Books like 'The Rumpelstiltskin Problem'
Readers who enjoyed The Rumpelstiltskin Problem by Vivian Vande Velde also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary dark romance paranormal fantasy magic medieval
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Dreams Made Flesh by Anne Bishop
The national bestselling Black Jewels trilogy established award-winning Anne Bishop as an author whose "sublime skill...blends the darkly macabre with spine-tingling emotional intensity, mesmerizing magic, lush sensuality, and exciting action."* Now the saga continues-with four all-new adventures of Jaenelle and her kindred... -
![The Bone Doll's Twin by Lynn Flewelling]()
The Bone Doll's Twin by Lynn Flewelling
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 48 ratingsSometimes the price of destiny is higher than anyone imagined.... Dark Magic, Hidden Destiny For three centuries a divine prophecy and a line of warrior queens protected Skala. But the people grew complacent and Erius, a usurper king, claimed his young half sister’s throne... -
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![Silksinger by Laini Taylor]()
Silksinger by Laini Taylor
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsOne faerie, the last of her clan, must fight to complete her sacred duty Whisper Silksinger is the last of the secret guardians of the Azazel, one of the powerful Djinn who dreamed the world into being. Relentlessly pursued by bloodthirsty devils, she flees to the city of Nazneen to restore the Azazel to his temple... -
![The Oracle's Queen by Lynn Flewelling]()
The Oracle's Queen by Lynn Flewelling
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 40 ratingsUnder the rule of a usurper king, the realm of Skala has suffered famine, plague, and invasion. But now the time for the rightful heir has come, a return to the tradition of warrior queens. And the Lightbearer’s prophecy is to be upheld at last: so long as a daughter of the royal line defends and rules, Skala will never be subjugated... -
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![Hidden Warrior by Lynn Flewelling]()
Hidden Warrior by Lynn Flewelling
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 40 ratingsA trick of magic, a twist of fate.As the orphaned nephew of the king, trusted companion to his cousin, and second heir to the throne of Skala, Prince Tobin’s future is clear. But not as clear as the spring in which a hill witch shows him his true face--and his secret destiny....Now Tobin carries a burden he cannot share with even his closest friend, Ki, his squire... -
![The Isle Of Sin And Shadows by Keri Lake]()
The Isle Of Sin And Shadows by Keri Lake
This island alone boasts more ghost stories than all of Louisiana combined.And I'm one of them.In the Louisiana swamplands, ghost stories are as much a part of childhood as chasing fireflies and crawfishing. They never much scared me, though, nor the possibility of evil out to do me harm. Until the night I watched shadows come to life and butcher everything I loved... -
![Bridge of Dreams by Anne Bishop]()
Bridge of Dreams by Anne Bishop
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 32 ratingsReturn to New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop’s Ephemera, a world of strange and magical landscapes connected only by bridges—bridges that may transport you where you truly belong, rather than where you wish to go... -
![Ouija by Emmaleigh Loader]()
Ouija by Emmaleigh Loader
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAva:Kidnapped by a serial killer with an affinity for pain and madness.Lost to a world created by a sick and twisted monster.I died there, in the belly of the beast. But as the Fates willed it, I came back to life.Now I’m under the King’s Wolves protection, fighting to determine what is real and what are broken delusions.Hunted by the man who thought that he had killed me... -
![The House of Gaian by Anne Bishop]()
The House of Gaian by Anne Bishop
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 38 ratingsIn the conclusion of the Tir Alainn Trilogy, the uneasy alliance between Fae and humans may not be enough to defeat the Inquisitors-leaving them no choice but to seek out the witches of the House of Gaian... -
![Greenwode by J. Tullos Hennig]()
Greenwode by J. Tullos Hennig
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA Novel of Robyn Hood The Hooded One. The one to breathe the dark and light and dusk between.... When an old druid foresees this harbinger of chaos, he also glimpses its outcome... -
![Vengeance by C.Y. Jones]()
Vengeance by C.Y. Jones
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI never thought I'd be that girl. The one that would sacrifice myself, but I did. For him, for love. Now I'm in Hell, and O'Donnell is King of this Underworld. Revenge was my mission, now Vengeance is my goal... -
![Ally and her Mad Hatter by S.N. Hunt]()
Ally and her Mad Hatter by S.N. Hunt
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsWonderland is just a story....Ally spent her whole life being told Wonderland was just a fantasy, nothing more than a story that lived inside her mother's head. All it took was a tumble through a mirror to prove that was a lie. Now she must find her place within this world of madness without losing her sanity in the arms of the Mad Hatter... -
![The Voice by Anne Bishop]()
The Voice by Anne Bishop
Rated: 4.05 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsAn original novella from the New York Times bestselling author of Bridge of Dreams… In a small village outside the city of Vision, the people know no sorrow or grief. But this seemingly idyllic community is hiding a terrible secret... -
![The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke]()
The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke
Rated: 4.03 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsDon’t miss the brand-new chilling gothic thriller from the bestselling author . . .‘Fascinating and enthralling’ Prima‘Wonderfully atmospheric and compelling’ Rosamund Lupton‘A flawless read’ Elizabeth Lee‘Seething with gothic menace’ Caroline LeaUpon the cliffs of a remote Scottish island, Lòn Haven, stands a lighthouse.A lighthouse that has weathered more than storms... -
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![Shadows and Light by Anne Bishop]()
Shadows and Light by Anne Bishop
Rated: 4.01 of 5 stars · 38 ratingsNational bestselling author Anne Bishop’s novels have been hailed as “genuine gems” (SF Site) and “lavishly sensual” (Library Journal). In her highly anticipated second book in the Tir Alainn Trilogy, she weaves a dazzling tale of romance, high adventure, and thrilling fantasy... -
![The Vicious King by Gina L. Maxwell]()
The Vicious King by Gina L. Maxwell
"...nothing short of epic, standing equally among those from the likes of Rebecca Yarros and Sarah J Maas. Gina has earned her place among them several times over with the Verran Kings." ~The British Bibliophile IN A WAR WHERE SHADOWS AND LIGHT COLLIDE, ONLY THE VICIOUS WILL EMERGE VICTORIOUS.. -
![Black Magic by Megan Derr]()
Black Magic by Megan Derr
When High Paladin Sorin discovers the brutally dismembered body of his cousin Alfrey, a much loved priest in the royal palace, he is left baffled as to who would do so terrible a thing to so good a man... -
![Belladonna by Anne Bishop]()
Belladonna by Anne Bishop
Rated: 3.96 of 5 stars · 42 ratingsIn this follow-up to Sebastian, the Eater of the World casts its shadow over Ephemera. Only Glorianna Belladonna possesses the ability to thwart the Eater--but she is not alone. In dreams, a call has traveled beyond the Landscapes and reached Michael, a man with mysterious powers... -
![Sebastian by Anne Bishop]()
Sebastian by Anne Bishop
Rated: 3.96 of 5 stars · 46 ratingsA world of shifting lands connected only by bridges, Ephemera has been kept stable by the magic of the Landscapers. In one land where night reigns and demons dwell, the half-incubus Sebastian revels in dark delights. But then in dreams she calls to him: a woman who wants only to be safe and loved-a woman he hungers for while knowing he may destroy her... -
![The Wronged Omega: An FFF Omegaverse by Sullyn Shaw]()
The Wronged Omega: An FFF Omegaverse by Sullyn Shaw
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsOur future was as bright, all thanks to the Omega who had been wronged in so many ways.Meddling, it’s a vice of mine, one I never gave up even with the curse looming over me every step of the way. When someone was in need, I stepped in, forgetting the damage I could cause, and this time, saving Ellie, well, it wasn’t like the others... -
![The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsley]()
The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsley
Rated: 3.93 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsShe is never cold, she always knows exactly what time it is, and her hair grows two inches while she sleeps. Fifteen-year-old Corinna Stonewall--the only Folk Keeper in the city of Rhysbridge--sits hour after hour with the Folk in the dark, chilly cellar, "drawing off their anger as a lightning rod draws off lightning...Categorized as:
magic contemporary dark paranormal legends & fairy tales fantasy fatphobia length-short -
![The Taking by Erin McCarthy]()
The Taking by Erin McCarthy
My Immortal and Fallen showed Erin McCarthy at her provocative best... Now she takes paranormal romance one step further with The Taking Heiress Regan Henry knows that passion can be an illusion, and she keeps her emotions in check-until she falls under the spell of the beguiling Felix LeBlanc... -
![Winter Be My Shield by Jo Spurrier]()
Winter Be My Shield by Jo Spurrier
Rated: 3.93 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsA complex, adult epic fantasy from a new Australian author ... original, dramatic, unputdownable ... Sierra has a despised and forbidden gift - she raises power from the suffering of others.Enslaved by the king's torturer, Sierra escapes, barely keeping ahead of Rasten, the man sent to hunt her down... -
![Haunted Sanctuary by Moira Rogers]()
Haunted Sanctuary by Moira Rogers
Rated: 3.88 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe shadows of her past could destroy their future. Green Pines, Book 1 Eden Green can’t remember a time she didn’t believe in monsters—her cousin was born one. Her family’s dark past casts a long shadow, making it hard to make friends and harder to commit to a lover. She lives a quiet life in small-town Clover, Tennessee, but she’s always waiting for the other shoe to drop... -
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![The Untold Tale by J.M. Frey]()
The Untold Tale by J.M. Frey
Rated: 3.87 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsForsyth Turn is not a hero. Lordling of Turn Hall, yes. Spymaster for the king, certainly. But hero? That's his older brother's job, and Kintyre Turn is nothing if not legendary. However, when a raid on the kingdom's worst criminal results in the rescue of a baffling woman, oddly named and even more oddly mannered, Forsyth finds his quaint, sedentary life turned on its head... -
![Hunted in Holly: A Dark Fantasy Christmas Romance by Leann Belle]()
Hunted in Holly: A Dark Fantasy Christmas Romance by Leann Belle
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI'll never let him catch meThe King of the North Pole was supposed to be an ally. He wasn't supposed to burn my kingdom in the South Pole to the ground and destroy everything I knew and loved. As the new Queen, I'll take my revenge no matter what it costs me.But Nicholas, the immortal Saint, is far more powerful than I ever imagined...Categorized as:
magic christmas fantasy from hate to love age difference dark contemporary paranormal -
![Through Wolf's Eyes by Jane Lindskold]()
Through Wolf's Eyes by Jane Lindskold
Rated: 3.87 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsFirekeeper only vaguely remembers a time when she didn't live with her "family," a pack of "royal wolves"-bigger, stronger, and smarter than normal wolves. Now her pack leaders are sending her back to live among the humans, as they promised her mother years ago. Some of the humans think she may be the lost heir to their throne. This could be good-and it could be very, very dangerous... -
![Grim by Christine Johnson, Kimberly Derting]()
Grim by Christine Johnson, Kimberly Derting
Rated: 3.77 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsInspired by classic fairy tales, but with a dark and sinister twist, Grim contains short stories from some of the best voices in young adult literature today: Ellen Hopkins Amanda Hocking Julie Kagawa Claudia Gray Rachel Hawkins Kimberly Derting Myra McEntire Malinda Lo Sarah Rees-Brennan Jackson Pearce Christine Johnson Jeri Smith Ready Shaun David Hutchinson... -
![Playing with Shadows (Love is Always Write) by Sasha L. Miller]()
Playing with Shadows (Love is Always Write) by Sasha L. Miller
Rated: 3.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHe was told that everything happened for a reason, that there were things out there that watched your every move. He just never thought that the people telling him this were telling the truth. Until he happened to glimpse something out of the corner of his eye, something that he couldn't explain. And now there are things in the shadows, things that want him... -
![White as Snow (The Fairy Tale Series) by Tanith Lee, Terri Windling]()
White as Snow (The Fairy Tale Series) by Tanith Lee, Terri Windling
Rated: 3.77 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsOnce upon a time there was a mirror. . . . So begins this dark, unusual retelling of the story of Snow White by the writer reviewers have called “the Angela Carter of the fantasy field”—a whole novel based on a beloved story, turning it into a dark and sensual drama full of myth and magic. Arpazia is the aging queen who paces the halls of a warlord’s palace... -
![Bedtime Story for a Stolen Child by Anna Mayle]()
Bedtime Story for a Stolen Child by Anna Mayle
Rated: 3.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsStolen away from his cradle as a child, Leinad has been a plaything of the Faerie for thirty years. He has been broken and put back together so many times that he cannot even remember what he used to be. He has given up all hope of escape, until a soft breeze through his cell leads him home, only to find out that home has gone on without him... -
![My Bloody Valentine (Don't Read in the Closet Events) by Andrea Speed]()
My Bloody Valentine (Don't Read in the Closet Events) by Andrea Speed
Rated: 3.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFree short story written for theM/M Romancegroup's "Hot Summer Days" event.----------Genres/Tags:Gay M/M / Paranormal / Supernatural / Blood / Sorcerer / Haunted / Hook-Up / Dark / ViolenceApprox... -
![Creation's Captive by Melody Joanne]()
Creation's Captive by Melody Joanne
The day I started seeing ghosts - my life went to shit. Too bad the Fates don’t hand out gift receipts because respectfully, I’d like a refund. Unfortunately, those meddlesome hags aren’t even close to being done with me.A powerful, destructive creature is on the prowl and threatens the existence of the universe. The only way to stop the creature is with equal destructive power... -
![Into the Dark Lands by Michelle Sagara West]()
Into the Dark Lands by Michelle Sagara West
Rated: 3.53 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsWar has its cost, and the Servants of the Bright Heart and the Servants of the Dark Heart have been locked in a struggle that has defined life—and death—for millennia. But the end is coming, and only the Lady who has served the Bright Heart for the whole of her immortal life has seen it, in a vision that spans time and demands the highest of prices... -
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![The Awakened Mage by Karen Miller]()
The Awakened Mage by Karen Miller
Rated: 3.62 of 5 stars · 43 ratings"The evil foretold has risen ... and we are all that stands between it and the end."Asher has come a long way for a fisherman's son. Together with his friend Prince Gar, he has defended their kingdom against its bitterest enemy, but at great cost. Now, the evil mage Morg is preparing for his most deadly assault. Desperate, trapped in a broken body, Morg has little time and fewer scruples... -
![Come Closer by Sara Gran]()
Come Closer by Sara Gran
Rated: 3.61 of 5 stars · 45 ratingsDemonic possession or psychic break? One of Esquire's Top 50 horror novels of all time delves deep into the terrifying consequences of losing control."A perfect horror novel."—Paul Tremblay, author of 'The Cabin at the End of the World'A recurrent, unidentifiable noise in her apartment. A memo to her boss that's replaced by obscene insults...
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