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Stone Prison
Bestselling author of the DEMON KISSED series presents TWISTED TALES. This new series of novellas have a Gothic feel with a dark twist reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe's famous stories. This dark tale is like the fables of old, with a twist... While other seventeen-year-old girls are dreaming of marrying the prince, Ella is hoping that she doesn't get caught. Ella is a thief, forced to live that way by the witch who slaughtered her father fifteen years ago. Since that gruesome night, Ella has been locked in a stone prison—kidnapped—with no chance of freedom. No one can escape from the witch. Ever. But this year, everything changes. Recommended for ages 15 & older. This series may be too gruesome for younger Demon Kissed fans.
78 pages, Paperback
First published March 4, 2012
8 people are currently reading
2036 people want to read
About the author
H.M. Ward
140 books6,535 followersH.M. Ward continues to reign as a NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author who surpassed more than 23 million books sold, placing her among the literary titans. Ward has been featured in articles in the NEW YORK TIMES, FORBES, and USA TODAY to name a few.
You can interact with this bestselling author at: www.facebook.com/AuthorHMWard.
You can interact with this bestselling author at: www.facebook.com/AuthorHMWard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
March 23, 2023
Are you a big fan of fairy tales?
Perhaps they transport you back in time to your childhood and inspire images of castles and royalty. Beautiful stories that trigger your imagination and let you escape from reality for a little while.
One such tale is Cinderella. A light-hearted story of romance and overcoming seemingly impossible odds. A tale that completely warms the heart.
However, what if our typical fairy tale has a completely different take altogether? One that is neither warm nor heart-warming. Indeed, better described as gruesome and malevolent.
If this thought intrigues you, then Stone Prison by HM Ward may just fit the bill.
Stone Prison is loosely based on the classic fairy tale, Cinderella. We have a young girl named Ella who witnesses the brutal murder of her father by a witch. Afterward, she is taken by the witch and locked away in a stone tower. She is henceforth only allowed out once per year. It is during this outing that she is forced to steal for the witch at royal balls while all the other young maidens swoon over a handsome Prince.
However, on the eve of her 17th birthday, Ella is allowed to attend a key regal ball in which the Prince will ultimately pick his bride. Thanks to witchcraft, Ella will receive a magical makeover and become the most beautiful and enticing maiden at the event. Her evil captor, the witch, has seen to that and has malevolent intentions for the event.
Ultimately, Ella must secure the Prince’s promise of union before the clock strikes midnight, or she risks more abuse at the hands of the witch.
What follows is a series of gruesome and horrific events that nobody could have ever predicted!
Will Ella actually win the hand of the Prince and live happily ever after? Or is this just the beginning of a whole new dark and disturbing chapter?
This is definitely a quick and easy read which is designed to be finished in one sitting. The macabre setting is aptly supported by an engaging plot that has its fair share of twists and turns. A very difficult piece to predict what is to come. That is something the reader is sure to enjoy.
While the tale is somewhat based on the classic Cinderella, there are huge differences as well. It is certainly a very dark alternative!
Personally, I would have enjoyed a little more background about the characters. Particularly in regard to Ella’s relationship with her father. I believe that would have created an even greater emotional investment in the reader. While key elements were revealed as the story progressed, I do believe a little more development could have been beneficial.
Overall I found this to be a quick and enjoyable read. Imaginative, unique, and bizarre!
3 out of 5 Stony Stars for this one!
Perhaps they transport you back in time to your childhood and inspire images of castles and royalty. Beautiful stories that trigger your imagination and let you escape from reality for a little while.
One such tale is Cinderella. A light-hearted story of romance and overcoming seemingly impossible odds. A tale that completely warms the heart.
However, what if our typical fairy tale has a completely different take altogether? One that is neither warm nor heart-warming. Indeed, better described as gruesome and malevolent.
If this thought intrigues you, then Stone Prison by HM Ward may just fit the bill.
Stone Prison is loosely based on the classic fairy tale, Cinderella. We have a young girl named Ella who witnesses the brutal murder of her father by a witch. Afterward, she is taken by the witch and locked away in a stone tower. She is henceforth only allowed out once per year. It is during this outing that she is forced to steal for the witch at royal balls while all the other young maidens swoon over a handsome Prince.
However, on the eve of her 17th birthday, Ella is allowed to attend a key regal ball in which the Prince will ultimately pick his bride. Thanks to witchcraft, Ella will receive a magical makeover and become the most beautiful and enticing maiden at the event. Her evil captor, the witch, has seen to that and has malevolent intentions for the event.
Ultimately, Ella must secure the Prince’s promise of union before the clock strikes midnight, or she risks more abuse at the hands of the witch.
What follows is a series of gruesome and horrific events that nobody could have ever predicted!
Will Ella actually win the hand of the Prince and live happily ever after? Or is this just the beginning of a whole new dark and disturbing chapter?
This is definitely a quick and easy read which is designed to be finished in one sitting. The macabre setting is aptly supported by an engaging plot that has its fair share of twists and turns. A very difficult piece to predict what is to come. That is something the reader is sure to enjoy.
While the tale is somewhat based on the classic Cinderella, there are huge differences as well. It is certainly a very dark alternative!
Personally, I would have enjoyed a little more background about the characters. Particularly in regard to Ella’s relationship with her father. I believe that would have created an even greater emotional investment in the reader. While key elements were revealed as the story progressed, I do believe a little more development could have been beneficial.
Overall I found this to be a quick and enjoyable read. Imaginative, unique, and bizarre!
3 out of 5 Stony Stars for this one!
March 16, 2012
I don't want to give away the tale that was depicted in Stone Prison, but I will tell you that the story was simply dark and beautiful. Absolutely loved the unique outlook on this fairy tale and became completely engrossed in the idea and characters. Love love love it!!!
June 23, 2013
This is a dark fairy tale. A twisted tale, if you will. A Grimm tale that takes the happily ever after and crushes it with power and bloodlust and magic.
But honestly, it's not that great of a story because of it's length and therefore it's character development. It's barely okay as a short story, but that's only because the reader already knows the premise of the entire plot and is reading the tale more for the difference and the ending and the darkness rather than the story alone.
You see, Ward is cheating a bit because she doesn't actually give her characters personality. I don't feel like I know these people, even though there are really only three characters in the whole story. Their actions are unbelievable, unknown.
-mild spoilers-
I don't understand why Ella would hold that anger from two years old all the way up until she was grown up. There isn't enough detail, not enough thought behind the actions.
Same with the witch. She has not become real on paper with the scant amount of detail there.
The love is unbelievable. As if the two could really fall in love from one day each year. Or rather, it could have been possible, but the story hardly makes it seem possible.
The only redeeming factor of this short story is the ending - because that's what we're reading it for anyway. We already know the story of Cinderella. We are just reading it for the dark, dark ending.
H.M. Ward hardly does justice to re-imagining the story of Cinderella except for the ending.
But that last line was beautiful.
Two stars because it was only okay. Not great, but redeemed and given an extra star because of the ending.
If you get your hands on it, you might as well read it because it's so short. But I wouldn't really go out and recommend it to anyone. I've read better non-published dark fairy tales than this one, to be honest.
But honestly, it's not that great of a story because of it's length and therefore it's character development. It's barely okay as a short story, but that's only because the reader already knows the premise of the entire plot and is reading the tale more for the difference and the ending and the darkness rather than the story alone.
You see, Ward is cheating a bit because she doesn't actually give her characters personality. I don't feel like I know these people, even though there are really only three characters in the whole story. Their actions are unbelievable, unknown.
-mild spoilers-
I don't understand why Ella would hold that anger from two years old all the way up until she was grown up. There isn't enough detail, not enough thought behind the actions.
Same with the witch. She has not become real on paper with the scant amount of detail there.
The love is unbelievable. As if the two could really fall in love from one day each year. Or rather, it could have been possible, but the story hardly makes it seem possible.
The only redeeming factor of this short story is the ending - because that's what we're reading it for anyway. We already know the story of Cinderella. We are just reading it for the dark, dark ending.
H.M. Ward hardly does justice to re-imagining the story of Cinderella except for the ending.
But that last line was beautiful.
Two stars because it was only okay. Not great, but redeemed and given an extra star because of the ending.
If you get your hands on it, you might as well read it because it's so short. But I wouldn't really go out and recommend it to anyone. I've read better non-published dark fairy tales than this one, to be honest.
March 18, 2012
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I picked this up after finishing the author's Demon Kissed series without really knowing what to expect... Short stories can be hit or miss, and here the author was starting from scratch with a new world and new characters - and it worked beautifully.
As a short story, I'm reluctant to give much away. The author does a lot within the 10,000 words she's given us, and it seems silly to write just as many in order to say how much I enjoyed it. This is a fairy tale. Not in the spirit of Disney, but of Grimm. And that's probably the best comparison, since I can't think of any other contemporary writer doing anything similar. In Grimm's Cinderella there's bloodshed and self-mutilation before you get to the happily ever after. Ward is easily as dark and twisted. And the reader will take a perverse pleasure in exploring the twists and turns that lead into the darkness.
A must read, but not for the light of heart and not before bed. I'll look forward to the next "Twisted Tale."
I picked this up after finishing the author's Demon Kissed series without really knowing what to expect... Short stories can be hit or miss, and here the author was starting from scratch with a new world and new characters - and it worked beautifully.
As a short story, I'm reluctant to give much away. The author does a lot within the 10,000 words she's given us, and it seems silly to write just as many in order to say how much I enjoyed it. This is a fairy tale. Not in the spirit of Disney, but of Grimm. And that's probably the best comparison, since I can't think of any other contemporary writer doing anything similar. In Grimm's Cinderella there's bloodshed and self-mutilation before you get to the happily ever after. Ward is easily as dark and twisted. And the reader will take a perverse pleasure in exploring the twists and turns that lead into the darkness.
A must read, but not for the light of heart and not before bed. I'll look forward to the next "Twisted Tale."
June 27, 2012
A Cinderella story gone dark. I really liked this short story yet it made me a little bit sad. It was written beautifully and even though you know what is going to happen, you have to keep reading because there are twists to this story. The fairy godmother isn’t so godly. The stroke of midnight isn’t as it seems and the glass slippers prove to be used for different purposes rather than leaving behind as a clue to who the maiden is.
I definitely recommend this story if you are looking for a fairy tale with a not so happily ever after ending. Enjoy!
I definitely recommend this story if you are looking for a fairy tale with a not so happily ever after ending. Enjoy!
September 3, 2012
Stone Prison was so hauntingly and twistedly beautiful. I was actually gonna give this a 5 star but is was just too short. It's like those fairy tales; specifically a mix of Rapunzel and Cinderella with a dash of a nightmare you would not want for yourself. The characters are great, Ella and Prince Phillip's romance was okay. I was completely engrossed with the book therefore i finished it really fast. The end was...I don't wan't to be a spoiler though, I really really waited for Happy Ending to come... But it seems the book did live up to it's name 'Twisted Tales'.
May 22, 2012
This book was one of the most disturbing and shocking books of my life. I have no words other than a giant fat EW EW EW EW!!!!!
June 9, 2012
WOW I so love these kinda short stories !!
August 25, 2020
Ella life, mixed between fairy tale story of Cinderella and Rapunzel but with dark twisted plot.
'After all, what is love if you keep your heart...'
'After all, what is love if you keep your heart...'
January 21, 2024
That was darker than i thought
November 24, 2017
My rating for this book is 2.0 stars.
La historia te mantiene confundida en todo momento, aunque es cruel y un poco macabra, se siente la intención de destacar sobre cualquier historia de brujería. No es la típica historia de felices para siempre, no es la típica historia de misterio... más bien la llamaría un cuento de terror para niños.
Es realmente curioso todo el concepto de la brujas devoradoras de corazones, que su magia provenga de el corazón de un inocente que es muy amado, pues como que tiene sus múltiples interpretaciones, cada quien puede darle sentido a toda la historia de diferente manera.
Parece que habra una continuacion o así se insinúa, pero no se con el final me parece que no tuvo un cierre completo y tampoco fue un buen y llamativo final, así que...
La historia te mantiene confundida en todo momento, aunque es cruel y un poco macabra, se siente la intención de destacar sobre cualquier historia de brujería. No es la típica historia de felices para siempre, no es la típica historia de misterio... más bien la llamaría un cuento de terror para niños.
Es realmente curioso todo el concepto de la brujas devoradoras de corazones, que su magia provenga de el corazón de un inocente que es muy amado, pues como que tiene sus múltiples interpretaciones, cada quien puede darle sentido a toda la historia de diferente manera.
Parece que habra una continuacion o así se insinúa, pero no se con el final me parece que no tuvo un cierre completo y tampoco fue un buen y llamativo final, así que...
June 9, 2015
Tal como lo dice la sinopsis, esta mini-historia es básicamente un cuento de hadas pero la versión de terror y bastante sangriento.
La protagonista supuestamente recuerda con sumo detalle el día en que la bruja asesinó a su padre y se la llevó para encerrarla en la torre -eso me pareció poco creíble, pero bue-. Desde entonces vive allí y sólo se le permite salir una vez por año, pero siempre debe volver antes de que el reloj marque las doce.
Cuando Ella está por cumplir los 18 años, la bruja le encarga la "gran" misión: enamorar al príncipe y llevarlo a los jardines para que ella le arranque su corazón. Pero ella no quiere eso, ya que esta enamorada de él, así que buscará la manera de salvar a su amado......sin saber, que quizás ella misma sea el mayor peligro.
Desde ya les aclaro que no hay un final feliz, pero sí es un final de terror cuya moraleja se asemeja -oh hice una rima jajajaj- a la de la historia que todos conocemos....o por lo menos eso es lo que me pareció.
Me gustó.
La protagonista supuestamente recuerda con sumo detalle el día en que la bruja asesinó a su padre y se la llevó para encerrarla en la torre -eso me pareció poco creíble, pero bue-. Desde entonces vive allí y sólo se le permite salir una vez por año, pero siempre debe volver antes de que el reloj marque las doce.
Cuando Ella está por cumplir los 18 años, la bruja le encarga la "gran" misión: enamorar al príncipe y llevarlo a los jardines para que ella le arranque su corazón. Pero ella no quiere eso, ya que esta enamorada de él, así que buscará la manera de salvar a su amado......sin saber, que quizás ella misma sea el mayor peligro.
Desde ya les aclaro que no hay un final feliz, pero sí es un final de terror cuya moraleja se asemeja -oh hice una rima jajajaj- a la de la historia que todos conocemos....o por lo menos eso es lo que me pareció.
Me gustó.
March 23, 2012
First, I'll note that I would have given this 5 stars, except I thought it was a bit too short, that's the only reason. This was different than what I normally read, but I loved it! Great short story. It was well written, and dark and as stated in part of the title: Twisted Tale. I enjoyed every chapter, and kept reading hoping to find out more about Ella and the witch. DID NOT expect it to end the way it did. Towards the end I really, really, wanted Ella and the Prince to have their 'Happy Ending'...well you are NOT going to find one in this dark tale! Looking forward to more from this author. =)
January 8, 2014
Wow... eso es todo lo que puedo decir. Ame esta historia y la leí en apenas un par de horas. La ambientación es oscura y la trama tiene unos giros muy interesantes.
Quizas me habría gustado que fuera un poco mas largo para lograr conocer mejor a los personajes, la historia de amor y tambien un poco mas el trasfondo de la historia ya que es una mezcla de Rapunzel y la Cenicienta pero en un entorno que puede parecer muy diferente y donde la heroina no es del todo buena.
Soy una persona a la que le gustan los finales diferentes, que no se pueden prevenir facilmente. Esta historia tiene todo para gustarme y el final para nada feliz, fue lo que me llevo a darle esta calificación.
Quizas me habría gustado que fuera un poco mas largo para lograr conocer mejor a los personajes, la historia de amor y tambien un poco mas el trasfondo de la historia ya que es una mezcla de Rapunzel y la Cenicienta pero en un entorno que puede parecer muy diferente y donde la heroina no es del todo buena.
Soy una persona a la que le gustan los finales diferentes, que no se pueden prevenir facilmente. Esta historia tiene todo para gustarme y el final para nada feliz, fue lo que me llevo a darle esta calificación.
January 16, 2014
First and foremost, I loved it!! For a dark gothic tale short story, it kept me wanting to know more of the characters.
This was a quick and easy read that had me on pins and needles the entire time I was reading it. In true, typical, H.M. Ward writing, she throws some twists and turns that you don't even see coming. At first I thought the story was going in one direction, and WHAM, I got hit with a 180-degree turn that took me somewhere else completely unexpected.
If you are into fairy tales with a HEA, be prepared for what comes on this gothic tale! If you are a faint at heart, definitely be prepared for the ending. It is not what you expect AT ALL!!
This was a quick and easy read that had me on pins and needles the entire time I was reading it. In true, typical, H.M. Ward writing, she throws some twists and turns that you don't even see coming. At first I thought the story was going in one direction, and WHAM, I got hit with a 180-degree turn that took me somewhere else completely unexpected.
If you are into fairy tales with a HEA, be prepared for what comes on this gothic tale! If you are a faint at heart, definitely be prepared for the ending. It is not what you expect AT ALL!!
January 27, 2014
Amazingly horrific!!
I liked this book even though it was a very short read.
Ella, being a toddler at the time, witnesses the heinous murder of her father, and is kidnapped by the woman who commits the crime. She is taken and held in a stone tower for 15 years, and on the eve if her 17th birthday discovers something that makes her skin crawl!
Off to the princes ball where he will pick his bride, Ella is burdened by what she must do, and what is her inevitable fate!
This book is a mix of Brothers Grimm, meets Cinderella, meets Raphunzel. Very interesting, looking forward to more tales in this series, and hoping for longer, slightly more in depth stories!
I liked this book even though it was a very short read.
Ella, being a toddler at the time, witnesses the heinous murder of her father, and is kidnapped by the woman who commits the crime. She is taken and held in a stone tower for 15 years, and on the eve if her 17th birthday discovers something that makes her skin crawl!
Off to the princes ball where he will pick his bride, Ella is burdened by what she must do, and what is her inevitable fate!
This book is a mix of Brothers Grimm, meets Cinderella, meets Raphunzel. Very interesting, looking forward to more tales in this series, and hoping for longer, slightly more in depth stories!
October 4, 2014
Really too short to be enjoyable. Of course, everyone knows the story of Cinderella so telling the back story isn't exactly necessary. Though it would have been nice to get a little idea of the characters involved. This is a fairy tale that massacres the happily ever after and delivers a punch to the gut instead.
February 12, 2013
Who is not fond of fairy tales with a tragic, twisted end? Who is not fond of the dilemma involving the inevitability of one's past and blood and roots which seal our doom? This short story is a promising effort brought forward by a writer whose other YA paranormal fiction I could not quite appreciate.
March 18, 2012
This book was extremely short and reminded me of Grimm's fairy tales with a not so happy ending. I usually don't read these short stories as I like to find out more about the main character and immerse myself in the story. Very dark and twisted, not for the faint of heart...
March 14, 2014
I'm not the biggest fan of this book, its so short it truly is a fairy tale sized book suitable for a bedtime story however I wouldn't recommend that as its truly twisted as the title declares. A good twist at the end too but I was disappointed by how short this was.
March 20, 2015
Great! Dark and gothic. Fast and easy read that was an easy flow. Great character detail with several twists and turns. I loved that it was had a fairy tale type feel with a surprise at the end! Great read!!!
October 16, 2013
Wait, what the fuck was that!? What in the hell did I just read? I, I just don't know what to think right now...that was some twisted shit mayne!
Read
February 24, 2013Short but good...
November 7, 2012
Retorcido. Muy retorcido, pero al mismo tiempo muy bien escrito para ser así de corto.
November 18, 2012
It was amazing!!!!!!!
I didn't expect the ending. I couldn't believe that she would had done what she did.
I didn't expect the ending. I couldn't believe that she would had done what she did.
January 29, 2013
Seriously twisted and tragic.
May 5, 2013
Oh my gosh. This book was so crazy and
twisted. That ending was ridiculous I really hope there's a sequel !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
twisted. That ending was ridiculous I really hope there's a sequel !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 25, 2013
A short read that I didn't expect to like. I wish I could say I predicted how things would turn out but I had to give four stars for being surprised.
I laughed at myself for being blindsided. :))
I laughed at myself for being blindsided. :))
January 20, 2016
What a creepy, dark story. Although I didn't expect the ending, it was interesting. Short and easy read.
May 13, 2013
Twisted is right! Short not so sweet and to the point. Quick fun read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews