In 2019, I participated in the Retellings Reading Challenge over @cornerfolds.com. Unfortunately, Tracy didn’t host the retelling challenge in 2021, so I decided to create my own personal retelling challenge.

I chose to read these ten books…










Out of the original ten, I read these six books…






Plus I read these additional 7 retellings, making my total number of books read for this challenge 13.







1. Of Beast and Beauty by Chanda Hahn - Review - 2.5-3*** 2. Nottingham: The True Story of Robynhood by Anna Burke - Review - 4**** 3. Vasilisa (Old Rus #1) by Julie Mathison - Review - 4**** 4. Red Wolf by Rachel Vincent - Review - 4-4.5 **** 5. The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman - Review - 4**** 6. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle - Review - 4**** 7. For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten - Review - 4**** 8. Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas - Review - 4**** 9. Love in the Wild: A Tarzan Retelling by Emma Castle - Review - 2.5-3*** 10. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik - Review - 3*** 11. Cold Hearted by Serena Valentino - Review - 4**** 12. Shadowsong by S. Jae-Jones - Review - 3*** 13. Beasts and Beauty: Dangerous Tales by Soman Chainani - Review - 4.5****
I’m satisfied with my results but unfortunately missed some important original choices. After beginning Circe and East, I ended up putting those back down because they just didn’t grab me–even after making it a third of the way through East. These will just have to be added back on for 2022. One other thing, the titles read in 2021 were somewhat mediocre. None of them came out to be five-star reads for me, except for Beasts and Beauty by Soman Chainani, which I rated four and a half stars. That was my highest-rated retelling for 2021.

So, that’s the end of the Retelling Challenge for 2021. It was fun, and because it looks like Tracy won’t be hosting the challenge for 2022 again, I’ll be creating my own sometime this week so I can start all over again.
How did you do on your challenges this year? Let’s chat!
❤ Mischenko
Congratulations on meeting your goal, Mischenko💜 Too bad so many of the books were just okay but retellings are tricky. However, when they’re good…😏
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Thanks, Jo. Exactly! I might just go with what I find this year rather than select books ahead of time. I’m finding even more as I get older that I need to go with what I’m in the mood for. Maybe I’ll choose like 20-30 and then read ten or so throughout the year. ❤️
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It does sound like a fun challenge. I applaud you for creating your own—and for besting your own goal!
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Thanks, Mae. I’ll probably switch it up a bit this year. Have a good week! 💜
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Congrats on completing challenge. It’s sad none were good to be 5 star except one.
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It is, but it was still fun. Thanks, Yesha!
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Beauty and the Beast is probably my favorite fairy tale. Most of it is because of the library he gave her, lol.
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It’s one of mine too, Teri. That one was definitely uniquely written in the Beasts and Beauty book. 😊
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Congrats on meeting your goal! (I read and enjoyed Spinning Silver too.)
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Thanks! Glad you enjoyed that one too. 😀
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Congratulations on surpassing your goal, Jen. It’s too bad only one was a Wow for you. I hope you find some excellent ones in 2022. I agree, sometimes it is better to not pick ahead of time, just find them when you are in the mood.
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Thank you, Carla. I think it’ll help to just read as they come along too. 😉
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What a fun challenge! Looks like you read some great books — I see a few I’d like to get to here.
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It was definitely fun, Lisa. Hopefully I’ll have more five-star reads this year though. 😉 Happy reading!
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Hi Mischenko – once again I’ve had to follow you – I do apologize for missing your posts! I don’t know what’s been happening with WordPress!
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So, I may have the dumbest question. But, what does this “retelling” mean? Are those books that are rewritten, or…?
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The story is basically told over again, which can either be completely retold or with changes to characters, settings, and themes. I’ve read some that are totally reimagined and only touch on some of the elements, and then others which are just like the original. It’s always fun to see how the author changes things up. 😉
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Aahh, I see. Thanks very much for explaining 😊 If I EVER get through my major unread bookpile, I will definitely check it out. Maybe the library has some of those books 😊
You are on Goodreads, right? Could I maybe add you?
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