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The Silver Prince
*See all of the books in the Once Upon a Prince Series HERE.*
A soldier who conjures shadows.
A princess cursed to dance.
A mystery none can solve.
The people of the Silver Isle are brutes. Savages who live in darkness for half the year. They are not to be trusted, or so Princess Isadora has been raised to believe. As Crown Princess of the Golden Isle, she is the shining light of her kingdom. But Issy is hiding a dark curse that cannot be broken. And all who attempt it end up dead...
Anders is a son of the Silver Isle, a soldier afflicted with shadow magic. This alone carries a death sentence when he steps off a ship into the port capital of the Golden Isle and finds himself in the dungeons beneath the Gilded Palace.
Now his life hangs in the balance. Can he solve the mystery of the curse and earn his freedom? Or is he doomed either way?
In the glittering, royal city of Orovía, danger doesn’t lurk in the shadows, it hides in the light. Can a Golden Princess and a Silver Prince work together to uncover the truth before it’s too late? And will their fragile alliance be enough to unite their rival kingdoms?
The Silver Prince, a Twelve Dancing Princesses retelling, is book 7 of Once Upon a Prince, a multi-author series of clean fairy tale retellings. Each standalone story features a swoony prince fighting for his happily ever after.
A soldier who conjures shadows.
A princess cursed to dance.
A mystery none can solve.
The people of the Silver Isle are brutes. Savages who live in darkness for half the year. They are not to be trusted, or so Princess Isadora has been raised to believe. As Crown Princess of the Golden Isle, she is the shining light of her kingdom. But Issy is hiding a dark curse that cannot be broken. And all who attempt it end up dead...
Anders is a son of the Silver Isle, a soldier afflicted with shadow magic. This alone carries a death sentence when he steps off a ship into the port capital of the Golden Isle and finds himself in the dungeons beneath the Gilded Palace.
Now his life hangs in the balance. Can he solve the mystery of the curse and earn his freedom? Or is he doomed either way?
In the glittering, royal city of Orovía, danger doesn’t lurk in the shadows, it hides in the light. Can a Golden Princess and a Silver Prince work together to uncover the truth before it’s too late? And will their fragile alliance be enough to unite their rival kingdoms?
The Silver Prince, a Twelve Dancing Princesses retelling, is book 7 of Once Upon a Prince, a multi-author series of clean fairy tale retellings. Each standalone story features a swoony prince fighting for his happily ever after.
199 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2023
128 people are currently reading
476 people want to read
About the author
Lyndsey Hall
17 books158 followersLyndsey Hall lives on the edge of Sherwood Forest, one of the most magical places in England's history, and the inspiration for her debut novel, The Fair Queen. She grew up surrounded by books, and loved to write from a young age.
She loves to travel and try her hand at new things, but is most at home when curled up in a chair with a cup of tea and a good book, usually accompanied by at least one dog.
Get a FREE book when you join Lyndsey's email list: https://substack.com/@lyndseyhallwrites
Find her on social media: @lyndseyhall on Instagram and @lyndseyhall_ on TikTok
She loves to travel and try her hand at new things, but is most at home when curled up in a chair with a cup of tea and a good book, usually accompanied by at least one dog.
Get a FREE book when you join Lyndsey's email list: https://substack.com/@lyndseyhallwrites
Find her on social media: @lyndseyhall on Instagram and @lyndseyhall_ on TikTok
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
November 11, 2023
I was not familiar with the original tale but WOW. This was such a great read! Loved it(:
November 12, 2023
I loved this! The twelve dancing princesses is one of my favorite fairy tales, and I love all the bits from the original that were sprinkled in, as well as all the new things that Lyndsey brought to this story.
Anders was great, and I loved that instead of a pale, blushing princess, we got a prince. Isadora was also great, and she didn't just sit back and wait to be rescued. My kind of princess!
I also loved how the feud between the Silver and Gold kingdoms were played out in the ballet that both main characters liked, and that each knew the story a little differently because each kingdom blamed the other. The depth and thought put into this 200 page tale is extraordinary, but we don't expect anything less out of Lyndsey
Anders was great, and I loved that instead of a pale, blushing princess, we got a prince. Isadora was also great, and she didn't just sit back and wait to be rescued. My kind of princess!
I also loved how the feud between the Silver and Gold kingdoms were played out in the ballet that both main characters liked, and that each knew the story a little differently because each kingdom blamed the other. The depth and thought put into this 200 page tale is extraordinary, but we don't expect anything less out of Lyndsey
October 31, 2023
What a story! I've been looking forward to the release of this series and so far I have not been disappointed! The cover is beautiful and the story is just as great! Isadora is quite the charming character. The story line was intriguing and kept me interested until the very end! This one is for the keeper shelf!
September 4, 2024
I loved the premise of this retelling, as well as the setting and atmosphere.
However, the execution fell short. The characters' emotional ARC didn't flow naturally and the shift from one feeling to another felt forced, especially at the end. The timeline felt confusing in several places, while inconsistencies and a couple of glaring 'that's just not possible/feasible' moments were jarring.
Too many things were left unexplained, threads were left hanging, and the end felt too rushed for comfort.
All in all, not my favourite book by this author, but that may also be due to the shorter page count.
However, the execution fell short. The characters' emotional ARC didn't flow naturally and the shift from one feeling to another felt forced, especially at the end. The timeline felt confusing in several places, while inconsistencies and a couple of glaring 'that's just not possible/feasible' moments were jarring.
Too many things were left unexplained, threads were left hanging, and the end felt too rushed for comfort.
All in all, not my favourite book by this author, but that may also be due to the shorter page count.
November 23, 2023
The people of the Silver Isle are brutes. Savages who live in darkness for half the year. Everyone in the Golden Isle knows this, including Crown Princess Isadora. She is the shining light of her kingdom, but is hiding a dark curse that cannot be broken. All who attempt it have not returned. Anders is a son of the Silver Isle, a soldier with shadow magic. It is a death sentence when he steps off a ship into the port capital of the Golden Isle and finds himself in the dungeons of the Gilded Palace. Can he solve the mystery of the curse and earn his freedom? In the glittering, royal city of Orovía, danger hides in the light. Can a Golden Princess and Silver Prince work together to uncover the truth before it's too late? And will their fragile alliance be enough to unite their rival kingdoms?
This was such a fun retelling! The 12 Dancing Princess is not the most common fairytale to twist, but it is always exciting to see different takes! The setting was so interesting! I would love to see more of the world. The Golden Isles sounded stunning and it definitely gave the sense of gilded splendor. Isadora was a fun character. It was cool to see her as she dealt with both the responsibility of being a Crown Princess while dealing with the curse over her. She was confident, but felt burdened by the curse. I also enjoyed seeing her with her sister, they were a lot of fun together! ‘Anders was a lovely hero. I enjoyed his practicality and felt for him as he tried to earn his freedom and return home. He was very honorable and earnest.
It was really fun to follow them as they sought to break the curse. I honestly was not sure how it would play out. Even though it was a novella, it did not feel rushed. I was excited to uncover the secrets of the curse and how Isa and Anders would work out. It was exciting and magical! This is a fairytale inspired novella with only kissing. There is some mention of war and dark magic.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
This was such a fun retelling! The 12 Dancing Princess is not the most common fairytale to twist, but it is always exciting to see different takes! The setting was so interesting! I would love to see more of the world. The Golden Isles sounded stunning and it definitely gave the sense of gilded splendor. Isadora was a fun character. It was cool to see her as she dealt with both the responsibility of being a Crown Princess while dealing with the curse over her. She was confident, but felt burdened by the curse. I also enjoyed seeing her with her sister, they were a lot of fun together! ‘Anders was a lovely hero. I enjoyed his practicality and felt for him as he tried to earn his freedom and return home. He was very honorable and earnest.
It was really fun to follow them as they sought to break the curse. I honestly was not sure how it would play out. Even though it was a novella, it did not feel rushed. I was excited to uncover the secrets of the curse and how Isa and Anders would work out. It was exciting and magical! This is a fairytale inspired novella with only kissing. There is some mention of war and dark magic.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
October 29, 2023
A great retelling of the twelve dancing princesses!
Prince Anders of the Northern Isle is traveling home from the war as a soldier but is dropped off on the Southern Isle which holds animosity towards those from the North. He tries to disguise himself so he won’t be noticed but when he is attracted to the prima ballerina in a play who takes a fall he rushes to save her only to be exposed as a Northerner and is arrested and imprisoned. Hearing about the rumors about the princesses and where they may be disappearing each night, he volunteers to try and solve the riddle for his freedom from the King.
Isadora is the prima ballerina and also the crown princess next in line to be Queen of the Southern Isle
upon her fathers’s passing. She and her sister and her dancing troupe are the ones under a curse that makes them wake up each morning with worn ballet slippers and wearing dresses they didn’t go to bed in.
Isadora takes a dim view of Anders but grudgingly starts to think that perhaps he can help her break the curse they are under.
Andes is able to follow the princesses and meets the others who have been missing as well as the other dancers and together with the princesses plan on how to find out and expose who is controlling them.
It’s a shocking revelation when the person is revealed and what he has done to try and fulfill his plan to rule
the Southern Isle.
This is an enchanting book which also holds redemption for Anders and what he did as a soldier
and what he did to rescue the princesses and the others from the curse they were under.
I heartily and enthusiastically recommend you get this book and after reading it check out the other
books in this series. I have read most of them and can recommend them to you as well as ones you’ll
enjoy!
Fairy tales have always been a delight to read for me for I find them both enchanting and delightful entertainment. I think they provide the perfect escape from the troubles we face on a daily basis.
A little fantasy goes a long ways to ground us and help us face reality once again!
I know you’ll enjoy this book as much as I did so give it a read- you’ll be glad you did!!
Prince Anders of the Northern Isle is traveling home from the war as a soldier but is dropped off on the Southern Isle which holds animosity towards those from the North. He tries to disguise himself so he won’t be noticed but when he is attracted to the prima ballerina in a play who takes a fall he rushes to save her only to be exposed as a Northerner and is arrested and imprisoned. Hearing about the rumors about the princesses and where they may be disappearing each night, he volunteers to try and solve the riddle for his freedom from the King.
Isadora is the prima ballerina and also the crown princess next in line to be Queen of the Southern Isle
upon her fathers’s passing. She and her sister and her dancing troupe are the ones under a curse that makes them wake up each morning with worn ballet slippers and wearing dresses they didn’t go to bed in.
Isadora takes a dim view of Anders but grudgingly starts to think that perhaps he can help her break the curse they are under.
Andes is able to follow the princesses and meets the others who have been missing as well as the other dancers and together with the princesses plan on how to find out and expose who is controlling them.
It’s a shocking revelation when the person is revealed and what he has done to try and fulfill his plan to rule
the Southern Isle.
This is an enchanting book which also holds redemption for Anders and what he did as a soldier
and what he did to rescue the princesses and the others from the curse they were under.
I heartily and enthusiastically recommend you get this book and after reading it check out the other
books in this series. I have read most of them and can recommend them to you as well as ones you’ll
enjoy!
Fairy tales have always been a delight to read for me for I find them both enchanting and delightful entertainment. I think they provide the perfect escape from the troubles we face on a daily basis.
A little fantasy goes a long ways to ground us and help us face reality once again!
I know you’ll enjoy this book as much as I did so give it a read- you’ll be glad you did!!
November 10, 2023
(I received this copy for the ARC group, so I got to read it early. Eat your hearts out.)
King Aurelio of the Golden Kingdom is perplexed and a bit upset. His two daughters wear out a pair of dancing shoes each night and not know how. They are accomplished dancers by day; their shoes last much longer than that during their daytime rehearsals and performances. All twelve members of their ballet troupe, in fact, are wearing out their dancing shoes each night.
The King has promised his daughter's hand to any who can discover why that is happening; almost a dozen princes have tried - all have disappeared.
The Crown Princess is about to celebrate her eighteenth birthday, and will be swarmed with suitors after then. Will they also disappear as others have?
Into this situation comes Anders Boreas, a captured cartographer for the Silver Kingdom, who promises to solve the problem simply for his freedom.
The readers' minds churn as we are given various leads to the instigator of the curse that has the princesses and other noble young ladies dancing while others sleep. Who has done this? What was the purpose? Who is this young cartographer? Will he earn his freedom? Read and your questions (and the ones above) will be answered. I don't give spoilers in my reviews.
King Aurelio of the Golden Kingdom is perplexed and a bit upset. His two daughters wear out a pair of dancing shoes each night and not know how. They are accomplished dancers by day; their shoes last much longer than that during their daytime rehearsals and performances. All twelve members of their ballet troupe, in fact, are wearing out their dancing shoes each night.
The King has promised his daughter's hand to any who can discover why that is happening; almost a dozen princes have tried - all have disappeared.
The Crown Princess is about to celebrate her eighteenth birthday, and will be swarmed with suitors after then. Will they also disappear as others have?
Into this situation comes Anders Boreas, a captured cartographer for the Silver Kingdom, who promises to solve the problem simply for his freedom.
The readers' minds churn as we are given various leads to the instigator of the curse that has the princesses and other noble young ladies dancing while others sleep. Who has done this? What was the purpose? Who is this young cartographer? Will he earn his freedom? Read and your questions (and the ones above) will be answered. I don't give spoilers in my reviews.
August 16, 2024
Maybe review to come later?
Read
November 29, 2023An imaginative and cute story, even with a soldier struggling with PTSD. Sister bonds, mysteries, secret identities, hidden motives, and all of the ballet vibes. We had a VHS of the Barbie Twelve Dancing Princesses when I was younger, so I always struggle to think of this as a lesser-known fairy tale. It's been ages since I watched that, but this gave me similar vibes but in a grown-up and a little darker way that I enjoyed--but without going too dark or creepy.
October 29, 2023
A totally lovely fairytale retelling.. Absolutely loved it! Sweet, romantic, with a beautiful and magical adventure..
November 6, 2023
What a sweet fairytale retelling set in a new and exciting land. I loved how the country was divided and all the different types of people who lived here and their different stories and country settings. I enjoyed learning more about why the princesses were dancing and watching Anders try to work out what was going on. Lyndsey has such a beautiful way with words and such a knack for completing sucking me into her story and forcing me to root for and care for her characters. A delight.
October 31, 2023
I was fortunate enough to snag an early ARC copy of another one of the 12 princes tales and I absolutely adored this retelling of 12 Dancing Princesses!
What made me chuckle was the names - of the princes, of the guards and then some. And then there were the red herrings - I can’t tell you as it’s a spoiler. Or two. I loved the good vs evil lore the author created on the Golden & Silver islands; how tattered shoes were explained away; how the sisters interacted and how invisibility of the soldier from the original tale was magically tweaked. It’s a really sweet and uplifting tale with a HEA - obviously - with a few nods to the Bard and even HP - the author had fun writing this and it’s definitely worth a read. And a re-read.
Recommended for fans of cosy reads & clean and sweet YA fairytale retellings.
What made me chuckle was the names - of the princes, of the guards and then some. And then there were the red herrings - I can’t tell you as it’s a spoiler. Or two. I loved the good vs evil lore the author created on the Golden & Silver islands; how tattered shoes were explained away; how the sisters interacted and how invisibility of the soldier from the original tale was magically tweaked. It’s a really sweet and uplifting tale with a HEA - obviously - with a few nods to the Bard and even HP - the author had fun writing this and it’s definitely worth a read. And a re-read.
Recommended for fans of cosy reads & clean and sweet YA fairytale retellings.
February 9, 2024
༻❥☆🌿☆❥༺
📖𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺•𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆📖
༻❥☆🌿☆❥༺
───────•👑♡︎👑•───────
📚🌿𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊•𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒🌿📚
✨𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝙸𝙻𝚅𝙴𝚁 𝙿𝚁𝙸𝙽𝙲𝙴 𝙱𝚈 𝙻𝚈𝙽𝙳𝚂𝙴𝚈 𝙷𝙰𝙻𝙻
✨𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝟽 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙾𝙽𝙲𝙴 𝚄𝙿𝙾𝙽 𝙰 𝙿𝚁𝙸𝙽𝙲𝙴 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂 (𝚂𝚃𝙰𝙽𝙳𝙰𝙻𝙾𝙽𝙴 𝙽𝙾𝚅𝙴𝙻𝙻𝙰 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂)
✨𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄: 𝙵𝙰𝙸𝚁𝚈𝚃𝙰𝙻𝙴 𝚁𝙴𝚃𝙴𝙻𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙶
✨𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 𝙽𝙾𝚅. 𝟷𝟶𝚃𝙷, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟹
╰┈❥𝙰𝚅𝙰𝙸𝙻𝙰𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝙾𝙽 𝙺𝚄!✨
✨𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 𝟻
✨𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋: 🌶️ || 𝟻
✨𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐋 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 𝐎𝐍 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐒✨
───────•👑♡︎👑•───────
✨✨����𝑦 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠✨✨
Thank you so much to @lyndseyhall for my gifted eARC of 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄!
Another win for the Once Upon a Prince series! I have been loving all of these novellas so much, and The Silver Prince was another fantastic read! I am not too familiar with the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairytale, but I really enjoyed this retelling!
I love Isadora and Anders. Anders is a Prince of the Silver Isle and he is captured and taken prisoner on the Golden Isle (these two territories don’t get along very well). He learns that there is a curse on the princesses of the Golden Isle, so he decides to make a bargain - He’ll help break the curse in exchange for his freedom. He must learn to work with Princess Isadora to break the curse. Their chemistry was amazing! Their personalities complemented each other really well - Isadora is strong willed and Anders is just the sweetest Cinnamon Roll. It was amazing reading their romance story, as well as them finding freedom!
I really enjoyed the little air of mystery surrounding the curses and who placed them. The guessing kept me really engaged and entertained while I was reading! I thought the pacing was really well done considering this was a novella. The world building was really unique as well and beautifully written! And in regard to the whodunit aspect, I was totally blown away by that reveal! I was not expecting the plot twist at the end and I loved being shocked by the reveal!
Overall, another novella from this series that I recommend! It’s quick and fun and cozy and just the perfect amount of fairytale, romance, and high fantasy!
👑✨𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄...✨👑
Twelve Dancing Princesses Retelling
Magic Curses
Prince in Disguise
Slow Burn
Political Intrigue
Cinnamon Roll MMC
Enemies to Lovers
Star-Crossed Romance
༻❥☆🌿☆❥༺
📖𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺•𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆📖
༻❥☆🌿☆❥༺
───────•👑♡︎👑•───────
📚🌿𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊•𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒🌿📚
✨𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝙸𝙻𝚅𝙴𝚁 𝙿𝚁𝙸𝙽𝙲𝙴 𝙱𝚈 𝙻𝚈𝙽𝙳𝚂𝙴𝚈 𝙷𝙰𝙻𝙻
✨𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝟽 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙾𝙽𝙲𝙴 𝚄𝙿𝙾𝙽 𝙰 𝙿𝚁𝙸𝙽𝙲𝙴 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂 (𝚂𝚃𝙰𝙽𝙳𝙰𝙻𝙾𝙽𝙴 𝙽𝙾𝚅𝙴𝙻𝙻𝙰 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂)
✨𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄: 𝙵𝙰𝙸𝚁𝚈𝚃𝙰𝙻𝙴 𝚁𝙴𝚃𝙴𝙻𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙶
✨𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 𝙽𝙾𝚅. 𝟷𝟶𝚃𝙷, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟹
╰┈❥𝙰𝚅𝙰𝙸𝙻𝙰𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝙾𝙽 𝙺𝚄!✨
✨𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 𝟻
✨𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋: 🌶️ || 𝟻
✨𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐋 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 𝐎𝐍 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐒✨
───────•👑♡︎👑•───────
✨✨����𝑦 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠✨✨
Thank you so much to @lyndseyhall for my gifted eARC of 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄!
Another win for the Once Upon a Prince series! I have been loving all of these novellas so much, and The Silver Prince was another fantastic read! I am not too familiar with the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairytale, but I really enjoyed this retelling!
I love Isadora and Anders. Anders is a Prince of the Silver Isle and he is captured and taken prisoner on the Golden Isle (these two territories don’t get along very well). He learns that there is a curse on the princesses of the Golden Isle, so he decides to make a bargain - He’ll help break the curse in exchange for his freedom. He must learn to work with Princess Isadora to break the curse. Their chemistry was amazing! Their personalities complemented each other really well - Isadora is strong willed and Anders is just the sweetest Cinnamon Roll. It was amazing reading their romance story, as well as them finding freedom!
I really enjoyed the little air of mystery surrounding the curses and who placed them. The guessing kept me really engaged and entertained while I was reading! I thought the pacing was really well done considering this was a novella. The world building was really unique as well and beautifully written! And in regard to the whodunit aspect, I was totally blown away by that reveal! I was not expecting the plot twist at the end and I loved being shocked by the reveal!
Overall, another novella from this series that I recommend! It’s quick and fun and cozy and just the perfect amount of fairytale, romance, and high fantasy!
👑✨𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄...✨👑
Twelve Dancing Princesses Retelling
Magic Curses
Prince in Disguise
Slow Burn
Political Intrigue
Cinnamon Roll MMC
Enemies to Lovers
Star-Crossed Romance
༻❥☆🌿☆❥༺
July 21, 2024
There are three books left for me to read in the Once Upon a Prince series, placing me at the 3/4 mark. Each book in this series retells a different fairy tale with alternating perspectives between the prince and princess characters. There has been a variety of books in this series depending on the author and how they chose to adapt the story, so I am looking forward to reading the rest. The Silver Prince by Lyndsey Hall is a retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses." Although not my favorite in this series, it follows the same formatting as the other books alternating between dual perspectives and adding some extra worldbuilding. This book incorporates an "enemies to lovers" element by making the featured prince and princess be from enemy kingdoms with opposing powers that relate to shadow and light.
As a "Silver" soldier who just fought in a war, the last thing Prince Anders wants is to be noticed in the kingdom of his enemy. However, he finds it hard to resist the temptation to watch a performance of his favorite ballet and decides to sneak away for a night on the town. To his horror, he is caught up in the most incriminating position imaginable when the prima ballerina, who happens to be the kingdom's beloved crown princess, falls off the stage, and he rushes to her rescue in front of the entire audience. For the blatant audacity of this action, he is immediately brought to the dungeon and imprisoned. His only hope at freedom revolves around uncovering the mystery of the princesses' worn-out dancing shoes each night. Though Princess Isadora sees him as an enemy, she must learn to trust him if she has any hope of breaking the curse that forces her and her sister to dance each night.
The first full-length novel adaptation I've read of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" was Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George. As far as I know, this was the first book to conclude that the princesses danced each night against their will and needed a hero to break the curse. Since then, every full-length adaptation that I have read turned the nightly dancing into a curse that needed to be broken, even some of the more creative ones. I've always enjoyed this fairy tale because it was originally about princesses escaping into their own fantasy world, which was accurately portrayed in the Barbie version of the story. This book follows the format of other adaptations, causing the princesses to be damsels in distress as opposed to young women who take control of their own destinies. It also simplifies the number of princesses to two sisters, writing off the less important characters under the nightly trance as other ballerinas from the company and princes who failed to solve the mystery.
The main characters in this story don't quite hit the mark either. The male lead in the original fairy tale was a commoner who was gifted with a magic invisibility cloak, which made for an interesting "rags to riches" dynamic. In this version, he is a prince who already has powers, so there isn't as much for him to gain besides the alliance between the two kingdoms. I like that Isadora is a ballerina in addition to the secret nighttime dances, giving off Find Me in Paris vibes, but the book doesn't expand upon whether she is passionate about ballet or just does it because of her status. The love story comes off as contrived at times. It seems like Isadora doesn't like Anders at first because he is a Silver, and she only decides to get close to him later for the sake of breaking the curse and not because they share any sort of deeper connection.
The Silver Prince by Lyndsey Hall is a decent addition to the Once Upon a Prince series, offering a unique retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" with an enemies-to-lovers twist. While it didn't quite live up to my expectations, it was an enjoyable read that explored the complexities of trust and alliance-building between rival kingdoms. However, the characters fell a bit flat for me, and the love story felt forced. Despite this, I appreciate the creative liberties taken to reimagine the classic fairy tale and look forward to reading the remaining books in the series. If you're a fan of fairy tale retellings and are interested in a fresh take on "The Twelve Dancing Princesses," The Silver Prince might be worth checking out.
As a "Silver" soldier who just fought in a war, the last thing Prince Anders wants is to be noticed in the kingdom of his enemy. However, he finds it hard to resist the temptation to watch a performance of his favorite ballet and decides to sneak away for a night on the town. To his horror, he is caught up in the most incriminating position imaginable when the prima ballerina, who happens to be the kingdom's beloved crown princess, falls off the stage, and he rushes to her rescue in front of the entire audience. For the blatant audacity of this action, he is immediately brought to the dungeon and imprisoned. His only hope at freedom revolves around uncovering the mystery of the princesses' worn-out dancing shoes each night. Though Princess Isadora sees him as an enemy, she must learn to trust him if she has any hope of breaking the curse that forces her and her sister to dance each night.
The first full-length novel adaptation I've read of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" was Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George. As far as I know, this was the first book to conclude that the princesses danced each night against their will and needed a hero to break the curse. Since then, every full-length adaptation that I have read turned the nightly dancing into a curse that needed to be broken, even some of the more creative ones. I've always enjoyed this fairy tale because it was originally about princesses escaping into their own fantasy world, which was accurately portrayed in the Barbie version of the story. This book follows the format of other adaptations, causing the princesses to be damsels in distress as opposed to young women who take control of their own destinies. It also simplifies the number of princesses to two sisters, writing off the less important characters under the nightly trance as other ballerinas from the company and princes who failed to solve the mystery.
The main characters in this story don't quite hit the mark either. The male lead in the original fairy tale was a commoner who was gifted with a magic invisibility cloak, which made for an interesting "rags to riches" dynamic. In this version, he is a prince who already has powers, so there isn't as much for him to gain besides the alliance between the two kingdoms. I like that Isadora is a ballerina in addition to the secret nighttime dances, giving off Find Me in Paris vibes, but the book doesn't expand upon whether she is passionate about ballet or just does it because of her status. The love story comes off as contrived at times. It seems like Isadora doesn't like Anders at first because he is a Silver, and she only decides to get close to him later for the sake of breaking the curse and not because they share any sort of deeper connection.
The Silver Prince by Lyndsey Hall is a decent addition to the Once Upon a Prince series, offering a unique retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" with an enemies-to-lovers twist. While it didn't quite live up to my expectations, it was an enjoyable read that explored the complexities of trust and alliance-building between rival kingdoms. However, the characters fell a bit flat for me, and the love story felt forced. Despite this, I appreciate the creative liberties taken to reimagine the classic fairy tale and look forward to reading the remaining books in the series. If you're a fan of fairy tale retellings and are interested in a fresh take on "The Twelve Dancing Princesses," The Silver Prince might be worth checking out.
November 8, 2023
I was blessed and given this story as an ARC. Here is my honest review.
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I love this story!! It was full of wonderful characters, mystery, and hope! The setting was very descriptive, and placed a very vivid scene in my mind while reading. I loved the description of where the curse took place ( I can’t say anything more on this!).
👑
The MMC, Anders, was instantly likable and is a cinnamon roll throughout the whole story. I love how he was trying not to make any problems and was committed to helping the people who he was imprisoned to. I loved how he remained optimistic he could prove his innocence and solve the Princess’s curse as well. I would love having him on my team if I was going through a crisis or a curse (heaven forbid!)!
👑
The FMC, Isadora, was feisty and was a bit prejudice toward Anders’ people even though she was warming up to him slowly….. Issy’s little sister was instantly likable and warm and proved to be a big help in solving the mystery/curse.
👑
This was a great read! I throughly loved it! It did keep me guessing the who, what, and why as far as the curse went almost to the end of the book! So it had the right amount of suspense! And of course it had a HEA!! It is a must read!!
👑
This story is part of a multi author series called Once Upon a Prince
👑
#OnceUponAPrinceSeries
#TheSilverPrince #onceuponaprince #ouap #multiauthorseries #fairytaleretellings #cleanromance #cleanfantasy #swoonyromance #cleanromantasy #cleanfantasyromance #coverreveal #romanticfantas #atwelvedancingprincessesretelling
________________
I love this story!! It was full of wonderful characters, mystery, and hope! The setting was very descriptive, and placed a very vivid scene in my mind while reading. I loved the description of where the curse took place ( I can’t say anything more on this!).
👑
The MMC, Anders, was instantly likable and is a cinnamon roll throughout the whole story. I love how he was trying not to make any problems and was committed to helping the people who he was imprisoned to. I loved how he remained optimistic he could prove his innocence and solve the Princess’s curse as well. I would love having him on my team if I was going through a crisis or a curse (heaven forbid!)!
👑
The FMC, Isadora, was feisty and was a bit prejudice toward Anders’ people even though she was warming up to him slowly….. Issy’s little sister was instantly likable and warm and proved to be a big help in solving the mystery/curse.
👑
This was a great read! I throughly loved it! It did keep me guessing the who, what, and why as far as the curse went almost to the end of the book! So it had the right amount of suspense! And of course it had a HEA!! It is a must read!!
👑
This story is part of a multi author series called Once Upon a Prince
👑
#OnceUponAPrinceSeries
#TheSilverPrince #onceuponaprince #ouap #multiauthorseries #fairytaleretellings #cleanromance #cleanfantasy #swoonyromance #cleanromantasy #cleanfantasyromance #coverreveal #romanticfantas #atwelvedancingprincessesretelling
November 8, 2023
Everything you want in a fairy-tale retelling: magic, adventure, awesome world-building, a twist on the curse, likeable characters, and a well-educated prince.
There were enough red herrings to throw the scent off the real bad guy, though when revealed, it’s quite obvious in a “duh!” way. I did like the idea of the ballet shoes being the issue. LOL.
The ending is satisfying: all the loose ends are wrapped up, a bit more magic sparkles at the edges, the bad guy gets his just deserts, and there’s a HEA for the couple.
I do think the cat is my favourite character, though. LOL.
My favourite in the series with a fresh take on a favourite fairy-tale.
Trigger warnings: false imprisonment, flashbacks to war, loss of appetite, memory loss.
*I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.
There were enough red herrings to throw the scent off the real bad guy, though when revealed, it’s quite obvious in a “duh!” way. I did like the idea of the ballet shoes being the issue. LOL.
The ending is satisfying: all the loose ends are wrapped up, a bit more magic sparkles at the edges, the bad guy gets his just deserts, and there’s a HEA for the couple.
I do think the cat is my favourite character, though. LOL.
My favourite in the series with a fresh take on a favourite fairy-tale.
Trigger warnings: false imprisonment, flashbacks to war, loss of appetite, memory loss.
*I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.
November 9, 2023
This is such a good retelling of a twelve dancing Princesses. The book is spellbinding and mysterious. The golden princesses are cursed, and they have no idea how they fell into such enchantment while when they wake up, they wake up with worn ballet slippers and wearing ballerina dresses with no memories of last night or how they get into such dress up. When Anders of Northern Isle go to Southern Isle, He offers to get to the bottom of the mystery and break the curse in exchange of his freedom, the king gives him the time of three nights to solve the mystery and break the curse. A mysterious curse, mysterious death and secrets lies in the darkness of the night and shadows followed by the perils of the glittering city of Orovia. The Princesses odyssey is filled with enchantment, betrayal, curse and secrets.
August 19, 2025
3.5 stars
I really like this retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses.
This one didn't disappoint. I really liked Anders. Izzy took some time for me to like, but like her, I eventually did.
There wasn't enough data to pick the culprit before they were revealed. I narrowed it down to 2 people, and it was one of them.
Definitely a different spin on the others I've read. I liked the overcoming prejudice to fix the problem trope! That was great. I'm all for teamwork.
This was cute and quick! My first read by Lyndsey.
I really like this retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses.
This one didn't disappoint. I really liked Anders. Izzy took some time for me to like, but like her, I eventually did.
There wasn't enough data to pick the culprit before they were revealed. I narrowed it down to 2 people, and it was one of them.
Definitely a different spin on the others I've read. I liked the overcoming prejudice to fix the problem trope! That was great. I'm all for teamwork.
This was cute and quick! My first read by Lyndsey.
November 9, 2023
This was the first Twelve Dancing Princesses retelling I've ever read, but it did not disappoint! I loved the mystery throughout the story! The characters were interesting, and the story was wonderful.
November 5, 2023
How do you take a Grimm Fairy Tale and make the reader want to read it? The Silver Prince is how!
The author draws the reader in from the very start. The characters are introduced and you feel part of the story, even if only an observer. But what a ride as magic unfolds, mysteries are revealed and romance grows. The characters are devoted to their duty, and push through the difficulties ahead. In the end you will discover, as did they, deceit that was totally unexpected.
If you love a good fairy tale, take this one for a ride. The read is excellent, that characters are who you want them to be, and the mystery will keep you reading.
The author draws the reader in from the very start. The characters are introduced and you feel part of the story, even if only an observer. But what a ride as magic unfolds, mysteries are revealed and romance grows. The characters are devoted to their duty, and push through the difficulties ahead. In the end you will discover, as did they, deceit that was totally unexpected.
If you love a good fairy tale, take this one for a ride. The read is excellent, that characters are who you want them to be, and the mystery will keep you reading.
Read
October 2, 2024A retelling of THE TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES. Charming and readable.
November 24, 2024
Had a hard time getting into it. But enjoyed it in the end.
November 21, 2023
A unique world with kingdoms built around the ideas of silver and gold from the original tale. Diamonds make a brief appearance as well.
I loved the blending of the story with ballerina dancers and classic tales told through dance. The story definitely gives you many options of who to suspect to be behind the curse. Anders and Isabella are delightful as they work past their prejudices from their separate cultures and work to build a new future.
I definitely recommend reading this retelling!
I loved the blending of the story with ballerina dancers and classic tales told through dance. The story definitely gives you many options of who to suspect to be behind the curse. Anders and Isabella are delightful as they work past their prejudices from their separate cultures and work to build a new future.
I definitely recommend reading this retelling!
January 27, 2025
I enjoy this fairy tale, but Anderson and Issy’s stories were far too separate. They hardly interacted until the book was nearly over. The whodunnit was well done.
November 2, 2023
I received an ARC of this book from the author. This is a quick magical retelling of the 12 dancing princesses. They are ballerinas which was a new and fun element for me. I loved the prince’s character! He was so thoughtful and caring which isn’t typical. I really enjoyed the differences between the golden and silver. I would love to read more set in this world.
December 7, 2023
So sweet with just the right amount of tension.
A very sweet retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses that had me in a world of nostalgia. This reminded me of my love of this story when I was younger. The romance is clean and I would very eagerly share it with my preteens.
Court intrigue with a mystery and many characters.
A m/f romantic retelling with curses, magic, dancing and secret identity trope.
Dual povs told in third person
Characters-
Anders - youngest prince of the Northern Isles
Isadora - crown princess of Orovia
Livia - princess and Issy’s sister
Steam - clean
Triggers - mentions of PTSD and death
A very sweet retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses that had me in a world of nostalgia. This reminded me of my love of this story when I was younger. The romance is clean and I would very eagerly share it with my preteens.
Court intrigue with a mystery and many characters.
A m/f romantic retelling with curses, magic, dancing and secret identity trope.
Dual povs told in third person
Characters-
Anders - youngest prince of the Northern Isles
Isadora - crown princess of Orovia
Livia - princess and Issy’s sister
Steam - clean
Triggers - mentions of PTSD and death
January 10, 2024
This book was fine. If I hadn't already read several retellings of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, I think I would have liked it more, but I honestly didn't think there was much that made it super original.
I did like the idea of the prejudice between the Northern and Southern Isles and the possibility of a whole star-crossed lovers thing happening, but it didn't really feel like much was done with that. Issy just hated Anders for most of the book because prejudice and then suddenly she didn't. It didn't feel to me like there was a lot of evidence of her gradually reframing her concept of him, which I think would have been more realistic.
Also, the romance aspect was kind of disappointing. It's mentioned more than once that Issy resents the fact that she'll have to marry purely for political reasons and she just wants to fall in love like her mother did, but there really wasn't a lot of positive interaction between Issy and Anders before the last like third of the book. It's like he helps break the curse and she suddenly decides she's in love with him and then they're engaged. Like. What? Honey you don't even know him and you just decided yesterday that you maybe don't hate him. It would have been much more satisfactory if it ended with him like asking to court her or something.
Also what was with Issy's birthday ball just getting started RIGHT AFTER they escape the enchanted mirror, which I'm pretty sure they were supposed to have entered at midnight unless I was misunderstanding something I guess, which is possible). Is this kingdom full of people who like to party at like 3am??
All that being said, I really liked the author's writing style. It was clear but descriptive and easy to read and keep reading. And the characterizations were pretty good too. I did feel like I knew the main characters pretty well by the end which was nice.
I did like the idea of the prejudice between the Northern and Southern Isles and the possibility of a whole star-crossed lovers thing happening, but it didn't really feel like much was done with that. Issy just hated Anders for most of the book because prejudice and then suddenly she didn't. It didn't feel to me like there was a lot of evidence of her gradually reframing her concept of him, which I think would have been more realistic.
Also, the romance aspect was kind of disappointing. It's mentioned more than once that Issy resents the fact that she'll have to marry purely for political reasons and she just wants to fall in love like her mother did, but there really wasn't a lot of positive interaction between Issy and Anders before the last like third of the book. It's like he helps break the curse and she suddenly decides she's in love with him and then they're engaged. Like. What? Honey you don't even know him and you just decided yesterday that you maybe don't hate him. It would have been much more satisfactory if it ended with him like asking to court her or something.
Also what was with Issy's birthday ball just getting started RIGHT AFTER they escape the enchanted mirror, which I'm pretty sure they were supposed to have entered at midnight unless I was misunderstanding something I guess, which is possible). Is this kingdom full of people who like to party at like 3am??
All that being said, I really liked the author's writing style. It was clear but descriptive and easy to read and keep reading. And the characterizations were pretty good too. I did feel like I knew the main characters pretty well by the end which was nice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2024
A lovely Twelve Dancing Princesses retelling with a beautiful worldbuilding. The story has good pacing and has lots of original elements from the fairytale.
Anders was a lovely character, he is very positive and determined. He really means well!
Isadora seemed a little arrogant at first, but she's mostly strong and independent.
Their interactions are funny and sweet. Especially because they both didn't want to acknowledge their feelings at first and didn't trust each other.
I would've liked a little bit more romantic scenes with them, but they were cute together.
I'm really glad it was written in dual POV.
Some well written twists and a folklore/legend story about both kingdoms definitely added something original to the story.
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I received an e-arc from the author. This hasn't influenced my review.
Anders was a lovely character, he is very positive and determined. He really means well!
Isadora seemed a little arrogant at first, but she's mostly strong and independent.
Their interactions are funny and sweet. Especially because they both didn't want to acknowledge their feelings at first and didn't trust each other.
I would've liked a little bit more romantic scenes with them, but they were cute together.
I'm really glad it was written in dual POV.
Some well written twists and a folklore/legend story about both kingdoms definitely added something original to the story.
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I received an e-arc from the author. This hasn't influenced my review.
October 19, 2024
Entertaining story with interesting characters, but there is absolutely no romance between the leads, so it feels funny to reach the end and they become betrothed.
We open with a Prince from the Northern Islands arriving at the Southern Islands on his way home from spending 5 years at war. I get why he has to hide who he is (no identification) as his blonde hair and blue eyes make him stand out from the southern people’s tanned skin, dark eyes and hair. It would be best to avoid being accused of being a spy and later held for ransom once his identity was confirmed, but then he had no way of knowing his brother had recently visited the castle and gone missing.
Why no one mentions this, even in passing, seems odd, but who wants to admit they’ve lost a Crown Prince, right? Still, you’d think either Princess would have taken a moment to compare Anders to the young Prince recently lost in the curse and noticed a resemblance?
Maybe all Northerners look the same to those from the Southern Isles? Funny, Anders has no problem remembering who everyone is around him, but that’s just me being picky, I guess.
The mystery of who set the curse and why is interesting and the reveal goes over well with the story.
We spend a lot of time establishing the ballet dance girls and hey, Anders makes for a perfectly balanced group of 12 couples. If the villain was focused just on the two princesses, why bother with the rest of the dance troupe? Why capture 12 princes? That is a lot of angry countries around you that would be very upset that you managed to lose their royalty.
No answers though to why it had to be 12 or why the curse would hold them on the elder princess’s 18th birthday. I can’t explain that one.
Now if you look at this as just an imaginative retelling of The 12 Dancing Princesses (though only 2 are princesses in this version) then it works pretty well. If you are looking at this as a YA romance then you’ll be sadly disappointed.
No one acts interested in the other until that final night, no holding hands, no eyes catching the other looking or racing hearts. Yeah, for romance it’s a bust. Both the leads have good personalities that are fairly fleshed out, but yeah, there is zilch here for spark.
Two pretty people with the chemistry of…. nothing really. This is not a slow burn but a campfire completely put out leaving only warm rocks to prove there was a fire there before you set foot at the campsite. I can only imagine these two would have a marriage of convenience and simply be good friends rather than becoming lovers.
If you want a great retelling with sparks flying, no spice and written for a YA+ audience then read K. M. Shea’s version instead.
Still, I’d be fine with reading more from this author as her characters were interesting, though the addition of Lady Fiona here went nowhere and she’s a wasted opportunity. I must admit my biggest beef is at the end where Anders’ parents realize he didn’t die in the war and it apparently takes place in the background in less than a minute? I wanted that joyous reunion front and center. Give me his mother with her eyes full of tears or unable to stop touching his arm to make sure he really was there and alive. C’mon, I needed some kind of emotion since the leads weren’t going to give it to me.
So yeah… 3 stars. It needs more emotion. Lots more. That’s not much to hope for in a romance series, right? Otherwise, it’s got good bones… it just needs more flesh on it.
We open with a Prince from the Northern Islands arriving at the Southern Islands on his way home from spending 5 years at war. I get why he has to hide who he is (no identification) as his blonde hair and blue eyes make him stand out from the southern people’s tanned skin, dark eyes and hair. It would be best to avoid being accused of being a spy and later held for ransom once his identity was confirmed, but then he had no way of knowing his brother had recently visited the castle and gone missing.
Why no one mentions this, even in passing, seems odd, but who wants to admit they’ve lost a Crown Prince, right? Still, you’d think either Princess would have taken a moment to compare Anders to the young Prince recently lost in the curse and noticed a resemblance?
Maybe all Northerners look the same to those from the Southern Isles? Funny, Anders has no problem remembering who everyone is around him, but that’s just me being picky, I guess.
The mystery of who set the curse and why is interesting and the reveal goes over well with the story.
We spend a lot of time establishing the ballet dance girls and hey, Anders makes for a perfectly balanced group of 12 couples. If the villain was focused just on the two princesses, why bother with the rest of the dance troupe? Why capture 12 princes? That is a lot of angry countries around you that would be very upset that you managed to lose their royalty.
No answers though to why it had to be 12 or why the curse would hold them on the elder princess’s 18th birthday. I can’t explain that one.
Now if you look at this as just an imaginative retelling of The 12 Dancing Princesses (though only 2 are princesses in this version) then it works pretty well. If you are looking at this as a YA romance then you’ll be sadly disappointed.
No one acts interested in the other until that final night, no holding hands, no eyes catching the other looking or racing hearts. Yeah, for romance it’s a bust. Both the leads have good personalities that are fairly fleshed out, but yeah, there is zilch here for spark.
Two pretty people with the chemistry of…. nothing really. This is not a slow burn but a campfire completely put out leaving only warm rocks to prove there was a fire there before you set foot at the campsite. I can only imagine these two would have a marriage of convenience and simply be good friends rather than becoming lovers.
If you want a great retelling with sparks flying, no spice and written for a YA+ audience then read K. M. Shea’s version instead.
Still, I’d be fine with reading more from this author as her characters were interesting, though the addition of Lady Fiona here went nowhere and she’s a wasted opportunity. I must admit my biggest beef is at the end where Anders’ parents realize he didn’t die in the war and it apparently takes place in the background in less than a minute? I wanted that joyous reunion front and center. Give me his mother with her eyes full of tears or unable to stop touching his arm to make sure he really was there and alive. C’mon, I needed some kind of emotion since the leads weren’t going to give it to me.
So yeah… 3 stars. It needs more emotion. Lots more. That’s not much to hope for in a romance series, right? Otherwise, it’s got good bones… it just needs more flesh on it.
November 16, 2023
Things have been a little hectic, so my review for The Silver Prince is a little late, but that just means you don’t have to wait for it to be released to buy yourself a copy; you can buy it right now! I’ve read a few of Lyndsey Hall’s short stories and absolutely adored them, and this story was no different!
When Anders, a prince of the Silver Isle, is arrested on the Golden Isle, he knows his freedom and life are at stake. So, when he hears that the princesses have been cursed, he decides to make a bargain: he’ll break the curse in exchange for his freedom. However, he must learn to work with Princess Issy, which is not an easy task considering their kingdoms are resentful of one another.
I enjoyed so many aspects of this story! Perhaps my favorite feature was the cultural elements of the Silver Isle and the Golden Isle. It’s mentioned that, in the Silver Isle, people have a responsibility to care for one another. Details like this really helped develop the cultures in the story. Similarly, the prejudices the characters held for people from the opposing kingdom added an additional layer of conflict and made the story feel much more meaningful than just a simple love story.
There were a couple things I didn’t necessarily love. For instance, the ending felt a bit rushed to me, and I would’ve liked to see Anders and Issy’s relationship develop more. Likewise, there was one small potential plot hole toward the end.
Additionally, I thought the characters were well fleshed out. Issy is not your stereotypical perfect princess, but her kingdom is actually better off because of that. On a similar note, Anders has PTSD from serving in the army. I appreciated this representation and thought it added a lot of depth to Anders.
There was also a huge element of mystery to the story, which helped drive it forward. Anders was determined to figure out who cursed the princesses, and there were plenty of suspects to consider. I was guessing until the very end, and I was shocked by the big reveal!
Finally, I appreciated the fact that the story was just as much about Anders and Issy finding freedom than it was about them finding love. Not that love isn’t important too, but I would’ve been a little disappointed if Hall had focused solely on their love story, ignoring the challenges the two faced in gaining autonomy.
Overall, this series just keeps getting better and better. To be honest, I thought I would be reading lighthearted and simple romances, and to a certain extent they have been, but they are also enticingly complex and beautiful stories as well!
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
When Anders, a prince of the Silver Isle, is arrested on the Golden Isle, he knows his freedom and life are at stake. So, when he hears that the princesses have been cursed, he decides to make a bargain: he’ll break the curse in exchange for his freedom. However, he must learn to work with Princess Issy, which is not an easy task considering their kingdoms are resentful of one another.
I enjoyed so many aspects of this story! Perhaps my favorite feature was the cultural elements of the Silver Isle and the Golden Isle. It’s mentioned that, in the Silver Isle, people have a responsibility to care for one another. Details like this really helped develop the cultures in the story. Similarly, the prejudices the characters held for people from the opposing kingdom added an additional layer of conflict and made the story feel much more meaningful than just a simple love story.
There were a couple things I didn’t necessarily love. For instance, the ending felt a bit rushed to me, and I would’ve liked to see Anders and Issy’s relationship develop more. Likewise, there was one small potential plot hole toward the end.
Additionally, I thought the characters were well fleshed out. Issy is not your stereotypical perfect princess, but her kingdom is actually better off because of that. On a similar note, Anders has PTSD from serving in the army. I appreciated this representation and thought it added a lot of depth to Anders.
There was also a huge element of mystery to the story, which helped drive it forward. Anders was determined to figure out who cursed the princesses, and there were plenty of suspects to consider. I was guessing until the very end, and I was shocked by the big reveal!
Finally, I appreciated the fact that the story was just as much about Anders and Issy finding freedom than it was about them finding love. Not that love isn’t important too, but I would’ve been a little disappointed if Hall had focused solely on their love story, ignoring the challenges the two faced in gaining autonomy.
Overall, this series just keeps getting better and better. To be honest, I thought I would be reading lighthearted and simple romances, and to a certain extent they have been, but they are also enticingly complex and beautiful stories as well!
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
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