Of Song and Wonder

by Robyn Sarty

She’s trapped in a tower. He’s seeking adventure. Will love guide them home before it’s too late?

Life trapped in a faery queen's tower is lonely, especially for a girl whose vision is fading. Cäcilia still has her music, but she'd rather explore the world before she loses her sight completely.

Peadar is lord of the Never Isles, but a recent shift in the magic means he can travel freely to Tìr nan Òg. When he stumbles upon a girl trapped in a crumbling tower, he frees her and takes her back to the Never Isles with him.

But a new threat has emerged since he left. The rogues from the neighboring island are invading his realm and Cäcilia is in even more danger than before.

Can Cäcilia and Peadar find their way out or will darkness encompass them both?


For lovers of uplifting stories, complex characters, and friend-to-lovers romance with no spice, Of Song and Wonder is a sequel to A Gracious Hope, a YA fairy-tale retelling perfect for fans of A. G. Marshall, Sarah Beran, and Tara Grayce!

Genres: Fantasy, Retellings, Romance, Fairy Tales, Novella, Fairy Tale Retellings

147 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 14, 2025

About the author

Robyn 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.

Reviews

[Jacquelyn 💐 {This Rapunzel Reads} [Jesus Christ, my Living Hope] · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Okay, that was pretty cute with a beautiful cover! It could’ve been better and longer. I definitely wish it would’ve been longer. I felt like so much was happening all at once and so fast. But it was a fun twist putting Peter Pan and Rapunzel together. Cäcilia was a lovely character. Peadar was a fun version of Peter and I liked him. I did not expect him to be a faery until I read his wings. 😂 They did fall in love super fast, but they were super cute together! I do recommend if you want a quick read with romance and adventure.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored reading this sweet and clean fairy tale mash up! I never expected Peter Pan and Rapunzel to fit so well together, but this author not only pulled it off but made me feel like the fairy tales should always have been mixed!

I died from the adorable scenes and caught my breath with the twists. I would recommend this story for anyone who loves sweet adorable clean fairy tale retellings.

[Smasher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Content:

Profanity: None.

Violence: Mild. Magic is thrown around in fights to throw people or bind them down. A character is tied up. A magical creature almost attacks some characters.

Sexual: Mild. Almost not there. It's a very young-shy sort of romance. It's more infatuation/attraction than love, but it's headed there. There is hand-holding, hugs, and one on the lips kiss.



While sweet and cute, this story didn't do much for me. It lacked detail in the story-telling, and depth in the characters. It felt more like a draft than a finished product in a lot of ways. Cacilia needed a bit more of a look-in than she got with how she was isolated in a tower with only books to tell her about the outside world and other people. She didn't respond in a way that felt true to her miniscule life experiences to my mind. There's a wide gap between book knowledge and personal experience.

Paeder also felt a bit shallow. He doesn't seem to question much of anything. He's a bit of a mystery too. There is a lot of information thrown at the reader in a short span about his background that would've been far more satsifying and impactful if it had been given more piecemeal than all at once. It made it hard to connect to him (or Cacilia) because I wasn't given time to think about the effects their lives had on them, and the writing didn't dwell on it either.

So, while a cute idea and read, I was ready for it to be done at halfway, and this was short. I also struggled with the names of people and places. It's Gaelic or welsh or something of that sort, and while I soooo appreciate that the author had a pronunciation guide in the front of the book, I just couldn't keep any of it in my head, and I hate stopping to go find the guide every time I forget and lose the flow of the reading.

Not sure I'll read any more from this author, but never say never. I like her ideas a lot, this was a fun mash-up.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of Song and Wonder by Robyn Sarty
🎶 Trapped in a tower
🎶 Better together
🎶 The Never Isles
🎶 Friends to lovers
🎶 Sweet romance, a kiss (no spice)
Genre: Fantasy retelling
I loved everything about this book! When Peadar stumbles upon a girl trapped in a crumbling tower, he frees her and takes her back to the Never Isles...
A beautiful blend of Peter Pan and Rapunzel with sprinkles of Celtic folklore. From the gorgeous cover to the sweet ending, I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent reading this book. Peter Pan is one of my favorite childhood tales so I'm usually pretty picky about retellings, but this was done so well! I loved how Peadar stays true to character while being the hero of this tale. I also connected very well with the heroine of our tale Cacilia who is losing her eyesight. My only complaint would be that I didn't want to leave the story when it ended! I would love a bonus epilogue or even a sequel featuring Peadar and Cacilia! Highly, highly recommend!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A standalone (takes place in the same world as A Gracious Hope)

[Bryanna Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aaaahhh this is such a cute story! Of Song and Wonder is a blend of Peter Pan and Rapunzel and Robyn did an excellent job of weaving the two stories together! The story moves pretty quickly and I would have loved to spend more time with the characters. I really enjoyed watching Peadar’s protectiveness of Cäcilia, and I loved seeing both characters communicate so well with each other and grow as individuals. If you’re looking for a quick read with a lot of heart this book is perfect for you!

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that you just can’t put down! You are pulled into an amazing adventure where a woman realizes she is stronger than she thought possible. With a protective hero by her side, Cacilia learns who she is and what true love means. Amazing story! I loved it.

[Brett Jonas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet romance

Sarty weaves a short but sweet romance in this clever mashup of two stories that I never imagined would fit together and yet fit together in so many ways!

[Lorin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like this book! I did not like anything about this book!

[Ami Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the mix of fairy & folk tales in this amazing book! There was a lot of swashbuckling adventure and a touch of romance that added even more intrigue to the story… who would have thought to combine Celtic folklore with a children’s tale! The two themes were so well woven together that it made a whole new world for the characters to live in. The ending was especially sweet!

[Chantel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would never have thought to combine Peter Pan and Rapunzel, but let me tell you that this absolutely delighted me in so many ways.

You will fall in love with the gentle, steady love and the growth that both characters do over the course of the story.

This was my first book by this author, and I'm already anxious to read more!