Everything comes back in style. Clothing trends tend to resurface decades later, from 2000s cargo pants to 1970s flare jeans. We are constantly rediscovering gems from the past, but slightly altering them to fit our modern tastes. Cargo pants in 2024 are higher-waisted than their 2000s counterparts. Flare jeans in 2024 are less flared than those from the 70s.
It’s not only clothing trends that come back. Books do too. Classic books and stories, such as Pride and Prejudice and Beauty and the Beast, have been retold countless times. The “retelling” of these novels involves writing a modern spinoff that’s loosely based on the plot or characters of the original story. In 2023, Rachel Lippincott released a novel titled Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh, which is a modern twist on Pride and Prejudice by taking place in—unsurprisingly—Pittsburgh.
Some of these retellings have gained massive popularity due to their predictability. If someone loves Little Women, they are likely to buy Meg and Jo by Virginia Kantra, since they already know what the book is going to be about and can assume that they will like it. When stories like those of Homer, Shakespeare, and other classics are retold, they often become instant bestsellers. Retellings have a very strong appeal to many readers, especially those who enjoy young adult (YA) fiction. In particular, three novels have become so popular on social media that almost any YA fiction reader on the online platforms would be able to recognize them. But, are these retellings as good as the originals?
1. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Based on: The Iliad by Homer
With its captivating storyline, beautiful scenery, and heart-wrenching ending, The Song of Achilles is absolutely stunning. This novel follows the famed hero Achilles and his companion, the shunned prince Patroclus, during the rise of the Trojan War. Through heartbreak and tragedy, this book has captured the hearts of many. But does the endless beauty of Miller’s novel compare to the brilliance of the Iliad? Yes, it does. While the Iliad is an epic that tells the story of Odysseus during the Trojan War, Miller centers her novel on the lives of less mentioned characters, providing an irresistible love story that is just as good as the original.
Verdict: Both the original and the retelling are comparable in their brilliance.
2. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
Based on: Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare
The genius of Chloe Gong’s debut novel is unmatched. The complex storyline, worldbuilding, and characters are absolutely incredible, and set a new standard for YA fiction. The book focuses on Roma (Romeo) and Juliette’s (Juliet) effort to be together despite being the heirs of rival gangs. While struggling with their forbidden love, they simultaneously fight against the clock to solve a mystery. Set in the 1920s in Shanghai, China, Gong’s historical fantasy novel invites the reader to embark on a journey of the couple’s investigation, keeping the reader in suspense as the case unfolds. But Gong presents another uncertainty. Does These Violent Delights follow the conclusion of Romeo & Juliet and end in tragedy? Or does it diverge off of the original storyline’s path and create its own ending? Gong’s cleverness and talent leave the reader hooked until the very end.
Verdict: This retelling compares to, and even exceeds, the magnificence of the original.
3. Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron
Based on: Cinderella (Cendrillon ou La petite pantoufle de verre by Charles Perrault)
This fantasy retelling of Cinderella takes place in a world where Cinderella’s story is treated as law, and Cinderella herself as a hero. However, one teenage girl in the kingdom—Sophia—decides to break these rules and follow her own path. In doing so, she discovers a dark secret that the kingdom has been hiding. This novel, although well-written and enchanting, is very different from the original story of Cinderella. Rather than upcycling the plot of the classic fairy tale, it uses the fable for world-building. Despite this, Cinderella is Dead is an addictive novel with a lovely modern twist.
Verdict: Although too different to compare, both the retelling and the classic tale are entirely spellbinding.
In conclusion, it’s tough to make a bad retelling. They are generally loved by readers and are even some people’s comfort books. Some of the greatest books that I have ever read are retellings, and I am always intrigued by books that are advertised as reinventions of old fairy tales. All in all, retellings are marvelous, and I hope that authors continue to write more of them.
The Roar 