Every so often, I like to spend some time with a book that reminds me of how I fell in love with reading.  For me, that means memories of being curled up under the covers with a fairy tale.  These four little books prove that magical things often come in small packages.  They may offer new interpretations of old stories that many of us might have come to love when we were young, but each also speaks to the wisdom and perspective of adulthood.  I have such a deep love for this little subgenre, and I hope you’ll join me as I share a few of my favorites.

The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar

Sisters Esther and Isobel live at the river’s edge, guardians of a pair of enchanted willow trees.  The two are inseparable, but tragedy strikes when the actions of a jealous suitor threaten to separate them forever.  With the help of her faerie sweetheart Rin, Esther will have to struggle her way back across the boundary between real and unreal to save her sister before it’s too late.  This novella was El-Mohtar’s highly anticipated solo debut after the smash success of her collaboration with Max Gladstone, This Is How You Lose The Time War.  It’s everything her fans were looking for.  El-Mohtar’s lyrical prose is excellently matched to a story interwoven with the themes of traditional folk ballads, particularly Twa Sisters, although this book flips the script on hero and villain from the original tale.  The book also features evocative illustrations by Kathleen Neeley, as well as a sneak preview of El-Mohtar’s upcoming short story collection.

The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill

A neglected teenager’s life is thrown into further chaos when her mother brings home a gigantic crane and informs her two children that this is their new father.  Gradually, our narrator begins to suspect that the crane may actually be a man under some kind of disguising spell.  Soon, her resolve to protect herself and her younger brother from the forces that threaten their family – both magical and mundane – will be tested to its absolute limit.   Though the setup may be surreal, I’d be hard pressed to remember the last time such a short book gave me such a huge emotional wallop.  Turning her exquisite prose to difficult subjects, Barnhill inverts the traditional Crane Wife fairy tale to explore the effects of familial trauma, and what it might take to break the cycle.

But Not Too Bold by Hache Pueyo

Every good fairy tale collection needs a scary one.  As a servant in the manor of the arachnid creature Anatema, Dalía believed that the attentions of her bride-devouring mistress would never fall upon her.  But when a promotion in tragic circumstances presents Dalía with a mystery extremely dear to Anatema’s heart, she can no longer escape being noticed.  But what if that makes her more excited than afraid?  Of all the books on this list, I think this one captures the difficult to pin down feeling of a fairy tale most closely – don’t expect real-world logic or morality to apply here.  If you’ve ever lamented that lady monsters in fantasy and horror tend to have their edges sanded down, Anatema is sure to send some refreshing chills down your spine.  The book’s setting is also remarkable.  Anatema’s lair, the Capricious House, is an exquisite, enchanting puzzle box in the form of a labyrinthine mansion.  I want to go there, people-eating spider lady or no people-eating spider lady.

The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke

Since childhood, Merowdis Scot has been unusual, in ways that reach deeper than her ability to communicate with animals.  One winter night in the woods, accompanied by her animal companions, she is given the chance to decide exactly what her uniqueness is going to mean.  I’m cheating a little with this recommendation, since it’s technically a standalone short story rather than a novella. Furthermore, although Clarke absolutely captures the fairy tale feeling in this little volume, this story isn’t an adaptation.  Instead, it’s another look at the sprawling magical alternate history that Clarke created in her landmark novel, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.  The gorgeous simplicity of Clarke’s prose, accompanied by Victoria Sawdon’s illustrations, will absolutely transport you.  The Wood at Midwinter is the perfect companion for a  winter night, or for anyone who wants a taste of midwinter magic at any time of year.