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Flipped Fairytales
Kiss Me Cursed
In a kingdom that demands obedience, Princess Nasrin has perfected the art of pretending.
Promised to a woman she neither loves nor trusts, she wears her crown like shackles—every expectation another chain. But deep in the forbidden Creeping Wood, she finds something she was never meant to have:
A choice.
Desperate for escape, she ventures into the forbidden depths of this ancient forest, where she meets Lyla—a dragon shifter with sharp teeth, sharper instincts, and no patience for royal expectations.
But what begins as a bargain quickly becomes something far more dangerous.
Because some stories aren’t meant to end in silence.
Promised to a woman she neither loves nor trusts, she wears her crown like shackles—every expectation another chain. But deep in the forbidden Creeping Wood, she finds something she was never meant to have:
A choice.
Desperate for escape, she ventures into the forbidden depths of this ancient forest, where she meets Lyla—a dragon shifter with sharp teeth, sharper instincts, and no patience for royal expectations.
But what begins as a bargain quickly becomes something far more dangerous.
Because some stories aren’t meant to end in silence.
147 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 27, 2026
Kiss Me Cursed by Sierra Scandella is part of a multi-author series of novels called Flipped Fairytales. This installment is a sapphic retelling of the Sleeping Beauty tale. It is very much an instalove fairytale, a little over the top but fun, with all the expected magical elements and a villain.
In this version, the princess is on her way to saving herself from a gilded cage and an arranged marriage when the villain secretly delivers a curse. Fortunately, she has a dragon shifter in her corner.
This novella feels like an old-school fairytale, but with the relationship dynamics I prefer: no princes, a brave princess taking matters into her own hands, and dragon bonding instead of dragon slaying.
From the beginning, the author uses lovely imagery to establish the setting, which includes a magical forest.
Quoteworthy:
"The forest did not announce itself so much as it opened, trunks rising like sentinels, roots twisting through the soil with quiet authority."
I wondered if any of them had ever wanted to run. If any had stood where I did now, wrapped in silk and obligation, wishing the hall would simply end.
Raised voices leaked through the seams, the familiar sound of decisions taking shape on the other side.
There was a consciousness to the silence, like the castle was holding its breath for me.
I nodded, heart pounding. “Bind me.” At that, her smile turned mischievous. “Careful, Nasrin,” she warned. “Dragons take vows very seriously.”
My fingers slipped into her hair, into the silken strands, into the reality of her.
Bonus quote for my favorite microtrope: forehead touches
We parted and she touched her forehead to mine. “This,” she said quietly, “changes things.”
Supporting characters such as Berenice, Maura, and Theo help round out the impression of Nasrin's character.
There is a heavy declaration of love after a very short time, but it seems consistent with the fairy-tale format.
The villain's identity wasn't immediately clear to me, so that was a nice surprise.
I really liked the epilogue; a particular scene was sweet and unexpected.
This plot-driven story was very entertaining. I am giving Kiss Me Cursed 3.75 stars. I would like to read more from this author.
#dragon #shifter #magic #princess #queernormative #sweethorse #touchheranddie #whodidthistoyou #magicalbond #instalove #fairytale #magicalforest #nospice #HEA #epilogue
I received a review copy from the author. This is my honest opinion.
In this version, the princess is on her way to saving herself from a gilded cage and an arranged marriage when the villain secretly delivers a curse. Fortunately, she has a dragon shifter in her corner.
This novella feels like an old-school fairytale, but with the relationship dynamics I prefer: no princes, a brave princess taking matters into her own hands, and dragon bonding instead of dragon slaying.
From the beginning, the author uses lovely imagery to establish the setting, which includes a magical forest.
Quoteworthy:
"The forest did not announce itself so much as it opened, trunks rising like sentinels, roots twisting through the soil with quiet authority."
I wondered if any of them had ever wanted to run. If any had stood where I did now, wrapped in silk and obligation, wishing the hall would simply end.
Raised voices leaked through the seams, the familiar sound of decisions taking shape on the other side.
There was a consciousness to the silence, like the castle was holding its breath for me.
I nodded, heart pounding. “Bind me.” At that, her smile turned mischievous. “Careful, Nasrin,” she warned. “Dragons take vows very seriously.”
My fingers slipped into her hair, into the silken strands, into the reality of her.
Bonus quote for my favorite microtrope: forehead touches
We parted and she touched her forehead to mine. “This,” she said quietly, “changes things.”
Supporting characters such as Berenice, Maura, and Theo help round out the impression of Nasrin's character.
There is a heavy declaration of love after a very short time, but it seems consistent with the fairy-tale format.
The villain's identity wasn't immediately clear to me, so that was a nice surprise.
I really liked the epilogue; a particular scene was sweet and unexpected.
This plot-driven story was very entertaining. I am giving Kiss Me Cursed 3.75 stars. I would like to read more from this author.
#dragon #shifter #magic #princess #queernormative #sweethorse #touchheranddie #whodidthistoyou #magicalbond #instalove #fairytale #magicalforest #nospice #HEA #epilogue
I received a review copy from the author. This is my honest opinion.
August 13, 2026
I was lucky enough to get this as an ARC 🖤 I can't get over how good this book was! It's a quick read that hits all the right fantasy and romance notes that you need. Honestly, who can resist a sapphic Sleeping Beauty retelling with a princess and a dragon shifter? 🐉👸
I was fully immersed in this one! Gripping my kindle; I definitely need the physical copy 👀 Sierra Scandella’s Kiss Me Cursed had me from the first chapter. My emotions were everywhere! And I maaaaay have cried. Okay I did 😭 their love was beautiful. I love that Princess Nasrin fought so hard for her freedom and to love who she wanted, and I absolutely loved Lyla. She was ready to sacrifice everything for love, for Nasrin. Also the villain done her job and absolutely pmo 🤣
I highly recommend this! Sierra’s words flowed magically.
“And for the first time in my life, the future felt less like a cage and more like a dream waiting to be realized.”
I was fully immersed in this one! Gripping my kindle; I definitely need the physical copy 👀 Sierra Scandella’s Kiss Me Cursed had me from the first chapter. My emotions were everywhere! And I maaaaay have cried. Okay I did 😭 their love was beautiful. I love that Princess Nasrin fought so hard for her freedom and to love who she wanted, and I absolutely loved Lyla. She was ready to sacrifice everything for love, for Nasrin. Also the villain done her job and absolutely pmo 🤣
I highly recommend this! Sierra’s words flowed magically.
“And for the first time in my life, the future felt less like a cage and more like a dream waiting to be realized.”
Read
August 13, 2026my first book baby is out in the world!! I hope you all love it as much as I do and stick around for what is to come xoxo
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was an ARC provided to me by the author.
“You chose me knowing it could very well kill you?”
“Yes.”
“No hesitation?”
“None.”
This sapphic reimagined take of Sleeping Beauty is a phenomenal debut novel by Sierra. Following Princess Nasrin who is about to be forced into a marriage for political alliance when she walks into the woods and everything changes.
This book is short and sweet and fantastical.
Highly recommend.
“You chose me knowing it could very well kill you?”
“Yes.”
“No hesitation?”
“None.”
This sapphic reimagined take of Sleeping Beauty is a phenomenal debut novel by Sierra. Following Princess Nasrin who is about to be forced into a marriage for political alliance when she walks into the woods and everything changes.
This book is short and sweet and fantastical.
Highly recommend.
October 16, 2026
I didn’t find myself particularly attached to any of the characters besides Lyla, and I wish we’d gotten more of her backstory. Maleficent is my favorite character in Sleeping Beauty so it makes sense why Lyla would be my favorite. I also wish we would’ve gotten more reasoning why Morana wanted the kingdom- her villain origin story if you will. I feel like I would’ve enjoyed this more if it was a full novel with more backstory of the kingdom and characters.
But I do love that it was a lesbian retelling of Sleeping Beauty. And the magic was pretty cool in this story as well.
But I do love that it was a lesbian retelling of Sleeping Beauty. And the magic was pretty cool in this story as well.
August 13, 2026
I am not much of a book reader but this is by far one of my favorite books I have read! Such an amazing twist fairytale! 100% would recommend
Review of advance copy received from Author
"I will protect you, Nasrin. Whatever it costs me, whatever it asks... I will not fail you."
AHHHHHH!!!!
I truly, truly loved this book! It was short and sweet and pure and such a good debut.
Nasrin is such an interesting character with motivations beyond "not wanting to be queen." She's struggling despite having people who love her; she's lost in a world of expectations and doesn't find her way out until she beseeches a dragon in the woods for a way out, even if it means losing everything.
Lyla is so cool! I love that Scandella played into the near-possessiveness that a dragon has for something it's claimed--just in this case, that something is a princess! There's a tenderness that she has, and her connection to the roses is so interesting.
Sleeping Beauty is my favorite Disney movie, and this twist of the tale adds a freshness to the story that didn't feel like it was betraying the original (both the Disney movie and the fairytale), but it elevated it. Turned it into something new without straying too far. By far, though, the best part of the book was Scandella's prose. She has a BEAUTIFUL writing style. Her descriptions were enchanting and so well done that I was enraptured with the world.
I would recommend this short story to anyone who loves sapphic fantasy, romance, a hint of political intrigue, and dragon shifters.
GO READ.
AHHHHHH!!!!
I truly, truly loved this book! It was short and sweet and pure and such a good debut.
Nasrin is such an interesting character with motivations beyond "not wanting to be queen." She's struggling despite having people who love her; she's lost in a world of expectations and doesn't find her way out until she beseeches a dragon in the woods for a way out, even if it means losing everything.
Lyla is so cool! I love that Scandella played into the near-possessiveness that a dragon has for something it's claimed--just in this case, that something is a princess! There's a tenderness that she has, and her connection to the roses is so interesting.
Sleeping Beauty is my favorite Disney movie, and this twist of the tale adds a freshness to the story that didn't feel like it was betraying the original (both the Disney movie and the fairytale), but it elevated it. Turned it into something new without straying too far. By far, though, the best part of the book was Scandella's prose. She has a BEAUTIFUL writing style. Her descriptions were enchanting and so well done that I was enraptured with the world.
I would recommend this short story to anyone who loves sapphic fantasy, romance, a hint of political intrigue, and dragon shifters.
GO READ.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews