk Fairy Tales, but can be read as a standalone. It’s a quick read too, at 176 pages. And did I mention there are tiny dragons? Read a full book review here. Where the Girl Gets the Girl: Braided: A Lesbian Rapunzel by Elora Bishop Zelda is cursed to stay all her life in an ancient, holy tree, her hair long enough to touch the ground. But it wasn’t meant to be her up there. Gray, the witch’s daughter, was meant to be in her tree. She comes every day to mourn the fate that should have been hers, until the Not-There Fair appears and a Chimera reveals how to set Zelda free. Now, Gray must be strong enough to break Zelda’s curse or she’ll be trapped forever. I didn’t choose this novella for its number of ratings(low), but for its cult following and potential, and honestly because LGBT+ retellings get less attention. The Graphic Novel: Rapunzel’s Revenge by Shannon Hale Graphic novel fans rise, because Hale unites Rapunzel with the wild west in an action-packed adventure “changing lives, righting wrongs, and bringing joy to every soul they encounter” (Goodreads). The best part? Rapunzel uses her hair as a whip. Hale has written many other retellings and books with princesses, so I’d highly recommend this author if you’re hungry for more. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find any ninja-related Rapunzel retellings (if you don’t know what that’s about, check out the previous articles on Cinderella and Red Riding Hood). But on the bright side, there’s a gap in the market! What is your favorite Rapunzel retelling, did I miss any? More importantly: are you writing a ninja-themed retelling? Stay tuned next week for Beauty and the Beast retellings. Thanks for reading, and happy writing! Grayson Yountis a writer based in North Carolina. She attends writing classes of all kinds at UNC Chapel Hill and has a particular fondness for sharp imagery. In her free time, she drafts her own novels.
MORE FROM THIS AUTHOR:
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.Categories
All
Archives
May 2023
|