Twinkle Twinkle Little Scars

Once Upon a Rhyme #6

by Abigail Manning

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star... How everyone wonders where you are?

Princess Lyra of Bellatring is the sparkling diamond of her family. She’s polite, intelligent, beautiful, and the perfect match for the neighboring prince who is looking to unite their militaries. But even the brightest jewels can still possess flaws, or in Lyra’s case, armfuls of scars.
Lyra secretly spends her evenings tinkering with magic stones under the starlight. Though the temperamental stones lash out and leave behind their marks, it’s nothing that can’t be concealed with a strategically planned wardrobe. The real difficulty for a princess is acquiring magic stones, unless you have a stone-smuggling friend who delights in climbing your tower walls every night.
Stirling is a man of many names, if you can call him a man. His crooked leg, mismatched eyes, and lack of sanity tend to get him labeled as anything but human, though he takes pride in his complicated reputation. When Stirling senses danger for Lyra, he doesn’t hesitate to recommend that she marry the powerful prince who could keep her safe–until the wedding doesn’t come soon enough.
Both Lyra and Stirling are captured by power-hungry magic hunters, in search of the notorious inventor. The only problem is, their captors aren’t certain who is who, giving Stirling the chance to claim yet another name... The inventor. Will Lyra’s true identity be uncovered? Or will Stirling’s lie leave them wondering what you are?

Once Upon A Rhyme is a collection of clean, intercepting stories, best enjoyed when read as a series.
For more information on Once Upon A Rhyme sign up for my free monthly newsletter Abigailmanningauthor.com

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Retellings

297 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 26, 2025

Reviews

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

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

This was such a sweet love story between Stirling and Lyra! Stirling is such an interesting character! From the moment he was introduced in the series, he made me laugh! All of those names! 😂 I really enjoyed Lyra! She was such a strong and kind character! There is quite a bit of odd magic that was kind of strange to me involving a person’s soul, I guess. I really don’t understand it all. Let me just say I cannot wait for Soren’s story! I have waited and waited long enough and seen his heart broken again and again. He is my favorite character! I adore him! I can’t wait for the next book! I’m not ready for it to be the last!

Quote that I liked:

✨ "Stirling…” I reached around the tree, my hand
desperately seeking his until I brushed the tips of his calloused fingers. "You are my rock. As unstable as you seem, you've been the one person who always grounded me. Don't make me go home without that."

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

[Lisa Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abigail Manning is one of the most prolific fairy tale authors in the market right now, so I jumped at the chance to read an ARC of the latest book from her inspired Once Upon a Rhyme series. Twinkle Twinkle Little Scars is a clever princess-themed interpretation of my favorite nursery rhyme that adds layers of depth behind the innocent childhood jingle. Set in a world where magic jewels are a hot-button issue, this original fairy tale features a princess who is not what she seems and a rogue who hides behind numerous identities to prevent the world from seeing his true self.

Princess Lyra has a big secret. By day, she's a model royal, following all the procedures her high status requires with grace and dignity. By night, she is the inventor, a mysterious supplier of magical tools powered by enchanted stones that are highly coveted on the black market. Her dealer is Stirling, a boy she met as a child when he snuck into the castle through her window and continued to do so for years to come. While this did make me question the security of her fortress, their late-night soirees were romantic and mysterious. If Lyra and Stirling didn't fall for each other, one of them would surely end up in prison.

Everything changes when Lyra's parents arrange a marriage for her with a foreign prince named Soren. On the night of her engagement ball, she and Stirling are kidnapped by a greedy band of thieves who want to take advantage of the inventor's skills. The only problem is that they don't know which of them is the inventor. Stirling takes the fall so Lyra can escape, but it isn't that easy since the villains refuse to let either of them go. This results in a "Rumpelstiltskin" type situation in which Lyra must do the work so Stirling can take the credit for the sake of their mutual survival.

This book's strong theme of identity is presented in a multi-faceted way. Lyra defines her secret identity by the scars covering her arms that she received from fearlessly working with unrefined magic stones despite the dangers they posed. Stirling's dissociative identities provide a challenge for Lyra to discover who he really is and to help him accept his true self. Even Prince Soren has a small arc, in which he must accept that love takes time and cannot be forced through political means.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Scars by Abigail Manning is a mesmerizing adaptation of a classic nursery rhyme, woven with intricate characters, complex relationships, and a richly detailed world. The story's exploration of identity, love, and self-acceptance adds depth and nuance to the fairy tale genre. With its engaging plot, memorable characters, and thought-provoking themes, this book is a must-read for fans of fantasy and romance. Manning's Once Upon a Rhyme series continues to delight with its creative reinterpretations of beloved childhood rhymes.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️4.4

⭐️ Inspired by Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
🔬” Nerdy” Princess
⭐️ Dashing and Joker-like MMC (but has morals)
🔬Touch her and 💀
⭐️ True Identity
🔬Mystery
⭐️Royal Intrigue

This was a delightful and different (in a good way) read! I loved getting a more in-depth POV of Sterling and his background, but I wished we had more POVS from him, as I felt I didn’t get a full picture of his driving motives and personality as Sterling, not his alter egos. At some points, I was a little frustrated with his lack of conformity to one personality, but when it was explained, it made a lot more sense and was a touching aspect of Lyra’s growing feelings towards him.

Princess Lyra was such an interesting character with her inventor's mind and I loved understanding the world-building/the properties of magic stones, especially when using different stones together. I was especially eager to learn more about The Shattered One and what his/her motives were and how they played into their decisions. QUICK INTERRUPTION: CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE PLOT TWIST? I was awaiting Miss Manning’s signature plot twist, but as I read on, I was lulled into a false complacency! The sweet romance between Lyra and Sterling, the mystery shrouding the soul stone, Prince Soren’s potential reactions, and the evil Alistair/his gang had me fully immersed in the “surface” level plot details (if that makes sense), and when the plot twist HIT, it HIT—more like ran me over in SHOCK!! I have my theories on who this mysterious villain is and who the love interest is going to be…😉😏 I shan’t say anything else in case I accidentally spoil it!

I can’t wait for the next book in this series!

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Review✨
Twinkle Twinkle Little Scars is a brilliant addition to Manning’s Once Upon a Rhyme series. I went into this installment knowing one thing… I was super excited to read Stirling’s story! He’s been one of my favorite characters in the series. He is hilarious and clever. And I’m not gonna lie, I love his mismatched eyes and red hair.

Stirling and Lyra are such a cute duo. I love how Lyra just goes along with his personalities and dramatic flair. I love how protective they are of each other. Lyra’s inventions were interesting and honestly, I would have loved to learn more. The magic system in Once Upon a Rhyme feels unique with the dangers and perks. This book almost has a scientific experiment feel to the magic, which was really fun.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Scars scratched my itch to see Stirling’s happily ever after and now I’m ecstatic to read the last book in the series!

Thank you to Abigail Manning for an ARC of Twinkle Twinkle Little Scars! All opinions are my own.

No-Spice Level: light kissing
Language: Clean
Faith-Elements: None

[Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This entire series has amazed me by how different each of the books feel, and yet how charming they all are. This one very much followed the same pattern.

I LOVED the world building and the characters! The way the story develops is compelling, and the way it followed the nursery rhyme was unexpected. I had so many hopes for this book, and they were all fulfilled.

Honestly, this book was hard to put down and left me wanting the next one. D

[Mandy Prather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved all the Twinkle Twinkle little star references. Once again, Abigail did an amazing job of surprising me.

I love that Stirling got his own book he quickly became one of my favorite characters in Did you Know the Muffin Scam? he was hilarious with his many, many names.

I love Lyra she was brave, strong, and loved working with and creating with stones
Stirling was strong and protected and only wanted what was best for Lyra.
When they are kidnapped, Stirling tells them that he is the Inventor to keep her safe.

I did feel bad for Soren. I can't wait for his book he deserves it.

[Stephanie Mccall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abigail Manning returns with another enchanting addition to the Once Upon a Rhyme series. At this point, I'm hoping she continues for at least a few more volumes, because there are so many nursery rhymes, stories, and poems from which to choose. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Scars threw me for a loop in the best way, because I wasn't sure how Abigail would tease a YA novel out of the song "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." But she did more than tease; she created real characters and a real plot.

As usual, the characters were the main reason my pages kept turning. Other than Lyra and Stirling, most of them are two-dimensional. Yet I think that's by design, because Lyra and Stirling have been treated as two- or one-dimensional for most of their lives. They needed a quest, a journey, to figure out who they were beneath expectations and labels. Having lived with expectations and labels myself, theirs is the kind of story I love. They are the type of characters I have a lot of fun rooting for and following.

Stirling and Lyra are equally fascinating, though in different ways. I loved Lyra's passion for magic and invention. She reminded me of the increasingly common "lady in STEM" trope and character arc, but with her own spin, her own flavor. She's still an elegant, model royal, as Stirling says. She wants to do what's best for her kingdom, even at personal cost. But Lyra is also a quick thinker, feisty, merciful, and self-sacrificing in a noble sense (as opposed to martyrdom). She carries the story, but she's supposed to. She's not carving a niche outside of royalty or saying, "I don't want to be a princess." She's saying, "I'm a princess, but what else?" That's a rare take on her character type, and it worked beautifully.

Stirling though, is the main character I got behind even more. Yes, I can identify with him because we're both physically disabled. But much more than that, I identified with his wit, his determination, his survival instincts. I wouldn't have coped with a situation like Stirling's the way he did; I don't think I'm that brave, or was, when I was a member of the novel's target audience. But I cheered for his cleverness, sarcasm, and banter. I loved how Abigail combined that with Stirling's gentleness toward Lyra. Most of all, I loved how Stirling and Lyra experienced both platonic and romantic love in the book. The combination is rare, and Abigail used it to turn some well-known tropes on their heads--not just on their heads, but back again.

The plot intrigued me as well, for several reasons. It's not often I read a book where strong, capable characters are captives or at the mercy of villains for most of the story. At first, I wasn't sure where that would go or if I'd like it. But again, that setup is used to mess with readers' expectations, in the best way. I also loved Abigail's deeper exploration into magic stones, magic as a harmful practice, and simultaneously, the good magic could do for someone when used properly. Lyra's climactic, colorful realization will stick in my head for a long time.

I dropped a star because as noted, I do wish the other characters had a little more dimension. Except for Soren and the Shattered One, who is intriguing *because* we don't know who they are, everyone's just kind of "there." Additionally and more importantly, I wish Abigail had given Lyra a slightly stronger character arc and motivations. As in, what specifically drew her to the study of stones and inventions all these years? Was there something happening in Bellatring that she felt solely responsible for dealing with or repairing, as a monarch? I got a little of that with the Black Market, but my curiosity was definitely heightened.

Those notes aside, Twinkle, Twinkle does far more than twinkle, for a member of the target audience and even for me as a full-fledged adult. It's best read in conjunction with the rest of the series; by now, we're deep enough into lore and arcs that otherwise, you might get lost. But the series, and this book itself, is well worth the investment. I can't wait for Amirah's story!

[Kayt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been looking forward to this book for years and as always, Abigail did not disappoint! The twists were as twisty as ever and the banter between the characters was fantastic - especially that between Stirling and the kidnappers! I loved seeing him grow as a person and his confidence in himself in the end. It was wonderful to get to know Lyra (at long last!) and to see a different (more brazen, funnier, very daredevil) side of Stirling (or Swilliam, Sweginald, Swimothy ... whatever name he chooses to go by today, lol) It was great to get to know Soren better too, although I did feel sorry for him (no spoilers, if you wanna know why he has my sympathy you'll have to read the book yourself!)
Some characters from previous books did feature, but not enough that it would ruin the book if (like me) you hadn't read the rest of the series in a while. It would be best to read the whole of Once Upon A Rhyme in order though, if you haven't read any, as each story builds on the few books before it and this one had references to the bridal competition that happened right in the beginning of the series and some of the events that happened in previous books.
Triggers: some violence and brutality, captivity (a lot of it!) and a tiny wee bit of in-world swearing. As always with an Abigail Manning book you can expect an incredible race-your-heart story with zero spice, and a very unique magic system. Five stars is a ridiculous amount to give when she deserve a galaxy full of stars! But that's the most I can give on Goodreads, so there you go. Now go read!

[Stacey Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining from start to finish.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Scars was the perfect blend of romance, comedy, and plot twist. I was on the edge of my seat the entirety of the book. Manning's writing style is clever, and easy-to-read, and she knows how to end a chapter to make you want to continue reading this book (I read this in two sittings, although I wanted to finish it one go).
Having read Abigail Manning's books in the past, I knew that a plot twist that I could never guess would pop up eventually, and yet I still tried to guess it. By the end of the book, I had my jaw on the floor. The flabber has been gasted.
Stirling/Swilliam/Swarnold/every-other-name-he-goes-by was such an awesome character! Every time he spoke I was laughing out loud. There is one character in this book who I wish will have an ending that they deserve in a later book, because my heart ached for them.

Abigail Manning is, without a doubt, a creative genius. Storyteller extraordinaire. Each of her books are *chefs kiss* and I immediately need the next book in the series.

Favourite quote:
"You look like someone who desperately needs a snack and a nap, and don't argue, because I'm an expert when it comes to snacking and napping."

[Anna (Crochetsavetheday) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fantastic read from Abigail! Lyra and Stirling are the main characters of this book. She is an inventor and he is a self-proclaimed gargoyle who brings her shiny rocks. He is a strange man of many names and personalities. The stones he brings her are magical and she tinkers with them to bring out their power. I love Lyra’s ability to be a sparkly princess during the day and a feisty inventor at night. Her sleeves cover the truth about who she really is. There are many people out to get her power so she has to be careful. When a handsome prince comes to marry her Lyra knows this will help her stay safe. The plot twists in this book were amazing as always, I’m always prepared for Abigail and then she does it differently than I expected. I know I’m in for a good ride. The romance in this was really sweet and I was a huge fan. My flabber was gasted towards the end. A certain character I saw as harmless completely rewrote their storyline. I was staring at the pages in shock through the twists and turns this plot took. I need to go and read the rest of this series now.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stirling is the best!! He is so funny, charismatic (but in a good way, not a ‘want to punch him in the face way’). He spends most of his time pretending to be someone else, Swilliam, Swobert, Swederick, and so on.
Since we met him back in ‘Do You Know the Muffin Scam?’ I have been wanting a book for him. It did not disappoint!

Lyra is a little different, I love her drive to learn, her curiosity to know how everything works. She spends her time experimenting, learning, and hiding the truth from her family.

Then they get kidnapped, and Stirling being absolutely amazing, claims to be the Inventor to save his girl - although they don’t know it yet, we do - and then the chaos/fun begins.

This is not a standalone, you absolutely have to read the previous books in the series. But that’s no trouble, because they are all incredible.

I received an ARC for this book, i love this author, I love this series, and I really love this book.

All flattery is directly from Swachel’s brain, so don’t blame me, blame her!

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Inventor's Story

The end of Baa Baa Black Market had me intrigued about the Inventor and Stirling's relationship with her. If the last book wasn't enough to make me fall in love with Stirling, then Twinkle Twinkle Little Scars certainly did. He genuinely cares about his friends and does everything he can to protect them. He is remarkably unselfish, so Lyra balances him out since she returns the favor. Brietta saw him as a friend, but Lyra loves him, and even more importantly, chooses him. The chemistry is clear even before they admit their feelings for one another because of how they sacrificed for each other.

Beyond the characters and their romance, the plot also shone brightly. The soul stone gets to take center stage as we begin to learn what it can do. I will be curious to see what role the Shattered One and the soul stones play in the future, because, I must admit, after reading this book, my theories appear to be incorrect. I'm glad though, because that will make the next book even more intriguing for me!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this one! Twinkle, twinkle, little star... how everyone wonders where you are? Lyra has been newly betrothed to Prince Soren when she and Stirling are kidnapped by evil men searching for the famed Inventor. A great addition to the series. I haven't loved Stirling as much in previous books as some of the other characters, but he really shines in this one. You won't find a more protective MMC than Stirling! Loved seeing the depth in him as well. And of course, I enjoyed the nonstop action and the rock magic system. Can't wait for book 7! Soren's story at long last?
Book 6 in the Once Upon a Rhyme series (best read in order, at least start with book 1)
ARC (will be published Sep 26, all opinions are my own)

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my word! This book was fantastic! The plot was riveting with many twists and turns. Seriously, I did not know how the nursery rhyme twinkle twinkle little star really fit could be turned into a boom. But Abigail Manning did it! It was a creative and unique story. I love Stirling, he has been of my favorite side characters in this series. He can be maddening, but is hilarious! Stirling is sarcastic and his comebacks are the best 😂😂😂 only Lyra could keep up with his banter and different names. They had great dynamic and understood each other. I think this has become my favorite book in this series. The romance was kisses only. I finished this book quickly and it was a great read!

I volunteered to read an ARC copy of the book and all thoughts are my own.

[Martelize Schütte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that we got Stirling's story (and all his personalities😂) He constantly tries to lighten the mood with his jokes and different names for his personalities like Swilliam, Swarthur, and Swanthony😜 But deep down he is actually scarred and still hurting from his experience with the black market. Lyra loves to invite but has to hide it from her family. I love how she realizes the true nature of Stirling's personalities and always tries to confront the real person behind it. They are comfortable with each other and I just love that❤️ ❤️

Only kissing
Inworld cursing

Tropes:
Captured
Hidden Identity
Friends to Lovers
Inventing FMC
Rhyme retelling
Quirky MMC

Favourite qoute:

“I’ll always need you, Stirling.”

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Failure wasn't supposed to be the end; it was meant to be a launching point to the next success."

Magical stones, the Inventor, a kidnapped princess, appearances by not just Stirling but Swilliam and Swanthony too, new inventions, humor and fun all wrapped up in this story!
Lyra is not your typical princess and I liked seeing her in her magical element. Stirling has been a fun character through the last couple of books so it was great to get to know him better and learn more about his background.
I love these nursery rhyme retellings and recommend reading them!
Clean romance with no bad language.

[Chantel · Rating 5 out of 5]

At last. Stirling, I mean Swanthony, er...SWILLIAM (??) has their story. I've been waiting for this for so long!

This book took me through all the emotions. But from laughing to crying, Abigail Manning gave me the story I was hoping for with these two characters.

I loved getting to know Stirling's complicated background, exactly how he knew the inventor and for how long, and getting to see Lyra in both her daytime job and her nighttime passion.

And while I feel like a certain someone got the short end of the stick... AGAIN!! I am even more eager to read the next book, hopefully sooner than I think!

[Lj · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a hghly engaging, sweet friends to lovers romance surrounded by danger and intregue. References and inspiration from the nursery rhyme 'Tinkle, Twinkle Little Star' are cleverly woven throughout the story. People who have read the previous books will thoroughly enjoy seeing Stirling take a leading role while new readers should be able to follow the story and world-building without too much confusion (although I would recommend reading these books in order).

I received an ARC and voluntarily leave an honest review.

[Jennalee Conner · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s finally come to Stirling’s story! We get to know more about him and his past in this story, even though it isn’t necessarily his story. This follows the story of Lyra who has been working with stones for a long time. She not only discovers more about the stones’ abilities but also how to use them. Lyra and Stirling team up to protect a specific stone only to later have to protect themselves. This story is a wonderful addition to this series! And, as always, Abigail has written some amazing characters into existence! 😊

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I waited so long to read this story and it did not disappoint! This series is so creative. I love the world building and the magic system.

This story is very engaging. I read almost the entire book in one day (unfortunately, I had to stop reading with only 10 percent left). I really enjoyed the build up for the next book and I can't wait to see what's going to happen next! I have my suspicions about things! We will see 🙈.

Princess Lyra and Stirling are abducted in this story. I knew the SW nicknames had a significance (and I was right!). We get to see a deeper side to Stirling in this story. Lyra and Stirling make quite the duo, working together to handle their kindness and looking for a means of escape.

I do not want to give anything away. I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys no-spice romantasy/retellings.

Another five star read from Abigail Manning!

I received an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Alesa Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved reading Sterling’s story! I had always thought that he was just a crazy guy with multiple personalities, but it’s so much more than that-and surprisingly relatable! His character grew so much in this book, and I found myself having a hard time wrapping my brain around who he REALLY is, as opposed to who I had thought he was in the previous books.

Five stars, and I can’t wait for the next book! (And this one gives some serious hints as to what it may be about…if you’re paying attention).

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stirling gets his turn to shine as the star alongside with a new princess named Lyra! The action and adventure these two get into was an interesting twist and Stirlings story goes a little more deeper than we thought. But I am now waiting in anticipation to see in the next book if Prince Soren is going to get his happily ever after! I do hope so!

[Lydia Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another spectacular Once Upon a Rhyme book! I'm am so hooked on this series and can't wait for the next one! I couldn't put this story down. Every page had me dying to know what was next and so anxious for Lyra and Stirling! I also adored their relationship. Stirling might be my favorite character in this series!

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this as an arc and it was a beautiful take on one of the most classic nursery rhymes of all time filled with romance and magic stones! I can’t wait for the finale!

[Dana Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent edition to the Once Upon A Rhyme series!

(Full review to come)

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a fast paced story with lots of action, excitement, and thought-provoking themes. I really liked getting to know Stirling better and his friendship with Lyra. It sort of ends with a cliffhanger and I'm excited to see what will happen to Soren next and know more about soul stones.

[Lindsay Rankin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique

This was an interesting story, and I enjoyed reading it. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series when it releases!

[Kylee Timmreck · Rating 4 out of 5]

8.75/10⭐️

[Shades · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC

[Lorin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved reading this wonderful book! I loved the characters and the plot! I had a hard time putting this really wonderful book down! I will be reading the next book in this really wonderful series!