What do you think?
Rate this book
Realms of Caelia #1
Beauty in the Tower: A Combined Retelling of Sleeping Beauty & Rapunzel
A stolen princess, a powerful curse, and a prince desperately trying to change their fate.
Alora can't remember a time when she wasn't imprisoned in a tower. When a cryptic old wizard breaks her out, she learns overwhelming truths about her identity and she's a princess, prophesied to bring about the downfall of an evil sorceress, and cursed to sleep until true love's kiss wakes her.
Prince Aldric spends years searching for both his missing family and his lost betrothed. When a wounded Princess Alora collapses in his arms, he's determined to help her break her curse and capture the sorceress who tore his family apart.
With Aldric's help, Alora learns to harness a power she barely understands as her fated sleep looms ever closer. Will it be enough to defeat the powerful sorceress who cursed her, or will Alora and Aldric's happily ever after be over before it can even begin?
Realms of Caelia is a series of interconnected combined fairy tale retellings. Each book weaves two traditional tales together into a unique story. They are best enjoyed in order. If you like sweet and clean romances, moments of hilarity, and magical fairy tales with happily ever after endings, then Realms of Caelia is for you!
Recommended reading 12+
Alora can't remember a time when she wasn't imprisoned in a tower. When a cryptic old wizard breaks her out, she learns overwhelming truths about her identity and she's a princess, prophesied to bring about the downfall of an evil sorceress, and cursed to sleep until true love's kiss wakes her.
Prince Aldric spends years searching for both his missing family and his lost betrothed. When a wounded Princess Alora collapses in his arms, he's determined to help her break her curse and capture the sorceress who tore his family apart.
With Aldric's help, Alora learns to harness a power she barely understands as her fated sleep looms ever closer. Will it be enough to defeat the powerful sorceress who cursed her, or will Alora and Aldric's happily ever after be over before it can even begin?
Realms of Caelia is a series of interconnected combined fairy tale retellings. Each book weaves two traditional tales together into a unique story. They are best enjoyed in order. If you like sweet and clean romances, moments of hilarity, and magical fairy tales with happily ever after endings, then Realms of Caelia is for you!
Recommended reading 12+
447 pages, Paperback
Published September 6, 2024
60 people are currently reading
208 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
September 4, 2024
Beauty in the Tower is an adorable and clever mash-up of Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty.
Alora is only an infant when the prophecy that she and her true love will defeat the evil sorceress, Maligothel on her 18th birthday. When the sorceress hears, she curses Alora to prick her finger on a spindle and die, but a fairy changes that fate to an enchanted sleep. In order to prevent the prophecy from coming true, Maligothel kidnaps the princess and locks her in a tower.
Prince Aldric, Alora's betrothed, has spent his life looking for Alora and his family after Maligothel caused all of them to disappear. He’s been learning magic and hiding with a few loyal friends in his family’s castle.
Beauty in the Tower is a really fun retelling with great characters and an interesting world.I really enjoyed the hints and teases of other fairytale retellings sprinkled throughout the book as Alora learns about the royals of the other kingdoms (12 princesses, a beast in a castle, Excalibur as the sword in a stone, Robin Hood, etc…) I’m looking forward to seeing how the author will twist those tales!
Fans of KM Shea’s Timeless Fairytales will enjoy this first book in a sweet and clean retelling series of intertwined stories.
Thank you to the author for the ARC. The book releases on September 6.
Alora is only an infant when the prophecy that she and her true love will defeat the evil sorceress, Maligothel on her 18th birthday. When the sorceress hears, she curses Alora to prick her finger on a spindle and die, but a fairy changes that fate to an enchanted sleep. In order to prevent the prophecy from coming true, Maligothel kidnaps the princess and locks her in a tower.
Prince Aldric, Alora's betrothed, has spent his life looking for Alora and his family after Maligothel caused all of them to disappear. He’s been learning magic and hiding with a few loyal friends in his family’s castle.
Beauty in the Tower is a really fun retelling with great characters and an interesting world.I really enjoyed the hints and teases of other fairytale retellings sprinkled throughout the book as Alora learns about the royals of the other kingdoms (12 princesses, a beast in a castle, Excalibur as the sword in a stone, Robin Hood, etc…) I’m looking forward to seeing how the author will twist those tales!
Fans of KM Shea’s Timeless Fairytales will enjoy this first book in a sweet and clean retelling series of intertwined stories.
Thank you to the author for the ARC. The book releases on September 6.
September 8, 2024
Mild spoilers ahead!
Beauty in the Tower is a fairytale retelling that takes elements from Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel and merges them together in an exciting, sweet, and unique way. The blending of the two stories didn't feel forced - the author did a great job making it feel like one complete tale, versus two separate fairy tales put together for the sake of convenience. It's a sweet romance appropriate for young adult readers (12+) with adventure, illness, fight scenes, some mentions of killing and "off camera" torture, as well as hand holding, some cheek and forehead kisses and "butterfly" type feelings.
I really appreciated how the author handled the "true loves first kiss" element to the story - it always bothered me that Sleeping Beauty never had a say in whether she wanted to be kissed or not (consent is important!) but the characters in "Beauty in the Tower," discussed the event ahead of time, knowing the curse was likely to come to fruition, so Alora asked Aldric ahead of time, to kiss her when the time came and in fact, made it quite clear that's what she wanted before she fell asleep.
Another element that I really liked were all the allusions to other fairy tales, and the ways the author worked them into the plot. I'm looking forward to see where she goes with future books in the same world as "Beauty in the Tower," to see what other fairy tales she's blended together!
I received an advance review copy of this book for free, and I'm writing a review voluntarily.
Beauty in the Tower is a fairytale retelling that takes elements from Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel and merges them together in an exciting, sweet, and unique way. The blending of the two stories didn't feel forced - the author did a great job making it feel like one complete tale, versus two separate fairy tales put together for the sake of convenience. It's a sweet romance appropriate for young adult readers (12+) with adventure, illness, fight scenes, some mentions of killing and "off camera" torture, as well as hand holding, some cheek and forehead kisses and "butterfly" type feelings.
I really appreciated how the author handled the "true loves first kiss" element to the story - it always bothered me that Sleeping Beauty never had a say in whether she wanted to be kissed or not (consent is important!) but the characters in "Beauty in the Tower," discussed the event ahead of time, knowing the curse was likely to come to fruition, so Alora asked Aldric ahead of time, to kiss her when the time came and in fact, made it quite clear that's what she wanted before she fell asleep.
Another element that I really liked were all the allusions to other fairy tales, and the ways the author worked them into the plot. I'm looking forward to see where she goes with future books in the same world as "Beauty in the Tower," to see what other fairy tales she's blended together!
I received an advance review copy of this book for free, and I'm writing a review voluntarily.
July 18, 2025
I won’t lie, while I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I would usually give it 4* on story. However. I loved the creativity of mashing up Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty, even in the villain’s name with Maligothel. I also adored the world Farnsworth has created. I liked the nods to the other fairytales she was setting up in other stories, trying to guess what it might be. And it was masterfully done where it didn’t take over the plot but I loved it and it made me excited for the rest of the books.
This story was a bit slower paced than I tend to enjoy, which is why I’d say it’s more a 4* on story for me. However, I greatly enjoyed the characters, from the FMC, MMC, side characters, down to a fun animal sidekick for part of it that was just perfect. Honestly, Farnsworth did great for her debut novel and I’m excited to continue the series!
This story was a bit slower paced than I tend to enjoy, which is why I’d say it’s more a 4* on story for me. However, I greatly enjoyed the characters, from the FMC, MMC, side characters, down to a fun animal sidekick for part of it that was just perfect. Honestly, Farnsworth did great for her debut novel and I’m excited to continue the series!
September 6, 2024
This is a unique mash up of Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty. Fairies, evil birthday curse, stolen baby in a tower, nasty spindle, crazy long hair, and true love’s first kiss. It’s all there.
There are no wild twists or turns. Just a sweet love story with a snarky heroine and a lovely happily ever after. Note- this book is LONG. A great choice for a long flight, it took me about 5-6 hours to read.
I was really impressed with Sara’s debut novel and can’t wait to read more!
There are no wild twists or turns. Just a sweet love story with a snarky heroine and a lovely happily ever after. Note- this book is LONG. A great choice for a long flight, it took me about 5-6 hours to read.
I was really impressed with Sara’s debut novel and can’t wait to read more!
December 15, 2024
In case you haven't heard the terrific news, there is a fairy tale advent calendar you can access all month for free books from some of the best fairy tale authors! With so many books to choose from, it's no wonder princess stories have migrated back to the page. Among the books offered that I hadn't read, Beauty in the Tower by Sara Farnsworth stood out because it combines "Rapunzel" and "Sleeping Beauty." This seemed like such an interesting and fun combination that I've never seen before. I read a book that combines "Beauty and the Beast" with "Sleeping Beauty," but not "Rapunzel." Beauty in the Tower, the first book in the Realms of Caelia series, exceeded my expectations with its unique combination of romance, magic, and suspense. I also appreciate that the author put a trigger warning at the beginning of the book for anyone who might be uncomfortable by its darker elements, but thankfully, it did not go into too much detail during those parts and kept the tone pretty mild.
Princess Alora was cursed at her birthing ceremony by the wicked sorceress, Maligothel (a clever combination of Maleficent and Gothel) to prick her finger on a spindle and die on her eighteenth birthday. Fortunately, Prince Aldric, her betrothed, is determined not to let that happen. When the curse is altered to be broken by true love's kiss, Alora and her true love are prophesied to bring about Maligothel's downfall. The evil sorceress refuses to accept this and decides to take matters into her own hands. She kidnaps Alora, locks her in a tower, and tells her that her name is Rapunzel in the hopes that she will not learn about her true origins. Alora grows up sheltered, but not alone thanks to the guidance of Leonardo, the kind old wizard who made the prophecy. When she comes of age, Leonardo helps her escape right into the arms of Aldric, who has been searching for her most of his life.
I was particularly impressed by the complexity of the world and characters within this story. Everyone in the book is dealing with their own personal struggles, but they have hope for the promise of the day the prophecy will come true. When Aldric's family disappears, leaving him alone with a handful of servants, he refuses to lose faith that he will find Alora again. Their relationship reminded me a little of Odette and Derek from The Swan Princess due to his determination to bring her back and unite their kingdoms. Alora is reluctant to trust Aldric at first, but his devotion shines through and wins her over pretty quickly. The twin wizards, Leonardo and Lombardo, struggle to protect Alora and Aldric and teach them everything they need to know about their unique magical powers so they will be ready to defeat Maligothel when the time comes.
Something else I liked about this book is that most of the main characters had magic, but it worked differently for each one. Aldric discovers that he is a healer, a rare quality for a male lead in a fantasy story, and he uses these abilities to help Alora after her torturous struggle to escape Maligothel's clutches. Alora has numerous powers based on light and protection that help her stand up to Maligothel's dark magic. The most powerful beings in this world are wizards and sorcerers, but they do not see themselves as heroes and instead use their knowledge to train the next generation to defeat evil. An honorable mention goes out to Prince Lander, Alora's brother and the main character from the next book in the series, who does not have magic but makes up for it with his impeccable sense of humor.
Beauty in the Tower by Sara Farnsworth is a thrilling fairy tale retelling that masterfully weaves together elements of "Rapunzel" and "Sleeping Beauty." With its richly detailed world-building, complex characters, and sweet romance, this book is a must-read for fans of fantasy and fairy tales. I appreciated the unique magical abilities of each character, from Alora's light-based powers to Aldric's rare healing abilities. The story also strikes a great balance between lighter moments, such as Prince Lander's witty humor, and darker themes, like Maligothel's evil curse. Overall, this book sets up Realms of Caelia as a delightful and engaging series that will keep you turning the pages until the very end.
Princess Alora was cursed at her birthing ceremony by the wicked sorceress, Maligothel (a clever combination of Maleficent and Gothel) to prick her finger on a spindle and die on her eighteenth birthday. Fortunately, Prince Aldric, her betrothed, is determined not to let that happen. When the curse is altered to be broken by true love's kiss, Alora and her true love are prophesied to bring about Maligothel's downfall. The evil sorceress refuses to accept this and decides to take matters into her own hands. She kidnaps Alora, locks her in a tower, and tells her that her name is Rapunzel in the hopes that she will not learn about her true origins. Alora grows up sheltered, but not alone thanks to the guidance of Leonardo, the kind old wizard who made the prophecy. When she comes of age, Leonardo helps her escape right into the arms of Aldric, who has been searching for her most of his life.
I was particularly impressed by the complexity of the world and characters within this story. Everyone in the book is dealing with their own personal struggles, but they have hope for the promise of the day the prophecy will come true. When Aldric's family disappears, leaving him alone with a handful of servants, he refuses to lose faith that he will find Alora again. Their relationship reminded me a little of Odette and Derek from The Swan Princess due to his determination to bring her back and unite their kingdoms. Alora is reluctant to trust Aldric at first, but his devotion shines through and wins her over pretty quickly. The twin wizards, Leonardo and Lombardo, struggle to protect Alora and Aldric and teach them everything they need to know about their unique magical powers so they will be ready to defeat Maligothel when the time comes.
Something else I liked about this book is that most of the main characters had magic, but it worked differently for each one. Aldric discovers that he is a healer, a rare quality for a male lead in a fantasy story, and he uses these abilities to help Alora after her torturous struggle to escape Maligothel's clutches. Alora has numerous powers based on light and protection that help her stand up to Maligothel's dark magic. The most powerful beings in this world are wizards and sorcerers, but they do not see themselves as heroes and instead use their knowledge to train the next generation to defeat evil. An honorable mention goes out to Prince Lander, Alora's brother and the main character from the next book in the series, who does not have magic but makes up for it with his impeccable sense of humor.
Beauty in the Tower by Sara Farnsworth is a thrilling fairy tale retelling that masterfully weaves together elements of "Rapunzel" and "Sleeping Beauty." With its richly detailed world-building, complex characters, and sweet romance, this book is a must-read for fans of fantasy and fairy tales. I appreciated the unique magical abilities of each character, from Alora's light-based powers to Aldric's rare healing abilities. The story also strikes a great balance between lighter moments, such as Prince Lander's witty humor, and darker themes, like Maligothel's evil curse. Overall, this book sets up Realms of Caelia as a delightful and engaging series that will keep you turning the pages until the very end.
January 30, 2025
Beauty in the Tower is a clever retelling of both Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel. The stories work remarkably well together and it is no doubt even better due to the way the author tells the story.
The protagonists, Alora and Aldric are both delightful to read about.
Alora is the first born princess of Caledonia and on her first birthday (and the day of her betrothal), she becomes part of a prophecy. She and her true love are destined to overthrow the powerful dark sorceress, Maligothel. Maligothel shows up at her birthday party and curses her to prick her finger on a spindle on her eighteen birthday and die. A light fairy steps in, and changes the curse so she’ll only sleep until she’s woken up by her true love. Clearly, this doesn’t bode well for Maligothel and she kidnaps the little princess and hides her away in a tower in her hidden fortress. Alora also has very powerful magic but grows not knowing about the prophecy, her family, or even her true identity. She is innocent and a bit naïve, but she is incredibly endearing.
Aldric is the youngest prince of Delmyra and possesses magical healing powers. His family is vanished in an attack from Maligothel when he is a child along with most of the castle staff. The castle cook (Glenna) takes him and a young apprentice woodcutter, (Halden) under her wing when she and her daughter (Nerea) move into the castle following the attack. They quickly become a found family, but Aldric never gives up his hope of finding his family or Alora. Aldric is protective and brave and very caring and he loves reading.
Most of the book takes place over the course of three months and the romance doesn’t seem incredibly rushed as you get to see the characters grow and care for each other.
Nerea is probably my favorite female character in the book. She’s rather blunt about the fact that she doesn’t believe that Alora is who she says she is (at least at first), but you can tell she genuinely cares for Aldric and definitely acts like an older sister to him throughout the book, often teasing him or calling him out when she thinks he’s done something dumb. She and Halden are engaged and have such a fun dynamic. I really hope we get to see more of them in future books or short stories.
Prince Lander (Alora’s older brother) is snarky and fun. He is charming and charismatic and I’m hopeful that we’ll get to see him insult more bad guys in the second book (in which he is a main character).
I would also love to see Princess Amina (one of Alora’s younger sisters) get her own story as well.
I love the journey the characters find themselves on and all the little hints about future books, such as nods to Excalibur, Robin Hood, and 12 princesses who start wearing out their dancing slippers.
All in all, this book was definitely a five star read as was the companion piece featuring eight snippets following the characters of this book at various times during or after the story.
The protagonists, Alora and Aldric are both delightful to read about.
Alora is the first born princess of Caledonia and on her first birthday (and the day of her betrothal), she becomes part of a prophecy. She and her true love are destined to overthrow the powerful dark sorceress, Maligothel. Maligothel shows up at her birthday party and curses her to prick her finger on a spindle on her eighteen birthday and die. A light fairy steps in, and changes the curse so she’ll only sleep until she’s woken up by her true love. Clearly, this doesn’t bode well for Maligothel and she kidnaps the little princess and hides her away in a tower in her hidden fortress. Alora also has very powerful magic but grows not knowing about the prophecy, her family, or even her true identity. She is innocent and a bit naïve, but she is incredibly endearing.
Aldric is the youngest prince of Delmyra and possesses magical healing powers. His family is vanished in an attack from Maligothel when he is a child along with most of the castle staff. The castle cook (Glenna) takes him and a young apprentice woodcutter, (Halden) under her wing when she and her daughter (Nerea) move into the castle following the attack. They quickly become a found family, but Aldric never gives up his hope of finding his family or Alora. Aldric is protective and brave and very caring and he loves reading.
Most of the book takes place over the course of three months and the romance doesn’t seem incredibly rushed as you get to see the characters grow and care for each other.
Nerea is probably my favorite female character in the book. She’s rather blunt about the fact that she doesn’t believe that Alora is who she says she is (at least at first), but you can tell she genuinely cares for Aldric and definitely acts like an older sister to him throughout the book, often teasing him or calling him out when she thinks he’s done something dumb. She and Halden are engaged and have such a fun dynamic. I really hope we get to see more of them in future books or short stories.
Prince Lander (Alora’s older brother) is snarky and fun. He is charming and charismatic and I’m hopeful that we’ll get to see him insult more bad guys in the second book (in which he is a main character).
I would also love to see Princess Amina (one of Alora’s younger sisters) get her own story as well.
I love the journey the characters find themselves on and all the little hints about future books, such as nods to Excalibur, Robin Hood, and 12 princesses who start wearing out their dancing slippers.
All in all, this book was definitely a five star read as was the companion piece featuring eight snippets following the characters of this book at various times during or after the story.
September 9, 2024
✨ Beauty in the Tower ✨ by Sara Farnsworth is a sweet & cozy fairytale retelling of the Tangled interpretation of Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty!
💖 Sara's a debut christian author whose first novel is impressive in both detail and length, this isn't a quick read but the journey is absolutely worth it! This Rapunzel & Sleeping Beauty meets Epic Fantasy has all the traditional elements of the original stories, blended together in a way that's whimsical, fresh and imaginitive! Sarah did an amazing job weaving the two tales together in a way that flows seamlessly, you'd never know they were two separate fairytales the way she masterfully wrote them together! I honestly can't believe this is her debut novel, her writing style is so well developed and the plot was flawlessly consistent throughout the story! The world building is wonderfully illustrated, and carries you through the story in a way that reads naturally and flows beautifully.
💕 The relationship between Princess Alora & prince Aldric was perfectly Sweet, Clean & Swoon-worthy! I loved how loyal and deeply devoted Aldric was to finding and protecting Alora, and Sara even added her own unique twist to the *True Love's Kiss* element!
Some of my favorite details were..
💫 Prince Aldric is the Healer
💖 All the Cozy Vibes!!
✨ Midsummer Lantern Festival
🍞 Her love for bread & butter
👨👩👧👦 Sweet Familial Relationships
🧙🏽♂️ Mysterious & Intriguing Side Characters
🐉 Maligothel is based on Maleficent & Mother Gothel, rolled into one wicked villain
📚 References to future stories with King Arthur, the 12 Dancing Princesses & Robin Hood...
💖 Thank You @sara.farnsworth.books for the honor of arc reading your book, I loved it!! I would rate this book 🌟✨🌟✨🌟
...and highly recommend it to anyone who loves Sweet, Cozy Fairytale Retellings & Epic High Fantasy!!
💕 You'll love this adventure if you're fans of the writing styles of S.M Shea, Camille Peters, Melanie Cellier, Ashely Evercott, & Brittany Fichter!
#CozyFairytaleRetelling #SleepingBeautyRetelling #RapunzelRetelling #CleanFairytaleRetelling #FairytaleRetelling #YAFairytaleRetelling #FairytaleMashup #SaraFarnsworthAuthor #BeautyInTheTower
💖 Sara's a debut christian author whose first novel is impressive in both detail and length, this isn't a quick read but the journey is absolutely worth it! This Rapunzel & Sleeping Beauty meets Epic Fantasy has all the traditional elements of the original stories, blended together in a way that's whimsical, fresh and imaginitive! Sarah did an amazing job weaving the two tales together in a way that flows seamlessly, you'd never know they were two separate fairytales the way she masterfully wrote them together! I honestly can't believe this is her debut novel, her writing style is so well developed and the plot was flawlessly consistent throughout the story! The world building is wonderfully illustrated, and carries you through the story in a way that reads naturally and flows beautifully.
💕 The relationship between Princess Alora & prince Aldric was perfectly Sweet, Clean & Swoon-worthy! I loved how loyal and deeply devoted Aldric was to finding and protecting Alora, and Sara even added her own unique twist to the *True Love's Kiss* element!
Some of my favorite details were..
💫 Prince Aldric is the Healer
💖 All the Cozy Vibes!!
✨ Midsummer Lantern Festival
🍞 Her love for bread & butter
👨👩👧👦 Sweet Familial Relationships
🧙🏽♂️ Mysterious & Intriguing Side Characters
🐉 Maligothel is based on Maleficent & Mother Gothel, rolled into one wicked villain
📚 References to future stories with King Arthur, the 12 Dancing Princesses & Robin Hood...
💖 Thank You @sara.farnsworth.books for the honor of arc reading your book, I loved it!! I would rate this book 🌟✨🌟✨🌟
...and highly recommend it to anyone who loves Sweet, Cozy Fairytale Retellings & Epic High Fantasy!!
💕 You'll love this adventure if you're fans of the writing styles of S.M Shea, Camille Peters, Melanie Cellier, Ashely Evercott, & Brittany Fichter!
#CozyFairytaleRetelling #SleepingBeautyRetelling #RapunzelRetelling #CleanFairytaleRetelling #FairytaleRetelling #YAFairytaleRetelling #FairytaleMashup #SaraFarnsworthAuthor #BeautyInTheTower
September 13, 2024
Absolutely adored this book!
I love fairytale retellings sooo much and I have not found many where the combined stories flow well, but this one?! Eeeeee I can’t wait for the rest of the series. The back of the book shows the books she has planned and you can bet my overly sized tbr that I’ll be there on release day for each one. Plus the Easter eggs throughout promise for a great series.
This book was a beautifully blended retelling of Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty. The two main characters start very young and we get a couple chapters that give snap shots of the characters as they grow throughout the years until the fated year of the prophecy.
This is a friends to lovers trope and I think I like this trope more than enemies to lovers. The depth of emotions these two develop for each other is so incredibly sweet and I loved it. Plus the way they end up in the book was beyond satisfying and so incredibly believable. Sorry I’m not going to spoil it 😝 I swooned so hard for this couple. I adore Alaric.
Now there are dark things that do occur in the story so be aware this isn’t all fluff and sweetness. The tension is good, pacing is great and the banter is perfect. Lots of giggles and snickers while reading.
Lots of secondary characters that are developed and feature heavily throughout, good descriptions, and lots of magic throughout. Plus the snippets into each kingdom and their magical dilemmas has me drooling for their stories too. I’m assuming they’ll be able to be read as standalones but they do look like they’ll connect.
This was a great hurt/comfort trope, and yes it covers the ‘only one bed’ trope but Alaric’s chivalry was on point. It even has brother’s best friend trope.
A m/f fantasy romance with magic, curses, healing, found family, true love’s kiss and great character development. Ended in a sweet HEA for now.
Multiple povs (including villain) told in third person
Main couple-
Princess Alora Edelyn Kamea Caledon of Caledonia
Prince Aldric Malkon Lyell Delmyre of Delmyra
Featured kingdoms - Caledonia and Delmyra
Steam - clean with kissing
I love fairytale retellings sooo much and I have not found many where the combined stories flow well, but this one?! Eeeeee I can’t wait for the rest of the series. The back of the book shows the books she has planned and you can bet my overly sized tbr that I’ll be there on release day for each one. Plus the Easter eggs throughout promise for a great series.
This book was a beautifully blended retelling of Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty. The two main characters start very young and we get a couple chapters that give snap shots of the characters as they grow throughout the years until the fated year of the prophecy.
This is a friends to lovers trope and I think I like this trope more than enemies to lovers. The depth of emotions these two develop for each other is so incredibly sweet and I loved it. Plus the way they end up in the book was beyond satisfying and so incredibly believable. Sorry I’m not going to spoil it 😝 I swooned so hard for this couple. I adore Alaric.
Now there are dark things that do occur in the story so be aware this isn’t all fluff and sweetness. The tension is good, pacing is great and the banter is perfect. Lots of giggles and snickers while reading.
Lots of secondary characters that are developed and feature heavily throughout, good descriptions, and lots of magic throughout. Plus the snippets into each kingdom and their magical dilemmas has me drooling for their stories too. I’m assuming they’ll be able to be read as standalones but they do look like they’ll connect.
This was a great hurt/comfort trope, and yes it covers the ‘only one bed’ trope but Alaric’s chivalry was on point. It even has brother’s best friend trope.
A m/f fantasy romance with magic, curses, healing, found family, true love’s kiss and great character development. Ended in a sweet HEA for now.
Multiple povs (including villain) told in third person
Main couple-
Princess Alora Edelyn Kamea Caledon of Caledonia
Prince Aldric Malkon Lyell Delmyre of Delmyra
Featured kingdoms - Caledonia and Delmyra
Steam - clean with kissing
August 23, 2024
Beauty in the Tower is an incredible retelling of Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel. I honestly don't think any author has ever tried to mix the two fairy tales, but Sara Farnsworth did an amazing job. It had all the elements of both Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel. She was cursed to prick her finger on her 18th birthday (Sleeping Beauty), she was kidnapped and taken to a tower (Rapunzel), she escaped on a rope made of hair (Rapunzel), she hid in with her betrothed and three others (Sleeping Beauty), she went back to her own castle when she was 18 and attended a ball (Sleeping Beauty), she pricked her finger and fell asleep (Sleeping Beauty), her true love kissed her and woke her up (Sleeping Beauty), they battled a witch-turned-dragon (Sleeping Beauty), her true love became temporarily blind (Rapunzel) and she knocked Maligothel out of the tower (Rapunzel). I honestly have no idea how Sara Farnsworth managed to incorporate all those elements of two very different stories, but she did! Alora and Aldric were such great characters and I love how Alora, after years of captivity, enjoyed simple pleasures like bread and butter that we take for granted. Aldric was also so amazing and dedicated to finding her and willing to protect her to his last breath (thankfully it didn't come to that!). The plot and worldbuilding was great and there are so many references to future books such as King Arthur, Robin Hood and Twelve Dancing Princesses. Although this is Sara Farnsworth's first book, she did a great job with it and I am honestly impressed that this is the first book that she has ever published! I wouldn't have known it unless someone told me! I can't wait to read Lake of Swans and see more of Alora's brother, Prince Lander.
September 11, 2024
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. This is the author's debut novel and I'm interested in reading more from her. It's book 1 in the Realms of Caelia Series and it seems as if events, and characters, from this story will crossover into the next book. Beauty in the Tower is told through third person multi pov, mainly Alora and Aldric's, and is a sweet Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel retelling.
CW: pg-13 level violence
Spice: sweet kisses
I never thought about Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel being mashed together for a retelling but the story felt natural and, though there were no crazy twists, it kept me intrigued. The world building was good and has me curious to read more tales from Caelia. I'm not really a fan of multi pov,and there were times when I wanted to get back to Alora or Aldric, but the author did a great job in creating a good cast of characters to like and dislike.
As for our main characters, Alora and Aldric, I like how well they suited each other. Yes, they were destined for each other and their romance was one of insta attraction but I liked the slow buildup of their relationship. With what Alora had experienced and had to adjust to a new life, she was eager to learn and voice her thoughts. I liked how Aldric listened to her and made her feel like she and her choices mattered. While he carried his own problems, he had a steady and confident presences. Overall, I enjoyed reading Alora and Aldric's story and hope to see more of them in the next book of this series.
CW: pg-13 level violence
Spice: sweet kisses
I never thought about Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel being mashed together for a retelling but the story felt natural and, though there were no crazy twists, it kept me intrigued. The world building was good and has me curious to read more tales from Caelia. I'm not really a fan of multi pov,
As for our main characters, Alora and Aldric, I like how well they suited each other. Yes, they were destined for each other and their romance was one of insta attraction but I liked the slow buildup of their relationship. With what Alora had experienced and had to adjust to a new life, she was eager to learn and voice her thoughts. I liked how Aldric listened to her and made her feel like she and her choices mattered. While he carried his own problems, he had a steady and confident presences. Overall, I enjoyed reading Alora and Aldric's story and hope to see more of them in the next book of this series.
September 5, 2024
This fairy tale retelling - a mix of Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel - is a sweet and clean romantasy.
This book moves through time to give us a history for the time period we’ll spend 85% of the story in. The beginning drug a tad with the establishment of a kingdom and explanations of magic and numerous lengthy names for all of the royalty of the many realms. There were quite a few darker, unpleasant scenes (some torture bits). I gave it a 4.5.
The characters were strong and it wasn’t all predictable. I enjoyed the mashup and the fairy tales chosen. I’m interested to read more in this series and more from this author. The world built was well done and enjoyable (as were the side characters and kingdoms - and hints of future books to come).
I received an ARC of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This book moves through time to give us a history for the time period we’ll spend 85% of the story in. The beginning drug a tad with the establishment of a kingdom and explanations of magic and numerous lengthy names for all of the royalty of the many realms. There were quite a few darker, unpleasant scenes (some torture bits). I gave it a 4.5.
The characters were strong and it wasn’t all predictable. I enjoyed the mashup and the fairy tales chosen. I’m interested to read more in this series and more from this author. The world built was well done and enjoyable (as were the side characters and kingdoms - and hints of future books to come).
I received an ARC of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
February 20, 2025
I can't recommend this one to my teenage niece because the torture bothered me. If not for that, the rest of the story was sweet.
Pros:
Aldric is determined to help Alora, his betrothed. It's been fourteen years since he saw her. He does not love her yet but he's willing to sacrifice for her.
Alora suffers so much but doesn't allow herself to become bitter.
Lander, her brother, is definitely the comic relief in the story. His part is so much fun!
Cons:
Too much repitition for my taste. The heroine constantly wonders if she can beat the witch although the prophecy says she will. And she never asks the questions she has for Aldric even though he's super kind and she trusts him. Why?
And why does he put off telling her all the details? She'd be better prepared, which is the whole point, except he keeps her in the dark, as does the wizard. So being less prepared is the only way to destroy the indestructible sorceress?!
Pros:
Aldric is determined to help Alora, his betrothed. It's been fourteen years since he saw her. He does not love her yet but he's willing to sacrifice for her.
Alora suffers so much but doesn't allow herself to become bitter.
Lander, her brother, is definitely the comic relief in the story. His part is so much fun!
Cons:
Too much repitition for my taste. The heroine constantly wonders if she can beat the witch although the prophecy says she will. And she never asks the questions she has for Aldric even though he's super kind and she trusts him. Why?
And why does he put off telling her all the details? She'd be better prepared, which is the whole point, except he keeps her in the dark, as does the wizard. So being less prepared is the only way to destroy the indestructible sorceress?!
September 6, 2024
This book is an absolute gem! Definitely one of my favorite new releases for the year. The two fairytales Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel are woven together beautifully. I loved the length of this one, at over 400 pages I felt we really got to know the characters in depth instead of just skimming over their lives. I also loved all the references to other fairytales throughout, so much scope for more stories! Can't wait to read Lander's story next! I also loved all thr sweet moments like Aldric saying "Always" (definitely Princess Bride vibes!) and Lander and Aldric discussing the color of Alora's dress! I also thought it ended perfectly. Can't wait for more!
April 11, 2025
Fun story
This mashup of Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty seemed to learn a bit more into Sleeping Beauty than Rapunzel, but it was an interesting blend of the two.
I enjoyed the characters, world, and plot. Some of the events in the beginning ended up being a bit redundant since they were fully explained later in the story.
I read the available stories in this series out of order, and I would recommend reading in order if possible, but it was written well enough to understand the important things even without the correct order.
I'm eager to see some of the seeds in this and the other two books come to light in future stories in the series.
This mashup of Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty seemed to learn a bit more into Sleeping Beauty than Rapunzel, but it was an interesting blend of the two.
I enjoyed the characters, world, and plot. Some of the events in the beginning ended up being a bit redundant since they were fully explained later in the story.
I read the available stories in this series out of order, and I would recommend reading in order if possible, but it was written well enough to understand the important things even without the correct order.
I'm eager to see some of the seeds in this and the other two books come to light in future stories in the series.
May 25, 2025
3.5 stars
First of all, this book was entirely too long for what it was. There was far too much secret keeping that became more and more tedious as the story went on.
Combining Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel was a fun way to remix these classic fairytales. I liked the subtle addition of elements from both fairytales into this story.
King Arthur and Robin Hood both make minor appearances, which was a fun preview for another book in the series.
Despite my complaints about the length of this book, the story kept me interested in knowing how it ended, and im interested enough to read the next book in the series.
I got this book as a freebie during a fantasy stuff your Kindle event in 2025.
First of all, this book was entirely too long for what it was. There was far too much secret keeping that became more and more tedious as the story went on.
Combining Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel was a fun way to remix these classic fairytales. I liked the subtle addition of elements from both fairytales into this story.
King Arthur and Robin Hood both make minor appearances, which was a fun preview for another book in the series.
Despite my complaints about the length of this book, the story kept me interested in knowing how it ended, and im interested enough to read the next book in the series.
I got this book as a freebie during a fantasy stuff your Kindle event in 2025.
September 6, 2024
I just loved this mashup of Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel!
The beginning was a tad slower-paced than expected but that isn't a bad thing. We were given time to get to know several main characters and to empathize with them, rooting for their win over the evil sorceress. The surprise twists in this book were well worth the read and the foreshadowing of well-known characters (Robin Hood? Twelve Dancing Princesses?!) that are sure to be revealed in later books of the series have me on the edge of my seat for more!
The beginning was a tad slower-paced than expected but that isn't a bad thing. We were given time to get to know several main characters and to empathize with them, rooting for their win over the evil sorceress. The surprise twists in this book were well worth the read and the foreshadowing of well-known characters (Robin Hood? Twelve Dancing Princesses?!) that are sure to be revealed in later books of the series have me on the edge of my seat for more!
September 5, 2024
This book was amazing! I did not want to put it down. It is a good mix of character self discovery and adventure. The themes of loyalty and devotion were ones that stuck out.
Furthermore, the plot and world-building were amazing and references to other fairytales/lore such as King Arthur, Robin Hood and Twelve Dancing Princesses was clever and a creative touch to the story as a whole. Sara Farnsworth did an amazing job on this book and I think it is a must read!
Furthermore, the plot and world-building were amazing and references to other fairytales/lore such as King Arthur, Robin Hood and Twelve Dancing Princesses was clever and a creative touch to the story as a whole. Sara Farnsworth did an amazing job on this book and I think it is a must read!
January 21, 2025
Throughly Enjoyed
I loved this book so much! I love the nods to all of the different fairytales in the book, such as the Sherlock forest and Avalon and Robin Hood, and the Twelve Dancing Princesses...etc...etc. I thought the way the author wrote this retelling was quite clever, I love how the tale of Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel seemingly blended together! I can't wait to read more of her series now! :)
I loved this book so much! I love the nods to all of the different fairytales in the book, such as the Sherlock forest and Avalon and Robin Hood, and the Twelve Dancing Princesses...etc...etc. I thought the way the author wrote this retelling was quite clever, I love how the tale of Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel seemingly blended together! I can't wait to read more of her series now! :)
January 23, 2025
This is not a quick read, so be warned! It is long, but it is very well-written and the pace is not slow, it just covers a lot of experiences and time and character development. If you like fairy tale retellings, and you don't mind a long book, I think you'll enjoy this one. The main characters are great, and I enjoyed getting to know them. The interactions and relationships are very well done. I look forward to reading more by this author.
September 7, 2025
This was such a wonderful book! I'm upset that it took me such a long time to pick it up from my TBR. The story was well-developed, the relationships were great, and I absolutely loved the tone and storytelling. This was an incredible read and really blended the fairy tales of Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel seamlessly. I can't wait to read the next book, especially as it retells my favourite fairy tale!
December 15, 2024
I really loved reading this wonderful book! I loved the characters and the plot! Beauty in the Tower is a really wonderful retelling of the stories Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel! I had a hard time putting this really wonderful book down! I will be reading the next book in this really wonderful series!
June 8, 2025
One of my very favorite Sleeping Beauty retellings! I love that Farnsworth does such a great job weaving new ideas with familiar nods to the Disney version. I’m really excited about the rest of this series!
July 2, 2025
A really well written story
That combines the fairy tales of Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty with hints of other tales such as Ribin Hood, King Arthur, the 12 Dancing Princesses and Swan Lake.
The characters are well developed and the story is entertaining.
That combines the fairy tales of Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty with hints of other tales such as Ribin Hood, King Arthur, the 12 Dancing Princesses and Swan Lake.
The characters are well developed and the story is entertaining.
September 6, 2024
Great story! I love the combination of the two fairytales and the way they were wound up together, as well as the ingenious ending! I will definitely look for more books from this author!
dnf
August 5, 2025DNF at 47%. There’s slow burn and then there’s watching paint dry, and this book is unfortunately the latter.
September 30, 2024
A charming fairytale inspired fantasy! This was my first from Ms.Farnsworth , but I really enjoyed it and am excited to continue the series.
Allora and Aldric were such lovely characters. They are the types that I would love to meet in real life and would certainly admire. They are both so strong and noble.
Allora had been through so many challenges, yet had kept her kindness and strength of character. While she was learning about the new place she found herself in, she still had her own opinions and emotions. She definitely grew over the book, especially as she learned who she was and her abilities. I loved seeing the kingdom through her eyes. Aldric was also so sweet! He truly sought to help people and to care for the people who he was responsible for. He was a nice balance to Allora, a little more serious and protective.
The story has a medium-slow pace that fits with the fairytale inspiration. I loved the combination of fairytales and all of the hints of other books that are coming in the series! It did feel at times like a set-up story, but it is the first book. There is a fun mix of magic, adventure, and romance. It is the first book in the series of fairytale inspired stories. It has some mentions of abuse and fantasy action. It is a sweet romance with only kissing.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review
Allora and Aldric were such lovely characters. They are the types that I would love to meet in real life and would certainly admire. They are both so strong and noble.
Allora had been through so many challenges, yet had kept her kindness and strength of character. While she was learning about the new place she found herself in, she still had her own opinions and emotions. She definitely grew over the book, especially as she learned who she was and her abilities. I loved seeing the kingdom through her eyes. Aldric was also so sweet! He truly sought to help people and to care for the people who he was responsible for. He was a nice balance to Allora, a little more serious and protective.
The story has a medium-slow pace that fits with the fairytale inspiration. I loved the combination of fairytales and all of the hints of other books that are coming in the series! It did feel at times like a set-up story, but it is the first book. There is a fun mix of magic, adventure, and romance. It is the first book in the series of fairytale inspired stories. It has some mentions of abuse and fantasy action. It is a sweet romance with only kissing.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review
September 22, 2024
Such a cute, cozy read! I enjoyed savouring it. ☺️
September 7, 2024
I may have already read this a time or three…and it’s gotten better with each read. Sweet and CLEAN, it’s a unique retelling of Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty. This cozy-feeling read is worth the page count…I mean, obviously, if it kept me interested three times through.
July 28, 2025
This story was a perfect mix between Sleeping Beauty and Rupunzle. I wasn't sure what to suspect, but it was amazing. Alora was an amazing princess. She went through and overcame so much. And Aldric did too. They were an adorable couple I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews