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The Ruby Realm #3
Sole of Secrets
An invincible princess and a dance with death...
A Retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses
Princess Ruby is the only biological daughter of the emperor out of her eleven sisters. Despite being classified as her father’s favorite, she’s barely even permitted to step outside the palace due to the emperor’s overprotectiveness. Some citizens believe she’s kept confined because she’s too treasured, others believe it’s because she’s secretly ugly, but only her father and sisters know the true reason she’s locked away...
Ruby is gifted with an astonishing immunity that prevents her from feeling pain, getting sick, or even sustaining injuries for more than a few hours. One would think a princess that strong would be allowed outside her palace, but her father fears that if her gift became known, someone would take advantage of it.
Aiden is a common builder whose mother is slowly slipping away due to illness. He’d do anything to save her, even join the criminal group the basilisks in exchange for a magical extension of her life. The emperor is hosting a competition in search of a male heir for his empire, so Aiden must infiltrate the event and feed the basilisks whatever information they request if he wants his mother to survive. Should be easy enough. Or at least it would have, until things take a turn for the worst when his fellow competitors begin to drop dead.
Aiden’s job description never included murder, yet he still feels the basilisks are responsible, or worse... his intel helped them do it. Ruby may be invincible, but she’s powerless to protect others. If she wants to stop the killer, she’ll need inside help from a competitor she feels she can trust... She did like that Aiden fellow. Will Aiden help her save the other competitors? Or will she be dancing with danger on her own?
A Retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses
Princess Ruby is the only biological daughter of the emperor out of her eleven sisters. Despite being classified as her father’s favorite, she’s barely even permitted to step outside the palace due to the emperor’s overprotectiveness. Some citizens believe she’s kept confined because she’s too treasured, others believe it’s because she’s secretly ugly, but only her father and sisters know the true reason she’s locked away...
Ruby is gifted with an astonishing immunity that prevents her from feeling pain, getting sick, or even sustaining injuries for more than a few hours. One would think a princess that strong would be allowed outside her palace, but her father fears that if her gift became known, someone would take advantage of it.
Aiden is a common builder whose mother is slowly slipping away due to illness. He’d do anything to save her, even join the criminal group the basilisks in exchange for a magical extension of her life. The emperor is hosting a competition in search of a male heir for his empire, so Aiden must infiltrate the event and feed the basilisks whatever information they request if he wants his mother to survive. Should be easy enough. Or at least it would have, until things take a turn for the worst when his fellow competitors begin to drop dead.
Aiden’s job description never included murder, yet he still feels the basilisks are responsible, or worse... his intel helped them do it. Ruby may be invincible, but she’s powerless to protect others. If she wants to stop the killer, she’ll need inside help from a competitor she feels she can trust... She did like that Aiden fellow. Will Aiden help her save the other competitors? Or will she be dancing with danger on her own?
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 11, 2023
25 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 22, 2025
Content:
Profanity: None.
Violence: Higher mild. There are deaths and injuries in this, with blood depicted. One arrow wound and cuts from both swords and thorns from a plant. The threat of death is hanging over the majority of the story as well.
Sexual: Mild. There are dances, hand-holding, and a few sweet kisses that don't go into steam at all.
Trigger: Deals with feelings of betrayal as well as being seen as nothing more than an ornament.
Okay, this book has the honor of being one of less than 6 stories that has gotten me snort-laughing and having a hard time stopping. One scene just got my funny bone so much that I had to pause to get the giggles out. Moderate spoiler: Wow, I haven't laughed at a surprise scene like that in a while!
Moving on to the bulk of the book though!
Aiden stole the show for me in this one. His sweet honesty combined with the stress of being a spy was both frustrating (in a good way) and so funny. I smirked so much when he's having mental breakdowns every time he has to play both sides, but was also stressed for him as well. He was truly stuck, even though I was screaming at him to just tell Ruby the truth already through most of the book. His desire to see no one hurt in any way made him an instant favorite for me, even though it caused him all sorts of problems. You can't go through life trying to make sure no one feels pain or gets hurt, and Aiden, while knowing that, still tries and deludes himself about it. It was incredibly relatable.
The who-dunnit mystery of this story was a blast. I did figure out the culprit long before any of the characters had a clue. Probably at about chapter 6 or 7, and I figured out how the culprit was doing the deed a little before the halfway point. It was still fun to watch the characters catch up with me though.
BUT!
There was a twist at the end that totally caught me by surprise, which I always love. So, while this was a Twelve Dancing Princesses retelling, it's truly it's own thing. There weren't a ton of nods to the fairy tale, it was more of a 'inspired by' than a true retelling. Super fun read though. I couldn't stop talking about it to anyone who happened to be in the kitchen when I surfaced from reading.
The caliber of writing and story telling has been markedly better in the Ruby Realm series than the Emerald realm, which is awesome. I look forward to reading more from Abigail Manning. She's firmly made it to my list of authors to watch.
Profanity: None.
Violence: Higher mild. There are deaths and injuries in this, with blood depicted. One arrow wound and cuts from both swords and thorns from a plant. The threat of death is hanging over the majority of the story as well.
Sexual: Mild. There are dances, hand-holding, and a few sweet kisses that don't go into steam at all.
Trigger: Deals with feelings of betrayal as well as being seen as nothing more than an ornament.
Okay, this book has the honor of being one of less than 6 stories that has gotten me snort-laughing and having a hard time stopping. One scene just got my funny bone so much that I had to pause to get the giggles out. Moderate spoiler: Wow, I haven't laughed at a surprise scene like that in a while!
Moving on to the bulk of the book though!
Aiden stole the show for me in this one. His sweet honesty combined with the stress of being a spy was both frustrating (in a good way) and so funny. I smirked so much when he's having mental breakdowns every time he has to play both sides, but was also stressed for him as well. He was truly stuck, even though I was screaming at him to just tell Ruby the truth already through most of the book. His desire to see no one hurt in any way made him an instant favorite for me, even though it caused him all sorts of problems. You can't go through life trying to make sure no one feels pain or gets hurt, and Aiden, while knowing that, still tries and deludes himself about it. It was incredibly relatable.
The who-dunnit mystery of this story was a blast. I did figure out the culprit long before any of the characters had a clue. Probably at about chapter 6 or 7, and I figured out how the culprit was doing the deed a little before the halfway point. It was still fun to watch the characters catch up with me though.
BUT!
There was a twist at the end that totally caught me by surprise, which I always love. So, while this was a Twelve Dancing Princesses retelling, it's truly it's own thing. There weren't a ton of nods to the fairy tale, it was more of a 'inspired by' than a true retelling. Super fun read though. I couldn't stop talking about it to anyone who happened to be in the kitchen when I surfaced from reading.
The caliber of writing and story telling has been markedly better in the Ruby Realm series than the Emerald realm, which is awesome. I look forward to reading more from Abigail Manning. She's firmly made it to my list of authors to watch.
April 13, 2023
Reader’s Notes:
– this is part of a series and is best read in order
– this is told from Aiden, Ruby, & two other points of view (only 3 sections)
– there are some deaths that occur on page (unknown origin til later in the book; some blood mentioned, but not gruesome or described to be a lot)
Review:
I loved this Twelve Princesses retelling! It was so fun and I love that it was filled with little bits and pieces of the original tale but changed it to be a competition with all the competitors going at once instead of going one at a time. I loved the friendships and camaraderie of both the princesses and the possible heirs. I also liked that there was a bit of unknown with how the heirs where being targeted & hurt. Some of my favorite scenes/moments included: seeing some past characters again (Zac, Ro, Conan), whenever the princesses got together in order to plan or gather their knowledge of the competitors, Aiden standing up to Ian, when the princesses first meet the competitors (and vice versa), the archery contest (towards the end – so sweet with Aiden’s concern!), and the last event.
Summary:
Ruby is the most prized and only biological daughter of the emperor of the Ruby Realm. Though she has eleven other adopted sisters, she rarely gets to see them all at once due to their travels around the realm. And while they travel, Ruby is stuck inside the palace so the emperor can better protect her secret. The realm wonders at the reason that she is hidden away, but none of them could ever guess the it or why there’s a need to hide her. So Ruby is surprised to realize that all of her sisters have returned from their travels for some unknown reason. Once they discover the reason, they have to band together to not only plan a competition, but also to weed out the best candidate that enters…
Aiden is a commoner trying to keep his mother alive the best he can while caring for his younger sister. When he is approached by the golden king, the nefarious ‘king’ of the realm’s underbelly, Aiden wants nothing to do with him and what he represents. But when the golden king makes an offer that Aiden just can’t refuse, Aiden finds himself agreeing to gather information at the emperor’s competition to find an heir – as a competitor. But the longer Aiden follows the golden king’s instructions, the more guilty he feels for his part in what’s going wrong around him. With each competitor fallen, Aiden feels a greater need to come clean to Princess Ruby, especially since she is investigating the issue along with Aiden and has no idea that he has a part in it…
– this is part of a series and is best read in order
– this is told from Aiden, Ruby, & two other points of view (only 3 sections)
– there are some deaths that occur on page (unknown origin til later in the book; some blood mentioned, but not gruesome or described to be a lot)
Review:
I loved this Twelve Princesses retelling! It was so fun and I love that it was filled with little bits and pieces of the original tale but changed it to be a competition with all the competitors going at once instead of going one at a time. I loved the friendships and camaraderie of both the princesses and the possible heirs. I also liked that there was a bit of unknown with how the heirs where being targeted & hurt. Some of my favorite scenes/moments included: seeing some past characters again (Zac, Ro, Conan), whenever the princesses got together in order to plan or gather their knowledge of the competitors, Aiden standing up to Ian, when the princesses first meet the competitors (and vice versa), the archery contest (towards the end – so sweet with Aiden’s concern!), and the last event.
Summary:
Ruby is the most prized and only biological daughter of the emperor of the Ruby Realm. Though she has eleven other adopted sisters, she rarely gets to see them all at once due to their travels around the realm. And while they travel, Ruby is stuck inside the palace so the emperor can better protect her secret. The realm wonders at the reason that she is hidden away, but none of them could ever guess the it or why there’s a need to hide her. So Ruby is surprised to realize that all of her sisters have returned from their travels for some unknown reason. Once they discover the reason, they have to band together to not only plan a competition, but also to weed out the best candidate that enters…
Aiden is a commoner trying to keep his mother alive the best he can while caring for his younger sister. When he is approached by the golden king, the nefarious ‘king’ of the realm’s underbelly, Aiden wants nothing to do with him and what he represents. But when the golden king makes an offer that Aiden just can’t refuse, Aiden finds himself agreeing to gather information at the emperor’s competition to find an heir – as a competitor. But the longer Aiden follows the golden king’s instructions, the more guilty he feels for his part in what’s going wrong around him. With each competitor fallen, Aiden feels a greater need to come clean to Princess Ruby, especially since she is investigating the issue along with Aiden and has no idea that he has a part in it…
April 1, 2023
The 12 Dancing Princesses is one of my favorite fairy tales, so I’ve read my fair share of retellings. Sole of Secrets completely completely unique, and a creative and delightful version of an old favorite.
I loved the mystery, drama, and intrigue of this story, and the way that Manning incorporated a selection-type competition into the mix. The plot was full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat, with a cast of characters both new and familiar.
Ruby and Aiden were delightful as leads, and I appreciated the complexity of their relationship and the fact that they both stayed true to their own internal motivations even while growing together.
I’m so excited to see what’s next in the Ruby Realm!
I loved the mystery, drama, and intrigue of this story, and the way that Manning incorporated a selection-type competition into the mix. The plot was full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat, with a cast of characters both new and familiar.
Ruby and Aiden were delightful as leads, and I appreciated the complexity of their relationship and the fact that they both stayed true to their own internal motivations even while growing together.
I’m so excited to see what’s next in the Ruby Realm!
![Profile Image for Jacquelyn 💐 {This Rapunzel Reads} [Jesus Christ, my Living Hope].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1766269624i%2F169222098._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
October 9, 2025
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This was a really unique and good retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses! I loved how all the daughters were named after jewels! That’s so neat! I really liked Aiden. He was just great! He is what made me enjoy this story so much. Aiden was sweet, kind and determined. Ruby was really good too. Her gift, I guess I could call it, was very interesting. She was kinda mean at the beginning, but she got better. I really liked the two of them together. It was very sweet. There was one part with Aiden and Ruby swapping places that was just kinda weird. I didn’t really love that. I did really enjoy the twists and turns that happened! I didn’t see them coming! Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with this book! I’m excited to read the next one!
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This was a really unique and good retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses! I loved how all the daughters were named after jewels! That’s so neat! I really liked Aiden. He was just great! He is what made me enjoy this story so much. Aiden was sweet, kind and determined. Ruby was really good too. Her gift, I guess I could call it, was very interesting. She was kinda mean at the beginning, but she got better. I really liked the two of them together. It was very sweet. There was one part with Aiden and Ruby swapping places that was just kinda weird. I didn’t really love that. I did really enjoy the twists and turns that happened! I didn’t see them coming! Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with this book! I’m excited to read the next one!
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April 11, 2023
A fantastic twist on Twelve Dancing Princesses. An evil imp is plaguing the empire and one princess may be the one to thwart him, especially if she has the help of a determined commoner.
Ruby and Aiden are a cute and endearing couple. The highs and lows, and ball gowns, they face make them one of my favorite couples by Manning.
A different take on 12DP, with poisoning, men competing for the chance to win one of 12 princesses, and a new thought on the shoes.
I definitely recommend and will be reading more by this author.
Ruby and Aiden are a cute and endearing couple. The highs and lows, and ball gowns, they face make them one of my favorite couples by Manning.
A different take on 12DP, with poisoning, men competing for the chance to win one of 12 princesses, and a new thought on the shoes.
I definitely recommend and will be reading more by this author.
April 13, 2023
I really loved this wonderful book! I loved the characters and the plot! I had a hard time putting this really wonderful book down! I absolutely loved this retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses! I will be reading the next book in this really wonderful series!
April 27, 2023
good guys always win but wait….
I loved this book. The story the characters. It made all your emotions come out. I’m looking forward to the next one, because there just has to be another one.
I loved this book. The story the characters. It made all your emotions come out. I’m looking forward to the next one, because there just has to be another one.
April 10, 2023
Amazing retelling! This series is my fave of this author’s books. The plot twist was something I didn’t see coming & so excited for the rest of the series.
April 14, 2023
I like
I thoroughly enjoyed this reimagined tale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses. The ruby realm twists are just perfect. I look forward to the next story in this series.
I thoroughly enjoyed this reimagined tale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses. The ruby realm twists are just perfect. I look forward to the next story in this series.
April 25, 2023
Very interesting take on the 12 dancing princesses, one with some murder and mystery!
May 11, 2023
Good book!
I enjoyed reading this book, and there were some reveals that I didn't see coming. It was a good story!
I enjoyed reading this book, and there were some reveals that I didn't see coming. It was a good story!
February 19, 2025
I really liked the guy and all of the sisters. The main female character wasn't too bad, just not my favorite. I LOVED Daniel and Corso(I think that's his name. They made it so funny, which was so much better because of them. Also, there was a bible scene here, Soloman and the two mothers. It was really interesting, and it made me like all the characters so much more. Oh, and there was a random character that, when he died, I might have done a happy dance; he was that bad.
April 11, 2023
Great story!
My reaction to Sole of Secrets: blown away. Each of the books that I read in this series seem to become better and better.
This was a wonderful read with some interesting twists and turns, a couple of which really took me by surprise.
The only thing I struggled with was the amount of characters. It took me a bit to feel like I could read more smoothly. This is, however, a 12 Dancing Princess retelling and I though it was very well done. Even though this book can be read alone, I would suggest reading the previous two books in this series to help with the amount of characters you have to learn, as some are repeats.
There is a mild cliffhanger in the series plot, but the plot for this book is tied up nicely.
As I have found with all of Abigail Manning’s books, this one is squeaky clean romantically. There is death in it, but no gruesome descriptions. I would recommend this book for ages 10 and up, depending on their reading level.
While I did receive an Advanced Reader Copy of this book, the opinions in this review are entirely my own. I am thrilled to have found yet another author who writes clean fairytales and am more than happy to drop a review to encourage others to read her work!
My reaction to Sole of Secrets: blown away. Each of the books that I read in this series seem to become better and better.
This was a wonderful read with some interesting twists and turns, a couple of which really took me by surprise.
The only thing I struggled with was the amount of characters. It took me a bit to feel like I could read more smoothly. This is, however, a 12 Dancing Princess retelling and I though it was very well done. Even though this book can be read alone, I would suggest reading the previous two books in this series to help with the amount of characters you have to learn, as some are repeats.
There is a mild cliffhanger in the series plot, but the plot for this book is tied up nicely.
As I have found with all of Abigail Manning’s books, this one is squeaky clean romantically. There is death in it, but no gruesome descriptions. I would recommend this book for ages 10 and up, depending on their reading level.
While I did receive an Advanced Reader Copy of this book, the opinions in this review are entirely my own. I am thrilled to have found yet another author who writes clean fairytales and am more than happy to drop a review to encourage others to read her work!
August 26, 2023
Fun retelling but with editing errors
Another engaging and clever story, but marred by editing issues. "Sole" in place of "soul"? "Bare" in place of "bear"? I love the enthusiasm of the writing, but the author needs an editor capable of catching these problems before they go into print.
Another engaging and clever story, but marred by editing issues. "Sole" in place of "soul"? "Bare" in place of "bear"? I love the enthusiasm of the writing, but the author needs an editor capable of catching these problems before they go into print.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews