The Sword and Laser discussion

The two most recent fantasy works I've read- Jonathan strange & mr Norrel, and Among Others, both were incredibly enjoyable, and both really captured different aspects of classic fairy stories incredibly well. Does anyone have any other recommendations for contemporary (or recent) fantasy that deals with fairy stories?

Also, I remember heading/reading about a recent novel that followed the life of a girl stolen away to Faery for ten years, and how that disappearance effected her friends/family (I think her boyfriend was arrested for her murder). I cannot find the title on google, anyone have an idea of what novel I'm talking about?

The Woodcutter by Kate Danley was really good, and its only $1.99 for Kindle (add audio for cheap too).

The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes is the one you asked about I think.

I just finished the shining girls and that really doesnt fit that description. It has nothing to do with fairies at all really.
It's a very good read though.

It's not contemporary, being set in oldie worlde Ireland, but The Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier retells the fairy tale The Six Swans, and is rather lovely.

You missed the heyday of Urban fantasy in the 1980s (before the vampires and werewolves took it over) ;-)
I'd checkout:

Charles De Lint
Ellen Kushner (Thomas the Rhymer is a good start)
Little, Big by John Crowley
Books edited by Terri Windling, specifically the Bordertown/Borderland series

The October Daye series by Seanan McGuire - first book Rosemary and Rue. I've heard these described as "faery tale noir". :-) Urban fantasy (not paranormal romance) dealing extensively with fae.

Also by the same author, Indexing - a Kindle serial, the third installment dropped today. Urban fantasy, dealing with fairy tales.

More in a romance vein - you could try the 500 Kingdoms series by Mercedes Lackey. First book is The Fairy Godmother

Between Two Thorns and Any Other Name by Emma Newman are fabulous - a mirror world of Fae-touched mortals based in Bath and London. Great modern take on fairies, and the people in the 'real' world caught up in their traps.

WHAT?? No one has mentioned War for the Oaks??? I'm so disappointed in all of you... :)

Rick wrote: "WHAT?? No one has mentioned War for the Oaks??? I'm so disappointed in all of you... :)"

We had to leave SOMETHING for you to mention. ;-)

(I'm rather chagrined that I didn't think of it.)

D'aww, thanks Lady. :)

Rick wrote: "D'aww, thanks Lady. :)"

Anytime! :-)

Occurs to me that I also missed Gossamer Axe by Gael Baudino. Also her Strands of Starlight series.

And the Bordertown anthologies:Welcome to Bordertown, Bordertown, The Essential Bordertown...

And the Grimm Diary prequels by Cameron Jace.

Tam Lin by Pamela Dean

The Sun, the Moon, & the Stars by Steven Brust

Snow White And Rose Red by Patricia C. Wrede

And there are many, many more modern/recent retellings of fairy tales.

Oh god, how did I forget this... Mike Shevdon's Sixty-One Nails and the next book in that series, The Road to Bedlam: Courts of the Feyre, Book 2.

There's a 3rd book that I didn't like (ok lemmed early on, so it might get better) and a forthcoming 4th book, The Eighth Court which i have yet to read.

Rob wrote: "Also, I remember heading/reading about a recent novel that followed the life of a girl stolen away to Faery for ten years, and how that disappearance effected her friends/family (I think her boyfriend was arrested for her murder)."

I think that was the first season of the revived Doctor Who.

As for the question, you can't go wrong with Arthur Machen's The White People, one of the best horror stories ever written -- one that's inspired both H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King.

Robert Holdstock's Mythago Wood series uses the "Wyld Wood" of "Faerie" very well to achieve something between Lord Dunsany and H.P. Lovecraft.

I am a fan of Tad William's War of the Flowers

Faerie Tale by Raymond E. Feist, Tithe by Holly Black, and Little, Big by John Crowley

Well, now I have quite the expanded reading list. Definitely going to start going through these.

As for the specific one I was looking for, I'm starting to think that maybe it was mentioned in the Patrick Rothfuss G&S series, so I'm going to binge on that soon. Will update if I find it!

Robin McKinley did retellings of Beauty and the Beast twice, with Rose Daughter and Beauty, also Sleeping Beauty in Spindle's End, and a lesser known tale in Deerskin (triggers for rape/incest).

Margo Lanagan more recently retold the Rose Red and Snow White in Tender Morsels (again triggers for rape/incest, sorry) (note this is not the seven dwarves tale).

Diana Wynne Jones wrote Hexwood loosely based on Tam Lin.