I have always been a huge fan of Disney movies, so when I saw the first Twisted Tale book I had to pick it up! The series takes the original Disney stories that we are familiar with and puts a twist on the story to tell it in a different way or to explore other paths the tale could have taken. There are over sixteen books in the series at this time with at least four more scheduled in the next year. Each book is a stand alone. As the series is so long, I will highlight my TOP 7 standout books in the series. Let the countdown begin! I will count backwards 7 to 1 (#1 being my absolute favorite!).

(#7) Almost There by Farrah Rochon

Almost There is the 13th book of the series. The book is a twist on the Disney Princess and the Frog movie. The twist takes place towards the climax of the movie when The Shadow Man offers Tiana a deal. In the original story she does not take it…but what if she did? The Shadow Man makes Tiana an offer she can’t refuse. Give up Naveen and he will not only grant her the restaurant of her dreams, but he will also bring her father back to life! The catch? She can have no close contact with Naveen, not interfere with the Shadow Man’s plans, and she has to put a “harmless” drop of a potion in her gumbo. Will Tiana be able to keep the deal or will her feelings towards Naveen and her sense of right and wrong win out? The stakes are high and the book will leave you wondering just how Tiana can get out of this one.

Request Almost There in our catalogue!

(#6) So This is Love by Elizabeth Lim

Have you ever wondered what would happen to Cinderella if she was never able to try on the glass slipper and run off to “happily ever after” with the prince? This Twisted Tale will answer your question! I really enjoyed this novel as that question has always lurked in the back of my mind when rewatching any iteration of the classic Cinderella story. It was great to see her get out on her own and try to make a life for herself. She ends up working in the palace as a servant girl (something she has loads of experience with.) At least she has gotten away from the abuse she suffered at the hands of her wicked step family. Will she and the prince fall in love naturally or will Cinderella’s happily ever after still take a hint of magic? Find out in So This is Love, the 9th book in the Disney Twisted Tales series.

Request So This is Love from our catalogue!

(#5) As Old as Time by Liz Braswell

Beauty and the Beast is my second favorite Disney movie. (The Hunchback of Notre Dame is my favorite). One thing that always bothered me though was that the people of Belle’s village had no idea about this castle deep in the woods. They had no clue whatsoever! How!? This novel explores why that is. The hook for this one is, “What if Belle’s mother cursed the Beast?” This book explores the idea that Belle’s mother was really the enchantress and placed a spell over the village and her own family. Belle starts to have flashbacks of her mother while inside the Beast’s palace. Belle and the Beast must work together to unravel the secrets surrounding their pasts, their families, and the village and maybe fall in love in the process. I really enjoyed this novel. I felt it added depth to a story that I already love and explained things that I needed to know. As Old As Time is the 3rd book in the series.

Request As Old As Time from our catalogue!

(#4) What Once Was Mine by Liz Braswell

I loved the concept of this one. After reading it I found a Disney Princess coloring book and started coloring Rapunzel with silver hair. What if instead of being able to heal people with her hair Rapunzel could KILL people with her hair!? Instead of drinking a potion from the sundrop flower, Rapunzel’s mother drinks a potion from the moon flower. Rapunzel is born with hair the color of the silver moon. She is safe with her happy parents. A servant is tasked with caring for the baby. As babies do, Rapunzel throws a fuss while the servant is brushing her hair. The servant falls dead. Realizing how dangerous their daughter’s magic hair is, the King and Queen need to find someone to keep their daughter secret and safe. Enter Mother Gothel. Other nations would go to war for the power to kill with a touch. Will Rapunzel be used as a weapon or will she overcome her fear and learn to control her power for her own advantage?

On a side note I really enjoyed the inclusion of a real historical character, Countess Bathory. She was a real woman who lived during the early 17th century. She believed that bathing in the blood of virgins would keep her young. Can Rapunzel defeat her? What Once Was Mine is the 12th book in the series.

Request What Once Was Mine from our catalogue!

(#3) Unbirthday by Liz Braswell

This book was more of a Alice in Wonderland Part 2 than it was a twist. If you like historical/fantasy novels then this one is for you! Years have passed since Alice first visited wonderland. As a grown young woman she regards what she does remember as a strange dream she once had in a park. Alice is now living with her aunt and practicing photography and journalism. Unfortunately, Alice lives in a time period where it is frowned upon for women to be involved in these things. Alice is determined to fight for her rights and for the rights of the immigrants that are living in London. The wealthy look down on them and are trying to drive them out. While she struggles to fight for rights, Alice starts to see the images of characters she remembers from her dream appearing in her photographs. The characters appear to be calling out for help! Is Wonderland a real place? Is what is happening in Wonderland tied to what is happening in the real world? Unbirthday is number 10 in the series.

Request Unbirthday from our catalogue!

(#2) When You Wish Upon a Star by Elizabeth Lim

This novel is not so much a twist as it is providing a much needed back story for the Blue Fairy. I will be the first to admit that Pinocchio is my least favorite Disney movie so I was hesitant to pick this one up at first. I am very glad that I did. I absolutely loved this book. The Blue Fairy started her life as a mortal. Her family owned a bakery in the quaint town where Pinocchio’s creator Geppetto lived. We find out her name is Chiara and her sister’s name is Illaria. Though completely opposite, Chiara and her sister are as close as the closest friends. Everything changes when Chiara receives an offer from the fairies to join their ranks. Chiara dreams of helping others and believes that by becoming a fairy she will be able to do this. The only catch is that every mortal in her life will forget that she exists. Will Chiara be able to make that choice? Illaria is consumed with hurt and jealousy. Her heart turns to darkness. The dark fairies see this as an opportunity and convince Illaria to join their ranks. Chiara is determined to save her beloved sister. To that end she makes a deal…if Pinocchio shows that he can do good she will get her sister back. If he is tempted by evil and gives in, her sister will be lost to her forever. See how the hidden battle of good versus evil plays out behind the scenes in When You Wish Upon a Star, the 14th book in the series.

Request When You Wish Upon a Star from our catalogue!

(#1) Part of Your World by Liz Braswell

This novel was my absolute favorite of the Twisted Tales series to date. The Disney movie ends on a happy note. Ariel gets her voice back at the last minute. Ursula is vanquished. Eric and Ariel live happily ever after. …What if the tale did not have a happy ending? Part of Your World is a much darker and mature twist to the original story. What if Ariel never gets her voice back? What if Ursula wins? This book takes place years after a dark ending to the original. Both Eric and Ariel are grown adults. Ariel now rules the sea kingdoms-a voiceless queen. She is forever consumed with guilt for the mistakes she made as a young woman and will do whatever it takes to make things right in protecting her kingdom from the human world. Eric has lived in a trance-like state these last years, still under a spell cast by Ursula. He is a broken man stuck in an unhappy marriage. His mental state is suspect and Ursula has taken full control of the human kingdom. Ariel is pulled back up to the human world, not in pursuit of young love, but to defend her ocean kingdom. Ursula has plans to not just rule the land, but to come back and rule the sea as well. To defeat her, Ariel has no choice but to again venture into the world of humans-this time coming back as a hardened ruler. It is inevitable that Ariel and Eric will meet again. Will their love rekindle? Will they be able to defeat Ursula and break her spell? Part of Your World is the 5th book in the series.

Request Part of Your World from our catalogue! Also available in graphic novel format! click here for Graphic Novel.