The Fabric of the Realm: A Romantasy Retelling of Rumpelstiltskin

by S.B. Ryazakhov

"Nothing here is as it seems there."

Silvine never expected that the creatures in the forbidden forest would shatter the life she knew. After a brutal attack on her village, she flees into the forest, where she strikes a dangerous bargain with a mysterious Fae male. From that moment on, nothing will ever be the same.

Fate. Fortune. Fairies.
Silvine’s human upbringing clashes with the truth of her bloodline, and every choice pushes her deeper into a web of secrets and half-truths. Betrothed to a king who built his throne on betrayal, she must navigate treacherous Fae courts, hidden powers, and a destiny written long before her birth.

A Rumpelstiltskin reimagining with a dark, romantic twist.
When trust and truth are stretched to their absolute limits, only Silvine holds the power to stitch the fractured pieces of The Realm back together, or see it torn apart forever.

Fans of romantasy, Fae courts, slow-burn tension, and folklore-inspired retellings will be swept away by The Fabric of the Realm, the first book in The Corrupted Realm Series.

Genres: Fantasy, Fantasy Romance

428 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 26, 2025

Reviews

[Amy Newbold · Rating 5 out of 5]

I literally have no words. I am such a lover of fairytales and this Rumplestiltskin retelling more specifically. I finished this book 3 days ago and I am still suffering from an intense book hangover. SB has done a phenomenal job of looping you in and making the realm a part of your world. I have literally nothing negative to say about this book other than the fact that I wished I could have immersed myself in it completely and read the book in an entire day. I felt like I was right there watching everything unfold. I rarely give five stars but there is absolutely nothing lacking in this book. I was moved to tears more than once and had moments I had to stop and process. Silvine's character development is one of the best I've read in a long time- developing into a bad ass embracer of every part of her self which honestly was so refreshing. As a previous psych major SBRs awareness of mental health and the need for healing was so life giving for me. I can guarantee there is real magic woven into the very fabric of this literary masterpiece.

[Rae Harding · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to read an ARC of The Fabric of the Realm by S.B. Ryazakhov. This story has all the romantasy vibes you could want, but that isn’t to say it’s doesn’t stand above. Ultimately a unique retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, S.B. has crafted a well plotted and paced story that whisks readers away to the immersive world of the Fae. This is achieved through immaculate worldbuilding, no doubt thanks to competent research and care in drawing inspirations from sources. Our FMC, Sylvine, is capable and pragmatic, while still possessing the most endearing naivete. This pitted against enigmatic Taran, the kingdom’s General of Intelligence, makes for witty banter and awkward scenes of comical emotional torture. The lore is compelling bringing forth themes of prophecies and destinies versus self-realization and autonomy. Looking forward to seeing where this series goes!

[Erika Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just wow! The character development, plot, intricacies of how all characters tie together, this book is a masterpiece! This book is meant for anyone who is needing to work through the hard. Silvine shows us that with enough love, life, and light we can overcome anything, but you need to accept the help offered to you!

[Lavender.and_literature · Rating 5 out of 5]

This loosely based Rumpelstiltskin retelling had everything a good fairy tale and romantasy book needs.
The world building was spot on. The characters all and depth. I absolutely loved the banter between Silvine and Taran.
I think Taran was my favorite character. Fierce, protective, and secretive.
I also enjoyed the prophecies, back stories and all the little details adding to the story.
definitely recommend a read.
excited to see where the story goes in book 2.

[Melissa Mejia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of receiving this as an e-ARC and will voluntarily be giving my honest review. Loved this Rumpelstiltskin fairytale retelling!! The world building and banter was phenomenal!! Loved the chemistry that the FMC Silvine and MMC Taran!! I can’t wait to see what book 2 has in stored for us!! This is a must read!! Great job SB, loved it!!

I love this quote… “Those who are brave are those who can acknowledge their fears, their traumas, and their worries, and do what must be done anyway.”

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay so I would normally question reading a Rumpelstiltskin retelling but this story blew me away!
There's an intriguing political + magic system, and a lot of different creatures. PLUS loads of amazing banter, hidden identities, and trickery.

S.B. Ryazakhov does a great job setting the scene and history of the world right out of the gate, while reminding the reader that "not everything is as it seems." There is clearly a lot of thought that has gone into the plot.

Both the FMC and MMC are multi-layered and the chemistry amongst the characters really had me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you S.B. Ryazakhov for the hard copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Katey Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely everything you could want in a fairy tale retelling. You have original fae tellings with all the trickery, deal making and banter. SB did an amazing job with her world building and even better with the characters (if that is even a thing). I finished this book and instantly regretted that I would not be in this world again.

I love the FMC character growth and how she isn’t a damsel in distress but figures it out. She lived a sheltered life but quickly adapts to her new surroundings and pushes to not falter. I cannot wait for book two.

[Tiera Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Loved the story line! I love how it has all the real fae story lines as in they can’t lie but through words and trickery they get what they want! So glad I got to be one of the first to ready this great book!

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨️ARC✨️

~ "Civilizations may grow and fall. Great men may crumble and die, but the celestial bodies above see all. The stars are eternal."~ This is one of my favorite quotes from this wonderful book.
The Fabric of the Realm is a vibrant fairytale retelling infused with Rumpelstiltskin elements. Celtic mythology and folklore are beautifully woven throughout.There is a Fea King, his somewhat eerie court, and a suspicious mage. SiIvine, our resilient fmc believes she is merely human,yet she is so much more. With help from Taran and the family she finds along the way, she uncovers her true strength and realizes her unlimited potential. I appreciate how Taran supports Silvine, even when his assistance may not seem helpful, and he probably could have given a smidge more information. I really enjoyed the banter, and the exchanges between Silvine and Taran were absolutely delightful. I can't wait to see what happens next. ~ "The Earth loves it's own. " ~
this review is crossposted

[Lynzi Behrmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

What incredible storytelling! I never wanted to put it down. I thought the pacing was perfect, I never felt like it dragged at all. The characters were fun and interesting and the world the author created was really cool.

[Lindsay Misner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a perfect starter fantasy! It combines Rumplestiltskin, Beauty and the Beast, Fae, Dwarves, and humans with a intriguing storyline and NO SPICE. Perfect for young readers! (And older readers too!)

The FMC, Silvine, has led a sheltered life where she has been allowed to stay juvenile despite being 23. Some of her growing pains are annoying to us readers as we have more information then she does. While I didn't always love her reactions, I must admit they made sense for a girl who hadn't yet come into her own. We see Silvine truly turn into a woman over the course of this book. And it is a very satisfying journey.

Do I wish there to be a sequel so that we might see what Silvine's actions have wrought? ABSOLUTELY. S.B. Ryazakhov....can you make this happen? What does The Realm look like after this book ends?????

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has good bones - it just needs a solid editor.

There's some unnecessary repetitions (we get it, the FMC is 23).
The FMC isn't all that likable. I found her spoiled, dramatic, and a bit air-headed. She complains too much and ignores the information she has. The willful ignorance was pretty frustrating.
I disagree with some of the word choices used. For example, Silvine keeps calling someone a kidnapper, when she was the one who sat down at his table on her own. She invaded his home. Being kept there against her will makes her a hostage.
I wasn't a fan of the jump back and forth between past lore and present but I understood the purpose and I think it did a decent job of functioning the way the author intended.

Overall, this has potential.

[Sami Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun read. There was banter and tension. The humor is on point. I loved the varied characters and how their powers came out in their personalities. The romance felt natural and developed appropriately for a slow burn. Following Silvine through her journey was full of sensory details that made everything come to life while reading. The details to lore were incredible and had me googling things I wasn’t familiar with before. Though this was a retelling, it was fun to see how the author kept certain fairytale or lore details intact. All in all, if you like romantasy, retellings, banter and tension, and of course FAE; I highly recommend.

[Mythology Girly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is definitely not a word-for-word Rumpelstiltskin retelling. Instead, it transforms the story we were all told as little children (of a creepy little man in the forest- although there is one of those) into something new. Something beautiful.

There are dark themes, including maternal mortality and death and loss, but it's done in a way that feels light and hopeful.

It addresses so much of the trauma in a tasteful way, and even has a magical EMDR scene.

If you like fantasy, romance, and mythology, this book is for you.

[McKenzie Krueger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me on journey of so many emotions and I loved every second of it! Silvine is such a strong female character and I found myself relating to her in many ways and I loved her connection with the MMC. I loved how the story flowed. I cannot wait to read the next book in this trilogy! I was honored with getting an ARC of this and it did not disappoint.

[Zachary Kowalewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say except well done! This book has it all and has great characters the plot is simply amazing and I just couldn’t out it down. The Realms world building is well put together and the author does an amazing job immersing her readers into it. If you are reading this stop and pick up this book now ! Amazing work!

[Jessica Carey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of receiving this E-arc.
Thus fairytale retelling was absolutely amazing. The writing was perfect. The world building was amazing. The banter with the FMC Silvine and The MMC Taran was absolutely funny and loved them. I can't wait for book 2

[Dineka Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 star read

The Fabric of the Realm is an excellent story. The world building and character relationships were exceptional. S. B. is a great storyteller! Silvine's journey from significant loss to newfound strength was truly inspiring.

[Ashley Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

The absolute cherry on top of fantasy, the foreshadowing was excellent and the depth or story and nod to mental health was superb.

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal writing. I only took a break to sleep because I couldn't physically stay awake. Well paced and beautifully written, The Fabric of the Realm is probably my favorite book I have read this year.

The Fabric of the Realm is a stunning work of fantasy. With rich settings, mythical characters, and a magical struggle so vast you wonder how it could ever come to a conclusion, this book takes all expectations and blows them away. SB Ryazakhov builds a world so vibrant, your heart can feel it.

Highly Recommend 10/10
All the stars