Modern Fairytale Books in Order

Where to Start Your Modern Fairytale Journey

If you are new to Katy Regnery’s Modern Fairytale series, the most important thing to know is that every book in this collection is a standalone romance. Unlike traditional romance series that follow a single family or a recurring cast of characters, these books take place in their own separate universes. There are no character crossovers, shared towns, or overarching plotlines that link them together.

Because of this, you have complete freedom in how you read them. The absolute best starting point is to simply browse the list of classic fairy tales and legends, and start with the retelling of the story you love most. Whether you are captivated by the emotional depth of a Beauty and the Beast reimagining or the slow-burn longing of a Rapunzel retelling, you can jump right in without feeling lost.

However, if you prefer a structured reading experience, reading in publication order is a highly recommended path. Starting with the RITA-nominated breakout hit, The Vixen and the Vet, allows you to experience the evolution of Regnery’s contemporary style as she expands her retellings from classic European folklore to American legends.

The Modern Fairytale Series in Publication Order

For readers who want to follow the order in which the author wrote and released these books, here is the complete publication list:

1. The Vixen and the Vet (2014) – Inspired by Beauty and the Beast
2. Never Let You Go (2015) – Inspired by Hansel and Gretel
3. Ginger's Heart (2016) – Inspired by Little Red Riding Hood
4. Dark Sexy Knight (2016) – Inspired by the legend of Camelot
5. Don't Speak (2017) – Inspired by The Little Mermaid
6. Shear Heaven (2017) – Inspired by Rapunzel
7. Fragments of Ash (2018) – Inspired by Cinderella
8. At First Sight (2020) – Inspired by Aladdin
9. Love is Never Lost (2021) – Inspired by the legend of Rip Van Winkle
10. Swan Song (2025) – Inspired by The Ugly Duckling

A Closer Look at the Books and Their Fairy Tale Inspirations

1. The Vixen and the Vet (Beauty and the Beast)

Savannah Carmichael, a disgraced journalist looking to rebuild her career, returns to her small Virginia hometown. There, she meets Asher Lee, a reclusive and scarred war veteran who has withdrawn from the world due to his physical and emotional wounds. As Savannah interviews Asher, their professional connection deepens into a profound, healing love story that honors the classic themes of inner beauty and redemption.

2. Never Let You Go (Hansel and Gretel)

Griselda and Holden are foster siblings who survived a horrific, abusive childhood home together before being separated. Thirteen years later, their paths cross again. Reconnecting as adults, they must navigate the deep psychological scars of their shared past. This is one of the grittiest and most emotionally intense books in the collection, offering a dark but ultimately hopeful modern survival story.

3. Ginger's Heart (Little Red Riding Hood)

This retelling features Ginger, a young woman caught in a complex love triangle with two brothers, Cain and Jax. Having grown up together, the trio shares a deep history. As adulthood forces Ginger to choose between her childhood protector and the wilder, more dangerous brother, the book explores themes of loyalty, temptation, and the classic woods of emotional choice.

4. Dark Sexy Knight (Camelot)

Loosely inspired by the legend of Camelot, this book features Colt Lane, a gruff loner who works as a knight at a local dinner theater. When he crosses paths with Verity Gwynn and her special-needs brother, Ryan, after they are evicted from their home, Colt steps in to protect them. The story delivers a modern knight-in-shining-armor romance filled with protection and healing.

5. Don't Speak (The Little Mermaid)

Laire is a young woman who has chosen a life of silence to protect herself from her past, working in a small, quiet coastal fishing town. When she meets Roman, a wealthy man from a different social world, their connection transcending words highlights the classic mermaid sacrifice of voice and identity for a chance at true love.

6. Shear Heaven (Rapunzel)

Bella Capelli is a talented hairstylist working at a salon located at the top of a luxury New York City hotel. Her "tower" becomes the setting for an unlikely romance when she meets a wealthy man named Prince. The story puts a whimsical, modern spin on Rapunzel, complete with hair styling, high-altitude encounters, and class differences.

7. Fragments of Ash (Cinderella)

Ashley Ellis is a young woman desperate to escape her dangerous stepfather. With the help of her supportive godfather, she flees her toxic home life and tries to build a new identity. Along the way, she meets Luke, a man who acts as the prince charming she never expected to find, delivering a satisfying modern Cinderella tale of escape and rescue.

8. At First Sight (Aladdin)

This novella is a high-stakes, passionate romance featuring Valentina, an Italian princess, and Ian, an Irish "street rat" living on the edge. Set against a backdrop of luxury and danger, their second-chance romance plays on the classic themes of wealth disparities and wishes coming true in unexpected ways.

9. Love is Never Lost (Rip Van Winkle)

Ripley Van Winkle is a popular high school senior who suffers a tragic accident on the night of his graduation, falling into a coma that lasts for twenty years. When he wakes up two decades later, he must adjust to a completely changed world. His childhood friend Katrina, now a successful doctor, helps him navigate this new reality, sparking a deeply emotional, second-chance romance about lost time.

10. Swan Song (The Ugly Duckling)

Sasha Collins is a dedicated ballerina who has always struggled to find her place. She meets Vaughn, a quiet man working as a janitor who is harbor-harassed by a past he cannot fully remember due to a childhood abduction. As they connect, they help each other discover their true worth and transform their lives, mirroring the classic ugly duckling transformation.

What to Know Before You Start

• The Charitable Mission: Katy Regnery initially conceived the Modern Fairytale books as charitable fundraisers. Portions of the sales from these books have gone to support meaningful organizations, including veterans' charities like Operation Mend and educational funds like P.E.O. International.
• Steam and Tone: These are contemporary romance novels featuring explicit physical intimacy (high steam) and significant emotional drama. They deal with serious real-world topics such as military trauma, physical disability, childhood abuse, and grief.
• Complete Independence: You do not need to read these books in order. Because there are no shared characters or settings, you can skip around, read only your favorite fairy tales, or skip titles that don't appeal to your taste.

Looking for More Connected Romance?

If you finish the Modern Fairytale books and want to dive into a series with interconnected characters and recurring family sagas, Katy Regnery has written several sprawling contemporary romance universes. Her famous Blueberry Lane Series follows the romantic lives of several wealthy Philadelphia families across multiple subseries (including the English Brothers and the Winslow Brothers). She is also the author of the Heart of Montana series, which follows the Lindstrom siblings, and the Alaska-set Odds-Are-Good series.