Dawn of a King

by Sarrah Naomi

He may be the fairest of them all, but he's rotten to the core.

Prince Golden Sun lives for pleasure, comfort, and his own pride. But when he discovers that his stepfather has hired a beautiful peasant huntswoman to murder him, his comfortable life is ripped from his fingers and he is forced to face a harsh new reality on the run from the king.

A’Tavia hates killing. Even for food. She certainly never imagined she would kill another human being. But with her father’s life at stake, she has no other choice. Besides, she hates the prince. That handsome face of his can’t possibly make up for the wretch that lurks underneath.

As his stepfather conspires with a mirror possessed by shadow fairies to ensure his death, Golden is faced with a choice: cling to his old indulgent life, or step into the fire, eat the apple, and become the true king he was always meant to be

387 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 2, 2026

Reviews

[Jacquelyn 💐 {This Rapunzel Reads} [Jesus Christ, my Living Hope]]

DNF at 58%. I received this ebook arc in exchange for a honest review. OK, I just couldn’t take it anymore. From the beginning of the book, I knew that I was not gonna like it. Where to begin? I didn’t care for any of the characters. First who on earth names their son, Golden Sun? I couldn’t take him seriously. I didn’t mind the main lady, but she was just OK. The bad guy was disgusting and so evil and creepy. I just had a bad feeling while I was reading. It just felt so dark and evil. I just didn’t want to read anymore. And then it just got even weirder Golden, dying, and going to heaven or something. I don’t even know.

[blush_and_bookmarks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was easily one of my favorite retellings I’ve read recently!
I loved the unique twist of a gender-reversed retelling—it felt fresh while still capturing the heart of the original story.

What truly made this book shine for me was how beautifully the faith elements were woven into the story. They weren’t just sprinkled in as an afterthought; they were central to the plot and character journeys. The themes of forgiveness, redemption, and God’s pursuit of those who have wandered deeply resonated with me.

Prince Golden’s redemption arc was one of the most satisfying parts of the story. I loved the prodigal-son parallels and the powerful reminder that no one is too far gone for God to reach, forgive, and use for His purposes.

Add in royal intrigue, emotional character growth, and strong biblical truths, and this became a story I enjoyed even more than the original fairy tale inspiration.

✨ Tropes & Themes:
• Snow White retelling
• Gender-reversed retelling
• Redemption arc
• Prodigal themes
• Forgiveness
• Royal intrigue
• Faith-centered fantasy
• Biblical truths woven throughout
• Hope & restoration

If you love stories filled with redemption, faith, and characters who experience true transformation, this one is absolutely worth picking up.

⚠️ Content Note: The story includes references to the king desiring Tavi to become part of his group of maidservants, along with a few instances of inappropriate behavior and unwanted advances. These moments are not explicit or graphic and are handled without detailed on-page content. I also love how Golden places an emphasis on this toward the end about how it is not Ahavas way and to treat her with respect.

[Aubrey Hedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is what happens when Snow White meets the Bible. This beautifully written allegory/story was such a special read.
I'm going to be frank, although I know the story of Snow White, I personally haven't read or watched the films, but this book surpassed alllllll of my expectations.
The characters were very well developed and the characters that you needed to be disgusted with or needed to love were absolutely that, it was so easy to cheer for the good and this book from start to finish was an absolute roller coaster!
Those initial few chapters were like you stepped into a time traveling machine! It covered so much in such a short few chapters but didn't feel super rushed!
Such a well written story! I loved the faith that was portrayed through some of the characters and could relate with some of the doubts portrayed in the story.

I loved the hebrew character names and their meanings! Absolutely added so much depth to the whole story.
I appreciated that while there was evil portrayed for the story, it didn't necessarily dabble into explaining rituals or certain practices that would be controversial! I don't purposely read anything that contains any type of dark magic, and this book (although alluded to) doesn't go into depth. Very well handled. I would absolutely feel comfortable with my children taking this off the shelf and reading it!
I really did enjoy the slow romantic development for these characters!!

Thank you Sarrah Naomi for allowing me the privilege of ARC reading this beautiful piece of art!

[Emilee Forrester · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave Dawn of a King a 4.5 star rating!

I ARC read this for Sarrah Naomi, and I loved every minute of reading it!

Snow White is my least favorite Disney Princess. I do love how Snow White gets out of her stepmother’s hands, and she finds her found family. Dawn of a King really takes Snow White to a whole new level and in a unique way.

This retelling of Snow White is really unique and amazing. I loved how it was the Prince who had a stepfather because it gave us a story that wasn’t told before.

Prince Golden Sun is a unique name for a person. I just didn’t expect a name like that. I loved how he changed from the beginning to the end.

I loved A’Tavia in this story. I loved that she was a believer in God (Ahava in the book). I loved how A’Tavia is devoted to her family. I love that we get moments with her and her family.

Snow White is about Snow finding her true love. Dawn of a King took this in another direction with A’Tavia having time with her family and having time to find her true love. Amazingly well done!

I love the Christian themes, and I loved how Naomi took Christianity into a fantasy world, but she didn’t change Christianity. She left it the way it is, which I absolutely loved.

I loved the themes of redemption, love, and forgiveness because that’s what God is all about. Naomi really brought that to this storyline, and she could not have done a better job.

I loved Dawn of a King, and I hope you will read it too!

Tropes:

Christian themes (forgiveness, redemption, love)
Gender-reversed Snow White retelling
No-spice
Multiple POVS

Content Warning:

Dark/demonic magic
Illusions to prostitution
Murder
Mild injuries

[Stella McAfee · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know when you’re reading a book and you’re like why didn’t I start this one sooner? This is one of those.

Full review coming soon I finished this at 1am ;)

[Carmen Almonte · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do I explain what ‘Dawn of a King’ did for me? It is so much more than a story — it’s a mission, made personal to me not only because I share the author’s faith, but because it marked so many firsts for me in the Bookstagram community. When I saw Sarrah Naomi’s post about a gender-bent Snow White retelling, I never imagined it would be Christian Fiction, nor that it would be anything more than a fun read. In a series of what had to have been divinely-inspired events, I followed Naomi and dedicated myself to hyping her ‘Dawn of a King’ posts so much so that I ended up being the first to apply for an ARC. Which led me to receive my first ever PR box and physical ARC copy. I was already THRILLED and then came the actual reading. Suddenly, I’m plunged into an exceedingly well-written, heartfelt, sweeping fantasy where the villains are actually disturbing and the ‘badly behaved prince’ is accurately immoral, and in the darkness, the lights of the Righteous burn ever brighter despite their scarcity. Naomi has this incredibly rare ability to translate the reality of Christianity into a fantasy world without losing Christian integrity or sacrificing the heartbeat of the story. The spiritual warfare of angels and demons translates naturally into the fae-realm; just as naturally as class-divide hosts a world-view dichotomy between A’Tavia,( a believer) and Prince Golden Sun, (an unbeliever). Perhaps my favorite element in ‘Dawn of a King,’ is the thread of redemption which had me in tears. The entire story is compelling. I cringed, gasped, laughed, swooned, and cried throughout ‘The Dawn of a King’ — repeatedly. At the back of the book are the appendices where Naomi deep dives into the writing process and shares an intimate tid-bit that convicted me so much, I put the book down and started reading the Bible and worshipping God. I’m serious. I mean, anyone who can write a character named Golden Sun and not sound cheesy has to be just THAT good.

I could go on forever about my experience reading this book, but I’d probably start leaking some spoilers so I’ll end here: whether you're a Christian looking for a fantasy steeped in your values or someone fascinated by a gender-bent Snow-White retelling, you should pick up a copy of Dawn of a King. You won’t regret it.

Age Rating: 13+
Content Warning:
dark/demonic magic
illusions to prostitution
implied promiscuity
mild sensuality (no spice!)
mentions of torture
murder
mild gore/injuries

[Raven Fort · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dawn of a King is one of the most unique Snow White retellings I've ever read.

Instead of simply gender-swapping the original fairy tale, Sarrah Naomi creates a fresh story filled with heart, redemption, faith, and memorable characters. Prince Golden Sun begins the story vain, selfish, and difficult to root for at times, but his character growth throughout the novel was one of my favorite parts. What I appreciated most was that even after recognizing his flaws and choosing a better path, he wasn't suddenly perfect. He remained human, still making mistakes and facing temptation, which made his journey feel authentic and meaningful.

I absolutely loved A'Tavia. She is strong, compassionate, and determined without ever feeling unrealistic. Their relationship develops in a way that felt sweet and genuine, making this a wonderful clean YA romance.

The supporting cast was equally delightful. The seven elderly women were a fun twist on the classic seven dwarves, and the evil stepfather made for an excellent villain. The shadow fairies and enchanted mirror added a darker fairy tale atmosphere that I thoroughly enjoyed.

One of my favorite moments in the entire book was when Golden hears Ahavah whisper, "I'm proud of you," while he is being tempted by the shadow fairies within the mirror. It was a beautiful scene that perfectly captured the book's themes of redemption, faith, and choosing what is right even when it is difficult.

The artwork throughout the book was absolutely gorgeous and added another layer of magic to the reading experience.

If you enjoy fairy tale retellings, Christian fantasy, redemption arcs, strong heroines, and clean YA romance, I highly recommend Dawn of a King.

I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I just find my new favorite Snow White retelling? YES MA’AM. Okay, so there is so many things I loved about this book. First, the humor! This one had me giggling the whole time.🤭 The banter was perfect and while Golden may not have been the nicest guy in the beginning, he did have a funny bone.😂 I thoroughlyyy enjoyed the banter between him and A’Tavia. The witty remarks back and forth is literally all I want in a romance and it was truly so well done.💗 The light fairies were also my favorite! I really enjoyed the Christian allegory in this one! I also loved how this one was gender reversed and the fact that Golden Sun was not a fair and nice guy like Snow White is depicted in the original story. The main reason I love that is because you get to see the transformation in his character once he encountered Ahavah. Which is their version of God! The redemptive themes were beautiful and I genuinely can’t wait to pick up the next book that this author publishes!☺️🤍

💛Upper YA
🍎Gender Reversed Snow White Retelling
🔥Enemies to Lovers
✝️Christian Allegory/Redemptive Themes

Content/trigger warnings: There are dark themes in this book since it is a depiction of spiritual warfare. Mentions death, m*rder, torture, and demonic/dark magic.

[Miranda Okleberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prince Golden Sun lives a life of comfort and pleasure; everything he could ever want is always at his fingertips. A’Tavia is the peasant girl sent by the ruling king to kill him.

Can they work together to thwart the evil king's plan? Can Golden overcome his upbringing to become the king his people need?

This book! Oh my goodness, was it amazing! I love a good fairy tale retelling. And I love when it’s so fresh and new that at times you forget it is a retelling until something familiar pops up. I absolutely felt that way about Dawn of a King.

The characters are well-written and flawed. Golden is definitely one you love to hate in the beginning. His back and forth with A’Tavia is sooo excellent.

I love the Christian elements of this story, and they are especially poignant towards the end. One of the messages I received from this book is that none of us is beyond the reach of God’s love.

Here are a few things you’ll find in Dawn of a King:
Christian themes
Forgiveness, love, redemption
Gender-reversed Snow White retelling
No spice
Rotating POV

Thank you to Sarrah Naomi. All opinions are my own.

[Tisha Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dawn of a King was such a unique take on a Snow White retelling. I loved how the author reversed the traditional roles, making the “Golden One” the center of the story instead of Snow White, while still weaving in so many recognizable elements from the classic tale in fresh and creative ways.

This book is perfect for upper YA and Christian readers looking for a story filled with redemption, temptation, and faith-filled themes. One of my favorite parts was how real the struggles felt. The trials and temptations throughout the story reflected the everyday battles many Christians face, making the characters feel relatable and authentic.

The redemptive themes were beautifully done, and I loved seeing the growth and transformation throughout the story. If you enjoy clean fantasy with meaningful messages, enemies-to-lovers tension, and fairy tale retellings with a darker emotional depth, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.

[Kelly Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started reading this book, I literally could not stop until I finished it. The romance was not cheesy in the slightest. There was just the right amount of sweetness, sass, and spark of chemistry between the main leads. The banter between Golden and A'Tavia was *chef's kiss*. It was wonderful to see the character transformation and growth of both throughout the story as well. Sarrah did a wonderful job weaving elements of spiritual warfare into the narrative; I found the descriptions of Ahavah beautiful.

Overall, this was a creative retelling of Snow White that contained Biblical elements and emphasized Jesus's love for us. If you're looking for a poetically sweet, 'once upon a time' fantasy, Christian romance novel, this is it for you!

[Julie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story itself may be somewhat familiar, but the treatment of the characters, locations, and deepest themes give new life to the genre.
There is enough excitement for those seeking tension and suspense, and enough of a view of evil to encourage one to seek out the good, true and beautiful. There is more than a hint of where that source of goodness and hope comes from.
The author has painted a good picture of family and it's loyal workings. And the depths of greed. Greed for more than money. And the end result of that allure
It was an enjoyable read, in spots difficult to put down.

[Amy Simonian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to receive this book as an ARC reader, and it was such a treat to dive into! It is a great retelling of Snow White with gender swapped roles. It is told with Christian themes and an underlying message of God's love for us all. It's a no spice romance, upper young adult fantasy. I loved the character development and redemption journey of the main character. It includes values such as forgiveness, trust, respect, and love. I recommend this book if you have older teens who want to read fantasy romance, but you don't want them to read any spice that's in most fantasy books!

[Sierra · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first the story feels like I'm being thrown around a little. Lots of details given during what feels like quick moments before being thrown through different time jumps. But once the pace settles and the story picks up it become SUPER enjoyable. Also love how the evil step"father" was set up. Made him seem charming while completely giving me the icks. Such an enjoyable read on a reverse gender snow white romantacy!

[Bethany Shirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book! I've read it twice and it's even better the second time. The character development is excellent. I loved how they changed throughout the book. There are also some pretty funny parts that made me laugh out loud. The message of the book is beautiful and inspiring. I would 10 out of 10 recommend to anyone!

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 but rounded up!

Solid gender reversed Snow White retelling with Christian themes!

The FMC was super compelling and I loved the relationship she has with her parents and siblings. Usually relationships with parents in books are either absent, negligent or toxic, however the author portrayed the family in a positive light. The father is even the one who comes to his daughter’s defense and rescue at times! He also, rightly, questions the new relationship to protect his daughter. Loved that!

I also really loved the Christian themes the author laid out and how she weaved them into the story! The MMC has a major personality transformation that shows how God’s love can really transform a person’s life and their view of others and themselves. It was a little extreme for my liking but I did appreciate that she addressed it in some of the final scenes where he struggles with his former ways of life (which isn’t atypical for a new believer!).

The overall story is wonderful but I found there to be issues with the pacing! There were a few scenes I felt that could have been fleshed out better and others that could have been shortened but that could be a stylistic difference between the author and I. I had a hard time liking the MMC… she made him almost too unlikable at the beginning with his playboy, arrogant personality 😅 His name (Golden Sun) was a bit of a stumbling block for me to really connect with his character too.

Overall, a good story for readers who enjoy Christian themes in a gender flipped fairy tale retelling!

⚠️Content warning: good vs evil themes, murder, murder plots, violence, kidnapping, “handmaidens” for the king, shadow fairies portrayed like demons

I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Dorothy Brundage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written review to come!!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book was so amazing! I really love the twist on the traditional story and how the author brought in faith aspects! Totally recommend!