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Escaping the Fortress: A Maid Maleen Retelling
A princess trapped in a tower. A stranger in an iron mask. One chance to escape—and fulfill—their fate.
Trapped in the fortress of Myrddin with only her maid for company, Maleena is there merely because she refuses to marry a man who loves another. Over the years, she has grown used to a quiet life. Then one day she finds a magical doorway within her tower to the forgotten faraway fortress of Caerwyn, in which lives a fellow faery, a man named Isegrim, who has been forced to wear an iron mask and iron shackles to conceal his face and mute his voice and magic. But Maleena has a secret she has told few she has the rare ability to read minds and discern truth, abilities so powerful they cannot be chained.
Now she has a reason to escape. But that is only the first problem. Will she be able to find a way to free him from his iron prison? Will she be able to discover who he really is? Or will they end up in the only fortress from which none can the fortress of death?
Imprisonment, injury, war, death, snakes.
Escaping the Fortress, a novella, is one of eleven stories in the INTO THE ENCHANTED series—a standalone collection of no-spice fairytale retellings where magic-born heroines discover their happily ever after. Brimming with magic, mystery, twists, and swoon-worthy moments, these stories can be enjoyed in any order!
Trapped in the fortress of Myrddin with only her maid for company, Maleena is there merely because she refuses to marry a man who loves another. Over the years, she has grown used to a quiet life. Then one day she finds a magical doorway within her tower to the forgotten faraway fortress of Caerwyn, in which lives a fellow faery, a man named Isegrim, who has been forced to wear an iron mask and iron shackles to conceal his face and mute his voice and magic. But Maleena has a secret she has told few she has the rare ability to read minds and discern truth, abilities so powerful they cannot be chained.
Now she has a reason to escape. But that is only the first problem. Will she be able to find a way to free him from his iron prison? Will she be able to discover who he really is? Or will they end up in the only fortress from which none can the fortress of death?
Imprisonment, injury, war, death, snakes.
Escaping the Fortress, a novella, is one of eleven stories in the INTO THE ENCHANTED series—a standalone collection of no-spice fairytale retellings where magic-born heroines discover their happily ever after. Brimming with magic, mystery, twists, and swoon-worthy moments, these stories can be enjoyed in any order!
98 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 31, 2025
11 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 6, 2025
3.5 stars
This was a super fast book. I've never heard of this fairytale, but I like the retelling!
My first read by Jodie.
One of the best in the series so far!
This was a super fast book. I've never heard of this fairytale, but I like the retelling!
My first read by Jodie.
One of the best in the series so far!
July 27, 2025
Maybe a bit too short
Usually, I find myself frustrated with how a story was drawn out with useless details, so it is rare I say that I feel the story should have been longer. I felt I was in some kind of sped up version of this story. The writing was good, so I know the author has the ability to spend more time on character building and action scenes. The length is the only reason I couldn't give 5 stars. What a great idea she has here, and what cool characters I could have really gotten to know better.
Usually, I find myself frustrated with how a story was drawn out with useless details, so it is rare I say that I feel the story should have been longer. I felt I was in some kind of sped up version of this story. The writing was good, so I know the author has the ability to spend more time on character building and action scenes. The length is the only reason I couldn't give 5 stars. What a great idea she has here, and what cool characters I could have really gotten to know better.
February 8, 2025
decent book but didn’t pull me in as much as the rest of the series so far
Gosh this was a short book. Maid Maleen isn’t a fairytale I’m familiar with but it was a fairly interesting book with quite an interesting plot twist and ending. The iron mask bit definitely gave me The Man in the Iron Mask vibes! I just didn’t feel like it was a story that sucked me in like some of the others in this series.
Gosh this was a short book. Maid Maleen isn’t a fairytale I’m familiar with but it was a fairly interesting book with quite an interesting plot twist and ending. The iron mask bit definitely gave me The Man in the Iron Mask vibes! I just didn’t feel like it was a story that sucked me in like some of the others in this series.
March 16, 2025
Nice story, but no feelings. The world building was neat but the characters had no depth.
November 29, 2025
This book was an easy & quick read...almost too quick. I liked the characters but was disappointed more details weren't shared throughout the story.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews