Best Fairytale Retelling Audiobooks

The highest-rated fairytale retelling audiobooks, ranked by listeners. Browse 24 titles with top narrators.

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Fairytale retellings work because they let you experience the comfort of a story you already know while simultaneously subverting your expectations. There's real power in watching a character flip the script on their own narrative—whether that's Cinderella refusing to play victim, or Persephone discovering agency in the underworld. You get the satisfaction of recognition mixed with genuine surprise.

These books span romance, fantasy, young adult, and literary fiction. Some lean into lush gothic reimaginings, others go romantic or darkly comedic. What they share is this: they trust you to know the bones of the original story, then gleefully break them apart and rebuild something entirely new.

These are the highest-rated fairytale retelling audiobooks, ranked by listener ratings. A great narrator can elevate an already compelling trope — turning tension into an immersive experience.

  1. 1
    An Offer From a Gentleman cover

    An Offer From a Gentleman

    Bridgertons • Book 3

    by Julia Quinn

    Narrated by Rosalyn Landor

    4.46 ABR Score (440.4K ratings)
    ★ 3.94 Goodreads (428.8K) ★ 4.7 Audible (11.6K)
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    Landor's refined narration elevates Quinn's Cinderella retelling into the emotional highlight of the Bridgerton series. Benedict's book rewards the patient fan.

  2. 2
    Lady Tremaine cover

    Lady Tremaine

    by Rachel Hochhauser

    Narrated by Bessie Carter

    4.26 ABR Score (9.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.29 Goodreads (8.9K) ★ 4.74 Audible (459)
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    This widow's desperate scheme to secure her daughters' futures reveals the real story behind Cinderella's stepmother. A brilliant reimagining that exposes the economic realities forcing women into impossible choices.

  3. 3
    Mansfield Park cover

    Mansfield Park

    Jane Austen's Novels

    by Jane Austen

    Narrated by Frances Barber

    4.24 ABR Score (386.0K ratings)
    ★ 3.86 Goodreads (382.8K) ★ 4.52 Audible (3.2K)
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    Frances Barber brings sharp wit to Austen's most underrated heroine, making Fanny Price's quiet strength feel radical rather than passive.

  4. 4
    First Impressions: A Contemporary Retelling of Pride and Prejudice cover

    First Impressions: A Contemporary Retelling of Pride and Prejudice

    Jane Austen • Book 1

    by Debra White Smith

    Narrated by Lindsay Duncan

    4.18 ABR Score (6.2K ratings)
    ★ 3.61 Goodreads (1.4K) ★ 4.72 Audible (4.7K)
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    Lawyer Eddi Boswick auditions for Pride and Prejudice in small-town Texas, only to discover her arrogant co-star mirrors the story too perfectly. Contemporary Austen adaptation that moves the classic dynamics from ballrooms to community theater.

  5. 5
    The Once and Future Queen cover

    The Once and Future Queen

    The Lives of Guinevere • Book 1

    by Paula Lafferty

    Narrated by Julia Whelan

    4.15 ABR Score (6.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.19 Goodreads (6.3K) ★ 4.79 Audible (154)
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    Vera tumbles through time from modern day to Camelot, discovering she's meant to be Guinevere in this feminist Arthurian retelling. Julia Whelan captures both contemporary sass and medieval wonder perfectly.

  6. 6
    Wildwood Dancing cover

    Wildwood Dancing

    Wildwood • Book 1

    by Juliet Marillier, Unknown Author

    Narrated by Kim Mai Guest

    4.02 ABR Score (33.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.1 Goodreads (32.6K) ★ 4.4 Audible (532)
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    Five sisters living in a Transylvanian castle discover a portal to an enchanted realm they can access only during full moons, creating a rich fantasy tapestry of sibling bonds and magical secrets.

  7. 7
    The Sleeper and the Spindle cover

    The Sleeper and the Spindle

    by Neil Gaiman, Chris Riddell

    Narrated by Julian Rhind-Tutt, Lara Pulver, Niamh Walsh, Adjoa Andoh, Peter Forbes, John Sessions, Michael Maloney, Sean Baker, Jane Collingwood, Clare Corbett, Allan Corduner, Katherine Kingsley

    3.99 ABR Score (55.4K ratings)
    ★ 3.87 Goodreads (54.3K) ★ 4.46 Audible (1.1K)
  8. 8
    The Puppets of Spelhorst cover

    The Puppets of Spelhorst

    The Norendy Tales • Book 1

    by Kate DiCamillo, Julie Morstad

    Narrated by Allan Corduner

    3.96 ABR Score (7.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.15 Goodreads (7.1K) ★ 4.47 Audible (17)
  9. 9
    West cover

    West

    East • Book 2

    by Edith Pattou

    Narrated by Renée Raudman, Kirby Heyborne, Taylor Meskimen, Robertson Dean, Kimberly Farr, Tonya Cornelisse

    3.93 ABR Score (3.1K ratings)
    ★ 3.86 Goodreads (3.0K) ★ 4.66 Audible (108)
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    Rose's happily-ever-after crumbles when her bear-prince husband disappears in a shipwreck, sending her on another magical quest. The six-narrator cast creates an immersive fairy tale atmosphere for this East sequel.

  10. 10
    The Robber Bride cover

    The Robber Bride

    by Margaret Atwood

    Narrated by Bernadette Dunne

    3.91 ABR Score (51.0K ratings)
    ★ 3.83 Goodreads (50.1K) ★ 4.23 Audible (893)
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    Zenia, a demonic villainess, systematically destroys the lives of three friends—Tony, Charis, and Roz—by stealing their men and shattering their trust. Bernadette Dunne's narration brings depth to Atwood's complex exploration of female friendship and betrayal.

  11. 11
    Neon Gods - Hades & Persephone cover

    Neon Gods - Hades & Persephone

    Dark Olympus • Book 1

    by Katee Robert, Anika Klüver

    Narrated by Emilia Wallace, Sven Macht

    3.85 ABR Score (313.1K ratings)
    ★ 3.68 Goodreads (313.1K)
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    Sven Macht and Emilia Wallace are so perfectly cast as Hades and Persephone that their dual narration makes every moment between them absolutely sizzle.

  12. 12
    Lost Boy: An extended trigger-free version of Losing Neverland (Escapism Book 2) cover

    Lost Boy: An extended trigger-free version of Losing Neverland (Escapism Book 2)

    Escapism • Book 2

    by Evelyn Montgomery

    Narrated by Maxine Mitchell, Joe Arden

    3.83 ABR Score (216 ratings)
    ★ 4.18 Goodreads (203) ★ 4.77 Audible (13)
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    Maxine Mitchell and Joe Arden navigate Peter Pan's origin story as he discovers forbidden magic and faces an impossible choice. Their dual narration captures both Peter's wonder and Wendy's perspective on his dangerous allure.

  13. 13
    Six-Gun Snow White cover

    Six-Gun Snow White

    by Catherynne M. Valente

    Narrated by Julia Whelan

    3.77 ABR Score (4.6K ratings)
    ★ 3.63 Goodreads (4.5K) ★ 4.37 Audible (68)
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    Snow White becomes a gunslinger in the mythical Wild West where coyotes replace dwarfs and frontier justice rules. Julia Whelan's narration captures both the fairy tale magic and gritty Western atmosphere.

  14. 14
    Deathless cover

    Deathless

    Leningrad Diptych • Book 1

    by Catherynne M. Valente

    Narrated by Kim de Blecourt

    3.76 ABR Score (23.4K ratings)
    ★ 3.93 Goodreads (23.1K) ★ 4.06 Audible (317)
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    Valente reimagines Russian folklore through Marya's marriage to Koschei the Deathless, set against the siege of Leningrad and Soviet political upheaval.

  15. 15
    Seasons of Glass and Iron: Stories cover

    Seasons of Glass and Iron: Stories

    by Amal El-Mohtar

    Narrated by Rachel Elizabeth Smith

    3.76 ABR Score (386 ratings)
    ★ 4.15 Goodreads (385) ★ 5 Audible (1)
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    El-Mohtar's fairy tale reimaginings come through letters, diary entries, and reference materials from other worlds. Smith's narration handles the varied formats beautifully, from intimate correspondence to academic observations.

  16. 16
    White Cat, Black Dog: Stories cover

    White Cat, Black Dog: Stories

    by Kelly Link, Shaun Tan

    Narrated by Rebecca Lowman, Dan Stevens, Dominic Hoffman, Kristen Sieh, Ish Klein, Tanya Cubric, Patton Oswalt

    3.75 ABR Score (7.8K ratings)
    ★ 3.79 Goodreads (7.7K) ★ 4.06 Audible (66)
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    Seven narrators tackle Link's fairy tale reimaginings, where Hansel and Gretel run a restaurant and Bluebeard's story unfolds through dating apps.

  17. 17
    Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart: And Other Stories cover

    Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart: And Other Stories

    by GennaRose Nethercott

    Narrated by GennaRose Nethercott, January LaVoy, Gabra Zackman, Max Meyers, Elena Rey

    3.72 ABR Score (2.9K ratings)
    ★ 3.74 Goodreads (2.9K) ★ 3.65 Audible (20)
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    Dark fairy tales examine love's monstrous potential through fractured folklore and twisted romance. GennaRose Nethercott leads the ensemble cast through stories where desire becomes literal beast.

  18. 18
    F*cked Up Fairy Tales cover

    F*cked Up Fairy Tales

    by Liz Gotauco

    Narrated by Deepti Gupta, Sneha Mathan, Nadia Verde, Lameece Issaq, Dominique Franceschi, Kyla Garcia, Zura Johnson, January LaVoy, Vaneh Assadourian

    3.71 ABR Score (312 ratings)
    ★ 4.07 Goodreads (297) ★ 5 Audible (15)
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    Nine talented narrators tackle Liz Gotauco's bawdy retellings of the world's strangest fairy tales, featuring gossipy animals and homicidal royals.

  19. 19
    Graveyard Shift cover

    Graveyard Shift

    Midnight Stakes • Book 1

    by Melanie Davies

    Narrated by Maxine Mitchell

    3.70 ABR Score (240 ratings)
    ★ 4.14 Goodreads (221) ★ 4.74 Audible (19)
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    Twenty-something vampire hunter Hayley Van Helsing questions her destiny until she meets Darius, a mysterious man who changes everything about her calling. Maxine Mitchell captures both Hayley's modern uncertainty and ancient family legacy.

  20. 20
    Metamorphica cover

    Metamorphica

    by Zachary Mason

    Narrated by Bronson Pinchot, Kevin Kenerly, Robertson Dean, Will Damron, Xe Sands, Amy Landon, Kate Reading, Robin Miles

    3.68 ABR Score (654 ratings)
    ★ 3.72 Goodreads (589) ★ 4.22 Audible (65)
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    Mason reimagines Ovid's transformation myths with contemporary sensibility, narrated by an ensemble including Bronson Pinchot and Kate Reading. Classical mythology gets radical renovation through multiple distinctive voices bringing each story to life.

  21. 21
    Weight: The Myth of Atlas and Heracles cover

    Weight: The Myth of Atlas and Heracles

    Canons

    by Jeanette Winterson

    Narrated by Dick Hill

    3.64 ABR Score (8.0K ratings)
    ★ 3.74 Goodreads (8.0K) ★ 3 Audible (2)
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    Winterson retells the Atlas myth, exploring themes of burden and responsibility through poetic, philosophical prose. At just over two hours, it's a concentrated dose of mythological reimagining.

  22. 22
    Clockwork Fairy Tales: A Collection of Steampunk Fables cover

    Clockwork Fairy Tales: A Collection of Steampunk Fables

    by Stephen L. Antczak, James C. Bassett

    Narrated by Anne Flosnik, Kaleo Griffith, Robertson Dean, John Lee

    3.57 ABR Score (598 ratings)
    ★ 3.32 Goodreads (548) ★ 3.58 Audible (50)
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    Classic fairy tales get steampunk makeovers in this collection, including K.W. Jeter's "La Valse," inspired by "The Red Shoes" but with technological decadence.

  23. 23
    The Royal Game cover

    The Royal Game

    by Linda Keir

    Narrated by Shiromi Arserio, Barrie Kreinik

    3.54 ABR Score (1.1K ratings)
    ★ 3.29 Goodreads (1.1K) ★ 3.9 Audible (52)
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    American pop star Jennie Jensen's engagement to Prince Hugh faces sabotage from unknown enemies determined to prevent her from becoming princess. Shiromi Arserio and Barrie Kreinik share narration duties as fairy tale romance meets modern celebrity thriller.

  24. 24
    The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories cover

    The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories

    by Angela Carter

    Narrated by Richard Armitage, Emilia Fox

    3.54 ABR Score (66.9K ratings)
    ★ 3.9 Goodreads (65.9K) ★ 3.79 Audible (940)
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    Richard Armitage and Emilia Fox weave through Carter's dark fairy tale retellings, their voices capturing both the seductive beauty and lurking menace in each story.

How We Rank Audiobooks

Rankings are driven by listener ratings and review counts from Audible and Goodreads. Books with high ratings across a large number of listeners rank higher — a 4.5 with 50,000 ratings says more than a 4.8 with 200.

Unlike most book lists, we weight audiobook-specific factors: narrator performance, production quality, and how well a story translates to audio. A great book with a poor narration isn't a great audiobook.

We don't accept paid placements or prioritize new releases. These rankings reflect what listeners actually enjoy, not what's being promoted.

Rankings update periodically as new ratings come in and new titles are added to the collection.

Read our full ranking methodology →