The Assassin's Dancer

Twelve Dancing Princesses #1

by Erin Fae Ryan

When Princess Amaryllis learns that one of her eleven younger sisters is to be married off to an awful prince, she hires an assassin to deal with her problem. Permanently.

But she wasn’t expecting the assassin to be so handsome. Or tall. Or to have piercing green eyes that dance through her nightmares. She also wasn’t expecting to become his new obsession.

Stalked by a vicious killer in dark leather, Amaryllis keeps to her palace and her sisters while courting a mysterious prince who’s determined to win her hand.

But her assassin, Kasimir, has never been one to give up on his prey so easily.

And his little red-haired ballerina might just be the sweetest prey of all…

Lights Out meets A Court of Thorns and Roses in this fast-paced, sizzling fantasy romance. With ballet dancing princesses, extreme spice, and a morally black love interest who will not let his princess go, The Assassin's Dancer is perfect for readers who love dark romance with a fairytale fantasy twist ✨

This is the first standalone dark romance in The Twelve Dancing Princesses series. Each book in the series stars a different princess, and can be read in any order, but it's recommended to start with The Assassin's Dancer.

Be warned, this book contains extreme spice. Please check the triggers before reading 🖤

Genres: Fantasy, Dark Romance, Romantasy, Romance, Retellings, Spicy, Ebooks

316 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 20, 2025

Reviews

[Jessica ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

How is nobody talking about this book?!
A dark romance inspired by The Twelve Dancing Princesses, featuring the oldest sister and an assassin? Say less. 😍🩰

The story completely pulled me in, but the tension between the two main characters was what really sold it for me. The chemistry was INSANE. Every interaction had me kicking my feet and screaming internally.

This book deserves so much more hype. I absolutely loved it and would recommend it to every dark romance reader. 😍😍😍

[Moya’sReading · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely flew through this book, which, in hindsight, might be its greatest trick. It’s fast, it’s readable… and then it’s over, leaving me wondering what exactly it was trying to do the whole time.

Let’s start with the biggest tease: Ami’s ability to see lies. Incredible premise, right? The kind of power that could unravel secrets, twist relationships, and drive the entire plot. Except… it mostly sits in the corner collecting dust until the very end. It’s like being promised fireworks and getting a single sparkler five minutes before closing time. The potential? Massive. The payoff? Blink and you’ll miss it.

Now Kaz, allegedly this terrifying, unhinged killer. The book tells us he’s dangerous, over and over, like it’s trying to convince itself. I kept waiting for that “oh wow, this man is lethal” moment… and it never came. He doesn’t feel like a villain, he feels like a rumour of one. All reputation, zero presence.

And then there’s the romance. Look, I knew what I was signing up for, romantic fantasy, great. But this didn’t feel like a story with romance woven in. It felt like a full-length love letter that occasionally remembered it had a plot to check in on. The balance is completely off, and not in a swoon-worthy way, more in a “did we forget the rest of the book?” way.

In the end, The Assassin’s Dancer reads like a collection of fantastic ideas that were never fully let off the leash. It’s not bad, it’s just frustrating. Because you can see the better, sharper, more dangerous version of this story lurking underneath… it just never quite shows up.

[Rebecca ~ readinginNZ · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨ ARC Read ✨

I just flew through The Assassin’s Dancer in one sitting - fast, fun, and full of classic romantasy vibes 😏

Amaryllis discovers one of her sisters is being married off to a terrible prince 😳, so she seeks out Kazamir, “the Scorpion,” to deal with him… not realising “deal with him” = assassin ⚔️💀

Broody MMC assassin ✔️
Sheltered FMC princess ✔️
Spice ✔️
One horse (iykyk) ✔️

“No one touches what’s mine.”

The plot kept things moving, the main couple’s attraction comes through clearly, and there’s just enough tension to keep the story engaging.

“You were mine since the moment I first caught you in Night Alley, and I’ll be yours the second you tell me yes.”

Eleven other sisters to meet in future books 🌹
Fun, spicy, and a fast read perfect for fans of romantasy ✨

Chaos, vibes, and opinions are all my own ✨ please give credit if you share.

[Dafne Hostijn · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely devoured this book. 🖤✨ Once I started reading, I genuinely couldn’t put it down, and that’s always a 5-star read for me.

The idea of turning The Twelve Dancing Princesses into a dark romance filled with spice immediately sold me. 👠🩰 As someone who grew up loving the Barbie movie, this retelling made me ridiculously happy. It was nostalgic while still feeling fresh, dark, and completely addictive.

Kaz and Amaryllis were everything. ❤️ Their chemistry was incredible, the banter was so much fun, and the one-liners were chef’s kiss. 🤭 Watching the oldest sister hire an assassin to save her younger sister from being forced to marry a creepy old prince, only to completely fall for him herself… honestly, I loved every second of it. 🗡️🌹

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

The spicy scenes were so well written. 🔥 They felt natural, full of tension, and definitely delivered. 😮‍💨

The twist with the “good” prince not being exactly who he seemed? 👀 Such a fun surprise! I genuinely didn’t expect that and loved the direction the story took.

The only small thing that didn’t completely work for me was Amaryllis’ red-eye magic. ❤️👁️ We only really discover what it means near the end, and in this book it didn’t add much to the overall story. I’m hoping it’ll become much more important in the next books because I’m definitely intrigued.

Overall, I had an amazing time with this book. 🖤 The romance, the tension, the humor, the fairy tale inspiration, and the spice all blended together perfectly. I already can’t wait to read about the other sisters because I have a feeling their stories are going to be just as addictive. ✨

This story also had a special place in my heart because The Twelve Dancing Princesses was one of my favorite childhood stories. Seeing it reimagined as a dark romance was something I didn’t know I needed, and it completely won me over. 🩰❤️

And one final thought… if this series ever gets a gorgeous special edition with all twelve books together, it’ll have a permanent place on my bookshelf. 📚✨ I would buy it in a heartbeat.

If you love:
🖤 Dark romance
🩰 Fairy tale retellings
🗡️ Morally grey characters
🌶️ Plenty of spice
👑 Protective MMCs

…then this book definitely deserves a spot on your TBR! 📚✨

[Jennifer W · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ This was more entertaining than I thought? Assassin and princess, what can go wrong? I also like the Barbie reference with the 12 dancing princesses 🤭

Was it revolutionary? No, but it had me entertained the whole time and I really did enjoy it. It was fast paced and no extra fluff to make it longer page wise. The characters could have been a bit more developed but they definitely had their moments. Kaz was GOOD 😮‍💨

The one thing that didn’t really make sense to me or had a big impact on the story was the magic sight thing. It would have been just as good without it. Looking forward to read the next one! Dahlia was fun and I liked her sassiness 😋

[Marietjie Kotze · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book and I devoured it. Before reading this I have never heard of this author before but if future books are anything like this one I will definitely read more. To be honest I do think that there could have been more spice but that is a personal opinion. The characters were perfect though we have Princess Ami who would literally do anything to protect her younger sister’s even make a deal with the devil, enter Kaz our amazing mcc. You gotta love a possessive mmc. I have to say I also loved the fact that both Kaz as well a Prince Orion were quite similar if you think about it but it goes to show how consent actually works, and just because one finds something sexy when one person does it doesn’t mean anyone can. My only real criticism will be that I am unsure what category this book will fall into.

[stevieeenyxreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Erin, for the ARC (available November 20, 2025)!

Let me just begin by saying I’m wholeheartedly in my assassin MMC era! Something about a dangerous man who only yields to the one he loves just does something to me.

Princess Amaryllis and her sisters are fighting off unwanted suitors constantly. She goes to enlist the help of a man known as “The Scorpion” to help get rid of the latest suitor who is a slime bag of a person. However, she gets more than she bargained for when she finds herself wrapped up with the mysterious assassin in more ways than one.

I loved the relationship that Amaryllis has with her sisters. They’re so fiercely protective of each other! Amaryllis herself is such a strong character who will do anything to protect the ones she cares about and that kind of dedication is something I admire.

Kasimir had me swoooooning! He’s dangerous and a little unhinged at times, but always goes out of his way to try to do the right thing. He’s also very protective of the ones he cares about, so he and Amaryllis are perfect for each other! I absolutely loved their chemistry!

This was a super fast paced and exciting read! I devoured it, and found myself hoping for books about the other sisters, so I was excited to see that there will be another one following Amaryllis’ sister Dahlia! I can’t wait to read more!

[Angelique · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay… I’ve properly gathered my thoughts now and this book left me with mixed feelings.

First of all: I was REALLY excited for this.
The whole “twelve dancing princesses” concept, I was SOLD.

But… I can’t lie… I feel like that potential wasn’t fully used.
And that was a bit disappointing.

That being said — I didn’t dislike the book at all.
I was definitely intrigued and kept reading, but more like:
“okay where is this going?”
instead of being completely hooked from page one.

Now let’s talk about Kasimir 😌
Because yes — I loved him from the start.

Morally grey? ✔️
Unhinged? ✔️
Kills people? ✔️

But here’s the thing…
He’s described as this super dangerous, lethal assassin…
and I just didn’t fully feel that?
Like yes, he kills people but mostly to protect Amaryllis.
So instead of “terrifying”, he felt more like a protective chaos man

Which I still loved… but it didn’t fully match the reputation he was given.

Now the romance
This is NOT a “they fall equally” situation.
It’s very much:
Kasimir falls first , Amaryllis is hesitant, then she’s like “okay I’m into this BUT I’m a princess and I shouldn’t”

And that push-pull dynamic???
Yeah… I ate that up

Amaryllis herself is actually really clever and strong,
but you can clearly see she’s been kept ignorant on purpose.

Which was frustrating at times (girl PLEASE) but also made her growth satisfying

Like… from sheltered princess to literally stabbing a man???
ICONIC behavior.

BUT — I do have some critiques

The gifts were such a cool concept. The lie-detection?AMAZING.
And then… it’s barely used or mentioned..

I really expected that to play a MUCH bigger role.
So now I’m just wondering if this is for the next books?

The king, let’s not forget this piece of shit.
I get the “wanting a son” storyline…
but SELLING YOUR DAUGHTERS like that? Raping 12 different women across the kingdom to have 12 different daughters ?
No nuance. Just evil.

I’m sorry but the ending?
It really felt like buildup, tension, slow burn AND THEN everything happens at once

Prison break. Rescue. Death. Escape. Goodbye.
HELLO??? Can we breathe???

I genuinely feel like if this book needed 50–100 extra pages

it could have been SO much stronger.

Because now I’m left wondering what happens next?What about the gifts?

The ending was still emotional though.
The funeral? Her sisters thinking she’s dead? Painful but necessary I guess

Would I recommend it?
Yes — especially if you like: dark romance, morally grey men, tension & chaos

But just know:
this book had AMAZING potential…
and didn’t fully reach it (for me).

And honestly?
I’d still read the next book because I have questions that need to be answered

[Kaylee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited when this was marketed as a Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses inspired book, I had high hopes.
The overall plot line was good, I wish there was more lore and context for Kasimir, his story felt barely started and unfinished, there was barely anything about Amaryllis’ and her sisters childhood growing up either.
The magic sight was introduced in the beginning and then completely ignored until the end so to me it may as well not have been added at all.

Didn’t really suit the dark romance genre for me.

[gena_bookish_reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so fun to read!! It really hit me in the feelings. If you grew up watching the old Barbie movies then nostalgia is gonna hit you too, since this is a barbie and the twelve dancing princesses retelling. But make it spicy. And dark romance.

The Assassin's Dancer has that same magical sisters vibe, the dance halls, the gowns, the secret danger around the princesses... and then adds an assassin who falls MADLY in love with the oldest sister... Amaryllis. And honestly.. I ate that shit up.

Amaryllis is the oldest of the twelve princesses.. you can see she's soft but fierce. She's always trying to protect her sisters, and she ends up falling for Kasimir, an assassin who's supposed to help her get rid off one of the suitors her father wants one of them to marry.

Of course there is the evil prince who's a controlling asshole and creepy af, that antagonizes Kasimir. So we basically spend the whole book watching Amaryllis fight for her freedom and help her sisters, Kasimir risking everything to protect her, and that dumb fuck of a prince losing his damn mind trying to keep her.

Like it had tension, it had fear, it had SPICEEE, it had action, and I loved the sisterhood vibes. All the girls were close and in the end they stepped up to help Amaryllis. I love them all! My favorite tho is Dahlia. That girl is iconic. I'm so happy her book is next.

As I said in the beginning I ate this shit up. It was such a fun read and it hit me hard with all this nostalgia. I loved how the book kept the magical dancey vibe from the original story while making it more mature. 5 stars from me. 🖤


What to expect:

🖤 Barbie and the twelve dancing princesses retelling
🖤 Assassin x ballerina
🖤 Oldest daughter core
🖤 He falls first and hard
🖤 Touch her and die
🖤 Possessive MMC
🖤 Forced proximity
🖤 Spice

[shyandlonelywriter · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW


What would you have done if one of your younger sisters had to marry someone much older?
When Princess Amaryllis learns that one of her younger sisters has to marry an older man, she hires an assassin to deal with it permanently. But she didn't think that the assassin would claim her as his payment.

Pfff, that book was sinful. Amaryllis was so determined to save her sister from this wedding. She's the best big sister. Kasimir, the assassin. He's possessive and overprotective of his Ruby. He earned a place in my list of favorite characters.
The chemistry between them was so obvious from the beginning of the book and when the spice started. Omfg! Every scene between them was fire 🔥

Erin is so talented and had me screaming with Kasimir. I can't wait to read the next book.


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Somer Haskins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun. Not as dark as I pictured it to be but that’s not necessarily bad.

I do wish that the book explored more of the darkness of the kingdom under the king’s rule and how that affected the princesses.

There’s also like a hint of magic in this book and it does confuse me why it’s there when we don’t really elaborate on it further. There are going to be more interconnected standalones in the series though so what do I know, this could all be explained later on🤷‍♀️

[miss_may · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️

I was scared that this would be another case of „Instagram made me read it but I hate it“ but I’m very happy to report that it was not the case at all!! I loved Kasimir and Ami - especially in the first half - and I’m immediately picking up the next one in the series.

[noémie · Rating 5 out of 5]

barbie but with a dutch melrose ost

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think Barbie's 12 dancing princesses, turned 5⭐ dark romance. 'Next time, you just dance for me'.

The Assassin's Dancer is a beautiful, smutty, easy to read dark romance with an intriguing plot line to pull you in. Erin Fae Ryan's writing had me feeling all sorts of things (iykyk) and any ballet dancers reading this book will be all over one particular scene. I will never look at purple ribbon again without my heart rate rocketing 😈

The chemistry between the FMC and MMC is flawless, with the MMC having a possessively caring streak which I ate up. You know there's going to be the classic 'touch her and die' trope.

Personally, I always analyse every detail in a book, so I have many questions for Erin which will be answered in the rest of the series with the other 11 princesses. However, if you just read for vibes, this is the perfect book for you too. Bring on book 2! I need more. Specifically Dahlia and Ferns stories.

I read this nearly in one sitting, being incapable of putting it down. I 100% recommend downloading the ARC and pre-ordering for release on 20th November!

[Della · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read over half of this book in one sitting 😭 I went into it purely because dark romance inspired by Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses sounded like an incredible concept (and because it was the June Book Cove pick, duh!), but I wasn't completely sold on the writing after the first chapter. I'm so glad I stuck with it, I ended up enjoying the majority of this book.

Princess Amaryllis is constantly having to fend off unwanted suitors, so in a last ditch attempt to get rid of the latest slimy excuse for a man, she seeks out the infamous assassin known only as The Scorpion. Things don't quite go to plan, and she quickly finds herself tangled up with the mysterious killer in far more ways than she'd intended. I also loved how subtly the book hints that Amaryllis has powers, the fact she can tell when someone is lying is soft launched so naturally that you barely even register it at first until it's discussed later on in the book.

One of my favourite parts of the story was the relationship between Amaryllis and her sisters. They're so loyal and protective of one another, and that bond really becomes the heart of the book. Amaryllis herself is a fantastic FMC. She's intelligent, determined and willing to do absolutely anything to protect the people she loves. Of course you can tell she's been deliberately kept in the dark about so much of the world around her, which makes watching her slowly grow into her own strength really satisfying. Every chapter she seemed to become more confident, more capable and more powerful.

Now... Kaz. Or Kasimir. Firstly, I LOVE the name Kasimir 😭. Secondly, the book spends a lot of time telling us he's this terrifying, unstable assassin everyone fears but he felt more like the legend of a killer than an actual one.. all reputation and very little on-page intimidation. But anyway, the man clearly knows what he's doing in more ways than one 👀

The romance was definitely one of the book's strongest points. I loved having both Amaryllis' and Kasimir's POVs, and the buildup between them was honestly better than the spicy scenes themselves. The tension felt emotionally charged and while the relationship develops fairly quickly, it never felt unbelievable because of everything happening around them. Their chemistry made it work for me.

What surprised me most was how dark this story actually gets. From the blurb, I wasn't expecting it to tackle themes like rape and sexual assault so heavily. And the king... what an absolute piece of shit. I understand the whole obsession with wanting a son, but raping twelve different women across the kingdom to produce twelve daughters and then essentially selling those daughters off? There isn't an ounce of redemption there.. he's just evil and I'm patiently waiting for him to kick the bucket in the next book. Then you've got the creepy, controlling prince constantly antagonising Kasimir, so much of the story becomes Amaryllis fighting for her freedom and protecting her sisters, while Kasimir risks everything to protect her, and this unhinged prince slowly loses his mind trying to keep control and fails miserably.

The worldbuilding was also really easy to settle into. The palace never felt overwhelmingly complicated despite housing so many royals and entertaining endless suitors, and I liked how the nearby village was shown through a much darker lens with places like Night Alley and the brothels. Since Amaryllis and Kasimir come from completely opposite worlds, it was interesting seeing how the author contrasted their environments while still making them feel connected.

Overall, I'm really glad I didn't judge this one by the first chapter. It surprised me in the best way, and I ended up having such a good time with it. I'm still mourning the fact that I skipped the Book Cove edition of this book, but when I think about it this book screams black and red, not pink 😭

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I initially saw promotions for the book on a few different social media platforms and I was intrigued because it’s based on a story I originally enjoyed - The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Overall I enjoyed the story, and would happily follow this author’s journey to someday become better because there were a couple times that took me out of the story… I liked the concept for some of the characters and the book started out strong leading straight into the story. It set a nice tone of softer magic, royalty, and sisterly bonds. Things took a complicated turn soon after. Knowing it’s Dahlia’s story next, I’m hopeful for what to see from her.

Characters

Ami is falling flat as a character for me. I’m glad her eyes were opened regarding her father (King Sol) and her kingdom but she seems almost wanting to remain ignorant about other issues. As a princess, you also wouldn’t have time to just sit and mope or stroll out to the stables and tend for the horses. You’d barely be able to breathe through a regimented schedule of tutors, meetings, political duties, charity, dance lessons, etc. You definitely wouldn’t be able to simply sneak off whenever you’d like for days on end.

Kasimir, aka The Scorpion, I’m glad to see some depth beyond whore’s-son-turned-assassin. Throughout the book he’s possessive of ‘Ruby’ aka Ami but shows tender caring moments and a genuine connection with his crew mates. He’s not-so-subtle in his ways of desiring ‘Ruby’ but she doesn’t seem to mind. I can’t tell if I lost respect for him or stopped understanding the author’s style for his character around chapters 23 and 24 but it turned back around towards the end.

The side characters seemed more like fluff to help fill out the retelling of the story. The other sisters as a whole rarely get mentioned and except for 2 or 3 of them, they don’t have personalities of their own which I find odd considering this series will feature other sisters’ stories. As both of the MC’s are big on family this would’ve been a part of the overall story I would have liked to see filled out more. Meera and Orion are the only side characters that have a bit of their background flushed out which makes sense considering their involvement with both the MC’s.

Liked

The world building is fairly easy to follow. The palace doesn’t seem over the top for having to hold so many royals and hosting suitors. The nearby city/village is seen through a narrow scope as the author is focused on the darker parts of it - Night Alley and the whorehouses that are nearby. Setting the scenes were easy enough as both the MC’s came from opposing backgrounds but you’d still find parts of each other in their surroundings.

Didn’t Like

For majority of the book, there’s only minimal signs of Ami’s “gift of true sight”. I’m curious why even put that in the book if for majority of it there’s hardly mention of it again and if her sister’s got any ‘gifts’ that’s also not showing except for Fern. Ami finally realizes what her gift is and the only cues are red eyes and she’s faced with a harsh reality call.

Chapter 23 makes no sense to me. I had to re-read it because I thought I had somehow skipped ahead. Ami goes from being sober enough (while drugged) still having a voice of reason and understanding what she’s looking for, to instantly not knowing what’s going on around her and being completely compliant with orders. The scene in the private room, while it was 🌶️ 🥵, there’s a big part of me that believes Kasimir would not do that given his parentage and childhood.

Chapter 24 is another part that makes absolutely no sense to me. Him promising to be gentle then just thrusts his full length to the hilt and the knife play during her first time… how can I scream any louder NO NO NO! He wants her to be willing and consensually give herself to him but literally ate her out a few hours earlier while in a drug induced state. He also can’t stand the sight of her in danger or near any weapons then proceeds to drag a knife across her body and press it to her throat during her first time.

The last few chapters of the book felt rushed in trying to tie up lots of loose ends. There were some moments that felt forced like Orion telling her to call him ‘Master’ or when almost half her sisters showed up in the dungeon to help Kasimir.

[Quiny · Rating 5 out of 5]

he Assassin’s Dancer is the kind of book I picked up entirely for the atmosphere and it delivered exactly that. From the very beginning, the story leans heavily into dark fairytale energy, combining royal settings, hidden dance halls, and looming danger with an unapologetically spicy romance. It feels like a grown‑up retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, tapping into nostalgia while twisting it into something darker and more intense.

Amaryllis stands out as a strong yet gentle FMC. As the eldest of twelve sisters, her sense of responsibility defines her character, and her devotion to protecting her family drives every major decision she makes. She isn’t loud or reckless, but she is determined, clever, and emotionally grounded. Her willingness to hire an assassin to solve a very real threat immediately establishes her as someone who understands the cost of survival in a restrictive world.

Kasimir is exactly what readers expect from a morally black love interest. He is obsessive, dangerous, and fiercely protective once his attention fixes on Amaryllis. His devotion borders on unsettling at times, but that intensity is clearly intentional and central to the romance. This is a relationship built on danger, desire, and mutual fixation rather than slow emotional unraveling, which works well for the tone of the story.

The romantic buildup is one of the strongest aspects of the book. The tension leading up to the intimate scenes is charged and emotionally heavy, often more impactful than the scenes themselves. While the relationship develops quickly, the chemistry is strong enough to make it believable, especially given the high‑stakes circumstances surrounding the characters.

Another highlight is the bond between the sisters. The shared traditions, secret spaces, and collective resistance against control give the story its fairytale heart. Readers familiar with Barbie and the Twelve Dancing Princesses will likely feel a strong sense of nostalgia, though this version leans far more into darkness and adult themes.

The antagonist serves his role effectively, embodying entitlement and control in a way that makes the stakes feel real. However, the plot remains fairly straightforward, and the world‑building stays on the lighter side. Many elements feel intentionally reserved for future books, which is understandable given the larger series focus on the remaining princesses.

Overall, The Assassin’s Dancer is best approached as a vibe‑driven dark fantasy romance rather than a deeply intricate fantasy. It excels in atmosphere, obsession, and emotional pull, even if it doesn’t fully explore its world or characters in depth. For readers who enjoy dark fairytale retellings with intense romance and strong aesthetic appeal, this is an engaging and satisfying read. I’m especially curious to see how the stories of the other princesses unfold.

[Honey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was definitely a 'for the vibes' book...

So, I have been in a pretty bad reading slump, not had an interest in anything, so my first (and maybe only) bit of praise for this book is that not only did it keep my interest when nothing else was, but I also managed to finish it.

I picked this one up because its an upcoming pick in one of my book subs and I wanted to see if it was worth getting or whether I should skip... and tbh I am pretty conflicted on that after finishing this book (because I think it will be a super pretty edition😂)

Objectively, I don't think this was a great book, or even that good of a book.. but it was a fast paced easy read that I finished in one afternoon, and as I said it kept my interest in a slump which is impressive..... but there were a lot of issues with this book🥲.

A few plot point issues:

- Our FMC gets this weird 'gift of true sight' power at the beginning and it barely has any relevance in the story at all, if you removed it from the story it would make pretty much zero difference so why was it there? it was fully just glossed over and is mentioned maybe three times through the book after that...

- We get told her dad is this evil king that his people hate but nothing really comes of that plot wise.. like no unrest or consequences so again...why?

- This princess is missing a fair bit in this story between sneaking out to the town sometimes overnight and also being taken by her fiancé and yet you're telling me no one cares enough about a princess to query this more....

- I am not a dark romance reader typically so wondered how I would find this one as its marketed as a dark romance but idk honestly I thought this was pretty tame... we are warned about the MMC in the authors note and although he is supposed to be this dangerous assassin he really doesn't give off that energy to me.

- The FMC was very naïve which makes sense at the beginning but she doesn't really grow much throughout the book.

- Very insta-lust and quite quick to be in love.

- Very rushed ending we were at like 95% and things still weren't fully resolved.


But, all that being said, I found it a fun easy read if you don't look too closely at all the issues I mentioned above, I liked the dynamic with all the sisters and how protective Kaz was. So yeah I think the rating is more for the vibes and the fact it got me out of a slump (hopefully) rather than the quality of the book, not sure whether I'd continue this series yet.

[Christa · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝔸ℝℂ ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ

ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 - 𝟝 ⭐️ & 𝟛 🌶️

ℚ𝕦𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕤:
🩰 “I’ll break you, Ruby,” he growls. “You won’t be able to walk once I’m done with you.”

🩰 Princess Amaryllis was mine from the moment I had her moaning against the wall in her bedchamber, and she’d be a fool to think a few diamond necklaces could ever come close to what I want from her now. What I need. You’re mine, Ruby. And now my work here is done, it’s time I collect my payment.

🩰 “The other men here are lucky I was far too preoccupied with watching you to take note of which ones I need to kill for staring too hard.”

🩰 “You don’t understand what it does to me when I hear you say my name. How badly it makes me want you.”

🩰 “Today when I saw you with Orion, it was like my world fucking shattered. I need you, Amaryllis. And I don’t care about what your father or anyone else has to say about it. You were mine since the moment I first caught you in Night Alley, and I’ll be yours the second you tell me yes.”

ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨:
There are so few books that make me wish for amnesia just so I could reread them for the first time, and this one is definitely on that list.

I grew up obsessed with the Barbie movies, so the moment I saw that this was a loose retelling of 12 Dancing Princesses with added spice, I was instantly sold. 🫦

And I genuinely mean this with my hand on my heart, the author absolutely nailed it. At least from my point of view, the execution was flawless. 🤌🏻

Amaryllis is forced to seek out the Scorpion, the MMC, to deal with a prince who wants to marry her fourteen year old sister. She hides her identity, pretending to be a servant to the princesses, but he is no fool. He finds out she is the king’s firstborn daughter, and he is furious, to say the least.

When Kasimir handles the prince for her, he wants nothing to do with the jewelry she offers. What he wants is her. And when another prince shows up to claim Amaryllis, he completely loses it. 🔥

Of course, so much more happens in this story. She helps him with a few things, and in the middle of that, the spice hits exactly like it should. Honestly, if I could take a pill to experience this book again for the first time, I would swallow it without hesitation. That is how much I loved it. ❤️

And I cannot wait for the second book, and the third, and every one that comes after. ✨

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5-3

Plot was interesting enough that I basically binged. The premise of an assassin and princess is rare for me to find nowadays. It just fell flat near the end and started feeling more spice focused. Then the ending was so rushed

• Lack of power/world building
I was waiting to read more of the voice and her gift of true sight. It was forgotten about until 90% in. Some moments were sprinkled in, but she’d just brush it off. There was no explanation at the end as to who the voice was and why they were gifted

• Romance
The romance felt like insta lust. ML seemed to be possessive and like her more for her body. Sure, he’s better off than the other princes and scum bags but only because he knows what consent is. He still lusts after her, and the few cute romantic moments sprinkled in were covered by the spice that immediately followed. Even his “love confession” was during sex and they barely knew each other imo

• FL is delulu/stupid until the end
FL is innocent and naive and thankfully does more outside the palace, but I was waiting for her to wake up about her father. Their interactions pmo and despite her growth she still felt really weak and passive. ML telling him how shitty her father is didn’t finally make her believe him when he was gonna sell the youngest princess to a pedo prince? Speaking with her father and then giving up on everything? She had to find out her father didn’t love them to think oh ok he’s a shit person. She kept those rose tinted glasses GLUED ON

• Kaz isn’t exactly a villain or monster
Also to keep saying ML’s a monster when she was there to witness him saving trafficked victims but then seem ok with pedo’s, rapists, etc. Atp the ML never seemed like a villain, more like a vigilante

• The ending was rushed
The last chaper was basically smut. Sure she can still see her sisters but with how close and recognizable she is, what’s her life after? Is she helping Kaz with her job now? How did Meera react, since she said they were from different worlds? How are the sisters handling the king? What’ll they do with the auction and his gambling knowledge? There’s so many unanswered questions that I hope they get answered more throughout the rest of the series

[Em Clayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very eager to read this book after finding Erin on TikTok and loving her vibe as an author. That paired with the 12 Dancing Princesses vibe I was sold.

Straight away I was quite taken with the plot of the book. That paired with the semi dark themes, I found to really enjoy it.
Amaryllis, bless her heart, seems to be definitely the most sheltered out of her all sisters. Which despite all of them being as sheltered as her, did confuse me at first, but if I had to remind myself that the sisters are written as their own individuals, not copy-pastes of Amaryllis.

I must admit that after Kasimir was introduced, I found him to be quite over-possessive. Especially quite early into his relationship with Amaryllis. I like how their bond developed throughout the book but I couldn’t help but feel that Kasimir was too full on too much of the time. That didn’t exactly put me off him, but it did rub me up the wrong way when reading from his POV.

Towards the end of the book, I did find myself putting down my kindle because I was getting too anxious about the outcomes of the story line. I was expecting there to be a happy ending as always but the what ifs around the cost to get there did have me feeling nervous to continue the story. Especially when I was still apprehensive about how Amaryllis and Kasimir would end up together. When of course, Kasimir offers to stage her death along with Orion’s murder, it all ties together in the end and I had my ‘ahh I see’ moment.

I must admit, I was a little bit bothered by the pacing however that is not a slight on Erin’s story telling. I think there was a lot of focus on the MC’s and maybe Erin used the side plots, such as Orion or even the missions with Kasimir to fill the gaps to pave the way for the end.

I do like how Erin introduced us all to the character’s we’ll expect to see and hear from and has given them depth. Building on my point with the sisters; they’ll all have their stories and they’re all a victim of their father. I look forward to seeing how their perspectives will be portrayed.

Other than that, nothing short of an enjoyable story. Also fuck King Sol.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Assassin’s Dancer” by Erin Fae Ryan is the first book in the “Twelve Dancing Princesses” series. Inspired by the “Twelve Dancing Princesses” fairy tale and the Barbie movie of the same name, it is a spicy Dark romance full of dancing, betrayals, and an MMC who would do anything for his princess.

Tropes:
🩰🌶️🌶️🌶️
🩰Morally Gray MMC
🩰Naive (but sweet) Princess FMC
🩰Touch her and 💀
🩰He falls first…fast
🩰A wee bit of primal play

Despite being bound to the palace, Amaryllis ventures beyond the palace to protect her 11 sisters from a cruel and decrepit prince in search of the “Scorpion,” a man known for making problems disappear. Kasimir “The Scorpion” Verekov has found his precious Ruby in the princess Amaryllis, and he will never let her go.

Told through dual-POV, we meet our two MCs, Kasimir and Amaryllis, as they navigate their love story in the shadows. We’re not given deep dives into each MC's backstory, which works because it allows readers to focus on the “now” between our characters rather than the past. That being said, there are things that are mentioned throughout the story that are left as a mystery, so I hope that we will learn their truths as the series continues.

Amaryllis is a 25-year-old princess and the eldest sister to her 11 sisters. Although she is VERY sheltered and naive, she always puts her sisters first as their guardian and maternal figure. Exposed to the reality of her world, she quickly accepts that not everything is as it seemed, allowing her character to develop from the naive ballerina she was to become the protective swan she and her sisters deserved.

Instantly smitten, Amaryllis and Kasimir’s love affair is a 🌶️🌶️🌶️ secret full of temptation, claiming, secrets, and heat. Ryan even treats us to a wee bit of primal play between our MCs. When we reach the end of our story, Ryan gives us a surprisingly shocking and fitting end for them both.

“The Assassin’s Dancer” is a dark (but not too dark) romance tale full of whimsical romance, a dancing heroine, and her protective assassin looming in the shadows!

[teather.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Song: Barbie in The 12 Dancing Princesses by Fairy Lullaby
Interconnected Standalone
Similar Vibes: The 12 Dancing Princesses x Dark Romance

“𝐸𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎 𝓂𝒾𝓃𝓊𝓉𝑒 𝐼 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒾𝓃 𝓂𝓎 𝒶𝓇𝓂𝓈, 𝓈𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝒶𝓎 𝒶𝓈 𝓌𝑒𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝑒 𝒹𝒶𝓃𝒸𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓋𝒾𝓁𝓁𝒶𝒾𝓃. 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝒾𝒻 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝒻𝒶𝒾𝓇𝓎𝓉𝒶𝓁𝑒 𝓅𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝒹𝑜𝑒𝓈𝓃'𝓉 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓇𝑔𝑒 𝒾𝓃 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓈𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓈𝑜𝑜𝓃, 𝐼'𝓁𝓁 𝓇𝒾𝓅 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓈𝓉𝓇𝒶𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓎𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀'𝓈 𝓅𝒶𝑔𝑒𝓈.”

Tropes and Themes:
🩰 Ballerina Princess x Assassin
🖤 Dark Fairytale with Spice
🗡️ Morally Gray MMC
🩰 Touch Her & Die
🖤 Angst & Tension
🗡️ Betrayals
🩰 She Helps Him with a Job in a Brothel
🖤 He Falls First & Hard
🗡️ Only One Chair

Plot: Stalked by a vicious killer in dark leather, Amaryllis keeps to her palace and her sisters while courting a mysterious prince who's determined to win her hand. But her assassin, Kasimir, has never been one to give up on his prey so easily. And his little red-haired ballerina might just be the sweetest prey of all…

Thoughts: As a former dancer, I devoured this book. Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses was my FAVORITE movie growing up and this was everything my inner child was needing but with of course lots more spice!

I was sucked into the story from the very beginning. All I could hear during the first chapter was the Barbie theme song from the movie. I also think this would be a great book to read if you’re just diving into dark romance as this read more like a romantasy expect for a few spicy scenes that developed darker.

I had this rated a 4.5 star all the way up to the 70% mark where I had to drop my rating a little due what most standalone’s tend to do and that is rushing the plot forward to meet its end. This had a beautiful start that made me feel a little unsatisfied with the unmatched ending. I hope to see the FMC and MMC mentioned in the next standalone’s with a better conclusion to their story.

If you were a huge Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses fan growing up and want to feel those vibes again but with spice and angst then I think you’d really enjoy this book too! 🩰🗡️

[Maddie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this one because it’s rumored to be an upcoming sub pick for a book box I have. Overall I liked the concept (Barbie twelve dancing princesses). I appreciate any book with ballet as I danced for many years growing up. I liked the FMC but she was very naive which could be frustrating (but made sense given her sheltered upbringing). There was a bit of magic in this book but honestly it didn’t really add much to the plot so I don’t know that it was necessary.

Our MMC was great but I felt the insta-lust was a bit too much. He’s an assassin nicknamed the Scorpion that the FMC hires to take care of someone (permanently). I felt like the spice was a bit too much but I think part of that is because the degradation/praise isn’t for me. Nor was it when the MMC said “F*ck the herb. I hope tonight gets her pregnant.” I don’t think that’s EVER ok and that really put me off the MMC for the remainder of the book.

Overall it felt like all the action was towards the end of the book. I know this is planned to be a series of interconnected standalones so some plot points are left unfinished but I still have a lot of questions after finishing this book. This book was marketed as Lights Out meets romantasy but I felt like it was dark romance lite compared to Lights Out. Mind the content warnings for this one, some of the aspects of this book that I didn’t love I’m sure others will!

My consensus is that I will get the book from the book box but at this time I’m unsure if I will continue the series.

[Maura’s Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay where do i start?

This book is so fast paced and only 300ish pages which is all you need am i right???

The fact that this is a grown up version of the 12 dancing princesses but then only the eldest has the main lead in this book has me obsessed. The 12 Dancing Princesses has always been one of my fav movies so being able to read this (SPICY) version healed me. 🌞
——————————————-
This kept me entertained all the way through, Kaz is definitely one of my favorite MMC’s of all time! TOUCH HER AND DIE YESYESYES!

Right from the beginning the story started of strong and it never really stopped. I would say the (dark)romance is the main course of the story which honestly DAMN these SPICY scenes got me frrr 🌶️🌶️🌶️🥵.
———————————————-
Amaryllis is such a cute FMC, and the way we see her grown and her wanting to get stronger and being able to defend herself hell yeah. And the way she loves her sisters is everything to me. The bond they all have i just LOVE LOVE LOVE.

The banter between Kaz and Amaryllis is everything to me, they just fit so well and just love everything about them.

I also just got The Demons Captive the second book in the series send to me by the amazing Erin Fae and im gonna start it as of right now. Im so so exited for Dahlias story. ✨

I highly recommend.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5!

[Lara Jesus · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
The Assassin’s Dancer was such a pleasant surprise. The idea of a book inspired by Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses had already won me over before I even started, but the fact that it combined that with dark romance and fantasy made it even more interesting.
This was my first book by Erin Fae Ryan, and I was genuinely surprised by how light and fluid the writing style was. It made the story incredibly easy to follow, and I quickly became attached to the characters.
I really liked Amaryllis, especially because of how big-hearted she is, and Kasimir… simply perfect for her.
One of my favourite things in this book was the relationship between the sisters and the way they come together to protect one another. I just wish that dynamic had been explored a little more throughout the story, although the final moments between them definitely made up for it. I also would have liked a bit more fantasy, because the world had so much potential to be explored further.
The ending left me completely desperate to know what happens next, especially after that mini plot twist. Overall, it was a very strong start to the series, and I’m really excited to continue this journey with my dear Dhalia.

[Αλεξάνδρα Αλτάνη · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

This book felt like stepping into a fairytale with a dark twist!

*I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

I read it in less than 24 hours, completely swept up in the story, the writing, and the chemistry between the main characters. The banter was great, and I really enjoyed the romantic elements, though I do wish there had been a bit more build-up to their relationship early on since it felt slightly rushed to me. Kasimir was on thin ice with some things he said, but in general, he was a remarkable morally gray character, and I liked him a lot. Even so, the couple had amazing chemistry, and some of their dialogue was just top tier! That is probably why I wished there had been a bit more yearning at the beginning. Maybe that is just me...

I read dark romance, so I was prepared for some heavy themes, but there were a few moments and lines that I would have liked to see handled a little differently or rephrased (in regards to context, not writing). At the same time, there were plenty of lines and quotes I ended up highlighting on my Kindle!

Overall, this was a darkly enchanting read with a romantic core and a dark fairytale edge. The book kept me hooked with its unique blend of fairytale atmosphere, romantic tension, fun, darkness and family matters. If you enjoy stories with morally gray characters, rule-breaking princesses, light kingdom intrigue, and do not mind some trigger warnings... this one is definitely worth checking out!

[Darbi O'Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I flew through this in two days without even trying. It had all the elements that usually pull me in—dark tension, an obsessive love interest, and a fairytale twist with ballerina princesses. The premise is genuinely strong, and the pacing kept me turning pages.

Kasimir brought the morally-black intensity the synopsis promises, and the chemistry between him and Amaryllis stayed sharp the whole way. Their dynamic had that addictive, stalker-obsession edge that worked for the tone of the story.

But even with all that, it never quite reached “I loved this” for me. Something felt like it didn’t fully settle—emotionally, or in the worldbuilding. The spice was very heavy (not a bad thing), but it sometimes took space from the deeper character development I was wanting. Amaryllis had moments of depth, but I never felt like I got to fully sit inside her inner world or the stakes with her sisters.

Overall, it’s a fast, dark, bingeable read with a strong vibe, and I am curious about the other sisters. It just didn’t land with the emotional weight I was hoping for, even though I couldn’t put it down.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this book not loving dark romance as it is but something abt Kaz was just spot on. He was obsessed but not in that cringe wattpad way I feel like a lot of characters can be. And I love a man who asks for consent lemme tell you.

I do wish Princess Amaryllis had more character growth! I enjoyed the battle she faced between being a prim and proper princess and just stabbing all the awful men around her. She was a great first pick for this series as the eldest sister and her mental fight to stay with her sisters and endure so many awful things to keep them safe :(

Erin does a great job writing awful fucking villians. I didn't like a single person besides the princesses and the people of Kasimir's group. 🫩 at some point I didn't even like a few of the princess either.

Overall, it was great. I liked the retelling a lot and I can appreciate the slow-ish burn to open door scenes without it feeling so unintentional. I hope to see more of Kasimir in the future books as he seems to worry about the sisters as much as Amaryllis.

Excited to also read about Fern later down the line 👀👀👀 what are you hiding from us author?