As we move into the fall season, it’s the perfect time to pick up some spooky fairytale retellings. Next up on our journey to uncover the perfect horror fairytale adaptation is Sleeping Beauty. It may seem difficult for a story where the main character is asleep the entire time to be dark, but do not fear (or do); we’ve got some recommendations here that are sure to have your heart racing.
Sleeping Beauties by Owen and Stephen King
This book asks the question: what would happen to the world if all women suddenly went to sleep and never woke up? It’s set in a world where women become cocooned when they fall asleep. If their cocoon is disturbed in any way, they turn violent and feral until they can once again be covered. Now, other women are afraid to fall asleep, and men are struggling to keep the world intact, resorting to their primal instincts. One woman, Evie, seems to be immune to this sleeping disease, but whether this is a good or bad thing remains to be seen. There’s also a graphic novel with stunning artwork that is worth the read.
Malice by Heather Walter
This is the Sleeping Beauty story we all know and love, except for one important distinction: the evil sorceress and Aurora fall in love. Alyce, the Dark Grace, is feared, mistreated, and exploited by the humans because of her dark magic. But there’s one human who has never shamed her, and unless Alyce finds a way to break her curse, she will die in less than a year. More of a dark and atmospheric story than a scary one, this book explains why someone we have always seen as a villain is just a victim of her circumstance.
Briar, Vol 1: Sleep No More by Christopher Cantwell
An apocalyptic Sleeping Beauty series, this book explores what would happen if the cursed princess had to save herself instead. After being cursed for 100 years, Briar Rose can now sleepwalk and has to face a brutal world that a tyrant rules. Forced to journey through a land with no magic, Briar must endure unspeakable horrors, all while harboring a burning need for vengeance against the world that left her to rot and steal the crown from her head.
Three books that subvert the expectations of a Sleeping Beauty story are certainly worth having on your radar. Whether you are looking for a retelling that is perfect for spooky season or are just looking for some recommendations that will add to your book-buying obsession, there is certainly something here for everyone.
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