Into the Forest discussion

Here is the place to discuss retellings, traditional tales, or books set in the subterranean.

I'm curious what everyone's take on this topic is going to be. Are we counting "underground" otherworld/fae/goblin/underworld/afterlife realms that might not be literally under the earth (in which case I'm imagining a lot of underworld quests and 12 Dancing Princesses retellings), or are we literally looking for books set in coal mines, subway tunnels, and the like?

Recommendations:
Desdemona and the Deep: This one has both a magical goblin "underworld" and a literal coal mine.
A Face Like Glass: This might be a little less folklore/fairytale/mythology than other options, I don't remember, but it has a REALLY fun magical underground city.

I was going to take it literally. Maybe I'll change my mind, ha!

Ooh, if anyone wants a children's book that fits, remember my favorite: The Princess and the Goblin.

Cheryl wrote: "Ooh, if anyone wants a children's book that fits, remember my favorite: The Princess and the Goblin."

That one is great!

Here are some recs:

-The Changeling by Victor LaValle: Contemporary horror

-The Mere Wife by Maria Dahvana Headley: Literary contemporary retelling of Beowulf.

-Pan's Labyrinth: The Labyrinth of the Faun by Guillermo del Toro: A really good novelization of the movie.

-The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern: Contemporary fantasy

-Ordinary Monsters by J.M. Miro: The first in a historical fantasy series. I might read the second one for this challenge, assuming the cave/underground still plays an important part.

-Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell: Creature fantasy horror (but light horror)

Great recommendations- the Changeling looks perfect for me for this category, thanks!

Rose wrote: "Great recommendations- the Changeling looks perfect for me for this category, thanks!"

I quite enjoyed that one! Pretty dark, cave comes into play in the second half.

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. Urban fantasy, magical and dangerous world of "London Below".
Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins. Gregor and his baby sister fall into the Underland and make friends and enemies with giant rats, bats, cockroaches, and humans. Dark, scary, addictive, with great family values.

Margaret wrote: "Here are some recs:

-The Changeling by Victor LaValle: Contemporary horror
..."

Oh, thank you! I have Ordinary Monsters, might be finally time to read it! :)

Andy wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Here are some recs:

-The Changeling by Victor LaValle: Contemporary horror
..."

Oh, thank you! I have Ordinary Monsters, might be..."

It's fantastic!

Here are some recommendations of books that I enjoyed:
Inanna
A Pomegranate and the Maiden
The Last Cato

I’m not sure what I’ll read yet. The Changeling has been on my want to read list for a while now, although it does indeed seem dark.
Another one I’ve been thinking about is Patricia A. McKillip’Ombria in Shadow. My library doesn’t have it so I’d have to special order it

Oh yes, Neverwhere does indeed have an underground city. I’d forgotten about!

I'm quite enjoying Dealing with Dragons even though I can't imagine being happy with a kitchen and library underground.

Subterranean
Excellent book by James Rollins.

Cheryl wrote: "I'm quite enjoying Dealing with Dragons even though I can't imagine being happy with a kitchen and library underground."

That book is a delight.

I read The Anomaly by Michael Rutger and gave it 4.25 stars. An excellent archeological adventure in the vein of Preston & Child. If you can suspend disbelief a little, you'll have a good time.

I’m so excited! Emily H. Wilson the author of Inanna has a second book out Gilgamesh which will be part of a series called Sumerians!
All will have sections in the underworld!

Jalilah wrote: "I’m so excited! Emily H. Wilson the author of Inanna has a second book out Gilgamesh which will be part of a series called Sumerians!
All will ha..."

Oh cool! I need to read Inanna!

Margaret wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "I’m so excited! Emily H. Wilson the author of Inanna has a second book out Gilgamesh which will be part of a series called Sumeria..."

I’m reading the second book in the series now called Gilgamesh. It’s great!

It looks like Rebecca Ross' upcoming Wild Reverence takes place partially in an "under realm" according to the blurb. Not having read the related Divine Rivals books, I'm not sure if that implies subterranean or not.

Hannah M Lynn's Daughters of Olympus is a retelling of the Greek Persephone and Demeter myth, in which both daughter and mother have POV chapters. I really enjoyed this one very much. Significant chunks take place in the Underworld with Hades.

Finnish inspired North is the Night (Emily Rath) also features a character abducted to the underworld. This one could also count toward the Polar/Tundra category.

I'm not sure it aligns close enough with myth of fairy tales for this group, but Andrea Stewart's The Gods Below was an interesting read featuring a character delving for magical stones underground in mines and another leading an underground expedition.

There are some great recommendations here I might check out!

Erin wrote: "It looks like Rebecca Ross' upcoming Wild Reverence takes place partially in an "under realm" according to the blurb. Not having read the related Divine Rivals books, I'm not sure if that implies s..."

Thanks for the recs! I think I might check out The Gods Below for this challenge.