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Bewitching Fairy Tales #6
Sands of Deceit
Good men can't love cruel women.Lady Gisele lost everything when her father was convicted of treason. She was supposed to become a princess, have the court dance to the songs she sang, and trapped in the webs of gossip she spun. Now all the years she’d spent amassing that power was for nothing.When she’s presented with the chance to get everything she ever wanted, she’ll take it—even when it’s a life-threatening undercover mission in the Esmean Empire. Even when it involves the most infuriating man she’s ever met. She’s desperate enough to risk her life, but is she desperate enough to lose her heart?Taking his cousin’s identity to uncover a supposedly empire-shattering secret didn’t sound so bad to Lord Hakim, until he ended up stuck with the most insufferable woman he’s ever met. Now he has to pretend to be married to her while also keeping her from realizing that he’s not just her fake husband but also the lord of the estate they’re staying at.While they chase a secret that could change the world, Hakim has to wrestle with more than one unfortunate truth along the way. Maybe Gisele isn’t what he first thought she was, and that without her, does he even stand a chance at surviving at all?
514 pages, Paperback
Published October 30, 2023
84 people are currently reading
388 people want to read
About the author
Celeste Baxendell
23 books1,031 followersCeleste Baxendell has always read anything she could get her hands on, but once she read her first fantasy novel, she was hooked and hasn’t looked back since.
Her love of magic, adventure, and romance hasn’t waned with age, and she endeavors to write nail-biting stories with compelling, complex characters, and finding light in dark times.
She is incredibly blessed to spend her time writing from her favorite chair with her legs curled up under her as she fights the southern heat. When she isn’t writing, she’s either reading, drawing, or sewing, in that order, and most likely thinking about writing as she does.
Her love of magic, adventure, and romance hasn’t waned with age, and she endeavors to write nail-biting stories with compelling, complex characters, and finding light in dark times.
She is incredibly blessed to spend her time writing from her favorite chair with her legs curled up under her as she fights the southern heat. When she isn’t writing, she’s either reading, drawing, or sewing, in that order, and most likely thinking about writing as she does.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
July 10, 2023
This was quite the tale of derring-do, combining the fairy tale of King Thrushbeard with elements of "The Prince and the Pauper", "Nancy Drew" and "A Comedy of Errors". I love how Giselle and Hakim fell in love being themselves while not being themselves, arguing all the way. This was fun, daring, dashing and full of emotional epiphanies, and worth savouring.
I received an ARC from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 27, 2022
Another lovely fairy tale retelling by Celeste Baxendell!
As with the other books on this series, this was a twist on two separate tales. Giselle and Hakim's story was based on Bluebeard and King Thrushbeard. Given that this is a Thrushbeard retelling, Giselle starts off a little annoying at first, but she definitely experiences some well-deserved character growth over the book.
I thought that the Bluebeard half of the retelling was very cleverly done. Bluebeard isn't retold very often in the HEA fairy tale world, for obvious reasons, so I'm always very impressed when an author can twist the original story into something much less dark.
Recommended if you're a fan of either fairy tale or fairy tale retellings in general. This could probably be read as a standalone, but there are pieces that will make more sense if you've read the other books in the series.
Thank you to the author for a review copy.
As with the other books on this series, this was a twist on two separate tales. Giselle and Hakim's story was based on Bluebeard and King Thrushbeard. Given that this is a Thrushbeard retelling, Giselle starts off a little annoying at first, but she definitely experiences some well-deserved character growth over the book.
I thought that the Bluebeard half of the retelling was very cleverly done. Bluebeard isn't retold very often in the HEA fairy tale world, for obvious reasons, so I'm always very impressed when an author can twist the original story into something much less dark.
Recommended if you're a fan of either fairy tale or fairy tale retellings in general. This could probably be read as a standalone, but there are pieces that will make more sense if you've read the other books in the series.
Thank you to the author for a review copy.
November 3, 2022
I have thoroughly enjoyed every book in the series so far, with Mirrors being one of my all-time favorite books. Sands of Deceit did not disappoint! My mind was whirling the whole time I was reading, trying to piece together all the little clues and subtleties that have covered the series so far. I'm blown away by how each book ties into the others so seamlessly, and how each character is so uniquely them. Gisele is such a complex character, with so many facets that aren't all beautiful, making her relatable. She isn't perfect, but she's trying and that's what makes her work so well! Her interactions with Hakim from start to finish really show what growth can look like. I'm so, so excited to see what comes next in this series- i just know the ending of this is going to be EXPLOSIVE!
April 12, 2024
Rarely do you find retellings of Bluebeard or king thrushbeard, so to find this one, and a well done one at that is refreshing. Lesser known tales should be seen more as this is probably one of my favorites from this series
December 26, 2022
Lady Gisele lost everything when her father was convicted of treason. Instead of marrying a prince and being the center of attention at court she finds herself bundled up in the countryside, taking care of her alcoholic mother. When Gisele is offered a chance to get her life back she takes it, even if it means going on a dangerous undercover mission, together with the most infuriating man she's ever met.
Lord Hakim feels well prepared for the mission, when the plan suddenly changes and he needs to work with the most insufferable woman he's ever met. Not only do they need to pretend to be married, he also have to keep Gisele from knowing he's got a double role to play.
This time Baxendell has made an adaption of "King Thrushbeard" and "Bluebeard". I haven't read either, so it didn't feel like a retelling to me. But when I googled after reading it seems like the author did a very good job with her adaption.
Baxendell always write long books, but I don't mind spending time in her fantasy world, and with her characters. Although, this book feels a bit too long. Mainly, I think, because I don't like Gisele in the beginning. She's selfish, cruel, and altogether unsympathetic. When she finally starts letting her guard down she becomes more human and easier to understand, but it takes about half the book before I stop "resisting". The characters don't have to be perfect for me to like them, but when the only positive thing I find about Gisele is that she doesn't drink alcohol, it's hard to empathise. It gets better, but it takes a long time.
Still, I've been happy to spend time in Baxendell's world again, and it was fun to see Liora and Cynrik for a while! The books in this series can be read as stand alones, but you get more out of it if you read them in order.
* I received an ARC from the author and I'm giving my honest review. *
Lord Hakim feels well prepared for the mission, when the plan suddenly changes and he needs to work with the most insufferable woman he's ever met. Not only do they need to pretend to be married, he also have to keep Gisele from knowing he's got a double role to play.
This time Baxendell has made an adaption of "King Thrushbeard" and "Bluebeard". I haven't read either, so it didn't feel like a retelling to me. But when I googled after reading it seems like the author did a very good job with her adaption.
Baxendell always write long books, but I don't mind spending time in her fantasy world, and with her characters. Although, this book feels a bit too long. Mainly, I think, because I don't like Gisele in the beginning. She's selfish, cruel, and altogether unsympathetic. When she finally starts letting her guard down she becomes more human and easier to understand, but it takes about half the book before I stop "resisting". The characters don't have to be perfect for me to like them, but when the only positive thing I find about Gisele is that she doesn't drink alcohol, it's hard to empathise. It gets better, but it takes a long time.
Still, I've been happy to spend time in Baxendell's world again, and it was fun to see Liora and Cynrik for a while! The books in this series can be read as stand alones, but you get more out of it if you read them in order.
* I received an ARC from the author and I'm giving my honest review. *
November 6, 2022
Few authors are able to pump out lengthy fantasy novels with fantastic character and world-building as quickly as Celeste Baxendell. The latest book in her Bewitching Fairy Tales series is Sands of Deceit, an adaptation of "King Thrushbeard" and "Bluebeard," two lesser-known fairy tales that rarely get adaptations. I was pleased that this story was a direct tie-in to my favorite of her books, Cinders of Glass. Instead of a sweet, naive, and reckless protagonist like Liora, this book is about the "mean girl" who bullied her, Lady Gisele, who is equally relatable in entirely different ways. Gisele is cold, calculating, and worldly with an unexpected vulnerability at her core. I thoroughly enjoyed reading her redemption arc, especially since it reminded me of one of my own books, The Stolen Slipper.
Lady Gisele has just about given up on her chances of succeeding in life. She comes from a ruined family, and to top it all off, the prince she was seeking married her rival, Liora. When Liora offers her a second chance if she agrees to do an undercover spy mission for her kingdom, Gisele has nothing left to lose. The mission requires her to pretend to be married to Hakim, a man she finds insufferable while working for his cousin, Karim, as a singer and doing demeaning labor when she isn't performing. What she doesn't know is that during the entire course of their mission, Hakim is using magic to disguise himself as Karim, who has a secret mission of her own. Unfortunately for them, Gisele is very good at discovering people's secrets, a skill that nearly gets her killed on multiple occasions.
This book does a great job of combining the stories of "King Thrushbeard" and "Bluebeard" with a unique twist that this series is prone to. Both fairy tales are about a bearded man keeping potentially deadly secrets from a woman. In this case, the bearded man is Hakim in disguise as Karim. While the real Karim is living happily ever after with his true love, he entrusts Hakim to run an undercover operation where he pretends to marry troubled women while pretending to be him, claims that each wife has tragically passed away, and then sneaks the "dead" wives off to a life of freedom, kind of like a medieval witness protection program. The problem with this scheme is that it looks like Karim is killing all of his wives to the general public. Gisele quickly becomes concerned about the fate of his wives until she learns that he is involved in the same mission as her. After that, she begins to fall for Karim because she thinks she isn't good enough for Hakim.
Gisele and Hakim have a unique relationship that is not portrayed often in fairy tale books. They are constantly at each other's throats, but each secretly desires the other's approval. This is a pretty classic romcom trope for couples who must pretend to be married despite not being able to stand each other and then falling in love later on. The writing in the book adds new depth to that trope by focusing on both characters' perspectives and how different their inner feelings are from the way they present themselves to the world. This gives them an opportunity to get to know each other better through their fake marriage by having private moments to reveal their vulnerabilities that they would not have had otherwise. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how all the pieces of their relationship came together after each secret had been revealed.
Overall, I thought this was a much stronger book than the previous one in this series, and I loved all the throwbacks to Cinders of Glass. Gisele and Hakim are fascinating characters with complex goals and motivations. It's nice to take a break from the sugar-sweet gentle princess archetype once in a while and read about one who prefers to take charge of her own destiny. These characters are easy to relate to despite their complexities. The author did a fantastic job of combining two less popular fairy tales in an appealing way. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves classic fairy tales and wants to experience something that strays a bit from the beaten path.
Lady Gisele has just about given up on her chances of succeeding in life. She comes from a ruined family, and to top it all off, the prince she was seeking married her rival, Liora. When Liora offers her a second chance if she agrees to do an undercover spy mission for her kingdom, Gisele has nothing left to lose. The mission requires her to pretend to be married to Hakim, a man she finds insufferable while working for his cousin, Karim, as a singer and doing demeaning labor when she isn't performing. What she doesn't know is that during the entire course of their mission, Hakim is using magic to disguise himself as Karim, who has a secret mission of her own. Unfortunately for them, Gisele is very good at discovering people's secrets, a skill that nearly gets her killed on multiple occasions.
This book does a great job of combining the stories of "King Thrushbeard" and "Bluebeard" with a unique twist that this series is prone to. Both fairy tales are about a bearded man keeping potentially deadly secrets from a woman. In this case, the bearded man is Hakim in disguise as Karim. While the real Karim is living happily ever after with his true love, he entrusts Hakim to run an undercover operation where he pretends to marry troubled women while pretending to be him, claims that each wife has tragically passed away, and then sneaks the "dead" wives off to a life of freedom, kind of like a medieval witness protection program. The problem with this scheme is that it looks like Karim is killing all of his wives to the general public. Gisele quickly becomes concerned about the fate of his wives until she learns that he is involved in the same mission as her. After that, she begins to fall for Karim because she thinks she isn't good enough for Hakim.
Gisele and Hakim have a unique relationship that is not portrayed often in fairy tale books. They are constantly at each other's throats, but each secretly desires the other's approval. This is a pretty classic romcom trope for couples who must pretend to be married despite not being able to stand each other and then falling in love later on. The writing in the book adds new depth to that trope by focusing on both characters' perspectives and how different their inner feelings are from the way they present themselves to the world. This gives them an opportunity to get to know each other better through their fake marriage by having private moments to reveal their vulnerabilities that they would not have had otherwise. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how all the pieces of their relationship came together after each secret had been revealed.
Overall, I thought this was a much stronger book than the previous one in this series, and I loved all the throwbacks to Cinders of Glass. Gisele and Hakim are fascinating characters with complex goals and motivations. It's nice to take a break from the sugar-sweet gentle princess archetype once in a while and read about one who prefers to take charge of her own destiny. These characters are easy to relate to despite their complexities. The author did a fantastic job of combining two less popular fairy tales in an appealing way. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves classic fairy tales and wants to experience something that strays a bit from the beaten path.
November 7, 2024
I absolutely hate this author- I mean how dare Baxendell take a character we loved to hate only to give her a redemption story all her own where we can’t help but love her? How evil can one author be to be able to sway our emotions and alliances so easily?
Behold, the mistress of switch and baiting her adoring fans. All hail the Queen.
Emotional manipulation at its finest and I can admit that I loved every glorious minute of it.
I’m not exactly sure just how many FTs are crammed in here- a side character that I am eager to learn more about in the next book is a toss-up… I can’t settle on if he’s cursed a’la Midas, or if the desert setting is pushing that he’s a d’jinn. Maybe he’s a morph of the two, but I look forward to finding out. Betting money though says he’s a form of Midas.
Lady Ro’s reveal at the end, however, I had worked out not long after her reveal, which answers the pink gloves mentioned in Piper’s story (I thought it for a darker character), but the reveal now has me wondering about the Scholar’s role expanding into a far bigger picture than I could have ever guessed. Why one girl’s path turns right and the other left has been building for awhile and once again proves that Baxendell has seriously charted her world every step of the way. Even the Emperor, mentioned so much in previous books has now stepped onto the stage and, if my suspicions are correct, even he may be tossed a sympathetic curve alongside of the Scholar. I hope it isn’t so all the same.
There really are no throwaway characters- the most minor seem to eventually fit into the puzzle in ways unexpected, which now has me wondering how Gisele’s dealings with the twins may fit in down the road.
The twins… and the scene of absolute horror I have yet to stumble on happening to a woman in the series. Oh, sure, there have been a lot of bad things happening to our heroines, but no matter how much I loathed Gisele and really was peeved discovering she was being set up with Hakim, the kindest man in all of Baxendell’s universe (and my absolute favorite), she didn’t deserve this at all.
Not only do you begin to understand why Gisele is so broken within the first chapter or so, but you just want to hold her close and protect her. Perhaps that’s just due to some of my own issues mirroring hers (wait, I’m the reality, so I guess she is a dark mirror of myself- whichever it is I am sure you are getting the point).
I want Salil’s head on a plate, so I guess it’s now just a matter of time before I am handed his explanation? I refuse to be swayed if he does come across sympathetic down the line- his sister, fine, but not Salil. If he pops up later as Sinbad the Sailor or other likable character I will be so disappointed.
Of course I thought that about Gisele just a story or two ago, but this time I will hold firm.
Sadly, I was writing to a friend when I first started Gisele’s journey and writing down how I like how no one comes out unscathed- that curses leave their mark and even heroes can walk away with horrible scars as a reminder of how far they come. I mentioned my hope for Gisele’s perfect exterior to bear at least one little scar by the end… be careful what you wish for. I should have known that just because bruises can fade and emotional slings and arrows are not visible on the skin, that there are some scars no one should have to carry with them.
Poor Gisele. If I could take those thoughts back I would, along with giving her a heartfelt apology.
So, as I said before, it seems like many a FT are mixed into this literary buffet. Obvious (hey, it’s the desert setting) I believe there’s a slew of Arabian Nights- given we have the possible d’jinn in play, as well as maybe an Aladdin in Salil (please, no as he deserves to be hated rather than understood). No idea how the Steward may pop up again, but odds are likely he might, given my surprise at how many other people seem to spring up. We have hints of Sleeping Beauty, a kind-of Prince and the Pauper in Hakim and his cousin Karim… or is this a nod to another Arabian Tale I am forgetting- goodness knows there are many of them.
Apples are mentioned a lot, a nod to the Tale of the Three Apples perhaps? Gisele’s favorite song to perform is a nod as well. All of this simmers down to Gisele as a Scheherazade all of the others storylines and characters revolve around and are influenced by her choices and actions. Really, it’s cleverly done, even her love of history that winds up making her perfect in her mission. Not to mention done in such a way that I only picked up on the Arabian Nights theme with the arrival of the Midas/d’jinn. Bravo for keeping me entertained so well I hadn’t even recognized the tune to which my feet were dancing.
I should have realized it far sooner but nope, completely clueless here and yet none the worse for it.
And, as always, Baxendell’s stories keep topping one another where I find how the characters I “loved best” in the former book have to slide down a rung in order to insert the newest romance at the top of the list.
Seriously, masterful manipulation you aren’t fully aware of until the final page is read, and now I am on to the next and I am looking forward to find where my heart will be tugged next.
But Ms. Baxendell, thank you for swinging back to Hakim and allowing him a HEA all his own.
Behold, the mistress of switch and baiting her adoring fans. All hail the Queen.
Emotional manipulation at its finest and I can admit that I loved every glorious minute of it.
I’m not exactly sure just how many FTs are crammed in here- a side character that I am eager to learn more about in the next book is a toss-up… I can’t settle on if he’s cursed a’la Midas, or if the desert setting is pushing that he’s a d’jinn. Maybe he’s a morph of the two, but I look forward to finding out. Betting money though says he’s a form of Midas.
Lady Ro’s reveal at the end, however, I had worked out not long after her reveal, which answers the pink gloves mentioned in Piper’s story (I thought it for a darker character), but the reveal now has me wondering about the Scholar’s role expanding into a far bigger picture than I could have ever guessed. Why one girl’s path turns right and the other left has been building for awhile and once again proves that Baxendell has seriously charted her world every step of the way. Even the Emperor, mentioned so much in previous books has now stepped onto the stage and, if my suspicions are correct, even he may be tossed a sympathetic curve alongside of the Scholar. I hope it isn’t so all the same.
There really are no throwaway characters- the most minor seem to eventually fit into the puzzle in ways unexpected, which now has me wondering how Gisele’s dealings with the twins may fit in down the road.
The twins… and the scene of absolute horror I have yet to stumble on happening to a woman in the series. Oh, sure, there have been a lot of bad things happening to our heroines, but no matter how much I loathed Gisele and really was peeved discovering she was being set up with Hakim, the kindest man in all of Baxendell’s universe (and my absolute favorite), she didn’t deserve this at all.
Not only do you begin to understand why Gisele is so broken within the first chapter or so, but you just want to hold her close and protect her. Perhaps that’s just due to some of my own issues mirroring hers (wait, I’m the reality, so I guess she is a dark mirror of myself- whichever it is I am sure you are getting the point).
I want Salil’s head on a plate, so I guess it’s now just a matter of time before I am handed his explanation? I refuse to be swayed if he does come across sympathetic down the line- his sister, fine, but not Salil. If he pops up later as Sinbad the Sailor or other likable character I will be so disappointed.
Of course I thought that about Gisele just a story or two ago, but this time I will hold firm.
Sadly, I was writing to a friend when I first started Gisele’s journey and writing down how I like how no one comes out unscathed- that curses leave their mark and even heroes can walk away with horrible scars as a reminder of how far they come. I mentioned my hope for Gisele’s perfect exterior to bear at least one little scar by the end… be careful what you wish for. I should have known that just because bruises can fade and emotional slings and arrows are not visible on the skin, that there are some scars no one should have to carry with them.
Poor Gisele. If I could take those thoughts back I would, along with giving her a heartfelt apology.
So, as I said before, it seems like many a FT are mixed into this literary buffet. Obvious (hey, it’s the desert setting) I believe there’s a slew of Arabian Nights- given we have the possible d’jinn in play, as well as maybe an Aladdin in Salil (please, no as he deserves to be hated rather than understood). No idea how the Steward may pop up again, but odds are likely he might, given my surprise at how many other people seem to spring up. We have hints of Sleeping Beauty, a kind-of Prince and the Pauper in Hakim and his cousin Karim… or is this a nod to another Arabian Tale I am forgetting- goodness knows there are many of them.
Apples are mentioned a lot, a nod to the Tale of the Three Apples perhaps? Gisele’s favorite song to perform is a nod as well. All of this simmers down to Gisele as a Scheherazade all of the others storylines and characters revolve around and are influenced by her choices and actions. Really, it’s cleverly done, even her love of history that winds up making her perfect in her mission. Not to mention done in such a way that I only picked up on the Arabian Nights theme with the arrival of the Midas/d’jinn. Bravo for keeping me entertained so well I hadn’t even recognized the tune to which my feet were dancing.
I should have realized it far sooner but nope, completely clueless here and yet none the worse for it.
And, as always, Baxendell’s stories keep topping one another where I find how the characters I “loved best” in the former book have to slide down a rung in order to insert the newest romance at the top of the list.
Seriously, masterful manipulation you aren’t fully aware of until the final page is read, and now I am on to the next and I am looking forward to find where my heart will be tugged next.
But Ms. Baxendell, thank you for swinging back to Hakim and allowing him a HEA all his own.
December 17, 2022
Sands of Deceit
Reader’s Notes:
– this is part of a series, and can be read as a stand-alone
– this is told from Gisele & Hakim’s points of view
– Gisele is attacked by a character infatuated with her after discovering her interest in someone else and after having been told by her that she wasn’t interested in the attacker (attack= grabs her & chokes her)
Review:
I loved this mix of King Thrushbeard and Bluebeard! It worked so well together (and was way less gory/bloody than the original Bluebeard) and I loved seeing how Celeste mixed them together while still making this her own tale! I loved finding out more about Gisele and Hakim and how they managed to work together. I loved their banter and how Hakim tried to get around his bracelet to have Gisele to discover part of his other mission. I loved how sweet they ended up being together towards the end when they could stand one another (as themselves). I loved all the spying and both of their attempts to learn new skills to better their spying. I loved meeting new characters and the set up for the next story! I’m very curious to see what’s going to happen next 😍.
Summary:
Gisele was once the person to go to for court intrigue. But now that her father committed treason, Gisele is the one being whispered about and she would do anything to escape her fall from grace. When she is approached with an offer she can’t refuse, Gisele finds herself on her way to the dangerous Esmean Empire with Hakim to discover what secret the royal family is hiding in order to exploit it and break their control once and for all. But in order to find this secret, they must pretend to be married to each other, and neither of them can stand the other.
Hakim has two parts to his mission, the first Gisele is aware of and the other she is kept purposefully in the dark. When he isn’t pretending to be Gisele’s husband, Hakim will also be impersonating his cousin who is the lord of the estate they will be working at. With the two-fold parts to his mission, some of the lines get blurred. For as his cousin, Gisele is a softer version of herself that is much more approachable and open than he ever expected she could be. But as Hakim, she can’t seem to be able to stand being in the same room as him. As he begins to fall for Gisele as both men, Hakim wonders what Gisele will think when she discovers that he manipulated and lied to her all this time. And Hakim also wonders if he’ll even get a chance to find out the answer when their attempts at subterfuge may still have the chance of getting them killed…
Reader’s Notes:
– this is part of a series, and can be read as a stand-alone
– this is told from Gisele & Hakim’s points of view
– Gisele is attacked by a character infatuated with her after discovering her interest in someone else and after having been told by her that she wasn’t interested in the attacker (attack= grabs her & chokes her)
Review:
I loved this mix of King Thrushbeard and Bluebeard! It worked so well together (and was way less gory/bloody than the original Bluebeard) and I loved seeing how Celeste mixed them together while still making this her own tale! I loved finding out more about Gisele and Hakim and how they managed to work together. I loved their banter and how Hakim tried to get around his bracelet to have Gisele to discover part of his other mission. I loved how sweet they ended up being together towards the end when they could stand one another (as themselves). I loved all the spying and both of their attempts to learn new skills to better their spying. I loved meeting new characters and the set up for the next story! I’m very curious to see what’s going to happen next 😍.
Summary:
Gisele was once the person to go to for court intrigue. But now that her father committed treason, Gisele is the one being whispered about and she would do anything to escape her fall from grace. When she is approached with an offer she can’t refuse, Gisele finds herself on her way to the dangerous Esmean Empire with Hakim to discover what secret the royal family is hiding in order to exploit it and break their control once and for all. But in order to find this secret, they must pretend to be married to each other, and neither of them can stand the other.
Hakim has two parts to his mission, the first Gisele is aware of and the other she is kept purposefully in the dark. When he isn’t pretending to be Gisele’s husband, Hakim will also be impersonating his cousin who is the lord of the estate they will be working at. With the two-fold parts to his mission, some of the lines get blurred. For as his cousin, Gisele is a softer version of herself that is much more approachable and open than he ever expected she could be. But as Hakim, she can’t seem to be able to stand being in the same room as him. As he begins to fall for Gisele as both men, Hakim wonders what Gisele will think when she discovers that he manipulated and lied to her all this time. And Hakim also wonders if he’ll even get a chance to find out the answer when their attempts at subterfuge may still have the chance of getting them killed…
November 2, 2022
This book is definitely the best in the series I've read so far. The character development was flawless, and the plot was immersive.
Giselle, the heroine, was quite a change from those I usually read about because she was not good. Not at all. She was petty, cruel, gossippy, selfish, manipulative and power hungry, at least on the surface.
But as I got deeper into the book, I discovered something truly shocking. I thought I understood Giselle's character, but I was wrong. Giselle can't be summerised as "selfish" or "mean"; yes, she is both those things, but their is so much more to her.
Because she was miserable and unhappy, she lashed out and hurt others so they could feel just a little bit of her misery and pain. She gathers gossip so she can be untop where no one can touch her.
Her family life wasn't ideal in any way, and her idea of love was a toxic, poisonous emotion that would have eventually destroyed her and the man she thought she loved.
Yet as the plot of the book progresses, more facets to her personality are revealed. She uses others' words to hurt herself because she believes being hated and feared is the only way she can protect herself from disappointment and she thinks she isn't worthy of a true, pure love.
And yet, despite her supposed selfishness and self-centeredness, she doesn't hesitate to step in and protect a girl she has never met, even after that girl throws an outrageous series of insults and accusations at her.
Hakim, the hero, proved to be a far more interesting character than I expected. He's seemingly the exact opposite of Giselle in every way. He's selfless and loyal and everything just and honourable.
But just like Giselle, he has hidden depths to him that I never saw coming. With his brilliant mind, he concocted the perfect plan to gather information. And when it became necessary, he revealed a darker side to him that shocked and thrilled. Despite his seemingly open personality, he proved to have the ability to deceive and manipulate.
Once again, Celest Baxendell has put a unique spin to two classic fairy tales, masterfully interweaving two very different, yet somehow similar stories into one breathtakingly original masterpiece.
* I received an ARC copy of this book from the author and willfully give this honest review.
Giselle, the heroine, was quite a change from those I usually read about because she was not good. Not at all. She was petty, cruel, gossippy, selfish, manipulative and power hungry, at least on the surface.
But as I got deeper into the book, I discovered something truly shocking. I thought I understood Giselle's character, but I was wrong. Giselle can't be summerised as "selfish" or "mean"; yes, she is both those things, but their is so much more to her.
Because she was miserable and unhappy, she lashed out and hurt others so they could feel just a little bit of her misery and pain. She gathers gossip so she can be untop where no one can touch her.
Her family life wasn't ideal in any way, and her idea of love was a toxic, poisonous emotion that would have eventually destroyed her and the man she thought she loved.
Yet as the plot of the book progresses, more facets to her personality are revealed. She uses others' words to hurt herself because she believes being hated and feared is the only way she can protect herself from disappointment and she thinks she isn't worthy of a true, pure love.
And yet, despite her supposed selfishness and self-centeredness, she doesn't hesitate to step in and protect a girl she has never met, even after that girl throws an outrageous series of insults and accusations at her.
Hakim, the hero, proved to be a far more interesting character than I expected. He's seemingly the exact opposite of Giselle in every way. He's selfless and loyal and everything just and honourable.
But just like Giselle, he has hidden depths to him that I never saw coming. With his brilliant mind, he concocted the perfect plan to gather information. And when it became necessary, he revealed a darker side to him that shocked and thrilled. Despite his seemingly open personality, he proved to have the ability to deceive and manipulate.
Once again, Celest Baxendell has put a unique spin to two classic fairy tales, masterfully interweaving two very different, yet somehow similar stories into one breathtakingly original masterpiece.
* I received an ARC copy of this book from the author and willfully give this honest review.
July 13, 2025
👑 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖:
Sands of Deceit
📖 Author: Celeste Baxendell
🏰 Genre: Fantasy, Romance, enemies-to-lovers, desert-vibes
🎀 Date Finished: July 13th, 2025
🌟 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/ 3 tiaras
★★★☆☆
I wanted to love this one. A Bluebeard/King Thrushbeard retelling with a fake marriage and espionage? Sign me up. And yet… I found myself mentally shouting “please just kiss or do something” more often than I expected.
🗡️ Plot
The premise? Excellent. Lady Gisele is a disgraced court singer forced into a fake marriage with the mysterious (and maddening) Lord Hakim to root out secrets in a foreign empire. Sounds juicy, right?
But the execution leaned slow. There’s a lot of thinking, a lot of observing, and quite a bit of internal monologuing about reputations and destroying oneself. Some intrigue picked up in the second half, but it took a while.
💔 Romance
This is very much a slow-burn, low-sizzle romance. Gisele and Hakim's romance was so slow that the word shouldn't even be used. When the sparks finally start crackling, they’re sweet—but it’s a long road (with few crumbs along the way).
If you love banter that becomes trust, and trust that becomes almost-something... you’ll probably eat this up. I just wish there was more of it—more intensity, more payoff, more feeling like the “fake marriage” part actually mattered emotionally sooner.
⚖️ Overall
✨ I liked:
Hakim. Just… Hakim.
The worldbuilding and fairy tale roots
The emotional payoff at the end
🤷♀️ I struggled with:
Gisele’s wall-of-ice personality early on (And to the end...)
The pacing (slow middle, kept being slow)
Wishing this romance gave me more ache and less dust
Verdict:
A decent entry in the Bewitching Fairy Tales series, but not my favorite. It gave what it promised—just at 75% speed
📖 Author: Celeste Baxendell
🏰 Genre: Fantasy, Romance, enemies-to-lovers, desert-vibes
🎀 Date Finished: July 13th, 2025
🌟 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/ 3 tiaras
★★★☆☆
I wanted to love this one. A Bluebeard/King Thrushbeard retelling with a fake marriage and espionage? Sign me up. And yet… I found myself mentally shouting “please just kiss or do something” more often than I expected.
🗡️ Plot
The premise? Excellent. Lady Gisele is a disgraced court singer forced into a fake marriage with the mysterious (and maddening) Lord Hakim to root out secrets in a foreign empire. Sounds juicy, right?
But the execution leaned slow. There’s a lot of thinking, a lot of observing, and quite a bit of internal monologuing about reputations and destroying oneself. Some intrigue picked up in the second half, but it took a while.
💔 Romance
This is very much a slow-burn, low-sizzle romance. Gisele and Hakim's romance was so slow that the word shouldn't even be used. When the sparks finally start crackling, they’re sweet—but it’s a long road (with few crumbs along the way).
If you love banter that becomes trust, and trust that becomes almost-something... you’ll probably eat this up. I just wish there was more of it—more intensity, more payoff, more feeling like the “fake marriage” part actually mattered emotionally sooner.
⚖️ Overall
✨ I liked:
Hakim. Just… Hakim.
The worldbuilding and fairy tale roots
The emotional payoff at the end
🤷♀️ I struggled with:
Gisele’s wall-of-ice personality early on (And to the end...)
The pacing (slow middle, kept being slow)
Wishing this romance gave me more ache and less dust
Verdict:
A decent entry in the Bewitching Fairy Tales series, but not my favorite. It gave what it promised—just at 75% speed
December 1, 2022
Bluebeard & King Thrushbeard retellings. In the beginning, Giselle and Hakim have a difficult time trusting each other and working together and yet still develop a love/hate relationship. However, Giselle and Karim-played by-Hakim learn to cooperate and help each other. Hakim/Karim sees another side to Giselle which he comes to appreciate. Giselle has lots of things she needs to learn about herself and building relationships with others, but she gradually learns to trust that there are some people she can rely on besides just herself. Hakim makes decisions which complicate his mission, his life, and his relationship with Giselle; I think he bit off a little more than he could chew. The banter between Giselle and Karim seems natural and sometimes witty. Conversations between Giselle and Hakim run the gamut from explosive anger to apologetic repentance. Adventures, betrayals, and surprises abound.
Although, the story was excellent, there was some confusion during the narrative in calling Lord Hakim by his true name, Hakim, while he was playing the part of Karim. I had to think if the story said Hakim, what happened to Karim, or is it simply because he is the main character that he is called Hakim. Are you confused yet? Also, the names are so similar, I was surprised Giselle didn’t figure things out sooner. I received an ARC copy from the author am voluntarily leaving a review.
Although, the story was excellent, there was some confusion during the narrative in calling Lord Hakim by his true name, Hakim, while he was playing the part of Karim. I had to think if the story said Hakim, what happened to Karim, or is it simply because he is the main character that he is called Hakim. Are you confused yet? Also, the names are so similar, I was surprised Giselle didn’t figure things out sooner. I received an ARC copy from the author am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 26, 2025
Celeste does it again!
Celeste does it again! She is amazing at taking characters that were honestly villains or at least secondary antagonists in one book and making you love them in their own story. They are perfectly imperfect which honestly makes them so much more relatable than your standard fairy tale characters. Add in a crazy intriguing story and you have a winner! Giselle’s redemption story is complex and great. I loved getting to understand her and her motivations better.
One disagreement I have is with the claim that these books can be read as a standalone. Honestly, there is too much character crossover from previous books as well as the continuation of the overarching political plot line through each book to truly be a standalone. Although each book so far has focused on a different set of characters for their lead, with fun and unique adventures they alone experience, they still are each influenced continents politics. Reading the books in the order they are written will help make those parts of the plot make sense. Reading in order will also not spoil endings of other books for you. Just take my advice and start with book one. You won’t regret it. Each book has been awesome.
Celeste does it again! She is amazing at taking characters that were honestly villains or at least secondary antagonists in one book and making you love them in their own story. They are perfectly imperfect which honestly makes them so much more relatable than your standard fairy tale characters. Add in a crazy intriguing story and you have a winner! Giselle’s redemption story is complex and great. I loved getting to understand her and her motivations better.
One disagreement I have is with the claim that these books can be read as a standalone. Honestly, there is too much character crossover from previous books as well as the continuation of the overarching political plot line through each book to truly be a standalone. Although each book so far has focused on a different set of characters for their lead, with fun and unique adventures they alone experience, they still are each influenced continents politics. Reading the books in the order they are written will help make those parts of the plot make sense. Reading in order will also not spoil endings of other books for you. Just take my advice and start with book one. You won’t regret it. Each book has been awesome.
November 17, 2025
Sands of Deceit by Celeste Baxendell
Such a fun, twisty situation! Hakim has to pretend to be married to Gisele while also keeping her from realizing that he’s not just her fake husband but also the lord of the estate they’re staying at (except he really isn't (confused yet?🤣))...
Pretty deep for a fairytale! This one is a retelling of King Thrushbeard and Bluebeard. I haven't seen a Bluebeard retelling before so I particularly liked that part. And the main female character is the "stepsister" from a previous Cinderella story so she definitely has some things to work through. It was so fun watching Hakim trying to juggle two disguises at the same time. I'm enjoying just a touch of chaos here as I'm reading this series out of order. This is book 6 and besides this one I've only read book 7. Kudos to the author for making such awesome interconnected standalones! Absolutely loving this series! Highly recommend.
Genre: Fantasy romance (no spice)
Favorite character: Ro (yeah, I know she's just a side character in this one but it was fun seeing her since I know her from book 7)
Favorite part: The Bluebeard scheme
Quote: "And no matter what, he knew he would never be expendable to her."
Such a fun, twisty situation! Hakim has to pretend to be married to Gisele while also keeping her from realizing that he’s not just her fake husband but also the lord of the estate they’re staying at (except he really isn't (confused yet?🤣))...
Pretty deep for a fairytale! This one is a retelling of King Thrushbeard and Bluebeard. I haven't seen a Bluebeard retelling before so I particularly liked that part. And the main female character is the "stepsister" from a previous Cinderella story so she definitely has some things to work through. It was so fun watching Hakim trying to juggle two disguises at the same time. I'm enjoying just a touch of chaos here as I'm reading this series out of order. This is book 6 and besides this one I've only read book 7. Kudos to the author for making such awesome interconnected standalones! Absolutely loving this series! Highly recommend.
Genre: Fantasy romance (no spice)
Favorite character: Ro (yeah, I know she's just a side character in this one but it was fun seeing her since I know her from book 7)
Favorite part: The Bluebeard scheme
Quote: "And no matter what, he knew he would never be expendable to her."
November 29, 2022
This is an amazing epic full length fairytale combo! I absolutely love a good fairytale retelling and this combination is incredible and so well told as it pulls you in. With descriptive and beautiful world building we find ourselves following Lady Gisele, whose the mean girl In this story instead of the sugar sweet princesses that we are used to. She’s cold, she’s mean and just as she is about to give up, she’s finds herself with a second chance at redemption. Throw in Lord Hakim who has taken his cousins identity to try and uncover a secret that could change everything and you have a thrilling and exciting journey as together these complex and intriguing characters take on this dangerous and treacherous mission. This combo of King Thrushbeard and Bluebeard which are two fairytales not as well known as others, is gripping, engrossing and a little darker then we are used to but I found myself drawn in and I could not put it down.
November 9, 2022
What can I say about this book other than I loved it and it had me on the edge of my seat several times. The author takes a character we were meant to dislike from Cinders and creates a main character that is dynamic and makes you want to see what she will do next. We see several familiar faces and it is nice to see how they have changed but yet haven't, how their adventures from previous stories shape how they act and then we see them from a new perspective. The idea of our main characters going under cover to find a secret was intriguing and had me analysizing every aspect of their encounters. We get to meet some players for the next book and it was fun trying to figure out how they fit into the story as a whole. There were a few secrets revealed that had me yelling in surprise and eagerly waiting for the next one.
November 29, 2022
Sands of Deceit was a book that took me from "ehhh" to "YES" by the end. I literally went from finding Giselle and Hakim interesting but not shipping them to I AM BUILDING THIS SHIP PLANK BY PLANK AND YOU BETTER GET ON IT.
That is to say, this was a fantastic book with really complex, flawed characters who had such satisfying arcs. It's technically a standalone, but at this point in the series, you will get a lot more enjoyment if you read the whole series, because our lovely standalones have morphed into epic scale tomes.
We finally get to spend some time in the Esmean Empire here, and... no spoilers, but... it's a wild ride, man. Esmea is a crazy place.
Seriously, this book has all my love. Never have I adored such a selfish character as Giselle before, and that's a testament to the author's skills. Read it, it's creative and rich and fantastic.
That is to say, this was a fantastic book with really complex, flawed characters who had such satisfying arcs. It's technically a standalone, but at this point in the series, you will get a lot more enjoyment if you read the whole series, because our lovely standalones have morphed into epic scale tomes.
We finally get to spend some time in the Esmean Empire here, and... no spoilers, but... it's a wild ride, man. Esmea is a crazy place.
Seriously, this book has all my love. Never have I adored such a selfish character as Giselle before, and that's a testament to the author's skills. Read it, it's creative and rich and fantastic.
May 16, 2023
I received a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for my review.
I was so excited to finally get to Esmea. I feel like it was such a build up to meet the royal family. Great addition to such a wonderful series!
If you like the one bed troupe but want a clean version, look no further because this book is for you. This is such a good way to make this troupe work within the bounds of clean. There is never anything questionable that happens. And the characters handle the situation with such great humor.
I love the main female lead as she is very sarcastic and her threats are the best. She has a lot of baggage that she has to work through but who doesn’t.
The set-up for the next two books is stellar. I knew the minute we met Lady Ro where the next book was going to go. 10 out of 10 recommend.
I was so excited to finally get to Esmea. I feel like it was such a build up to meet the royal family. Great addition to such a wonderful series!
If you like the one bed troupe but want a clean version, look no further because this book is for you. This is such a good way to make this troupe work within the bounds of clean. There is never anything questionable that happens. And the characters handle the situation with such great humor.
I love the main female lead as she is very sarcastic and her threats are the best. She has a lot of baggage that she has to work through but who doesn’t.
The set-up for the next two books is stellar. I knew the minute we met Lady Ro where the next book was going to go. 10 out of 10 recommend.
February 25, 2024
Loooved this book!! 🤩 At this point I don’t know what to say. The series just keeps getting better and better. 😆 Gisele was not a character I liked in previous books and she had her cruel moments in this one too, but what I love about this author is that she takes imperfect characters and forces them to face themselves. By the end of Sands of Deceit you’ll love Gisele! Hakim too. Both of their characters were great and the secrets and incognito atmosphere of the story made it all the more intriguing. The plot was so so good and I absolutely loved how everything is tying together from previous books and to the next ones!! Seriously amazing. 😍😍😍
August 9, 2024
**Bewitching Fairy Tales** by Celeste Baxendell is a delightful series that spins classic fairy tales into fresh, enchanting adventures. Each book offers a magical journey filled with brave heroes, clever heroines, and unexpected twists. Baxendell’s writing is vivid and engaging, making you feel like you’re part of the story. The characters are well-developed, and the plots are both familiar and surprising. This series is perfect for readers who love a mix of nostalgia and newness in their fairy tales. Whether young or old, you'll find something to love in these charming, spellbinding stories. Highly recommended for fantasy lovers!
October 31, 2022
Such a good story! Love the characters and the advancing plotline to this series. Definitely enjoyed the mix of tropes getting used, too - single bed, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, fairytale, fake engagement, unrequited loves - there's a lot involved with this one, and it's well done at that!
December 3, 2022
I seriously don't have enough good things to say about these books
The dual fairytales, the psychology, the realism, they're just incredible and I love them so much. I can't even regret staying up til 4:30 every. Single. Time. To finish them. And I've been reading through the beyond the scenes stuff on her blog too and that's great too.
The dual fairytales, the psychology, the realism, they're just incredible and I love them so much. I can't even regret staying up til 4:30 every. Single. Time. To finish them. And I've been reading through the beyond the scenes stuff on her blog too and that's great too.
March 8, 2023
As usual for this amazing series, we get to live alongside complex characters as they fight through difficult, if not downright impossible, circumstances for reasons both selfish and selfless. I find it especially fascinating that even as Gisele grows as a person by leaps and bounds throughout the year this book covers, an outsider might think she hasn't changed a bit by the end.
November 29, 2022
10/10
This book was amazing! I love Celeste Baxendell’s books! The two main characters balanced each other very well. Gisele was difficult to like in Cinders of Glass, but the author did a great job making her a character that I could enjoy reading about. I especially thought Hakim was well-written as his arc developed. Blue Beard is not an easy fairy tale to tell, especially with the unique twist Baxendell puts on the story. The romantic relationships here grew at a realistic slow pace.
The book continues the series plot while being engaging with its own. I look forward to reading the next book when it’s released. As always, I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fairy tale retellings or wants to read fairy tales with realistic characters.
*I received an ARC with no expectation of a review. This is an honest review and all opinions are my own.*
This book was amazing! I love Celeste Baxendell’s books! The two main characters balanced each other very well. Gisele was difficult to like in Cinders of Glass, but the author did a great job making her a character that I could enjoy reading about. I especially thought Hakim was well-written as his arc developed. Blue Beard is not an easy fairy tale to tell, especially with the unique twist Baxendell puts on the story. The romantic relationships here grew at a realistic slow pace.
The book continues the series plot while being engaging with its own. I look forward to reading the next book when it’s released. As always, I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fairy tale retellings or wants to read fairy tales with realistic characters.
*I received an ARC with no expectation of a review. This is an honest review and all opinions are my own.*
February 26, 2025
I am not the biggest fan of enemies to lovers and Giselle was unlikeable for at least half the book.
There were also a lot of politics that I don’t remember well, since it’s been a while since I’ve read the prior books.
There were also a lot of politics that I don’t remember well, since it’s been a while since I’ve read the prior books.
December 8, 2022
This is an interesting and entertaining book - I quite enjoyed reading it and have no problem recommending it.
I received a free ARC copy of this book and am under no obligation to review it.
I received a free ARC copy of this book and am under no obligation to review it.
May 7, 2023
A+ on all counts except the unbelievably chaste fake-married-for-a-year-and-sharing-a-bed-but-nothing-ever-happens. I get it. I DO. I just wish it was a little more spicy 🌶
January 18, 2023
A marriage of convenience / spy interpretation of King Thrushbeard and Bluebeard!
Giselle is a complicated main character. She has a past of being cruel and being the biggest gossip - mainly to have enough power to be safe. So when she's offered a chance to change her life, she accepts it - even though there's a chance she won't make it out. She agrees to play the part.
Lord Hakim was my favorite from book one so it was cool to see him again. I liked how he had a double role in this and had to keep his two identities separate.
I really liked them! Their relationship took some time to grow but overall, I enjoyed it. I also love the set-up for the next novel! i cannot wait to see how that one goes.
Also I like how this book shows how the actions affect the other characters. Giselle still has scars from Cynrik. The actions of a certain character in this book affect a few of the leads of previous novels.
Giselle is a complicated main character. She has a past of being cruel and being the biggest gossip - mainly to have enough power to be safe. So when she's offered a chance to change her life, she accepts it - even though there's a chance she won't make it out. She agrees to play the part.
Lord Hakim was my favorite from book one so it was cool to see him again. I liked how he had a double role in this and had to keep his two identities separate.
I really liked them! Their relationship took some time to grow but overall, I enjoyed it. I also love the set-up for the next novel! i cannot wait to see how that one goes.
Also I like how this book shows how the actions affect the other characters. Giselle still has scars from Cynrik. The actions of a certain character in this book affect a few of the leads of previous novels.
November 30, 2022
I read this book in two days. Typically, I'm a casual reader- switching back and forth between three or four books at once. Not this time. I dropped everything else to devote to reading this book, and I loved every minute of it.
To be completely honest, I did not remember Hakim from Stalks of Gold. I still don't, but now I want to go back and reread that book just for him. Gisele, on the other hand, I did remember. I hated her so much that I almost cheered when Cynrik threatened her in Cinders of Glass. However...this book has changed my mind. I no longer hate her. The author has done a truly incredible job of making this antagonistic character into a fully-fleshed, 3D, complicated human being whose character growth is immensely satisfying and completely realistic. My only complaint is that it wasn't long enough. I could have spent twice as much time immersed in this book, but I suppose I'll just have to wait until the next one comes out- and it's set up so well in this book too! Prior to reading Sands of Deceit, I would have said Cinders of Glass was my favorite in the series because of the complexities of Prince Cynrik's character, but Sands of Deceit is giving it a run for its money. Plus, that cover is gorgeous! Considering how long and well-planned these books are, it's very impressive that the author was able to release three of them this year alone. Hopefully the next book comes out soon!
To be completely honest, I did not remember Hakim from Stalks of Gold. I still don't, but now I want to go back and reread that book just for him. Gisele, on the other hand, I did remember. I hated her so much that I almost cheered when Cynrik threatened her in Cinders of Glass. However...this book has changed my mind. I no longer hate her. The author has done a truly incredible job of making this antagonistic character into a fully-fleshed, 3D, complicated human being whose character growth is immensely satisfying and completely realistic. My only complaint is that it wasn't long enough. I could have spent twice as much time immersed in this book, but I suppose I'll just have to wait until the next one comes out- and it's set up so well in this book too! Prior to reading Sands of Deceit, I would have said Cinders of Glass was my favorite in the series because of the complexities of Prince Cynrik's character, but Sands of Deceit is giving it a run for its money. Plus, that cover is gorgeous! Considering how long and well-planned these books are, it's very impressive that the author was able to release three of them this year alone. Hopefully the next book comes out soon!
January 16, 2023
The squeal that came out of my mouth when my ARC arrived in my inbox was not human. Unfortunately, the business of life meant that I couldn’t get to the book immediately, but that only meant that my anticipation built and this novel became my coveted 100th book of 2022. It more than deserves that honor because, just like the previous books in this series, it was excellent. King Thrushbeard and Bluebeard were two of my favorite stories growing up (shoutout to my grandma and our well-loved storybook), and the combination worked very well.
Hakim is adorable, though I had to refer to Stalks of Gold to refresh my memory about him. Gisele is a fantastic lead, and I loved seeing her journey from the mean girl of Cinders of Glass to an admirable heroine in her own right. She does nothing without a reason, and I enjoyed finding out what those reasons were. Watching Hakim dig himself out of his own mess, meanwhile, was extremely entertaining.
The time span of the novel was a choice I found fascinating—so often, fairytales and their retellings fall into the trap of insta-love, but Gisele, Hakim, and their mission deserved more than that. It is clear to the reader just how long and dangerous their mission is, and I appreciated that. As always, the end left me wanting more of both our couple (because I love them, but also because I wanted more closure, as the last couple of chapters wrap up very fast) as well as the mysterious figures who will feature in the next book. I can’t wait!
Hakim is adorable, though I had to refer to Stalks of Gold to refresh my memory about him. Gisele is a fantastic lead, and I loved seeing her journey from the mean girl of Cinders of Glass to an admirable heroine in her own right. She does nothing without a reason, and I enjoyed finding out what those reasons were. Watching Hakim dig himself out of his own mess, meanwhile, was extremely entertaining.
The time span of the novel was a choice I found fascinating—so often, fairytales and their retellings fall into the trap of insta-love, but Gisele, Hakim, and their mission deserved more than that. It is clear to the reader just how long and dangerous their mission is, and I appreciated that. As always, the end left me wanting more of both our couple (because I love them, but also because I wanted more closure, as the last couple of chapters wrap up very fast) as well as the mysterious figures who will feature in the next book. I can’t wait!
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