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The Golden Prince
A perfect prince. An engagement to save a kingdom. Too bad it’s all a lie.
Prince Thomas has always been the perfect prince, but now that his kingdom is falling to famine, he must prove his worth and restore the blessing of Spring. All he has to do is find a mysterious woman from a painting and marry her. It’s a quest he’s been born for. He has the looks, the talent, the perseverance. No matter what peril she is in, he will find and rescue her. And he’ll do so with style.
If Maisie has learned one lesson in her life, it’s not to trust anybody. Having been hurt countless times, she lets people see her mask and no deeper. Her practice at deception makes her a master thief, but now she is forgetting which parts of her are real. However, one thing is she does not need any prince to rescue her. In fact, she needs nobody at all.
The hounds of Winter are gathering, leaving death in their wake. The famine is spreading. If Prince Thomas doesn’t marry Maisie, the kingdom will fall. But how can he learn to love somebody with a shattered heart?
The Golden Prince, a retelling of Rapunzel, is book 3 of Once Upon A Prince , a multi-author series of clean fairy tale retellings. Each standalone novel features a swoony prince fighting for his happily ever after.
Prince Thomas has always been the perfect prince, but now that his kingdom is falling to famine, he must prove his worth and restore the blessing of Spring. All he has to do is find a mysterious woman from a painting and marry her. It’s a quest he’s been born for. He has the looks, the talent, the perseverance. No matter what peril she is in, he will find and rescue her. And he’ll do so with style.
If Maisie has learned one lesson in her life, it’s not to trust anybody. Having been hurt countless times, she lets people see her mask and no deeper. Her practice at deception makes her a master thief, but now she is forgetting which parts of her are real. However, one thing is she does not need any prince to rescue her. In fact, she needs nobody at all.
The hounds of Winter are gathering, leaving death in their wake. The famine is spreading. If Prince Thomas doesn’t marry Maisie, the kingdom will fall. But how can he learn to love somebody with a shattered heart?
The Golden Prince, a retelling of Rapunzel, is book 3 of Once Upon A Prince , a multi-author series of clean fairy tale retellings. Each standalone novel features a swoony prince fighting for his happily ever after.
Kindle Edition
Published October 13, 2023
199 people are currently reading
750 people want to read
About the author
Alice Ivinya
32 books312 followersAlice is a USA Today Bestselling author who writes low spice fantasy and fairytales.
She lives in Bristol, UK, and has loved fantasy all her life. Her favourite authors are Holly Black and Brandon Sanderson.
When she's not off gallivanting in other worlds, you can find her looking after her two young sons, hanging out with her church family, or walking the best dog in the world with her husband.
She lives in Bristol, UK, and has loved fantasy all her life. Her favourite authors are Holly Black and Brandon Sanderson.
When she's not off gallivanting in other worlds, you can find her looking after her two young sons, hanging out with her church family, or walking the best dog in the world with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
January 30, 2024
Compared the the other book I read in this non-connecting series (The Frog Prince one), this book was written in first person, which surprised me for some reason! I’m curious to see what the common point of view version will be for the rest of the series.
I was excited for this book because 1.) Rapunzel retelling and 2.) I’ve read a trilogy by this author before and enjoyed the plot and writing style.
I’ve discovered that I love it when the main guy is confident in wooing a girl and then said girl wants nothing to do with him. That may be a random plot device/trope, but if I had a nickel for each time that’s happened, I'd have two nickels from recent-ish books, which isn't a lot, but it's great that it happened twice.
Because when he thinks something like: “Wooing a girl was something I felt far more comfortable about than chasing fairytales or reading giant dusty books. I was good-looking, talented, and the Crown Prince. I would have her at my side within days.” You just *know* it isn’t going to be as easy as he thinks and I’m here for the chase. He was such an easy (and clueless) con for her, it was highly entertaining.
I liked him, obviously. I do wish he would have treated Greg—ahem, Greggory—a bit better, but it played well into his bumbling and handsome prince role. #JusticeforGreg
I honestly didn’t fully understand the whole Winter/Spring, immortal beings, and mortal worlds with veils. I tried to understand but my brain didn’t quite get it.
I thought it was really interesting that he has the opportunity to drug her to be able to get her back to his country, but doesn’t do that because he has morals. But the she drugs him (via kissing him which I’ll come back to) to be able to steal his stuff and get away. It was an interesting comparison and I feel smart picking up on that, haha.
She was very jaded, which, you know, made perfect sense but I didn’t like her a lot because of some comments and choices she made. Such as kissing him with a sleeping drug on her lips to knock him out to be able to steal his items and leave.
She’s literally an actress with her cons and barely any remorse for it because she’s trying to survive. She’s nearly a compulsive liar because of it though. I thought she was quite a hypocrite that she disliked Thomas when she was doing the same exact things to him. I was glad when he called her out on that because, honestly, I think I almost would have tossed her overboard. While I could see why she was the way she was, I didn't really like her, though.
You know what makes me swoon 100% more than “I love you” “I love you too”? “I love you, *name*” “And I, you.” My heeeeaaaarrrrttt! Honestly, that nearly made the book for me.
I liked this story and was invested in their unique retelling of Rapunzel, even if the Rapunzel character drive me a little crazy. I do wish the character development for her would have been worked in a bit earlier. I really liked Thomas though (even with his blithering idiot moments) and overall found it enjoyable. I’m giving this one a 3 star rating though because of Maisie and how she was the majority of the book.
Main Content:
There’s another realm with Ancient ones (immortals) that’s ruled by Winter and Spring; Both of those rulers have ambassadors to the earthly/human realm and some have powers that reflect the names (winter ones can create snow and ice; spring ones can have plants grow well and such; both are called “otherworldly”); Thomas has to go after the Blessing of a certain group of people to save his country from ruin and goes to find Old Mother Baba who is supposed to be very old and know things (and is not supposed to be a witch); There are winter wolf-like beasts that can turn others to ice with their bites (we see this on page and main characters are bitten; if not treated with a special magic sword, they can turn to solid ice and die; If the beasts are touched by a special sword, they *poof* into snow, all of this is up to semi-detailed); Maisie is able to change her hair (and eyebrows) to any color and length; Maisie hears from Spring (in her mind, talking to her).
A few mentions of praying (but never towards Who); A mention of superstitions.
No major language, but words like ‘shut up’, ‘stupid’, ‘blasted’, and ‘idiot’ are used; A few mentions of curses being said (but not written out); Eye rolling & Sarcasm.
Maisie doesn’t trust anyone because of past experiences and is very bitter towards Thomas and those who say there are people she can trust (this is often thought and commented on in her point of view and Thomas tries to prove to her that he can be trusted); Maisie is a thief & steals things often (we see this on-page and she has little-to-no remorse about it); Maisie lies to Thomas; Thomas wonders if Maisie’s sweets addiction came from her time in the orphanage where she had to fight and steal food to survive; Thomas and side characters partake in drinking with dinners and parties; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, drunks, & pubs.
Seeing a dear friend injured & almost die (up to semi-detailed); Seeing a couple of bodies (frozen, including a loved one, up to semi-detailed); Fighting, Being attacked, Almost drowning, Passing out, Injuries, Pain, & Blood/Bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Holding a knife to someone’s throat & tossing them overboard a ship where the person nearly drowns (*Spoiler*
I was excited for this book because 1.) Rapunzel retelling and 2.) I’ve read a trilogy by this author before and enjoyed the plot and writing style.
I’ve discovered that I love it when the main guy is confident in wooing a girl and then said girl wants nothing to do with him. That may be a random plot device/trope, but if I had a nickel for each time that’s happened, I'd have two nickels from recent-ish books, which isn't a lot, but it's great that it happened twice.
Because when he thinks something like: “Wooing a girl was something I felt far more comfortable about than chasing fairytales or reading giant dusty books. I was good-looking, talented, and the Crown Prince. I would have her at my side within days.” You just *know* it isn’t going to be as easy as he thinks and I’m here for the chase. He was such an easy (and clueless) con for her, it was highly entertaining.
I liked him, obviously. I do wish he would have treated Greg—ahem, Greggory—a bit better, but it played well into his bumbling and handsome prince role. #JusticeforGreg
I honestly didn’t fully understand the whole Winter/Spring, immortal beings, and mortal worlds with veils. I tried to understand but my brain didn’t quite get it.
I thought it was really interesting that he has the opportunity to drug her to be able to get her back to his country, but doesn’t do that because he has morals. But the she drugs him (via kissing him which I’ll come back to) to be able to steal his stuff and get away. It was an interesting comparison and I feel smart picking up on that, haha.
She was very jaded, which, you know, made perfect sense but I didn’t like her a lot because of some comments and choices she made. Such as kissing him with a sleeping drug on her lips to knock him out to be able to steal his items and leave.
She’s literally an actress with her cons and barely any remorse for it because she’s trying to survive. She’s nearly a compulsive liar because of it though. I thought she was quite a hypocrite that she disliked Thomas when she was doing the same exact things to him. I was glad when he called her out on that because, honestly, I think I almost would have tossed her overboard. While I could see why she was the way she was, I didn't really like her, though.
You know what makes me swoon 100% more than “I love you” “I love you too”? “I love you, *name*” “And I, you.” My heeeeaaaarrrrttt! Honestly, that nearly made the book for me.
I liked this story and was invested in their unique retelling of Rapunzel, even if the Rapunzel character drive me a little crazy. I do wish the character development for her would have been worked in a bit earlier. I really liked Thomas though (even with his blithering idiot moments) and overall found it enjoyable. I’m giving this one a 3 star rating though because of Maisie and how she was the majority of the book.
Main Content:
There’s another realm with Ancient ones (immortals) that’s ruled by Winter and Spring; Both of those rulers have ambassadors to the earthly/human realm and some have powers that reflect the names (winter ones can create snow and ice; spring ones can have plants grow well and such; both are called “otherworldly”); Thomas has to go after the Blessing of a certain group of people to save his country from ruin and goes to find Old Mother Baba who is supposed to be very old and know things (and is not supposed to be a witch); There are winter wolf-like beasts that can turn others to ice with their bites (we see this on page and main characters are bitten; if not treated with a special magic sword, they can turn to solid ice and die; If the beasts are touched by a special sword, they *poof* into snow, all of this is up to semi-detailed); Maisie is able to change her hair (and eyebrows) to any color and length; Maisie hears from Spring (in her mind, talking to her).
A few mentions of praying (but never towards Who); A mention of superstitions.
No major language, but words like ‘shut up’, ‘stupid’, ‘blasted’, and ‘idiot’ are used; A few mentions of curses being said (but not written out); Eye rolling & Sarcasm.
Maisie doesn’t trust anyone because of past experiences and is very bitter towards Thomas and those who say there are people she can trust (this is often thought and commented on in her point of view and Thomas tries to prove to her that he can be trusted); Maisie is a thief & steals things often (we see this on-page and she has little-to-no remorse about it); Maisie lies to Thomas; Thomas wonders if Maisie’s sweets addiction came from her time in the orphanage where she had to fight and steal food to survive; Thomas and side characters partake in drinking with dinners and parties; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, drunks, & pubs.
Seeing a dear friend injured & almost die (up to semi-detailed); Seeing a couple of bodies (frozen, including a loved one, up to semi-detailed); Fighting, Being attacked, Almost drowning, Passing out, Injuries, Pain, & Blood/Bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Holding a knife to someone’s throat & tossing them overboard a ship where the person nearly drowns (*Spoiler*
August 29, 2023
I LOVED Tangled, but have always wondered about some things in the fairy tale. This book goes into it! Enemies to lovers and magic swords plus the FMC is a thief and magical? Ahhh so good!!
I received this. ARC for an honest review all thoughts/opinions above are my own!
I received this. ARC for an honest review all thoughts/opinions above are my own!
October 20, 2023
If Tangled and Frozen had a baby, that would be this book. This is a Rapunzel retelling from the prince's POV with Winter trying to freeze out spring.
The prince's POV and the worldbuilding elements were really unique and well done. The Rapunzel retelling part felt a bit more like a retelling of Tangled than a retelling of the original Rapunzel tale. But there were enough unique elements that it didn't feel entirely Disney-fied.
I liked the character development of the prince. Maisie's character development felt a tad rushed in the end, but this is a short novel so some rushed parts are expected, especially when trying to fit such a large story in a small book.
I really enjoyed it, and as this was my first time reading something from this author, it definitely made me want to read more of her books.
The prince's POV and the worldbuilding elements were really unique and well done. The Rapunzel retelling part felt a bit more like a retelling of Tangled than a retelling of the original Rapunzel tale. But there were enough unique elements that it didn't feel entirely Disney-fied.
I liked the character development of the prince. Maisie's character development felt a tad rushed in the end, but this is a short novel so some rushed parts are expected, especially when trying to fit such a large story in a small book.
I really enjoyed it, and as this was my first time reading something from this author, it definitely made me want to read more of her books.
November 4, 2023
"Stories have power. Stories have truth. Stories are never just stories."
Not my favorite of this series so far but that's okay! I did find the magic system really interesting, and it gave me a lot of Tangled vibes, but Thomas... Thomas bothered me. Like I knew he meant well because I was reading his pov, but Maisie doesn't know you mean well, babe, stop acting so weirdly possessive of her? (Maisie was a queen, though, I love her, and Greggory became my favorite character with the sneezing scene, I relate so hard hahaha)
So yeah, not my fave, but still pretty solid. The lessons the characters learned were lovely. 3 stars from me!
Not my favorite of this series so far but that's okay! I did find the magic system really interesting, and it gave me a lot of Tangled vibes, but Thomas... Thomas bothered me. Like I knew he meant well because I was reading his pov, but Maisie doesn't know you mean well, babe, stop acting so weirdly possessive of her? (Maisie was a queen, though, I love her, and Greggory became my favorite character with the sneezing scene, I relate so hard hahaha)
So yeah, not my fave, but still pretty solid. The lessons the characters learned were lovely. 3 stars from me!
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November 25, 2023Imaginative and expansive worldbuilding with fun season-based magic, and a touching romance of two people learning to put down their masks and let go of their polar opposite reputations/views of themselves and love and trust each other and live with imperfections.
September 9, 2023
The naive prince and the untrusting thief must save the kingdom and destroy Winter’s deadly plans? Yeah…that’s a recipe for delicious sarcasm and embarrassing traps. I loved Alice Ivinya’s retelling of Rapunzel. The challenge to accept love for who you are, not who you think you should be is such an important one to conquer. Plus, Alice’s explanation of Rapunzel’s hair is a unique twist.
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July 12, 2024OK, so this was only the very loosest retelling of Rapunzel - but Rapunzel isn't usually the most dynamic heroine, and so far my favourite retelling is about Mother Gothel, not Rapunzel. What we DO get in this fairytale retelling, which I've never seen in a fairytale retelling before, is such a delightfully untrustworthy heroine. Our prince, a charming doofus, is very excited to have met the lady who he thinks can lift the curse on his kingdom and he reckons it might take a week, tops, to propose to her and carry her home in triumph, and what a beautiful, innocent thing she is!
Meanwhile the "princess" is actually a con artist stealing everything that's not nailed down and laughing up her sleeve at him. DELIGHTFUL. PRECISELY WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED.
But on top of this, I absolutely loved the character development for the prince in particular. It's not just that he starts out believing himself to be the hero of a traditional fairytale and falling repeatedly into the princess's wiles. It's also that although they're both deceiving each other, she gets to call him out for his paternalistic, benevolent, velvet-gloved deceptions, which he (and our own cultural conditioning) considers to be so much worse than her knockout lipstick and highway robbery: "I am not a hypocrite when I do exactly what I say I do. You're a hypocrite when you pretend to be so much better." I cheered.
Meanwhile the "princess" is actually a con artist stealing everything that's not nailed down and laughing up her sleeve at him. DELIGHTFUL. PRECISELY WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED.
But on top of this, I absolutely loved the character development for the prince in particular. It's not just that he starts out believing himself to be the hero of a traditional fairytale and falling repeatedly into the princess's wiles. It's also that although they're both deceiving each other, she gets to call him out for his paternalistic, benevolent, velvet-gloved deceptions, which he (and our own cultural conditioning) considers to be so much worse than her knockout lipstick and highway robbery: "I am not a hypocrite when I do exactly what I say I do. You're a hypocrite when you pretend to be so much better." I cheered.
August 31, 2023
The Golden Prince by Alice Ivinya is the third ARC I received from the upcoming Once Upon a Prince multi-author series. While it isn't a full gender reversal fairy tale retelling like The Crownless Prince, it is a unique take on the story of "Rapunzel" that focuses heavily on the prince, making it clear that the author understood the assignment. There are some fun nods to Disney's Tangled as well as many original fantasy elements that convey a strong sense of worldbuilding. The book delves into fae mythology as well as the legend of Baba Yaga with a few subtle nods to "The Snow Queen." The romance is tantalizingly chaotic with lots of "Will they? Won't they?" moments that dance on the fine line between lovers and enemies. Overall, it is a solid addition to the Once Upon a Prince series that works well as a standalone fantasy novel.
When Prince Thomas inherits the legendary Sword of Spring, the only thing that can ward off the deadly power of Winter, he has no idea how much peril is about to come with it. His quest to end the famine plaguing his kingdom leads him to the home of Baba Yaga, which has already been hit by the malicious Winter warriors. After some investigating, he learns that the fate of his kingdom is tied to a girl who must be crowned Queen to save everyone. Like a true fairy tale prince, Thomas assumes he will have no trouble charming this girl and that their union will end the plague on his people. Little does he know that Maisie has no desire to be charmed and instead decides to use him for her own purposes. She is a street-smart rogue who is kept in a tower by a greedy witch until she finds her first opportunity to escape. As Thomas and Maisie embark on a dangerous game of cat and mouse, a new threat looms over his kingdom that catches them both unaware.
For a series that focuses on princes, this book does a good job of fleshing out the charming and heroic prince archetype that is so commonplace in fairy tales. Thomas is a brave warrior wielding a magic sword who is full of charm and wit. The "bad boy" thief personality that Disney used for Flynn Rider in their version of "Rapunzel" is transferred to the female lead of this story. Although Maisie has magic hair and follows the "Lost Princess" trope, her personality is closer to Flynn Rider than that of Rapunzel. She sees everyone as a pawn to be manipulated and refuses to believe that she is capable of love. Thomas's innocence and pampered upbringing allow him to believe in her in spite of everything she does to him, and there are some real whoppers! Eventually, his faith gives her the strength to give love a chance and help to save his kingdom.
The lore of this world is captivating and well-developed. The curse on Thomas's kingdom is caused by an ongoing war between the Winter and Spring courts that is bigger and more widespread than his little romantic tiff with Maisie. The elements of the sword and the lost princess of the Spring Court add a sense of scale to a story that could have easily been written off as a simple romance. The side characters were also a lot of fun. Thomas's knight, Greggory, is an excellent comedic character who has a lot of dry banter with the prince, adding humor to a fairly dark situation. The witches in the story have fleshed-out motivations for their actions and are believable in their roles, which all help to move the book along. All in all, it is a fast-paced and action-packed adventure with a whirlwind romance between two unlikely heroes.
This unique twist on the story of "Rapunzel" captivates readers with its focus on the prince and his journey. Thomas and Maisie embark on a perilous game of cat and mouse, unaware of the looming threat to their kingdom. The book masterfully fleshes out the charming prince archetype, presenting Thomas as a heroic warrior with charm and wit. In contrast, Maisie embodies the charming rogue personality, challenging Thomas's beliefs and ultimately discovering the power of love. The compelling lore surrounding the ongoing war between the Winter and Spring courts adds depth to the story, complemented by well-developed side characters and their motivations. Overall, The Golden Prince by Alice Ivinya is a dazzling, fast-paced adventure that seamlessly combines romance and fantastical elements, making it a solid addition to the Once Upon a Prince series and a standalone fantasy novel worth delving into.
When Prince Thomas inherits the legendary Sword of Spring, the only thing that can ward off the deadly power of Winter, he has no idea how much peril is about to come with it. His quest to end the famine plaguing his kingdom leads him to the home of Baba Yaga, which has already been hit by the malicious Winter warriors. After some investigating, he learns that the fate of his kingdom is tied to a girl who must be crowned Queen to save everyone. Like a true fairy tale prince, Thomas assumes he will have no trouble charming this girl and that their union will end the plague on his people. Little does he know that Maisie has no desire to be charmed and instead decides to use him for her own purposes. She is a street-smart rogue who is kept in a tower by a greedy witch until she finds her first opportunity to escape. As Thomas and Maisie embark on a dangerous game of cat and mouse, a new threat looms over his kingdom that catches them both unaware.
For a series that focuses on princes, this book does a good job of fleshing out the charming and heroic prince archetype that is so commonplace in fairy tales. Thomas is a brave warrior wielding a magic sword who is full of charm and wit. The "bad boy" thief personality that Disney used for Flynn Rider in their version of "Rapunzel" is transferred to the female lead of this story. Although Maisie has magic hair and follows the "Lost Princess" trope, her personality is closer to Flynn Rider than that of Rapunzel. She sees everyone as a pawn to be manipulated and refuses to believe that she is capable of love. Thomas's innocence and pampered upbringing allow him to believe in her in spite of everything she does to him, and there are some real whoppers! Eventually, his faith gives her the strength to give love a chance and help to save his kingdom.
The lore of this world is captivating and well-developed. The curse on Thomas's kingdom is caused by an ongoing war between the Winter and Spring courts that is bigger and more widespread than his little romantic tiff with Maisie. The elements of the sword and the lost princess of the Spring Court add a sense of scale to a story that could have easily been written off as a simple romance. The side characters were also a lot of fun. Thomas's knight, Greggory, is an excellent comedic character who has a lot of dry banter with the prince, adding humor to a fairly dark situation. The witches in the story have fleshed-out motivations for their actions and are believable in their roles, which all help to move the book along. All in all, it is a fast-paced and action-packed adventure with a whirlwind romance between two unlikely heroes.
This unique twist on the story of "Rapunzel" captivates readers with its focus on the prince and his journey. Thomas and Maisie embark on a perilous game of cat and mouse, unaware of the looming threat to their kingdom. The book masterfully fleshes out the charming prince archetype, presenting Thomas as a heroic warrior with charm and wit. In contrast, Maisie embodies the charming rogue personality, challenging Thomas's beliefs and ultimately discovering the power of love. The compelling lore surrounding the ongoing war between the Winter and Spring courts adds depth to the story, complemented by well-developed side characters and their motivations. Overall, The Golden Prince by Alice Ivinya is a dazzling, fast-paced adventure that seamlessly combines romance and fantastical elements, making it a solid addition to the Once Upon a Prince series and a standalone fantasy novel worth delving into.
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September 30, 2023No rating because DNF…
I rarely DNF but I just couldn’t continue. I read between work and home so it has to be a story I truly enjoy to manage.
Alice Ivinya writes very well, and her style is easy to read. It’s essentially the characters I didn’t like.
I felt like despite the horrible things she had lived, Maisie behaved like an entitled brat and the prince was an arrogant fool. I’m all for redemption arcs and for most of the first part I thought they would eventually change but after the 60% mark and still no evolution, I decided to stop because Maisie was getting on my nerves.
I am no feminist at heart and I don’t think it’s okay for ladies to do whatever they want while saying men are horrible for doing barely just a fraction of what they do.
I am not rating it because certainly there are people who will like this book and I don’t want to influence their rating. Simply, this is to my followers and myself to remember why I didn’t fancy this one book.
The cover is gorgeous though!
I rarely DNF but I just couldn’t continue. I read between work and home so it has to be a story I truly enjoy to manage.
Alice Ivinya writes very well, and her style is easy to read. It’s essentially the characters I didn’t like.
I felt like despite the horrible things she had lived, Maisie behaved like an entitled brat and the prince was an arrogant fool. I’m all for redemption arcs and for most of the first part I thought they would eventually change but after the 60% mark and still no evolution, I decided to stop because Maisie was getting on my nerves.
I am no feminist at heart and I don’t think it’s okay for ladies to do whatever they want while saying men are horrible for doing barely just a fraction of what they do.
I am not rating it because certainly there are people who will like this book and I don’t want to influence their rating. Simply, this is to my followers and myself to remember why I didn’t fancy this one book.
The cover is gorgeous though!
June 2, 2025
Now this book should be the prime example of "don't judge a book by it's cover" because it blew me away. I thought it's going to be some cringy, romance focused shallow Rapunzel retelling (don't get me wrong, I'd enjoy that too 😂😂) but this story was far more complex and serious than that.
It's sort of the opposite of the original because Maisie (Rapunzel) is the thief in this one and she's all badass, doesn't trust anyone, thinks the worst of people etc. Prince Thomas (Flynn) is naive, hopeful, just wants to help everyone and generally gives of Disney princess vibes 😂 I loved this switch because it offered a unique twist while also keeping parts of the original same - I won't spoil all of it for you, but there is a mother Gothel character and a tower, just not in a way you'd expect 😅
It's sort of the opposite of the original because Maisie (Rapunzel) is the thief in this one and she's all badass, doesn't trust anyone, thinks the worst of people etc. Prince Thomas (Flynn) is naive, hopeful, just wants to help everyone and generally gives of Disney princess vibes 😂 I loved this switch because it offered a unique twist while also keeping parts of the original same - I won't spoil all of it for you, but there is a mother Gothel character and a tower, just not in a way you'd expect 😅
August 26, 2023
[ARC review]
This was a lot of fun!
It took me a little bit of time to get into it. I felt like the beginning was a bit slow, and some of the dialogue a bit too on the nose. But as soon as we were introduced to the MMC, I was hooked.
This is a loose fairytale retelling of Rapunzel (with a lot of links to the movie Tangled) but with an understandably emotionally damaged MMC with some very serious attachment issues, and a naïve and well meaning prince, and I loved it. I thought she was incredibly realistically written, which was what hooked me most, but I also came to really love the prince and it had twists and turns that I did not expect.
Content warnings below
[SPOILERS]
I struggle a tad with the fact that their romance does, of course, bloom in the end. After the life she's lived, and the issues she has, I'd fear for the prince's heart and the kingdom after the final page of this story: this Rapunzel needs some very serious therapy if she's to avoid disaster and divorce XD And I feel sorry for the prince already.
As an adult, I don't have an issue with that in a story, but knowing that this is targeted at YA, I'd fear that it gives the wrong impression of how quickly and fully people can change and romanticizes the 'saviour complex' in a romantic relationship.
Coarse language: none
Violence & gore: no gore, mild fantasy violence
Sexual content: none (some pretty chaste kissing)
*I received a free copy from the author. This did not influence my rating or review.
This was a lot of fun!
It took me a little bit of time to get into it. I felt like the beginning was a bit slow, and some of the dialogue a bit too on the nose. But as soon as we were introduced to the MMC, I was hooked.
This is a loose fairytale retelling of Rapunzel (with a lot of links to the movie Tangled) but with an understandably emotionally damaged MMC with some very serious attachment issues, and a naïve and well meaning prince, and I loved it. I thought she was incredibly realistically written, which was what hooked me most, but I also came to really love the prince and it had twists and turns that I did not expect.
Content warnings below
[SPOILERS]
I struggle a tad with the fact that their romance does, of course, bloom in the end. After the life she's lived, and the issues she has, I'd fear for the prince's heart and the kingdom after the final page of this story: this Rapunzel needs some very serious therapy if she's to avoid disaster and divorce XD And I feel sorry for the prince already.
As an adult, I don't have an issue with that in a story, but knowing that this is targeted at YA, I'd fear that it gives the wrong impression of how quickly and fully people can change and romanticizes the 'saviour complex' in a romantic relationship.
Coarse language: none
Violence & gore: no gore, mild fantasy violence
Sexual content: none (some pretty chaste kissing)
*I received a free copy from the author. This did not influence my rating or review.
October 23, 2023
This was an excellent retelling of Rapunzel and not at all like the classic Rapunzel we grew up with. Read it for the twisty new story that it is!
October 9, 2023
This was a fun, cute story. I read most of it in one sitting and would have finished it, but it was 1AM and I forced myself to go to bed instead 😆
Harelin is a kingdom blessed by Spring, and they have to find the Blessing and bring it back or the kingdom will be overtaken by wasteland. Thomas leaves for Kobar, their once enemy, to search for the girl who is suppose to save the kingdom.
Maisie is a thief with major trust issues because she has been betrayed by people since before she can remember, having been left in an orphanage by unknown parents.
Maisie feels like she doesn't have her own personality because of all the masks she's had to wear and can't understand that Thomas also has had to wear a mask his entire life to be the Crown Prince that Harelin expects.
Everything comes together eventually in this story with illegal library research, boiled sugar sweets, magic hair, and a battle between the Ancient Ones.
Harelin is a kingdom blessed by Spring, and they have to find the Blessing and bring it back or the kingdom will be overtaken by wasteland. Thomas leaves for Kobar, their once enemy, to search for the girl who is suppose to save the kingdom.
Maisie is a thief with major trust issues because she has been betrayed by people since before she can remember, having been left in an orphanage by unknown parents.
Maisie feels like she doesn't have her own personality because of all the masks she's had to wear and can't understand that Thomas also has had to wear a mask his entire life to be the Crown Prince that Harelin expects.
Everything comes together eventually in this story with illegal library research, boiled sugar sweets, magic hair, and a battle between the Ancient Ones.
September 23, 2023
A fun new retelling of Rapunzel that leans more heavily on the prince's perspective!
Alice Ivinya manages to capture all of the wonderful, essential elements of Rapunzel while putting a unique spin on the story. You will find the classic elements of absurdly long hair, a tower, and blindness. Some fun added include a ring of thieves, elementals, creatures of winter, and a great battle scene.
Maisie is a thief who trusts no one and does what she needs to survive and please her mistress. Prince Thomas is desperate to find the solution to save his land. When he hears that there could be a solution to his country's deteoriation, he sets out confident that he can convince this mysterious woman to marry him and everything will be happily ever after. After all, he is the golden prince. However, reality falls short of his hopes and he must fight hard to win Maisie's trust and restore his land.
This new book is a part of the Once Upon A Prince series, stand alone novels retold from the prince's perspective. I highly recommend checking them all out!
Alice Ivinya manages to capture all of the wonderful, essential elements of Rapunzel while putting a unique spin on the story. You will find the classic elements of absurdly long hair, a tower, and blindness. Some fun added include a ring of thieves, elementals, creatures of winter, and a great battle scene.
Maisie is a thief who trusts no one and does what she needs to survive and please her mistress. Prince Thomas is desperate to find the solution to save his land. When he hears that there could be a solution to his country's deteoriation, he sets out confident that he can convince this mysterious woman to marry him and everything will be happily ever after. After all, he is the golden prince. However, reality falls short of his hopes and he must fight hard to win Maisie's trust and restore his land.
This new book is a part of the Once Upon A Prince series, stand alone novels retold from the prince's perspective. I highly recommend checking them all out!
September 4, 2023
The Golden Prince was a combined force of multiple fairy tales all wrapped into one story. I didn’t read the summery to know this was to be a Rapunzel retelling and it was quite the surprising turn of events that made me enchanted to read to the end.
Thomas is the golden child, the perfect prince, good at swordsmanship, wooing the ladies, and being the hero of the kingdom. He finds out in the middle of a feast that his kingdom is actually suffering from a famine and the only way to save them is to find Old Mother Baba, which everyone believed is just a fairy tale. When his manservant, Greggory, finds out where she might be, it leads them to finding their only hope, Maisie.
Maisie is a female version of Aladdin, she’s a thief by trade but has a good head on her shoulders not to trust people as easily. With her lack of trust, she knows the perfect way to escape dangerous situations or to place herself at the right moment in time to cause a problem.
I honestly wasn’t sure how their romance would bloom from Maisie’s lack of trust in anyone. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it highly. I thank Alice for her wonderful story and allowing me to be a part of the ARC.
Thomas is the golden child, the perfect prince, good at swordsmanship, wooing the ladies, and being the hero of the kingdom. He finds out in the middle of a feast that his kingdom is actually suffering from a famine and the only way to save them is to find Old Mother Baba, which everyone believed is just a fairy tale. When his manservant, Greggory, finds out where she might be, it leads them to finding their only hope, Maisie.
Maisie is a female version of Aladdin, she’s a thief by trade but has a good head on her shoulders not to trust people as easily. With her lack of trust, she knows the perfect way to escape dangerous situations or to place herself at the right moment in time to cause a problem.
I honestly wasn’t sure how their romance would bloom from Maisie’s lack of trust in anyone. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it highly. I thank Alice for her wonderful story and allowing me to be a part of the ARC.
August 23, 2023
One of the things I love best about Alice's writing is that she asks and answers questions that the original fairy tales ignore. Why was the prince looking for Rapunzel? What is in the rest of the tower? And what is the deal with Rapunzel's fantastically long, magical hair?
But that's just a start. She took more tropes than I even knew could be in the story and turned them all on their heads. I couldn't help laughing at the stodgy young secretary, the naive prince, and the multitude of con artists in this tale. And then there is the princess. To be honest, she's something of a piece of work at the beginning, but I think there is something about having someone unconditionally believe in you that changes a person. Or maybe it just draws our what was in them all along.
Another fantastic story from a fantastic author, one that made me think and filled me with utter delight.
Disclaimer: I edited this book but have been giving Alice 5 stars since long before I did any editing for her.
But that's just a start. She took more tropes than I even knew could be in the story and turned them all on their heads. I couldn't help laughing at the stodgy young secretary, the naive prince, and the multitude of con artists in this tale. And then there is the princess. To be honest, she's something of a piece of work at the beginning, but I think there is something about having someone unconditionally believe in you that changes a person. Or maybe it just draws our what was in them all along.
Another fantastic story from a fantastic author, one that made me think and filled me with utter delight.
Disclaimer: I edited this book but have been giving Alice 5 stars since long before I did any editing for her.
September 21, 2023
Alice always creates the most intriguing worlds and creatures and this story was no exception. I was completely sucked into Thomas and Maisie's story and just couldn't put this book down. I loved the intrigue, the fear, the twists, the turns, the magic, the betrayal and so much more. A fantastic Rapunzel retelling!
October 10, 2023
A magical retelling of Rapunzel, The Golden Prince has a rich world and intriguing mysteries. Prince Thomas has always been the perfect prince, but with his kingdom falling to famine, he must prove his worth by restoring the blessing of Spring. All he has to do is find a mysterious woman from a painting and marry her. The quest is perfect for him, he has everything: the looks, the talent, the perseverance. He is determined to find her and rescue her. If Maise has learned one lesson, it’s not to trust anybody. After having been hurt countless times, she lets people see her mask and no deeper. She has made herself a master thief through her practice of deception, but she now feels like she is forgetting which parts of her are real. One thing is certain though, she needs no prince to rescue her, she needs nobody at all. But the hounds of Winter are gathering, leaving death in their wake. The famine is spreading and without Prince Thomas marrying Maisie, the kingdom will fall. Will he be able to love someone with a shattered heart?
There was a lot of world building in the book. I loved learning about it as the story unfolded. It was a really interesting world and I would love to see more of it. I think it at times felt like there was so much that was being thought over in the creation of this and there was just not enough time to explain everything. For me it was the perfect amount to make me hopeful for more stories in this world! Thomas had to grow on me a bit. He was very conscious of his role as the “golden prince” and so made choices in order to hold onto it. I admired his dedication to his people, but did find his confidence a bit much at times. Maisie was very guarded. I definitely felt for her, but I had trouble sometimes with some of her choices. She was struggling with her identity, which is a very relatable thing. I did feel like she did lean to the extreme.
This was an intriguing story, but it did feel a bit constrained by the length. I would have loved to see more of the world and get to know the characters more. The story felt like it picked up more as it went on, so I got more into it as I read more. I am very character-focused, (which I think comes from reading so much romance!), so a story that was a little more story heavy was not as much of a natural fit. However, I did really like it and I would love to read more of this author! It is a fantasy retelling of Rapunzel, with only kissing.
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.
There was a lot of world building in the book. I loved learning about it as the story unfolded. It was a really interesting world and I would love to see more of it. I think it at times felt like there was so much that was being thought over in the creation of this and there was just not enough time to explain everything. For me it was the perfect amount to make me hopeful for more stories in this world! Thomas had to grow on me a bit. He was very conscious of his role as the “golden prince” and so made choices in order to hold onto it. I admired his dedication to his people, but did find his confidence a bit much at times. Maisie was very guarded. I definitely felt for her, but I had trouble sometimes with some of her choices. She was struggling with her identity, which is a very relatable thing. I did feel like she did lean to the extreme.
This was an intriguing story, but it did feel a bit constrained by the length. I would have loved to see more of the world and get to know the characters more. The story felt like it picked up more as it went on, so I got more into it as I read more. I am very character-focused, (which I think comes from reading so much romance!), so a story that was a little more story heavy was not as much of a natural fit. However, I did really like it and I would love to read more of this author! It is a fantasy retelling of Rapunzel, with only kissing.
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.
June 7, 2024
4.5 Stars! =D
I really enjoyed this one! It gave a unique twist on "Rapunzel". I loved how the Rapunzel character could change her hair to different lengths and styles. That was honestly so cool! The world-building was pretty neat, too. Love the idea with the fae and how the seasons play a huge part in the story, it ties so well with "Rapunzel". And okay, the author had me at the shadow wolf things. My only real complaint had to do this one part when the main character talks about how hot it is, and then the scene skips to everyone warming their toes by the fire... It was kind of explained later, but I felt the explanation needed to be brought in sooner.
Maybe fuller review to come?
I really enjoyed this one! It gave a unique twist on "Rapunzel". I loved how the Rapunzel character could change her hair to different lengths and styles. That was honestly so cool! The world-building was pretty neat, too. Love the idea with the fae and how the seasons play a huge part in the story, it ties so well with "Rapunzel". And okay, the author had me at the shadow wolf things. My only real complaint had to do this one part when the main character talks about how hot it is, and then the scene skips to everyone warming their toes by the fire... It was kind of explained later, but I felt the explanation needed to be brought in sooner.
Maybe fuller review to come?
October 16, 2023
I loved the adventurous quest that Thomas embarked on to save his kingdom. Thomas and his servant/companion Greggory shared a humorous dynamic that made their storyline fun to read. I loved Thomas's personality and how Greggory often brought him down a notch with his exasperated sighs and common sense. Thomas likes to rush ahead to save the damsel in distress with no real plan, but he proves himself a worthy love interest as he learns and grows through his arc. He represented the perspective of striving for perfection to earn love and approval.
Maisie was another fantastic character. She captured the essence of an ornery, clever Flynn-Rider-type Rapunzel that made her charming and exasperating. Maisie represented the perspective of feeling too damaged and broken to be loved. Her fear of trusting others made her run from those trying to help her, and she caused so many problems for poor Thomas! Yet, this story evokes a sense of finding unconditional love despite imperfections and brokenness--how unity in love can overcome overwhelming odds--which made for a fantastic story. I also enjoyed watching Thomas and Maisie grow as they struggled to find their purpose in saving the spring kingdom from the frosty torments of winter.
If you like to read stories with inspirational themes and clean, swoon-worthy romance, The Golden Prince is an excellent place to start. The combination of adventure, enemies-to-lovers romance, unconditional love, and intriguing magic made this novella an exciting and encouraging read. The only annoyance was the characters' nature to "lick their lips." This quirk is a pet-peeve of mine that doesn't detract from the reading experience but elicits a Greggory-type, theatrical sigh from me every time I see it in any book. However, the plot more than makes up for this with a satisfying twist and an exciting conclusion.
I haven't read anything by this author before, and I look forward to reading more in the future!
I received an advance reader copy of the book.
Maisie was another fantastic character. She captured the essence of an ornery, clever Flynn-Rider-type Rapunzel that made her charming and exasperating. Maisie represented the perspective of feeling too damaged and broken to be loved. Her fear of trusting others made her run from those trying to help her, and she caused so many problems for poor Thomas! Yet, this story evokes a sense of finding unconditional love despite imperfections and brokenness--how unity in love can overcome overwhelming odds--which made for a fantastic story. I also enjoyed watching Thomas and Maisie grow as they struggled to find their purpose in saving the spring kingdom from the frosty torments of winter.
If you like to read stories with inspirational themes and clean, swoon-worthy romance, The Golden Prince is an excellent place to start. The combination of adventure, enemies-to-lovers romance, unconditional love, and intriguing magic made this novella an exciting and encouraging read. The only annoyance was the characters' nature to "lick their lips." This quirk is a pet-peeve of mine that doesn't detract from the reading experience but elicits a Greggory-type, theatrical sigh from me every time I see it in any book. However, the plot more than makes up for this with a satisfying twist and an exciting conclusion.
I haven't read anything by this author before, and I look forward to reading more in the future!
I received an advance reader copy of the book.
September 22, 2023
I received an ARC of this book and I honestly LOVED it. The characters were so real. It was refreshing to see them as people with actual problems and not idealized as fictional perfection. A truly great and unique retelling of Rapunzel!
October 19, 2023
The Golden Prince is a standalone by Alice Ivinya. In addition, this book is part of the multi-author Once Upon A Prince series, which are all retellings of fairytales. Alice Ivinya really enjoys writing retellings, as you can see in her previous titles. This time the fairytale she chose is quite well know which makes me wonder what this Rapunzel retelling will bring. What will Alice Ivinya have in store for her readers?
This is not your ordinary Rapunzel retelling. I really loved the way Alice Ivinya has this storyline built up. The fantasy elements mix really well with the romance and just add a little tension to the storyline. I felt like the story is well-balanced, making it an easy read.
Check out my full review on my blog Boekensteeg
This is not your ordinary Rapunzel retelling. I really loved the way Alice Ivinya has this storyline built up. The fantasy elements mix really well with the romance and just add a little tension to the storyline. I felt like the story is well-balanced, making it an easy read.
Check out my full review on my blog Boekensteeg
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June 14, 2024A little slow to start for me, I did enjoy this story by the end. The world building and magic system were interesting, and both main characters had personal growth and full story arcs.
June 8, 2024
A heroic adventure!
This wonderful little book tells the story of Prince Thomas and Maisie and their misadventures to save a kingdom or save themselves. Full of fun characters and mischief, it’s a quick and fun read!
This wonderful little book tells the story of Prince Thomas and Maisie and their misadventures to save a kingdom or save themselves. Full of fun characters and mischief, it’s a quick and fun read!
October 5, 2023
Sweet, funny, and charming.. Adventure and magical happenings..
August 25, 2023
A retelling of Rapunzel but with a lot of twists from the story you’ve probably read as a child.
The Kingdom of Hardin is in the midst of a terrible famine and when the crown prince hears of a woman who may know how to stop the famine, he sets out with five friends to find that woman. However they are attacked but his father’s sword proves magical in that it eliminates magical winter animals. They find the woman dead but find a drawing of a girl and a message that she must become queen to stop the famine.
They set off to find her but it’s not as easy as the prince thought because this girl is a thief and can alter her appearance to suit her needs. When she is attacked by these same magical animals she refuses the prince’s help and seeks out her mentor who cures her but at a cost. The prince finds this woman and again goes out after the girl but once again she tricks him and escapes only to be faced with him again. She wants nothing to do with him or his cause but when they strike a bargain she decides to play along. Returning to his kingdom he finds things have gone from bad to worse and tries to quell the uprising but it takes this girl to do it.
This is an enemy to lover tale for Maise who doesn’t trust anyone but slowly starts to change when she enters the kingdom of Hardin and reflects on the earnestness of the prince and his feelings towards her as well.
I really enjoyed this book of “catch me if you can” because Maise certainly didn’t make it easy for Prince Thomas to convince her to help him and appealing to the only things a thief values, money and freedom makes her agree only to find her mindset changed when she gets to her destination.
However, she finds out there who she really is and why she needs to become queen.
I love fairy tales and I heartily recommend you get and read this book! I think after you do, you’ll want to check out other books Alice has written and you’ll have found an author you’ll be wanting to read more of for sure!
The Kingdom of Hardin is in the midst of a terrible famine and when the crown prince hears of a woman who may know how to stop the famine, he sets out with five friends to find that woman. However they are attacked but his father’s sword proves magical in that it eliminates magical winter animals. They find the woman dead but find a drawing of a girl and a message that she must become queen to stop the famine.
They set off to find her but it’s not as easy as the prince thought because this girl is a thief and can alter her appearance to suit her needs. When she is attacked by these same magical animals she refuses the prince’s help and seeks out her mentor who cures her but at a cost. The prince finds this woman and again goes out after the girl but once again she tricks him and escapes only to be faced with him again. She wants nothing to do with him or his cause but when they strike a bargain she decides to play along. Returning to his kingdom he finds things have gone from bad to worse and tries to quell the uprising but it takes this girl to do it.
This is an enemy to lover tale for Maise who doesn’t trust anyone but slowly starts to change when she enters the kingdom of Hardin and reflects on the earnestness of the prince and his feelings towards her as well.
I really enjoyed this book of “catch me if you can” because Maise certainly didn’t make it easy for Prince Thomas to convince her to help him and appealing to the only things a thief values, money and freedom makes her agree only to find her mindset changed when she gets to her destination.
However, she finds out there who she really is and why she needs to become queen.
I love fairy tales and I heartily recommend you get and read this book! I think after you do, you’ll want to check out other books Alice has written and you’ll have found an author you’ll be wanting to read more of for sure!
October 30, 2023
4.5 stars!! Another sweet fairy tale retelling! Thomas is definitely a swoony prince...😍.
Maisie is exactly the rebel/outlaw she is meant to be!! I love how their personalities are completely opposite. Cute story!
Maisie is exactly the rebel/outlaw she is meant to be!! I love how their personalities are completely opposite. Cute story!
October 20, 2023
"How could he know that I was a liar and a thief and still look at me like that, like I was the most beautiful thing in the whole world."
If you're a fan of a good Rapunzel retelling then you MUST read this book. I love how Alice brought so much backstory to why Rapunzel has her magical hair and the infamous tower she resides in. It was truly unique and heartfelt. The start of the story is a little slow but as soon as things pick up it becomes hard to put down. It was such a lovely tale of unconditional love and second chances.
4/5 stars
Read if you love:
-Enemies to Lovers
-A Unique Heroine
-Intricate Magical Worlds
-Folklore
* I received a complimentary ARC from the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
A perfect prince. An engagement to save a kingdom. Too bad it’s all a lie.
Prince Thomas has always been the perfect prince, but now that his kingdom is falling to famine, he must prove his worth and restore the blessing of Spring. All he has to do is find a mysterious woman from a painting and marry her. It’s a quest he’s been born for. He has everything: the looks, the talent, the perseverance. No matter what peril she is in, he will find and rescue her. And he’ll do so with style.
If Maisie has learned one lesson in her life, it’s not to trust anybody. Having been hurt countless times, she lets people see her mask and no deeper. Her practice at deception makes her a master thief, but now she is forgetting which parts of her are real. However, one thing is certain: she does not need any prince to rescue her. In fact, she needs nobody at all.
The hounds of Winter are gathering, leaving death in their wake. The famine is spreading. If Prince Thomas doesn’t marry Maisie, the kingdom will fall. But how can he learn to love somebody with a shattered heart?
If you're a fan of a good Rapunzel retelling then you MUST read this book. I love how Alice brought so much backstory to why Rapunzel has her magical hair and the infamous tower she resides in. It was truly unique and heartfelt. The start of the story is a little slow but as soon as things pick up it becomes hard to put down. It was such a lovely tale of unconditional love and second chances.
4/5 stars
Read if you love:
-Enemies to Lovers
-A Unique Heroine
-Intricate Magical Worlds
-Folklore
* I received a complimentary ARC from the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
A perfect prince. An engagement to save a kingdom. Too bad it’s all a lie.
Prince Thomas has always been the perfect prince, but now that his kingdom is falling to famine, he must prove his worth and restore the blessing of Spring. All he has to do is find a mysterious woman from a painting and marry her. It’s a quest he’s been born for. He has everything: the looks, the talent, the perseverance. No matter what peril she is in, he will find and rescue her. And he’ll do so with style.
If Maisie has learned one lesson in her life, it’s not to trust anybody. Having been hurt countless times, she lets people see her mask and no deeper. Her practice at deception makes her a master thief, but now she is forgetting which parts of her are real. However, one thing is certain: she does not need any prince to rescue her. In fact, she needs nobody at all.
The hounds of Winter are gathering, leaving death in their wake. The famine is spreading. If Prince Thomas doesn’t marry Maisie, the kingdom will fall. But how can he learn to love somebody with a shattered heart?
August 25, 2023
Rapunzel doesn't know who she really is. In fact she's always known herself as Maisie.
Prince Thomas also doesn't know who he really is. His reality is certainly different than Maisie's. Two unlikely characters meet and it's oil and water. Maisie's life has led her to be an actress for any role she cares to assume, and she can pull it off better than the best theatre actresses.
The kingdom hangs in the balance! How will these two pull it off? The author weaves this story with unexpected magic, but incredible insight into these two. Their character and motivations are revealed, particularly for Maisie it is an incredible effort to peel the layers back to find out how much is left of the original young girl that even she doesn't know.
Heroes come in all different forms, and you will certainly feel that as the author's words resonate with the pictures she draws in your mind.
Prince Thomas also doesn't know who he really is. His reality is certainly different than Maisie's. Two unlikely characters meet and it's oil and water. Maisie's life has led her to be an actress for any role she cares to assume, and she can pull it off better than the best theatre actresses.
The kingdom hangs in the balance! How will these two pull it off? The author weaves this story with unexpected magic, but incredible insight into these two. Their character and motivations are revealed, particularly for Maisie it is an incredible effort to peel the layers back to find out how much is left of the original young girl that even she doesn't know.
Heroes come in all different forms, and you will certainly feel that as the author's words resonate with the pictures she draws in your mind.
September 2, 2023
I was blessed and given this story as an ARC. Here is my honest review:
The Golden Prince by: Alice Ivinya
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A perfect prince. An engagement to save a kingdom. Too bad it's all a lie.
________________
OMGosh what a ride!!! I was on the edge of my seat the whole story!!
This whole story was suspenseful!
The author really put a lot of thought in these characters! Thomas really was “the golden Prince”! He was well loved and respected by his knights and his man servant. Lady Liya well…. the author did an AMAZING job with her character development!! You’ll have to read it to understand! Thomas’ man servant was the perfect Mr. Grumpy and had a very important role in the story!
The plot! It was so well thought out! This Repunzel retelling was totally reimagined and full of twists! I enjoyed the surprises along the way and there were quite a few! And the end couldn’t have been more perfect!
Great book all around! I loved it! Kudos to the author and the whole Once Upon A Prince Series Team!
The Golden Prince by: Alice Ivinya
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A perfect prince. An engagement to save a kingdom. Too bad it's all a lie.
________________
OMGosh what a ride!!! I was on the edge of my seat the whole story!!
This whole story was suspenseful!
The author really put a lot of thought in these characters! Thomas really was “the golden Prince”! He was well loved and respected by his knights and his man servant. Lady Liya well…. the author did an AMAZING job with her character development!! You’ll have to read it to understand! Thomas’ man servant was the perfect Mr. Grumpy and had a very important role in the story!
The plot! It was so well thought out! This Repunzel retelling was totally reimagined and full of twists! I enjoyed the surprises along the way and there were quite a few! And the end couldn’t have been more perfect!
Great book all around! I loved it! Kudos to the author and the whole Once Upon A Prince Series Team!
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