Steal a Swordmaiden's Heart: Court of Midsummer Mayhem Prequel

Court of Midsummer Mayhem #0.5

by Tara Grayce

A swordmaiden's hand is not easily won. Theseus, king of the Court of Knowledge, is desperate. With the barrier to the Realm of Monsters wearing thin and the chaos of Midsummer Night approaching, he needs to do something drastic to save his Court. If he doesn't secure warriors to protect his Court from the monsters, his people, the Great Library, and all the knowledge of the Fae Realm that it contains could be destroyed.

That leaves him with the choice to either bargain with another Court and hope the price isn't too steep or face deadly trials to win the hand of Queen Hippolyta of the Court of Swordmaidens, a court of mysterious warrior women.

Marriage seems like the better option, but the trials prove to be trickier than Theseus feared. Even worse, he finds himself drawn to Ariadne, the serving maid, instead of the cold-hearted Queen Hippolyta. Will he have to choose between his heart and saving his Court?

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Fae, Audiobook, Retellings, Romantasy, Fiction

Audible Audio

First published May 21, 2021

About the author

Born and raised in Michigan, I enjoy traveling to new adventures that inspire my writing.

Growing up, I read just about every book I could get my hands on, especially fantasy. I currently write YA fantasy and romantic fantasy filled with lots of humor, spunky and tough leading ladies, and broken heroes.

When I am not writing, I enjoy spending time with my chocolate lab, Miss Kisses.

Reviews

[W.R. Gingell]

as usual, this was deceptively fluffy (while sneaking in deeper themes) and absolutely cosy (while saying quite a lot)

i want to call this a deconstruction of toxic masculinity, but it wasn't so much a deconstruction as it was a bloke going along and deliberately (and at some cost) making the right decision instead of the toxic one; a story where trust and faith triumph over hasty anger, pride, and toxicity--and the male pov really made that aspect shine

i wanted it to be longer so i could have had an even deeper and more nuanced look at the beautiful themes and deconstruction this one had going for it--but it's a novella. and for a novella, it was delightfully deep and deft in the few words it possessed

it was already a decent, satisfying read, and then the last ten minutes of the audio hit and just made it soar above what it already was

packs a satisfyingly cosy punch

[Crystal Frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a titillating novella. Though I could tell how the story was going to end, it was still delightful.

[Sarah Ryder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a sweet read! This plot reminded me a lot of To Court a Queen by H. L. Burke (one of my all time favorite books) though with much less peril and dire death to Theseus, lol! It also had vibes of the Minotaur story from Greek mythology so I wonder if that was an inspiration for parts of it? Even a few characters’ names are similar which is why I thought of that.

I guessed a major plot twist correctly but that didn’t take away my enjoyment of the story. I DID find the swordmaidens a bit TOO cold, though that is just personal preference on my part as I’m a bit over the cold warrior women trope.

While not super in-depth (it’s a novella, after all) I enjoyed it and am REALLY looking forward to checking out Stolen Midsummer Bride now—I want to see more of the Library!

Content: magic; kissing (not detailed)

[Morgan Giesbrecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have I mentioned how much of a fan I’ve become of Tara Grayce?! 😍

This Midsummer Court series is giving me life, and I’m here for it. Having read Stolen Midsummer Bride first, some of the mystery is taken away since you know how it ends (in a way). BUT! That doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. And entertaining. It probably wasn’t the best to listen right before bed when several lines made me snort. 🤣

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enh. It was fine.

[Brittnee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75* Novella Prequel 
Sometimes I find it hard to feel connection/chemistry between characters in novellas/short stories. I like this world though; I've read Stolen Midsummer Bride and enjoyed that book. I will definitely continue the series.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, sweet, and cute. I liked how quickly it was immersive and the banter was fun. I knew what was coming but didn’t care. The final twist was cool though and I liked the short format and bits of mythology. It makes me want to read the series now. I like this author’s style.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic, cozy fantasy world with fae courts, warrior maidens, and a librarian-king. A sweet little snack of a story, though I found the MMC’s interiority and second-guessing slowed things down for me.

The romance also felt secondary despite the plot revolving around him trying to win the FMC’s hand. I understood why he was attracted to her, but I never quite felt her attraction to him, so the romance didn’t completely land for me.

I listened on audiobook. It has a single narrator, and she did a great job with the characters.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t have many thoughts about this one. It was fine, but I’m glad I read Stolen Midsummer Bride first or this would have been confusing. It ended rather abruptly, but was a nice way to see how their story started.

[Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freaking adorable!

[Jessica Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWEE omygoodness!! such a cozy happy read! i loved every minute of it! i'll be reading the next book! definitely recommend!

[M.H. Elrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great prequel! I really like both main characters and would've liked to see a fuller story with them. I really enjoy this new world Tara created and I look forward to reading more books set in it.

[Hot Chocolate Confessions · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, Tara Grayce does not disappoint!! I read this just as fast as I do her other books. Definitely worth a read, especially if you like mythology

[Shawna Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

This prequel novella is a fairly quick read, but there is a lot packed into this small story. It’s an entryway to a clean Romantasy series called

Here we find King Theseus of the fae Court of Knowledge approaching Queen Hippolyta of the Court of Swordmaidens. With Knowledge being peopled by librarians for its Great Library and their families, there are few warriors there to help fight off enemies, which is not often needed as the Library’s information is free for all to access. Midsummer is approaching, however, and this year it will be closer than ever… close enough that many local courts are sending their unmarried royalty to steal a bride from another court (per tradition) to foster an alliance.

Theseus, though there are several courts he can approach, decides to seek the hand of the Swordmaiden Queen… except that men are forbidden from their court. If Theseus wants Hippolyta’s hand he will have to challenge her for it by passing a series of three tests. Until then and in between challenges he is chained in the dungeon with only a single handmaiden to talk with when she delivers his meals.

And the Queen? She’s beautiful, yet cold-eyed, hard of tone and will hardly speak to him.

The challenges aren’t quite what they seem, and yet, somehow, Theseus must rise to the occasion, for not only his kingdom’s protection is on the line, but his heart as well.

I loved this… Theseus, despite frustration and anger manages to look beyond his own discomfort and meets each challenge without complaint or compromising his own values. His ability to still remain cheerful and charming while being held in chains is uplifting and his banter with the handmaiden, Ariadne, is so much fun. The challenges even have their own moments of humor and entices the reader along, eager to learn what comes next.

Will the pen be mightier than the sword?

***** SPOILER!*****

Not always…. he fails to best Hippolyta in combat.

However, Theseus is a character that I am hoping will feature more in the series along with the woman who eventually becomes his bride.

Yes, I promise, the novella is worth the read, even if it isn’t necessary for those who want to read the Court of Midsummer Mayhem series or are simply reading the multi-author Stolen Brides of the Fae series (both of which Stolen Midsummer Bride belongs to).

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read the entire Midsummer Night Mayhem series, but not the short stories. Luckily the author is now releasing them in paperback so they can look pretty on the shelves. On top of that it means that reading them is now counting towards my "physical books read" statistics. So, when I had another spare hour today it was finally time to dive into this one.

Theseus and Ariadne is a well known tale that can either work great in retellings or gets butchered. But, I did trust the author in this case and I was absolutely right to do so. She found a perfect way to have this story capture the original elements of the well known tale, while also making sure the story fits perfectly into the series and has the same kindhearted vibe.

Of course it's easy to see the twist coming. I have read too many books to be fooled by tricks like this, but part of the fun is knowing that all the banter, all the conversations, all those shared moments are actually very meaningful. We know that we're not watching some romantic drama. We're watching two people fall in love.

I also really enjoyed the challenges Theseus had to complete, but I most of loved the way the book eventually ended. I don't wanna give that one away, because that might be a twist you do not see coming. I just liked that in every possible way this was a happily ever after and yet it didn't happen in the way I thought it would.

[Sarah Metcalf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theseus is the King of the Court of Knowledge and they are not known for being warriors. With Midsummer approaching, monsters will be on the loose and this one will be worse than usual. With no other options, Theseus decides to try to win the hand of the Queen of the Swordmaidens, Hippolyta. With 3 dangerous tasks ahead of him to try to win the heart of the Queen, can Theseus complete them without dying or falling for the servant girl helping him through the trials?
Theseus is definitely not a warrior and he knows it. His family has been tasked with protecting the library but he was never trained to fight. Hippolyta appears to be an ice cold queen who doesn't even want to marry. So when Ariadne, the servant girl shows him mercy and helps, he can't help but wish he had a choice.
I love the Greek mythology aspect of this story! Greek mythology is by far my favorite of all the myths I know of. For such a short book, it had quite a lot to it with the 3 trials. They are gone through quickly, but that doesn't make them any less enjoyable. While I guessed the twist, it was still there and there was still a bit I wasn't expecting at the end as well. This was a fun, cute and clean romance read!

[Lilly Guirguis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good novella by Tara Grayce, she has good plot twists and I love the quote:

“Hippolyta grinned at him, then leaned in for another quick kiss, murmuring, “You may not have won my hand, but it seems your charms stole my heart after all.”
They would have plenty of details to work out, like how to make their marriage work when he wasn’t allowed to visit her Court. They still had to face Midsummer Night with all its dangerous monsters.
But with this queen at his side, Theseus would be able to take on anything. No monster would be as fierce, as deadly, as this queen of the swordmaidens.”
“It was, admittedly, rather nice as dungeons went. It was situated beneath the sprawling, mostly open-air palace with a small, barred window set high in the wall just above his head, pouring in sunlight and salt-tinted ocean breezes.”
“I was born to a former swordmaiden, though I grew up in the Court of Sand.” Ariadne’s shrug tugged on his hand. She was looking back as she twisted her hand to let out another loop of the magical yarn from its ball. “I always knew I would come here eventually.”

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun novella from Grace introducing a world where elves steal people when they wish to marry? The concept was introduced anyway, and it definitely intrigued me, but I didn’t get a true understanding of how this practice plays out or functions in the society. I loved the idea of the Court of Knowledge and the library central to it. The novella is a prequel to a full length novel, but I suspect it may have been written after the novel, and although I followed and enjoyed it without having read the novel, I wonder if I might have understood and enjoyed it even better if I’d read the novel first.

[Rosalyn Nightshade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great short story that explained King Theseus and Queen Hippolyta's romance. Ever since I first read Forest of Scarlet, I was interested in their romance and what had happened. This book did not disappoint. I never realised that this book was a retelling of Ariadne and the Labyrinth until I read it and saw bits of the Greek myth incorporated into it. Tara Grayce did a great job mixing elements from the myth into this story. Overall, this was a great, short, sweet story that did an excellent job revealing the backstory for Stolen Midsummer Bride and the rest of the Court of Midsummer Mayhem series.

[TaniaRina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet

There are many pro-female aspects in this short tale. No over-the-top-feminism and no overly-humble-males. Exactly as we should be IRL. Marriages are partnerships – don’t tell me that dating isn’t a trial!
This should apply to all females!
‘A swordmaiden’s hand can never be stolen, only won’

*Note: This book is only available by signing up for the author's newsletter. It is the prequel to ‘Stolen Midsummer Bride’, book #3 in the multi-author ‘Stolen Brides of the Fae’ series.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liz Brand did a great job reading this story! It was an entertaining listen that introduces us to this world in a fun way. I love how their traditions are set up, forcing him to try to win the queen's hand in marriage. I figured out what was going on long before the MMC did, but it was still really satisfying the way that things were done, especially the ending. It was a sweet little twist that made it a HEA for even more than just the main characters. I look forward to more from this author after reading this one.

[Ariana Copeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming, funny, and romantic!

I loved this little story! Theseus is a librarian King in need of winning the swordmaiden Queen’s hand so he can protect his Court and the Great Library. But as he goes and starts the trials, he finds himself falling for the Queen’s handmaiden.
This was so full of humor and charm and fierce women! This romantic little story packs a quick punch with such lovable characters to root for!

[lucia Micaela mazzieri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way all the rules were presented and thought and then we were shown how to twist them into benefits for the characters. I loved the mysteries of the island of swordmaidens, the trials were very entertaining and thoughtful. I found myself worried about the court of knowledge as if i lived there haha, which i would actually like, minus the occasional monsters. The writer is brilliant, and I say this as a writer myself.

[Mary Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet short story that is a fun and easy read. King Theseus wants to save his kingdom of Knowledge and decides that a marriage would be the easiest way to secure the defenses he needs. Queen Hippolyta sets outs tasks for him to complete. As you read this book, you begin to feel that things aren't exactly what they seem, and you will see that you are correct! Definitely want to read the rest of the series!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a classic mythology feel to it, evoking a taste of Hercules' tests and trials. In order to ensure the safety of his Court (The Court of Knowledge) from the upcoming Midsummer Night, Theseus needs to marry a queen with a force of warriors.
He faces the tests, while losing his heart, but will he prevail? You need to read to find out. 😁
This is a fast read prequel to Tara Grayce's Court of Midsummer Mayhem series. I can't wait to dig into these standalones of the fae realm.

[Lesley Barklay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novella about Theseus and Hippolyta. What's not to love when it comes to the romance between a man desperate to protect his library, and a warrior woman?

My only complaint is that it left me wanting more, which is a good problem to have! I will definitely be checking out the rest of the series.

[Britt Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this novella! Theseus and Hippolyta were just absolutely adorable. I loved how all of the trials he faced for her hand weren’t what they seemed, that she was with him the whole time even though she pretended to be someone else. And I loved the fact that while he didn’t win her hand in the Swordmaidens’ tradition, they both won each other’s hearts. Absolutely swoony!

[Bess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to binge the series now that (I thought it was finished), but it's not. This is not a completed series. However, it doesn't end with a traditional cliffhanger. The story ends. But there are a ton of questions that I'm sure Tara will wrap up in the last book.

Such a fun read!! I thought that "bait and switch" was pretty obvious, but loved it anyway!! Great story.

[RayJay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. I loved this sooo much! Especially the twist at the end. I had so much of this book figured out from the beginning, but I didn’t see the end coming. I also really love the setting/world building. Wouldn’t mind more stories set in this world.

[Smasher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little novella! I enjoyed visiting the Labyrinth myth in a new fun way, also because I adored Meg and Basil from Stolen Midsummer Bride, and seeing Theseus more personally was fun.
I look forward to more books in this world!

*channels Gollum* "Patience my love, patience."