The Stone Bride

The Lunaterra Chronicles

by Theodora Taylor

⚔️ Princess by mistake. 💀 Bride by sacrifice. 👑 Queen by fate?

Every 25 years, a princess from my Lunaterra kingdom is sacrificed to the Stone Fae King.

We call her the Stone Bride—because her fate is sealed from the moment she’s born.

I’ve served this doomed-but-spoiled princess as a lowly handmaiden since I was five, fetching her gowns, keeping her secrets, and cleaning up every mess she made.

“Tomorrow I’ll finally be free,” I tell myself the night before her departure to the mountain kingdom ruled by a merciless king whose monstrous deeds are whispered about throughout our realm.

But tomorrow comes.

And instead of waking up on my floor mat at the foot of the Stone Bride's bed… I jolt awake inside a carriage.

Wearing her wedding dress.

I’m not sure what’s worse—realizing I’ve been swapped in to fulfill the Stone Bride’s sacrificial lamb role after a lifetime of thankless servitude...

Or knowing what’s waiting for me at the end of this ride:
A monstrous king rumored to have never let a single bride survive the wedding night.

Are you ready for a standalone, short and spicy-sweet romantasy—featuring an innocent handmaiden and a stone king whose heart she can’t possibly hope to melt?

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Novella, Enemies To Lovers, Fae, Monster Romance

193 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 26, 2025

About the author

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Theodora Taylor writes hot books with heart. When not reading, reviewing or writing, she enjoys spending time with her amazing family, going on dating nights with her wonderful husband, and attending parties thrown by others.

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Theodora Taylor schreibt feurige Bücher mit Herz. Wenn sie nicht gerade selbst liest, schreibt oder Deutsch lernt, verbringt sie am liebsten Zeit mit ihrer Familie oder geht mit ihrem wundervollen Mann aus.

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Reviews

[Disgusted Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

I needed something to read so that I don’t lose my streak on Kindle. Unfortunately, I had to settle for this. I hate the way this lady writes her female characters. She always makes them aloof and unserious. Its stupid. It completely ruins the books for me.

[Tiffani Chandler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, Sweet, and Steamy—With a Side of Sacrifice and Secret Garden Magic

Let’s talk about The Stone Bride by Theodora Taylor—because if you love a fantasy romance with a heroine who discovers her power (and isn’t afraid to talk back to a death-happy king), then buckle up.

The Premise (aka: “I Just Wanted to Be a Gardener… Not a Sacrifice”)
Sallie Rose is a gentle, kind soul who grew up in the royal palace, serving a spoiled princess and learning the art of gardening from her father—the actual palace gardener. He’s not some mysterious absentee parent either—he’s her steady rock, and upon his retirement, Sallie was promised the job she’s always wanted: palace gardener.

But dreams die fast when your ungrateful royal boss decides to drug you and send you off in her place to be ritualistically murdered by the Stone Fae King as a sacrifice to the moon god. Yeah… that promotion turned dark fast.

The Plot (aka: “Gardens, Sass, and Fae Kings Who Don’t Know What Hit Them”)
Trapped in a magical kingdom and facing literal death-by-sacrifice, Sallie Rose leans into the one thing that’s always given her peace: gardening. But this isn’t just pulling weeds. Sallie inherited her father’s magical ability to make plants grow and thrive, and she uses it to revive the lifeless garden in the Stone King’s palace.

Her defiance blooms right along with the roses—because if she’s going to die, she’s going to make something beautiful first. And in the process, she chips away at the stony (pun intended) exterior of King Veyrion, leaving not just the garden, but the entire castle staff—and the king himself—enchanted by her quiet strength.

The End (aka: I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying)
No spoilers, but just know: things get real. Emotions? High. Tension? Thick. Chemistry? Off the charts. This story wraps up in a way that’s deeply satisfying but will leave you absolutely craving more of the magical world of Lunaterra.

If you want a story that’s romantic, magical, a little dark, and full of heart, The Stone Bride needs to be in your hands immediately. Plus, you’ll never look at gardening the same way again.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

Unusual but cute! Definitely not what I was expecting but it was an enjoyable rendition of the beauty and the beast. Rosie was a likeable and noble character alongside the Stone King who eventually softened up to his stone bride.

I didn’t know what to expect but after I noticed the era this book was set in I definitely had to be open minded. However, I must say the various characters after a while had me confused and I just about deciphered them. The spice was mild and fitting for the characters and towards the end I guess you could say they loved each other, even though it was rather quick. It would’ve been a higher rating if more about their love blossoming was included, instead of the very summarised epilogue.

[Victoria Ziglor-smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank You For This

This was so romantic and beautiful, it made you think of the original Beauty & the Beast by Disney. I love that version not the newer ones that kind of takes something away. The Stone Bride had me gripping the pages just to see ok what is happing next. A the different magic the Stone King preforms is just mind boggling. Sallie Rose was the princess, her kindness, and thoughtfulness towards others made you love her. I cried a little at the end, I wasn’t expecting the ending, it was just a beautiful ending. Like with your other stories that I read over when I can’t find a good story, this I know I will read again and again. Thank you for writing The Stone Bride 🙏🏾🥰🙏🏾🥰🙏🏾

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and probably be reading again. The story has a fairytale adjacent setting but is definitely not. I loved the characters, the world, Lunaterra, that the humans have come to be a part of and the overall manner in which the story was told. The book is witty, funny, a bit sarcastic, heart-warming, and definitely a hold my breath to the end kind of romance. I'm looking forward to reading other books in this series.

[Sammie Bow · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

This one was different, fun and an entertaining little novella.

POV: Dual, 1st person.
SERIES or STANDALONE: 1st in series, can be read as a standalone.
TROPES: M/F adult, fae/human, forced marriage romance.
SIZE: 154 (last page) Kindle pages.
CHARACTERS: Veyrion & Sallie Rose (25)

PLOT: 4 📚
ROMANCE: 3.5 ❤️
SPICE/STEAM: 3 🌶
DARKNESS/TRIGGERS: 1 😈 (violence, murder, minor torture)

⚠️ My bookshelves can contain spoilers.

[Onnica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite liked the premise. The world building was a little inconsistent but didn’t impact the story too much.
What was a little jarring the switch from Lunaterra language to Earth language for no apparent reason! Like, why are you suddenly using today’s slang???
Anyhoo - a decent, quick read.

[JoMcLachlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far, I've enjoyed everything I've read of Taylor's and this one didn't disappoint. I didn't realize it was part of a series by multiple authors when I started, but you don't have to read the others to enjoy this book. TT does a great job of introducing us to this world and bringing it to life. The plot grabs you right away and the characters draw you in, even making you wonder if a HEA is possible. My only criticism is that the ending seemed kind of rushed. I realized it was getting to the end of the book and wondered if it was going to be a cliffhanger (like some of TT"s other books) but then it was suddenly bam HEA. That could have been drawn out and expanded upon a bit more. But otherwise, a thumbs up from a TT fan.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

love it! We need more Gargoyle hotties! (anyone remember Goliath from that animated show Gargoyles????) Looove the Day/Night cycle idea. but I didnt love that the story takes places over such a short period of time... i feel like this love needed growing. also... i HATE the miscommunication trope. and while the femal and male leads dont exactly have that... they have a kind of lying, telling the truth, i wont believe you thing going on... it would have been very easy for the King to fly to wherever the female lead was from and figure out that she wasnt the real princess or real tribute or whatever.
but story gotta story.
Bonus: I LOVE the Shadow Hands!

[Pooh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stone & Fire!

ARC Review
Just wow! I gobbled up this book immediately. All the things Ms. Theodora gives, and then some. The Stone King didn't know what he was up against when he was presented with the "swapped" Stone Bride aka Sallie Rose! Yes, he was literally made of stone, but she set him ablaze with her firecracker vibe. She behaved totally opposite from all the other Stone Brides that came before her.

Expect passionate heat between these two, and there interaction was pure delight. Very highly recommended!

[Beatrice Diggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading this exciting and wonderful book of fantasy. I knew it would be as captivating as all of TT's books, so I made an appointment with 'Moi'😉 to give myself a little time to just read a few chapters. I should have given myself more time!!! No spoilers, but I just will say that Theodora Taylor has the Midas touch. When I read her books, I relax and let the characters take me with them, whether it's heartbreak or pure happiness. Pick up a copy, it's WELL worth the time.

[Khala Riddick · Rating 2 out of 5]

I want to start off by saying, writing a book is a feat all on it's own. I applaud Theodora Taylor for that. But that is where my praise ends.


The blurb reads as if Copilot or Chat GPT wrote it, and the author just copied and pasted it. Sigh. . . . . For real? Maybe it was edited a little bit, but we've all had enough experience with AI to be able to see when it's played a role in an author's work.

The writing:
This book needed an editor, BADLY. The first two chapters were difficult to get through. Weird punctuation. Nonsensical conjunctions. Spelling errors. I found myself rewriting multiple paragraphs as I read it.
Dialogs such as;
"But, potato potahto."
"What is a potato?"
"No idea! It's just something humans say to point out we're saying the same thing."

Um. . . Sallie Rose doesn't know what a potato is? Do they not have potatoes in this world? If they don't, then how did the saying come about? Serving as a princess’s handmaid for over a decade, she never once saw a potato?
The overuse of the word “moist" and not in a fun way. It was beyond cringy.
"Kinghole" was used several times. Is that supposed to be a substitute for asshole?
I almost put the book down because of how bad the writing is. But, sigh, I need to hit my Goodreads goal, so I pushed on.

Spice:
The spice was interesting. I couldn't get on board with "Vey" going full double penetration for Sallie Rose's first time though. Sallie Rose just - she was just perfectly okay (physically) with that. I mean, maybe if she rode horses all her life? Do gymnastics? If not. . . . . Girl. . . . . .There is no way that was enjoyable. But it’s a fantasy book so.

Characters:
The characters were stereotypical. Gruff non-human king gets all mushy when he meets a fiery "not like other girls" woman. There wasn't anything original or relatable about either of them.
But again, my Goodreads goal is at stake. So, I PUSHED ON.

Overall, this was a book I needed to get through to meet my Goodreads goal. I guess any attention is good attention?

[Tia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure and privilege of receiving an ARC of this book. The story took me on an emotional roller coaster. Regardless of the obstacles the heroine faced she stayed true to who she was and what she believed. The Heroine changed the hearts of minds of the hero and his kingdom. Now there were some villains who were served justice and the ending pulled at my heartstrings. I highly recommend this book and hope that the author Ms. Taylor expands the Lunaterra Chronicles universe..

[Mylene Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another really good TT Romantasy book. A Gargoyle. Sallie Rose has been used and duped into being a sacrificial bride to the Stone Fae King. But neither are what each other expects them to be and fascination soon takes over. But Sallie Rose has only 3 days to live and she is making the most of them despite her circumstance and willingness to meet her dire end. Will the Stone Fae King put an end to Sallie Rose and her desires? Read on..

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing as usual!

Loved this book Theodora can do no wrong in my eyes. Loved Sallie Rose from the beginning! She knew what she was in for and decided to make the most of situation. I love how she stood up for herself and said what was on her mind because she literally had nothing to lose! Now I gotta ask Theodora a question. Why moist? What prompted you to make that an exclamation?!?! I can say I didn’t like it but it felt so right for this book lol.

[Tiffany Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I love how sassy the FMC is. The banter gave me life. I love how everything played out but I will say every time Theodora Taylor ends a story like this I get so emotional. Like why?!! I didn’t have to know how things played out many years later. Why couldn’t they just end with the main characters living life? Why do you want me to cry lol

[Rachel’s Coffee & Rain Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Story had potential , but dialogue was cheesy. Didn’t feel attachment to either MC (Sallie or Voyrien). I think it could have been higher for me if the MMC wasn’t such a dick in the middle of the book. I don’t like when the love interest does stuff that is hard to forgive. It was too terrible but I already didn’t feel super attached to them and then he was kind of an asshat to her and it bugged me lol. The ending was fine until the epilogue.. and then I just felt weirded out.

[Wanda Mayhue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read thousands of books in my 66 years, but this was by far my favorite. It is the most beautifully romantic story I have ever read. It actually brought tears to my eyes (which trust me takes a lot to do). This story was so beautifully written that it touched my heart completely. I truly ask that anyone reading this review to please read this wonderful book. I am sure you will be just as touched as I was.

[BookKraves · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is short and spicy, and a fantastical escape. It absolutely delivers. The banter between the characters had me smiling from start to finish—it was playful, witty, and added so much charm to the story. I wasn’t expecting to be this invested, but the mix of Fae, gargoyles, and other magical beings made for a surprisingly engaging quick read. The chemistry between the leads was magnetic and intense, making every interaction sizzle.

[Trina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this!!!!!!

This was one of my favorite all time book out of a series!!!!!! Right from the beginning I was so into this. I started reading this one morning and by the next morning I was almost finished. I love T.T as an author anyway, I love her writing style, how she makes her characters come alive for her readers. The extra she’s always giving that makes you laugh, cry, feel what they’re feeling. This was truly an amazing love story!!!!!!!

[perfectlyamberb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Refreshing

This was such a fun read, and Sallie Rose was just my type of FMC. She was fierce and strong-willed; even when she realized there was "no saving herself," she decided to go out on her own terms with dignity. I loved how her relationship with the stone king progressed, and she brought so much light to the kingdom. Now I did side-eye that punishment scene, but I had a good time reading this.

[Monifa A. V. Fahie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this story. Wow, I enjoyed the fmc from the beginning and I am a sucker for grumpy alpha guys. Sallie Rose was Veyrion's perfect match to guide him to a new way of thinking and ruling. I enjoyed the semi human world more than I thought I would. The secondary characters were entertaining indeed. I also enjoyed the HEA from the perspective of their descendants.

[Falone LeBlanc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Fae Story with HEA

Fae stories became really popular the last few years after readers got bored with vampires. I'm not a huge fan because of how cruel and self serving fae societies and politics are, even if they have wings and tails. But TT wrote a heartwarming story with plenty of angst, hot scenes, and funny supporting cast while adhering to canon.

[Erin N · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Stone Bride, was a steamy book, with a look into a world of wonder and laughs. Sallie and Thornie are a trip and along the read for me, there is betrayal and steam to see what it takes to be The Stone Bride. Veyrion, The Stone King and the casts of the kingdom is filled with deceit, laughs, twists and turns and it makes such an interesting read. As always, another banger from Theodora Taylor.

[Honey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stone Bride from rags to kingdom

I looove this story! Theadora Taylor is such a great author and I have almost all of her books already! This is one of my favorite books that I have. I fell for these characters and their story so fast that I am so sad that it’s done. I recommend this book for you to read!

[Janina s. Asselin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

What wonderful world building! My review is not going to be a retelling of "about this book" as you can read that yourself. Sallie Rose was a feisty, funny character,but never rude or dismissive. I loved everyone at the Stone King's castle. Their tradition involves the death of the new bride and you find yourself wondering how that will turn out. Read and marvel!

[Tranese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Im buying this one!

Im glad to have a Theodora Taylor book back in my hands again!! Even though this is considered a short story, I absolutely loved it, I loved their interactions, I simply loved the difference that the author wrote about this story. This is nothing that I've ever read before, and it is simply perfect!!

[Sav · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rec'd an ARC and this was good. Sallie Rose was one not to mess with and did her own thing. The Stone King was interesting. With the lies, deceit and truths, the storyline kept me wanting to read more. Theordora has done it again as usual.

[Kay Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic Fantasy

Some modern vernacular kept me anchored in this universe until I relaxed into the story. I love the mistaken identity resolved with reckoning, the nature jewelry, the kindness flying in the face of captivity, the heat and satisfying conclusion.

[Shelita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story

Short, sweet & very 🌶️! I love Sallie Rose! She’s awesome! And while dude is a kinghole, he’s able to learn so much from her. And the castle occupants are so sweet! Their reactions to the flower crowns is adorable! Absolutely loved this story.