Almost everyone knows the familiar fairy tale ending: the prince marries the princess and they live happily ever after. Or do they?

Once upon a time, our ancestors were much more honest and open about the spectrum of human sexuality. Among the fairy tales and myths they told were stories of androgynes, neither male nor female; of women and men who resist sex and marriage for other kinds of love; of chaste romances, miraculous childbirth and bodily transformations. These are the asexual fairy tales you will find in this book.

These tales come from many places: from Grimms’ Fairy Tales to The Thousand and One Nights, from Greek mythology and Arthurian legend to the silent films of the 1920s and from Scandinavia to Japan. Retold, reimagined, and sometimes reinvented as new stories for the 21st century, these stories will change the way you think about fairy tales, and bring asexuality out of the closet.

Elizabeth Hopkinson is the author of over eighty published short stories. Her work has appeared in the likes of The Forgotten & the Fantastical and Dancing with Mr Darcy anthologies. She is the winner of the James White Award and Fairytalez Best Gender Swap Fairy Tale. Her novel Silver Hands is a re-imagining of The Handless Maiden set in the Golden Age of Sail. She is currently working on a trilogy about a castrato and a bird charmer and a stand-alone novel based on The Ice Queen and the Mer-King.

www.elizabethhopkinson.uk

"These Asexual Fairy Tales sound like old folk tales, perfect for reading out loud. More than just a retelling or adaptation, Elizabeth has succeeded in creating something new without losing that old-world storyteller feel.”

— Jaycee James, editor of Circuits and Slippers

"Fairy tales are a part of every child's life. As we grow up, we learn mythology, history, and legends. Yet, for asexuals, the representation has always been rare to non-existent. What Elizabeth Hopkinson has done is brought aces to the forefront in these pieces of writing. It's an incredible and necessary thing! Everyone wants to see a character that is like themselves in what they read or watch, even when it comes to fairy tales. So what Elizabeth is doing here is greatly appreciated, and we wish her the very best!"

— Kelsey Lee, Social Media Director of AVEN

"If you love fairy tales but have seen enough retellings of Beauty and the Beast to last you a lifetime, try this. These twelve stories are drawn from a wide variety of sources, including a silent film. Some are straight retellings, others re-imaginings, and a third set originals by Elizabeth Hopkinson. The common thread, as per the title, is that they all feature asexual characters and explore what that is like in a society obsessed by sex. A gently enlightening read."

— L. Wade | Amazon review

"A good mixture of traditional and new stories, compellingly told. I also really liked the academic notes at the beginning of each story - I have several things to look up in more detail now."

— Jenn | Good Reads review

Read the Advance Information sheet for Asexual Fairy Tales here.

You can find a YouTube review here.

It features in the list of Ace/Aro Literature.

It is also referenced in this article – Princess Kaguya, and "Not of This World” Narratives.