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A Gracious Hope: A Sleeping Beauty Retelling
Can one find hope when everything familiar has been stripped away?
On the eve of her 19th birthday, Alora learns she's not a peasant girl, the people who raised her aren't even related to her, and she can't marry the boy from the village who promised to return for her. She's a princess, betrothed to a neighboring royal — and cursed since birth.
But Alora adored her simple life and flees from the new found expectations. When the curse is enacted anyway, she must fight her way through a strange new land. If she doesn't defeat the one who cursed her, she'll be trapped in a dream forever.
A Gracious Hope, a retelling of Sleeping Beauty and The Wizard of Oz, is a standalone novella, complete with such tropes as "protective hero," "he falls first," and "no damsels here." It is part of the “Hope Ever After” series, a collection of twenty hopeful and uplifting fairy tale retellings. Each book is written by a different author so it can be enjoyed in any order. The proceeds from this series are donated to the O.U.R. (Operation Underground Railroad) to rescue children from exploitation and trafficking.
On the eve of her 19th birthday, Alora learns she's not a peasant girl, the people who raised her aren't even related to her, and she can't marry the boy from the village who promised to return for her. She's a princess, betrothed to a neighboring royal — and cursed since birth.
But Alora adored her simple life and flees from the new found expectations. When the curse is enacted anyway, she must fight her way through a strange new land. If she doesn't defeat the one who cursed her, she'll be trapped in a dream forever.
A Gracious Hope, a retelling of Sleeping Beauty and The Wizard of Oz, is a standalone novella, complete with such tropes as "protective hero," "he falls first," and "no damsels here." It is part of the “Hope Ever After” series, a collection of twenty hopeful and uplifting fairy tale retellings. Each book is written by a different author so it can be enjoyed in any order. The proceeds from this series are donated to the O.U.R. (Operation Underground Railroad) to rescue children from exploitation and trafficking.
232 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 5, 2024
19 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
About the author
Robyn Sarty
13 books34 followersRobyn Sarty is an avid fan of all things Disney, and she loves stories with happy endings, where good triumphs over evil. She tries to incorporate these elements into all of her writing, stories that feature women who refuse to back down from a challenge.
She lives in rural Nova Scotia with her very own Prince Charming, where she is easily distracted by sparkly things and glitter. When she’s not reading or writing, she can be found baking cakes, rearranging her library, or playing with her Bernese Mountain Dogs, Toblerone and Otto.
She lives in rural Nova Scotia with her very own Prince Charming, where she is easily distracted by sparkly things and glitter. When she’s not reading or writing, she can be found baking cakes, rearranging her library, or playing with her Bernese Mountain Dogs, Toblerone and Otto.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 20, 2025
3 stars ✨ Clean Fiction - Fairytale Retelling
Sleeping Beauty and The Wizard of Oz retelling.
Not everything is as it seems for Alora. Living in a forest. Suddenly told she’s a princess. Meeting the king and queen—her parents. Learning the aunt who raised her isn’t her aunt. Following a mythical red dog down a portal to the faerie realm—wait what?
So, yes, that happens.
Alora is a bit of a klutz (but a lovable one!) and during her life in the forest, it seems like she had no training to be a princess at all. She was very emotional at times, but to be fair, I probably would be too with all the changes and everything that’s revealed to her in a very short amount of time!
There was a few times were it would say or imply about something that had already happened, but I must not have understood with all the things happening at once or perhaps it wasn’t explained clearly because that would be new information to me (but it’s implied or said like it was already explained).
I’m not familiar at all with Scottish lore and fairytale/mythological creatures, so I’m afraid all I could imagine was the accent (having recently watched Brave helped with that 😉). This book made have had the elements of Sleeping Beauty and The Wizard of Oz (which I didn’t initially realize it was a mashup with the second tale until I saw that note when I started reading), but it also had a very unique style that was its own with the fantasy parts and not knowing what would happen. I truly wasn’t sure who Alora should be trusting at times—but I had my suspicions on one!
This would be a good springtime read because of all the nature descriptions and venturing through fields of flowers and forests. I think illustrations of these scenes and creatures/faeries they meet would add a lot of charm to reading this book!
The setting—settings, really—was very quirky! I think if I was more familiar with the fantasy creatures/terms used, I probably would have given this one a bit of a higher rating, but for an introduction to this kind of themes/settings, I thought it was easy enough to follow. I will definitely be reading the second book in this series (different from the multi-author collaboration series), “Of Song and Wonder”, as that one is a mashup between Rapunzel and Peter Pan!
Main Content-
The setting and some fantasy elements are inspired by Scottish lore, so there are these places and creatures seen and mentioned often: Cù dhearg (a red dog that is a messenger between the realms of humans and faeries), Tìr nan Òg (the realm of faeries), faeries, Glaistig (the faery term for witch), Ghillie Dhu (a male faery who is a guard), Tatty Bogle (which the author notes is a “ghost-like creature said to resemble a scarecrow that attacks humans and causes potato blight (or throws them at people, as the mood strikes)”), Aon-adharc (the faery word for unicorn), Daoine Sith (the term faeries use when referring to themselves), and a fluffkin (which is a cute but deadly animal).
With nod to Sleeping Beauty, as a baby, Alora was cursed by a witch for revenge against her parents to enter the faery realm on her nineteenth birthday; Because of the faery gifts from her naming ceremony, Alora has the “faery touch” and others are able to feel it on her with a special ring; Alora falls into the faery realm (which is the Wizard of Oz element) and sees/feels magic, sees faeries with wings and able to fly, almost falls into a never-ending-sleep thanks to a field of flowers, hear faeries talking to a unicorn, is carried off by flying monkeys, & learns that everything in the faery realm is an illusion; Faeries hum while using their magic (including to heal an injured human).
Alora hears about and meets the Wizard (rule of the faery realm) and *Major Spoiler* .
Alora prays for something to happen, but it’s not said who she is praying to.
A few mentions of faeries trapping humans in deals or bargains.
No language stronger than “drat” or “stupid”; Alora eavesdrops; Alora is shocked to learn she’s a princess and feels awkward about the king and queen (her parents).
Being kidnapped/held hostage, Pain, & Injuries (up to a couple sentences); Seeing sword fights, someone held at sword-point, threatened, injured, in pain, & bleeding (up to a few sentences).
Mentions of a plan to kill a witch to be free from her (which Alora does not want to do because she’s never killed anything more than a chicken); Mentions of someone being deathly still, an injured unicorn, injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding; Mentions of a deadly fantasy creature attacking humans and other animals; Mentions of rumors & gossip; A few mentions of potential wars & fighting; A mention of a rumor that a woman is a widow who had lost her child.
1 kiss lasting a couple sentences,
1 kiss lasting a few sentences;
Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Warmth, & Nearness (up to a few sentences); Blushes; Noticing & Staring (up to a couple sentences).
Alora quickly turns away when a handsome young man changes clothes (and is only wearing a thin under-tunic on top); Alora is embarrassed by him seeing her petticoats; Zander teases Alora about getting him out of his suit of armor if he gets rusty, but then they both get embarrassed as the implication; When Alora gets wet, she thinks that Zander is enough of a gentleman to not stare at her (but he is smiling at her with amusement instead).
Mentions of crushes, attraction, & falling in love; A mention of a dress hugging Alora’s curves.
Sleeping Beauty and The Wizard of Oz retelling.
Not everything is as it seems for Alora. Living in a forest. Suddenly told she’s a princess. Meeting the king and queen—her parents. Learning the aunt who raised her isn’t her aunt. Following a mythical red dog down a portal to the faerie realm—wait what?
So, yes, that happens.
Alora is a bit of a klutz (but a lovable one!) and during her life in the forest, it seems like she had no training to be a princess at all. She was very emotional at times, but to be fair, I probably would be too with all the changes and everything that’s revealed to her in a very short amount of time!
There was a few times were it would say or imply about something that had already happened, but I must not have understood with all the things happening at once or perhaps it wasn’t explained clearly because that would be new information to me (but it’s implied or said like it was already explained).
I’m not familiar at all with Scottish lore and fairytale/mythological creatures, so I’m afraid all I could imagine was the accent (having recently watched Brave helped with that 😉). This book made have had the elements of Sleeping Beauty and The Wizard of Oz (which I didn’t initially realize it was a mashup with the second tale until I saw that note when I started reading), but it also had a very unique style that was its own with the fantasy parts and not knowing what would happen. I truly wasn’t sure who Alora should be trusting at times—but I had my suspicions on one!
This would be a good springtime read because of all the nature descriptions and venturing through fields of flowers and forests. I think illustrations of these scenes and creatures/faeries they meet would add a lot of charm to reading this book!
The setting—settings, really—was very quirky! I think if I was more familiar with the fantasy creatures/terms used, I probably would have given this one a bit of a higher rating, but for an introduction to this kind of themes/settings, I thought it was easy enough to follow. I will definitely be reading the second book in this series (different from the multi-author collaboration series), “Of Song and Wonder”, as that one is a mashup between Rapunzel and Peter Pan!
Main Content-
The setting and some fantasy elements are inspired by Scottish lore, so there are these places and creatures seen and mentioned often: Cù dhearg (a red dog that is a messenger between the realms of humans and faeries), Tìr nan Òg (the realm of faeries), faeries, Glaistig (the faery term for witch), Ghillie Dhu (a male faery who is a guard), Tatty Bogle (which the author notes is a “ghost-like creature said to resemble a scarecrow that attacks humans and causes potato blight (or throws them at people, as the mood strikes)”), Aon-adharc (the faery word for unicorn), Daoine Sith (the term faeries use when referring to themselves), and a fluffkin (which is a cute but deadly animal).
With nod to Sleeping Beauty, as a baby, Alora was cursed by a witch for revenge against her parents to enter the faery realm on her nineteenth birthday; Because of the faery gifts from her naming ceremony, Alora has the “faery touch” and others are able to feel it on her with a special ring; Alora falls into the faery realm (which is the Wizard of Oz element) and sees/feels magic, sees faeries with wings and able to fly, almost falls into a never-ending-sleep thanks to a field of flowers, hear faeries talking to a unicorn, is carried off by flying monkeys, & learns that everything in the faery realm is an illusion; Faeries hum while using their magic (including to heal an injured human).
Alora hears about and meets the Wizard (rule of the faery realm) and *Major Spoiler* .
Alora prays for something to happen, but it’s not said who she is praying to.
A few mentions of faeries trapping humans in deals or bargains.
No language stronger than “drat” or “stupid”; Alora eavesdrops; Alora is shocked to learn she’s a princess and feels awkward about the king and queen (her parents).
Being kidnapped/held hostage, Pain, & Injuries (up to a couple sentences); Seeing sword fights, someone held at sword-point, threatened, injured, in pain, & bleeding (up to a few sentences).
Mentions of a plan to kill a witch to be free from her (which Alora does not want to do because she’s never killed anything more than a chicken); Mentions of someone being deathly still, an injured unicorn, injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding; Mentions of a deadly fantasy creature attacking humans and other animals; Mentions of rumors & gossip; A few mentions of potential wars & fighting; A mention of a rumor that a woman is a widow who had lost her child.
1 kiss lasting a couple sentences,
1 kiss lasting a few sentences;
Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Warmth, & Nearness (up to a few sentences); Blushes; Noticing & Staring (up to a couple sentences).
Alora quickly turns away when a handsome young man changes clothes (and is only wearing a thin under-tunic on top); Alora is embarrassed by him seeing her petticoats; Zander teases Alora about getting him out of his suit of armor if he gets rusty, but then they both get embarrassed as the implication; When Alora gets wet, she thinks that Zander is enough of a gentleman to not stare at her (but he is smiling at her with amusement instead).
Mentions of crushes, attraction, & falling in love; A mention of a dress hugging Alora’s curves.
February 21, 2026
****Actual Rating 3.5 Stars****
Sleeping Beauty with The Wizard of Oz and a dash-hint of Alice in Wonderland (the last one the author never mentioned using but I felt several elements came from this tale)? Not a mashup I’d think would work but it definitely makes for a whimsical, sometimes odd, and equal parts dangerous and green mix I enjoyed through the quirky setting alone.
The characters weren’t bad either, though I did find Alora aggravating at times as she slipped into whiny/petty mode more times than I personally think is healthy, but she does get over herself for the most part. The real stars though were Zander, the most patient man ever; Pablo, because duh UNICORN plus he’s amazing; and Zander’s dog, whose name I’ve sadly forgotten how to spell and is the best sidekick regardless of my flaws, lol.
This book didn’t quite make it to being four stars in part because of Alora’s attitude at times but also because there were several rough jumps between places and scenes that left me floundering and confused more than once. The biggest gripe I have though is that we never get an explanation as to WHY a couple of characters were trapped/there in the fae realm to begin with! I was so miffed when I got to the end eager to get an explanation only to find no answers and think “that’s it?!” VERY disappointing! Even if there’s an extra bonus scene on the author’s website or something that doesn’t count, it should be in the book and I’m still miffed about this if you can’t tell, lol.
This is my second book by this author and while it had some bumps and hiccups I still enjoyed my time with it and will certainly try more books by her in the future!
‼️Content‼️
Violence: magical creatures chase and attack characters; a character’s trapped under a fallen tree; fighting with weapons (not detailed); injuries and blood (not detailed); a character’s stabbed in the leg (not detailed)
Sexual: kissing (not detailed)
Other: magic; faerys; characters fall into the faerie realm; a character is cursed; illusions; magical abilities/creatures/races; humans are kidnapped and imprisoned in the faerie realm
Sleeping Beauty with The Wizard of Oz and a dash-hint of Alice in Wonderland (the last one the author never mentioned using but I felt several elements came from this tale)? Not a mashup I’d think would work but it definitely makes for a whimsical, sometimes odd, and equal parts dangerous and green mix I enjoyed through the quirky setting alone.
The characters weren’t bad either, though I did find Alora aggravating at times as she slipped into whiny/petty mode more times than I personally think is healthy, but she does get over herself for the most part. The real stars though were Zander, the most patient man ever; Pablo, because duh UNICORN plus he’s amazing; and Zander’s dog, whose name I’ve sadly forgotten how to spell and is the best sidekick regardless of my flaws, lol.
This book didn’t quite make it to being four stars in part because of Alora’s attitude at times but also because there were several rough jumps between places and scenes that left me floundering and confused more than once. The biggest gripe I have though is that we never get an explanation as to WHY a couple of characters were trapped/there in the fae realm to begin with! I was so miffed when I got to the end eager to get an explanation only to find no answers and think “that’s it?!” VERY disappointing! Even if there’s an extra bonus scene on the author’s website or something that doesn’t count, it should be in the book and I’m still miffed about this if you can’t tell, lol.
This is my second book by this author and while it had some bumps and hiccups I still enjoyed my time with it and will certainly try more books by her in the future!
‼️Content‼️
Violence: magical creatures chase and attack characters; a character’s trapped under a fallen tree; fighting with weapons (not detailed); injuries and blood (not detailed); a character’s stabbed in the leg (not detailed)
Sexual: kissing (not detailed)
Other: magic; faerys; characters fall into the faerie realm; a character is cursed; illusions; magical abilities/creatures/races; humans are kidnapped and imprisoned in the faerie realm
Read
June 2, 2024This story was an utter delight from beginning to end! I never would have thought of combining Sleeping Beauty with the Wizard of Oz, but Robyn Sarty made the two stories work together seamlessly. As a native Kansan and therefore obligatory lover of Oz, it was so much fun to find all the places where the stories intertwined. (There are also a few clever nods to Wicked scattered throughout that were little Easter eggs of joy.)
Alora’s growth from reluctant princess to the confident, purposeful, yet gracious woman in the end was so satisfying, and the hero of this story…well, he was pretty much perfect in every way. There is a lovely balance of action and sweet moments in their interactions, and the progression of their relationship feels quite natural.
Sarty paints a rich backdrop for her story in a variety of colors throughout the heroine’s journey in Tìr nan Òg, (and I applaud her ability to come up with so many ways to refer to the color green) and the nods to Scottish folklore throughout added just the right amount of whimsy and magic.
A Gracious Hope is a Sleeping Beauty that will keep you awake into the night to finish the last chapters, and I can’t recommend it enough!
Alora’s growth from reluctant princess to the confident, purposeful, yet gracious woman in the end was so satisfying, and the hero of this story…well, he was pretty much perfect in every way. There is a lovely balance of action and sweet moments in their interactions, and the progression of their relationship feels quite natural.
Sarty paints a rich backdrop for her story in a variety of colors throughout the heroine’s journey in Tìr nan Òg, (and I applaud her ability to come up with so many ways to refer to the color green) and the nods to Scottish folklore throughout added just the right amount of whimsy and magic.
A Gracious Hope is a Sleeping Beauty that will keep you awake into the night to finish the last chapters, and I can’t recommend it enough!
February 13, 2026
Content:
Profanity: None.
Violence: High mild. There are wounds and minor blood depicted. Scratches, bites, and head wounds, stab wounds, being trapped under heavy objects, and concussed people. There are fights between people as well as animals that are fanged and clawed and vicious.
Sexual: Mild. Hand holding, hugs, and swoony (not spicy) kisses.
Maybe a 2.5.
Full disclosure, I don't like the Wizard of Oz or Alice in Wonderland, and this had the vibes of both (despite nothing saying it was Alice in Wonderland inspired). While it's touted as a Sleeping Beauty retelling first and foremost, it is more like 80% Wizard of Oz, 10% Alice in Wonderland and 10% Sleeping Beauty.
We're introduced to Alora, who has just found out she's the hidden princess. She doesn't want to go to the castle and meet her parents. She wants to go back to Aunt Em (yup) and live in the woods. She has no curiosity at all about her parents, her station, or any of it. She's stated to be 19 in this, but she acts younger. Sure, a lot gets thrown at her, but my irritation at her not even wondering about the parents that have hidden her her whole life was big.
Then she chases after a dog that steals a love letter from her childhood crush/sweetheart and falls down a hole into Tir na Nog (Because there's a Irish folklore side theme in this) or for the sake of simplification, the land of the fae.
What follow for the remaining 90% of the book is a series of one-darn-thing-after-another chaos. There isn't any time for Alora's character to get a look-in. She's just a kid (Nineteen going on Fourteen in my opinion) who wants to go home and marry her childhood crush that we start to get flashbacks of and he's She meets Zander, a knight who is trapped under a tree he tried to chop down. He decides to follow her to the city...which I never figured out why she had to go there or how she figured out she had to go there to get home. I may have missed something, but at this point in the story I was already impatient.
I can get behind a story I don't like the inspiration for, truly. But this was chaotic. They got into one scrape after another just to draw the story out. And the climax? It wasn't much of one at all. In all honesty, I finished the book and was immediately annoyed with myself for finishing it. I wish I'd dropped it halfway through, but it was pretty short so I just plowed through. It was not enjoyable.
The only thing I liked in it was Zander. He was interesting and I enjoyed the Spanish he'd drop.
That's it though. Everything else was so slapdash that I didn't connect with the characters at all and therefore didn't care what happened to them. I felt bad that Zander got saddled with Alora the immature princess.
Oh well. I've read other stuff from this author and enjoyed them. But nobody can hit all the marks all the time. This was just a dud for me.
Profanity: None.
Violence: High mild. There are wounds and minor blood depicted. Scratches, bites, and head wounds, stab wounds, being trapped under heavy objects, and concussed people. There are fights between people as well as animals that are fanged and clawed and vicious.
Sexual: Mild. Hand holding, hugs, and swoony (not spicy) kisses.
Maybe a 2.5.
Full disclosure, I don't like the Wizard of Oz or Alice in Wonderland, and this had the vibes of both (despite nothing saying it was Alice in Wonderland inspired). While it's touted as a Sleeping Beauty retelling first and foremost, it is more like 80% Wizard of Oz, 10% Alice in Wonderland and 10% Sleeping Beauty.
We're introduced to Alora, who has just found out she's the hidden princess. She doesn't want to go to the castle and meet her parents. She wants to go back to Aunt Em (yup) and live in the woods. She has no curiosity at all about her parents, her station, or any of it. She's stated to be 19 in this, but she acts younger. Sure, a lot gets thrown at her, but my irritation at her not even wondering about the parents that have hidden her her whole life was big.
Then she chases after a dog that steals a love letter from her childhood crush/sweetheart and falls down a hole into Tir na Nog (Because there's a Irish folklore side theme in this) or for the sake of simplification, the land of the fae.
What follow for the remaining 90% of the book is a series of one-darn-thing-after-another chaos. There isn't any time for Alora's character to get a look-in. She's just a kid (Nineteen going on Fourteen in my opinion) who wants to go home and marry her childhood crush that we start to get flashbacks of and he's She meets Zander, a knight who is trapped under a tree he tried to chop down. He decides to follow her to the city...which I never figured out why she had to go there or how she figured out she had to go there to get home. I may have missed something, but at this point in the story I was already impatient.
I can get behind a story I don't like the inspiration for, truly. But this was chaotic. They got into one scrape after another just to draw the story out. And the climax? It wasn't much of one at all. In all honesty, I finished the book and was immediately annoyed with myself for finishing it. I wish I'd dropped it halfway through, but it was pretty short so I just plowed through. It was not enjoyable.
The only thing I liked in it was Zander. He was interesting and I enjoyed the Spanish he'd drop.
That's it though. Everything else was so slapdash that I didn't connect with the characters at all and therefore didn't care what happened to them. I felt bad that Zander got saddled with Alora the immature princess.
Oh well. I've read other stuff from this author and enjoyed them. But nobody can hit all the marks all the time. This was just a dud for me.
January 13, 2025
It was really cute! I would read it again.
It was also very short, but sometimes you just can’t add more or else it gets really boring.
The romance was very cute and sweet. Zander is so good to Alora, and is very patient with her stutter. He loves her just the way she is, and encourages and helps her.
It’s got some found family in it too, which is cute.
It does say Sleeping Beauty and Wizard of Oz, but I’d say it’s way more Wizard of Oz.
It had a few plot twists, one of which I did guess way ahead of the game. They kept things interesting.
It’s a classic, cute fairytale. Very wholesome and heartwarming.
It was also very short, but sometimes you just can’t add more or else it gets really boring.
The romance was very cute and sweet. Zander is so good to Alora, and is very patient with her stutter. He loves her just the way she is, and encourages and helps her.
It’s got some found family in it too, which is cute.
It does say Sleeping Beauty and Wizard of Oz, but I’d say it’s way more Wizard of Oz.
It had a few plot twists, one of which I did guess way ahead of the game. They kept things interesting.
It’s a classic, cute fairytale. Very wholesome and heartwarming.
February 25, 2026
This was a really sweet and creative mashup of these two stories; I would never have thought that they would work so well together. The romance was cute, the twist was well telegraphed but still surprising, and I loved Alora as a character and the nods to Sleeping Beauty the movie with her clothes. I will say that the magic was teetering closely on being too much for me, but it was only used by the fairies (and an evil man), which gave it more of a fairy tale feel than a witchcraft feel.
June 15, 2025
I've never read a retelling of the wizard of oz and sleep beauty but it was super good just wished it was longer!!
July 4, 2025
This wonderful story is a mix between a Sleeping Beauty retelling and a Wizard of Oz retelling. If you like either of those stories you will LOVE this book! You are taken on a mysterious adventure along side Alora as she meets new friends and finds herself in the process of trying to free herself from the magic that holds her far from home. You can see how she grows along her journey and finally realizes her potential and comes into her own. I couldn’t put this book down! Hands down one of the best fairy tale retelling books I have ever read. Definitely a must read book for anyone who loves fairy tales or Disney!
Read
December 23, 2024If you enjoy sweet, clean fairytale romances with a magical captivating world, this is the book for you!
When Alora discovers that she is the hidden princess she suddenly finds herself thrust into a world full of color and strange mythical creatures--including a unicorn full of personality. She cannot forget the boy she grew up with and yet the handsome knight errant guiding her through this strange new world has caught her attention. Despite being a stranger to him and this world, he willingly helps her on a journey to meet the wizard--perhaps he will help them both find home--if only they could ever talk to the mysterious wizard who has secrets of his own.
This was a delightful and magical read! My favorite thing was the unique mesh of Sleeping Beauty and Wizard of Oz set in a magical world with stunning colors and endearing animals! It is a fun easy read with a sweet clean romance everyone in the family can enjoy.
Happy reading
Alesha Adamson
When Alora discovers that she is the hidden princess she suddenly finds herself thrust into a world full of color and strange mythical creatures--including a unicorn full of personality. She cannot forget the boy she grew up with and yet the handsome knight errant guiding her through this strange new world has caught her attention. Despite being a stranger to him and this world, he willingly helps her on a journey to meet the wizard--perhaps he will help them both find home--if only they could ever talk to the mysterious wizard who has secrets of his own.
This was a delightful and magical read! My favorite thing was the unique mesh of Sleeping Beauty and Wizard of Oz set in a magical world with stunning colors and endearing animals! It is a fun easy read with a sweet clean romance everyone in the family can enjoy.
Happy reading
Alesha Adamson
August 24, 2025
I've read roughly half the books from the Hope Ever After series, leaving a good handful of them on my TBR list. The latest one I got around to is A Gracious Hope by Robyn Sarty. This charming retelling is a surprising combination of "Sleeping Beauty" and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with fae lore in the mystical land of Tír na nÓg. It's an interesting combination that makes for a lovely and whimsical story with beautiful visuals. Few people probably would have the imagination to combine two such different stories as these. There are also some fun twists and turns encompassing a unique read that's full of surprises.
This book picks up right in the middle of Disney's 1959 animated classic, Sleeping Beauty. For that reason, it is probably necessary to watch the film before reading the book, which is unlikely to be an issue for its target audience. Alora is a peasant girl living with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. On her nineteenth birthday, she learns that she is actually a princess who is betrothed to a prince. She secretly hopes that Prince Phillip might be the same peasant boy she had a prior dalliance with. While all this is happening, Alora also learns that she was cursed at birth and must find a way to break the it and save her people.
Between the two stories that this book combines, there is more of a focus on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz than "Sleeping Beauty." It handles this adaptation in a way that feels fresh and original. Instead of Oz, Alora is swept away through a magic portal to Tir na nÓg, where she encounters faeries, a magical unicorn, a kind woodsman named Zander, and his dog. Many of the same events from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz take place here, such as Alora being recruited by the Wizard to destroy a witch, a city where everyone wears green, and sleep-inducing flowers. The whimsy and magic of the world are further enhanced by the addition of Scottish fae lore.
The Disney inspiration is apparent throughout the book, which is filled with descriptive visuals reminiscent of old-school animation. Alora pays tribute to her aunt by insisting on wearing the over-the-top pink and blue dress she made for her birthday, which goes through several magical transformations. The beauty and wonder of the world are reminiscent of old school Disney. Yet, there are also many unexpected surprises. For instance, the true identity of the Wizard was a complete shock, as well as the budding romance that was built up nicely throughout the book.
A Gracious Hope by Robyn Sarty is a delightfully whimsical retelling of "Sleeping Beauty" and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, set in the mystical land of Tír na nÓg. With its unique blend of fae lore and Disney magic, this book is a must-read for fans of fairy tale adaptations. The story adds some unique twists to the multi-author Hope Ever After series, which supports Operation Underground Railroad to help fight human trafficking.. Alora's journey is a beautiful and wondrous ride, filled with magic and romance. If you're looking for a charming and enchanting read, A Gracious Hope is definitely worth adding to your list.
This book picks up right in the middle of Disney's 1959 animated classic, Sleeping Beauty. For that reason, it is probably necessary to watch the film before reading the book, which is unlikely to be an issue for its target audience. Alora is a peasant girl living with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. On her nineteenth birthday, she learns that she is actually a princess who is betrothed to a prince. She secretly hopes that Prince Phillip might be the same peasant boy she had a prior dalliance with. While all this is happening, Alora also learns that she was cursed at birth and must find a way to break the it and save her people.
Between the two stories that this book combines, there is more of a focus on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz than "Sleeping Beauty." It handles this adaptation in a way that feels fresh and original. Instead of Oz, Alora is swept away through a magic portal to Tir na nÓg, where she encounters faeries, a magical unicorn, a kind woodsman named Zander, and his dog. Many of the same events from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz take place here, such as Alora being recruited by the Wizard to destroy a witch, a city where everyone wears green, and sleep-inducing flowers. The whimsy and magic of the world are further enhanced by the addition of Scottish fae lore.
The Disney inspiration is apparent throughout the book, which is filled with descriptive visuals reminiscent of old-school animation. Alora pays tribute to her aunt by insisting on wearing the over-the-top pink and blue dress she made for her birthday, which goes through several magical transformations. The beauty and wonder of the world are reminiscent of old school Disney. Yet, there are also many unexpected surprises. For instance, the true identity of the Wizard was a complete shock, as well as the budding romance that was built up nicely throughout the book.
A Gracious Hope by Robyn Sarty is a delightfully whimsical retelling of "Sleeping Beauty" and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, set in the mystical land of Tír na nÓg. With its unique blend of fae lore and Disney magic, this book is a must-read for fans of fairy tale adaptations. The story adds some unique twists to the multi-author Hope Ever After series, which supports Operation Underground Railroad to help fight human trafficking.. Alora's journey is a beautiful and wondrous ride, filled with magic and romance. If you're looking for a charming and enchanting read, A Gracious Hope is definitely worth adding to your list.
June 6, 2024
Another magical addition to the Hope Ever After series of standalone fairytale inspired standalone stories, A Gracious Hope combines elements of Sleeping Beauty and The Wizard of Oz. I loved the twist on the story and how it was combined. It felt very natural to the story.
I really felt for Alora. She was thrown into a completely new world and felt unequipped to deal with it. I felt like her reaction was very genuine. I loved seeing how she grows over the story. She learns who she is and her new role in the world. Alora settles into herself. I enjoyed having her POV and how it developed.
I loved exploring the magical world through her eyes. The world Ms. Sarty creates is so fun and I would love to read more about it! There were so many interesting Celtic fairytale inspiration, along with the other fairytale elements. I loved all of the other characters as well. The fairies were all so unique and interesting. I also really like Zander. He was a sweetheart. He was so protective, yet also supported Alora on her journey too.
Overall, this was a lovely story that I flew through! It is a fantasy romance with only kissing. It is a standalone story.
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.
I really felt for Alora. She was thrown into a completely new world and felt unequipped to deal with it. I felt like her reaction was very genuine. I loved seeing how she grows over the story. She learns who she is and her new role in the world. Alora settles into herself. I enjoyed having her POV and how it developed.
I loved exploring the magical world through her eyes. The world Ms. Sarty creates is so fun and I would love to read more about it! There were so many interesting Celtic fairytale inspiration, along with the other fairytale elements. I loved all of the other characters as well. The fairies were all so unique and interesting. I also really like Zander. He was a sweetheart. He was so protective, yet also supported Alora on her journey too.
Overall, this was a lovely story that I flew through! It is a fantasy romance with only kissing. It is a standalone story.
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 5, 2024
"A Gracious Hope" by Robyn Sarty is an enchanting blend of "Sleeping Beauty" and "The Wizard of Oz". This unique combination works seamlessly, showcasing Sarty's skill in merging these classic tales. It was great fun discovering the clever ways elements from both stories were intertwined and balanced, creating a fresh and engaging narrative.
Alora's journey from a reluctant princess to a confident and purposeful woman is immensely satisfying. Her growth is portrayed with depth and authenticity, making her a relatable and inspiring protagonist. The hero of the story, Zander, falls for Alora first, but their relationship progresses naturally, with a lovely balance of action and tender moments.
Sarty paints a rich backdrop for her story, with the heroine's journey through Tir nan Og colored by nods to Scottish folklore that add just the right amount of whimsy and magic. The nods to Wizard of Oz lore, such as "Wicked" and the clever reference to Alora’s mother being Snow White are delightful Easter eggs that enhance the reading experience.
"A Gracious Hope" is a standalone novella in the "Hope Ever After" series, a collection of twenty hopeful and uplifting fairy tale retellings by different authors. This story stands out with its creative blend of beloved tales, well-drawn characters, and a compelling narrative that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. It's a must-read for fans of fairy tales and those looking for a story filled with hope, adventure, and a touch of magic.
I received an ARC but all thoughts are my own.
Alora's journey from a reluctant princess to a confident and purposeful woman is immensely satisfying. Her growth is portrayed with depth and authenticity, making her a relatable and inspiring protagonist. The hero of the story, Zander, falls for Alora first, but their relationship progresses naturally, with a lovely balance of action and tender moments.
Sarty paints a rich backdrop for her story, with the heroine's journey through Tir nan Og colored by nods to Scottish folklore that add just the right amount of whimsy and magic. The nods to Wizard of Oz lore, such as "Wicked" and the clever reference to Alora’s mother being Snow White are delightful Easter eggs that enhance the reading experience.
"A Gracious Hope" is a standalone novella in the "Hope Ever After" series, a collection of twenty hopeful and uplifting fairy tale retellings by different authors. This story stands out with its creative blend of beloved tales, well-drawn characters, and a compelling narrative that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. It's a must-read for fans of fairy tales and those looking for a story filled with hope, adventure, and a touch of magic.
I received an ARC but all thoughts are my own.
June 5, 2024
I had no idea how Sleeping Beauty and The Wizard of Oz could be combined, but this was a perfect balance between two of my favorites. I was along for the ride from the beginning, smiling at every little nod from each story.
On the eve of her 19th birthday, Alora learns the secret that she is the hidden princess. Thrust into a life she does not want, she flees and soon finds herself in an unknown world faced with unknown danger.
A fantastical and dangerous journey of self-discovery, with unexpected twists. I loved Alora’s strength and determination and the hope she finds when she embraces who she is.
"I am Alora, Princess of Dunkeld, daughter of Rowanwood, touched by the faeries. And I will find a way home."
Join Alora, Zander, Fionn, and Pablo as they search for a way home, and along the way, find love and family with one another.
The "Hope Ever After" series is a collection of twenty hopeful and uplifting fairy tale retellings. Each book is written by a different author so it can be enjoyed in any order. The proceeds from this series are donated to the O.U.R. (Operation Underground Railroad) to rescue children from exploitation and trafficking.
I received a complimentary copy, but a positive review was not required.
On the eve of her 19th birthday, Alora learns the secret that she is the hidden princess. Thrust into a life she does not want, she flees and soon finds herself in an unknown world faced with unknown danger.
A fantastical and dangerous journey of self-discovery, with unexpected twists. I loved Alora’s strength and determination and the hope she finds when she embraces who she is.
"I am Alora, Princess of Dunkeld, daughter of Rowanwood, touched by the faeries. And I will find a way home."
Join Alora, Zander, Fionn, and Pablo as they search for a way home, and along the way, find love and family with one another.
The "Hope Ever After" series is a collection of twenty hopeful and uplifting fairy tale retellings. Each book is written by a different author so it can be enjoyed in any order. The proceeds from this series are donated to the O.U.R. (Operation Underground Railroad) to rescue children from exploitation and trafficking.
I received a complimentary copy, but a positive review was not required.
June 2, 2024
A Gracious Hope by Robyn Sarty was ingenious retelling Sleeping Beauty and the Wizard of Oz. Sleeping Beauty and the Wizard of Oz are two completely different tales, yet Robyn Sarty wrote a compelling story with elements of each story that was creative and blended well together. I loved the mash up of fairy tales, literature, and Scottish folklore. The plot was riveting! I did not want to put this story down and read it in a day. Alora was reluctant and unsure of herself. She had hard time coming to terms with her new title and duties of being a princess. Her character growth was well written as she became more confident. Zander was an enigmatic and chivalrous knight. I loved his character! He was protective and took care of Alora throughout their adventure in Tìr nan Òg. The moments between the two were tendered and heartwarming. The romance was clean with only kissing. a Gracious Hope was a captivating tale and highly recommend!
I volunteered to read an ARC copy of the book and all thoughts are my own.
I volunteered to read an ARC copy of the book and all thoughts are my own.
June 5, 2024
A Gracious Hope is a unique retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Cute and light, it has a cozy feel.
Personally, I love that the heroine here is 19 and not younger, as I’ve read in some retellings of this fairy tale. There were some things I was confused about or felt had not been fully resolved, some foreshadowing that was not followed through on, but such is often the case with books having to fit within length parameters. Though the writing has a bit of a younger feel and would be great for a younger audience, I still found it captivating and read through it in basically one sitting with minimal breaks.
To give a one paragraph overall review, it was squeaky clean (one or two kisses-think Disney cartoon version-no language, very mild violence) and cute and worth a read. I definitely enjoyed a different twist on Sleeping Beauty and though I’m not overly familiar with The Wizard of Oz, I thought the nods to it were enjoyable, the Tin Man being my favourite.
While I received an early copy of this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Personally, I love that the heroine here is 19 and not younger, as I’ve read in some retellings of this fairy tale. There were some things I was confused about or felt had not been fully resolved, some foreshadowing that was not followed through on, but such is often the case with books having to fit within length parameters. Though the writing has a bit of a younger feel and would be great for a younger audience, I still found it captivating and read through it in basically one sitting with minimal breaks.
To give a one paragraph overall review, it was squeaky clean (one or two kisses-think Disney cartoon version-no language, very mild violence) and cute and worth a read. I definitely enjoyed a different twist on Sleeping Beauty and though I’m not overly familiar with The Wizard of Oz, I thought the nods to it were enjoyable, the Tin Man being my favourite.
While I received an early copy of this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 18, 2024
While this was a good book with an original and different plot, I feel that the two stories, Sleeping Beauty and the Wizard of Oz, didn't really combine. When the author tried to combine elements of these two stories together, it felt forced, like a puzzle piece that didn't really fit. I also feel like, while Alora had a lot of character development from a naive girl to a confident princess, I feel that Zander didn't really have any character development. We don't get to see things from his point of view. We don't know his insecurities and fears and how he overcomes them. Even though I liked Zander's protectiveness and his character, it felt difficult to relate to him because we don't know what is going on through his mind. I also feel that we don't get much insight into his background as a prince before he came to Tir Nan Og. How did he find his way there? How did Philip find his way there? How did Philip become the wizard? Where does the sword come from? There were so many unanswered questions in this book. I also didn't really like Alora because she was always bemoaning how she became a princess and she was so fixated on Philip being the prince that she refused to consider anything else.
However, I feel that the writing was well done and, despite all the unanswered questions and lack of character development, the book was interesting and made me want to continue reading it until the end. There were also several rather good morals and lessons Alora had to learn throughout the book. Even though there are several flaws in the book, it was still an enjoyable read and I will read more of Robyn Sarty's books.
However, I feel that the writing was well done and, despite all the unanswered questions and lack of character development, the book was interesting and made me want to continue reading it until the end. There were also several rather good morals and lessons Alora had to learn throughout the book. Even though there are several flaws in the book, it was still an enjoyable read and I will read more of Robyn Sarty's books.
June 5, 2024
A Gracious Hope cleverly blends the tale of Sleeping Beauty with the Wizard of Oz. I have to admit when I first saw it was a combination of these two stories, I was scratching my head wondering how it could possibly work, but the answer is that it works beautifully. Although the source material of the two stories are wildly different, they have been blended seamlessly and been given some extra flavour with a dash of Scottish folklore with no one element overpowering the others. The characters are well drawn and the main character’s growth both natural and delightful. Overall it was a wonderfully sweet and uplifting story with plenty of adventure, romance and magic.
I received an ARC and offer an honest review.
I received an ARC and offer an honest review.
July 8, 2024
When I first saw that this was a retelling of Sleeping Beauty combined with Wizard of Oz I thought to myself “How is that going to work?!”
But oh my goodness was it absolutely amazing! The two very different stories somehow come together seamlessly, at the sheer brilliance of Mrs Sarty! This book is just what we all need as we wait out time for there release of Wicked to theaters this Fall
I especially loved the Easter eggs thrown in from both films was so much fun to read! Though I’ve got to admit….that it took me way too long to figure out who was who in regards to the hero….and boy did I LOVE him more for it!
But oh my goodness was it absolutely amazing! The two very different stories somehow come together seamlessly, at the sheer brilliance of Mrs Sarty! This book is just what we all need as we wait out time for there release of Wicked to theaters this Fall
I especially loved the Easter eggs thrown in from both films was so much fun to read! Though I’ve got to admit….that it took me way too long to figure out who was who in regards to the hero….and boy did I LOVE him more for it!
June 19, 2024
Robyn Sarty weaves a magical mashup of Sleeping Beauty and the Wizard of Oz. She expertly entwines the stories in a way that is unique and also respectfully nods to the originals.
I love the characters and how they are characters from both stories at the same time. It’s so neat to see how they reflect both stories. I love seeing Alora’s growth, acceptance of her true identity, her strength in times of weakness, and her kind/gracious nature. I love seeing her relationships evolve as truth comes to light.
The plot was so expertly weaved to blend the stories into one. They fit together so well and I never would have thought Sleeping Beauty would go with Wizard of Oz. I love the twists and turns, figuring out who is what character, and who is the true “villain”.
This was such a fun and engaging read! If you love fairy tales, more “modern classics”, and mashups, this book is definitely for you!
I love the characters and how they are characters from both stories at the same time. It’s so neat to see how they reflect both stories. I love seeing Alora’s growth, acceptance of her true identity, her strength in times of weakness, and her kind/gracious nature. I love seeing her relationships evolve as truth comes to light.
The plot was so expertly weaved to blend the stories into one. They fit together so well and I never would have thought Sleeping Beauty would go with Wizard of Oz. I love the twists and turns, figuring out who is what character, and who is the true “villain”.
This was such a fun and engaging read! If you love fairy tales, more “modern classics”, and mashups, this book is definitely for you!
October 8, 2025
I somehow missed that this was a wizard of Oz retelling and was expecting more sleeping beauty. I had never read a retelling before (nor have I reeas the original wizard of Oz book), but the setting was fascinating. I am a huge prince Philip fan so I was taken aback by his role. However, Zander made up for him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this book! This book has wonderful characters and a wonderful plot! I really loved reading this retelling of Sleeping Beauty and The Wizard of Oz I had a hard time putting this really wonderful book down!
July 18, 2024
5⭐️
This book had all the good things. Sleeping Beauty and Wizard of Oz mash-up vibes! I absolutely loved this duo story because I adore both of those stories! This author wrote it so well! Sweet MMC and a unicorn? What????? Amazing book! 👏
This book had all the good things. Sleeping Beauty and Wizard of Oz mash-up vibes! I absolutely loved this duo story because I adore both of those stories! This author wrote it so well! Sweet MMC and a unicorn? What????? Amazing book! 👏
October 7, 2024
This book made me feel so happy. It's a lovely escape, and the prose and writing style were absolutely beautiful!
I would recommend this for middle grade and high school girls or anyone that like light happy whimsical fairytale retellings!
I would recommend this for middle grade and high school girls or anyone that like light happy whimsical fairytale retellings!
November 30, 2024
This was a delightful retelling of Sleeping Beauty blended seamlessly with The Wizard of Oz! Other than one detail that was left rather vague, I loved every minute of it and would gladly recommend it to anyone who wants a clean, fantasy retelling of Sleeping Beauty and the Wizard of Oz!
January 27, 2025
This was a great book and excellent mash-up of Sleeping Beauty and the Wizard of Oz. However...it was kind of boring at times and it was difficult to get through the entire book. While it has a good and well-crafted plot, I personally feel like it could have been better. It was a good novel though!
June 11, 2025
3.5⭐️
This book was pretty good! I wish there would’ve been more of a fight or something with Mara, to me that part went by too fast. But it was a really fun and creative book!!!
This book was pretty good! I wish there would’ve been more of a fight or something with Mara, to me that part went by too fast. But it was a really fun and creative book!!!
June 23, 2025
Sleeping Beauty and the Wizard of Oz are not stories I would have ever expected to be joined together. It worked so well though! I really loved this story!
September 2, 2025
Lovely book with a unique premise. I would not have considered how well the Wizard of Oz combines with Sleeping Beauty until reading this book. I liked the way the story developed, and the world building was fun. Personally, I find it difficult to like a main character whose problems were largely self-inflicted, but that’s just me. I think readers who enjoy a fresh take on an old tale will love this book! It’s clean in language and content.
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July 15, 2024As I’m the author of this one, no true review, but I just wanted to say how humbled I am by the reception this little book has gotten. From the first, I knew I wanted to combine Sleeping Beauty and The Wizard of Oz, and I’m so glad that people are enjoying it!
It’s been an honor to be part of the Hope Ever After Series and I will ever be grateful to Leialoha Humpherys and the other authors for their support and encouragement.
A huge thank you to all the readers who were willing to take a chance on a new author. <3
A couple sweet kisses
No swears
Minor injuries and imprisonment
It’s been an honor to be part of the Hope Ever After Series and I will ever be grateful to Leialoha Humpherys and the other authors for their support and encouragement.
A huge thank you to all the readers who were willing to take a chance on a new author. <3
A couple sweet kisses
No swears
Minor injuries and imprisonment
October 10, 2025
This book had a great premise and a very interesting, detailed world to explore! I loved everything about the world. I was happy to see some diversity in the characters as well. Unfortunately some of the characters (or their actions) fell flat along with the conflict and crux of the plot. I won’t say more to avoid spoilers only that it is for these reasons that I am rating this book at a three star. I will definitely be exploring more books by this author however.
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