SkyBlue: A Bluebeard Fairytale Retelling

by M.P. Halliday

A dark spellbinding retelling of the Bluebeard fairytale filled with swoony romance and wicked magic. Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Adalyn Grace, and Erin A. Craig.

A desperate girl.
A cursed man.
A disturbing secret.

Beatrice Tilney embraces potential spinsterhood, preferring independence to the indignities of marrying for money or social status. But when her father dies, leaving her family penniless, Beatrice must sacrifice what she values most—her heart—to protect those she loves.

She enters a marriage of convenience with Monsieur Dumas, a wealthy and alluring French widower whose four former wives mysteriously died. Despite being showered with riches in her new seaside manor, the home creaks with ghostly whispers and strangely dark magic seems to reside within and inside Dumas' heart.

At times, Dumas seems to transform from an alluring gentleman into a monstrous being consumed by rage, but Beatrice can't resist falling for him. She must unravel the magical secrets Dumas hides and unlock the truth buried deep within his heart before an ancient evil destroys them and their new love forever.

Praise for

"SkyBlue was everything my gothic loving heart wanted and a clever take on the Bluebeard myth that turns the eponymous villain into someone sympathetic and (oh yes) hauntingly swoonworthy. "-Mckelle George, author of Speak Easy Speak Love

"Fans of House of Salt and Sorrows are sure to love this wildly stunning retelling of Bluebeard." -Autumn Krause, Penguin Random House author of Before the Devil Knows You're Here

Genres: Retellings, Gothic, Fantasy

Kindle Edition

Published April 9, 2024

About the author

M. P. Halliday sadly did not receive the foreordained call to be the next vampire Slayer, though she counts herself an honorary Watcher. She loves ghost stories and period dramas, spooky season and thunderstorms. If she could live in a haunted house, she would, but instead lives in Woodstock, Georgia with her husband, their irascible corgi, three feminist guinea pigs, and a horde of non-magical plants that can't be killed.

Reviews

[M.P. Halliday]

I won't add stars because I'm the author and that's probably gauche, but I will say how relieved I am this story is finally out into the world. Beatrice's heady relationship with the mercurial Gaston Dumas -my Bluebeard- monopolized my brain for 7 long years. They're beautiful characters, and I did my best to convey their faults, their victories, and their love story. When you come to the end, feel free to reach out to me with your gripes (or squeals). Happy reading.

[Kristens_korner · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 75%. As I buddy read it tried to finish it but it is just too slow and drawn out for me. Nothing major has happen and then suddenly she seems to know he is cursed and turns to a #creature# of some sort and yes she's not afraid when she has been meak and timid at the step. There is no chemistry and I just didn't vibe with the MFC.

[E.P. Stavs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always loved the tale of Bluebeard, and this Egyptian-inspired retelling does not disappoint. I honestly had no idea how it all would end, if the author would stay true to the original or send us on a path of her own making. What she delivered was entirely satisfying.

[Sonja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m disappointed by the ending Henry had (he did not deserve it) but aside from that I loved it.

[Briana Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great Bluebeard retelling, I really enjoyed it. I like the aspect of the Egyptian curse turning M. Dumas into Bluebeard, rather than him just being straight up evil. 

[Abibliophilesconfessions · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sky blue is a remagining of the folklore story of Bluebeard. I have never heard nor read the original tale, so I won't be able to speak of the retelling/remagining factor. Though I can say it was a really good story and was very well written. It was a quick read, and I finished it in a day. I think this book is good for a wide range of ages, from teen to adult, as some of the themes and scenes are darker.

The story follows our MFC, who unfortunately loses her father, to I believe tuberculosis; and her family begins to fall on hard times. When our MMC, a man a lot older, comes to her mother to ask for her hand. He is a wealthy, mysterious man who has gone through numerous amount of wives, all have succumbed to death. The unlucky man comes for her hand not long after the passing of her most recent wife. He promises she will never have to want for anything, and neither would her family. Her mother accepts and pushes our MFC to accept as well. After a whirlwind wedding, she is whisked away to a manor house, where the house staff are on weird terms with the master of the house.

Our MMC is in the trade business and is often off sailing away to exotic lands. Leaving his new bride, with tests behind. Our MFC suffers with the right and wrong of things, and I truly feel bad for her. I won't talk too much as I don't want to give things away. The ending was really good, I definitely wasn't expecting a couple of things, and honestly, now I want to read the original tale!

Now, onto the writing itself, it was smooth and flowed well. The pacing was very consistent. Halliday, created the world and developed it beautifully. Along with the characters and the secret our MMC hides along with how it was caused, it was extremely fascinating.

I definitely think, for people who like retellings or remaginings, this one is for you; even if you don't know the original lore behind the story. I recommend and give this one 4 stars!

[Anastasia Kar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beatrice needs to do something. 


She is only nineteen, yet she is faced with an impossible dilemma: save her family, or save herself. When her father passes away and her brothers are sent away, she is the one to fend for the rest of her family, her mother and her younger sister. Beatrice dreams of a life full of love, independence, adventure. She dreams of seeing the world and eventually marrying for an all-consuming love, instead of money or status. Yet, she does exactly that, when she makes the decision to accept Monsieur Dumas: a man of wealth, but of a past that no one is able to understand completely. 


And so, a life torn in two begins for the girl: will she come to love her husband? Will she come to accept him? The man himself is a mystery, mostly enticing and interesting, but sometimes…it seems as if he hides one too many things, and Beatrice isn’t sure if finding out his past would be to her advantage. 


One thing I should declare at this point, is that I love retellings of classic stories and myths. I’m always intrigued to know what a modern author makes of a classic narrative, and in this case I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, I am freaking excited, because this is a retelling of the story of Bluebeard (yes, the one with the one-too-many past wives). The choice of material for retelling is unique, and M.P. Halliday managed to twist it and weave it into a gripping narrative, a read that you cannot easily put down until it’s over. For lack of better words, it’s fantastic.


Long story short, I absolutely devoured it, and I cannot recommend it enough.

[Raechel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such an interesting retelling of the Bluebeard tale.

I loved the FMC right from the start. She is fierce and independent and she wants to protect her family even if it means that she needs to sacrifice her dreams. The sense of eeriness is pervasive in this story and this is used incredibly well by the author to further the story and develop the characters.

The story unfolds at a slower pace as we get glimpses into the history and backstory of the MMC. However, we are never truly given enough history or context to truly understand exactly what's going on. Whether this was intentional on the part of the author or not, it leaves the reader unsettled further giving us the sense that things are not "right" and unable to put our finger on exactly what it is that's making us feel this way.

One tiny thing that was frustrating was that while the author writes beautifully and the cadence used is mostly appropriate for the time in which the story is set, there were a few instances of specific words being used which felt like the author just wanted to use "big words". They weren't necessary for the story and they weren't necessarily a part of the vernacular. There were also words that were used incorrectly. For example "seiches" was used in the story to describe water going down a throat while "seiche" refers to "a temporary disturbance or oscillation of the water level of a lake or partially enclosed body of water, especially one caused by changes in atmospheric pressure" (Oxford Languages). These things tended to detract from the story which was otherwise well written.

[Abbie Riddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

First - Isn't this a stunning cover? If you were going to pick up a book based solely on the cover this cover art would certainly be worth taking a second look at.

But really you came here for a review - honest thoughts.

This is a retelling - a popular new genre of books lately. And this one does not disappoint at any part of the story. The writing is absolutely beautiful and reminds me of Bronte or Austen in its simple beauty.

A strong fierce MFC. A great MMC who is cursed . Character development on point. Plot and story development - is great. Absolutely captivating from the first few pages, drawing the readers in for a story that is excellently executed.

This has landed is one of my favourites of the year thus far. And one I can't wait to get a physical copy of for my shelves!!

I just don't think there is adequate words to do justice to this book. It's stunning in everyway. I stayed up to finish it because as you near the end it's just too hard to put down.

I can't help but wonder what would have happened had a certain person lived......I wish, for my selfishness, he had - that redemption had come in the form of a perfectly crafted love story of freedom for both and healing for him. Ahhhhh.....then the note just made me long for this more. My heart broke....simply shattered for the brokenness and the cursed one. Do we not all long to be delivered, set free, claimed, made whole, healed, be loved completely?

I loved this book. Simply, absolutely loved this book.

One of my favourite retellings of Bluebeard.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[J.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi. I was an ARC reader. This book… oh my goodness. Oh, my, goodness. Beatrice’s story. Even if nothing happened in the story my heart would be moved from the imagery. I love that girl’s character. The plot was interesting, the story was enlightening, and all of that was good. Maybe even better than good. But the writing?

I could barely focus on the actual story because the language was SO beautiful. My body had shivers from how well it was written. The flowery language enticed me so much, it drew me in like honey to a broken bee… I can’t believe I got to read SkyBlue. The way M. P. Halliday describes the heart-wrenching tale of M. Dumas and the way the author writes or rather sings on paper the story of Beatrice? Wow. Just… wow.

Please, I’m begging you, read this book. The plot was great. The story was great. And the writing was life-changing. This was so good, if this doesn’t become a bestseller I would be astounded. I haven’t seen this level of quality in a long time, and I don’t think I will for a long time.

Five stars, more if I could.

[Vera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somewhere between 4.25 and 4.5. I waver between them. However, based single-handedly on that gorgeous cover and the fact that this is indie, 5 stars I will grant! A tragic tale with a story that ended just as it must. The descriptions were gorgeous yet held my attention, and I felt myself highlighting a lot of descriptive passages which were entirely unemotional, such as ships or the orchard. The female lead surprisingly grew on me throughout the story, and I came to admire her by the end. The pacing was a bit stagnant at points and a bit could have been cut out near the beginning, but it quickly found itself. Both sides of the love triangle were compelling and both sides were resolved satisfactorily. I would have liked the length to remain the same and be slightly shifted to include more of the second MMC, as well as had Anna’s storyline wrapped up a bit more, but this was a very economical book that made it a pleasantly quick read that knew exactly what it wanted to be and reached that aspiration perfectly.

[Nessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rare is the book that does a love triangle well. Rarer still is one that has me rooting for both sides. Because it takes a more mature approach to love, allowing for love to develop over time, while also acknowledging the rush and joy of a love that happens in an instant. Furthermore, the book does not hinge on Beatrice ending with one of her two love interests. Rather, it focuses on how she steps into her own, especially in a time where women had fewer choices.

The Bluebeard aspect was well done. Dumas is not just some broody figure glowering out of windows. He's charming, affable, and then becomes monstrous without warning. Given his riches and his social capital, it's perfectly understandable how he would marry multiple times, and then with each passing wife, his mysterious aura grows, making him even more desireable.

I'm certain I'll be rereading passages from this book again, given how deliciously evocative the prose is.

[Brenda Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiercely independent Beatrice has no intentions of ever getting married; most certainly not for social standing.
But when her father passes away, she must secure her family's future. At only nineteen years of age, she marries the handsome but enigmatic Frenchman Monsieur Dumas.

There's a darkness that surrounds him at times that betrays his heart, and while she's unsure what is driving his madness, she begins falling in love with this brooding man. She's willing to sacrifice everything, including herself, to save him and the life she now knows is what she needs most.

This Bluebeard retelling absolutely transported me into a fantasy world of mystery and romance. The characters are all complex, beautiful, and tragic, as is the story itself. It had everything l'd want in a gothic read; evocative and deliciously dark. Kudos to this debut author.

Thank you Verse Ventures Tours, M.P. Halliday, and Monster Ivy Publishing for the ARC and the opportunity to be on this tour.

[Pattisue · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The house groans with the storm. And I think I’m only imagining the phantasmal tread of footsteps when Gaston utters sardonically, “Did you forget, mon amour? Our home is tenanted by ghosts.” There’s a low rumble in his throat—a laugh—but I’m not convinced. His demeanor sags grim, almost depressed, as if he truly is haunted.”

Darkly terrifying events ensnare young Beatrice in Monsieur Dumas’s web. Echoes of historical Gothic characters are combined in this retold fairy tale.

Dark foreboding obscures the truth from the heroine. Can she discover the secrets of her enigmatic husband? Obsession with death is a constant theme. A love triangle threatens to undo the tenuous hold Beatrice has on her independence. Will the cursed man or the maniacal beast take control. It is interesting that Dumas is named Gaston, a nod to Beauty and the Beast.

Read with your Webster’s on hand.

[Dana McKenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was an incredible fantasy retailing of Bluebeard. It was hauntingly, beautiful, full of folklore, love, secrets, and loss.

A marriage of convenience, age, gap, darkness/Gothic, slow burn romance, fairytale retailing with a disturbing secret. M. P. Halliday drug me right into the story with her vivid imagery, I couldn’t put it down. The characters are beautiful and complex, the story had me in a straight chokehold.

The FMC Beatrice marries an older man, Mr. Dumas to save her family. Mr. Dumas has secrets, dark ones. The story is one you will not be able to quit reading. I literally lost track of time reading this one.

Beautiful, dark, lush with secrets, add this one to your TBR.

[Lianne Scheepers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Bluebeard retelling was incredibly good! It’s about 19 year old Beatrice, who strives to stay single for the rest of her life. She doesn’t want to be anyone’s love interest and certainly does not want to get married. However, when her father dies from a terrible disease, it becomes clear how much financial troubles their family is actually in. Reluctantly, to safe her family from starvation, she agrees to marry an older man who can provide for both her and her family. Her new husband, Mr. Dumas, has already lost four wives, and is hiding some some dark secrets of his own. Can Beatrice truly grow to love him? Is she safe with this mysterious man?

This story is so sad in so many ways, and I could not help feeling for the characters. It certainly helps that the characters are written so well, their backstories and character growth are truly amazing. The story is mysterious, whimsical and has this gothic vibe to it that I love so much. The plot is good and kept surprising me, every time I thought I had it figured out (or at least parts of it), I was proven wrong. I’m not really that familiar with the original story of Bluebeard, but I certainly wasn’t expecting this ending.

I was a captive to the story from page one till the end, and I cannot wait to see what other stories this author has in store for us.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Inside, he hid a single rose, picked from the Spanish queen's own garden. I hung it upside-down on my windowsill to dry, trying to save it, but its petals cracked,crumbling just like my hopes for the future"

Struggling with the grief of losing her father to death, her brothers to war, and her mother to depression, Beatrice is forced to chose between giving up her freedom and saving her family.

This blue beard retelling is haunting and captivating and I devoured it in one sitting.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story about Beatrice. Her father recently died and now the family is running out of money. Monsieur Dumas offers to marry her and she agrees. He seems like a decent person but has outlived multiple wives. Beatrice discovers he has a secret, monstrous side that he can’t always control.

The book is a retelling of Bluebeard. I was not familiar with the story so appreciated the summary of the original in the author interview at the end of the book. I really like that she added more context to Bluebeard’s motives by making him suffer from an ancient curse.

Beatrice is a well-drawn character who was easy to relate to. I liked that the story did not just focus on Beatrice’s marriage, but also showed her mature and build better relationships with her mother and sister.

The book has a gothic feel with the dark forbidding house and the quiet servants. There was just the right amount of descriptions of the house. I could picture it well, but the pace of the story remained quick.

If you enjoy retellings of folktales, this is a great book to check out. It’s intriguing and the characters are well developed. I’ll definitely be looking for more from the author.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is wonderfully and captivatingly written and drew me into the story from the beginning. The book is a Bluebeard retelling, which I haven't read anything about yet and hardly know the original story, so I can't say much about the retelling factor. I loved Beatrice as the MFC, she and the MMC are great and very loveable characters. The story itself is very interestingly written and so is the character development. I highly recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marissa (rissareads13) · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Beatrice’s father passes and her twin brothers go off to serve the Queen, she is left to care for her family and their estate, only to discover her late father’s business in ruin. Along comes M. Dumas, a mysterious widower, to sweep Beatrice off her feet and protect her legacy. But who will protect her?

A chilling, thrilling retelling of Bluebeard, M.P. Halliday intricately details a young woman’s journey through loss, love, and discovering one’s self. An absolutely amazing, hauntingly beautiful read. I cannot wait to see more by this up-and-coming author.

[Amanda C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very ambient, evocative read.
Gothic in all the best ways.
FMC, Beatrice is superb. She's young but intuitive.
M. Dumas (our BlueBeard) is a very complex character. Definitely more human than monster.
Prior to reading this, I was unfamiliar with the Legend of BlueBeard but this story really made me want to look it up and understand the differences between this retelling and the Legend.
Very well written, loved the French tossed in.
Pacing was good.

Overall, an interesting and easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read

[Growing A · Rating 4 out of 5]

A retelling of Bluebeard? Count me in, this was an interesting one that I really had no idea what to expect going in since I’m unfamiliar with the original. Skyblue features some amazing, strong characters who develop some serious growth. M.P Halliday has a way of capturing attention and details immediately weaving a plot that flows effortlessly together. With retellings becoming such a popular pick, this was a fabulous spin and was a breath of fresh air being one that I’ve not personally seen much, if any yet, done.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this story was a treat, and I want to read it again! It's obvious the author cares about delivering quality work. She pulled off what may be the most satisfying love triangle I've ever read. There was balanced character building, and the motives always made sense even if the actions were surprising! The details she included were captivating, often making me smile to so easily visualize the goings on, without overwhelming the story. Will definitely read again to hunt for more Shakespeare references and hidden details.

[Haley Kilgour · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a retelling, this missed the mark for me. If you’re wanting a gothic romance, proceed.

So this is supposed to be a Bluebeard retelling. But honestly, the aspect of that story came in really only right at the beginning and right at the end. So it didn’t really read like much of a retelling.

The author did use a lot of SAT words, which actually really help set the mood of the book rather than hinder it.

[stephanie cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

SkyBlue is an exciting gothic retelling of the fairytale Bluebeard. I love this retelling, it is done strategically well. The characters are well written with their strengths and weaknesses. The secrets and suspense keeps you engaged throughout the entire time, flip page after page. I love how the plot had depth and is a great read for tons of people.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I'd literally zero knowledge of the Bluebeard fairytale going in, I absolutely fell in love with this story! The similarities to some Beauty and the Beast details initially helped pull me in, but Beatrice's unending strive for independence and the insanely puzzling mystery of Gaston's curse kept me hooked. I loved the atmosphere and the touches of French sprinkled throughout were a lovely touch!

[Bailey Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this lovely book and am so thankful I did! I have never read the original Bluebeard, but I loved this book! It completely captivated me with its mystery, romance, secrets, fantastic characters, and many layers. This book is a page tuner. It is a darker than what I normally read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Audra PC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great 4.5 star read for me. This is a retelling of an old folktale (that honestly I had forgotten about). Its was a breath of fresh air.

Enter the marriage of convenience because you’ve suddenly fallen on hard times and people depend on you.

Enter Dumas, the cursed gentleman turned fiend.

[Kacey Rayburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Halliday's gothic fairy tale is delightfully dreadful, with beautifully written characters, slow-burn romance, and a foreboding atmosphere that kept me on the edge of my seat. SkyBlue is a gorgeous gem of a debut, and I highly recommend it to dark fairy tale fiends! Go check out this captivating and intriguing Bluebeard retelling.

[Brielle Laine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really fun read! I had never heard of the fairy tale Bluebeard so I was very interested and curious to see how the story would end. This book was very well written and I LOVED the different characters in the book! The whole aspect of the curses and the secrets just made it such a fun read. I hope the author will write more books and if so I'll add them to my TBR list.