Classic Horror Retellings

I love a good classic horror, but I also love a good classic horror retelling. I like to see how modern authors take a well-known story and turn it into something a little different and fresh. But not all retellings are created equally. I’ve read some really good ones and some really bad ones. Today I wanted to share a few that I really enjoyed. Let’s dive in.

The String of Pearls -> The Butcher’s Daughter

The Butcher’s Daughter is my favorite retelling to this date. I read it right after The String of Pearls and the transition felt seamless. The atmosphere and setting had the same the same tense, gritty feeling as the original. Set after the events in The String of Pearls, the London Metropolitan police uncover correspondence between a young journalist and a woman they suspect to be the missing Mrs. Lovett.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow -> Horseman

Horseman has its issues. You can check my review out if you want to know more about that. But it does have the great folk horror vibes of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. I enjoyed the imagination that the author took to continue the story. Horseman follows the grandson of Brom Bones and Katrina van Tassel, and it brings a different point of view to Brom and the legend as a whole.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde -> The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter

The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter is kind of a retelling of everything. Sherlock Holmes, Watson, and other prominent Victorian characters make appearances in this book. However, Dr. Jekyl’s daughter is the main character. I loved reading about her adventures and all of the people she meets. If you love Victorian literature this is absolutely the story for you.

Frankenstein -> Eynhallow

Eynhallow is fabulous. Set on a desolate island, Agnes is bored with her life. It didn’t turn out quite like she imagined. When a mysterious stranger moves to the island her life takes a drastic turn. Suddenly, she is involved with Dr. Frankenstein and his horrid experiments. This story clarifies the age-old debate. Is the monster the problem or is Frankenstein?

So that’s a few classic horror retellings that I love. Have you read any of these?