Fall for a Fairytale

by Isabelle Taylor

In this cozy romantasy, a charming orc con artist convinces an orphaned fae that she could be the kingdom’s lost princess, thrusting them both on a dangerous adventure with high stakes, a flying pirate ship, and steamy romance.

Clove has no idea where she’s from or who her family is. As a young fae, she woke up with no memories and a killer injury to her wing. Since then, she’s worked at various taverns, saving money and getting closer to Wingspire City with her adorable furry companion, Goosebug. Now, with finally enough savings, she’s ready to say goodbye to her past and find her future. 

Jayce, a charming and handsome orc, is used to being scrappy. He’s currently on the run from a notorious crime lord who he borrowed money from, and okay, yes, never paid back. But his current predicament fades away when he finds the girl he’s been looking for—a fae who could pose as the missing princess. This con, and the huge reward, has been on his bucket list for a while now, but when Jayce meets the feisty Clove, he knows it won’t be easy.

Clove has never felt so alive, sneaking onto moving trains and soaring through the clouds on a magical pirate ship. Despite her better judgment, she’s beginning to trust Jayce—he’s so certain she’s the missing princess, and she desperately wants him to be right. But will she ever be able to say goodbye?

As they draw nearer to the castle and each other, they must confront the truth, the past, and the passion brewing between them.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Adult, Fantasy Romance, Monster Romance, Cozy

336 pages, Paperback

Expected publication November 10, 2026

Reviews

[angelinabvby ۶ৎ (semi-ia)]

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🧚‍♀️*˖˚ֶָ֢ ‧࿔ 𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭 ‎₊˚⊹ 𐦍༘⋆₊ ⊹
this is the gorgeousest cover 💖💗🥰💞

[HolleeJane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review | Fall for a Fairytale

Author: Isabelle Taylor
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ (2 Chili Peppers)

Fall for a Fairytale was such a charming, whimsical romantasy that completely scratched my cozy fantasy itch. If you’re looking for a lighthearted adventure filled with magic, found family vibes, lovable characters, and just enough romance to keep you smiling, this one is worth picking up.

Jayce is an absolute delight. He’s an orc con artist with a heart far bigger than he’d ever admit, and his witty banter made me laugh throughout the story. Clove was easy to root for as she searched for answers about her mysterious past while trying to figure out where she truly belongs. Their relationship develops naturally, with plenty of sweet moments, playful chemistry, and just enough steam to keep the romance satisfying without overpowering the adventure.

One of my favorite parts was the world itself. Between magical pirate ships, flying adventures, quirky companions (Goosebug deserves all the love), and the cozy fantasy atmosphere, it felt like stepping into a fairy tale with a little extra chaos sprinkled in.

While I really enjoyed the story, I found myself wishing for a little more depth in the overall plot and world-building. Some of the twists felt a bit predictable, and I would have loved to spend more time exploring the kingdom and the mystery surrounding Clove’s past. Even so, the pacing stayed engaging, and I had a great time from beginning to end.

Overall, this was a cozy, feel-good romantasy with lovable characters, fun adventure, and a sweet monster romance that left me smiling. I’ll definitely be checking out more from Isabelle Taylor.

If you love:

* Orc romance
* Cozy romantasy
* Hidden princess mystery
* Magical pirate ships
* Found family
* Road trip adventure
* Slow-burn romance
* Fae magic
* Whimsical fantasy worlds

…then this one should definitely be on your TBR.

[Isabella (Belleand_books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this e-ARC.

Both the beginning and the end of this were full steam ahead, very fast paced and entertaining. And then we hit a lull… it wasn’t a bad lull to begin with but then it never picked back up. I got the 50% mark and was telling my husband about everything that happened so far and he’s like “so you’re halfway done and basically nothing has happened”. And then I hit 70% and basically nothing still happened!!

I like Isabelle Taylor, I think her romances are fun, supernatural times but I also think her pacing leaves something to be desired. I had 2 hours left (80%) and was considering DNFing because I could not keep going. I thought Clove was a really interesting character but if you’re going to have a dual POV, I need both of them to be interesting. Jayce just seemed very one dimensional despite him being the more intriguing one- it was just that no matter what, he didn’t seem to have any depth. Clove didn’t have a lot, but she had some.

This is a (mostly) fun time but it’s definitely not something that’ll stick.

[BookishKB]

🧚💚 Fall for a Fairytale 💚🧚

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

✨ What to Expect
• Cozy Romantasy
• Orc MMC 💚
• Found Family
• Quest Adventure
• Flying Pirate Ship
• Hidden Identity
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: November 10, 2026
Thank you to Ballantine, Dell, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Mia fawnsandfairytales · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ★ (rounded down for goodreads)

👑🪻🧚🏻‍♀️🦉🏴‍☠️⚔️🍃

Having been recommended for fans of tusk love in the marketing (and with tusk love being my favourite book ever), I knew it would be hard not to compare this book to it when it has such a similar story. My expectations were pre-set and unfortunately this book didn't live up to them for me.

It started off promising, but it wasn't long until I noticed how juvenile the writing felt at times. I always struggle to place stories that have spicy content but feel like they were written for a teen or ya audience.

I found myself cringing at dialogue and increasingly frustrated with situations that felt too lighthearted when they should have felt serious and held impact. Goofy lines would often take me out of the story.

Sometimes I think cosy fantasy books feel like they aren't allowed to take themselves seriously or be well developed.

The d&d elements and detailed world building in tusk love stood out so much to me, so I wish this book had taken its worldbuiding further.

I craved deeper understanding of the harsh reality of living under poor rulership and the effects the coup had had upon the kingdom. The political element could have been fascinating had it been explored.

However, even if that were the case, the heavier subject matters didn't match with the writing style. It just wasn't meant to be that kind of book I don't think 😕

I actually almost wasn't going to stick with this book because I had too many issues with it, but things picked up and improved for me after the halfway mark - especially once the sky bandits were introduced.

Those chapters were the highlight of this book for me (as well as goosebug the hootbear 🥹🦉🐻) even though I do think there was a lack of descriptive language around the setting.

I wanted to know small immersive details like:

• the weather (thunder & lightning, rain, mist)
• daytime & nighttime scenes
• the moisture
• the sunsets & sunrises
• the temperature

The setting felt a bit empty for me and was something I had to fill in for myself.

Another descriptive issue I had was not knowing what lots of the magical creatures that were mentioned looked like.

We had: minotaurs, lycan, griffon, chimeras, dragonborn; but only the type of creature was provided, with barely, if any description.

Fortunately, I had prior knowledge for most of these, but it was still frustrating not to have been given an idea of what they looked like.

Onto our mc's, I thought the fmc Clove was a wonderful character, but I found Jayce to be a bit dislikable, despite his redeeming qualities as the book progressed.

His personality was wishy-washy. He was a chronic liar and a conman, and one minute he would be objectifying Clove and thinking her naive, and the next he was completely taken by her and overly affectionate.

I didn't enjoy that he viewed her as prize money for a long part of the book, and at times I was a little uncomfortable with how adorable he viewed her as - it almost felt infantilising.

His pov really wasn't my favourite. I didn't like the way he thought.

Both him and Clove didn't come across as very smart either, constantly ignoring and brushing off so many warning signs from suspicious characters.

They suspected many people but didn't do anything about it and casually allowed harmful plots to just play out.

I also didn't find many plot points and 'bad guy reveals' to be a suprise because they'd been hinted at too often and too obviously.

Before I get to my final criticism, I want to note how baffled I was by the conversations our main characters would have while falling. I feel like it would take mere seconds to land on solid ground, but they were able to have back and forth conversations 🤦‍♀️

Also related to conversations - the 'bad guy monologues' were tiresome too 🥲

Finally, nowhere in the description of this book does it say that it has taken specific inspirations from disney's tangled retelling. I have no problem with it being so as I love that movie dearly and love the incorporation of it into a monster romantasy, but some of the similarities felt a bit too far; particularly the symbolism behind the flowers, the classic purple colour associated with rapunzel, and a special dance very similar to "kingdom dance".

These symbols were glaringly obviously reused.

Maybe this would have felt more okay if 'tangled inspired / retelling' was stated somewhere in the description. The marketing mentioned anastasia but not tangled - where I see clear inspiration from.

Overall, my expectations sadly weren't met for this book and too many aspects felt disappointing and were lacking to me.

But was it a sweet and cosy time? absolutely!

If you're looking for a fun, spicy, lighthearted, and cosy read with d&d adventure vibes, I think this would be perfect for you.

~ 𝓲𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 ~

⚔️ d&d adventure vibes
🪻 tangled rapunzel
👑 anastasia retellings
✨️ the movie stardust
🏴‍☠️ pirates
🧚🏻‍♀️ whimsical fairytales
🦉 adorable animal companions
🍃 spicy cosy fantasies (🌶🌶)

~

thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for the arc!

these are my honest thoughts.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Whimsical, Action-Packed Fantasy Adventure with Total Heart
If you are looking for a fantasy romance that perfectly balances high-stakes danger with delightful, cozy charm, Fall for a Fairytale by Isabelle Taylor delivers beautifully. The story kicks off with an immediate sense of urgency, throwing together a notorious con artist and an exploited inn worker harboring a forgotten past. What follows is a wildly entertaining journey that keeps you hooked from the first page to the last.

What Shined:
Rapid, Action-Packed Pacing: The momentum of this book never flags. From narrow escapes to unexpected travel logistics, the story moves at a breakneck speed. The final chapters escalate into a truly rapid, pulse-pounding climax as all the overlapping conspiracies and dangers collide in a fantastic final confrontation.

Compelling Character Dynamics: The character development in this book is excellent, particularly when it comes to Jayce. He is a wonderfully layered protagonist, and watching his motivations evolve alongside Clove feels earned and authentic. The growth he experiences throughout their shared trials makes him incredibly easy to root for.

Adorable Interactions and Creature Design: The interactions across the entire cast are absolutely charming. A massive highlight is the fantastic creature companions, especially Goosebug the hootbear, who steals every single scene they are in. The dialogue is witty, the romance builds naturally, and the moments of levity are genuinely heartwarming.

A Perfect Emotional Balance: While the book feels like a fun, whimsical adventure on the surface, it is not afraid to lean into some truly bittersweet moments. The stakes feel real, the losses carry weight, and the mysteries of the world add an unexpected layer of depth to the narrative.

Final Thoughts
The final chapters bring this fast-paced story to an immensely satisfying conclusion. It is a beautiful, 4-star adventure that hits every right note for the genre and leaves a lasting impression.

Perfect for: Fans of cozy fantasy mixed with high-stakes adventure, found family tropes, engaging character growth, and adorable magical creatures.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s like Anastasia, but with Orcs, Fae, countless magical creatures and sky pirates! The action begins from the first page, where we meet Jayce, a charming Orc who is always running a con, right as some of his bad decisions are catching up with him in a small town pub. Clove, a feisty orphan Fae and the bar maid at the pub, saves Jayce from a sticky situation, and now finds herself on the run with him. It so happens that Clove reminds Jayce an awful lot of the lost princess their king has been searching for, the princess Jayce knows to be dead, but as there is a nice big reward for anyone who finds her, he sees the opportunity to run his biggest con yet. The only catch? He needs to convince Clove that she IS the lost princess if he has any hope of pulling it off.

This was a fun book to read. The political unrest of the kingdom made for high stakes and tension without being too heavy, and Clove and Jayce were both entertaining and endearing. Outside of the sky pirate ship (did I mention there are sky pirates?!) I didn’t always feel like the world was fully fleshed out, but the story telling was still very well done. Jayce’s internal conflicts were understandable, even as you kind of wanted to smack him upside the head, and Clove was loveable without being a pushover or damsel in distress.

I would give this a 3.5 on the spice scale, it’s fairly graphic with named parts and the use of the C word, though there aren’t very many spicy scenes overall. The ending was good and wrapped all the big things up nicely, although it felt a little open ended, so perhaps this will be a series? Regardless, while I may not have fully fallen for this fairytale, I definitely enjoyed it!

3.75 rounded up to 4

Thank you to Ballantine for allowing me to read an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely given.

[Allyson Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spice: 2/5
Plot: 5/5
Storytelling: 5/5
Jayce (MMC): 2/5
Clove (FMC): 4/5

The writing overall transports you into a classic fairytale setting, with even more fairytales of sky pirates in the book. You can smell certain aspects, see the clothes, but fall short on seeing some more complex characters and the outside setting. I had no idea what some of the characters were, and was constantly on Google to add to the imagery the book was trying to set. Also had no idea what was night, day, or if there was sunshine, rain, or a whole tornado. I painted that in. Did I totally imagine the ship always flying on/in a tornado? Yes. Was there actually one? Nope, but it seemed cool.

Jayce got on my last nerve. He consistently tries to convince Clove she is the long-lost princess who will save the whole town, including the King's self-loathing, all for some coins. Starts as a selfish Orc only looking out for himself, and there is development. Doesn't mean I didn't wanna smack him a time or two, but he does have a redemption.

Clove, loved her. She needs to learn to fight properly because, boy, would it have been helpful. I did like the bucket hitting, though, very Tangle priness with the frying pan. She struck me as someone at the beginning to be independent and 'didn't need no orc' BUT seemed to change towards the end. The last chapter, though, flipped my mind about that. Turned out to be a baddie, but we all saw the potential along the way.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. Anytime with a cozy fantasy, you are going to have parts that are 'slower' and make you debate DNFing the book because of it. That's the cozy part, keep pushing past!! The ending was the bow on top it needed.

Thank you, Bell and NetGalley, for my E-ARC.

[SJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A combination of Anastasia and Tangled in a fantasy world impacted by a failed coup 15 years ago, con-man orc Jayce teams up with fae woman Clove to get to the capital city. Clove is an orphan with no memory of her life before 15 years ago, the exact timing of the failed coup that saw the queen dead and the young princess missing. Jayce convinces Clove she may be the missing princess, and they set out to the capital so she can meet the king. Jayce has falling into debt with a crime boss, so he's hoping the reward money will give him back his freedom. But the crime boss also wants the princess. Can Clove and Jayce fight off these attacks on their journey? And even if they get there in time for the annual celebration, can they get an audience with the king?

I enjoyed this fun escape. The side characters were fun, and I enjoyed how there was no third act breakup. While I didn't like him to begin with, it became clear that Jayce had such a protective shield up, he couldn't bring himself to fully hope even if all evidence pointed to Clove being the princess.

This fantasy features:
💚 Found family
💚Forced proximity (only one bed! pretending to be married!)
💚Road trip
💚Cozy and magical

Open door / spicy!

4 / 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC!

[Leah Muthler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vibes of Anastasia and Tangled meet a world with fae, orcs, and all sorts of magical creatures. Jayce, a conman (conorc?), encounters Clove who resembles the lost princess enough that he wants to take her to Wingspire City to earn the reward. Clove, who woke up at an orphanage 15 years ago with no memory of her life before, agrees to go with him. Their journey becomes filled with narrow escapes from danger, encounters with an eclectic cast of characters, and a boatload of forced proximity. Between their adventures and saving the kingdom, Clove and Jayce fall for each other and enjoy a steamy romance.

I had the best time reading this standalone fantasy novel! Jayce gives strong Flynn Rider vibes that I ate up as a long-time Tangled fan. Clove was a fantastic mix of sweetness and strength, and their relationship was the best! And Goosebug! The most adorable little hootbear who goes along for the ride! Some parts of the book were a little cliche and trope heavy, but like any good fairytale, we already know we are getting a happily ever after! This story is a ton of fun and filled with adventures. I'd definitely recommend for fans of cozy fantasy vibes with a high stakes mission.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for the advance copy!

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute story about an con-man orc, Jayce, and the fae woman, Clove, he talks into helping him. Their country suffered a coup 15 years prior and the princess was presumed dead, but her body was never found. Jayce talks Clove into masquerading as the missing royal so he can get the reward money and pay off his debts. They face many adventures, as well as fall in love on their way back to the capital city.

I’ll admit I wasn’t overly fond of Jayce at the beginning, but just because he was conning Clove. It soon became obvious he kept his true self hidden from everyone after having lived through the coup and seeing tragedy. He did cons to keep himself at a distance from anyone. Clove broke through that armor though, despite Jayce trying to keep his distance. It was obvious how he felt about Clove as the book went on.

The cast of characters they meet along the way are delightful, and I loved their time on the pirate ship. The book goes quickly, and has lots of action. I definitely enjoyed it and want to thank Ballantine and NetGalley for the copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to leave a review.

No third act breakup

4/5 on the Spicy Scale

M/F

Violence

[Sierra · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️Rating: 3
🌶️Spice: 4
💜Favorite Line/Scene: (Cannot Quote as lines are subject to change before official publication)

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for granting me access to this short and sweet story.

📖Fall for a Fairytale is like the story Anastasia if it took place in a DND campaign. The characters, ranging from humans and fae to griffons and dragonborn, were well fleshed out and entertaining. They all served their purpose and never felt forced. The real star of the show though was this world's version of an Owlbear, the 'Hootbear' cub named Goosebug. His name alone made me squeal with cuteness aggression.

Goosebug I would die for you.

While the writing at times felt a bit juvenile, I still found myself unable to spend any of my free time NOT reading this book in the two days it took to finish. And although I wouldn't be lying if I were to say it could have benefited from having another fifty to a hundred pages in order to extend our journey and make the ending feel a little less rushed, it is still a good read. Perfect for anyone who enjoys a good cozy fantasy.

[Stephanie Buck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anastasia but make it orcs and fae!

If you are looking for your next cozy fantasy read, look no further. This book was whimsical, magical, and evoked a lot of Nostalgia for me.

Let me introduce you to Jayce. He is a smooth talking swindler with Flynn Ryder energy. He owes a lot of money to the Lycan, and it turns out that the Fae King is offering a hefty reward for the return of his lost daughter, the Princess Arabella.

The Princess has been missing since Lord Blackwood led a coup against the crown, using propaganda to turn humans against the Fae. The Queen died that fateful night and no one has seen Lord Blackwood or Princess Arabella since…

Jayce runs into Clove, an orphaned fae who bears a strong resemblance to the Princess. She even has the same color wings. Jayce promises to help her discover her past and reunite with her family and an epic adventure ensues.

Read this book if you love:
-memory loss
-magical retellings of classic stories
-he falls first
-improvised explosives made of lemons
-Sky bandits! They are like pirates, but better…

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for the e-ARC!

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful monster fairytale romantasy standalone.

Orc MMC Jayce has been running cons for years after leaving the palace where he worked as a child after the princess disappeared and the king went into isolation. When he stops at a tavern and finds orphaned fae FMC Clove, who is a ringer for the missing princess, he sees another perfect con opportunity, and they set off on an adventure to make it to the royal city.

I loved this book! For starters, I love a quest or road trip story, so this was right up my alley to begin with. It was a grand adventure with a lot of twists and turns while still ending with that storybook happily ever after. It was also romantic and had a couple of spicy scenes. I think it did a really nice job of hitting all the fairytale tropes without being cheesy or cliche, and the characters were well developed, with several interesting side characters who could easily have their own stories. I would love to see this become a series.

Spice 4/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Writing: 5/5
My Enjoyment: 5/5

*** I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Stephanie White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC!

All thoughts, opinions are my own.

This is such a great story - We have a Fae king -and he had a human "second in command" - and in this world there are all types of mythical beings - fae, orcs, chymera, lycan, elves, dwarves....you get my drift.

Well the bad guy in the king's inner circle, tried to lead a revolt against him and get all the other beings to hate Fae.

Now Jayce, our orc - is a con artist - he once upon a time, knew the princess - the princess that has been missing and thought dead for 15 years. He sees a Fae in the bar he is going to go swindle - and just comments that he loves her eyes and "i wonder if her wings are purple".

So, in this book - we have lost memories that get found, a Princess that is found, Sky Pirates, He fell first and look at her and die, we have assassins, another revolt in the works.

Defintely a A+++++ book! If I were to go to the bookstore in November and see this cover I would buy it :) It's just my type of book.

There are spicy scenes two hot peppers!

[Lissa Hawley · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this may not be a straight up Anastasia retelling, it was definitely heavily inspired by the animated movie (which I love). Jayce is a super sweet MMC giving Dimitri and Flynn Ryder vibes. Clove, is spunky and likable and there are a number of fun side characters - plus Goosebug!

Definitely a sweet cozy fantasy for adults.

My only quibbles and these are both personal preference so feel free to consider them incentives are:

Orcs? When did orcs become cozy and sexy? These are not Tolkien's Orcs and threw me out of the story every time I was reminded that Jayce was green.

And secondly the spice. I'm not a huge spice fan to begin with, less so in my cozies, but while the spice in this was definitely sweet and cozy, it was a little overly descriptive, borderline tmi with discussion of fluids and such.

Again, that's just me. Be aware of the spice going in and it's a highly recommended cozy fantasy.

[rebeccareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fall for a Fairytale is a cute, cozy-adjacent fantasy filled with sweet romance, magical creatures, hidden identities, and swashbuckling adventure reminiscent of Disney's Tangled.

The writing feels both young and clunky at times, and the world-building is pretty light, but that doesn't get in the way of the good times. The romance between fae Clove, and orc Jayce is charming and well-paced, with some good open-door spice, and it's balanced perfectly with the missing-princess adventure. That, along with the delightful sky bandits and the super-cute sidekick Goosebear, makes for an enjoyable, lighthearted read. Fans of interspecies romance, rake MMCs with a secret heart of gold, and cozy fantasy shouldn't miss Fall for a Fairytale!

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher Dell for the ARC!

[Moodreadinggal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book deeply reminded me of Anastasia and I kinda love it for that. While this book had a very similar storyline it went a bit deeper than the movie, but also not deep enough in my opinion for the new adult genre. The book is written very YA, until sexual scenes happen. The characters were enjoyable, and the world-building was okay. The plot moved at a good pace and was decently written, it could have more atmosphere, and nuance. My biggest gripe honestly is the kind of haphazard end with the once the bad guy is defeated every problem is fixed. Which is cute but I felt like young YA book type of ending. At the end of the day its very cozy, classic 90's /2000's fairytale type of story. And I really did enjoy that.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine | Dell for the ARC for an honest review

[RawBookieDough · Rating 3 out of 5]

Monster romance
3rd person dual pov
Tangled vibes
🌶️
HEA

We are taken on an adventure with a lost princess and a conman. We meet a wide cast of characters as they journey across towns, narrowly escape death and fall in love. The banter was cute, and the romance was sweet.
This didn’t hit for me but I can’t exactly put my finger on why. I have previously read other books by this author and really loved them! This had the makings of everything I like too but didn’t feel invested in the journey or the romance.
I can easily see this being others 5⭐️ read especially if you like monster romances, fantasy, a little political tension, and sweet romance 🥰
Thank you to Ballantine for the ARC provided through NetGalley!!

[Tee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wished for a Tangled/Pirates of the Caribbean crossover? Well, buckle up because this adorable romance provides the best of both worlds. Clove is basically a Disney princess: she’s an orphan with purple wings, a cute baby hootbear companion, and amnesia. Jayce is a charming con man (orc?) with hidden trauma. As Jayce and Clove travel across the country to prove she is the lost princess, they meet a cast of equally delightful characters, including a sweet old mole lady and sky bandits. The resulting story is light, fun, and very sweet.
I recommend this read to any fan of princess stories.

Thank you to Ballantine Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Leah E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read with likable characters and an adorable, unique little creature that is Goosebug.
With that said, it also was not the easiest for me to get through. I was promised a steamy romance and yet it’s tooo faaar too long to get steamy. My bigger issue was that the characters were, as I mentioned, fun and likable, but felt incredibly juvenile. This story overall probably would have been better had it been written completely geared towards a YA audience.
Another aspect that I both liked and disliked was that it followed the plot of the animated movie, Anastasia, almost entirely and it sometimes took away from this story, for me. I couldn’t help but compare the two throughout the entirety of my reading experience. I love retellings, but this wasn’t so much a retelling as it was just a copy and paste of another story’s premise.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story. All thoughts and comments are my own.

[Ellie Cripps · Rating 2 out of 5]

First thanks to Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. I didn't come into this book with crazy expectations, but felt a bit let down once it got going. This is Anastasia/ Tangled, with a plethora of fantasy creatures thrown in and a couple of sex scenes for good measure. I didn't hate it by any means, but I found the story a bit slow in the middle and strangely lacking in description - especially when failing to describe such fascinating creatures and interesting sights.
It was predictable and extremely obvious, but had fun moments. I'm sure others will find this a good quick read.

[Michelle Tuley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to get an eARC of this book courtesy of Netgalley. This is an adorable story and a nice addition to the cozy fantasy genre. The author creates a believable fantasy world that includes political intrigue, adventure, and spice with long-lost Princess Anastasia vibes. The only thing that I found lacking was the description of some of the secondary fantasy characters. The main characters are described perfectly but I personally had difficulty picturing some of the other characters. Overall I would recommend this book.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded to 4. This was such a cute, fun, fantasy adventure. It feels like an Anastasia retelling but with magical creatures.

We have a con man barely making it and who borrowed money from the wrong person. Then we have our orphaned barmaid with dreams of a better life. Their lives collide and sends them on an life threatening adventure. This gives them both a chance to figure out who they both are.

I enjoyed this read!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the e-arc in exchange for honest feedback.

[Emily Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I previously read this author's Accidentally Wedded to a Werewolf, and liked that. I didn't enjoy this book as much, but it did have some elements that I really liked. First, I loved me some Hootbear! Hootbear forever. Second, the difference characteristics of the different species were really well done and the origin of prejudice in this world was very realistic. Ultimately, I think it was just hard to have fun reading about a con artist. In Accidentally Wedded, the wedding was, well, accidental, and there was no malice or morally grey actions. This one was just harder to get behind.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was so sweet and sexy. It’s a cute fantasy romance novel that kind of reads like a reverse-ish Rapunzel/Tangled fanfic (in the best way). Goosebug has big Pascal vibes and sounds absolutely adorable, and I wish I could have a cute little animal friend like him. The FMC Clove is a fairy and the MMC Jayce is an orc ruffian that calls her princess so if you like that dynamic and size differences you’ll love this. I also quite enjoyed the whole Sky Bandits storyline. Anyway this is a fun quick read that is heartwarming and somewhat smutty!

[Morgan Bledsoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so fun! It has very very strong Anastasia vibes and I loved it! I loved Jayce and how he really is just a softy at the end of the day. There’s no real malice to him and he’s just someone trying to survive. I also loved Clove and how she was just looking for a place to belong. I loved how her interactions of kindness and warmth helped foster meaningful relationships between herself and those she came across. I can’t wait for this to be officially published so I can purchase a copy!

[Isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Dell | Ballantine & Netgalley for the e-arc. I read the description and thought the premise sounded very cute.

I was hooked by the 2nd chapter with this book and had me up until 2am on a work night reading, which for me is very rare these days. It's very cute short read with lots of good banter between Jayce and Clove. It truly is a cute fairytale book filled with adventure, romance, and dreams coming true. I really enjoyed it and is the perfect feel good book.

[Savvybookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I absolutely loved this Tangled/ Anastasia romantasy full of sercrets and tension. I read this through in one sitting. Jayce and Clove were so much fun together and I loved the adventure that they took us on. Jayce taught Clove how to be free while Clove taught Jayce how to be kind. They balance each other out in a way that was natural.

Plot 4/5
Characters 4/5
Spice 1/5

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn to this book 1) from the author alone 2) Orc love interest 😘 3) the Anastasia feel of a missing princess and girl who doesn’t know her past. I thought this fantasy fae spin on the tale was a really fun read! I liked that the connection between the two main characters, Clove and Jayce, built over time. It felt very genuine. The sense of adventure was there, keeping me intrigued until the end. As always with her books, I loved it. Great light read.