What do you think?
Rate this book
To Win a Dark Heart
Falling for the Dark Mage: A Villainous Twist on "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" and "The Frog Prince"
A mage desperate to escape. A stranger with a dark past. An alliance that could free them both.
Seraphina is a disappointment. The daughter of a dark mage, she is unable to cast curses and can only create three charms. The sole way she can benefit her mother’s criminal empire is as a bride.
The first attempt ended badly, with her mother flying into a rage and cursing the reluctant groom to be frozen into his Bear form. Now Seraphina bides her time, practising her Creative magic and waiting for her chance to escape.
When a newcomer arrives at the fortress, Seraphina’s mother takes a strong interest in his talents. On the run from cursing the crown prince of a neighbouring kingdom, Damario could provide her dark mages with the one thing that’s missing from a curse they’re perfecting.
Seraphina’s escape plans are jeopardised when a familiar figure from her past appears. She is determined to leave the fortress, but can she manage it in time? And will Damario give Seraphina a reason to stay?
Falling for the Dark Mage is the eleventh 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.
Seraphina is a disappointment. The daughter of a dark mage, she is unable to cast curses and can only create three charms. The sole way she can benefit her mother’s criminal empire is as a bride.
The first attempt ended badly, with her mother flying into a rage and cursing the reluctant groom to be frozen into his Bear form. Now Seraphina bides her time, practising her Creative magic and waiting for her chance to escape.
When a newcomer arrives at the fortress, Seraphina’s mother takes a strong interest in his talents. On the run from cursing the crown prince of a neighbouring kingdom, Damario could provide her dark mages with the one thing that’s missing from a curse they’re perfecting.
Seraphina’s escape plans are jeopardised when a familiar figure from her past appears. She is determined to leave the fortress, but can she manage it in time? And will Damario give Seraphina a reason to stay?
Falling for the Dark Mage is the eleventh 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.
97 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 27, 2026
2 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Winton
32 books19 followersLucy Winton is a YA fantasy author. She loves to write (and read) stories with adventure, mystery, friendship, discovery...and a little romance as well. She lives in a seaside town in Devon.
She first started writing when she was four; hopefully, she's improved since then. She loves trying out new recipes, daydreaming and buying more books than her bookshelves can hold.
She first started writing when she was four; hopefully, she's improved since then. She loves trying out new recipes, daydreaming and buying more books than her bookshelves can hold.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
February 12, 2026
A short but pretty underwhelming mashup of East of the Sun, West of the Moon and The Frog Prince, of which it is definitely more of a retelling of the former than the later which basically only acts as a backstory for the love interest and nothing more.
As for EotS,WotM, it does a good job of telling a version of the witch’s daughter (I think that was her role in the OG? Forgive me if I’m wrong, I’ve only read it once) as an heir of a fantasy criminal empire which was honestly the coolest part of the story though disappointingly it didn’t go as far and deep as I would have preferred. Everything in this story is actually pretty surface level, very much intended for a light reading experience than a deeper, more complex one, the later of which I normally gravitate towards and the main reason why I just felt okay about the story and characters despite the cool concept.
Seraphina and Damario were fine characters, but I don’t feel as if I know them any better at the end than I did at the beginning. I wish I had been shown why Seraphina decided to run away and thought her mother was wrong and evil rather than being told all this, because when the story starts all that character development in making this choice already happened off page, so now I’m just watching her get physically/magically better which wasn’t as interesting as her internal turmoil would have been. I also don’t know why she and Damario fell in love besides having an instant connection with him sensing out of the blue that she was different without her showing anything pointing to such an assumption, which could have been improved with him seeing her grow in character alongside the reader, but since we don’t it just ends up being there too, even though I liked them being together.
The fight at the end did get me though, I was nervous they wouldn’t get out alive and it was well written except for one small part at the end that I got confused as to what happened, but other than that it was a solid action scene!
While the author’s writing style doesn’t work for me, I could see others liking this story, as it has a cool concept and a likable main character, but sadly I don’t think I’ll be trying any more of her works in the future as I just don’t think they’re for me.
‼️Content‼️
Violence: people are killed with curses (not shown or detailed); fighting with magic and weapons (not detailed); injuries and blood (not detailed)
Sexual: a kiss (not detailed)
Alcohol/Drugs: a man is drugged
Other: magic; magical abilities/powers; mages; in the past people were cursed into turning into animals; in the past a character was bullied; people are kidnapped and locked up; death
****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. 😜****
As for EotS,WotM, it does a good job of telling a version of the witch’s daughter (I think that was her role in the OG? Forgive me if I’m wrong, I’ve only read it once) as an heir of a fantasy criminal empire which was honestly the coolest part of the story though disappointingly it didn’t go as far and deep as I would have preferred. Everything in this story is actually pretty surface level, very much intended for a light reading experience than a deeper, more complex one, the later of which I normally gravitate towards and the main reason why I just felt okay about the story and characters despite the cool concept.
Seraphina and Damario were fine characters, but I don’t feel as if I know them any better at the end than I did at the beginning. I wish I had been shown why Seraphina decided to run away and thought her mother was wrong and evil rather than being told all this, because when the story starts all that character development in making this choice already happened off page, so now I’m just watching her get physically/magically better which wasn’t as interesting as her internal turmoil would have been. I also don’t know why she and Damario fell in love besides having an instant connection with him sensing out of the blue that she was different without her showing anything pointing to such an assumption, which could have been improved with him seeing her grow in character alongside the reader, but since we don’t it just ends up being there too, even though I liked them being together.
The fight at the end did get me though, I was nervous they wouldn’t get out alive and it was well written except for one small part at the end that I got confused as to what happened, but other than that it was a solid action scene!
While the author’s writing style doesn’t work for me, I could see others liking this story, as it has a cool concept and a likable main character, but sadly I don’t think I’ll be trying any more of her works in the future as I just don’t think they’re for me.
‼️Content‼️
Violence: people are killed with curses (not shown or detailed); fighting with magic and weapons (not detailed); injuries and blood (not detailed)
Sexual: a kiss (not detailed)
Alcohol/Drugs: a man is drugged
Other: magic; magical abilities/powers; mages; in the past people were cursed into turning into animals; in the past a character was bullied; people are kidnapped and locked up; death
****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. 😜****
December 27, 2025
(2.5) ARC Review for Falling for the Dark Mage by Lucy Winton.
This was a nice short story, but had so much potential to be more. The world building was lacking details. I’d love to have known more about the fortress and how travelers could accidentally stumble upon it.
I also found it difficult to connect with Serephina, but I do appreciate that she was a strong FMC who didn’t cower away from mother or difficult decisions.
I felt many details within the story was left out or rushed. There were only a few moments in the book where I felt intrigued and wanted to read faster to see what’s happening, but the rest of it felt a bit vague.
We also never really get to see or know the real strength of Damario’s powers. There was one stage where she saw him use warrior magic and was surprised by his ability, but it’s never discussed further. Their relationship could have been a bit more detailed.
Unfortunately this was not one of my favorite retellings that I’ve recently read.
This was a nice short story, but had so much potential to be more. The world building was lacking details. I’d love to have known more about the fortress and how travelers could accidentally stumble upon it.
I also found it difficult to connect with Serephina, but I do appreciate that she was a strong FMC who didn’t cower away from mother or difficult decisions.
I felt many details within the story was left out or rushed. There were only a few moments in the book where I felt intrigued and wanted to read faster to see what’s happening, but the rest of it felt a bit vague.
We also never really get to see or know the real strength of Damario’s powers. There was one stage where she saw him use warrior magic and was surprised by his ability, but it’s never discussed further. Their relationship could have been a bit more detailed.
Unfortunately this was not one of my favorite retellings that I’ve recently read.
March 27, 2026
Review
Falling for the Dark Mage by Lucy Winton
Falling for the Dark Mage is a sweet novella that is a fun mashup of East of the Sun, West of the Moon and The Frog Prince. At first, I was curious how the fairytales were going to play into the story because I couldn’t actively see them. Once I reached a certain part of the story, I got really excited to be able to make the connections.
This book is even better than the others set in the same world. There was a slightly cold and gothic feel while still staying soft and sweet. The romance is mild but tender. Serafina and Damario were lovely in an otherwise bleak environment. The story was slightly short but well fleshed out for the length. I would have love an epilogue or a fast forward. The ending does, however, land on a hopeful note and I am content with it. All in all, a short and sweet read!
Thank you to Lucy Winton for an ARC of Falling for the Dark Mage! All opinions are my own.
No-Spice Rating: 1 (very light kissing - almost no descriptions)
Language: Clean
Faith-Elements: None
Falling for the Dark Mage by Lucy Winton
Falling for the Dark Mage is a sweet novella that is a fun mashup of East of the Sun, West of the Moon and The Frog Prince. At first, I was curious how the fairytales were going to play into the story because I couldn’t actively see them. Once I reached a certain part of the story, I got really excited to be able to make the connections.
This book is even better than the others set in the same world. There was a slightly cold and gothic feel while still staying soft and sweet. The romance is mild but tender. Serafina and Damario were lovely in an otherwise bleak environment. The story was slightly short but well fleshed out for the length. I would have love an epilogue or a fast forward. The ending does, however, land on a hopeful note and I am content with it. All in all, a short and sweet read!
Thank you to Lucy Winton for an ARC of Falling for the Dark Mage! All opinions are my own.
No-Spice Rating: 1 (very light kissing - almost no descriptions)
Language: Clean
Faith-Elements: None
Review of advance copy received from Author
At long last, I've returned to the other half of the books in To Win a Dark Heart. Each book in this series combines two villains from different fairy tales to create a unique story, similar to Displaced Fairytales. My next ARC is Falling for the Dark Mage by Lucy Winton. This book is the shortest in the series and can be completed within one or two sittings. It combines "The Frog Prince" with "East of the Sun and West of the Moon," with more of a focus on the latter. Set in a fantastical world, the book contains some beautiful descriptions of magic alongside lush settings and worldbuilding.
Falling for the Dark Mage tells the story of Seraphina, the daughter of a powerful sorceress who is trapped on an island full of mages with wicked intent. There, she meets Damario, a sorcerer who cursed a certain prince to become a frog. Seraphina is no stranger to animal transformations, as her mother botched an attempt to turn a prince into a type of enchanted bear, with the enchantment only taking effect during the day. Her mother is insistent that she marry Alvar, the bear prince, but Seraphina has other ideas about love after growing closer to Damario.
The first half of the book focuses mainly on worldbuilding. The criminal fortress is described in stunning detail, as well as the magic system and the intricate glowing orbs that Seraphina creates with her powers. The second half is a retelling of "East of the Sun and West of the Moon," in which Seraphina helps Khione, the heroine from the original fairy tale, get her husband back from her wicked mother. Although this is supposed to be a retelling of two villains, Seraphina is more of a victim of her mother, the true villain of the story.
The book's short length and focus on worldbuilding allow little time to form a strong bond between Seraphina and Damario. Though her interest in him is palpable, we learn little about him aside from the fact that he once cursed a prince. The book's climax is similar to many other princess stories, in which the innocent heroine must break free from her wicked captor. The inclusion of Khione and Alvar was a nice touch, as many of the books in this series do not feature the protagonists of the original fairy tales, using them instead as a supporting element for the villains' backstories.
Falling for the Dark Mage is a sweet, albeit brief, tale of love and self-discovery set in a richly imagined world. Seeing the events of "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" from a different perspective creates an additional layer of depth for readers who are already familiar with the story. The setting is its greatest strength, giving readers a tangible fantasy world that's a bit grittier than other fairy tale retellings. This book offers a charming blend of magic and romance that's sure to enchant readers interested in collecting all the stories in To Win a Dark Heart.
Falling for the Dark Mage tells the story of Seraphina, the daughter of a powerful sorceress who is trapped on an island full of mages with wicked intent. There, she meets Damario, a sorcerer who cursed a certain prince to become a frog. Seraphina is no stranger to animal transformations, as her mother botched an attempt to turn a prince into a type of enchanted bear, with the enchantment only taking effect during the day. Her mother is insistent that she marry Alvar, the bear prince, but Seraphina has other ideas about love after growing closer to Damario.
The first half of the book focuses mainly on worldbuilding. The criminal fortress is described in stunning detail, as well as the magic system and the intricate glowing orbs that Seraphina creates with her powers. The second half is a retelling of "East of the Sun and West of the Moon," in which Seraphina helps Khione, the heroine from the original fairy tale, get her husband back from her wicked mother. Although this is supposed to be a retelling of two villains, Seraphina is more of a victim of her mother, the true villain of the story.
The book's short length and focus on worldbuilding allow little time to form a strong bond between Seraphina and Damario. Though her interest in him is palpable, we learn little about him aside from the fact that he once cursed a prince. The book's climax is similar to many other princess stories, in which the innocent heroine must break free from her wicked captor. The inclusion of Khione and Alvar was a nice touch, as many of the books in this series do not feature the protagonists of the original fairy tales, using them instead as a supporting element for the villains' backstories.
Falling for the Dark Mage is a sweet, albeit brief, tale of love and self-discovery set in a richly imagined world. Seeing the events of "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" from a different perspective creates an additional layer of depth for readers who are already familiar with the story. The setting is its greatest strength, giving readers a tangible fantasy world that's a bit grittier than other fairy tale retellings. This book offers a charming blend of magic and romance that's sure to enchant readers interested in collecting all the stories in To Win a Dark Heart.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rating 3.5
I was very excited when I received an ARC of Falling for the Dark Mage especially after enjoying An Ambitious Hope and The Shifter in Mage which are set in the same universe. Prior to the books announcement I had expected the next series heroine to be someone else, and although that is not the case, she is still a prominent figure in the story.
Falling for the Dark Mage is a retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon and the Frog Prince staring the two original stories villains: the troll princess who stole away and tried to force the prince cursed to be a polar by day into marrying her (although she's not a troll in this case) and the sorcerer who cursed another prince into becoming a frog. While this book works well as a retelling of East of the Sun West of the Moon, I can't say the same for The Frog Prince as that plotline is regulated to a character's history and doesn't have much impact on the story being told.
Seraphina is the daughter of a criminal who is expected to marry the man her mother chooses to bring in gold and riches. She lives a lonely life, in an isolated fortress, kept away from the other dark mages in her mother's organization. One day a fugitive from a neighboring kingdom Damario arrives seeking sanctuary after the prince he cursed into the shape of a frog is freed from the spell. Although he is told stay away from Seraphina the two can't seem to stay away even as Seraphina plans to escape the fortress and her mother controlling behavior. When a new prisoner from her past comes back into her life and secrets are revealed the pair must work together to save the day before it is too late.
Sadly, I had a hard time connecting with the protagonist Seraphina even though I sympathized with her plight. Her love interest Damario was somewhat more interesting, but I would have liked the book to be longer so they could be developed further. It was however nice to see the return of previous characters from An Ambitious Hope and The Shifter and the Mage and to find out what happened to the villain from the former.
In comparison the previous works set in the world of Vorgravia this one was probably my least favorite, but I would still recommend it to those who want a quick overall enjoyable read and fans of the fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon. This is actually Lucy Winton's second retelling of the tale (the first one is titled Winter Wolf and is a prequel to her Roses series) and between the two of them Falling for the Dark Mage is definitely the better one. The story is told from the perspective of the villain of the original story and if you enjoyed it or are looking for something similar, I would recommend reading To Ride the Wind and its sequel To Steal the Sun by Melanie Cellier. I'll also give a mention to the audiobook Beautiful by Juliett Marilliar which also features the troll princess as the protagonist.
I was very excited when I received an ARC of Falling for the Dark Mage especially after enjoying An Ambitious Hope and The Shifter in Mage which are set in the same universe. Prior to the books announcement I had expected the next series heroine to be someone else, and although that is not the case, she is still a prominent figure in the story.
Falling for the Dark Mage is a retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon and the Frog Prince staring the two original stories villains: the troll princess who stole away and tried to force the prince cursed to be a polar by day into marrying her (although she's not a troll in this case) and the sorcerer who cursed another prince into becoming a frog. While this book works well as a retelling of East of the Sun West of the Moon, I can't say the same for The Frog Prince as that plotline is regulated to a character's history and doesn't have much impact on the story being told.
Seraphina is the daughter of a criminal who is expected to marry the man her mother chooses to bring in gold and riches. She lives a lonely life, in an isolated fortress, kept away from the other dark mages in her mother's organization. One day a fugitive from a neighboring kingdom Damario arrives seeking sanctuary after the prince he cursed into the shape of a frog is freed from the spell. Although he is told stay away from Seraphina the two can't seem to stay away even as Seraphina plans to escape the fortress and her mother controlling behavior. When a new prisoner from her past comes back into her life and secrets are revealed the pair must work together to save the day before it is too late.
Sadly, I had a hard time connecting with the protagonist Seraphina even though I sympathized with her plight. Her love interest Damario was somewhat more interesting, but I would have liked the book to be longer so they could be developed further. It was however nice to see the return of previous characters from An Ambitious Hope and The Shifter and the Mage and to find out what happened to the villain from the former.
In comparison the previous works set in the world of Vorgravia this one was probably my least favorite, but I would still recommend it to those who want a quick overall enjoyable read and fans of the fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon. This is actually Lucy Winton's second retelling of the tale (the first one is titled Winter Wolf and is a prequel to her Roses series) and between the two of them Falling for the Dark Mage is definitely the better one. The story is told from the perspective of the villain of the original story and if you enjoyed it or are looking for something similar, I would recommend reading To Ride the Wind and its sequel To Steal the Sun by Melanie Cellier. I'll also give a mention to the audiobook Beautiful by Juliett Marilliar which also features the troll princess as the protagonist.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely LOVED this retelling of "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" and "The Frog Prince!" I have to say, though, that it was definitely not what I was expecting. The MMC was the villain who cursed the prince to be a frog (which was more of a backstory rather than being central to the plot) while the FMC was the daughter of the witch-queen who cursed a potential suitor that she wanted her daughter to marry. This was a really interesting take on both of these tales and it was nice to see this from the villain and witch-princess's perspective, as I don't think I've read any fairy tale retellings that have either of these villains as main characters.
I really loved the FMC, Seraphina, very much! Even though she grew up under her mother's thumb and was unable to cast curses to help her mother's criminal empire like her mother wanted, she had a really good heart and cared about others. She also had a really strong determination and a plan of her own to escape from her mother's clutches. She is definitely really brave and resilient.
I also really loved her love interest, Damario. He seems to be a really powerful mage and I really wished that he could have used his powers for something much bigger. That said, he was a really great character. I love how supportive he was of Seraphina and how he trusted her completely. I wish that we got to see a bit of the story from his perspective since he really is a good person at heart and only cast that curse on the prince because he deserved it. It would be nice to get to see his perspective and get to know why he decided to seek out her mother's criminal empire to become a villain.
Despite this, however, the book was AMAZING! It was very short, but the plot and the characters felt really well-developed and the story was well-paced. I loved getting to see Adriel and Shyla again, as well as mentions of Ruby and other characters I'd already met before in Lucy's previous books.
I also really enjoyed all of the side characters, namely Alvar and Khione, the actual main characters of the original "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" fairytale. I really hope that they get their own story one day!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it! It was such a fun, short, and sweet read!
I really loved the FMC, Seraphina, very much! Even though she grew up under her mother's thumb and was unable to cast curses to help her mother's criminal empire like her mother wanted, she had a really good heart and cared about others. She also had a really strong determination and a plan of her own to escape from her mother's clutches. She is definitely really brave and resilient.
I also really loved her love interest, Damario. He seems to be a really powerful mage and I really wished that he could have used his powers for something much bigger. That said, he was a really great character. I love how supportive he was of Seraphina and how he trusted her completely. I wish that we got to see a bit of the story from his perspective since he really is a good person at heart and only cast that curse on the prince because he deserved it. It would be nice to get to see his perspective and get to know why he decided to seek out her mother's criminal empire to become a villain.
Despite this, however, the book was AMAZING! It was very short, but the plot and the characters felt really well-developed and the story was well-paced. I loved getting to see Adriel and Shyla again, as well as mentions of Ruby and other characters I'd already met before in Lucy's previous books.
I also really enjoyed all of the side characters, namely Alvar and Khione, the actual main characters of the original "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" fairytale. I really hope that they get their own story one day!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it! It was such a fun, short, and sweet read!
reviewed
March 26, 2026Genre: Fantasy, fairy tale retelling [of East of the Sun, West of the Moon; and gender-flipped Frog Prince]
Tropes: Princess with magic where magic is illegal and its possessors are persecuted
Setting: Fortress, winter
Writing style: 3rd person, past tense
Tone: Even
Character- or plot-driven: Plot-driven
Romance: Yes
Clean level: 1 mouth kiss minimally described. 1 instance of fingers brushing and breath catching. 1 instance of caressing face, zero description.
Favorite aspects of the book:
• The premise
• Bite-size chapters, perfect for reading in between tasks or snatching a few minutes here and there
I was surprised that, for this mashup, the author chose to use a villain who doesn’t appear in the original tale. While The Frog Prince offers no explanation for the curse, here the caster’s motive is that the prince had bullied him and others terribly. This makes the “villain” feel more like a victim pushed too far—especially since he neither resorts to murder nor withholds a way to break the curse. This reads less like an interwoven retelling of both stories and more like a retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon that borrows a villain from The Frog Prince.
I would really like to see an expanded version of this novelette, as much of it felt flat to me. There’s room to flesh out nearly everything, especially the characters and their dynamics. There isn’t enough interaction between the protagonists to show how they come to feel the way they do by the end. A few lines early on hint at attraction, and then they eventually share a brief kiss, but the emotional progression isn’t developed. Honestly, I think the length is too short to do justice to the narrative.
Favorite quotation: She tried to appear as poised and graceful as she always did, but she felt like a terrified bird in a locked room, flying this way and that and unable to free herself.
(I received a free ARC of this book from the author and am gratefully—voluntarily—leaving a review.)
Tropes: Princess with magic where magic is illegal and its possessors are persecuted
Setting: Fortress, winter
Writing style: 3rd person, past tense
Tone: Even
Character- or plot-driven: Plot-driven
Romance: Yes
Clean level: 1 mouth kiss minimally described. 1 instance of fingers brushing and breath catching. 1 instance of caressing face, zero description.
Favorite aspects of the book:
• The premise
• Bite-size chapters, perfect for reading in between tasks or snatching a few minutes here and there
I was surprised that, for this mashup, the author chose to use a villain who doesn’t appear in the original tale. While The Frog Prince offers no explanation for the curse, here the caster’s motive is that the prince had bullied him and others terribly. This makes the “villain” feel more like a victim pushed too far—especially since he neither resorts to murder nor withholds a way to break the curse. This reads less like an interwoven retelling of both stories and more like a retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon that borrows a villain from The Frog Prince.
I would really like to see an expanded version of this novelette, as much of it felt flat to me. There’s room to flesh out nearly everything, especially the characters and their dynamics. There isn’t enough interaction between the protagonists to show how they come to feel the way they do by the end. A few lines early on hint at attraction, and then they eventually share a brief kiss, but the emotional progression isn’t developed. Honestly, I think the length is too short to do justice to the narrative.
Favorite quotation: She tried to appear as poised and graceful as she always did, but she felt like a terrified bird in a locked room, flying this way and that and unable to free herself.
(I received a free ARC of this book from the author and am gratefully—voluntarily—leaving a review.)
Review of advance copy received from Author
It has an interesting premise with this fortress filled with dark mages in the mountains who sell spells, curses, whatever on the black market. The story could’ve done with a bit more detail on how that worked.
I get that Damario could be seen as a villain by those in the kingdom whose prince he cursed to be a frog – even if deserved. But Seraphina wasn’t a villain, except for not noticing all the atrocities her mother and the dark mages committed. She’s also way too passive to be a villain by any stretch of the imagination. She’s powerful, yet never questioned why she wasn’t trained to do more than just a glorified seamstress. A bit of a blank slate heroine…
The two also fall in love because the other is the first to ever show them kindness. Yeah, that’s problematic.
But the side characters are interesting. The Bear king and his wife are endearing. The foreign mages and shifters (called something different in the story) are interesting in their powers. The things they do and go through move the story along.
I think the story would’ve been stronger, and more enjoyable, if the main couple weren’t loved-starved teenagers who wanted to run away from abusive homes, but young adults who knew what they wanted and went after it – even if it meant going through a fortress filled with dark mages. Technically faultless (plot progresses well, interesting worldbuilding, interesting antagonist and side characters, spelling and grammar didn’t pull one from the story, plot issues get resolved) but it felt more like fleeing from trauma than falling in love.
A good story if you forget that it’s supposed to be romantasy, not just fantasy.
*I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.
I get that Damario could be seen as a villain by those in the kingdom whose prince he cursed to be a frog – even if deserved. But Seraphina wasn’t a villain, except for not noticing all the atrocities her mother and the dark mages committed. She’s also way too passive to be a villain by any stretch of the imagination. She’s powerful, yet never questioned why she wasn’t trained to do more than just a glorified seamstress. A bit of a blank slate heroine…
The two also fall in love because the other is the first to ever show them kindness. Yeah, that’s problematic.
But the side characters are interesting. The Bear king and his wife are endearing. The foreign mages and shifters (called something different in the story) are interesting in their powers. The things they do and go through move the story along.
I think the story would’ve been stronger, and more enjoyable, if the main couple weren’t loved-starved teenagers who wanted to run away from abusive homes, but young adults who knew what they wanted and went after it – even if it meant going through a fortress filled with dark mages. Technically faultless (plot progresses well, interesting worldbuilding, interesting antagonist and side characters, spelling and grammar didn’t pull one from the story, plot issues get resolved) but it felt more like fleeing from trauma than falling in love.
A good story if you forget that it’s supposed to be romantasy, not just fantasy.
*I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.
March 27, 2026
This is a very clever combination of East of the Sun West of the Moon and The Princess and the Frog. Seraphina is the soft-hearted daughter of a hard hearted crime queen - the same evil ""queen"" that cursed a noble into being a bear for part of the day and a man for the other part. Seraphina has one goal - escape her mother's machinations. As she finds friends and allies (and love), her plans change slightly - she doesn't want to just leave, she wants to leave everything behind her as dust.
I really loved this combination. It was so clever to see the Sun/Moon story from the point of view of the woman who helped the wife. Seraphina's love interest was the same dark mage that cursed the prince to be a frog, and we get to see how and why that played out as well.
Novellas often feel like a speed run, and this wasn't really an exception. This is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it type of story. Even the obligatory ""kiss scene"" is about 2 sentences long. However, the ending was intricate and I loved the image painted in the final paragraph. It would be interesting if this were a pre-quel and we got to see where Darius and Seraphina end up! I can imagine them doing a lot of good in the world, with their combined knowledge and skill.
Content notes: talk of torture and curses, planned forced marriage, past abuse is hinted at.
Four stars from me - good, wouldn't necessarily read again. It felt quite rushed/jarring. But it's a very clever mash up, good for all ages.
I really loved this combination. It was so clever to see the Sun/Moon story from the point of view of the woman who helped the wife. Seraphina's love interest was the same dark mage that cursed the prince to be a frog, and we get to see how and why that played out as well.
Novellas often feel like a speed run, and this wasn't really an exception. This is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it type of story. Even the obligatory ""kiss scene"" is about 2 sentences long. However, the ending was intricate and I loved the image painted in the final paragraph. It would be interesting if this were a pre-quel and we got to see where Darius and Seraphina end up! I can imagine them doing a lot of good in the world, with their combined knowledge and skill.
Content notes: talk of torture and curses, planned forced marriage, past abuse is hinted at.
Four stars from me - good, wouldn't necessarily read again. It felt quite rushed/jarring. But it's a very clever mash up, good for all ages.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a wonderful, fast-paced, no-spice fantasy! I loved how the author wove elements from East of the Sun, West of the Moon with The Frog Prince. I really liked the magic system and "seeing" Seraphina use hers to create beauty in the midst of the cruelty surrounding her. Watching her resilience grow as she uncovered her mother's dark plans was amazing, as was the slow-burn trust and romance that developed with Damario. I highly recommend this quick, magical read for any lover of fantasy!
Seraphina is biding her time to escape from her mother's clutches. When a stranger seeks asylum at their fortress of criminals, Seraphina tries to keep her distance ... but he seems to be everywhere she turns. Her mother wants Damario's talents for a curse the dark mages have been trying to perfect. Defying her mother, she starts talking to Damario, and they form an alliance to dismantle the evil happening in the fortress. When Seraphina discovers the injustice that her mother has caused, she devises a plan with someone connected to her past.
Will she be able to escape, and will Damario be a part of the plan?
I received an Advanced Reader Copy with no expectation of a review. All opinions are my own.
Seraphina is biding her time to escape from her mother's clutches. When a stranger seeks asylum at their fortress of criminals, Seraphina tries to keep her distance ... but he seems to be everywhere she turns. Her mother wants Damario's talents for a curse the dark mages have been trying to perfect. Defying her mother, she starts talking to Damario, and they form an alliance to dismantle the evil happening in the fortress. When Seraphina discovers the injustice that her mother has caused, she devises a plan with someone connected to her past.
Will she be able to escape, and will Damario be a part of the plan?
I received an Advanced Reader Copy with no expectation of a review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received a ARC copy of this book and though I didn’t have to post a review, I wanted to offer my honest, voluntary impression of it.
This is the 11th of 12 books in the To Win A Dark Heart series where this time the villains get their own happily ever afters!
Seraphina’s a disappointment to her mother because she can’t cast curses so her mother decides her only use is to be a bride to bring money from marrying wealthy princes. She wants to escape but her plans are paused when a dark mage with a past comes to
her fortress. Perhaps he could aide her in her escape but then another person from her past emerges and soon another person with close ties to the other and suddenly Seraphina sees a way to bring down her mother’s cruel reign if she can unite others to her plan.
I enjoyed this story of a determined woman who by all rights should be looked at as a princess but is despised because she can only cast three charms but no curses. I enjoyed her determination and perseverance to free herself from her prison and having allies later on helped her achieve her goal!
I recommend this book as one I think everyone will enjoy and would also recommend you check out this completed series to read of other “villains” in fairy tales you love get their own happily ever afters!
This is the 11th of 12 books in the To Win A Dark Heart series where this time the villains get their own happily ever afters!
Seraphina’s a disappointment to her mother because she can’t cast curses so her mother decides her only use is to be a bride to bring money from marrying wealthy princes. She wants to escape but her plans are paused when a dark mage with a past comes to
her fortress. Perhaps he could aide her in her escape but then another person from her past emerges and soon another person with close ties to the other and suddenly Seraphina sees a way to bring down her mother’s cruel reign if she can unite others to her plan.
I enjoyed this story of a determined woman who by all rights should be looked at as a princess but is despised because she can only cast three charms but no curses. I enjoyed her determination and perseverance to free herself from her prison and having allies later on helped her achieve her goal!
I recommend this book as one I think everyone will enjoy and would also recommend you check out this completed series to read of other “villains” in fairy tales you love get their own happily ever afters!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Falling for the Dark Mage is a short story that is supposedly a retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon and The Frog Prince. I'm not familiar with East of the Sun, West of the Moon; and after reading this story, I still have no idea what it is about. And the Frog Prince didn't really play a pivotal point in the story; it was more of a background plot point for Damario.
Overall, I felt like the novella was missing depth. The characters were flat. Seraphina was unimpressive as a lead character. I felt like the author tried to put too much on Damario by making him the love interest and the mentor-type character for Seraphina. At least, I assume he was the love interest, but there was no romance in the story.
There was hardly any world-building beside the statue garden Seraphina liked to visit. They lived in a fortress that no one was supposed to know about, yet somehow, travelers would stumble upon it and be taken prisoner.
There were some typos and many misplaced commas that made it a bit difficult to read. Overall, I feel like this was a good outline for a story that I would have loved to see fleshed out as a novel with world-building and characters I could support.
Overall, I felt like the novella was missing depth. The characters were flat. Seraphina was unimpressive as a lead character. I felt like the author tried to put too much on Damario by making him the love interest and the mentor-type character for Seraphina. At least, I assume he was the love interest, but there was no romance in the story.
There was hardly any world-building beside the statue garden Seraphina liked to visit. They lived in a fortress that no one was supposed to know about, yet somehow, travelers would stumble upon it and be taken prisoner.
There were some typos and many misplaced commas that made it a bit difficult to read. Overall, I feel like this was a good outline for a story that I would have loved to see fleshed out as a novel with world-building and characters I could support.
March 22, 2026
This book is short and I really wish it was longer.
We don’t really get to learn a ton about Seraphina and Damario at all. I found it hard to connect with either of them and I had so many unanswered questions especially about Damario.
I honestly do not know anything about East of the Sun, West of the Moon so I can’t say if the story really fit that part. I can say it felt lacking when it came to The Frog Prince because the only time we really hear about it is with Damario’s backstory.
When I saw how many pages this book was I was scared something like this would happen. It is hard to write a good short story and while it can be done right this one didn’t hit the mark for me.
I just wish we got more of everything. More of Seraphina’s story and getting out from under her mother’s thumb. More about Damario and who he is. More of their relationship and seeing it develop because we don’t get much of anything.
Honestly this book was just really lacking for me and while it can be a good book for someone it wasn’t for me. Overall I’d give it 2.5 stars rounded up to 3. I read this book as an arc.
We don’t really get to learn a ton about Seraphina and Damario at all. I found it hard to connect with either of them and I had so many unanswered questions especially about Damario.
I honestly do not know anything about East of the Sun, West of the Moon so I can’t say if the story really fit that part. I can say it felt lacking when it came to The Frog Prince because the only time we really hear about it is with Damario’s backstory.
When I saw how many pages this book was I was scared something like this would happen. It is hard to write a good short story and while it can be done right this one didn’t hit the mark for me.
I just wish we got more of everything. More of Seraphina’s story and getting out from under her mother’s thumb. More about Damario and who he is. More of their relationship and seeing it develop because we don’t get much of anything.
Honestly this book was just really lacking for me and while it can be a good book for someone it wasn’t for me. Overall I’d give it 2.5 stars rounded up to 3. I read this book as an arc.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Read and loved this 90-minute mashup retelling.
Seraphina is a dark mage who makes disguises in her mother’s criminal clan. Why don’t we ever think about those kind of jobs, just about main heroes and the usual protagonists? Enter Damario, the one who cursed a prince to be a frog. What if he had good reason? What if the princess destined to marry the bear was forced into it by her mother?
I loved how Seraphina managed to stay a good soul in her mother’s black market clan and how Damario was drawn to her goodness from the moment they met. Such a sweet story where the “evil” princess helps the bear’s betrothed out of the goodness of her heart and not to receive baubles she desires. Throughout this whole series I’m getting more and more convinced that the villains have always been simply gravely misunderstood - lovely twists galore!
Recommended for lovers of mixed gen (YA/NA) mashup retellings told from the viewpoint of villains, especially of the Frog Prince and East of the Sun, West of the Moon.
Seraphina is a dark mage who makes disguises in her mother’s criminal clan. Why don’t we ever think about those kind of jobs, just about main heroes and the usual protagonists? Enter Damario, the one who cursed a prince to be a frog. What if he had good reason? What if the princess destined to marry the bear was forced into it by her mother?
I loved how Seraphina managed to stay a good soul in her mother’s black market clan and how Damario was drawn to her goodness from the moment they met. Such a sweet story where the “evil” princess helps the bear’s betrothed out of the goodness of her heart and not to receive baubles she desires. Throughout this whole series I’m getting more and more convinced that the villains have always been simply gravely misunderstood - lovely twists galore!
Recommended for lovers of mixed gen (YA/NA) mashup retellings told from the viewpoint of villains, especially of the Frog Prince and East of the Sun, West of the Moon.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a re-telling of 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon' from the point of view of the villainess' daughter. Added to the mix is the sorcerer who cursed the 'Frog Prince' to act as the love interest. Although the premise is interesting and the writing is quite readable and engaging, I did find it a bit lacking in depth. The author could have taken more time to elaborate on ideas and more fully explore the situation and made the book a full novel as opposed to the novella it is. It is probably great for a younger reader, say around 12 years old, but as an older reader it lacks a degree of sophstication that would make it great. Still, it is a sweet, clean and swift read great for some light entertainment.
I received an ARC and voluntarily leave an honest review.
I received an ARC and voluntarily leave an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I enjoyed reading this dark fairytale mashup story! It was on the shorter side, but that did not make it any less thrilling and satisfying. It was well written, kept me hooked, and I was fascinated by the unique magic system, particularly the creative magic (I loved imagining the beautiful flower orbs and dreaming of having them in real life!)
This is a clean/no-spice fantasy book, with just a little taste of romance (kissing only.) To be honest, the plotting, planning, and action are the main focus of the story. Overall I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to anyone who likes fairytale retellings and clean fantasy stories.
I received this ebook as an ARC from the author. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given willingly.
This is a clean/no-spice fantasy book, with just a little taste of romance (kissing only.) To be honest, the plotting, planning, and action are the main focus of the story. Overall I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to anyone who likes fairytale retellings and clean fantasy stories.
I received this ebook as an ARC from the author. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given willingly.
March 26, 2026
⭐️3.5
This book had such an interesting premise with a lot of potential, with intriguing characters, world-building, and classic fairytale elements woven into a unique storyline. However, I wish the plot had been developed more thoroughly and the book longer, so we as readers could fully immerse ourselves in the fictional world.
I would become interested in the characters and then the pace would switch to a different scene too quickly, without giving me the time to breathe/get a good feel for each character. The idea behind each character was great, but, again, I wish there had been more development and deeper dialogue among them.
But, if you’re looking for a fun, fast-paced, and villain HEA, pick up this book now!
This book had such an interesting premise with a lot of potential, with intriguing characters, world-building, and classic fairytale elements woven into a unique storyline. However, I wish the plot had been developed more thoroughly and the book longer, so we as readers could fully immerse ourselves in the fictional world.
I would become interested in the characters and then the pace would switch to a different scene too quickly, without giving me the time to breathe/get a good feel for each character. The idea behind each character was great, but, again, I wish there had been more development and deeper dialogue among them.
But, if you’re looking for a fun, fast-paced, and villain HEA, pick up this book now!
February 23, 2026
An enjoyable read!
Seraphina and Damario are absolutely made for each other. It’s a nice change of pace if you read too many enemies to lovers in a row and you need a break.
I would like to see what Seraphina’s orbs truly look like because I have a feeling they look absolutely more gorgeous than what I can imagine.
The magic system is interesting with three different kinds of abilities and they are not elemental but skills. If I could have any one of those powers I would definitely like the creative powers.
I received this as an ARC.
Seraphina and Damario are absolutely made for each other. It’s a nice change of pace if you read too many enemies to lovers in a row and you need a break.
I would like to see what Seraphina’s orbs truly look like because I have a feeling they look absolutely more gorgeous than what I can imagine.
The magic system is interesting with three different kinds of abilities and they are not elemental but skills. If I could have any one of those powers I would definitely like the creative powers.
I received this as an ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Creative and refreshing combination of the Frog Prince and East of the Sun West of the Moon
This novella is an excellent addition to the To Win a Dark Heart series. I love the characters and the magic system. Seraphina's determination and artistic spirit captured my attention. Despite her circumstances and mother, she doesn't cower and give up. Her quiet inner strength is powerful. I liked that she is a female main character who is strong but not obnoxious and arrogant about it. Damario makes for a rather interesting character as he seeks refuge with a bunch of dark mages without actively wanting to fully embrace the role. Between the characters, plot, and detailed magic system, this book swept me away. Clean in language and content, I highly recommend it.
*I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
This novella is an excellent addition to the To Win a Dark Heart series. I love the characters and the magic system. Seraphina's determination and artistic spirit captured my attention. Despite her circumstances and mother, she doesn't cower and give up. Her quiet inner strength is powerful. I liked that she is a female main character who is strong but not obnoxious and arrogant about it. Damario makes for a rather interesting character as he seeks refuge with a bunch of dark mages without actively wanting to fully embrace the role. Between the characters, plot, and detailed magic system, this book swept me away. Clean in language and content, I highly recommend it.
*I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A very unique story full of its own magic. I enjoyed the fast-paced plot that continued to thicken as the pages went on. The characters had strong backstories, though they didn't have much of an arc. The complexity of the characters mostly came from the plot, but the progression of the turn of events made them interesting. The magical element was a perfect aspect of the story, adding another layer of complexity to the world and turn of events.
Thank you for the arc!
Thank you for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh, I do like Seraphina! I like her patience, her planning, her desire to be free - and her ability to take real risks to be able to help and fly. How many children are trapped in their parents' bad decisions? This daughter figured out how to escape. That is inspirational. That she also finds true love along the way? I practically hugged my ebook as that HEA happened.
I received an ARC from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 16, 2026
I really enjoyed this novella; the main character Seraphina had strong morals despite being the daughter of a criminal “queen”. I liked her focus and drive, her skill, and her determination.
The only thing I didn’t like is that I felt we didn’t know enough about Damario, and he and Seraphina didn’t have enough scenes together for me to believe that he had fallen in love with her and she with him so quickly.
* I received an eARC from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
The only thing I didn’t like is that I felt we didn’t know enough about Damario, and he and Seraphina didn’t have enough scenes together for me to believe that he had fallen in love with her and she with him so quickly.
* I received an eARC from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
March 24, 2026
This is a definitely fun sweet story about two people who are cast in the wrong light and just want to be different. I really liked this book. It was a nice new fresh take on a villain story and it was a lot of fun. I loved the world building in the background to each character. I loved the character development. I just loved the story as a whole. It was really well done and I really enjoyed reading this.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Great story
An interesting mash up of the two fairy tales. The story is told from the POV of the FMC, Seraphina. I loved her character and her bravery to face what she knows is the right thing to do.
This book is part of a no-spice series but can be read as a stand alone. It’s a quick but engaging read that I recommend.
An interesting mash up of the two fairy tales. The story is told from the POV of the FMC, Seraphina. I loved her character and her bravery to face what she knows is the right thing to do.
This book is part of a no-spice series but can be read as a stand alone. It’s a quick but engaging read that I recommend.
Read
December 21, 2025A delightful blend of East of the Sun, West of the Moon and the Frog Prince! I enjoyed the fresh take on the villainous twist on these two fairy tales! This story gives you YA fantasy vibes!
I received an ARC from the author and all opinions are my own.
I received an ARC from the author and all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I liked this book, but I really wish it would have been longer. Especially, with the MMC and MFC and their romance. I feel like it should have gone at least a few more pages more to into them both before ending like it did.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I love that Seraphine does not let her mother control by appearing weak and obeying every whim of her mother, while planning her escape. Damario knows he is a villian but still feel bad about it all. I love the secret meetings! 😍 I love how they both try to be better than their surroundings ❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received and advanced reader copy from the author, and is volontary writing a review
It was a cute and fun story with a creative mashup of stories, a good plot and interesting well written characters and romance. I enjoyed It alot.
It was a cute and fun story with a creative mashup of stories, a good plot and interesting well written characters and romance. I enjoyed It alot.
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5 stars rounded up.
This was an okay story, but it really didn't feel like a retelling or continuation and neither main character felt like a villain. the MMC didn't get much page time either. I feel like this would work better as a completely original tale.
This was an okay story, but it really didn't feel like a retelling or continuation and neither main character felt like a villain. the MMC didn't get much page time either. I feel like this would work better as a completely original tale.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a mashup of East of the Sun, West of the Moon and The Frog Prince. The Frog Prince is a very small part of the story.
I really like the characters of Seraphina and Demario. The story is a bit rushed but a fun quick read.
I really like the characters of Seraphina and Demario. The story is a bit rushed but a fun quick read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews