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A Healing Hope (Hope Ever After #16): A Rapunzel Retelling
Can one find hope while imprisoned in a tower by a dragon?
Princess Raíza of the royal house of Rampion, an Emerald healer, has been imprisoned in the dragon Taromin's tower as his hoarded treasure. Now that she is a mother to a child born in captivity, her sole purpose is to escape. But the only way out is through a vast labyrinth—or by air.
Opting for the air, she sacrifices the source of her healing power—her magic hair—to mend an old set of dragonwing shed by Taromin, weaving wings to carry herself and her son to freedom. But a dying stranger who shows up unexpectedly in her garden, having braved the labyrinth to come to her rescue, halts her escape plans as she attempts to heal him with what little power she has left.
Time is running out before the dragon’s return, and the dragonwing cannot bear them both to freedom. Someone will have to escape through the Labyrinth…with the dragon in pursuit.
“A Healing Hope,” a retelling of Rapunzel with inspiration from Greek myths, is a standalone novella, complete with tropes like damsel/hero in distress, hidden identity, and impossible love. 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.
Princess Raíza of the royal house of Rampion, an Emerald healer, has been imprisoned in the dragon Taromin's tower as his hoarded treasure. Now that she is a mother to a child born in captivity, her sole purpose is to escape. But the only way out is through a vast labyrinth—or by air.
Opting for the air, she sacrifices the source of her healing power—her magic hair—to mend an old set of dragonwing shed by Taromin, weaving wings to carry herself and her son to freedom. But a dying stranger who shows up unexpectedly in her garden, having braved the labyrinth to come to her rescue, halts her escape plans as she attempts to heal him with what little power she has left.
Time is running out before the dragon’s return, and the dragonwing cannot bear them both to freedom. Someone will have to escape through the Labyrinth…with the dragon in pursuit.
“A Healing Hope,” a retelling of Rapunzel with inspiration from Greek myths, is a standalone novella, complete with tropes like damsel/hero in distress, hidden identity, and impossible love. 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.
- GenresFantasyRetellingsRomance
233 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 19, 2024
5 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Selina De Luca
4 books20 followersSelina De Luca is a new Canadian author in the genre of clean fairytale retellings and fantasy for adult and YA audiences. When she’s not writing, she is elbow-deep in sandboxes, bubble blowing, diaper changes, kitchen messes, and messy kisses. Aside from fiction novels, Selina also writes the occasional song with piano accompaniment and some short/flash fiction for fun. She also sings in choirs and dreams of theatrical productions and of her future books.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 13, 2025
This was a sweet and very unique fantasy princess rescue story. This is the first of the series that I have read, and it suited my tastes well.
Our heroine, Raiza, was a strong balanced character. I think she had just the right amount of maturity plus wasn't afraid to let the tears flow as well. There was a twist involving her that definitely surprised me but I kind of liked it, it made her a bit of an unreliable narrator and I liked that little twist.
See this review on my blog: https://literarycottage.org/2024/07/1...
The hero, Thadeus, was a really great character. I thought he maybe fell in love with Raiza a bit fast but his gentleness was very endearing.
The magic was very cool and I could have had that fleshed out more. I do prefer a hard magic system, though. I thought the results of their magic was really beautiful - the music, healing, gardening, etc. At first I didn't quite believe their falling in love story, but by the time they both were trying to escape the labrynth I was convinced and really enjoyed the story from that point on (the last half of the book).
I loved the involvement of young children. I am a sucker for toddlers in books and this had my heart swelling.
Our heroine, Raiza, was a strong balanced character. I think she had just the right amount of maturity plus wasn't afraid to let the tears flow as well. There was a twist involving her that definitely surprised me but I kind of liked it, it made her a bit of an unreliable narrator and I liked that little twist.
See this review on my blog: https://literarycottage.org/2024/07/1...
The hero, Thadeus, was a really great character. I thought he maybe fell in love with Raiza a bit fast but his gentleness was very endearing.
The magic was very cool and I could have had that fleshed out more. I do prefer a hard magic system, though. I thought the results of their magic was really beautiful - the music, healing, gardening, etc. At first I didn't quite believe their falling in love story, but by the time they both were trying to escape the labrynth I was convinced and really enjoyed the story from that point on (the last half of the book).
I loved the involvement of young children. I am a sucker for toddlers in books and this had my heart swelling.
June 20, 2024
I received a last-minute ARC for A Healing Hope by Selina De Luca and read it over the weekend. This is the second book I have read from the Hope Ever After series, a charity author collaboration to support O.U.R. (Operation Underground Rescue), which rescues children from exploitation and trafficking. The story supports this mission in its themes and worldbuilding. Though it is a retelling of "Rapunzel," it takes only the most basic elements of the fairy tale to weave a unique and original mythology similar to A Cascading Hope, the other book I've read from this series. Both of these stories take place in high fantasy worlds with complex magic systems and lore, which, though sometimes overwhelming, had a lot of love and planning put into them. This book does a particularly good job of providing hope to lost children who dream of returning home with its theming and plot.
Raíza is a lost princess trapped in a dragon-guarded tower with a solid escape plan in mind. However, when she reconfigures a discarded dragon wing into a harness to fly safely to the ground, she realizes that someone else is planning to come to her rescue, and he needs help. Thadeus is a little embarrassed to have traversed a deadly labyrinth to rescue a princess who has already rescued herself, but pride does not prevent him from allowing her to use her depleting source of magic hair to heal him so they can return home together. The biggest obstacle that stands in Raíza's way of opening her heart up to Thadeus completely is her desire to protect the child that the dragon induced upon her body with a magic potion, a rarely used throwback to the original fairy tale in which Rapunzel gave birth while locked in the tower.
The book does an excellent job of creating an "otherworldly" feel through the use of poetic language and gem lore, which reminded me a little of Steven Universe. The people in this world are born with powers that are determined based on the color of their eyes, which is associated with a type of gem. For instance, someone born with green eyes has Emerald powers, which allows them to heal. Gold is considered the rarest and most powerful force in this world, which is why Raíza is so protective of her golden-eyed child whose powers are coveted by their captor. Thadeus is a Silver, which gives him the power of sight to navigate the labyrinth and help Raíza escape. Through their combined efforts, they help each other break down the walls of pride and defensiveness that make each of them so guarded.
One aspect of the book that I did not enjoy as much was the confusion behind Raíza's memories that were caused by psychological trauma. There were parts of the story that didn't make much sense until the truth was revealed later that I found confusing and difficult to follow at times. Although everything was explained at the end, Raíza's altered memory seemed extraneous to the story, and the cause of it was not elaborated upon during earlier parts of the book that would have allowed readers to sympathize more with her and better understand her motivations. That said, the trauma of living in a world where children are coveted and captured for their magic is a beautiful and poignant reflection of the charity that this series supports.
A Healing Hope by Selina De Luca is a whimsical retelling of "Rapunzel" that weaves a unique and original mythology in a high fantasy world. With its poetic language, gem lore, and complex magic system, this book transports readers to an otherworldly realm. Raíza and Thadeus's journey is a beautiful exploration of hope, resilience, and the power of combined efforts. While some aspects of the book may be confusing at times, the story ultimately shines a light on the important mission of O.U.R. and the resilience of children who have been exploited and trafficked. A Healing Hope is a must-read for fans of fantasy and fairy tale retellings, and a wonderful contribution to the Hope Ever After series.
Raíza is a lost princess trapped in a dragon-guarded tower with a solid escape plan in mind. However, when she reconfigures a discarded dragon wing into a harness to fly safely to the ground, she realizes that someone else is planning to come to her rescue, and he needs help. Thadeus is a little embarrassed to have traversed a deadly labyrinth to rescue a princess who has already rescued herself, but pride does not prevent him from allowing her to use her depleting source of magic hair to heal him so they can return home together. The biggest obstacle that stands in Raíza's way of opening her heart up to Thadeus completely is her desire to protect the child that the dragon induced upon her body with a magic potion, a rarely used throwback to the original fairy tale in which Rapunzel gave birth while locked in the tower.
The book does an excellent job of creating an "otherworldly" feel through the use of poetic language and gem lore, which reminded me a little of Steven Universe. The people in this world are born with powers that are determined based on the color of their eyes, which is associated with a type of gem. For instance, someone born with green eyes has Emerald powers, which allows them to heal. Gold is considered the rarest and most powerful force in this world, which is why Raíza is so protective of her golden-eyed child whose powers are coveted by their captor. Thadeus is a Silver, which gives him the power of sight to navigate the labyrinth and help Raíza escape. Through their combined efforts, they help each other break down the walls of pride and defensiveness that make each of them so guarded.
One aspect of the book that I did not enjoy as much was the confusion behind Raíza's memories that were caused by psychological trauma. There were parts of the story that didn't make much sense until the truth was revealed later that I found confusing and difficult to follow at times. Although everything was explained at the end, Raíza's altered memory seemed extraneous to the story, and the cause of it was not elaborated upon during earlier parts of the book that would have allowed readers to sympathize more with her and better understand her motivations. That said, the trauma of living in a world where children are coveted and captured for their magic is a beautiful and poignant reflection of the charity that this series supports.
A Healing Hope by Selina De Luca is a whimsical retelling of "Rapunzel" that weaves a unique and original mythology in a high fantasy world. With its poetic language, gem lore, and complex magic system, this book transports readers to an otherworldly realm. Raíza and Thadeus's journey is a beautiful exploration of hope, resilience, and the power of combined efforts. While some aspects of the book may be confusing at times, the story ultimately shines a light on the important mission of O.U.R. and the resilience of children who have been exploited and trafficked. A Healing Hope is a must-read for fans of fantasy and fairy tale retellings, and a wonderful contribution to the Hope Ever After series.
June 27, 2024
Another charming and uplifting story in the Hope Ever After series! Ms. De Luca is still a relatively new author to me, but I have really enjoyed her books! This one is quite the emotional ride! I have been loving the retelling and the creativity of each story in this series.
The world that has been created in this story was so interesting. I loved learning a bit about the magical abilities and the Gems. It was such a cool way to imagine a fantasy. I would love to read more in this world! Raíza was such an interesting character. She had gone through so much and was still struggling to escape. There was deep emotional pain in her and things were not truly revealed until the end. We do not get the full picture of her story immediately, it unfolded slowly. She was discovering her strength throughout the story.I loved the focus on her story and her journey.
Thadeus was also a sweetheart! I loved how he supported her and the way he was a hero within his own right! There was a gentleness to his strength too. They both grew over the story and established themselves. It had such emotion to the story and my heart definitely hurt at different points for them. I loved the hopefulness and the inner strength that they found through the story. It is a fantasy with some romance. Content warnings are brief allusions to the possibility of past rape, captivity, teenage motherhood, poast trauma, and mental health
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.
The world that has been created in this story was so interesting. I loved learning a bit about the magical abilities and the Gems. It was such a cool way to imagine a fantasy. I would love to read more in this world! Raíza was such an interesting character. She had gone through so much and was still struggling to escape. There was deep emotional pain in her and things were not truly revealed until the end. We do not get the full picture of her story immediately, it unfolded slowly. She was discovering her strength throughout the story.I loved the focus on her story and her journey.
Thadeus was also a sweetheart! I loved how he supported her and the way he was a hero within his own right! There was a gentleness to his strength too. They both grew over the story and established themselves. It had such emotion to the story and my heart definitely hurt at different points for them. I loved the hopefulness and the inner strength that they found through the story. It is a fantasy with some romance. Content warnings are brief allusions to the possibility of past rape, captivity, teenage motherhood, poast trauma, and mental health
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 15, 2024
As the title suggests, this is a story about healing. Healing from trauma, brokenness, and abuse. These can be difficult subjects, but important to address. Inspired by both Rapunzel and The Labyrinth, the romance was sweet and touching, and the story takes many unexpected and exciting turns. I loved the attempts to escape, and the trials through the labyrinth. A lovely story with a beautiful message of hope.
June 19, 2024
4,5 stars, rounded to 5
A Healing Hope is a retelling of the fairytale Rapunzel mixed with Greek Myths. Of course I know of Greek Myths and even read something about Daedalus and Icarus in school, but it was a long time ago and I am far from well versed in this specific topic, so I probably didn’t recognize most elements of the mixed in parts.
As for the fairytale Rapunzel - A Healing Hope definitely reminded me of it, even if there were elements missing or changed and it was fun finding the details sprinkled through the story.
So A Healing Hope is its own unique story with unexpected twists and turns and I enjoyed reading it a lot especially because I didn’t know how the story would play out.
It was easy to empathize with Raíza who suffered so much at a young age - physically, emotionally, mentally - as did Thadeus who came to rescue her and they both start to heal in different ways. Even though the story was like the title suggests about healing, I felt the element of freedom was even more present. Raíza was held captive and wants to flee, she is still suffering from emotional trauma and both she and Thadeus aren’t free to live as they wish due to family duties and politics.
These politics were the thing that confused me a bit about the story. There were quite a few hints and remarks about the different kinds of people of this world, their unique characteristics and strengths and how different kingdoms believed in different things and had different rules to follow but I never completely understood how it was all supposed to work. It felt a bit like this was a prequel to a longer series so we get to know the world, the rules, the people, but the full explanation would follow in a first novel. (Which I would definitely read!) But I wasn’t able to find out if this is the case or not, so like I said, these elements were a bit confusing to me and sometimes even hindered my reading process.
But I really enjoyed the story, the connection that developed between Raíza and Thadeus, the danger and mystery surrounding Taromin and the labyrinth. It was a captivating read and I loved how protective Thadeus was of Raíza, how brave both of them were, how they tried to heal and free themselves from different bonds. Their love story was a very sweet one and their love and care for each other was stronger than the trauma they endured or the rules and people (if you consider shape shifting dragon “people”) who held them captive.
* Thank you to the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own.
A Healing Hope is a retelling of the fairytale Rapunzel mixed with Greek Myths. Of course I know of Greek Myths and even read something about Daedalus and Icarus in school, but it was a long time ago and I am far from well versed in this specific topic, so I probably didn’t recognize most elements of the mixed in parts.
As for the fairytale Rapunzel - A Healing Hope definitely reminded me of it, even if there were elements missing or changed and it was fun finding the details sprinkled through the story.
So A Healing Hope is its own unique story with unexpected twists and turns and I enjoyed reading it a lot especially because I didn’t know how the story would play out.
It was easy to empathize with Raíza who suffered so much at a young age - physically, emotionally, mentally - as did Thadeus who came to rescue her and they both start to heal in different ways. Even though the story was like the title suggests about healing, I felt the element of freedom was even more present. Raíza was held captive and wants to flee, she is still suffering from emotional trauma and both she and Thadeus aren’t free to live as they wish due to family duties and politics.
These politics were the thing that confused me a bit about the story. There were quite a few hints and remarks about the different kinds of people of this world, their unique characteristics and strengths and how different kingdoms believed in different things and had different rules to follow but I never completely understood how it was all supposed to work. It felt a bit like this was a prequel to a longer series so we get to know the world, the rules, the people, but the full explanation would follow in a first novel. (Which I would definitely read!) But I wasn’t able to find out if this is the case or not, so like I said, these elements were a bit confusing to me and sometimes even hindered my reading process.
But I really enjoyed the story, the connection that developed between Raíza and Thadeus, the danger and mystery surrounding Taromin and the labyrinth. It was a captivating read and I loved how protective Thadeus was of Raíza, how brave both of them were, how they tried to heal and free themselves from different bonds. Their love story was a very sweet one and their love and care for each other was stronger than the trauma they endured or the rules and people (if you consider shape shifting dragon “people”) who held them captive.
* Thank you to the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own.
June 20, 2024
"A Healing Hope" by Selina De Luca is a beautifully crafted novella that seamlessly blends the enchanting elements of "Rapunzel" with the intriguing nuances of Greek mythology. Part of the "Hope Ever After" series, this standalone story stands out for its unique narrative, heartfelt themes, and captivating characters. The proceeds from this series go to the O.U.R. (Operation Underground Railroad), supporting the rescue of children from exploitation and trafficking, adding a deeper and fitting purpose to this already compelling tale.
The story centers on Princess Raíza of the royal house of Rampion, an Emerald healer imprisoned in the dragon Taromin's tower as his hoarded treasure. Despite her captivity and the birth of her child in the tower, Raíza remains determined to escape. Her plan involves sacrificing her magical hair to create wings from dragon scales, a testament to her resourcefulness and courage. However, her escape is interrupted by Thadeus, a dying stranger who braves the labyrinth to rescue her. Faced with limited time before the dragon's return, Raíza must decide who will flee through the labyrinth and who will take the perilous flight to freedom.
De Luca masterfully explores themes of healing from trauma, brokenness, and abuse. Raíza’s journey is both physical and emotional, showcasing her resilience and the importance of self-healing. The romance between Raíza and Thadeus is touching, blossoming amidst their shared adversities. Both characters endure significant pain, making their gradual healing and growing bond profoundly moving.
The narrative is rich with unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers engrossed. The fusion of "Rapunzel" with Greek myths such as Theseus and the Minotaur, and Icarus and Daedalus, adds depth and intrigue, creating a story that is both familiar and refreshingly original. Raíza's character is particularly compelling as she evolves from a frightened captive to a brave, determined woman ready to face her fears.
While the political backdrop of different kingdoms adds complexity to the story, it can be a bit confusing at times. However, this does not detract from the overall enjoyment and emotional impact of the tale.
"A Healing Hope" is a captivating and uplifting story about healing and freedom. De Luca’s skillful storytelling and rich character development make this novella a must-read. Fans of fairy tale retellings and mythological mash-ups will find themselves enchanted by this unique and hopeful tale.
*I received an ARC*
The story centers on Princess Raíza of the royal house of Rampion, an Emerald healer imprisoned in the dragon Taromin's tower as his hoarded treasure. Despite her captivity and the birth of her child in the tower, Raíza remains determined to escape. Her plan involves sacrificing her magical hair to create wings from dragon scales, a testament to her resourcefulness and courage. However, her escape is interrupted by Thadeus, a dying stranger who braves the labyrinth to rescue her. Faced with limited time before the dragon's return, Raíza must decide who will flee through the labyrinth and who will take the perilous flight to freedom.
De Luca masterfully explores themes of healing from trauma, brokenness, and abuse. Raíza’s journey is both physical and emotional, showcasing her resilience and the importance of self-healing. The romance between Raíza and Thadeus is touching, blossoming amidst their shared adversities. Both characters endure significant pain, making their gradual healing and growing bond profoundly moving.
The narrative is rich with unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers engrossed. The fusion of "Rapunzel" with Greek myths such as Theseus and the Minotaur, and Icarus and Daedalus, adds depth and intrigue, creating a story that is both familiar and refreshingly original. Raíza's character is particularly compelling as she evolves from a frightened captive to a brave, determined woman ready to face her fears.
While the political backdrop of different kingdoms adds complexity to the story, it can be a bit confusing at times. However, this does not detract from the overall enjoyment and emotional impact of the tale.
"A Healing Hope" is a captivating and uplifting story about healing and freedom. De Luca’s skillful storytelling and rich character development make this novella a must-read. Fans of fairy tale retellings and mythological mash-ups will find themselves enchanted by this unique and hopeful tale.
*I received an ARC*
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July 8, 2024Princess Raíza has been held captive in her tower for five years and the dragon that took her is intent on keeping her there. But Raíza has finally found a way out, and with her child at her side, she’s determined to escape.
Before she can flee, Thadeus emerges from the labyrinth. He’s there to save her, but he’s too wounded to leave.
Can they make their escape before the dragon reappears? Or will Raíza never leave the tower behind no matter where she goes?
“Diamond, inanimate and cold as it was, may have had nothing to hide, but two human hearts were far more multifaceted, with too many shadowy parts out of reach of the light.”
De Luca has built a world that leans into the magical properties of gemstones, and the lyrical writing is perfect for the story. The history that lies beyond just this tale promises more stories that I can’t wait to read.
Raíza and Thadeus spend only a few days together, but it’s clear their hearts are entwined from the start. The topic of mental health is core to this story, and understandable given what Raíza endured during her imprisonment.
However, I have a few concerns with the story, so the rest of this review may contain spoilers, which I’ll continue below.
Deep kisses; mention of assault
Trauma, kidnapping, childhood trauma
In-word swears
SPOILERS:
Raíza has a child while in captivity, at the age of thirteen. This isn’t something that I feel should be in this type of story. What’s even more concerning is that we’re given two ways that the dragon (a shifter) could have done this: The expected method or via magical elixir. The topic of assault is a harsh one for a book that I expected to be light and hopeful, given the series.
On the other hand, a magical potion implies the dragon has life-giving powers, something I find deeply concerning as a Christian.
These things took away from my enjoyment of the story, but as they’re personal opinions, others may not have the same experience.
Before she can flee, Thadeus emerges from the labyrinth. He’s there to save her, but he’s too wounded to leave.
Can they make their escape before the dragon reappears? Or will Raíza never leave the tower behind no matter where she goes?
“Diamond, inanimate and cold as it was, may have had nothing to hide, but two human hearts were far more multifaceted, with too many shadowy parts out of reach of the light.”
De Luca has built a world that leans into the magical properties of gemstones, and the lyrical writing is perfect for the story. The history that lies beyond just this tale promises more stories that I can’t wait to read.
Raíza and Thadeus spend only a few days together, but it’s clear their hearts are entwined from the start. The topic of mental health is core to this story, and understandable given what Raíza endured during her imprisonment.
However, I have a few concerns with the story, so the rest of this review may contain spoilers, which I’ll continue below.
Deep kisses; mention of assault
Trauma, kidnapping, childhood trauma
In-word swears
SPOILERS:
Raíza has a child while in captivity, at the age of thirteen. This isn’t something that I feel should be in this type of story. What’s even more concerning is that we’re given two ways that the dragon (a shifter) could have done this: The expected method or via magical elixir. The topic of assault is a harsh one for a book that I expected to be light and hopeful, given the series.
On the other hand, a magical potion implies the dragon has life-giving powers, something I find deeply concerning as a Christian.
These things took away from my enjoyment of the story, but as they’re personal opinions, others may not have the same experience.
June 21, 2024
This Rapunzel retelling was gripping! Raíza was forced to face her fears and confront the lies she had tricked herself into believing for her five long years of captivity. I loved the aspects of Greek myth—specifically the stories of Icarus and Daedalus’s escape and the Minatour’s Labrynth. Ms. De Luca wove the stories together beautifully and had me hooked from the begining.
Because the novella was strictly from Raíza’s perspective, I was just as shocked as some of the other characters with a few of her revelations, but I felt that Selena did a wonderful job staying true to the fairytale (and Greek myths) while giving it her own unique twists.
I feel that I can say—with confidence—that I would gladly read any book she writes and alow her to whisk me away into an intentionally crafted world.
Thank you to Ms. De Luca for trusting me with an ARC of your book!
Because the novella was strictly from Raíza’s perspective, I was just as shocked as some of the other characters with a few of her revelations, but I felt that Selena did a wonderful job staying true to the fairytale (and Greek myths) while giving it her own unique twists.
I feel that I can say—with confidence—that I would gladly read any book she writes and alow her to whisk me away into an intentionally crafted world.
Thank you to Ms. De Luca for trusting me with an ARC of your book!
June 19, 2024
A Healing Hope was a captivating retelling of Rapunzel and the Greek myths, Theseus & the Minotaur and Icarus & Daedalus. I love fairy tales and Greek mythology mash ups. A Healing Hope up had all the classic elements of each tale. Furthermore, stood out as its own tale with its unique plot. There were many plot twists that I did not see coming. Selina De Luca spun a tale that will capture your attention. I had to see how Raíza’s story played out. Raíza has endured abuse, heartbreaking and tragic events in her life. She was full of fear. As time went on, she let go of her fear and that was brave. She came out stronger than before facing her fears and unspoken truths. I loved how gentle and protective Thadeus was with her. The romance did not go further than a few gentle kisses. This book was excellent and one that I enjoyed reading.
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.
July 30, 2024
My first Selina de Luca book and my first of the Hope Ever After series since they're not interconnected and all written by different authors. I definitely want to check more out though!
I'm really really loving fantasy fairytale retellings and this take on Rapunzel fantastic again. And with some Greek myths thrown in there too! I loved the way the Rapunzel elements played a part in this story with the tower and the importance of hair in general running throughout. Fantasy worlds where people are born with certain powers are always so fun, I love them.
I enjoyed the romance element too which I was expecting but the storyline itself played a more important part, filled with danger and gripping throughout. I was also pleasantly surprised to come across some bits I didn't see coming at all, but no spoilers! Raíza is a great strong character. She maybe doesn't have the strongest coping mechanisms but being basically completely isolated would mess with anyone and you could easily lose all hope. A great novella, I'd definitely recommend it!
I'm really really loving fantasy fairytale retellings and this take on Rapunzel fantastic again. And with some Greek myths thrown in there too! I loved the way the Rapunzel elements played a part in this story with the tower and the importance of hair in general running throughout. Fantasy worlds where people are born with certain powers are always so fun, I love them.
I enjoyed the romance element too which I was expecting but the storyline itself played a more important part, filled with danger and gripping throughout. I was also pleasantly surprised to come across some bits I didn't see coming at all, but no spoilers! Raíza is a great strong character. She maybe doesn't have the strongest coping mechanisms but being basically completely isolated would mess with anyone and you could easily lose all hope. A great novella, I'd definitely recommend it!
January 3, 2025
I was not a fan of this one. This book is written strange.
There is no character development, and everything seemed rushed.
Princess Raiza is trying to escape the dragon the whole time. Raiza is always saying he is coming, but when he does, it's for two seconds, and then he leaves, and he doesn't show up again until the end.
The romance between Raiza and Thadeus seemed forced and very rushed. They hardly interacted, and they fell in love.
The whole thing about her child was odd.
If this book weren't so short, I don't think I would have finished.
There is no character development, and everything seemed rushed.
Princess Raiza is trying to escape the dragon the whole time. Raiza is always saying he is coming, but when he does, it's for two seconds, and then he leaves, and he doesn't show up again until the end.
The romance between Raiza and Thadeus seemed forced and very rushed. They hardly interacted, and they fell in love.
The whole thing about her child was odd.
If this book weren't so short, I don't think I would have finished.
June 17, 2024
A Healing Hope re-tells the story of Rapunzel while adding in elements from greek mythology. It deals with some serious issues stemming from past traumas but handles these delicate subjects with tact and thoughfulness. While overall it was a little too . . . psychological in parts to really suit my reading tastes it was a sweet story with a strong message of hope.
I received an ARC and leave an honest review.
I received an ARC and leave an honest review.
June 22, 2024
Strange book
I have to say that this was not a book I enjoyed. The writing is stilted, the characters not well developed and the story line wandering. It almost reads like allegory but isn't. The rest of the books in the hope series have generally been good but I was very disappointed with this one .
I have to say that this was not a book I enjoyed. The writing is stilted, the characters not well developed and the story line wandering. It almost reads like allegory but isn't. The rest of the books in the hope series have generally been good but I was very disappointed with this one .
July 16, 2024
This book is really bad! Everything about this book is really bad!
October 10, 2025
This book has a really interesting premise and magic system. I love the twist at the end but some of the emotions throughout felt like they were lacking, particularly in regards to the trauma. I do feel like the characters could have used further development outside of that as well. Overall the plot felt like there were too many elements of convenience as well. Three stars is fair for this book.
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