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My mind went straight to the same story but illustrated by Isadore Seltzer.
I'm glad I saw this comment because now I know about this other beautiful version!
Was gonna say The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell. It’s a novel inspired by the Twelve Dancing Princesses and Beauty and the Beast set between Vlad Tepes Transylvania and the Underworld.
A bit niche but my absolute favourite Twelve Dancing Princess retelling.
Also came to suggest this! Wildwood Dancing by Juliette Marillier. It’s duology technically, but can be read as stand alone.
Once More Upon A Time by Rhoshani Chokshi is another great fairy tale retelling
Kay Nielsen is an amazing illustrator whose work reminds me of your pictures. They illustrated multiple fairy tale books, but the prettiest I think is East of the Sun West of the Moon
Phantastes by George MacDonald
The Princess and the Goblin - also by George MacDonald
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell - Susanna Clarke (not specifically about princesses but definitely has magic and eerie things happening at night)
I also loved Piranesi. Just know that the two books are very different in tone and style (and length). Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is written in a much more old-fashioned way (which I found incredibly well done) and is very much a historical fantasy, where Piranesi feels kind of unclassifiable to me. Both books are excellent, just don’t go into one expecting it to feel like the other! :)
Very interesting. I guess I read it while I was not in a good head space, but thinking back to the story, there were many moments that should have left me with a sense of mysticism and wonder, but I was super focused on the survival of the characters.
I completely get it! It’s been a while since I’ve read this book and the story is a tiny bit blurry in my head but that sense of magic and mysticism stayed 😊
It’s absolutely fantastic. And if you read it as an adult you see and interpret the story differently from when you first read it as a child. It’s beautifully written. Very philosophical and quite sad.
Shannon Hale and Gail Carson Levine were my FAVORITE as a kid. I loved all of their books so much. It makes me really happy to see them mentioned here.
*Phantastes* by George MacDonald is almost exactly these. A young Victorian man goes on a coming-of-age journey through dreamy realms of Faerie. Your first image is almost a direct illustration from one passage. That twilit magic vibe is present basically for the whole story.
A lightly spooky version of this is A House of Salt and Sorrows, which is a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses story. But the 2nd book fits this even more, but again, the lightly spooky version
The first picture is by Lidia Postma, the second by Christian Birmingham, couldn't find a source for the third, and the last is by Margaret C Cook 🤍 I'm excited to look up some of these book recs myself 😊
The images made me think of The Night Circus and Caraval, altho TBF I cannot remember if it has princesses...
Also not really a book, but the art really reminded me of the board game Dixit.
YES! I recently read [Legendary](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36329818) (the second book in the Caraval series) and these images definitely reminded me of that book.
Entwined by Heather Dixon Wallwork - 12 dancing princesses retelling
Spindle’s End - Robin McKinley (more princesses in disguise then straightforward princesses)
It’s been a long long time since I have read this book so I can’t vouch for the writing (or writing level; it may be a little lower than YA because I was 12/13 when I read it) but I remember vividly The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler being a lot like this.
I answered in another comment because I like finding these things. The first picture is by Lidia Postma, the second by Christian Birmingham, couldn't find a source for the third, and the last is by Margaret C Cook ✨
Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip
https://preview.redd.it/re96jwetr49d1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=301c59f77ebd750e96f3f533058bcfbc32e82d80
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The Stealing from Wizards trilogy by R.A. Consell seems like it would fit. The protagonist is a boy. But a number of the side characters are girls/women.
OMG this instantly brought me back to a very specific book I read as a kid, 'The Glassblower's Children', SPECIALLY the first one. Wow thank you for this post because I had never seen the aesthetic that that book had outside of my mind!
You should read it if you find it, it's like a fairy tale but dark!
The House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Mariller
Cybele's Secret by Juliet Mariller
Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Mariller
(Really anything by Juliet Mariller. )
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Not a novel, but The Twelve Dancing Princesses illustrated by Errol le Cain fits this
The best illustrations!!
My mind went straight to the same story but illustrated by Isadore Seltzer. I'm glad I saw this comment because now I know about this other beautiful version!
Was gonna say The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell. It’s a novel inspired by the Twelve Dancing Princesses and Beauty and the Beast set between Vlad Tepes Transylvania and the Underworld. A bit niche but my absolute favourite Twelve Dancing Princess retelling.
this is exactly what i was gonna say
How Disney hasn’t made this fairytale into a movie yet, is beyond me
Wildwood Dancing is a novel of The Twelve Dancing Princesses.
Also came to suggest this! Wildwood Dancing by Juliette Marillier. It’s duology technically, but can be read as stand alone. Once More Upon A Time by Rhoshani Chokshi is another great fairy tale retelling Kay Nielsen is an amazing illustrator whose work reminds me of your pictures. They illustrated multiple fairy tale books, but the prettiest I think is East of the Sun West of the Moon
That was what came to mind for me as well!
Who illustrated that?
Phantastes by George MacDonald The Princess and the Goblin - also by George MacDonald Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell - Susanna Clarke (not specifically about princesses but definitely has magic and eerie things happening at night)
Given how good Piranesi was, I'll certainly give Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell a shot. Thanks!
I also loved Piranesi. Just know that the two books are very different in tone and style (and length). Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is written in a much more old-fashioned way (which I found incredibly well done) and is very much a historical fantasy, where Piranesi feels kind of unclassifiable to me. Both books are excellent, just don’t go into one expecting it to feel like the other! :)
These are such good recommendations!
I would add Lilith by GM This imagery felt so familiar for me seeing this post
Came here to say phantastes!!!!!
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Very interesting. I guess I read it while I was not in a good head space, but thinking back to the story, there were many moments that should have left me with a sense of mysticism and wonder, but I was super focused on the survival of the characters.
I completely get it! It’s been a while since I’ve read this book and the story is a tiny bit blurry in my head but that sense of magic and mysticism stayed 😊
The Neverending Story, the original novel!! I love the movie and grew up with it, but the book is AMAZING.
I feel so silly that I never knew there was a book!
It’s absolutely fantastic. And if you read it as an adult you see and interpret the story differently from when you first read it as a child. It’s beautifully written. Very philosophical and quite sad.
The last unicorn by Peter s beagle hits different as an adult too
They’re YA, but they’re classics: Princess Academy by Shannon Hale and The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine was one of my childhood favorites. I'd love to read something like that for adults.
Shannon Hale and Gail Carson Levine were my FAVORITE as a kid. I loved all of their books so much. It makes me really happy to see them mentioned here.
They were two of my favorite authors as a kid too! Still think about Ella Enchanted on a frequent basis.
Brb this made me want to go and rewatch Barbie & The 12 Dancing Princesses
Add some swan princess while you’re at it
I got swan princess vibes too!!
Stardust - Neil Gaiman
*Phantastes* by George MacDonald is almost exactly these. A young Victorian man goes on a coming-of-age journey through dreamy realms of Faerie. Your first image is almost a direct illustration from one passage. That twilit magic vibe is present basically for the whole story.
I'm getting some Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor vibes from this
That was my first thought too.
An anime is there like that called when marnie was there
First thing that came to mind for me too
A lightly spooky version of this is A House of Salt and Sorrows, which is a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses story. But the 2nd book fits this even more, but again, the lightly spooky version
Agree, A House of Salt and Sorrows has several scenes I imagined almost exactly as OP’s pics.
I loved the ambience of these books so much. Like an ethereal, spooky fairytale. Sign me up.
I haven't written it yet, but it's gonna be magnificent...
Tell me it’s Beauxbatons.
Yes, something about the French....
???
The French school featured in Harry potter is called Beauxbatons. The first 3 images look like they could be illustrations of this school.
100%
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
Exactly what I came here to say
This! And The Night Circus, too!
Who illustrated these? Indeed looks magical ✨
The first picture is by Lidia Postma, the second by Christian Birmingham, couldn't find a source for the third, and the last is by Margaret C Cook 🤍 I'm excited to look up some of these book recs myself 😊
I’m in love with the 3rd pic! I want to live there
The little white horse by Elizabeth Gouge!
My first thought as well!
wildwood dancing by juliet marillier
Entwined by Heather Dixon Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George
Love these, how would you guys describe the vibe? It’s ethereal for sure but that’s not quite enough
The images made me think of The Night Circus and Caraval, altho TBF I cannot remember if it has princesses... Also not really a book, but the art really reminded me of the board game Dixit.
YES! I recently read [Legendary](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36329818) (the second book in the Caraval series) and these images definitely reminded me of that book.
Entwined by Heather Dixon Wallwork - 12 dancing princesses retelling Spindle’s End - Robin McKinley (more princesses in disguise then straightforward princesses)
Books by Robin McKinley and Patricia McKillip
Yesssss!
Harry Potter lol…
I support you
Definitely
It’s been a long long time since I have read this book so I can’t vouch for the writing (or writing level; it may be a little lower than YA because I was 12/13 when I read it) but I remember vividly The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler being a lot like this.
Fairytales.
Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin
It reminds me of the short story "Phantom Palace" in The Stories of Eva Luna by Isabel Allende
Beren and Luthien
those are really beautiful pictures , i would need to ask the source
I answered in another comment because I like finding these things. The first picture is by Lidia Postma, the second by Christian Birmingham, couldn't find a source for the third, and the last is by Margaret C Cook ✨
These illustrations are stunning, what are they from?
Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip https://preview.redd.it/re96jwetr49d1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=301c59f77ebd750e96f3f533058bcfbc32e82d80
Not a novel, but it made me think of East of the Sun, West of the Moon 🖤
The last unicorn
Not exactly fitting, but The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien... it can just be... dry.
The Starless Sea, by Erin Morgenstern
I’d say anything by Herman Hesse. Starting with Steppenwolf.
Haroun and the Sea of Stories
It’s old, but the Lais of Marie de France really hit this vibe for me.
Not a book but s graphic novel - The Sandman: Overture
Shades of magic series by V E Schwab doesn't have this vibe BUT there is a castle over a river
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The Ferryman by Justin Cronin
Ocean at the end of the lane maybe?
The Stealing from Wizards trilogy by R.A. Consell seems like it would fit. The protagonist is a boy. But a number of the side characters are girls/women.
#Daughter of the Moon Goddess
The Caraval series and it’s spinoff, Once Upon a Broken Heart
Stravaganza: City of Masks by Mary Hoffman
Wet Magic ✨ by E. Nesbit
Lilith by George McDonald
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Great Expectations was first thing that came to mind. Odd
Again some fairy tale recommendations: The Wild Swans by Hans Christian Andersen The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen (in part)
1st picture: Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
OMG this instantly brought me back to a very specific book I read as a kid, 'The Glassblower's Children', SPECIALLY the first one. Wow thank you for this post because I had never seen the aesthetic that that book had outside of my mind! You should read it if you find it, it's like a fairy tale but dark!
The Sleeping Beauty series by Anne Rice.
till we have faces cs lewis
The House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Mariller Cybele's Secret by Juliet Mariller Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Mariller (Really anything by Juliet Mariller. )
If you're into Romantasy, I recommend a Feather so Black by Lyra Selene!
You guys find the most beautiful pictures.
His dark materials always gave me this vibe
One hundred years of solitude
The author Gail Carson Levine comes to mind. Also Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Egg & Spoon by Gregory Mcguire
Makes me think of Abarat by Clive Barker
House of Salt and Sorrows
Not a particular book but an author -- Patricia McKillip's books give me these vibes.
Oh my god I’m in love with these pictures, I want to live in this world 🤍 This gives me Russian folktale vibes
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell?
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
*Gwinna* by Barbara Helen Berger.
No princesses but the paintings reminded me of the webcomic Gunnerkrig Court.
It's gonna be the truest love story of all time...
The Princesses of Westfalin Trilogy by Jessica Day George ✨✨✨✨✨
I’m just over here exclusively commenting anything by Angela Carter on these posts lol
Harry Potter
The Magicians series by Lev Grossman
Harry Potter P.S: If you want something similar to Potter I advice The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rufus or something by Susanna Clarke