Rumpelstilzchen

The GriMM Tales

by Sam Northman

Rumpelstilzchen, ruthless enforcer for the Queen and powerful shadow geist, is missing an important part of himself—his Heart.
Enslaved by the Evil Queen through black magick, Rumpelstilzchen’s only shot at freedom is to find his Heart—and claim it. What he doesn’t expect is for it to beat inside the beguiling son of a miller.
Boy is imprisoned in the palace cells for his family’s failure to pay the royal tithe, and unless he can deliver on his father’s impossible promise and spin a sack of straw into gold, he will die at sunrise. Awaiting his fate, Boy thought his biggest problem would be the Queen coming after his head, but when her Shadow comes for his heart instead, he finds himself caught in a lethal attraction.
Having expected to simply carve his Heart from the prisoner’s chest, Rumpelstilzchen’s plans are thwarted when his shadow magick wraps protectively around the sun-kissed skin of the beautiful young man.
Can Rumpelstilzchen find a way to break free of the black magick, claim his Heart, and keep his precious human alive?

Rumpelstilzchen is a standalone adventure set in the GriMM fairytale world. Please bring an emotional support candle, this darker romance features a shadow daddy in search of his Heart, the stank confines of a prison cell, and the brave Boy who would risk it all for their happily ever after…

Genres: Fantasy, M M Romance, Adult, Romance, Retellings, Queer, LGBT

221 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 16, 2025

About the author

Sam Northman: lover of gay romance, Norse mythology, and urban uantasy
Sam loves all things mythological and can get lost for days in old sagas, but what they enjoy most is reimagining these stories for readers looking to escape to another world.

Specifically crafted to touch a reader’s heart, each story is an unforgettable journey filled with romance, mythical creatures and thrilling adventures. Fall in love with compelling characters, be transported to enchanting realms, explore the magic of urban fantasies, and experience the beauty of love and passion in every heartfelt tale.

Reviews

[Smutty Sully · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, this may be my favorite one so far!

I love when kink (especially D/s) naturally unfolds.

The strawberry food play and bootlicking scene was perfect.

This has definitely motivated me to start the Viking Bloodlines Saga series soon, I've been sitting on my freebie copy of book one for too long!

Full ARC RTC.

[patrícia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc Review: Rumpelstilzchen (The GriMM Tales) by Sam Northman
MC: Rumple & Boy 4⭐

The boy wanted, and Rumple needed.

Tropes & tags
Shadows Fall First
Forced Proximity
Morally Grey MC
Grumpy x Sunshine
Power Imbalance
Shadow Daddy
Fated mates vibes

While this ended up being my favorite retelling so far (sorry Frog Prince), it took a bit of patience to get there. The beginning feels like an info dump, but as the story progresses, it all clicks into place — we need that background to understand who these characters are, where they come from, and what shaped them.

The dynamic between Rumple and Boy is spot on. It’s very much a Dom/sub relationship, but written with a tenderness that feels deeply emotional rather than performative. Rumpel’s control is quiet, protective, and reverent — and Boy’s submission comes from trust, not fear. The shadows amplify that intimacy beautifully; the way they obey Rumpel’s will while gently touching or shielding Boy is both powerful and achingly soft. The moment they pet Boy’s hair? Swoonnn.

This story leans heavily on inner monologue. It fits their personalities, but at times it made the pacing feel slow — I found myself zoning out and needing to reread sections to get back into focus. I just wish there had been a bit more dialogue, a bit more action or confrontation to balance all that internal reflection. That said, there are still plenty of moments that shine: the tenderness of the shadow magic wrapping around Boy; the intimacy and devotion between them (yes, including the strawberries and first kisses); and the emotional depth behind Rumpel’s missing Heart and the way Boy reaches for it.

It was also fun seeing Red pop up again — such a sassy brat, and I loved that little connection to the first book.

And we also got a glimpse into the next and final book… I’m still on the fence because — it’s going to be MMMMMMMM?? 😅 God, that’s a lot of M! But I need to see Queen Schön just painfully dying, so lets go!

Despite a slower pace and some overly introspective moments, this one absolutely got to me. Dark, emotional, beautifully written, and easily one of the most touching stories in the series.

Boy chewed on his lower lip. “Did it work? Are you free now?”
“Yes.” Rumple struggled to find his voice and cleared his throat. “Yes, it worked.”
Boy released his lip and lowered his gaze. Silence permeated the space between them, and Rumple couldn’t resist reaching up with a newly solidified arm to cradle the side of Boy’s head. The more he touched him, held him, the more he revitalised.
“So why…?” Boy hesitated. “Why did you come back?”
The space where Rumple’s Heart should have been stung. Boy had no idea how important he was—because he’d never been told. [...]
Rumple knelt before him and placed Boy’s feet on his thighs in an effort to warm them.
“I came back for you.” The simple words exposed Rumple in a way nothing else ever had.

This series is such a delight — I’ve discovered so many new-to-me authors through it, and my ever-growing TBR somehow got even bigger because of it!
I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.

⚠️Author TWs and Contents⚠️
Abusive Relationship (historic, off-page, neglect and emotional)
Anxiety
Assault (on-page, not between MCs)
Blood
Bullying (not between MCs)
Child Death (historic, off-page)
Death (multiple, on-page; includes discussion of grief and impact)
Demons
Depression (represented by both MCs)
Famine (pervasive throughout the kingdom; underweight MC)
Fire
Gore
Imprisonment
Murder
Poisoning
Secret-keeping
Sexually Explicit Scenes
Slavery (exists in the world; brief mention)
Starvation (as a result of famine)
Violence


⚠️Sexual Content Warnings⚠️
Bootlicking
Collaring
Daddy x Little coded relationship (no age play)
Devotion (fated mates dynamic)
Dominance/submission
Dubious Consent
Food Play (strawberries)
Kneeling
Praise
Power Imbalance
Reward
Shadow Play (use of shadows to edge, restrain, and penetrate)

❣️Book Safety & Content
Cheating: No
OM/OW Drama: No
Sharing: No
Third-Act Breakup:No
Role Dynamics: Strict roles
POV: 3rd person (dual)
Format: Series of interconnected Grimm fairy tales that can be read as standalones
Ending: HEA
Angst Level: Medium
Spice Level: Mild

[Kati *☆･ﾟ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3*** stars

I put the book down for a while after the strawberry juice incident in Boy’s cell (IYKYK) and pushed that far away from my mind (I also ranted about it enough already). Anyhow. I should’ve dnf’d at that point.

The plot was too thin to stretch this whole book and I was more annoyed and bored than that I enjoyed myself.

Also: what’s with the whole strawberry obsession anyways? I don’t get it. And why tf was it “magick” this whole book long???


**************
The GriMM Tales multi-author series

Book 1 - Little Red Riding Hood - 3.75 stars
Book 2 - Zel - 4.25 stars
Book 3 - Hansel and Gerhardt
Book 4 - The Elves and the Shoemaker
Book 5 - Cinder - tbr
Book 6 - The Frog Prince - 3.25 stars
Book 7 - Rumpelstilzchen - 3.0 stars
Book 8 - Snow White and the Seven Little Miners

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 5 stars ⭐️

🎧𝒮𝑜𝓃𝑔 𝑀𝒶𝓉𝒸𝒽 — 𝒞𝒶𝓃 𝒴𝑜𝓊 𝐹𝑒𝑒𝓁 𝑀𝓎 𝐻𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝒷𝓎 𝐵𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑀𝑒 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝐻𝑜𝓇𝒾𝓏𝑜𝓃🎧

//Can you see the dark?
Can you fix the broken?
Can you feel, can you feel my heart?//

His eyes sparkled with all the glitter of the golden thread he had spun—and Rumple wanted.

Aaaah okay, I know I said “The Frog Prince is my favorite” but sorry froggy, you’ve been dethroned — Shadow Daddy wins every time.

“Say it again.”
“I want to kneel for you.”

From the content warnings, I was expecting a darker relationship between Rumple and Boy, but apart from the surprisingly cuddly shadows, these two were anything but. Rumple was always gentle with Boy, as were his shadows, a sweet Dom to his Heart.
And I loooved every second of it.

“I want to claim you.” It was as close to the truth as Rumple dared approach. “Tell me that you want me to claim you.”

Lots of protectiveness, caretaking, caressing, teasing. Hot and sexy and sweet all at the same time.

Boy was his Heart, and he no longer wanted to claim him for himself, but rather give him the world.

The sweetness of the love story contrasted beautifully with the angsty curse plot line.
I thought Rumple’s character had more depth compared to Boy’s, and honestly that’s my only complaint, because I still very much enjoyed another installment in this fantasy retelling world.

“I may be the one who wields magick, but you have bewitched me with a magick all your own.”

Thank you Sam Northman for sending me a copy of this book!

CW and NSFW info (spoilers):
- Anxiety & depression
- Assault
- Violence/death
- Mild gore
- Bullying (not between MCs)
- Imprisonment
- Top/bottom
- Never been kissed
- Bootlicking
- Collaring
- Praise kink
- Coming untouched
- Light D/s dynamic
- Dub-con/power imbalance
- Food play
- Shadow play 🔥
- Rimming

[Kit (kit.reads.romance) · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a new Shadow Daddy in town and you are not ready for this morally grey hunk of shadow flesh and his possessive softness reserved just for his Boy.

I freaking loved this whole book! Rumple is everythinggggg. Chaotic. Tortured. Sensual. And oh so gone for his beautiful Boy. Rumple is Murder Baby and I love himb.

Boy (yes that's his name and his role haha) is the squishiest, most gentle cinnamon roll. He is innocent, affection starved, and able to see beyond the fearsome rumours about Rumple to the devoted man beneath. Boy is joining the hallowed halls of my favourite sweet Babies who I want to keep on a shelf and also squeeze to death a little bit.

Their relationship is a fast burn, feral-for-you schmoopfest between two people who are both prisoners of the evil queen whether or not they sleep in a cell. I ate it UP! Their connection is profound, erotic and incredibly sweet despite the dark setting. Rumple and Boy go through hardships and live in constant fear, but their devotion to each other never wavers.

I really enjoyed the whole plot - can Boy keep the queen happy by spinning straw into gold? Can Rumple find out how to save them both from her clutches in time? It kept me guessing the whole way through and I loved all the twists and turns.

There is also a great cast of side characters - I loveddddd the Earth Geists! I need a hundred stories of their antics.

There were no big spoilers for any of the previous books in the series so you could absolutely read this as a standalone.

Overall I adored this book and can't wait to add a copy to my shelves! I will definitely be reading more Sam Northman!

I received an advanced review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up for the kneeling

This was the first of these GriMM tales that I've read. I was most interested in this one because I was pretty into the idea of a Shadow Daddy and I do so love a good D/s dynamic. The plot here was super straightforward and had a good setup. Overall I liked it but I couldn't help feel like something was missing for me.

The story took place over an insanely short time (like 3 days or so) but the "fated" nature of things made the insta-everything feel more believable. Even though the book was short on pages and the timeline was super condensed, I still felt like I got a good sense of who the MCs were and they definitely fit together really well. I believed in them as a couple.

Their chemistry and dynamic was hot but not scorching. I love hand feeding, I love kneeling, I love collaring, and I love a good boy who wants to obey. But there was still something that felt missing in their interactions that I can't pinpoint. It was frustrating to me because it was almost perfect but fell short and I can't even say why.

Something else that was slightly off to me was all of the Heart business. It just seemed like there was a lot of talk about it but it was kind of obscure. Things were a little hazy about why Boy was an artefact and how Hearts worked but I realize I'm making it more complicated than it needed to be. It's not that serious.

A pretty good light read. This was the first Sam Northman book I've read and I'd read them again.

Pet names: Herz der Schatten

Rumple didn’t think for too long about why it was important for the boy to know he could trust him, that he was safe with him, but it was.

“Come,” he commanded. The request was simple, and Rumple kept his voice low so as not to lose the tentative dominion he held, and the boy submitted beautifully. He placed his smaller hand squarely in the centre of Rumple’s and looked up at him through long lashes. The boy wanted, and Rumple needed.

The significance of Boy kneeling for him, without his express command to do so, made Rumple’s world grind to a halt.

“What are you doing to me?” Their lips were so close that Boy’s whispered words were spoken straight into Rumple’s mouth. He breathed them in. “Anything I want,” were the words he meant to say. But as he slipped the hand over Boy’s Heart lower, what came out instead was, “Everything you want.”

The geist’s eyes softened, and he brought one hand up to wipe away the wall of tears from Boy’s lashes. His shadows sizzled softly, and he nodded once. “Say my name.” Boy’s shocked breath, mixed with his tears, came out more like a hiccup. “You would give me this power over you?” “You already have it.”

*
*
*
*
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Safety (may contain spoilers)

SA/rape: None

Other person drama: None

[Kim Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 ⭐️

It's a spicy MM retelling with lots of plots and twists in the story.

Rumple is an ancient geist, or ghost, and forced to serve Queen Schön, a very poweful woman in this universe. Boy was captured by the Queen's guard, in the promise he could turn grain into gold. But he is just a human, and that's when he meets Rumple.

Their power dynamic? Absolutely delicious. They needed each other dearly and I was so hyped when they met. It's a fated mates story, so the attraction was pretty instantly and strong 💥

Like I mentioned before, this whole series is top-tier if you like retelling stories, or romance stories with magical stuff going on.

I really enjoyed this one 🥰

[J Coles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc review 💫 all opinions are my own.

Well. 🥴 this one had the good stuff.

I’d been waiting eagerly for Rumple, and he lived up to the hype I made in my head of a morally grey but soft for your man kinda guy.

The shadows were basically a third in the relationship, which were pretty damn adorable.

And overall i really enjoyed the detailed, and sensory writing that Sam Northman brought to the table.

Excellent addition to the GriMM series!

[Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Throughout the other books in the series, we've heard talk and whispers and mentions of The Queen's Shadow. He never really came across as a good person, but I knew there had to be more to him than meets the eye. And now we have his story.

Rumpelstilzchen is my first book by author Sam Northman. I know the fairy tale, so I was intrigued how he would spin it in a way that would fit in this world established by the previous books. I wanted to see how Sam would tell this story while continueing the low-key overarching story. How would he weave his golden thread through it? And I was not disappointed! While perhaps not my favorite of the series, this is still a beautiful story. My heart wept for Rumpel and seeing how he met Boy, his Heart, and seeing them save each other, was absolutely wonderful.

I don't want to say too much because I don't want to spoil anything, but I also still hate that horrible queen, maybe now more than ever before. I also loved how the other GriMM Tales were mentioned and woven into this one. Honestly, I am so very excited to read the conclusion of this series! But also a bit sad because then it's over... What a wonderful journey this has been so far.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Abel Searor · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book from the GriMM Tales series. This was another solid installment in the series. While not my favorite, I found it very enjoyable. The characters of Rumple and Boy formed a rather quick bond which makes sense in the context of the story but the sort of “insta-love” trope just doesn’t do it for me. The thing that I liked the most about this book is the way it gave us full fleshed out - or more fleshed out - renderings of characters that have been with us since the first book in the series. We have seen the Queen and her Shadow through the lens of other characters and now we get to see them in their own story. I’m sure there is more of the Queen in the final installment.

I really enjoyed the way that lore was created and alluded to throughout the book but would have liked more discussion of the magic system and description of the setting. It felt like there was more that could have been said. I definitely enjoyed the book, the characters, the story, I just wanted more of it. I look forward to seeing how this series wraps up and to exploring more from these authors.

[Wayward Skyril]

4.5

Rumpelstilzchen was as enjoyable as it was satisfying, and that is to say—a lot. It checked boxes I didn't know I had, fulfilled the promise of "shadow daddy" in every way, and had me completely enthralled and invested from start to finish. The characters' ENCHANTMENT with one another and the deadly predicament they were in had me devouring pages.

With Rumple's intoxicating fascination and Boy's quiet yearning, somehow every interaction between them felt so right. Their delicious and tender dynamic made me weak every time they were in the same room together and sometimes even when they weren't. Their being together was so full of meaning in every moment, I found myself holding my breath as I read. It was SO scrumptious but also so lovely and sweet and perfectly suited to their personalities.

And the characters themselves were fervently lovable. Rumple's deadly abilities and personality, FEEDING on the darkness of others and FLAYING them carelessly while being the epitome of gentleness, passion, and care with his Boy had me WEAK.
While Boy's selfless, kind-hearted, simple, brave soul had me adoringly on my knees for HIM as he knelt for his Shadow. Again, right from the start, his simple, gentle, sweetness and goodness was achingly apparent, and it was done so well that seeing Rumple do everything in his power to care for and protect him was everything I wanted.

Truly, this book had it all and is the perfect length for it. It packs in sweet, caring, BREATHLESS spice. And the plot is so desperate, I had no idea how it would all resolve until it, beautifully, did. It's FULL of magic and creatures and spells and is, frankly, ideal for a crisp autumn evening read

My personal enjoyment for this book was off the charts. It's an extremely enjoyable read.
If you like romantasy and even the idea of dominance/submission, I think this is a perfect gateway drug. 10/10 would recommend

[Xanthe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an interesting and entertaining retelling of Rumpelstilzchen! It's one of the darker books in the series, considering what Rumple is used for by the Queen. Even though it's all against his will, I think he came to enjoy it, to a point. What he is searching for is his Heart, the one thing that can release him from her claim on him. What he never saw coming, was Boy.
Boy has been handed over to the Royal Guard and the Queen, after his father couldn't pay their tithe but said Big could spin gold from straw. It is the most unlikely pairing and yet they work so well together! Boy accepts all parts of Rumple without question, embracing his shadows is like second nature, and he's not scared of the Shadow Geist. Boy knows that unless that sack of straw is spun into gold by daybreak, he will be killed in the morning, but he's helped to save his siblings. Meeting the infamous Shadow Geist has things changing for him pretty quickly but Rumple needs to come up with a plan to claim Boy's heart before the Queen either kills Boy or he truly becomes a part of the Shadow Realm.
A fantastic read that isn't afraid to go a little darker, even on occasion embracing Rumple's need for revenge and rage. I enjoyed the way that things developed between the two and the time taken for Rumple to come to terms with his Heart not being something he can take or demand. I'm very excited for the final book of the series, having loved each and every book of this fantastic series so far.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.

[Jessie J melka · Rating 3 out of 5]

{Rumpelstilzchen}
Arc review by Jessie Melka
___________•___________

Rumpelstilzchen is the seventh book in the GriMM retelling series in this book we follow Rumple who is enslaved by the Queen dark magic trying to find his heart, and Boy given to the queen by his family under the falls impression that he can spin straw into gold. Rumple wants to strike fear in the new prisoner but what he finds is much more than just a boy.

This is definitely a great addition to the series. We got the shadow daddy. Aka Rumple an amazing. Dom/Sub dynamics. Some dark elements sprinkled in there. And a definitely well deserved HEA!

While this was a great addition to the series with amazing writing and a great story to follow it didn’t quite catch me as I had hoped for my style. I think there was way too much monologue and way too little dialogue.

I read this book a 3 out of 5 stars and I would like to recommend this to you out there who is interested in a fantastic retailing with a lot of surprises dark magic and excellent dom/sub dynamics
but remember to form your own opinions and not just listen to me
Until next time, my loves…

Rating: 3/5
Spice: 2/5
Angst: 3,5/5
Would I read again: maybe

(I received an advance copy for free and I’m leaving this review voluntarily)

🍓shadow play
🌾Forced Proximity
🍓Dom/Sub
🌾Fated Mates
🍓Grumpy x Sunshine
🌾collaring
🍓power imbalance
___________•___________

[Mal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boy is the most precious - he must be protected at all costs! I havnt wanted to wrap up a character in hugs and cotton wool as much as I wanted to with Boy. Sam Northman does a masterful job at weaving a gripping fantasy tale full of atmosphere and lore, the good the evil and the greys in between.

Rumple is trapped, bound, his power utterly useless against queen who holds him as puppet to do her evil bidding. He is loosing hope even as he clings to it, searching for a way out and searching for his Heart.

Boy has been bartered for his family’s safety, Boy has never begrudged his waning worth and has a deep well of giving and submission to the greater good to pull from. He gives himself freely to the shadow who is now attached to him

They are fire, shadow play is a new K1nk unlocked.

The way this story crescendos, shifting from eerie, tendrils of whispers building atmosphere, connection, devotion fiery love and swoon to scorched earth burn the world down to protect my love is downright addictive. Northman is a master story teller, specially at fantasy and what they pack into this book is phenomenal

Highly recommend it, best weekend read ever

[labibliofille · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐ 4.5 Stars (rounded up to 5 for Goodreads and Amazon) – Shadow, Heart, and the Sweetest Kind of Pining

Rumpelstilzchen by Sam Northman was such a wonderful surprise: dark, romantic, and full of aching mutual pining that absolutely delivered. This MM retelling takes the classic Rumpelstiltskin tale and breathes new life into it with a story that feels both haunting and tender through the connection between Boy and Rumple.

The romance is the standout here; the yearning is delicious, and the “his Heart belongs to him literally and metaphorically” element was executed seamlessly. I loved the way their relationship shifts from danger to devotion without ever losing tension.

Like the rest of the GriMM Tales series, the interconnected worldbuilding is one of the brightest highlights. Cameos from other characters and subtle Easter eggs make the world feel cohesive and magical, and I am absolutely here for every one of them. It’s so rewarding as a returning reader, but still works beautifully as a standalone.

If you love dark fairytales, monster lovers, devotion, shadow magic, and two men who would burn the world to keep each other safe — this is for you.

[VersaiVex_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

~* ARC Review Time*~

Age-gap-- Sub awakening-- big scary boi is soft for human--multiple plot points -- power imbalance --grumpy X sunshine to the max--fated mates (YAY!)

What IS it about dark scary powerful men that absolutely melt for innocent humans? This story was in no short supply of that and I devoured it!

The story gives more background on the evil queen and her shadow, which is more tightly stitched together then Rumple's garments.

With a flair of folklore/ fairytale and spirits, it weaves more of fated romance tale. Where you think Boy is probably just a weak human... he is anything but. With a dark and intense interest for Shadow daddy, this is a very steamy sub awakening + adventure.

We get a tour through some of Rumple's fairytale/ history, which is honestly really cool. His ability to move between space and time is really cool.

This book ties in all the other books with cameos and mentions of past characters and even foreshadowing the last book of this fairytale series.

If you are looking for something very gasp worthy and so hot you need the shadows to cool off... this book is SO for you.

[Kelsey Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will be forever swooning over the Shadow Geist after reading this. This was such an incredible addition to the series. Boy and Rumple had one of the softest and most loving stories in the series which was pretty surprising considering who and what Rumple is. Boy was such a perfect partner for Rumple and the tension between these two was super evident from their first interaction. I loved how willingly Boy submitted to Rumple and how much Rumple loved it when he did. It was great getting more insight into Rumple’s powers and his servitude to the Queen of nightmares, seriously she’s the absolute worst, and I loved seeing him resist her to protect his Heart however he could. The spice in this was so hot and I loved the dynamic between Boy and Rumple. I loved the little Farwin cameo in this so much and I’m really excited to read the final story in the series even though I wish it would never end.

[Magne Einar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can hardly believe this is already the second-to-last book. 🤯 Like, oh my god, time just flew by! Lovies, what can I say—if you’re into a massive age gap (I mean, Rumpel is literally a ghost, duh) and a Dom/Sub dynamic, then this one is absolutely for you. And holy strawberries! I honestly didn’t think another book could use strawberries in such a hot way after Kiss the Villain, but this one definitely did.

I adore Boy and Rumpel’s dynamic so much—it’s intense, fascinating, and incredibly well done. I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to you!

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rumplestilzchen wants to find a way out of the curse that holds him to the evil Queen. Little does he know it will all lie in the hands of an innocent miller boy.

This one felt mildly darker than the others in the anthology. But in a charming way.
There were few other characters and “side quests” it was more or less all about Rumple and his heart.

And I loved them so.
Boy was so accepting and sweet. Rumple pulled out the ol’ possessive shadow daddy. How can any of us complain?!

Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to ARC read this novel !

[Henna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew I would love this, and I really did! Yet another Shadow Daddy to admire. But Boy really stole my heart, he deserves the world - Rumpelstilzchen thinks so too.
This story was lovely, and spicy, and I don't honestly even care what happens to The Bi-, I mean The Queen. Boy and Shadow Daddy are fine and happy, and so am I.
The kinks were nicely done, it felt natural for the characters. I loved the earth geists - so funny!
And now I want strawberries...

[Madam Ra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is my favourite in the Grimm series! You give me a shadow daddy and I am happy, but you give me the sweetest, sub boy now I’m in heaven. This book is much more about the inner workings of the characters especially Rumple. He had a lot to unpack, but he knew instantly that Boy was something special to him. Not a lot of action outside of the couple’s dynamic, but to me it was super interesting and I couldn’t stop reading. The smutty scenes were 🫣🥵

[Cynthia M Brow]

Rumpelstilzchen is part of the multi author The GriMM Tales series. Each book can be read as a standalone but why not enjoy the whole series. This is the MM retelling of Rumpelstiltskin. This is the tale of Rumple a shadow geist and Boy. This was not quite what I expected but boy was it good. I now have a new favorite in this series, sorry Frog Prince. The characters were just amazing together in the perfect D/s relationship. So much protectiveness, caring, steam, and an interesting plot about a curse. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. I would definitely recommend this book and series. This was a definite 5 star read.
received a free review copy

[Ashley Matics · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow Daddy? Yes puh-lease. Obedient Boy? Phew, absolutely.

These two are so very perfect for each other and their story unfolded wonderfully. It was so sweet and very well written. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in a day! 5/5 stars, definitely recommend.

[❥ Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the book I was most looking forward to from this series and it was pretty good! I loved the Shadow Daddy dom & sub relationship and thought it was quite sweet. 3 star “I liked it” rating because the pacing felt slow and finally I skimmed through to the end to see what happened

[Ariel · Rating 3 out of 5]

More sensual than explicit, but it worked. I'm interested in the rest of the anthology.

[Kassu · Rating 3 out of 5]

3+⭐

So, this was more of a dom/sub book with some fairytale garnish and I feel it really should have been the other way around. I was very interested in the origins of the shadow and the old legends but there wasn't enough of it in this book. Rumple is an interesting character and unlike most of the heroes of this series, he actually enjoys tormenting and killing people, he just doesn't like to do it for the queen.

I did enjoy the scenes between Rumple and Boy, though I think they could've been still been more imaginative. It's very instalove which I'll allow because of the magic and fate and stuff and the power imbalance is immense. Though with all the magic and fate and stuff, Boy is actually better guarded against Rumple than most. So I'm not actually put off by these elements even though they're usually not my cup of tea.

To recap, this is a story with a lot of promise but the focus feels a bit off, and the erotic scenes would have been more magical if they'd really gone full on monster weirdness.

[readwithMMe · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️ 4🌶

Big bad shadow daddy, yes, please. This villain isn't exactly morally grey he enjoys what he does, just not who he does it for. After finding his heart, however, priorities changed. He will protect his sunshine at any all costs and can and will burn the world down to do so. Boy and his pure heart knew just how to save the savage Geist from his cage and accept him as his own. Yes, the shadows even add to the spice scenes in case anyone has any doubts.

The plot thickens as the Queen has now lost one of her strongest weapons.

[Sudsana Reads (mostly smut) · Rating 4 out of 5]

📗4.2 stars, 23rd Nov, 2025. Reading in this order: Little Red → Rumplestilskin → Frog Prince → Cinder → Zel → Hansel → Snow white.

This is SO GOOD! But i will preface this with a heavy caveat: this writing style is not at all for me. i don't like poetic vague writing. BUT i picked this up based on the cover alone and by the time i came across that alternate pov scene (explained below), i knew this book was it.

Is it great plot wise? Probably. But is it an interesting read? Definitely! That's why despite my score, it would be a disservice to give it anything less than a 4. My issues are listed towards the end. Tropes & tags at the end.

🔹Story- 4⭐, Characters- 4.8⭐, Sex- 3⭐, Epilogue- n/a (but 4.5 for the last chapter)⭐

(Also, also. You have no idea how hard it is for me to write in past tense. 😭For this series, i'll be trying that. But fair warning, i do tend to time travel! LMAO)

Rumple was a lonely man and a slave to the bitch queen. The opening sequence was both um.. disgusting and harrowing considering Rumple was a stone cold murderer but also he severely regretted being under control and had lost everything.
i’m not very familiar with him beyond the hay-to-gold bit from childhood. So reading this as an adult, and it being MM! It felt almost like revisiting a childhood fairy tale but finally getting the representation my kid self wanted.


Literally when i saw the cover i knew i’d be thinking of Neil as Rumple, and so i just modified the guy on the cover to include him. Characters are mine and for review purpose only.

Some things were really well done, so i must tell you:

⬤ The shadows were just brilliant. Had a mind of their own at most times even going against Rumple himself and i kinda imagined then like venom's tendrils, ykwim ? They kept cocooning Boy.

⬤ From what i understand all the books are happening simultaneously. While Red was on his way to Oma's cottage, by this time Makellos has also been sent away by the bitch to die. But ofc he's alive.

Especially as he insisted on wearing that ridiculous red cloak in an environment that consisted predominantly of shades of brown and green. He was practically asking to be eaten.


Yo i knew it! This overlaps with Red's story!! How do multi authors achieve that?


He rotated his wrist in an impatient gesture that implied Red should stop stalling.


Even this little detail was included!! Wow.


So i'm guessing that the scene with Makellos was also something from his book but we get Rumple's pov first (iirc Snow is the last book in this series).

⬤ This was surprisingly not that angsty (for me) especially reading this right after Red's story, oh boy, this is tame. Yeah it had its stakes but it all resolved quickly.

⬤ His dad was a total monster giving his own son away without hesitation and even lied about it. Pathetic. To cope, Boy did on page CBT techniques & mindfulness exercises. Boy later said he was basically born into servitude, and the epilogue gives a bit of poetic justice, even if it’s off page.

⬤ The story leans into “names have magic.” At first i thought only Boy lacked one, but Rumple pointed out that it ties into ancient magic and the whole theme of possesion by identity. So i loved the subtle shift where him calling Rumple changed from Her Shadow (the bitch queen) to His Shadow (Boy). So cute!!

⬤ The last few chapter titles also have cute little surprises. The final chapter works like a 1 year later epilogue.

⬤ There's so much tender loving care going on here. A ruthless being who is actually a very gentle daddy and then there's a sub who's probably naïve. NO DADDY/LITTLE. 😭😭

⬤ The sex was worth it. Happens at 61% the foreplay was drawn out and well written but the sex itself was over in 2-3 lines. 😭 Yet still, it was done well, both very responsive, not too much telling this time, there was actually a good show too. There was solid reactions from Boy. There are 2 sex acts as well and they were deliciously slow paced. The 2nd sex at thr very end though, had confusing gymnastics happening. No clue what was going on, disappointing.



Like i said, there are some issues which needs to be considered if you’re giving this book a chance.

♦One major nitpick is the writing. It’s so vague that half the time i couldn’t picture anything. The red light in the throne room? No clue where it came from. The prose doesn’t flow from para to para, making scenes hard to follow. It’s mostly tell with barely any show. Lots of narration that over-shadow (pun intended) their actions. i wouldn’t read anything else by this author again as it’s not my type.

♦It’s always “if X happens then Y happens,” but the “why” is never given.Why? We dunno.

♦AND I WAS PROMISED A DADDY/LITTLE ON THE FOREWORD PAGE. WHERE. IS. IT????? 😭😭😭😭

♦It’s also confusing because Boy is human, so how did his magick even work, especially in Rumple’s shadow realm? Listen, i have read some old classics so i know what vague literature language sounds like. But this writing is just too vague for me. It's not possible to gauge what's happening on page from time to time.

♦All the German terms get explained only in the glossary at the end. Not mad about it, but some context earlier would’ve helped. In the moment, nothing made sense. i didn’t know what a Fachallenhaus was.

♦This has pacing issues. By 50%, nothing of substance has happened. Only two very slow days have passed and Rumple is still trying to counter the queen. The second half finally picked up. And the scene right after sex? Deliciously angsty. Rumple getting summoned by the queen and both their reactions were honestly worth reading.

Tropes & tags: •German shadow geist x human, •significant age gap, •boot licking, •D/s, •insta love, •fated mate, •kneeling, •praise kink, •bathe him, •heavy care taking, •yearning, •dress him up, •collar, •strict roles Rumple /t, •touch him & die, •gaping/open hole, •biting, •rimming, •mid angst, •3rd person dual pov (not alternating), •HEA.
CW: On page killing done by MC, MC put on death row, enclosed places in complete darkness, MC betrayed by family.

[Stefa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I liked this one the least from the whole series. The MCs' relationship is soooo shallow - they have sex in almost every scene they're together (all but two at the end). There is almost no dialogue between them, I swear Boy nods more often than he talks. We get to know the characters through a lot of internal monologue, and maybe that creates the illusion that they know each other well, but if you ignore their thoughts, there's almost nothing between them.

The only reason this is 2 stars instead of 1 is that I respect the effort of transforming the old story into this retelling. If the romance wasn't so bad, I think it would have been a pretty good book.

[Reading_whimsically · Rating 2 out of 5]

Queerness : queer mcs and Scs

Ive been loving the grimm fairytale story's however I almost dnfed with one - idk if the kinks weren't for me and I also couldn't get past his name being boy especially at the start