How The Fae Stole Midwinter: A Romantic Fantasy Holiday Novella

by Ann C. Orlandi

When her snowbound village enters its 530th year under a Midwinter curse, plucky schoolteacher Mira decides she’s had enough. Determined to restore joy and song to the season, she climbs the mountain to confront the reclusive fae who cast the spell in the first place.

But finding his towering, frostbitten castle is only the beginning, because the Lord of Mount Grimfrost is nothing like the monster she imagined…and nothing she’s prepared to face. He's handsome, powerful, and more than a little moody. Forced to remain within his icy castle, Mira must change the fae’s mind—and maybe melt his frozen heart—before time runs out and her village is trapped forever in an icy prison.

A wintery tale sure to heat up your holidays. High spice, standalone, with a happy ending for all!

Genres: Fantasy

142 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 11, 2025

Reviews

[Leah Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an e-arc, thank you Ann C. Orlandi for the opportunity to read and review this story!

A curse has fallen over the town where no singing or music is allowed, nothing tastes good and joy can’t be felt around Midwinter. Mira is tasked (more like forced) with climbing the mountain and facing the Fae Lord of Mount Grimfrost. She has to find a way to end the curse and bring joy back to her village for Midwinter. But what happens when she finds out that he too is cursed?

What a quick, fun, smutty read! Grinch meets Beauty and Beast retelling with the same sassy whit as The Grinch, but the yearning and love of the Beast! Victus and Mira’s smart remarks to each other were so much fun! Victus is down bad for Mira from the get go! For being a short story, the chemistry is set up so well between them! I would have loved more build up but we were on a time frame so I understand!

I’m actually so sad this is a standalone short story! I need to know more about Victus and his family! There’s so much that could happen after this and I really hope this sparked a few more books! I’d absolutely read them!!

[Insha · Rating 5 out of 5]

How the Fae stole Midwinter is the kind of book you read at 10 p.m. after an everything-shower, slipping into clean sheets and cozy pjs with a warm drink in hand. It’s the perfect 3–4 hour escape into a magical, snow-drenched world and a cursed little village tucked in the valley of Grimfrost. The curse brought avalanches, snowy squalls, and countless dreary days where food lost its flavor, traditions felt hollow, and music forgot its sweetness. Mira, a math teacher with more heart than she realizes, takes it upon herself to break it—to feel the joy of their Midwinter festival again; to eat without tasting ash; to hear music that stirs the soul; to witness spring return to a place that desperately needs it.

Curl up in your blanket, because Mira’s journey is overflowing with hope, yearning, and quiet magic. I won’t go into details to stay spoiler-free, but let’s just say Victus is not the kind of MMC you think he is 😭😭—he’s so much more.

By the end of this book, you’ll be a sobbing mess, craving cinnamon rolls at 1 a.m., and itching to start new Christmas traditions of your own.
Spice: open door 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes: beauty x beast, magical fairytale romantasy.

ARC provided by the author/publisher—my first ARC!!!—and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

[Brittni · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨He has antlers, she has attitude✨

After being threatened by the Mayor, Mira treks up the mountain to try and convince the Fae Lord of Mount Grimfrost to break the curse on their little town.

This was the cutest little festive novella ever!! Such an easy, quick read and perfect for anyone looking for a good holiday themed romantasy.

I loved how fiesty the FMC is and that she is so determined to do what she needs in order to save her village. The way her and the MMC were such smartasses to each other had me cracking up, their banter and teasing was so entertaining. Also, if you want a new book boyfriend who has antlers... 😏 Theres also a magic library which, as we all know, is every reader's dream come true 💕

This is a Beauty & the Beast meets the Grinch blend and it's so well written! It starts off quick and never really slows down so you're locked in the entire way through. Releases December 12th! ✨

[Chaos · Rating 5 out of 5]

For how short this book was, it had everything a tale should have. Mira is hope and joy wrapped up in one woman. Victus did not see her coming and she was everything he needed. Not just to break the curse but to bring joy and light back into his life. I do hope there are other books about his brothers. There has to be some redemption for them. Some way to break the curse as well. I enjoyed this book so much.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

How The Fae Stole Midwinter by Ann C. Orlandi

I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book and was not paid for my review.

***
After 500 years of a miserable Midwinter curse, schoolteacher Mira decides to march up the mountain and give the local Fae a piece of her mind. But the Lord of Mount Grimfrost isn't the monster she expected, he’s brooding, powerful, and inconveniently attractive. Stuck in his icy castle, Mira has to melt his frozen heart before her village is locked in winter forever.
• Grumpy x Sunshine
• Forced Proximity
• Fae Romance
• Curse Breaking
***
I’m not usually one to read a novella, I speed through them too fast and are usually just left wanting more, but this little bitesize morsel was a wonderful treat! It had me chuckling, shouting and fanning myself with the way it tells the story of our plucky FMC and magical MMC. I loved how it leans into an almost vaudeville-esque style of storytelling, with plenty of tongue in cheek and waggly eyebrows moments that make you chuckle. This is one of those books that you could make into a gloriously funny drinking game and enjoy every second.

The way this little novella packs a punch with some of my favourite tropes is truly impressive, there is sarcasm and teasing, grumpy mmc and an irresistible chaos sunshine FMC, a giant wolf with main character energy, oh and plenty of yearning.

Mira is relatable and genuinely likeable throughout, I admire her ability to stay determined to have holiday traditions even when everyone else have become miserable grumps. Victus is such different POV with his loner tendencies and insistence that he much prefers to be a grump, you’re not fooling anyone dude.

I thoroughly enjoyed this midwinter romp, with some tasty spicy moments, it hit the spot!

⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Fae, human, a curse, forced proximity and a sense of humour. Loved it.

[neeshreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5

This was my first book by Ann C. Orlandi and this was a fun novella to wind down and read before bed! Take Beauty and the Beast vibes but make him Fae (there’s a curse he’s also affected by, he has antlers and they’re sensitive 🤭, and he’s got a magical library,) and mashup with a Grinch-y twist, a little spice, and ta-da!

🤭Banter & Teasing
🏰Forced Proximity (Snowed In)
🔥"Good girl" & "Good boy"
🌶️Solo time
❄️Ice and Snow Magic
📚"Give Her a Library" Vibes
💖Sassy 30-year-old Heroine
📖Standalone Novella (3rd Person POV)

Mira is the only one in her village who is fed up with accepting the Midwinter curse and is determined to find a way to break it. So, she takes herself up the mountain and finds that the intimidating, frostbitten castle is hiding someone within who is nothing like the monster she imagined. Lord of Mount Grimfrost is ridiculously beautiful, broody and when they’re snowed in together? Well, Mira is determined to change the fae’s mind and maybe melt his frozen heart…

This was a cute holiday read that took a fun twist on two classic tales. I enjoyed the dynamic between Victus & Mira – their banter, pining and teasing created a push-pull between them that had you itching for the tension to finally snap! I loved the depth to Victus and the fact that Mira was so feisty. The magics presented were a fun addition and Rex was the perfect wolf puppy companion!

[Claressa Hallman · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 Stars

For hundreds of years, Mira's village has suffered a curse.  The village is drained of joy, emotion, taste, and - much to Mira's chagrine - music.  To save her village by the next Midwinter, Mira visits the Fae atop Mount Grimfrost.  Will she find the cure to the curse, or will the village continue to fall into despair.  

I have recently found such a joy in reading  dark fairytale retellings.  This novella was a twist on Beauty and the Beast and How The Grinch Stole Christmas.  

I really enjoyed the mashup of these two stories!  The banter between the FMC and MMC was fun and enjoyable.  I love a good animal sidekick - and Rex the wolf was a perfect addition to this wintery fantasy.  

This was a great read for the Christmas season.  I enjoyed the traditions of Midwinter that were described in the book.  The Christmas season is my favorite time of year, and I felt a kindred spirit in Mira.  Her love and devotion to Midwinter traditions was wholesome and heartwarming.

Read How The Fae Stole Midwinter if you like:

🧚 Fairytale Retellings

🌶️ Mild Spice

♥️ Instant Attraction

💬 Playful Banter

🐺 Animal Sidekick

🌬️ Tormented MMC

I received an advanced copy of this novella and I am providing a voluntary review.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I read this book the second it hit my inbox yes. Was I hooked from page 1 also yes.

I absolutely loved Mira and Victus. The icy Lord of Mount Grimfrost and the human determined to break the curse over her village. What happens when she goes to his mountain? Will she break the curse? Or will it break her?

I did not know how much I needed a book like this until I read it. The Grinch and Beauty and the Beast themes were perfect and worked so well together.

I loved watching Mira never give up on what she believed in even if it seemed like her hope was for nothing. That woman is a spitfire and not afraid to speak her mind and do what she believes in.

Victus, where do I start with him? He has been alone for centuries, well he has Rex his wolf but still technically alone. What happens when a human climbs his mountain determined to break a curse she knows nothing about? Will he send her back to her village or will he let her stick around? I loved reading his pov because his thoughts had me giggling!

I loved the banter, spice, surprise action towards the end, and everything else in this book.

Thank you Ann for this arc I absolutely loved this book!

[Ruxi Avram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review

What a sweet and delightful and full of joy this book is! Definitely surpassing my expectations! I give it a decisive 5 stars, as it is the best holiday story I have read this year.
Mira is a strong willed 30ish woman, living in a cursed town, that dreams about songs and laughter and joy. Her only wish is to break the chilling curse by the end of Midwinter, and her only idea to do so is to find the Fae Lord from the castle up the mountain and make him end this curse.
Victus is the forementioned Fae Lord, but he is not the one that put the curse on the land, but the one who was cursed for 529 years . He lost his native power of fire, and all he has are empty frozen halls and oppressive loneliness.
Their story is one of second chance at life, of blooming love and finding joy. Even if the story in itself is a little predictable, the way it is written and the chemistry the characters have is delightful!
This novella actually brought joy to my day, and I thank Ann Orlandi for it!
I have received this book as ARC via Booksirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you for this story!

[Moonburst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mira's village has been under a fae curse for over 500 years. Winter steals all joy, music, taste, and feeling. When the Mayor threatens to send her to the fae Lord of Mount Grimfrost, Mira refuses to be daunted. She will go up the mountain and confront the fae lord and defeat the curse. But Lord Victus is just as affected by the curse as she is. Can Mira find a way to break the curse before it's too late?

Mira is determined and clever, though she quickly discovers she is out of her depths. She finds Victus to be extremely handsome and she soon is determined to share her midwinter cheer with him. For his part, Victus is largely depressed and resigned to the inevitable. Unable to explain the constraints of the curse, he no longer sees the point in fighting it. But as Mira awakens his heart and desire, he finds himself caring more and more about the curse's end.

A delightfully written fairy tale with the perfect amount of holiday cheer.

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

[Sandra Aranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who does not love fairytales?

I know I grew up reading them and as an adult love them now with added spice. While this reminds me of a few of my favorite fairytales it is a fresh retelling. As a novella it has a shortened amount of time to get through everything. However, this author did a great job!

From page one Mira was a girl after my own heart, and Victus? Well he is a charismatic Fae after all so you have to love him! Throw in an XL furry wolf named Rex & it got even better. In a short novella you go through the pain, suffering, into love & spice, to solving the curse and a heartfelt finale!

I must also say that the author left plenty of room for spin off books as family was introduced. I know I would love to see Mira and Victus a few years down the road!

READ THIS BOOK! You will love it!

[Rachel’s Coffee & Rain Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well I’ve been on a spicy holiday kick but this was just ok. One mildly zesty scene, but overall the characters had great chemistry. Would be rated higher if the book was edited better, both for grammar and plot inconsistencies, those always pull me from the story. Mira was a tad immature for a 30 year old, but her sunshine to Victus’s grump was pretty hilarious. She had some amazing one liners (offering to trade her yarn/flannel cloak for his made of starlight 🤣🤣🤣). Also, this is a novella so the slow burn was a tad tedious. We’ve only got like 160 pages to work with, let’s get to the good stuff before 75% 🥴.

A cute holiday retelling, a little cheesy, needs a polish, but a decent pallet cleanser.

[Sarah J Stebbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book by an author I follow, Victoria K Taylor - side note read her Fate of Ashes series, posted about really enjoying it. So, I bought the Kindle version and boy was I not disappointed!

I love this book! It is very much its own story, but is inspired by Beauty and the Beast meets the How the Grinch Stole Christmas, with humans and a fae. Sounds kind of weird and yet it very much worked for me! This is a novella, a little over 120 pages, and yet it in that short time a beautiful, enchanting, joyful and spicy story was told. The dual POV of Mira and Victus was just right. There are also several other threads that could be pulled to further expand this world. I truly hope more books do come, I will read them.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fairytale vibe Christmas novella. You totally get beauty and the beast vibes but with much more spice.
The MMC is a broody, hopeless and lonely fae who lives in a castle with only his animal companion. But otherwise he has been alone for centuries. He gave up all hope but can she warm his heart and spark hope in him?
I absolutely adore the animal sidekick! It is a great cherry on top for the story.
The FMC is full of hope, joy and light and wants winter solstice and music back. She believes the world can change and that everything will be good.
I love their banter and how they challenge each other for example when they bake together.
The last chapters were my favourites and I loved how everything turned out.

[Kaitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the absolute pleasure of beta reading this novella and I was charmed from the very beginning. Ann has a captivating way of weaving a story with witty banter, relatable characters and incredibly steamy scenes that will have you giggling and kicking your feet. It definitely kickstarted my holiday spirit!

I adored the plucky and determined Mira as she navigated the unfamiliar and (often) spicy interactions with her icy Fae Lord—sure she can chip away at the curse that has plagued her village for centuries.

With hints of Beauty and the Beast and the Grinch, this standalone novella is the perfect book to pair with your favorite holiday drink for a fun and spicy
winter romp.

[Joslyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this! I know it's a stand-alone but I hope to see more of this world in the future. This was a nice mix of the Grinch and Beauty and the Beast. I love a book with 30+ year old MC and one who is headstrong. She is determined to break the curse that's been on her village for hundreds of years even if everyone else has given up. I enjoyed reading about Victus, he is such a tease!! The lore was refreshingly great even for a novella. And even though this was a quick short read, there was a great plot that didn't rely on the spice to make it interesting. This is perfect for a winter read 🥰 I'm excited to read more from this author!

[Valerie Roberson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 5 Star must read!
What an awesome story! It was The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and Beauty and the Beast put together. The castle, the Lord of the castle who is cursed, which makes him a beast. He needed to get his heart to break the curse. She is Bell with her love of books and not afraid of the beast at all. Rex was from The Grinch and was the best part of the story.
It takes a stubborn woman to go to a castle on top of a frozen mountain, determined to break the curse. She stood up to him and found love. He had given up entirely on happiness and love, until this spitfire walked into his home.
This story proves that Love really does conquer all.

[Serrendippiet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much fun to read! It was the perfect Christmas bite to get me in the mood for the holidays. For being a shorter read, the chemistry between Mira and Victus is scrumptious, of course it's lust at first sight but it was so entertaining and written exceptionally well. There was the perfect swirl of plot and romance that made turning the pages ridiculously easy and if life hadn't gotten in the way, I would have easily read this in one sitting. It starts off very quick, leading you right into the thick of the story and never really slowing down, I was locked in the entire way through.

How The Fae Stole Midwinter was the most delightful Christmas romp!

[Roberta Godoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short story for the holiday season. After all, Mira just wants to save the small village where she lives and the celebrations that are no longer important to the other residents before winter and ice become permanent and eternal.

To do this, she climbs a mountain to find the handsome Fae with sensitive deer antlers and green hair who lives in the enchanted castle and has a pet wolf.

I became interested in learning more about his family history and his siblings, apparently related to the seasons, although the brother who appears at the end of the story lost many points for being so spoiled! But I'll keep my eyes open to see the rest of the story.

[Nathalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all thanks to Ann for letting me be part of her ARC team again 💖

This was such a cute a quick reading for this holidays, recommended for the ones looking for a short winter romantasy.

I must say, I love seeing a woman in her 30s as the protagonist—it's perfectly fitting and necessary. Her determination, her confidence in what she wants and believes is right, is wonderful. Victus is the antlered Grinch I didn't know I needed, trying to deny until the very end that his heart could be melted.

I hope to read many more books by this author 💖

[Kamarreya · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was like the grinch plus beauty and the beast and I was all for it. This was a feel good read. Something you sit in a warm blanket and drink hot cocoa while its snowing out, but still blushing at THOSE scenes. Once I realized the grinch vibe every chapter just kept getting better and better. This isn't my usual kind of read but I loved it nonetheless. The creativity was a 10 out of 10 and I've never said that about any review yet.

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

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a really well written Fae romance novel and enjoyed the way the characters were used to tell the story that was needed. It uses the winter element perfectly and was engaged from start to finish in this story. The characters were written well and thought they worked well in the fantasy element, I was invested in their romance and how good everything flowed together to tell the story. Ann C. Orlandi wrote this so well and kept the reader engaged and glad I was able to read this.

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

[Katelynn Catchpole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being told that the magic fae king on the mountain eats maidens, and either you went up to stop the curse or your sister does? I would have sent my sister lol But for the sake of the story I’m glad it was Mira. I loved her strong character and sassy attitude that she immediately gave to Victus even though he’s a fae king. Their flirty, teasing banter is always a favourite for me between love interests in books. The inside joke of him going to eat her throughout the book was great, also can’t forget a fun pet sidekick like Rex!

[Whit · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 ✨
This Grinch x Beauty and the Beast was a very fun, spicy holiday novella. It is a quick read and great for getting out of a slump. I loved the elements that were pulled from the well known stories, and it was done very well, without feeling like a copy of the tales!

Tropes:
Snowed In
Banter & Teasing
Cursed Village
Open Door 🌶️🌶️🌶️
He has antlers, she has attitude

Thank you to the author for the ARC!

[Mamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put it down! I completely messed up my sleep schedule and I don't regret it one bit! I absolutely loved this story. It's like if The Grinch and Beauty and the Beast had a baby. It's well written and sucks you in in the first chapter. I was completely invested into the characters and cheering them on the whole time. The only thing I didn't like was how short the story was because I just didn't want it to end. I'm so hoping for a second book!

[Jeannie Storm Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super cute short novella about a girl trying to lift the curse of her small village. The Fae in The castle high on the mountain is said to be the cause and one who cursed them. A season full of snow, and lack of life. This was a super cute winter story. Beauty and the beast meets the grinch. With Fae, magic and spice! Great read for the holiday season. Packed so much heart, lust, love and heartbreak into one short story!

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a holiday read I enjoyed this one. It is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty’s curse with Beauty and the Beast vibes. The story follows Mira who is from a village that is under a winter curse. She is very positive and stays hopeful that the curse will be broken. Victus is the fae grump that must change to break the curse. The dynamic between the two opposite characters is one of my favorite tropes grumpy and sunshine. If you love a grumpy/sunshine holiday story you will enjoy this one.

[K. Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I am so glad that I received this ARC novella. It's a perfect winter time read. I could not help but smile at the banter between Mira and Victus. I am also super excited to encounter an FMC around my age who is both resourceful, funny and full of optimism. This is Beauty and the Beast / Grinch leaning and while the novella is both cozy and low-stakes, I could see there being more to Mira and Victus's story unfolding potentially (crosses fingers).

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute fae midwinter celebration (kinda Christmas like) novella that is a combination of beauty and the beast and how the grinch stole Christmas. It is such a sweet story with just the right amount of spice. The perfect book to give you the warm and fuzzy feeling of the holiday season with a classic fae story.

[Ashley Hegenauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. I wish it would have been longer and had more world building. Definitely a more adult Mashup of the grinch and beauty and the beast.

I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily but with that in mind I will definitely be looking to purchase any future books by this author.