What do you think?
Rate this book
The Bluebell King's Ball
Perfect for fans of Ella Enchanted and Margaret Rogerson’s An Enchantment of Ravens, The Bluebell King’s Ball is a no-spice Cinderella retelling that will take you on a lush journey through Faery, where humans and fae live side by side. Careful not to leave your heart somewhere in the spring or autumnlands…
A human maiden with no past. A desperate faery prince with a badly-worded bargain. And a beautiful ball scented with bluebells and painted with blood.
Va Malla has spent all her life in the Wild Tangle, caring for her beloved fae sister and brother. Until the day Prince Ignis arrives to whisk her into a world she never realized existed outside her manor.
Ignis has searched every obscure corner of Faery for a maiden just like Va Malla—human, about eighteen, uncertain origin. But nothing short of a poorly-thought-out faery bargain will pry the stubborn maiden from the place she’s always known.
As Va Malla travels across the autumnlands with Ignis, her reality breaks apart, piece by piece. Her home, her family, even her name, was all a cruel illusion. All she can cling to is the prince’s promise of a ball in Bluebell Ruin. Ignis believes she could be the lost princess stolen from the Bluebell King long ago. If Va Malla can evade Faery’s monsters and make it to the springlands, she has a chance of claiming not just the crown of a princess, but the love of a father she’s never known.
Fighting his fae nature, Ignis has to handle the human with care. Faery is dangerous, and the girl is ignorant from years spent only in the Wild Tangle. Beautiful though she is, beauty in Faery is as common as poison and just as deadly. He has to fulfil an old faerytale, one that love can never be part of, if the world is to ever survive.
But the world he’s trying to save can be just as cruel as his wicked brother.
And the pages of some faerytales are stained with tears.
Each book in the FAE OF THE DESOLATION series follows a different main character, a desperate human who finds herself entangled with powerful fae royalty. The series can be read as standalone novels with their own HEAs, but is best read in series order to follow the overarching storyline of saving the world of Faery from a heartless king bent on its destruction.
A human maiden with no past. A desperate faery prince with a badly-worded bargain. And a beautiful ball scented with bluebells and painted with blood.
Va Malla has spent all her life in the Wild Tangle, caring for her beloved fae sister and brother. Until the day Prince Ignis arrives to whisk her into a world she never realized existed outside her manor.
Ignis has searched every obscure corner of Faery for a maiden just like Va Malla—human, about eighteen, uncertain origin. But nothing short of a poorly-thought-out faery bargain will pry the stubborn maiden from the place she’s always known.
As Va Malla travels across the autumnlands with Ignis, her reality breaks apart, piece by piece. Her home, her family, even her name, was all a cruel illusion. All she can cling to is the prince’s promise of a ball in Bluebell Ruin. Ignis believes she could be the lost princess stolen from the Bluebell King long ago. If Va Malla can evade Faery’s monsters and make it to the springlands, she has a chance of claiming not just the crown of a princess, but the love of a father she’s never known.
Fighting his fae nature, Ignis has to handle the human with care. Faery is dangerous, and the girl is ignorant from years spent only in the Wild Tangle. Beautiful though she is, beauty in Faery is as common as poison and just as deadly. He has to fulfil an old faerytale, one that love can never be part of, if the world is to ever survive.
But the world he’s trying to save can be just as cruel as his wicked brother.
And the pages of some faerytales are stained with tears.
Each book in the FAE OF THE DESOLATION series follows a different main character, a desperate human who finds herself entangled with powerful fae royalty. The series can be read as standalone novels with their own HEAs, but is best read in series order to follow the overarching storyline of saving the world of Faery from a heartless king bent on its destruction.
404 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 9, 2026
I so very much enjoyed this book! It felt like I relived a classic fairytale, a retelling of Cinderella but with a more modern, unique twist, and Fae...The beginning of the book gave me the warm, fuzzy feeling I felt when reading one of my comfort books, 'An Enchantment of Ravens.' Ignis reminded me a bit of Rook. The Bluebell King's Ball was unique in its own way, though.
At first, the writing style took me by surprise, because it wasn't something I was used to. Her whole life, Va Malla has known nothing but the manor where she lived, where she takes care of her sister and brother, who are Fae. She literally knows barely anything, even the simplest of terms, like 'father'. I felt that the way she spoke was quite monotone and a little bit flat because of that, which is logical, though with what she is going through. (Va Malla realizing what love means...Literally 'So this is love 🎶'.) But there were some moments when there was a lingering sadness behind her words, which made me feel for her. When Ignis meets her, that is when the story really picks up, and we can see Va Malla develop. A lot is going on in this book, and I found the journey of Va Malla starting with nothing, no past, into the person she became quite beautiful.
I really loved the fairytale vibe; it felt so enchanting. I liked that the book was unique on its own with its own kind of worldbuilding, story, and creatures (there are fairies, monsters, and a unicorn, for example), but also kept elements of Cinderella, like the pumpkin carriage, the ball, and the glass slipper. Also, can we talk about Ignis? He's an Autumn Fae Prince, and literally sketches dresses for her! And, cough cough, he's scared of bugs. The romance was a sub-plot, but the little moments between Va Malla and Ignis were very cute.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this book. Reading this felt very cozy, magical, and comforting, and the characters made me laugh on occasion. This book actually brought me out of a reading slump; it was exactly what I needed. Something dreamy and light, yet a bit emotional. I have nothing bad to say about this book, and I can't wait to read the other books in the series. Even days after reading this, I'm still thinking about this one.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for allowing me to read and review this book!
At first, the writing style took me by surprise, because it wasn't something I was used to. Her whole life, Va Malla has known nothing but the manor where she lived, where she takes care of her sister and brother, who are Fae. She literally knows barely anything, even the simplest of terms, like 'father'. I felt that the way she spoke was quite monotone and a little bit flat because of that, which is logical, though with what she is going through. (Va Malla realizing what love means...Literally 'So this is love 🎶'.) But there were some moments when there was a lingering sadness behind her words, which made me feel for her. When Ignis meets her, that is when the story really picks up, and we can see Va Malla develop. A lot is going on in this book, and I found the journey of Va Malla starting with nothing, no past, into the person she became quite beautiful.
I really loved the fairytale vibe; it felt so enchanting. I liked that the book was unique on its own with its own kind of worldbuilding, story, and creatures (there are fairies, monsters, and a unicorn, for example), but also kept elements of Cinderella, like the pumpkin carriage, the ball, and the glass slipper. Also, can we talk about Ignis? He's an Autumn Fae Prince, and literally sketches dresses for her! And, cough cough, he's scared of bugs. The romance was a sub-plot, but the little moments between Va Malla and Ignis were very cute.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this book. Reading this felt very cozy, magical, and comforting, and the characters made me laugh on occasion. This book actually brought me out of a reading slump; it was exactly what I needed. Something dreamy and light, yet a bit emotional. I have nothing bad to say about this book, and I can't wait to read the other books in the series. Even days after reading this, I'm still thinking about this one.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for allowing me to read and review this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange of an honest review!
A Cinderella retelling that lingers. I expected a cozy Ella Enchanted vibe and came out with a full-blown Faery hangover instead. The Bluebell King's Ball hits that sweet spot between whimsical and wicked. Va Malla makes such a compelling lead because she starts with almost nothing to hold onto — a name that isn't hers, a family that was never real, a home built on illusion. Watching that reality unravel and her figuring it all out across the autumnlands is unsettling in the best way. And Ignis! I wasn't ready for how conflicted I'd feel about him — a prince bound by a bargain he clearly regrets, working overtime to keep his fae instincts in check around a girl he's meant to deliver, not fall for. The tension is delicious which suits the fairytale tone perfectly. The worldbuilding is gorgeous. The ending had me clutching my chest. Some faerytales really do end in tears, and this one earns every single one.
A Cinderella retelling that lingers. I expected a cozy Ella Enchanted vibe and came out with a full-blown Faery hangover instead. The Bluebell King's Ball hits that sweet spot between whimsical and wicked. Va Malla makes such a compelling lead because she starts with almost nothing to hold onto — a name that isn't hers, a family that was never real, a home built on illusion. Watching that reality unravel and her figuring it all out across the autumnlands is unsettling in the best way. And Ignis! I wasn't ready for how conflicted I'd feel about him — a prince bound by a bargain he clearly regrets, working overtime to keep his fae instincts in check around a girl he's meant to deliver, not fall for. The tension is delicious which suits the fairytale tone perfectly. The worldbuilding is gorgeous. The ending had me clutching my chest. Some faerytales really do end in tears, and this one earns every single one.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Bluebell King's Ball by Sera Saint is a sweet and enchanting Cinderella retelling filled with fae magic, romance, and fairy-tale charm. Sera Saint created a lovely atmosphere that felt whimsical and magical while giving the classic story a fresh fantasy twist. I really enjoyed the focus on the emotional connection between the characters and the gentle development of the romance. This is a wonderful choice for readers who prefer a clean, no-spice romantasy that highlights trust, kindness, and finding someone who truly appreciates you. I also appreciated how the fae elements added mystery and charm, and the story had the comforting feel of a classic fairy tale while still offering something new. Overall, The Bluebell King's Ball was a beautiful, heartwarming read for fans of Cinderella retellings, sweet romance, and magical worlds.
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley. Thank you for giving me the chance to read this novel and share my honest review of the novel!
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley. Thank you for giving me the chance to read this novel and share my honest review of the novel!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was long-ish, lots going on, but still paced wonderfully. I read it in a day. At first I wasn’t sure I could appreciate the writing style, but it quickly became enjoyable as I grew to understand the charter. Both of the MCs were fun personalities and their differences made the story even more interesting. It’s funny how so many of the Disney princess stories are intertwined here. I can see the inspiration, yet the plot was entirely unique.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. Even though this was book 2, I didn’t feel that I missed out on anything and wouldn’t have known had the series order not been revealed at the end. I now want to read the first book as well. I long for the two sisters to be reunited. If that’s a possibility. But I believe it is, because it must be.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. Even though this was book 2, I didn’t feel that I missed out on anything and wouldn’t have known had the series order not been revealed at the end. I now want to read the first book as well. I long for the two sisters to be reunited. If that’s a possibility. But I believe it is, because it must be.
August 13, 2026
I received an advance copy of this book via NetGalley. Here are my thoughts:
This is a Cinderella retelling with fae, unicorns, and the undead. An interesting combination for sure.
I enjoy the author's writing style because it's easy to get immersed in this fantasy fairytale world. It nods to the first book without you having to read it beforehand. The FMC starts out not knowing anything about life and her character shows growth throughout the story. She makes friends wherever she goes.
This is a no spice book and the romance is more of a side note. The love and chemistry wasn't that believable to me because the MMC is missing from a good portion of the book.
Spice level: None
I recommend this to any Cinderella fans out there. It's a fun and interesting retelling.
3.5 out of 5 stars
This is a Cinderella retelling with fae, unicorns, and the undead. An interesting combination for sure.
I enjoy the author's writing style because it's easy to get immersed in this fantasy fairytale world. It nods to the first book without you having to read it beforehand. The FMC starts out not knowing anything about life and her character shows growth throughout the story. She makes friends wherever she goes.
This is a no spice book and the romance is more of a side note. The love and chemistry wasn't that believable to me because the MMC is missing from a good portion of the book.
Spice level: None
I recommend this to any Cinderella fans out there. It's a fun and interesting retelling.
3.5 out of 5 stars
August 6, 2026
The Bluebell King's Ball by Sera Saint is a sweet and enchanting Cinderella retelling filled with fae magic, romance.
This is a great option for readers who prefer a really clean, no-spice romantasy. I have to say I did admire how the fae elements added a bit of enigma and appeal. This story had the feel of a classic fairy tale while still offering something fresh and different.
Overall, The Bluebell King's Ball was a beautiful, heartwarming read for fans of Cinderella retellings, sweet romance, and magical worlds.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy.
This is a great option for readers who prefer a really clean, no-spice romantasy. I have to say I did admire how the fae elements added a bit of enigma and appeal. This story had the feel of a classic fairy tale while still offering something fresh and different.
Overall, The Bluebell King's Ball was a beautiful, heartwarming read for fans of Cinderella retellings, sweet romance, and magical worlds.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy.
August 7, 2026
I deeply enjoyed this! I feel like the author has improved a ton with storytelling in this book while keeping that fantastical, read it in a day vibe. I loved how Ignis and Valla learned more about themselves, each other, and the world around them, and how they overcame challenges in their way. I’m excited for the next
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews