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To Win a Dark Heart
Falling for the Pied Piper: To Win a Dark Heart
A Stewardess branded by failure
A Piper on the run
One pursuit that blurs the line between justice and love
Selene was the perfect stewardess—until she cursed a prince into a beast. To atone for her transgression, she is branded and must apprehend the Pied Piper who stole one-hundred-and-thirty children from their homes. But the man she finds isn’t the villain she expected.
Living on the run is the only way Reid can mask the truth of his crime. He never expected to be caught, but a crafty, magic-wielding stewardess outsmarts him. Yet, the more time he spends with her, the harder it becomes to keep his secrets buried.
What begins as a mission of redemption becomes a journey of unraveling truths—and hearts. In a world of peril and wild magic, Selene and Reid must decide whether to cling to their facades or risk everything for a love that could cost them both their freedom.
Falling for the Pied Piper is a retelling that combines elements of The Beauty and the Beast and The Pied Piper. Set after the events of each of these stories, this no-spice romantasy is the 10th book in the To Win a Dark Heart series which retells fairytales as old as time, but this time it’s the villain’s turn to get a happy ending.
A Piper on the run
One pursuit that blurs the line between justice and love
Selene was the perfect stewardess—until she cursed a prince into a beast. To atone for her transgression, she is branded and must apprehend the Pied Piper who stole one-hundred-and-thirty children from their homes. But the man she finds isn’t the villain she expected.
Living on the run is the only way Reid can mask the truth of his crime. He never expected to be caught, but a crafty, magic-wielding stewardess outsmarts him. Yet, the more time he spends with her, the harder it becomes to keep his secrets buried.
What begins as a mission of redemption becomes a journey of unraveling truths—and hearts. In a world of peril and wild magic, Selene and Reid must decide whether to cling to their facades or risk everything for a love that could cost them both their freedom.
Falling for the Pied Piper is a retelling that combines elements of The Beauty and the Beast and The Pied Piper. Set after the events of each of these stories, this no-spice romantasy is the 10th book in the To Win a Dark Heart series which retells fairytales as old as time, but this time it’s the villain’s turn to get a happy ending.
202 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 20, 2026
6 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Evercott
11 books21 followersAshley Evercott was born and raised where it’s mostly sunny and there’s always traffic on the 91. From a young age, she has dreamed of far-off worlds and star-crossed lovers. She is proud to pen these stories to life and combine fantasy and swoony romance. When she is not writing, she consumes as many romance books as possible and hangs out with her cat and supportive husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
March 27, 2026
Finally, someone admits that the enchantress that cursed the prince into a beast did very, very wrong and deserves no excuse whatsoever.
This isn’t the first time I’ve read a retelling that tries to tell the story of Beauty and the Beast from the enchantress/fairy godmother’s point of view to “redeem” her, but it is the first one I’ve found (or at least the first in so long I can’t even remember a previous instance) that unconditionally admits that the enchantress went too far with the curse and that it was undeserved, because the prince was innocent.
Full review over at my website.
This isn’t the first time I’ve read a retelling that tries to tell the story of Beauty and the Beast from the enchantress/fairy godmother’s point of view to “redeem” her, but it is the first one I’ve found (or at least the first in so long I can’t even remember a previous instance) that unconditionally admits that the enchantress went too far with the curse and that it was undeserved, because the prince was innocent.
Full review over at my website.
February 13, 2026
As I’ve said for almost all the books I’ve read in this multi author series, I’m not sure I would have thought to put Beauty and the Beast with The Pied Piper and it works, though admittedly with less BATB and more of TPP, as aside from Selene being a beauty who acts “beastly” and being the enchantress who curses the off page beast there isn’t much else from that tale here. From my limited knowledge of TPP there’s a bit more here from that tale, but as both of them have already happened before this story started it also doesn’t have much, so make of that what you will, haha.
I will say Selene is one of my most disliked character types, the proud, powerful woman who always knows best (in her opinion, anyway), but she had enough vulnerabilities and mystery about her that I was willing to put up with her despite her not endearing me to her at first, haha. Reid I liked much better and their banter/arguing made things much more fun and tolerable for me to be around Selene, but growth happens for both and in the end I actually liked both characters rather than just Reid. Reid’s pet rat was a huge highlight, as I love a good animal sidekick, and the massive Luna type moths is such a beautiful and cool idea.
There was one part involving a fortune teller that I thought could have been reworked to leave it out entirely as it was just there to “push the character’s problem to overcome” which felt a little forced, plus I wasn’t a fan of the scene in general and it made me a touch uncomfortable but that was the only part in the entire book.
In short I enjoyed this mashup retelling and would recommend it to anyone who thinks it sounds interesting!
‼️Content‼️
TRIGGER WARNING: children are kidnapped and enslaved to work in mines; a verbally/mentally/emotionally abusive parent is implied
Violence: an ogre chases/attacks characters (not detailed); injuries and blood (not detailed); fighting with magic and weapons (not detailed); characters are chased and arrows are shot at them; a character’s blasted through a window (not detailed)
Sexual: mild suggestive hints/comments; kissing (not detailed)
Other: magic; magical abilities/powers/creatures; a rat is called a character’s familiar; children are kidnapped and enslaved to work in mines; a character cursed a man (not shown); a character is chained and collared and must obey their captor’s commands by magical compulsion; a fortune teller; spells; a verbally/mentally/emotionally abusive parent is implied; the mining of an illegal mineral/stone
****Note: I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher. All thoughts and opinions are most assuredly my own and I wasn’t required to write a positive review. If I was I wouldn’t have read it. 😜****
I will say Selene is one of my most disliked character types, the proud, powerful woman who always knows best (in her opinion, anyway), but she had enough vulnerabilities and mystery about her that I was willing to put up with her despite her not endearing me to her at first, haha. Reid I liked much better and their banter/arguing made things much more fun and tolerable for me to be around Selene, but growth happens for both and in the end I actually liked both characters rather than just Reid. Reid’s pet rat was a huge highlight, as I love a good animal sidekick, and the massive Luna type moths is such a beautiful and cool idea.
There was one part involving a fortune teller that I thought could have been reworked to leave it out entirely as it was just there to “push the character’s problem to overcome” which felt a little forced, plus I wasn’t a fan of the scene in general and it made me a touch uncomfortable but that was the only part in the entire book.
In short I enjoyed this mashup retelling and would recommend it to anyone who thinks it sounds interesting!
‼️Content‼️
TRIGGER WARNING: children are kidnapped and enslaved to work in mines; a verbally/mentally/emotionally abusive parent is implied
Violence: an ogre chases/attacks characters (not detailed); injuries and blood (not detailed); fighting with magic and weapons (not detailed); characters are chased and arrows are shot at them; a character’s blasted through a window (not detailed)
Sexual: mild suggestive hints/comments; kissing (not detailed)
Other: magic; magical abilities/powers/creatures; a rat is called a character’s familiar; children are kidnapped and enslaved to work in mines; a character cursed a man (not shown); a character is chained and collared and must obey their captor’s commands by magical compulsion; a fortune teller; spells; a verbally/mentally/emotionally abusive parent is implied; the mining of an illegal mineral/stone
****Note: I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher. All thoughts and opinions are most assuredly my own and I wasn’t required to write a positive review. If I was I wouldn’t have read it. 😜****
Review of advance copy received from Author
Super cute story and a clever mix of fairytales rolled into one. Selena is desperate to gain her parents’ approval, and she believes the only way to do that is by catching the Pied Piper and bringing him back. But he has plans of his own. When she finally captures Reid (the Pied Piper), she quickly realizes he’s not at all who she expected.
As much as she tries to find his flaws and force herself to turn him in and cage him, she can’t bring herself to do it. Now she has to decide: does she risk her family’s approval to keep him safe, or follow through with the plan and regain their favor by betraying him?
The chemistry between Selena and Reid is strong and believable. The story works really well as a novella, and small details. like Petunia the pet rat, add charm and personality.
I received a complimentary copy, and this review reflects my honest opinion.
As much as she tries to find his flaws and force herself to turn him in and cage him, she can’t bring herself to do it. Now she has to decide: does she risk her family’s approval to keep him safe, or follow through with the plan and regain their favor by betraying him?
The chemistry between Selena and Reid is strong and believable. The story works really well as a novella, and small details. like Petunia the pet rat, add charm and personality.
I received a complimentary copy, and this review reflects my honest opinion.
March 9, 2026
ARC Review- Falling for the Pied Piper by Ashley Evercott.
Mashup of Beauty and the Beast and The Pied Piper. Before starting this book I was curious about how these two stories can be combined and I loved this one! Very well written by Ashley.
I was captured from the first chapter. Selene was a pristine student and daughter. A bad decision lead her to be cast out a disgrace to her family. She was such a strong FMC and I giggled at her unfortunate magic limitations, but it never stopped her from giving her everything.
Reid was a great character as well. I enjoyed his free spirit and the names he had for everyone. But also that he understood when to joke and when to be serious.
Overall I enjoyed the world and the different magic they had, and off course Petunia! I wish we could read more about the Glimmerwood and the ancient magic and their worlds. But it was a great book, easy to read and flowing.
I will recommend to readers who enjoys a fast paced fairytale mashup, no spice and cozy feel with a happy ending.
Mashup of Beauty and the Beast and The Pied Piper. Before starting this book I was curious about how these two stories can be combined and I loved this one! Very well written by Ashley.
I was captured from the first chapter. Selene was a pristine student and daughter. A bad decision lead her to be cast out a disgrace to her family. She was such a strong FMC and I giggled at her unfortunate magic limitations, but it never stopped her from giving her everything.
Reid was a great character as well. I enjoyed his free spirit and the names he had for everyone. But also that he understood when to joke and when to be serious.
Overall I enjoyed the world and the different magic they had, and off course Petunia! I wish we could read more about the Glimmerwood and the ancient magic and their worlds. But it was a great book, easy to read and flowing.
I will recommend to readers who enjoys a fast paced fairytale mashup, no spice and cozy feel with a happy ending.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a great no-spice fairytale retelling with the villains from The Pied Piper and Beauty and the Beast! I loved the resilience that Selene and Reid both had. I enjoyed learning about their individual pasts and what brought them to do what they did. I thought the world-building was vibrant and the overall story was well structured. I loved watching their slow-burn romance bloom and I was thrilled to see them start to work toward the same goal. The mystery of why The Piper took the children, and the thrill of Selene hunting him, kept me hooked. I highly recommend this to any fantasy reader!
Selene had not only failed her father again, but also upset the High Stewards. She knew she shouldn't have cursed the prince to be a beast, but when she told them that he had been insufferable, she thought maybe they'd understand. Instead, they took her wand and to avoid exile, told her to capture The Pied Piper for stealing a town full of children. She plays cat and mouse with The Piper until she finally outwits him. During their journey to the Arcane Stewards, Reid decides to use his charms to manipulate Selene into freeing him, before it's too late. However, with the dangers they faced, and him continuously saving her, their walls crumble.
After learning the truth about each other, will they learn to trust one another and stop the true villain of this story?
I received an Advanced Reader Copy with no expectation of a review. All opinions are my own.
Selene had not only failed her father again, but also upset the High Stewards. She knew she shouldn't have cursed the prince to be a beast, but when she told them that he had been insufferable, she thought maybe they'd understand. Instead, they took her wand and to avoid exile, told her to capture The Pied Piper for stealing a town full of children. She plays cat and mouse with The Piper until she finally outwits him. During their journey to the Arcane Stewards, Reid decides to use his charms to manipulate Selene into freeing him, before it's too late. However, with the dangers they faced, and him continuously saving her, their walls crumble.
After learning the truth about each other, will they learn to trust one another and stop the true villain of this story?
I received an Advanced Reader Copy with no expectation of a review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“In love?” The Piper cut in smoothly, hooking his arm around hers. “Not yet. We’re in our slow burn stage. She pretends to hate me, and I pretend to believe her.”
Okay I loved this one. Like absolutely loved it. First of all, the banter between Reid and Selene??? So good. I was smiling the whole time. And the nicknames?? When he calls her “Violet” while slowly breaking down her walls?? Stop.
Selene is the grumpy one. And Reid being the sunshine who falls first.
Tropes (aka everything I loved):
• Slow Burn
• Enemies-to-Lovers
• Grumpy x Sunshine
• He Falls First
• Forced Proximity
• On the Run
• Tending Wounds
• Misunderstood
• FINALLY kiss
The slow burn was so well done, and that finally kiss absolutely delivered.
I really picked up on the Pied Piper inspiration throughout the story, that element felt strong and intentional. I personally didn’t notice as much Beauty and the Beast influence, but the Pied Piper part was definitely clear.
And it’s completely clean/no spice, which I loved. The emotional tension and banter between them felt natural and fun.
Thank you so much for the ARC! It was such a joy to read this early and fall in love with Reid and Selene aka “Violet” before release day.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
“In love?” The Piper cut in smoothly, hooking his arm around hers. “Not yet. We’re in our slow burn stage. She pretends to hate me, and I pretend to believe her.”
Okay I loved this one. Like absolutely loved it. First of all, the banter between Reid and Selene??? So good. I was smiling the whole time. And the nicknames?? When he calls her “Violet” while slowly breaking down her walls?? Stop.
Selene is the grumpy one. And Reid being the sunshine who falls first.
Tropes (aka everything I loved):
• Slow Burn
• Enemies-to-Lovers
• Grumpy x Sunshine
• He Falls First
• Forced Proximity
• On the Run
• Tending Wounds
• Misunderstood
• FINALLY kiss
The slow burn was so well done, and that finally kiss absolutely delivered.
I really picked up on the Pied Piper inspiration throughout the story, that element felt strong and intentional. I personally didn’t notice as much Beauty and the Beast influence, but the Pied Piper part was definitely clear.
And it’s completely clean/no spice, which I loved. The emotional tension and banter between them felt natural and fun.
Thank you so much for the ARC! It was such a joy to read this early and fall in love with Reid and Selene aka “Violet” before release day.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC of this book from the author and though a review wasn’t required I WANTED to offer my honest, voluntary impression upon finishing it.
Ashley has written a story in the Dark Hearts series where this time it’s the villains who get their happily ever after!
This book combines elements of Beauty and the Beast as well as The Pied Piper.
Selene is the enchantress ( stewardess) who curses the prince and turns him into a beast because of his callousness regarding the people in his kingdom and another matter entirely. Brought before the High Council of Stewards she is marked as a disgrace and branded and loses her magic and her wand. Before being banished though she is given a chance to return to the fold if she can find, capture and bring back the Pied Piper to stand trial for leading 130 children away with him when he cleared them of a rodent problem but the mayor refused to pay him.
She accepts and after a frustrating time finally finds and tricks him putting him under her control.
However, as they journey back to the Council they overhear bounty hunters talking and something doesn’t sit right with Selene given the information she was told. After battling ogres and escaping he tells her what really happened in Hamlin and she confesses what she did to the prince. With the news from the bounty hunters echoing in their ears she makes a decision to free him to save the children and she tries to reach the Council but was intercepted by one of the stewards who turns out to be a mistake.
This was a enjoyable story that I really liked. It puts the “villains” in an entirely different light than what we think of them when we’ve read those stories growing up! It’s fun to read where this time they’re the good guys whereas the others were the real villains!
I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically recommend you get and read this book! The changes in Selene and the Piper take some time of course but when it does happen they both offer their all to save the other! For them redemption was sweet, especially for Selene who has been traumatized by someone she adored but was never given any of the love she craved and was starved for!
I have always enjoyed fairy tales and have enjoyed this series. I’ve now read 10 of the 12 books in the series and will start book 11 shortly.
If you have always wanted villains to have a happy ending this series is for you! Don’t let the chance slip away-give this book a read and see what you’ve been missing!
Ashley has written a story in the Dark Hearts series where this time it’s the villains who get their happily ever after!
This book combines elements of Beauty and the Beast as well as The Pied Piper.
Selene is the enchantress ( stewardess) who curses the prince and turns him into a beast because of his callousness regarding the people in his kingdom and another matter entirely. Brought before the High Council of Stewards she is marked as a disgrace and branded and loses her magic and her wand. Before being banished though she is given a chance to return to the fold if she can find, capture and bring back the Pied Piper to stand trial for leading 130 children away with him when he cleared them of a rodent problem but the mayor refused to pay him.
She accepts and after a frustrating time finally finds and tricks him putting him under her control.
However, as they journey back to the Council they overhear bounty hunters talking and something doesn’t sit right with Selene given the information she was told. After battling ogres and escaping he tells her what really happened in Hamlin and she confesses what she did to the prince. With the news from the bounty hunters echoing in their ears she makes a decision to free him to save the children and she tries to reach the Council but was intercepted by one of the stewards who turns out to be a mistake.
This was a enjoyable story that I really liked. It puts the “villains” in an entirely different light than what we think of them when we’ve read those stories growing up! It’s fun to read where this time they’re the good guys whereas the others were the real villains!
I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically recommend you get and read this book! The changes in Selene and the Piper take some time of course but when it does happen they both offer their all to save the other! For them redemption was sweet, especially for Selene who has been traumatized by someone she adored but was never given any of the love she craved and was starved for!
I have always enjoyed fairy tales and have enjoyed this series. I’ve now read 10 of the 12 books in the series and will start book 11 shortly.
If you have always wanted villains to have a happy ending this series is for you! Don’t let the chance slip away-give this book a read and see what you’ve been missing!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Falling for the Pied Piper by Ashley Evercott is my second-to-last ARC from To Win a Dark Heart, a multi-author series of dual villainous fairy tale retellings. This one has sweet and cozy vibes with a dash of adventure and intrigue. The book combines the stories of "The Pied Piper of Hameln" with "Beauty and the Beast," but like many books in this series, those stories are used more as background dressing to the main plot. Both characters are likable and have a strong redemption arc by the end of the book. Their chemistry leaps off the page, making us root for them to see past each other's differences.
Selene must face punishment for cursing a prince to transform into a beast. Since she doesn't want to rot in prison, her best option for freedom is capturing a criminal known as the Pied Piper, who allegedly hypnotized a group of children with his magic pipe. She chases down the scoundrel and learns that there is more to him than meets the eye. After getting to know his captor, he falls for her in turn, and they team up together and stop a child trafficking scandal plaguing their kingdom.
This book is similar in plot and tone to Falling for the Mad King, another favorite of mine from this series. Both involve exiled sorceresses who unwittingly fall into the arms of a troubled misfit intent on freeing them from their punishment. Reid is a charming hero with a cute rat companion named Petunia. His banter with Selene is swoony and flirtatious, and he takes his capture in stride, understanding that it's something she needs to do to earn her freedom.
For a villainous retelling, this is one of the lighter-hearted books in To Win a Dark Heart. Both characters are flawed, but well-meaning, and take large strides to redeem themselves for their actions. Even though Selene is sent to capture Reid, their chemistry is clear from the beginning. There are several sweet scenes where the two bond with each other to build a sense of trust and camaraderie. By the end of the book, they become heroes that even the most cynical reader would want to root for.
Falling for the Pied Piper is a charming and swoony retelling with a flawed but admirable couple. With its blend of adventure, romance, and redemption, this book is a perfect fit for fans of the series and anyone looking for a lighter, feel-good read. With only one ARC left in this series, this book has quickly become one of my favorites of the bunch.
Selene must face punishment for cursing a prince to transform into a beast. Since she doesn't want to rot in prison, her best option for freedom is capturing a criminal known as the Pied Piper, who allegedly hypnotized a group of children with his magic pipe. She chases down the scoundrel and learns that there is more to him than meets the eye. After getting to know his captor, he falls for her in turn, and they team up together and stop a child trafficking scandal plaguing their kingdom.
This book is similar in plot and tone to Falling for the Mad King, another favorite of mine from this series. Both involve exiled sorceresses who unwittingly fall into the arms of a troubled misfit intent on freeing them from their punishment. Reid is a charming hero with a cute rat companion named Petunia. His banter with Selene is swoony and flirtatious, and he takes his capture in stride, understanding that it's something she needs to do to earn her freedom.
For a villainous retelling, this is one of the lighter-hearted books in To Win a Dark Heart. Both characters are flawed, but well-meaning, and take large strides to redeem themselves for their actions. Even though Selene is sent to capture Reid, their chemistry is clear from the beginning. There are several sweet scenes where the two bond with each other to build a sense of trust and camaraderie. By the end of the book, they become heroes that even the most cynical reader would want to root for.
Falling for the Pied Piper is a charming and swoony retelling with a flawed but admirable couple. With its blend of adventure, romance, and redemption, this book is a perfect fit for fans of the series and anyone looking for a lighter, feel-good read. With only one ARC left in this series, this book has quickly become one of my favorites of the bunch.
March 20, 2026
Falling for the Pied Piper is a sweet and charming retelling of the Pied Piper tale with a little Beuaty and the Beast thrown in. Selene, the main character, posesses magic and, as part of a magial family, she has been trained as a stewardess to serve the magical goverment. The story begins with Selene in front a tribunal defending the curse she placed upon a prince. Her punishment? Tracking down the Pied Piper who has stolen 130 children from the town of Hamlin. But all is not as it seems. Selene - a stickler for the rules - has met her match in the Piper, who commands wild magic and may not be a villain after all...
I really enjoyed reading this fairy tale retelling. It's neat to see the backstory or further into a familiar tale. This was definitely an interesting take on the Pied Piper legend. Selene was very rigid in her thinking; everything was right and wrong, black and white. Yet, from the begining, it was obvious she had been hurt in the past. She was closed off to protect herself. Reid seemed like a carefree vagabond and swindler. He was light-hearted on the surface but did not have an easy life. He was good for Selene to make her see that the world is not as rigid as she once believed, but also that she was worthy to be loved and cared for.
I did have a little difficulty at the begining of the book with all of the magical names of people places. There wasn't much explained for world-building, so sometimes I got little lost when a character referenced an unfamilar name - was it another character or a place? I figured it out, though, and it didn't really detract from the story itself.
Overall, I would recommend this book for anyone who likes clean, closed-door fantasy romance and fairy tale retellings.
*Fantasy romance
*Strong, but wounded FMC
*Orphaned, protective, maybe morally gray MMC
*Action & adventure
*Clean, closed door (no curse words, nothing explicit)
I really enjoyed reading this fairy tale retelling. It's neat to see the backstory or further into a familiar tale. This was definitely an interesting take on the Pied Piper legend. Selene was very rigid in her thinking; everything was right and wrong, black and white. Yet, from the begining, it was obvious she had been hurt in the past. She was closed off to protect herself. Reid seemed like a carefree vagabond and swindler. He was light-hearted on the surface but did not have an easy life. He was good for Selene to make her see that the world is not as rigid as she once believed, but also that she was worthy to be loved and cared for.
I did have a little difficulty at the begining of the book with all of the magical names of people places. There wasn't much explained for world-building, so sometimes I got little lost when a character referenced an unfamilar name - was it another character or a place? I figured it out, though, and it didn't really detract from the story itself.
Overall, I would recommend this book for anyone who likes clean, closed-door fantasy romance and fairy tale retellings.
*Fantasy romance
*Strong, but wounded FMC
*Orphaned, protective, maybe morally gray MMC
*Action & adventure
*Clean, closed door (no curse words, nothing explicit)
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was the cutest Beauty and the Beast meets Pied Piper mashup I did not know I needed.
Selene, an enchantress, called a Steward in this world, is sent to track down and capture the supposedly evil Pied Piper who stole children from Hamlin. Or at least, that is the story she has been told. What unfolds is a charming, villain-gets-the-girl fantasy that completely stole my heart.
One of the most refreshing aspects of this book is that it is a no-spice fantasy romance. Not fade-to-black. Not heavy tension leading somewhere explicit. Simply romance built on connection, emotion, and trust. I do not mind spice in my books, but I do not seek it out either, and it was such a breath of fresh air to read a fantasy that did not rely on it to carry the story.
The world building is whimsical and immersive, sprinkled with fairytale creatures and a touch of classic storybook magic. It feels cozy while still holding emotional weight.
Selene and Reid are both beautifully written characters, each carrying deep trust issues that shape their choices and reactions. Watching Reid slowly get under Selene’s skin was one of my favorite parts of the story. Their dynamic feels natural, layered, and genuinely sweet.
This book is part of the To Win A Dark Heart series, where each installment is a standalone written by a different author. After loving this one so much, I immediately added the rest of the series to my TBR.
If you are looking for a charming, heartfelt fantasy romance with fairytale vibes and a soft villain redemption arc, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
Selene, an enchantress, called a Steward in this world, is sent to track down and capture the supposedly evil Pied Piper who stole children from Hamlin. Or at least, that is the story she has been told. What unfolds is a charming, villain-gets-the-girl fantasy that completely stole my heart.
One of the most refreshing aspects of this book is that it is a no-spice fantasy romance. Not fade-to-black. Not heavy tension leading somewhere explicit. Simply romance built on connection, emotion, and trust. I do not mind spice in my books, but I do not seek it out either, and it was such a breath of fresh air to read a fantasy that did not rely on it to carry the story.
The world building is whimsical and immersive, sprinkled with fairytale creatures and a touch of classic storybook magic. It feels cozy while still holding emotional weight.
Selene and Reid are both beautifully written characters, each carrying deep trust issues that shape their choices and reactions. Watching Reid slowly get under Selene’s skin was one of my favorite parts of the story. Their dynamic feels natural, layered, and genuinely sweet.
This book is part of the To Win A Dark Heart series, where each installment is a standalone written by a different author. After loving this one so much, I immediately added the rest of the series to my TBR.
If you are looking for a charming, heartfelt fantasy romance with fairytale vibes and a soft villain redemption arc, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from Author
For using her powers to curse a prince into a beast, stewardess Selene faces serious consequences. Her one chance at redemption is to capture the Pied Piper, who has kidnapped over 100 children. With her magic suppressed, this task will not be easy. Reid, the Pied Piper, has control over wild magic and leads Selene on a merry chase. After capturing him, she’s surprised to find herself reassessing his villainous reputation after he saves her from attack. The longer they’re together, the more Selene’s walls fall down, but she’s hiding a devastating secret. When the truth about both their actions is finally revealed, what choices will they make?
Ashley Evercott combines Beauty and the Beast and the Pied Piper into a beautiful story of trauma, atonement, and the redeeming power of love with flawed characters and lovely world building. Selene’s betrayal of a prince starts her on the journey. While she tries to justify her action, she’s hiding a darker truth. At the core of everything she does is a desire to live up to the expectations of her father who she’s never quite good enough for, certainly relatable for me. Reid’s childhood is also marked by trauma and his capture of the children is directly tied to that. The relationship that develops between Selene and Reid reinforces that love is not conditional and that good people who make poor choices can always be redeemed. I’m a sucker for fairy tale retellings, and Ms. Evercott delivers all the right notes in this sweet story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ashley Evercott combines Beauty and the Beast and the Pied Piper into a beautiful story of trauma, atonement, and the redeeming power of love with flawed characters and lovely world building. Selene’s betrayal of a prince starts her on the journey. While she tries to justify her action, she’s hiding a darker truth. At the core of everything she does is a desire to live up to the expectations of her father who she’s never quite good enough for, certainly relatable for me. Reid’s childhood is also marked by trauma and his capture of the children is directly tied to that. The relationship that develops between Selene and Reid reinforces that love is not conditional and that good people who make poor choices can always be redeemed. I’m a sucker for fairy tale retellings, and Ms. Evercott delivers all the right notes in this sweet story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 2, 2026
I received an ARC copy of this book and I am leaving a review voluntarily.
I am a big fan of the Pied Piper story, mainly because he fits so well into the “not a hero but not totally a villain” category. Especially depending on what version you read. That element is kept here because while Reid is absolutely a trickster, he has his morals/his lines he won’t cross and has a “this is who I am, deal with it” attitude. I enjoy his dialogue a lot because he makes no excuses for the kind of person he is.
Selene took me a while to warm up to. Not because she was necessarily bad but because there wasn’t a ton about her that stuck out. She’s essentially on this quest to make amends for cursing the Beauty and the Beast Prince and truthfully, that’s the most interesting thing about her. She has some corrupted morals but there’s not a ton done with them. Her most interesting scenes are when her past is pulled into the forefront. But she’s completely serviceable. Just not remarkable.
I do really love this world’s magic system. I adore when magic is given a kind of political or lawful oversight (because of course it would!) and the way Selene has to handle and deal with it drives a lot of the plot. I enjoyed seeing a twist where the oversight isn’t necessarily corrupt, just isn’t super forgiving either.
A fun adventure story with just enough romance to keep it
March 22, 2026
This is an arc review and I loved this book!
Reid is my favorite character. He’s so cocky and playful and those are some of my favorite characters to read. From the moment he came into the story he made me think of Peter Pan from his appearance to his personality. (If not obvious I’m talking about disneys Peter Pan not one of the retellings where he’s an evil little tyrant).
As for Selene her character is very relatable. We all want to be the one to bring about justice but her quest for it gets her into trouble. Repeatedly. She is on a quest to bring the pied piper to justice and along the journey learns what real justice is and that there are two sides to every story.
Petunia is a little fireball honestly. I was a bit freaked out by this tiny sidekick character but she quickly grew on me. Now I’m not saying I’d want one for a pet. Honestly they freak me out a bit,but I loved this character. (Did this portion of my review pique your interest? Are you curious about what I’m talking about with petunia. Well read the book to find out and this will all make sense.)
One of my favorite scenes in the book is when Reid and Selene first meet. She’s trying to catch him and he’s loving causing her nothing but frustration as he dances in and out of her reach with the entertaining flair of a pied piper.
Reid is my favorite character. He’s so cocky and playful and those are some of my favorite characters to read. From the moment he came into the story he made me think of Peter Pan from his appearance to his personality. (If not obvious I’m talking about disneys Peter Pan not one of the retellings where he’s an evil little tyrant).
As for Selene her character is very relatable. We all want to be the one to bring about justice but her quest for it gets her into trouble. Repeatedly. She is on a quest to bring the pied piper to justice and along the journey learns what real justice is and that there are two sides to every story.
Petunia is a little fireball honestly. I was a bit freaked out by this tiny sidekick character but she quickly grew on me. Now I’m not saying I’d want one for a pet. Honestly they freak me out a bit,but I loved this character. (Did this portion of my review pique your interest? Are you curious about what I’m talking about with petunia. Well read the book to find out and this will all make sense.)
One of my favorite scenes in the book is when Reid and Selene first meet. She’s trying to catch him and he’s loving causing her nothing but frustration as he dances in and out of her reach with the entertaining flair of a pied piper.
March 21, 2026
When Selene lands herself in trouble and her only chance for forgiveness is to catch the infamous Pied Piper who’s apparently lured every child from the town of Hamlin for some nefarious purpose, she agrees. But while she finds and eventually apprehends him, the more she sees of him, the more she begins to doubt his guilt. Reid expected his wiliness to keep him safe, but when Selene traps him through a trick, he’s got to find some way to get back to the children to care for them. And he’ll never manage that unless he can convince her of the truth – but they have so little time…
I really like a story that takes supposed villains and shows them to be less black than they were painted, whether because their actions had a good motivation that we hadn’t seen or because they made a mistake they deeply regret and want to fix. And this delivers on both counts! Throw in a growing romance between captor and captive, a high-level conspiracy they’ll have to work together to foil, and the accompanying action, and you’ve got a book I really enjoyed. This was the first book I’ve read by this author, but I’ll be looking out for more. 4.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really like a story that takes supposed villains and shows them to be less black than they were painted, whether because their actions had a good motivation that we hadn’t seen or because they made a mistake they deeply regret and want to fix. And this delivers on both counts! Throw in a growing romance between captor and captive, a high-level conspiracy they’ll have to work together to foil, and the accompanying action, and you’ve got a book I really enjoyed. This was the first book I’ve read by this author, but I’ll be looking out for more. 4.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A lovely travelogue of a mashup retelling of BnB and Pied Piper.
Nobody ever wonders about the fate of the Enchantress who cursed Beast and her real reasons for cursing him, coz let’s face it, the story we’ve been told ain’t all that. Whar if she was out of line and got punished for it? What if they sent her after the Piper? What if the Piper wasn’t a villain at all? What could be a good reason for luring 140 children away from a single town? What don’t we know about the Piper’s background?
This story made me completely rethink both, Pied Piper and BnB as the author managed to turn everything topsy-turvy - loved it! Loved the banter and the slow falling in love of Selene & Reid, even though the storyline read like an action-adventure-packed travelogue. The good-girl-gone-rogue over love angle was nice as was his jokster-villain-and-not-defending-it stance.
Fave line: “She’d heard better lies by lesser villains than him.”
Recommended for lovers of clean NA mashup retellings, but if you want to keep to the story the Disney Enchantress told everyone about why she cursed the prince, don’t venture here as you might not like the real reason.
Nobody ever wonders about the fate of the Enchantress who cursed Beast and her real reasons for cursing him, coz let’s face it, the story we’ve been told ain’t all that. Whar if she was out of line and got punished for it? What if they sent her after the Piper? What if the Piper wasn’t a villain at all? What could be a good reason for luring 140 children away from a single town? What don’t we know about the Piper’s background?
This story made me completely rethink both, Pied Piper and BnB as the author managed to turn everything topsy-turvy - loved it! Loved the banter and the slow falling in love of Selene & Reid, even though the storyline read like an action-adventure-packed travelogue. The good-girl-gone-rogue over love angle was nice as was his jokster-villain-and-not-defending-it stance.
Fave line: “She’d heard better lies by lesser villains than him.”
Recommended for lovers of clean NA mashup retellings, but if you want to keep to the story the Disney Enchantress told everyone about why she cursed the prince, don’t venture here as you might not like the real reason.
March 14, 2026
This was a fun twist on Beauty and the Beast and the Pied Piper. It is more Pied Piper than Beauty and the Beast but I still really liked it.
Selene is the one who cursed the Prince and is now in trouble for it and Reid is the pied piper wanted for stealing 130 children. What happens when she is sent to capture him to make up for cursing the Prince? Will she do it or will secrets be revealed that cause things to not be as they seem?
I didn’t really like Selene in the first half of the book because all she cared about was herself. When she told Reid about cursing the Prince it fit the whole not liking her at the beginning thing but she did get into my good graces in the second half. I liked watching her grow throughout this book. Once we learn her backstory I did feel for her.
I really liked Reid and of course Petunia. He might have been the “villain” but he still had a good heart. I loved seeing him with Petunia and how much he cared about his little rodent stalker as he liked to call her.
Overall I liked this book but I wish we got more beauty and the beast because most of it was pied piper. I read this book as an arc.
Selene is the one who cursed the Prince and is now in trouble for it and Reid is the pied piper wanted for stealing 130 children. What happens when she is sent to capture him to make up for cursing the Prince? Will she do it or will secrets be revealed that cause things to not be as they seem?
I didn’t really like Selene in the first half of the book because all she cared about was herself. When she told Reid about cursing the Prince it fit the whole not liking her at the beginning thing but she did get into my good graces in the second half. I liked watching her grow throughout this book. Once we learn her backstory I did feel for her.
I really liked Reid and of course Petunia. He might have been the “villain” but he still had a good heart. I loved seeing him with Petunia and how much he cared about his little rodent stalker as he liked to call her.
Overall I liked this book but I wish we got more beauty and the beast because most of it was pied piper. I read this book as an arc.
Review of advance copy
A wonderfully engrossing and touching book that pulls you in from the first page. I am always amazed at the creativity of authors when they pull two stories and weave them together in fantastical ways.
I immediately connected with the main character and even as she grew through the book, wanted to see the best for her. The author, through her characters, covered heavy and light topics all while creating a cozy world that I hope to visit again in other books.
Heavy...
"That sounds terrifying."
"It was. But that's the thing about life," he said, locking eyes with her. "You can't control what happens around you. You can't control other people, storms, or...any of it. The only thing you can control is how you deal with it. How you choose to keep going."
And probably my favorite description of the thoughts during a first kiss...
"Her thoughts scattered like a whirl of dandelion seeds lost against a torrential wind."
Highly recommend! Can't wait to read the others in the series!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I immediately connected with the main character and even as she grew through the book, wanted to see the best for her. The author, through her characters, covered heavy and light topics all while creating a cozy world that I hope to visit again in other books.
Heavy...
"That sounds terrifying."
"It was. But that's the thing about life," he said, locking eyes with her. "You can't control what happens around you. You can't control other people, storms, or...any of it. The only thing you can control is how you deal with it. How you choose to keep going."
And probably my favorite description of the thoughts during a first kiss...
"Her thoughts scattered like a whirl of dandelion seeds lost against a torrential wind."
Highly recommend! Can't wait to read the others in the series!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 26, 2026
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I really enjoyed Falling for the Pied Piper. The main characters are well written (even though one could argue they're not truly villains). But to be honest I kind of prefer them that way. I enjoyed learning their backstories and seeing them grow. While their relationship starts out rocky and reminded me of previous books in the To Win a Dark Heart series I found I grew to genuinely enjoy their romance. Who knew the infamous pied piper could be such a sweet guy. Yes, he's cocky too but in the best way. And the enchantress Selene is also really well written, and I enjoyed seeing her emotional growth. I was also pretty surprised by one of the villains. I honestly didn't seem them coming. Overall Falling for the Pied Piper is a fantastic read. I look forward to reading more by Ashley Evercott.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Twists and turns await
Both of the main characters are on trial for their crimes, but neither crime is what it appears. The stories have layers that are revealed the deeper we get into the story. I love the way the author added these extra depths, because it kept the story interesting with an element of unpredictability that didn't feel out of place. The way Selene's magic went haywire made for multiple moments that made me smile. Reid grew on me. He originally seemed capricious and arrogant, but when his true character emerged, he became a character I could hope had a better ending. Selene and Reid both underwent character growth that matched the plot. Nothing felt forced to me. Altogether, I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it, especially to readers who enjoy fairy tales, the unexpected, and redemption arcs.
*I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Both of the main characters are on trial for their crimes, but neither crime is what it appears. The stories have layers that are revealed the deeper we get into the story. I love the way the author added these extra depths, because it kept the story interesting with an element of unpredictability that didn't feel out of place. The way Selene's magic went haywire made for multiple moments that made me smile. Reid grew on me. He originally seemed capricious and arrogant, but when his true character emerged, he became a character I could hope had a better ending. Selene and Reid both underwent character growth that matched the plot. Nothing felt forced to me. Altogether, I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it, especially to readers who enjoy fairy tales, the unexpected, and redemption arcs.
*I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really liked the worldbuilding and how the journey Selene takes teaches her that she’s worth more than just her magic. The mash-up of the “Pied Piper” and “Beauty and the Beast” was well-done with great twists on the original tales. I liked how the world they inhabit plays its own role in their story.
Reid’s relationship with Petunia is so endearing.
“What I care about is the truth. I’d rather see all your broken, honest parts than the perfect lie you serve to the world. Let me see you.”
When he said that to Selene, the story became swoonworthy.
There’s a lot of action, adventure, magic, and things for Selene to experience to become a better version of herself.
Highly recommended romantasy. I’ll read more by this author.
*I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.
Reid’s relationship with Petunia is so endearing.
“What I care about is the truth. I’d rather see all your broken, honest parts than the perfect lie you serve to the world. Let me see you.”
When he said that to Selene, the story became swoonworthy.
There’s a lot of action, adventure, magic, and things for Selene to experience to become a better version of herself.
Highly recommended romantasy. I’ll read more by this author.
*I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a clever twist on the tale of the Pied Piper and includes the 'sorceress' from Beauty and the Beast as one of the main characters and gives some insight into her side of that tale. Neither main character is terribly likeable at the start which can make it hard to keep reading, but as this is a story with a lot of character growth and redemption this initial characterisation is necessary, you just have to stick with it. I would have liked to see more worldbuilding as I am left with questions about the setting and situation, but I guess there are only so many words you can stuff into a novella and the author chose to use those words for detailing other matters.
I received an ARC and voluntarily leave an honest review.
I received an ARC and voluntarily leave an honest review.
March 21, 2026
This mash-up worked nicely with the enchantress from Beauty and the Beast and the piper from The Pied Piper. Selene has been disgraced because her actions against a prince and tasked with hunting down the piper who stole a town's children. However, when she finally catches up to him and realizes the truth, she must choose between her wants and the future of her world.
This story was just about the perfect length. My questions were answered, the action flowed nicely, and nothing felt rushed. I really like how the two main characters' relationship grew throughout as they learned to trust each other despite Reid being an unwilling travel companion. And Petunia was a cute little addition though I suspect I would have had the same reaction to her in real life that Selene initially did.
This story was just about the perfect length. My questions were answered, the action flowed nicely, and nothing felt rushed. I really like how the two main characters' relationship grew throughout as they learned to trust each other despite Reid being an unwilling travel companion. And Petunia was a cute little addition though I suspect I would have had the same reaction to her in real life that Selene initially did.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an arc from the author.
I really enjoyed this book! I loved how it connected the Pied Piper with Beauty and the Beast, but not in the way you expect it to. I thought Reid was a wonderful and charming character, thought to be the villain, hunted down by the brave Selene. Though probably raised and a pampered privileged girl, she faces discomfort to track down the Pied Piper. Lots of fun little twists in the story. I loved the slow burn, clean romance between Selene and Reid. And don’t forget Reid’s adorable rat, Petunia. Her sweet little personality adds to the story. Fun read! I would definitely recommend.
I really enjoyed this book! I loved how it connected the Pied Piper with Beauty and the Beast, but not in the way you expect it to. I thought Reid was a wonderful and charming character, thought to be the villain, hunted down by the brave Selene. Though probably raised and a pampered privileged girl, she faces discomfort to track down the Pied Piper. Lots of fun little twists in the story. I loved the slow burn, clean romance between Selene and Reid. And don’t forget Reid’s adorable rat, Petunia. Her sweet little personality adds to the story. Fun read! I would definitely recommend.
March 15, 2026
Both Reid’s and Selene’s childhood trauma defined them. Selene’s caused her to lash out in hurt and anger, while Reid’s put him on a path to helping others, though it doesn’t seem like that at first.
As they travel, they learn more about each other and Selene starts to question what she’s been taught. Reid wonders what Selene is hiding about why her mission to deliver him to prison is so important to her.
Through storms, being chased by bounty hunters, and near-death experiences, they start building trust and sharing their truths. I loved it.
* I received an eARC from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
As they travel, they learn more about each other and Selene starts to question what she’s been taught. Reid wonders what Selene is hiding about why her mission to deliver him to prison is so important to her.
Through storms, being chased by bounty hunters, and near-death experiences, they start building trust and sharing their truths. I loved it.
* I received an eARC from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was an interesting twist on the Pied Piper, and a Beauty and the Beast backstory. Selene is a bit hard to take in the first half of the book, who wears eye makeup while trudging through the woods? We find that she is the one who cursed the prince into the beast, and not for altruistic reasons. As she hunts the Pied Piper, Reid, we become involved with his character and wish for his survival. Thankfully, Selene has a change of heart. Who really had the dark heart? I think you will know!
January 5, 2026
The Beauty and the Beast elements were unique (the character was not the "beauty" or the "beast") but the representation was not strong enough for me to consider it a mash-up. I think it would have been stronger as just a Pied Piper retelling! That said, I loved the character of the Pied Piper. From his very first appearance, I knew there was something deeper to him. The writing was strong and didn't detract from the reading experience, which for me is a huge plus. It was light on the humor, which surprised me based on the Piper's personality. I would love a prequel with his backstory!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Overall, I liked this book a lot. Selene has an interesting character arc and I liked the twist with what she was hiding. And her father being so controlling and demanding perfection made her sympathetic without excusing her behavior.
I also really liked Reid. He's compassionate and selfless but also has enough mystery about him to make him interesting.
I do hope we get more books in this world because I'd love to learn more about the magic system.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I also really liked Reid. He's compassionate and selfless but also has enough mystery about him to make him interesting.
I do hope we get more books in this world because I'd love to learn more about the magic system.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 19, 2026
This was the most perfect mashup of the villains from beauty and the beast and the Pied Piper. I love how we start off with the sorceress or enchantress from beauty and the beast is on trial for cursing the prince. And then she is tasked with finding a kidnapper who kidnapped 130 kids. But figuring out intentions is always harder than anticipated and you just might find love where you were at least expecting it. This was such a sweet buck. I loved all the emotions I felt. I loved the high stakes at the end to try and save the right people and make sure justice is served the way it’s supposed to be.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The 10th book in the "To Win a Dark Heart" series, a compelling "no-spice" romantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast and The Pied Piper. The story follows Selene, a disgraced stewardess tasked with capturing Reid, the Pied Piper, after the disappearance of 130 children. As they navigate justice and redemption, the series continues its focus on providing classic fairy tale villains with happy endings. It is a must-read for fans of unique, magic-filled retellings. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 20, 2026
This was the first book by Ashley Evercott that I read and it was such a fun adventure. I really liked Reid and Selene as individuals. Though I felt like part of their issues could have been resolved faster if they had talked a bit sooner, that's the characters faults not the authors. But they did eventually work things out well and I loved the action and how they slowly fell for each other. I loved all the character growth we see between our MC’s
I really enjoyed how Ashley took the Pied Piper tale and twisted it with the “sorceress’ from Beauty and the Beast.
I really enjoyed how Ashley took the Pied Piper tale and twisted it with the “sorceress’ from Beauty and the Beast.
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