The books in The Princess Tales series are elaborations and expansions on classic fairy tales. Classic stories are retold with variations on the original story and added details.

The books in this series are by Gail Carson Levine, who is also the author of Ella Enchanted, an elaboration on the classic Cinderella story.

Books in the Series

The Fairy’s Mistake (1999)

A fairy rewards a kind sister with jewels that fall from her mouth when she speaks and punishes her mean sister with bugs and snakes that fall from her mouth when she speaks. However, this attempt at poetic justice goes horribly awry!

The Princess Test (1999)

When it’s time for Prince Nicholas to choose a bride, his father devises complicated tests to ensure that his son marries a real princess. However, Prince Nicholas already knows who he wants to marry, and she isn’t a princess at all. What can he do to help her pass his father’s tests? Variation on The Princess and the Pea.

Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep (1999)

An extremely clever princess knows that she’s under a curse, but her attempt to choose when to activate the curse doesn’t work as planned. Fortunately, the right prince chooses the right time to wake her up. Variation on Sleeping Beauty.

Cinderellis and the Glass Hill (2000)

A male version of Cinderella rescues a princess with the help of some magic powders.

For Biddle’s Sake (2002)

A girl who only eats parsley helps a prince with two wicked brothers. Variation on Puddocky.

The Fairy’s Return (2002)

Princess Lark and Robin love each other, but the princess’s father won’t let her marry someone who isn’t a prince.