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All That Glitters #5
Golden Goose
Golden Goose is a reimagining of The Golden Goose by the Brothers Grimm. Join Elowen on the adventure of a lifetime to ransom her brother from trolls with help from a mushroom-loving dragon, a flirty prince, and an unexpected golden treasure. This fairytale romance is part of the All That Glitters series, a collection of twelve books brimming with Tales of Treasure and True Love. Each book is written by a different author and can be enjoyed in any order, so pick a new favorite and discover that not all that glitters is gold.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2025
28 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
About the author
Lea Doué
16 books152 followersA native of south Georgia, Lea currently lives in Nova Scotia, Canada with her husband, their two boys, and four cats. But, sadly, no dragons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
June 8, 2025
(3,5 ☆)
Elowen lives on a farm with her father and two brothers, Alder and Cedar. When Cedar gets abducted by trolls Elowen takes matters into her own hands and goes after the trolls to rescue her little brother. She gets unexpected help by a dragon, a golden goose and a prince.
This is the fifth book in the All That Glitters series (where every book is a standalone) and it's a reimagining of The Golden Goose by the Brothers Grimm. We get unicorns, trolls, dragons, pixies and fairies. Elowen is the narrator of the story, and she's kind of a tomboy. She's accompanied by Ash, a mushroom-loving dragon who wants to be of help. The love interest, Prince Vale, shows up rather late, so if you want to read a romantic love story you might be disappointed. This is a fairytale for the whole family, even the younger children. Not quite what I had expected, but once I'd rearranged my thoughts I enjoyed it more.
But what about the golden goose? Well, I'll only say that the goose and the dragon were my favorite characters!
* I received an ARC from the author and I'm giving my honest review. *
Elowen lives on a farm with her father and two brothers, Alder and Cedar. When Cedar gets abducted by trolls Elowen takes matters into her own hands and goes after the trolls to rescue her little brother. She gets unexpected help by a dragon, a golden goose and a prince.
This is the fifth book in the All That Glitters series (where every book is a standalone) and it's a reimagining of The Golden Goose by the Brothers Grimm. We get unicorns, trolls, dragons, pixies and fairies. Elowen is the narrator of the story, and she's kind of a tomboy. She's accompanied by Ash, a mushroom-loving dragon who wants to be of help. The love interest, Prince Vale, shows up rather late, so if you want to read a romantic love story you might be disappointed. This is a fairytale for the whole family, even the younger children. Not quite what I had expected, but once I'd rearranged my thoughts I enjoyed it more.
But what about the golden goose? Well, I'll only say that the goose and the dragon were my favorite characters!
* I received an ARC from the author and I'm giving my honest review. *
June 1, 2025
This is the fourth ARC I have received from the multi-author All That Glitters series of fairy tale retellings. The book incorporated a lot of creativity to add depth to a relatively simple fairy tale.
The first thing that stood out to me about Golden Goose is that it takes place in an unapologetic fantasy world. Although the main character, Elowen, is poor and lives on a farm, she encounters unicorns, dragons, and trolls as a regular part of her everyday life. This is an interesting deviation from the traditional fairy tale retelling, where magic is rare or only accessible to certain people. In this world, it is often seen as an inconvenience rather than something worth celebrating. This is especially true when Elowen's brother, Cedar, gets kidnapped by trolls. On her quest to find a magical solution to the problem, Elowen encounters a fairy who turns her dragon friend, Ash, into a golden goose. Matters only get worse when a handful of townspeople get magically stuck to her precious goose friend.
There aren't many retellings of "The Golden Goose" from the Brothers Grimm, and for a good reason. There isn't much depth in a simple story about a bunch of villagers getting stuck to a golden goose and making a princess fall in love with the main character after witnessing the comedic sight. This is a gender-bent version of the story that enhances it with adventure and excitement by turning it into a rescue mission. Elowen becomes engaged to a prince as a result of the sticky goose antics, but that is far from the end of her story. Prince Vale is an unusual character who doesn't care much for royal traditions but still knows how to keep up appearances. After hearing Elowen's story, he decides to help her find her brother and escape from the bizarre circumstances that forced them into wedlock.
Ash is technically the title character, and was my favorite in the book. He acts nothing like a dragon would be expected to. He is neither grand nor intimidating and treats Elowen like a dear friend. When he learns what happened to Cedar, he does not hesitate to do everything in his power to help her. When the fairy spell turns him into a golden goose by day, he is hardly even phased by the transformation. Instead, he wants to take advantage of the situation to rescue Cedar. It works in his favor that very few people know he turns into a dragon at night. Although he reminds me of Spike from My Little Pony, he is apparently still big enough for Elowen to ride, which comes in handy on more than one occasion.
Golden Goose by Lea Doue is a creative and engaging retelling of a lesser-known fairy tale. By incorporating a rich fantasy world and a strong female protagonist, the story adds depth and excitement to the original tale. The unique dynamic between Elowen, Ash, and Prince Vale makes for a compelling narrative that explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and self-discovery. If you're a fan of fairy tale retellings with a twist, Golden Goose is definitely worth checking out.
The first thing that stood out to me about Golden Goose is that it takes place in an unapologetic fantasy world. Although the main character, Elowen, is poor and lives on a farm, she encounters unicorns, dragons, and trolls as a regular part of her everyday life. This is an interesting deviation from the traditional fairy tale retelling, where magic is rare or only accessible to certain people. In this world, it is often seen as an inconvenience rather than something worth celebrating. This is especially true when Elowen's brother, Cedar, gets kidnapped by trolls. On her quest to find a magical solution to the problem, Elowen encounters a fairy who turns her dragon friend, Ash, into a golden goose. Matters only get worse when a handful of townspeople get magically stuck to her precious goose friend.
There aren't many retellings of "The Golden Goose" from the Brothers Grimm, and for a good reason. There isn't much depth in a simple story about a bunch of villagers getting stuck to a golden goose and making a princess fall in love with the main character after witnessing the comedic sight. This is a gender-bent version of the story that enhances it with adventure and excitement by turning it into a rescue mission. Elowen becomes engaged to a prince as a result of the sticky goose antics, but that is far from the end of her story. Prince Vale is an unusual character who doesn't care much for royal traditions but still knows how to keep up appearances. After hearing Elowen's story, he decides to help her find her brother and escape from the bizarre circumstances that forced them into wedlock.
Ash is technically the title character, and was my favorite in the book. He acts nothing like a dragon would be expected to. He is neither grand nor intimidating and treats Elowen like a dear friend. When he learns what happened to Cedar, he does not hesitate to do everything in his power to help her. When the fairy spell turns him into a golden goose by day, he is hardly even phased by the transformation. Instead, he wants to take advantage of the situation to rescue Cedar. It works in his favor that very few people know he turns into a dragon at night. Although he reminds me of Spike from My Little Pony, he is apparently still big enough for Elowen to ride, which comes in handy on more than one occasion.
Golden Goose by Lea Doue is a creative and engaging retelling of a lesser-known fairy tale. By incorporating a rich fantasy world and a strong female protagonist, the story adds depth and excitement to the original tale. The unique dynamic between Elowen, Ash, and Prince Vale makes for a compelling narrative that explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and self-discovery. If you're a fan of fairy tale retellings with a twist, Golden Goose is definitely worth checking out.
August 8, 2025
This one took me a little bit longer than usual to get through.
El, Ash, and Vale made an interesting love triangle. LOL At least it seemed that way to me! lol
Very fascinating retelling of the Golden Goose. For whatever reason, I kept thinking Goose Girl, which makes no sense since another book in the series was the Goose Girl. Could have been the reason it took so long to get through. I was expecting something different to happen.
Nonetheless, Lea's snarky and playful banter was ever present making it an enjoyable and laugh out loud read!!
El, Ash, and Vale made an interesting love triangle. LOL At least it seemed that way to me! lol
Very fascinating retelling of the Golden Goose. For whatever reason, I kept thinking Goose Girl, which makes no sense since another book in the series was the Goose Girl. Could have been the reason it took so long to get through. I was expecting something different to happen.
Nonetheless, Lea's snarky and playful banter was ever present making it an enjoyable and laugh out loud read!!
June 6, 2025
A warm fuzzy fairytale that the whole family can enjoy 🪿
🎧 now playing: get back up again (from “Trolls”) — geek music’s version, as it’s more mellow
*****content ratings at the end*****
This book is a cozy, simple, and sweet retelling full of magic, dragons, trolls, pixies, and more!
tropes—
✨ animal companion
✨ magical quest
✨ forced marriage (kind of)
✨ riches to rags (to riches?)
✨ careful what you wish for
characters in one sentence each—
👤 Elowen: practical, hardworking, and loyal farm girl
👤 Ash: mushroom-loving dragon-turned-goose and Elle’s life companion
👤 Vale: prince who just wants to be a blacksmith
likes—
❣️ the fairy
❣️ the writing 🤌🏼
❣️ how cute and cozy this book is
dislikes—
🕳️ more chemistry with Ash than Vale
🕳️ no happy ending for the trolls
🕳️ not a big emphasis on the actual golden goose tale
When I started reading this book, I was ~immediately~ hooked! The writing was ~very~ well done. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 (It wasn’t terribly flowery, but it was from the POV of a very down-to-earth character, and everything was balanced perfectly between being detailed and concise. Also the pacing was good overall with plenty of twists and stakes just high enough for the cozy vibe while also keeping you on the edge of your seat to read more. Honestly 10/10 to whoever edited this, whether it was the author herself or an external editor or a combination.)
The plot was definitely more cozy than I usually read, but it was honestly so charming, and I have to say I had a hard time stopping reading (to deal with real life things 😜) because I was so curious to see how everything would work out. I also loved the tree imagery throughout and—to use my own tree pun—the book felt very grounded, even despite being set in a fantastical fairytale land.
I will say that the romance was a bit lackluster. I did enjoy it, but it almost seemed like an afterthought after how much effort the author put into describing Elowen’s relationship with Ash, the dragon. Ngl, for the first half of the book I kept expecting to discover that Ash was actually some kind of dragon shifter and that he was in fact the intended love interest. I don’t think it’s a spoiler when I say that, no, Ash is truly just a dragon. Elowen’s relationship with Vale is cute and sweet, it just pales in comparison to her relationship with Ash lol. I will say that, though I haven’t read any of the author’s books, it does seem like she writes a lot about dragon/human companionships so I’m assuming Elowen and Ash’s relationship is in line with her other stories. 🐉
This was definitely an interesting take on the golden goose tale. It’s not often retold because I think it seems pretty difficult to make a good retelling out of. While I wish that the actual tale tied in with more of the story than literally just one scene, I do think the author did a really creative job at adapting the story. Tbh I loved everything with the trolls at the end, especially how they love flowers even more than their shiny things. (And I get that they’re the bad guys stealing Cedar, but do they not get a happy ending when literally everyone else does??)
🐝 “He says I was born for greater things, as if the small things aren't important. They are important, vital even, to people who use them every day.”
Overall, I think this was quite a creative retelling of an often overlooked tale, and perfectly appropriate content for readers of any age.
*****
spice: 🌶️/5
violence/gore: 🩸/5
language: 0/5
content considerations: none
-Honestly this book was so clean. More like a .5 spice, and only for a handful of kisses. They had practically no description and there was really nothing else going on so really barely anything. Same for violence—I give it a .5 for violence just because of a few destructive instances near the beginning and end, along with a non-lethal attack in the middle, but no one ever even gets seriously injured.
*****
Thank you to the author for a free copy of this book! The opinions in this review are honest and entirely my own 🫶🏼
🎧 now playing: get back up again (from “Trolls”) — geek music’s version, as it’s more mellow
*****content ratings at the end*****
This book is a cozy, simple, and sweet retelling full of magic, dragons, trolls, pixies, and more!
tropes—
✨ animal companion
✨ magical quest
✨ forced marriage (kind of)
✨ riches to rags (to riches?)
✨ careful what you wish for
characters in one sentence each—
👤 Elowen: practical, hardworking, and loyal farm girl
👤 Ash: mushroom-loving dragon-turned-goose and Elle’s life companion
👤 Vale: prince who just wants to be a blacksmith
likes—
❣️ the fairy
❣️ the writing 🤌🏼
❣️ how cute and cozy this book is
dislikes—
🕳️ more chemistry with Ash than Vale
🕳️ no happy ending for the trolls
🕳️ not a big emphasis on the actual golden goose tale
When I started reading this book, I was ~immediately~ hooked! The writing was ~very~ well done. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 (It wasn’t terribly flowery, but it was from the POV of a very down-to-earth character, and everything was balanced perfectly between being detailed and concise. Also the pacing was good overall with plenty of twists and stakes just high enough for the cozy vibe while also keeping you on the edge of your seat to read more. Honestly 10/10 to whoever edited this, whether it was the author herself or an external editor or a combination.)
The plot was definitely more cozy than I usually read, but it was honestly so charming, and I have to say I had a hard time stopping reading (to deal with real life things 😜) because I was so curious to see how everything would work out. I also loved the tree imagery throughout and—to use my own tree pun—the book felt very grounded, even despite being set in a fantastical fairytale land.
I will say that the romance was a bit lackluster. I did enjoy it, but it almost seemed like an afterthought after how much effort the author put into describing Elowen’s relationship with Ash, the dragon. Ngl, for the first half of the book I kept expecting to discover that Ash was actually some kind of dragon shifter and that he was in fact the intended love interest. I don’t think it’s a spoiler when I say that, no, Ash is truly just a dragon. Elowen’s relationship with Vale is cute and sweet, it just pales in comparison to her relationship with Ash lol. I will say that, though I haven’t read any of the author’s books, it does seem like she writes a lot about dragon/human companionships so I’m assuming Elowen and Ash’s relationship is in line with her other stories. 🐉
This was definitely an interesting take on the golden goose tale. It’s not often retold because I think it seems pretty difficult to make a good retelling out of. While I wish that the actual tale tied in with more of the story than literally just one scene, I do think the author did a really creative job at adapting the story. Tbh I loved everything with the trolls at the end, especially how they love flowers even more than their shiny things. (And I get that they’re the bad guys stealing Cedar, but do they not get a happy ending when literally everyone else does??)
🐝 “He says I was born for greater things, as if the small things aren't important. They are important, vital even, to people who use them every day.”
Overall, I think this was quite a creative retelling of an often overlooked tale, and perfectly appropriate content for readers of any age.
*****
spice: 🌶️/5
violence/gore: 🩸/5
language: 0/5
content considerations: none
-Honestly this book was so clean. More like a .5 spice, and only for a handful of kisses. They had practically no description and there was really nothing else going on so really barely anything. Same for violence—I give it a .5 for violence just because of a few destructive instances near the beginning and end, along with a non-lethal attack in the middle, but no one ever even gets seriously injured.
*****
Thank you to the author for a free copy of this book! The opinions in this review are honest and entirely my own 🫶🏼
June 19, 2025
I haven't read anything by Lea Doué before so was quite interested to try out an ARC. I was quite surprised there were so many magical creatures involved. In general it was an engaging story, with an interesting twist of meeting royalty from a different kingdom. I guess the fairy's gift brought about all these happenings after Elowen's brother Cedar got kidnapped by trolls. Elowen the main character took to the dragon Ash so easily, which I found a bit odd. As another reviewer noted, I almost thought Ash was the love interest instead of the prince who showed up later on. The description of Ash being a dragon who enjoys studying mushrooms in grass was really cute.
Dislike:
Traveling to troll castle nearing the end of the book was a bit long and drawn out.. got a bit bored then.
Likes:
In the first chapter, descriptions of the other brother Alder’s drawings are lovely and made them come to life in my head.
Favourite line was the pixie saying: maybe the fairy was in a foul (fowl) mood that day. This was in relation to the appearance of the golden goose. It was quite a clever pun, I thought!
Along the way I kept expecting the story to end soon but it just keeps going! And giving. In a good way..
Nice ending, quite a happily ever after.
Dislike:
Traveling to troll castle nearing the end of the book was a bit long and drawn out.. got a bit bored then.
Likes:
In the first chapter, descriptions of the other brother Alder’s drawings are lovely and made them come to life in my head.
Favourite line was the pixie saying: maybe the fairy was in a foul (fowl) mood that day. This was in relation to the appearance of the golden goose. It was quite a clever pun, I thought!
Along the way I kept expecting the story to end soon but it just keeps going! And giving. In a good way..
Nice ending, quite a happily ever after.
May 31, 2025
I give this 4 1/2 Stars!
I want to start by saying I received an ARC of this book. This is a clean fairytale retelling of The Golden Goose and part of the All That Glitters series. The main characters are Elowen and Vale. Elowen’s brother Cedar is kidnapped by trolls so she sets out to find him. Ash, the mushroom obsessed dragon, and Prince Vale set out to help find him with Elowen. Will they be able to save Cedar? Will they stay safe in the process? Ash gets turned into a golden goose will they be able to fix him? Along the way will Elowen find love with Vale? I loved Elowen and Vale together. I loved the banter in this book. I loved Elowen’s family and no matter how hard times got they made it work. When you least expect it is when you find true happiness. This book was full of all kinds of creatures from unicorns, dragons, fairies, trolls, and more. I have never read the original Golden Goose story so I really can’t compare this book to it. If you like arranged marriage, banter, a determined sister, and a flirty prince then I think you would enjoy this book. Overall, this book was really good.
I want to start by saying I received an ARC of this book. This is a clean fairytale retelling of The Golden Goose and part of the All That Glitters series. The main characters are Elowen and Vale. Elowen’s brother Cedar is kidnapped by trolls so she sets out to find him. Ash, the mushroom obsessed dragon, and Prince Vale set out to help find him with Elowen. Will they be able to save Cedar? Will they stay safe in the process? Ash gets turned into a golden goose will they be able to fix him? Along the way will Elowen find love with Vale? I loved Elowen and Vale together. I loved the banter in this book. I loved Elowen’s family and no matter how hard times got they made it work. When you least expect it is when you find true happiness. This book was full of all kinds of creatures from unicorns, dragons, fairies, trolls, and more. I have never read the original Golden Goose story so I really can’t compare this book to it. If you like arranged marriage, banter, a determined sister, and a flirty prince then I think you would enjoy this book. Overall, this book was really good.
July 28, 2025
Golden Goose is a charming story. Part fairytale, part adventure story, the enchanting plot of this book is filled with magical creatures, laughs, and, above all, perseverance and a love for family.
I was hooked from the very beginning. Ash is the perfect animal companion and I would love to have a dragon like him some day.
Romance: absolutely no spice. I would give this a solid PG rating. There are a couple of light kisses, but they are brief. It could be said that the two main characters travel together alone, but the dragon is a talking one and he and proves himself a capable chaperone, not even allowing them to see each other when they sleep at night, not that the main characters even attempt anything untoward.
Violence: kidnapping. Troll temper tantrums. Frankly, I thought the book read like a comedy, kind of Princess Bride style
This book will be joining a few of its mates in the All That Glitters MAS on my shelf and I won’t mind in the least if one of the kids gets able of it—well, as long as they only read it and it doesn’t get torn up. ; )
I was hooked from the very beginning. Ash is the perfect animal companion and I would love to have a dragon like him some day.
Romance: absolutely no spice. I would give this a solid PG rating. There are a couple of light kisses, but they are brief. It could be said that the two main characters travel together alone, but the dragon is a talking one and he and proves himself a capable chaperone, not even allowing them to see each other when they sleep at night, not that the main characters even attempt anything untoward.
Violence: kidnapping. Troll temper tantrums. Frankly, I thought the book read like a comedy, kind of Princess Bride style
This book will be joining a few of its mates in the All That Glitters MAS on my shelf and I won’t mind in the least if one of the kids gets able of it—well, as long as they only read it and it doesn’t get torn up. ; )
May 24, 2025
Elowen’s life as a poor farmer’s daughter in a land of magic is hard, but full of family love. It is that love that drives her to leave her home one day, when her younger brother, Cedar is stolen away by trolls. Ash, a friendly dragon who has been mushroom hunting near her home, carries a request for help to the king, while Elle heads out. Misadventures with a fairy bring unexpected results when a wish turns Ash to a golden goose during the day. The adventure leads them to a kingdom with a blacksmith prince, an arranged marriage nobody asked for, and a castle full of trolls. Will Elowen find her brother, fix the dragon turned golden goose, figure out how to handle the unplanned engagement, and find a way home with everything and everyone who matters? You’ll have to read the book to find out!
I enjoyed this fun and fast paced clean romance. The twists on the fairy tale of the Golden Goose were smoothly woven into the story, and I was rooting for the characters all the way through.
I enjoyed this fun and fast paced clean romance. The twists on the fairy tale of the Golden Goose were smoothly woven into the story, and I was rooting for the characters all the way through.
June 3, 2025
Golden Goose by Lea Doue
💛 An exciting adventure
💛 Plenty of treasure
💛 A mushroom-loving dragon
💛 A blacksmith prince
💛 Sweet romance, a kiss or two (no spice)
Genre: Fantasy romance
Retelling of the Golden Goose/The Princess Who Wouldn’t Smile. Really enjoyed this one! When Elowen's younger brother is captured by trolls she's off to the rescue, picking up a few unusual sidekicks on the way!
Ash (the dragon) definitely stole the show here! Such a fun companion! I loved Elowen as well. It did take me a little while to warm up to Vale (guess I was expecting betrayal or something?), but I think I would enjoy his character more on a reread, now that I know how it turns out. Loved the quest aspect of the story, would definitely recommend!
Standalone in the All That Glitters series
Favorite character: Ash
Favorite quote: “Riding a dragon is nothing like riding a horse. You ride on a horse. You ride with a dragon.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
💛 An exciting adventure
💛 Plenty of treasure
💛 A mushroom-loving dragon
💛 A blacksmith prince
💛 Sweet romance, a kiss or two (no spice)
Genre: Fantasy romance
Retelling of the Golden Goose/The Princess Who Wouldn’t Smile. Really enjoyed this one! When Elowen's younger brother is captured by trolls she's off to the rescue, picking up a few unusual sidekicks on the way!
Ash (the dragon) definitely stole the show here! Such a fun companion! I loved Elowen as well. It did take me a little while to warm up to Vale (guess I was expecting betrayal or something?), but I think I would enjoy his character more on a reread, now that I know how it turns out. Loved the quest aspect of the story, would definitely recommend!
Standalone in the All That Glitters series
Favorite character: Ash
Favorite quote: “Riding a dragon is nothing like riding a horse. You ride on a horse. You ride with a dragon.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 24, 2025
Another awesome addition to the All That Glitters series. This is the first book by Lea Doué that I have read and it definitely won't be the last. I really enjoyed the plot and worldbuilding - how the humans live among the dragons, pixies, fairies, trolls, and other magical creatures and even work alongside them. I love Ash, Elowen's dragon companion. I love how kind he is, how he is always ready to help her, and their banter with each other. I also love Elowen and Vale's romance and I love how Ash encouraged their romance rather than hindered it. I enjoyed the long journey Elowen went through to get her brother back and I enjoyed every step of her journey. This was a very fun book with plenty of excitement and adventure. I highly recommend it.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
June 9, 2025
When Elowyn’s younger brother Cedar is kidnapped by a pair of ogres, she’s determined to get him back. Equipped with a gold coin from the unicorns, blessed with a fairy gift, and accompanied by a dragon, Elowyn sets off across the kingdoms. When Prince Vale joins the adventure, love blooms.
“I’m pretty sure you’ve already part of my family.”
I loved this story! So cute and fun. The theme of being part of a family was perfectly woven throughout the book. Great fun and adventure with so many amazing characters. I loved the world-building and the different creatures.
5 Roses
A couple sweet kisses
Minor injuries
No swearing
(Thank you to the author for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review.)
“I’m pretty sure you’ve already part of my family.”
I loved this story! So cute and fun. The theme of being part of a family was perfectly woven throughout the book. Great fun and adventure with so many amazing characters. I loved the world-building and the different creatures.
5 Roses
A couple sweet kisses
Minor injuries
No swearing
(Thank you to the author for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review.)
May 28, 2025
It's not often I see a retelling of the Golden Goose, so this one intrigued me from the start. Meeting the various fairy tale creatures was one of my favorite aspects of the book. Elowen interacts with unicorns, dragons, fairies, pixies, and trolls. Ash, the dragon, is especially entertaining. Particularly when he gets stuck under a fairy's enchantment.
Despite the troll's kidnapping of Cedar, the book is on the lighter end of fairy tale retellings. Vale is the rare prince who is not an outdoorsman, but he's also very capable of hard work. The book surprised me in several ways, and it was entirely enjoyable. Great read! Would recommend, especially to readers who are looking for an adventure with high stakes but not a lot of violence.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Despite the troll's kidnapping of Cedar, the book is on the lighter end of fairy tale retellings. Vale is the rare prince who is not an outdoorsman, but he's also very capable of hard work. The book surprised me in several ways, and it was entirely enjoyable. Great read! Would recommend, especially to readers who are looking for an adventure with high stakes but not a lot of violence.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
June 21, 2025
Coulda used a bit more depth
I realize they were pushed and shoved into their engagement and marriage and didn't want to separate, but I'd still have liked to see some courtship, some progression in their relationship rather than just falling immediately into friendship and marriage. Also, abdication is a HARD thing. That sense of responsibility lingers. Would have liked to see acknowledgment of that. Some regret, not just waltzing into the sunset. Heck, even Ash and Elowyn zoomed from 0 to everything in their companionship. All the relationships just needed fleshing out. It's still very cute, though.
I realize they were pushed and shoved into their engagement and marriage and didn't want to separate, but I'd still have liked to see some courtship, some progression in their relationship rather than just falling immediately into friendship and marriage. Also, abdication is a HARD thing. That sense of responsibility lingers. Would have liked to see acknowledgment of that. Some regret, not just waltzing into the sunset. Heck, even Ash and Elowyn zoomed from 0 to everything in their companionship. All the relationships just needed fleshing out. It's still very cute, though.
June 6, 2025
The Golden Goose is every bit as hilarious and outrageous as the original fairy tale, with an added bonus accidental romance. Elowen teams up with a mushroom collecting dragon to rescue her brother from destructive trolls. Along the way, she meets regal unicorns, an impish fairy, lively townsfolk, and even more bumbling trolls. She even finds herself engaged to a stranger! In the end, she finds friendship, love, family, and riches money cannot buy. I highly recommend this story for anyone looking for a mud-splattered, glittering, cozy fantasy adventure with a sweet, gentle romance.
May 24, 2025
I loved this version of the Golden Goose. It was unique. When Elowens' brother is kidnapped by trolls, she goes on a quest to find her brother with Ash the dragon and prince Vale. Elowen is strong, brave, and determined. Ash is a hilarious mushroom loving dragon. When she accidentally turns Ash into a magical golden goose. They turn to Prince Vale, and he strong and determined to help Elowen find and save her brother.
May 31, 2025
This is a fun book that kept you on your toes! I was never sure what was coming next, but it was enjoyable to try to figure it out! The love and loyalty that Elowen showed her family and new friends was inspiring, and the use of fairy magic in the book was hilarious! If you are looking for a clean, fun adventure with family loyalty and just a touch of romance, then this is the book for you! I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
June 4, 2025
This was a clean, adventurous, and magical story that will take you on a journey with challenges.
Elowen had determination and knew exactly what she needed to do. She’s not alone and has some that help her.
What I found this story had was creativity with the world that was made. You will see those unique characters that will make this book fun to read. Its just magical. It has a fresh twist that you won’t find in the original story.
Elowen had determination and knew exactly what she needed to do. She’s not alone and has some that help her.
What I found this story had was creativity with the world that was made. You will see those unique characters that will make this book fun to read. Its just magical. It has a fresh twist that you won’t find in the original story.
June 8, 2025
Like other reviewers have stated, it isn't often that we see a retelling of the Golden Goose. I like it when an author takes up the challenge and picks a tale that may not be the easiest to respin. Lea did a fabulous job of bringing depth and life to the tale. Elowen is a great character and placing the tale in a fantasy world was a great idea. The story was full of surprises and twists which made it a really great read.
August 29, 2025
I wasnt as into this one as some of the others in this series. The retelling and characters didnt work for me. And the relationship between Vale and Elowan felt forced. Then I was confused on how Ash fit into all of it. Especially considering the last book in this series the dragon was a shape shifter. I genuinely felt confused. There were some good parts but not enough to make me love the story. I do think the writing itself was decent enough to at least give this authors other books a try
May 28, 2025
I loved this story. It was fun and humorous with a nice dose of action. The characters are loveable and the plot was entertaining. The world felt full and interesting and I hope to see more within the world.
I enjoyed following Elowyn on her journey, but Ash was my favorite character.
I received a free advance copy, but my opinions are my own.
I enjoyed following Elowyn on her journey, but Ash was my favorite character.
I received a free advance copy, but my opinions are my own.
May 31, 2025
What will you find in this unique retelling? The answer is simple. A tragic kidnapping, financial hardship, magical creatures, an arranged marriage, and unforeseen twists that will hold your attention captive. The characters were lovable, the world building was excellent, and the pacing was perfect. I am a new fan of Ms.Lea Doue and look forward to reading more of her work!
June 1, 2025
Great story with a unique twist on a classic fairytale! I loved how it ended in a different way than normal, where the prince and the main character choose a different path! It was wonderful seeing how loyal the family was to each other! Ash the Dragon is an amazing addition with a hilarious part in the story! Great retelling! :)
June 2, 2025
What a cute clean fairytale adventure story! I loved the combination of medieval fantasy and fairytale and clean romance that was written here! There were some fun twists that kept me guessing what was going to happen next, and kept me on the edge of my seat! The characters each had enough personality quirks that I enjoyed watching them grow, and the happy ending was amazing!
June 23, 2025
This book was so sweet! I loved the relationship between the goose and Elowen, and as a sister myself, I found myself relating highly to her need to get her brother back. I loved the Narnia feel to it! The romance was sweet but not overbearing. I appreciated the focus on adventure and internal conflict, rather than overly romantic moments.
June 29, 2025
This was a super cute retelling. I don’t think I’ve ever really read the Golden Goose before. I love the found family aspect as well. So much fun.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The book was cute, fun, sweet, enjoyable. A solid read. Would read again at some point.
No Spice (Kissing is as far as it gets)
No explicit language
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The book was cute, fun, sweet, enjoyable. A solid read. Would read again at some point.
No Spice (Kissing is as far as it gets)
No explicit language
October 12, 2025
Fun, Sweet Retelling
I have not read very many Golden Goose retellings, and I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Sweet and wholesome are the two adjectives that come to mind for it. The FMC is strong and independent, but learns that it is okay to have people to rely on, and trust and help go both ways. I wouldn’t mind learning more about the world that Lea Doué has created!
I have not read very many Golden Goose retellings, and I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Sweet and wholesome are the two adjectives that come to mind for it. The FMC is strong and independent, but learns that it is okay to have people to rely on, and trust and help go both ways. I wouldn’t mind learning more about the world that Lea Doué has created!
June 7, 2025
I really loved reading this wonderful book! I loved the characters and the plot! I absolutely loved this retelling of The Golden Goose! I had a hard time putting this really wonderful book down! I am looking forward to reading the next book in this really wonderful series!
August 14, 2025
I'll be honest, I've never really been familiar with the story of the Golden Goose, but this was a very creative interpretation spun with adventure and a magical environment. I enjoyed reading this, and would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves creative fairytale retellings.
June 3, 2025
Pretty good, I liked the main girl character and the dragon, mostly the dragon. Sadly, I never really like the guy, don't know why, I just didn't like him. I did love all the tree names though.
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