Dreams and Dragon Wings: A Gender-Flipped Sleeping Beauty Retelling

by Ashley Willingham

Loving her is madness. Losing her is not an option.

AURELIA:My heart belongs to the one man I can never have–Benevolence, the dragon king. The door between our worlds has been closed for as long as I can remember, leaving us with nothing but ink and parchment to bridge the distance.

But mere letters are no longer enough. I'm thirty years old and my heart aches for something real. If Bene doesn't want me, then perhaps the human king will. A royal ball approaches, and with it, a chance to forge a new path. I write to tell him goodbye.

And that’s when the nightmare begins.

BENE:My love for Aurelia may very well destroy us both. She has no idea what she is, but I sensed it the moment we met as children. She is a Jewel—a creature irresistible to my kind, capable of driving a dragon to madness.

I locked the door between our worlds to protect her. But when she tells me she intends to marry another, something inside me snaps. I refuse to lose her now.

The clock is ticking. For the first time in twenty years, the door between our worlds lies open. And I'm not the only dragon now racing toward the last living Jewel. Her power calls to us all. But will my love be enough to protect her from her fate?

Or will it be the very thing that dooms us all?

Dive into the medieval fairytale world of Dreams and Dragon Wings, filled with dragons and danger, curses and quests. High-stakes fantasy adventure combined with swoony romance await in this clean, friends to lovers romantasy! Perfect for anyone who dares to believe that love can truly conquer all.

Genres: Fantasy, Christian Fiction, Christian Fantasy, Christian, Romance, Fiction, Romantasy

ebook

Published September 16, 2025

About the author

Ashley Willingham is a Christian, wife, mother of two, and an author of clean books. She enjoys writing high-stakes plots, swoony romances, and stories free from explicit content. When she's not busy writing, she can be found in the kitchen pursing her second passion—baking. She currently lives in Arkansas with her family and one very fluffy dog.

Reviews

[thelilcloseddoorbookgal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Girl, there was so much action. I got whiplash. I probably would have finished it in 2 days if I weren’t in school. I just love her writing and the spiritual elements she adds. Not only do we get entertainment, but we get edified.

content - clean (no sexual stuff, profanity, gore, etc.)

[Finding Faith in Fiction (Chrissy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Tir'anor."

Did Ashley Willingham pull a full on Tolkien and create her own language to go with her world in Dreams & Dragon Wings? Yes, yes she did. Did I realize their was a dictionary in the back of the book to help me translate while reading? No, no I did not. When the language experts say fluency is picked up by repetition, they weren't kidding. The silver lining–I now understand Draconic phrases on sight. So that's cool. I must also mention this, and most readers might not be completely awestruck by this unless you're a huge nerd like me, but the author literally created her own punctuation mark system for when the Aether (God's spirit) speaks to the minds and hearts of the characters. Can authors even do that? Just create new punctuation. Apparently, yes, and it worked so well to create a distinct specialness and sanctity to the voice of the Spirit. Wow. 🤯

As usual, I read this series out of order. It's fine, they can be read as standalone. Upon turning the last page of the story, I thought back on Stardust & Silence (Book 3), and could not for the life of me decide which book I prefer. They are both equally amazing, yet so different. It's hard to compare. I have a hunch Book 1 will be the same when I get to it.

This story is a gender-flipped Sleeping Beauty retelling. You have all of your classic Sleeping Beauty elements– cursed babies, a princess hidden in another realm, a handsome prince, a malicious shape-shifting dragon, and three fairy godmothers. That is where the similarities end, as the author has set this book in a completely original setting, with a unique storyline, and even names that have been altered slightly from the originals (which I love!). Aurelia and Malice were nice twists on the original Aurora and Maleficent.

Aurelia and Benevolence's (Bene) romance is friends to lovers, slow-burn, and filled with the electric chemistry of two magical beings who are a mated pair–destined to be together, but cursed to keep them apart. Bene wants nothing more than to make Aurelia his "Therya Drakara", but he won't let his evil uncle, Malice, destroy his kingdom and his mate through the curse he placed on them as infants. After years of staying away from her, despite intense longing, Bene is forced into her realm to keep her from harm. What entails is abduction, sleeping trances, dragon fights, forced marriage, threat of a realm-wide war. Can Aurelia come into her full weaving power in order to evade Malice's evil plan and restore her birth-right kingdom to its former glory?

There is strong faith filling every nook and cranny of this book. Not only do we see Christian themes, but the gospel message is boldly present through the allegorical nature of God (The Great Weaver) and his spirit (the Aether). We see opportunities for redemption in characters that had long ago chosen darkness, and restoration of barren lands ruled by Shade. Ashley is exceptionally talented at building such a depth of faith into her stories in a way that feels like it's woven through the threads of the story organically. There aren't many books that bring tears to my eyes, goosebumps to my skin, and the presence of God into my room as I read, but this book and this series do. I can't speak highly enough to the impactfulness of the faith.

What I enjoyed about the story:
🐲 Ashley's writing...it's truly spectacular
🐲 A realm, creatures, magic system, and language that rivals that of Tolkien
🐲 Heart-warming, yet convicting faith
🐲 "Can't put it down" level action and storytelling
🐲 Chemistry, swoon, and the sweetest love
🐲 The "weaving" of elemental threads (strong weaving themes)
🐲 Learning a new "language"
🐲 Dual POV & dual timelines
🐲 "Curses are meant to be broken."


⚠️ Content Warnings:
- A Curse
- Magical elements (works well with faith, not against it)
- Fictional genocide of a creature group
- Adoptive family/death of birth parents (mostly off page)
- Abduction
- Violence (mild, not overly descriptive)

This is a must-read for romantasy, fantasy, and Christian fiction fans. Even if fantasy isn't your jam, I don't think you'll be disappointed by this stunning story.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars

I 10/10 recommend immersing yourself in the kingdoms of Drakara and The Flora Vale as you follow Aurelia and Bene's journey to their happily ever after. It's a wild ride getting there! As an added bonus, the author sells the books on her website, and they come with the most gorgeous stickers and accessories based on each story 🩷 Gushing complete!

[Kay’s Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Spoiler-Free Review✨
Title: Dreams and Dragon Wings
Author: Ashley Willingham
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Destined to be together. Cursed to be apart.” 💔

Synopsis:
Aurelia and Benevolence share a bond that defies time, distance, and the curse that keeps them apart. With only letters to connect their worlds, their love faces the impossible when danger rises and the Door between realms reopens. Many are now after Aurelia’s life and Benevolence wants nothing more than to save her, while also protecting her from himself. But how can he truly protect her when he’s already made the mistake of keeping secrets from her their entire friendship? The very secrets that could save her life… 😭

🌿 My Thoughts:
This story blew me away! It’s my new favorite from Ashley Willingham. The world and writing felt so whimsical and ethereal! It truly captured the essence of a fairytale. 🏰

The faith content was strong from beginning to end, reminding me that God is always with us and will guide us even when we try to do things our own way. His way truly is always better. 🙏

The friends-to-lovers romance was perfection. Their love was believable, emotional, and had me rooting for them every step of the way. ❤️ I laughed, I cried (more than once!), and I was completely invested in their story of mercy, redemption, and grace. 🥹

Ashley nailed this one completely! The side characters were amazing, funny, and so relatable. And seriously… if someone asked me which fictional world I’d visit, I’d pick The Flora Vale in a heartbeat! 🌸🐉

🪶 If you love whimsical worlds, strong faith themes, and a swoony clean romantasy, Dreams and Dragon Wings is absolutely for you.

⚠️Trigger/Content Warnings:
- abuse of women
- being abducted
- chained and kept prisoner
- violence (not graphic)
- dead and sick parents

[Madison Hickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yall, I would give this 1000000 stars if I could. I never read fiction but this author came up on my tik tok. I have never enjoyed a fiction book as much as this one. It pulled me in, had me constantly on the edge of my seat, invoked all the emotions. This may be the best fiction book I have read in the past 10ish years!

[Danielle | TheReadingDanielleMcBride · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my fourth book of Ashley Willingham’s & she hasn’t failed me yet. I loved this book so much. The faith elements in the book were so well done - I especially loved the role of the Holy Spirit in the story. I wasn’t prepared for how much the ending was going to wreck me. 🤎🤎🤎

[Tash Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review - Dreams and Dragon Wings by Ashley Willingham.

I loved all the books I’ve read of Ashley thus far, but this one was a struggle to get through from start to end. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters apart from Rowan, who was my favorite.

I also think the different language used throughout the book made it difficult for me to keep focus and became annoying after a while.

Apart from the above I will still recommend the book to fantasy readers who enjoy fairytale retellings. I’m glad that there are many other readers who enjoyed it and gave it 5 stars and hope there will be many more to come.

Thank you Ashley for the opportunity to read this book. I do look forward to the other books in The War of Crowns series and will definitely be reading them.

[BookishVibesClub · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be still my fairytale loving heart, this retelling brings all the biggest and best feels. LOVED the Dragon Shifter Prince MMC with his protective and possessive dragon side and his sweet cinnamon roll human side. That sweet but Determined FMC is my new favorite and I really enjoyed her story.

I could not put this book down… I just ate this book up with the sweet love torn by a curse and a MMC who will do anything to protect the one he loves. Oh my goodness the way the MMCs story and pain hit, seeking to save his love at all cost pulled all my heart strings. That broken to healing trope 🙌🏻 and that LONGING 🫠 and that sweet HEA that really felt earned.

👑 adorable courtly meet cute
💗 magic letter sending
👑 cursed prince
💗 fated
👑 protective mmc
💗 secret dragon rides
👑 dragon shifter
💗 slow burn romance
👑 sacrificial love



No Spice | Closed Door Romance

Side note: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 is my favorite verse ever and see it woven into this story was so powerful and meaningful.

[Teddy G · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up
This was completely different from the first story in this series.
They are stand-alones but unfortunately a lot of what I loved in the last book was not in this one.
This book told the story almost in pieces.
It switched back and forth between past/present, MMC/FMC, letters, a made up language…etc.
This all felt very disjointed, depressing and the middle lagged because of it.
It has stronger Christian themes and a great message which I loved.
I really liked the idea for the story and the characters.
I wish the story had been told from when they met forward to give the reader more time with the two main characters and to fully develop the story.
The best parts were the two main characters especially their friendship when they were younger so for that it gets extra points!

[DayDreamer8912 · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5
Genre: Clean Fantasy Romance
🚨TW: being cursed, being threaten, being abducted/kidnapped, being chained, force into a relationship that she doesn't want.

Favourite Moments
✨️ They first meet
✨️ Their sweet meetups and sweet letters to each other
✨️ Them protecting each other
✨️ When she found out her identity.
✨️ Them meeting in their dreams.
✨️ She tried her best to not to be afraid of Malice and try to find a way to escape.
✨️ The battle (can’t spoil it)
✨️ Them working together (can’t spoil it)
(and a lot more)

Swoony moments
✨️ Him protecting her and cares for her.
✨️ Him answering her truthfully and also revealing her true identity
✨️ He saved her many times.
✨️ He show his vulnerable side.
(and lots more)

Synopsis
Benevolence/ Bene
An heir to the throne of the kingdom of Drakara. He was cursed by his uncle who is hungry for the throne.

Aurelia
The last Jewel who doesn’t know that she isn’t human and doesn���t know that she is actually wanted.

They met and they became fast friends ever since they were young. Bene had always known her identity but to protect her, he didn’t tell her anything about it and also didn’t want to burden her about his curse. Things changed when they both turned 30 and her adoptive mother wants her to get married soon and during the ball she got abducted. Will Bene ever rescue her and will Bene ever tell her, her true identity? Read Dreams & Dragon Wings to find out.

Review
Love their sweet meetups and also sweet letters to each other and also Dragon language which he didn’t really tell the real meaning of it because he is shy. And their relationship is just bittersweet. He had always protected her ever since young because of his uncle who wants to use her if he found out that she is the last living, Jewel and he didn’t want to confess his feelings to her either because of his curse and doesn’t want her to be in danger and kept it to himself. They both protected each other and also worked together to defeat the evil. The way they pray for each other and he even pray for his uncle hopefully that he will change his ways. And encourage each other to do what the Lord wants them to do. And also the others who help them too like the three fairygodmothers which are pixies who took care of Bene and also getting to know her true identity and also found out that the goblins are not exactly goblins (can’t spoil it). Lots of battle, nightmares and also conquering the negative inner evil thoughts, it’s like a spiritual warfare that we faced in our lives too.

What I learn from it?
Love your enemies. I love that Bene encourages Aurelia to love his uncle though he is really malicious because it is what the Lord wants them to do though it is hard when his uncle is such a horrible person. And he even prayed for his uncle and hopes that he changed his ways. That’s what we can learn from Bene because it is really hard to love our enemies at times because the way they treat us but with God on our side, we can do it. We can’t do it alone.

If you like the feel of medieval times, magic and war of kingdoms this is a book for you. This is the second book of the gender-flipped fairytale series.


I was gifted complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own. Thanks @ashleywillinghamauthor for the ARC .

You can purchase this book on Amazon and it’s available on KU.

[Amanda Rademan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dreams and Dragonwings by Ashley Willingham
#BookReview

Dreams and Dragonwings is a clean, Christian, gender-flipped retelling of Sleeping Beauty It follows a "friends-to-lovers" romantasy arc set in a medieval world of dragons and fae.
The story centers on Aurelia, a woman who has spent years communicating with her childhood best friend, Benevolence (Bene), solely through letters because a magical "Door" between their worlds is closed.  Now 30 years old and longing for a real connection, Aurelia decides to move on and find a human husband at an upcoming royal ball. She writes to Bene to say goodbye. Bene is a dragon shifter king. He has stayed away for 12 years to protect Aurelia, knowing she is a "Jewel"—the strongest of the fae and the last of her kind. Her power makes her irresistible and dangerous to dragons. Bene and Aurelia were fated to be together until Bene's uncle cursed them. When Aurelia decides to marry another, "something snaps" within Bene.The Door between their worlds finally opens, but Bene isn't the only one racing toward Aurelia. Other dragons are drawn to her power, forcing Bene to fight to protect her from a fate that could doom them both.


This book was Awesome. I loved it. I've never read a Sleeping Beauty retelling before, It was really refreshing, I sort of feel that every romantasy is a beauty and the beast retelling or some variation of that, that's great,I love beauty and the beast but it was really nice to read something a bit different. Sleeping Beauty is under appreciated in my opinion, Sleeping Beauty was one of my favorite Disney princess movies as a kid.

I absolutely loved the faith themes in this book and the characters relationship with
God and the Holy Spirit being a whole side character and scripture being quoted are just so beautiful 😭,it was so unique and different than anything else I've read before. I've never read a Christian romantasy before and It's definitely something I didn't know I needed.

The Character arcs were really incredible
I loved how Aurelia grew throughout the book and really came into her powers and how she became this strong courageous woman while still being feminine and her faith journey was just beautiful.

Bene was so protective and sweet. I loved his journey with God and how he overcame his struggles and rediscovered his faith and how he learned that he didn't need to do everything by himself.
The romance was really sweet and beautiful.

All in all it was a great Christian romantasy a beautiful and unique Sleeping Beauty retelling filled with faith,high stakes Fantasy plot,incredible world building,a beautiful romance and relatable characters.

I really love how Ashley manages to stay true to the themes and nostalgia of the Disney classics while simultaneously making them unique and original and centered around faith and God's Truths and also weaving in some popular romantasy tropes.
I really loved this fairytale retelling.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Rated G

Marketed as a gender-flipped retelling of Sleeping Beauty, this story offers far more than a simple reimagining of a classic tale. It introduces a unique magic system woven through the elements of air, fire, light, and darkness, adding depth and wonder to the narrative.

The writing goes beyond surface storytelling and reaches into the deeper themes of good and evil. The two main characters, Benevolence and Aurelia, wrestle not only with the external challenges before them but also with their own internal struggles, giving the story emotional depth and authenticity.

The fantasy elements elevate the story even further, with shape-shifting dragons, fae, and goblins bringing the world vividly to life. Yet beneath the magic and adventure lies a message that resonates on a deeper level. Though faith is not stated outright, it quietly forms the heart of the story.
Themes of mercy, redemption, and healing unfold throughout the journey, inviting readers to reflect on their own hearts and consider how they extend those same gifts to others. It is a story that reaches across generations, one that entertains, inspires, and speaks to the depths of the human spirit.

[AmandaB · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐️
Ashley is quickly moving to one of my favorite fantasy authors. I could not put this book down!

A sweet FMC that has more strength than she knew. 👑
A dual sided MMC with a cinnamon roll human side and a fierce protector on his dragon shifting side. 🐉

The story draws you in quickly and pace is fast.
The story is woven so well and you don’t feel like you are missing details. I really enjoyed the beginning of the book and how it alternated between the past and present, helping the reader understand the history and friendship built between Bene and Aurelia. The swoon was perfect and you easily understood the yearning and love between both main characters, without the unnecessary spice!

I didn’t feel like I was in a retelling either, I got the sweet hints of the sleeping beauty story but it was not overtly in your face. There were perfect winks throughout reminding the reader. This is my favorite way to read a retelling.

[Brittany T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again , She has written another book that I absolutely could not set down! I love her writing! This book was no different it gives you all the love, the drama, the relationship without all the sex and everthing else. Is amazing how she is able to write something and still give you the feelings and the emotions without having to be explicit about it. I love how she takes something that is normally a single gender and spins it to the opposite! Not all woman have to be saved somtimes we are the one saving lol:) but I absolutely could not put this book down, and I always eagerly await her next book, cause everyone I have read is pure amazing!

[MacKenzie Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Words can’t even describe how this book made me feel. I absolutely loved it and couldn’t put it down. I wanted more immediately. This story was intense and kept you so engaged that there is no way I could have put it down. I don’t want to give much away but Aurelia and Benevolence’s friendship is truly goals because they both would do everything they physically can for the other at the drop of a hat.
This is a clean romantasy. It is part of a collection but can be read as a stand alone novel.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not normally one to read fantasy all that often but this one was absolutely amazing🤩 It is a wonderful retelling of sleeping beauty. It draws you in right away and the fast past chapters make it absolutely impossible to put down😍 Ashley Willingham did an amazing job on this one and I can’t wait to read more from her🥰

Favorite Quote
“You are the only gift it need…I love you for you and no other reason. I need nothing from you other than yourself.”

✨Fantasy
🐉Fairytale retelling
✨Cursed Prince
🐉Slow Burn
✨Protective MMC
🐉Dragons

Yes, No, Maybe: Yes🥰
🤬: None
🌶️: None

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ This story was fantastic. This is the first book I’ve read by Ashley and I know I will be reading every single one of her books now! Her writing is engaging and thoughtful. It felt like I was in a movie of one of my favorite fairytales and I didn’t want it to stop. The twist of the curse happening to a dragon prince was wonderful. Any story that has dragons, is going to be a favorite. I absolutely loved the thread of faith throughout this whole story, it added another level to the fairytale. Very well done and I will most likely read this one again.

[Nikki Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

A breath of fresh air

CHRISTIAN romantasy?! Getting to enjoy a (very) well written story without the frustration of an explicit scene popping up?!! A book that I can share with my kids that is both captivating and clean!?

Seriously, very well done, Ashley. The scripture woven between the pages, the subtle themes of redemption and freedom that Christ offers throughout the books, the grammatical accuracy, just all of it. It was such a wonderful book. I look forward to reading everything this author has written, as well as everything she will release in the future!

[Shades || Tyger, Tyger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am positive that anything Ashley Willingham publishes will be GOLD!!
12+ so long as they can handle Disney's 'Sleeping Beauty'/if they can handle a book that slightly boarders Disney's 'Maleficent'
Content notes: wrong rumors about the FMC having a lover/being unfaithful to her betrothed (she wasn't), a few kisses but nothing more and not very descriptive, death of a parent, violence that sits at a PG rating. No language.

[Jaycee Weaver]

truly beautiful

Such a beautiful book full of twists and turns. The action is intense, the emotion even more so. The characters, the allegorical references, the world-building, everything was simply wonderful and so enchanting I stayed up way too late devouring it. I haven’t done that in a long time! I’m so excited to discover this new-to-me author and this series of faith-implied fairy tales for adults.

[The Goodspeeds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!!

I absolutely love everything about The Great Weaver (my faithful Heavenly Father) and the bits of scripture sprinkled in this gorgeous tale of romance and fantasy. I've been trying to find non-spicy books in this genre because I've been feeling personally convicted against spicy books. This book has everything I wanted and more!! You have a new fan, Ashley Willingham! <333

[Ashten Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

my favorite book by Ashley Willingham!!!

4 1/2 stars!! The love between Bene & Aurelia is just precious!! absolutely loved this twist on sleeping beauty. I love that this was a no spice and no swearing romantasy! The only reason it's not five stars is the ending of the book does feel a little repetitive as we approach the big climax it felt alittle dragging otherwise wonderful story! Thank you Ashley you are a new fave!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far my favorite book I've read by Ashley Willingham so far! I love the subtle (and not to subtle) ties to Sleeping Beauty. (And yes... there's an argument about colors in there.) This story went so many directions and it was just *chefs kiss* perfect! I wish I could read it again as if I'd never read it before.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this gender-flipped fairytale even more than Willingham's first one. I'm so excited to see where she continues to take these stories.

Dragons, secrets, and childhood friends to lovers. This book was wonderful, not just the characters and the world-building, but also the beautiful messages woven into the story.

Next stop: space!

[Kathryn Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO GREAT!

I love the storytelling of this book. The way the story unfolds and delivers information with flashbacks and dreams. This is edifying and beautiful. The characters are heartwarming and so delightful. I was hooked from PAGE ONE. and though some things felt convoluted, I devoured this book in a day because I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait to read more.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly beautiful read that will melt your heart in the best possible way.
The story will keep you entranced from the first page, and i loved the dual points of view. I also enjoyed the wonderful way faith and God are woven into the story so naturally. For a beautiful romance, a thrilling adventure, and a wonderful happily ever after, I highly recommend this read.

[Caryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Willingham has crafted an exquisite masterpiece! I was immediately immersed into the drama. Twists and turns kept me turning the pages. These characters will linger long after turning the final page.

Recommend to readers who enjoy romantasy.

I borrowed a copy from a friend. I have expressed my honest view.

[Dottie Momreadskidsread · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this one.

This was a fantastic story! It gave me all the feels. There are biblical messages and verses in the story, though some might not recognize them. It's a story of loyalty, love, friendship, forgiveness, and strength. I cheered I cried. I laughed. This is a dual POV from the MMC and FMC. Great story.

[Carleene Hibbs Reeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this book. I have never read a fantasy that had so much faith written in to it. I loved that it is a fairytale retelling also. It has all the great things about fantasy and none of the smut. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Paige German · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this fairytale retelling! I found myself fully immersed in the world Ashley Willingham created. The faith threads that were woven throughout the story really took the book to the next level. Highly recommend!

[Lili_Recs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Draft:

Good book.
Cute story, loved the sleeping beauty retelling.

Got me out of my reading slump.

I loved the acknowledgements as well.