Scallywag or Scoundrel: A Bluebeard Novella

by Emily Deady, Katharine Campbell

Genres: Fantasy, Retellings

104 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 21, 2026

About the author

Emily Deady was as an avid reader who hated writing. But one day she realized that most authors loved cats and tea, her two favorite things. So, she stopped fighting the inevitable and she began to write. She loves a good romance, her real life hero who patiently listens to all her plotlines, and hitting the trails for light hike in sunny San Diego.

Reviews

[Caroline (teenbookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVE Emily Deady’s books and writing style, so of course I had to read her novella wth Katharine Campbell!
Scallywag or Scoundrel is a lighthearted, clean Bluebeard retelling about a handmaid and lord who team up to rescue a princess who has fallen in love with the Buebeard of the story, named Captain Julian. The lord, Lord Tyrell, is desperately in love with Princess Talia, and Lia is Princess Tavia’s maid and best friend. As they work together, Tyrell starts to noticed the tiny, freckled, loyal maid may be more than he had ever thought…
I will admit, I have never read any of Katharine Campbell’s books, but am looking forward to because I very much enjoyed Scallywag or Scoundrel! Both of their writing styles flowed and created such a compelling read.
Honestly, when I read novellas, I kind of go into them reminding myself that, yes, it’s a novella, it’s not going to have the full-sized development that a full-size novel has. BUT, I was pleasantly surprised! It did not feel rushed or quick, IN THE LEAST. I almost forgot I was reading a novella!
In the end, this was a solid four star read, and I definitely recommend this to anyone who would enjoy a Bluebeard retelling by two amazing authors!

[Chere Gruver · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute, quick read that even comes with a moral!

The more of these fairytale retellings I read, the more I love them and this one is no exception to that. I really enjoy the way the authors’ imaginations take over and can change a beloved tale from childhood. This one has to do with Bluebeard the Pirate. However, in this tale, he is a noble who just happens to be a captain of a ship and has a blue beard. We also have a princess, a very romantic type of woman who seems to have fallen head over heels in love with our blue bearded captain. Then we have Lia, the loyal handmaiden of said princess and Tyrell, another nobleman who is rather handy with a sword. I truly enjoyed reading this funny story of Lia trying to save the princess from a fate worse than death. And that would be when the moral of the story comes in, but you’ll have to figure one out for yourself. Yes, I do highly recommend reading this!

I received an advanced reader’s copy and am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Esmare · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never heard of Bluebeard before so starting this book, I had no idea what kind of story to expect, unlike with other fairytale retellings where I have an idea of the original story, like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, etc.

There were a few places that I was laughing so hard, I'm pretty sure I had to wipe tears from my eyes before attempting to read any further.
That's one of the reasons I like Emily Deady's books, it was a first for me with Katharine Campbell though.

I recieved an ARC in exchange for an objective review, that being said I would not have been part of the ARC team if I didn't like the author's writing to begin with. Emily Deady is one of my favourite Fairytale retelling authors.

[PumpkinPi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun twist on the story of Bluebeard! The main characters were a delight, the banter was laugh-out-loud perfection, and I truly didn't know until the reveal what was up with Bluebeard. Just the right amount of ambiguity!

It's a novella, obviously don't walk into it expecting deep, extensive character growth arcs, but if you're looking for a romp of a side story set in the world of Emily Deady's Fairy Tale Royals series, Scallywag or Scoundrel has your name on it.

I received an ARC copy from the authors, but I've also preordered a copy to share because I really enjoyed it!

[Jessica Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a light and goofy novella. It’s funny and entertaining, and has an outrageously cheesy ending. I needed a break from the serious (and slow) book I was reading, and this fit the bill. No real depth (and insta-love for sure), but engaging and a good time.

Of course, be warned, this is NOT a serious book and you should go in with proper expectations... And did I mention the ending is outrageously cheesy?

Content:
There is no foul language, sex, or violence. The romance is limited to non-descriptive kisses. There is no mention of faith or God.

[Katherine Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audaciously Amazing

Note, this is an honest review and I did receive an ARC copy for being part of Emily Deady’s Discord server (which is open and a great place to share reactions with fellow excited readers).

Scallywag or Scoundrel is humorous, intriguing, and full of heart from beginning to end. Lia is loyal, practical, queen of the eye roll, and brave. She is a handmaiden to the beautiful and romantic Princess Tavia. Tyrell is a disciplined, poetic, honorable noble who has a knight’s heart. Can the two work together to solve the mysterious disappearances of 7 women while protecting the innocent? Don’t miss Lia’s humorous inner thoughts, Tavia’s bold chasing of her dreams, Tyrell’s sincere attempts to act like a knight of old, or the amazing plot twist (or should I say twists).

Scallywag or Scoundrel is very loosely tied to Emily Deady’s Fairy Tale Royal series and has a slight spoiler for Shard of Glass. The story has minimal violence, no gore, no swearing, and clean no-spice romance. I enjoyed reading this bite sized mystery romance and I look forward to laughing out loud with it again.

[Chrissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. It was sweet, clean, adventurous, and just overall fun to read. I only wish it was longer because I was sad to finish it. For those who enjoy Emily Deady's Fairy Tale Royals series, this story fits perfectly into the fairy tale world with a few quick references that let you know exactly when this fits in. If you've never read her work, this can also be easily read as a stand alone and enjoyed. I would definitely recommend this book and look forward to rereading it.

[Ami Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This clean Bluebeard retelling with a twist had so many surprises waiting for me as I read! gets made the book more interesting and more of a mystery that I was invited to solve. The ending was a total surprise, and turned what could have been a dark tale into a fun story. I loved the spunky handmaid! I received an ARC copy and this is my review.

[Sara Downs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story with a hint of mystery

I love that the story is a happy ending for Bluebeard and his princess as well as the other characters. It was nice to see more of the world of Iseldis and Princess Tavia is hilarious.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️3.5

[RCH · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I liked this more than I did. I thought that being the love interest of Bluebeard would have been more interesting.

[Ash · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book felt more like 2 children going on a mediocre adventure to discover Julian's mystery.