A Heart Wrapped in Thorns

by Megan Derr

When he was fourteen, Aurélien's mother insisted a particular spell be cast on him and his siblings, and commissioned a famed mage to do it.

Instead of what his mother demanded, however, the mage instead gave Aurélien what he most wanted: a spell of thorns so that none could touch him without his permission, and those who tried would suffer immense pain.

Now he waits, alone and despairing, for the one destined to burn the thorns away…

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, M M Romance, Dragons, Short Stories, Magic, Royalty

43 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 26, 2026

About the author

Megan is a long time resident of queer romance and keeps herself busy reading and writing it. She is often accused of fluff and nonsense. When she’s not involved in writing, she likes to cook, harass her wife and cats, or watch movies. She loves to hear from readers and can be found all over the internet.

meganderr.com
patreon.com/meganderr
meganderr.blogspot.com
facebook.com/meganaprilderr
meganaderr@gmail.com
@meganaderr

Reviews

[Drusilla]

I wanted to read a fairy tale, and this one was perfect for me. I would almost go so far as to say that it was the most beautiful of all the fairy tale retellings I have read so far.
I love the story behind the thorns.
It hurt a little to see how everyone treated Aurélien.
The love story itself is also bittersweet.
Perhaps there could have been a little more depth to the relationship between the main characters at the end, but I'm not complaining. This short book made me dream and gave me a few wonderful minutes.

Looking at him set something in Aurélien's chest to fluttering, made his stomach twist itself into knots. He never wanted to look away, just drink in the man's beauty, his compelling presence, for as long as he was permitted. 🫠🫠🫠

[trice]

there's nothing like a good old megan derr fairytale <3 perfect stress reliever, and it was a nice surprise to see the crossover with ivan the heartless

[Achim]

Derr and fairytales – what could go wrong. Maybe I'm biased because Megan Derr's fairytales were one of the stories I opened my first Kindle with. I enjoyed them then and I still do. They're just what I'm looking for in short fairytale-retellings. This time it's Sleeping Beauty, only without the spinning wheel and therefore without sleeping but still a lot of thorns. Wouldn't work as a novel-length story or a fantasy book but it's perfect as a light fairytale.

[Kate]

I love Megan Derr books, so I hate to admit that a lot of her mc's are feeling like the same recycled characters: depressed guys disillusioned by the lack of support in their life and sulking constantly about it. Which is fine! That is a character type that needs the spotlight sometimes...but all the time? Switch it up, please.

[Kassu]

3.5⭐

A lovely fairytale with a potential for more, and another connection to Ivan the Heartless. It's certainly a retelling of sorts of Sleeping Beauty but luckily without the non-con bits. Aurélien doesn't fall asleep, he wishes for thorns so people would stay away.

I think this sort of ache (both Aurélien's life in general and the feeling after meeting Keone) would have needed a bit longer story to really milk it, to leave a proper impact. Now it's nice, definite recommendation for fairytale lovers, but hnnnngh. I would have loved to wallow in it and then get some groveling and just more of everything. All of it was resolved too quickly, especially the romance.

[Rozarka]

I am glad the author is writing fairy tales again but this was too insta-lovey for me.

[Ami]

Sweet fairy-tale.

I don't know if this is inspired from another fairy-tale - but I think the whole "body wrapped in thorns whenever Aurélien feels hurt and it will hurt others who try to touch him" feels unique. I am not a big fan of the separation plot though, I think Keone's reason is rather lame. But I admit Aurélien getting his happy ending with a dragon! is kind of cool.

[Charlotte Ertryckx]

This was very sweet! I thought the world and the characters were super interesting, and it really just made me wish this was a full length novel lol :p I also really enjoyed the fairy tale vibe of this.

I was itching to get back into Megan Derr's writing and thought I would start with one of her recent novella's and I can confirm the itch has just gotten worse, so I'm full on diving in and hoping to find a new favourite somewhere (though beating The High King's Golden Tongue will be difficult)!

[antonia&#x1fae7;]

i so so wish it was a normal length book but at the same time it was the perfect length? everything that had to be said and written was there and it was so beautiful!!


i felt like it was a mix of beauty and the beast x sleeping beauty x rapunzel and my princess-loving little heart appreciated that soooo much.


my fantasy-loving big heart appreciated the dragons and mages.🖤

[Laurie Takao]

Lovely Fairy Tale With a Twist

I would love to read a sequel featuring these two characters. A quick read that left me hoping for more.

[Eve]

Another one of Megan Derr's beautiful fairy tales. ♡

[Sniege]

I really like how Megan reimagines fairy tales

[Tigress62]

4.6 stars - another of Megan Derr's wonderful little short stories! It's a fresh take on "Sleeping Beauty" and the world building is amazing, as usual. That must not have been easy, because it is a SHORT story indeed. I loved both Aurélien and Keone!

[Tinnean]

A lovely fairy tale. I wish it had been longer. I'm just glad Aurelien's mother didn't have a chance to hurt Pip. She was a stupid woman to try to strike him after all this time and knowing what would happen.

I really wish it had been longer. :-D

[Terri]

4.5 stars. I quite enjoyed this short story/novella. It's a compelling fairytale retelling.

[Celestina]

sweet!!

Lovely short read. Megan Derr never disappoints. I normally don’t read short stories but I knew I would love her little world.

[Deborah]

A sweet little tale

A quick read; hero is a sad prince protected from harm by his thorns but somewhat bound by duty, who encounters a stranger. Hero’s mother is not nice, his dog is… well, just a young dog, he has no friends, and anyone harming him is harmed worse by his thorns, normally a quiet “tattoo” but quite nasty when needed. And as no one is nice to him, he’s a somewhat solitary soul.
The end isn’t a surprise but this is well written and engaging.

[Tim]

Once upon a time in a fantasy land far away...comes a twist on the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale.

A beautiful, ambitious but cold queen with three children hears tales of remote royal families hiring mages to bestow magical gifts on their children to assure their future. She hires a wandering mage to do the same to her children. She carefully coaches her children to ask for their gifts: her eldest will be successful and happily married by her 21st birthday, and her youngest will be a loyal and helpful helper in his marriage by his 21st birthday. However, her middle child, the mage sees a reserve from years of the queen's abuse. So instead, the magician gives the 14 year old Aurélien what he most wants- no one can touch him without his permission. Which results in an intricate series of tattoo of thorns across his body. which come to life as someone tries to touch him.

12 years later, Aurélien is alone mostly. Accompanied by his puppy, he haunts the local woods and a nearby ruined castle, learning the lore of herbs, and crafting tapestries by hand. One day he meets a strange wanderer named Keone, and heals and shelters him during a fierce storm. They wind up spending the night together, but when Aurélien awakens the next morning, he's alone.

Aurélien's siblings have married successfully, but the queen is impatient and wants Aurélien married off too. So she invites a distant prince to marry Aurélien, who refuses. Taking refuge in his abandoned castle, where an impenetrable barrier of thorns magically block anyone but Aurélien's true love... well the ending writes itself... with a cute twist.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

[bianca]

I could see the twist coming a mile away with this one. As one reviewer said, it's the same archetypes for her stories and couldn't agree with it more. Despite this, what I usually enjoy from reading her short stories however, is a unique twist or charm that it carries even with something recycled mixed in which is barely here.

I much liked the concept but felt like the conflict introduced by the love interest felt too much of convenient excuse and might've benefitted from being a little more fleshed out. (To crudely put it, it felt too much of an ass pull.) The MC has some traits/tropes that I do enjoy with others but felt a little forced here.

The story definitely could be something more which is a shame— we could've explored more themes with MC's family and environment I feel like. Well it doesn't have to become a long novel but there are things that a short story/novella could still touch upon and leave the reader with some introspection instead of being used as backdrop to fast track the introduction. Which I did see in the author's other works which is I guess why I'm a little harsh on the criticism here.

[MyDoRyS]

My reviews are my own. If you enjoyed this book, I’m glad you did. If not, I respect your opinion, so please respect mine.  This is simply my view, so let's keep it courteous. My review is honest and voluntary.

I usually do not enjoy retellings, but this one was incredibly sweet. I would have liked to see him slapping his mom and telling her to go fudge herself.....but it is ok, that is what happened in imagination! Very short and sweet and I truly enjoyed it.

On to my next adventure, Happy Readings!!!

[Lora Graham]

Almost perfect

1. It was never explained how or why Aurelien was able to cast spells. 2. It was never explained how an ogre was able to overtake a dragon (beginning of the story). Did he take him by surprise? 3. There still - for me - not a good enough explanation for Keone leaving.

Also, why did Aurelien’s mother hate him so? And where was his father? These are the types of details I look for as a reader. I read for enjoyment but I can’t enjoy it if it doesn’t make sense.

[Charlie]

Having read many of the authors other fantasy stories, I was a little disappointed with the emotional shallowness of this one. Add to that the typos and anachronistic language at points - I did not have a fun time. The overall story and idea of a physical protection of thorns against all types of hurt/abuse was engaging so the book on the whole wasn’t a loss.

[Eszter]

Megan Derr has done it again!

An adorable sweet fairy tale based on fairy tales (the thorns of Sleeping Beauty, the tower of Rapunzel) which is so well written you don't even want to stop reading.

Unfortunately for me it was a very short story (40+ pages). I wish it was longer, got more tension and lovely connection between Aurelien and Keone, but this was also truly worth the read.

[Dawn Siemer]

Cute short

MM sleeping beauty retelling, without the sleeping. The thorny prince is a nice guy. The fact of his gender doesn't really make a difference, since his kingdom apparently doesn't discriminate and sex isn't described. The love interest is mostly mysterious.

[Deana Armstrong]

Fairytale

Story is good as always, but it has a few grammar and formatting glitches, which is an unusual occurrence for Derr.

[Monika]

● Fantasy
● Magic
● Royalty
● A Dragon (shifter)!!!!!!
● So damn cute
● Really wish this was longer but it definitely got it's point across
● Short, under 50 pages

[Suzanne]

Different take on royalty trapped in a tower surrounded by thorns

It’s a short story, what do you expect?

[Lucien]

rating: 3.5 / 5

[eesha]

i mean. it's no how not to marry a prince but it's alright!

[Barbara]

A perfect sweet fairy tale by Ms. Derr. I truly love most of her stories. I wish this had been a bit longer to see them in Keone's country. Recommend reading.