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Magic Denied: A Sweet-Clean Romance inspired by Rapunzel
"Dragons are a race, great and terrifying. They will sense the child because their magic is tied to humans born with magic. They will search for your kingdom, and when they find you, they will destroy you."
Cress was raised in seclusion. Her only connections to the outside world are irregular visits from her parents, daily training exercises with Liam, the sword master, and Calliope, her mentor in magic. Her hair is cut daily, and every day, it regrows faster and longer. She hates the seclusion, but the wards around her tower mute her magical aura and protect the kingdom, so she accepts her solitary life.
Only the dragons came to the kingdom the day she was born. And her people have been fighting them ever since.
When Liam must leave to help fight the dragons, he reveals the truth to Cress, shattering the carefully constructed world she's accepted her whole life. Her father tells her he's arranged her marriage with a prince from a neighboring kingdom in exchange for their soldiers. Cress refuses to be a bartering chip or let one more kingdom subject die while she lives safely in solitude. She uses all her magical training to break the wards, only for the dragon prince to capture her.
With her kingdom in the clutches of the dragons and Cress as their prisoner, she is forced to decide if she'll fight or remain a captive forever. Which choice will spare her people and her kingdom from further destruction?
If you're a fan of a strong female lead who fights for what is right, then you'll love Cress. If you like slow-burn sweet romances, then you will be delighted. If you are looking for a fresh twist on a Rapunzel retelling or just love fairy tales, then this book is for you.
Magic Denied rediscovers key elements of the beloved Rapunzel fairy tale. It is perfect for fans of K.M. Shea, Tara Grayce, and Melanie Cellier.
Cress was raised in seclusion. Her only connections to the outside world are irregular visits from her parents, daily training exercises with Liam, the sword master, and Calliope, her mentor in magic. Her hair is cut daily, and every day, it regrows faster and longer. She hates the seclusion, but the wards around her tower mute her magical aura and protect the kingdom, so she accepts her solitary life.
Only the dragons came to the kingdom the day she was born. And her people have been fighting them ever since.
When Liam must leave to help fight the dragons, he reveals the truth to Cress, shattering the carefully constructed world she's accepted her whole life. Her father tells her he's arranged her marriage with a prince from a neighboring kingdom in exchange for their soldiers. Cress refuses to be a bartering chip or let one more kingdom subject die while she lives safely in solitude. She uses all her magical training to break the wards, only for the dragon prince to capture her.
With her kingdom in the clutches of the dragons and Cress as their prisoner, she is forced to decide if she'll fight or remain a captive forever. Which choice will spare her people and her kingdom from further destruction?
If you're a fan of a strong female lead who fights for what is right, then you'll love Cress. If you like slow-burn sweet romances, then you will be delighted. If you are looking for a fresh twist on a Rapunzel retelling or just love fairy tales, then this book is for you.
Magic Denied rediscovers key elements of the beloved Rapunzel fairy tale. It is perfect for fans of K.M. Shea, Tara Grayce, and Melanie Cellier.
180 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2025
2 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 31, 2025
"Cress, it's time to let your hair down."
What a fantastic line for this unique fairytale retelling of Rapunzel.
This was a fun read. I know I'm not supposed to root for the villain, but I couldn't help liking him from time to time (he's still a jerk), but what can I say, I love dragons.
As the fairytale telling goes, when the king and queen learn that they can't have children, they summon the "good-witch" to give them a potion to help them bear a child. The baby would be born of magic and therefore, comes with a price.
The witch warned them that if they were to go through with this, they would be unleashing things that should be left well alone. But they insist, and when Cress is born, the dragons come, just like the witch said they would.
Cress lives alone in her tower, believing this is the way to protect her kingdom from the dragons from coming and hurting her people. But she's isolated in her protective bubble. She can't get past the magic ward that keeps her "safe," and when a handsome, egotistic prince shows up, he challenges her to push past her boundaries.
So begins her journey and growth, as she learns more about her magic that grows stronger as her hair grows, and in her duties as princess and future ruler to her kingdom.
This story leans a lot on character and magic development, as well as action. It's very well written and enjoyable.
What a fantastic line for this unique fairytale retelling of Rapunzel.
This was a fun read. I know I'm not supposed to root for the villain, but I couldn't help liking him from time to time (he's still a jerk), but what can I say, I love dragons.
As the fairytale telling goes, when the king and queen learn that they can't have children, they summon the "good-witch" to give them a potion to help them bear a child. The baby would be born of magic and therefore, comes with a price.
The witch warned them that if they were to go through with this, they would be unleashing things that should be left well alone. But they insist, and when Cress is born, the dragons come, just like the witch said they would.
Cress lives alone in her tower, believing this is the way to protect her kingdom from the dragons from coming and hurting her people. But she's isolated in her protective bubble. She can't get past the magic ward that keeps her "safe," and when a handsome, egotistic prince shows up, he challenges her to push past her boundaries.
So begins her journey and growth, as she learns more about her magic that grows stronger as her hair grows, and in her duties as princess and future ruler to her kingdom.
This story leans a lot on character and magic development, as well as action. It's very well written and enjoyable.
Displaying 1 of 1 review