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Timeless Fairy Tales #9
The Frog Prince
Crown Prince Lucien has spent his life pretending to be a flirtatious idiot in order to manipulate his courts and hide his deficiencies. His acting backfires, however, when his father orders an enchantress to turn him into a frog for his own safety after he narrowly escapes an assassination plot.
Servant. Capable. Expendable. Strong-willed Ariane is all of these things, which makes her the perfect escort for the newly transformed Frog-Prince Lucien. Carting the lazy prince around on a velvet cushion is the last thing Ariane wants to do when it seems like the dark magic that has been plaguing her world for years is winning. But when a pair of rogue mages attack Prince Lucien, Ariane realizes the threat of darkness is much closer than she thought.
Even worse, she finds herself drawn to the prince and noticing that perhaps he is not as foolish as he acts…
Can Ariane break the spell on Lucien's body and his heart and convince him to step into his role as the Crown Prince, or will the mages kill them both?
THE FROG PRINCE is a fairy tale retelling and the ninth book of the TIMELESS FAIRY TALES series. Filled with witty banter, fat frogs, and political intrigue, it can be enjoyed as an individual stand-alone book, but will be most enjoyable if read with other books from the series.
Servant. Capable. Expendable. Strong-willed Ariane is all of these things, which makes her the perfect escort for the newly transformed Frog-Prince Lucien. Carting the lazy prince around on a velvet cushion is the last thing Ariane wants to do when it seems like the dark magic that has been plaguing her world for years is winning. But when a pair of rogue mages attack Prince Lucien, Ariane realizes the threat of darkness is much closer than she thought.
Even worse, she finds herself drawn to the prince and noticing that perhaps he is not as foolish as he acts…
Can Ariane break the spell on Lucien's body and his heart and convince him to step into his role as the Crown Prince, or will the mages kill them both?
THE FROG PRINCE is a fairy tale retelling and the ninth book of the TIMELESS FAIRY TALES series. Filled with witty banter, fat frogs, and political intrigue, it can be enjoyed as an individual stand-alone book, but will be most enjoyable if read with other books from the series.
219 pages, ebook
First published November 3, 2017
436 people are currently reading
1098 people want to read
About the author
K.M. Shea
119 books4,786 followersMy pen name is K. M. Shea, but my readers—I prefer to call them Champions—call me Kitty.
I love to write funny, clean stories with strong characters. Books like that are among my favorite to read so naturally I love writing stories like that as well. My philosophy is that life is tough, so books should be something that makes you relax and laugh!
VISIT MY FACEBOOK GROUP
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VISIT MY AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
https://www.amazon.com/K-M-Shea/e/B00...
VISIT MY WEBSITE
https://kmshea.com/
I love to write funny, clean stories with strong characters. Books like that are among my favorite to read so naturally I love writing stories like that as well. My philosophy is that life is tough, so books should be something that makes you relax and laugh!
VISIT MY FACEBOOK GROUP
https://www.facebook.com/groups/27090...
VISIT MY AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
https://www.amazon.com/K-M-Shea/e/B00...
VISIT MY WEBSITE
https://kmshea.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
November 7, 2017
I always love KM Shea's books. They are always the perfect blend of funny, some action, and a sweet story that are a great read for de-stressing after a long week. No, perhaps they are not that deep. They aren't meant to be. And that's exactly why I love them.
This book ties all the other books in the Timeless Fairy Tales and the prequel Snow Queen books together. I loved getting glimpses of past characters, and this book especially has a lot of Severin and Elle from Beauty and the Beast in it since the main guy is Prince Lucien, Severin's brother, and the book happens at Severin's chateau.
Things I especially liked:
- this book changed up the basic plot line of the Timeless Fairy Tales. Lucien doesn't end up a frog by an evil mages curse. Saying more than that would be a major spoiler, but I liked how his transformation came about.
- the way Lucien being an "indestructible frog"was used for comedic purposes all the time. So hilarious!
- Severin and Prince Freidrich's military bonding/friendship. Prince Friedrich was one of my favorite male characters from the series, so I was glad to see him get some screen time in this book
- the way Stil and Gemma played a role. They were also some of my favorite characters from past books.
I can't wait for the next books in this series! In many ways, this book changes everything, and I can't wait to see how the changes play out!
This book ties all the other books in the Timeless Fairy Tales and the prequel Snow Queen books together. I loved getting glimpses of past characters, and this book especially has a lot of Severin and Elle from Beauty and the Beast in it since the main guy is Prince Lucien, Severin's brother, and the book happens at Severin's chateau.
Things I especially liked:
- this book changed up the basic plot line of the Timeless Fairy Tales. Lucien doesn't end up a frog by an evil mages curse. Saying more than that would be a major spoiler, but I liked how his transformation came about.
- the way Lucien being an "indestructible frog"was used for comedic purposes all the time. So hilarious!
- Severin and Prince Freidrich's military bonding/friendship. Prince Friedrich was one of my favorite male characters from the series, so I was glad to see him get some screen time in this book
- the way Stil and Gemma played a role. They were also some of my favorite characters from past books.
I can't wait for the next books in this series! In many ways, this book changes everything, and I can't wait to see how the changes play out!
November 25, 2022
The Frog Prince might easily be one of my favorite fairytales. Especially because there are so many different versions of it and each version changes the message and the personalities of all characters involved. I was therefore really excited to find out what Shea would do with this famous tale. At first I wanted to read this one first, start with your favorite fairytale after all, but I'm glad I didn't do that. It's quite clear this story is really building towards the finale.
For some reason this tale felt so much shorter than the others, even though I know it wasn't. I assume it's because it was so incredibly entertaining. That's mostly because the prince in this story, the one who is really turned into a frog for the best reason ever, is the perfect mix of arrogant, intelligent, playful, determined and smug. He was totally my perfect type of book boyfriend! I will make sure to call my next new stuffed frog after him.
I also really enjoyed the politics in this book. The kingdoms have noticed that there is too much going on and that it can't be a coincidence any longer. So, in this book we reconnect with quite a few characters from the previous books. Which is also the main reason you shouldn't read this book before you've read the first eight books. You will be spoiled and you will have issues to follow all the remarks and jokes.
I'm also really glad that the story of the Snow Queen, which I read before starting this series, is playing a much bigger role in this series than I initially thought. It feels a little like this book connects not only the first 8 books in the series, but also the prequel series. The previous two books were already clearly hinting that there was something big going on, but now we know what. I can't wait to see how things will develop in the next book!
For some reason this tale felt so much shorter than the others, even though I know it wasn't. I assume it's because it was so incredibly entertaining. That's mostly because the prince in this story, the one who is really turned into a frog for the best reason ever, is the perfect mix of arrogant, intelligent, playful, determined and smug. He was totally my perfect type of book boyfriend! I will make sure to call my next new stuffed frog after him.
I also really enjoyed the politics in this book. The kingdoms have noticed that there is too much going on and that it can't be a coincidence any longer. So, in this book we reconnect with quite a few characters from the previous books. Which is also the main reason you shouldn't read this book before you've read the first eight books. You will be spoiled and you will have issues to follow all the remarks and jokes.
I'm also really glad that the story of the Snow Queen, which I read before starting this series, is playing a much bigger role in this series than I initially thought. It feels a little like this book connects not only the first 8 books in the series, but also the prequel series. The previous two books were already clearly hinting that there was something big going on, but now we know what. I can't wait to see how things will develop in the next book!
November 3, 2017
Amazing as certain books by Mrs. Shea can be, this one is sadly on the weaker end of the spectrum.
The book is worth reading in that one gets to see many other interesting and worthwhile characters, and remember the things one loved about them. On the other hand, while one is busy catching up with everyone under the sun, one simply fails to develop something critical-- a connection with the protagonists, whose character seems entirely too shallow and fails to stand out. He is smarter than he looks, she is smarter than she acts. He pretends to like wine, she actually likes cleaning. Moving on...
(spoiler alert)
I would probably be slightly less negative towards this book if the author hadn't spent several other works in her series going on about how horrible it is that the protagonists were hit by curses that turned them into animals.
Because of this, seeing a prince's own family actually decide that he really needs to be turned into a frog is utterly beyond the pale.
The fact that he figured that "oh well, it's for my own safety, let's just keep going and hope to survive the assassins who are sent after me but are REALLY after my older brother" means that either (1) he is a weak-willed nincompoop, and not someone I will view as a hero or (2) the author needs to rethink the nature of this protagonist.
The book is worth reading in that one gets to see many other interesting and worthwhile characters, and remember the things one loved about them. On the other hand, while one is busy catching up with everyone under the sun, one simply fails to develop something critical-- a connection with the protagonists, whose character seems entirely too shallow and fails to stand out. He is smarter than he looks, she is smarter than she acts. He pretends to like wine, she actually likes cleaning. Moving on...
(spoiler alert)
I would probably be slightly less negative towards this book if the author hadn't spent several other works in her series going on about how horrible it is that the protagonists were hit by curses that turned them into animals.
Because of this, seeing a prince's own family actually decide that he really needs to be turned into a frog is utterly beyond the pale.
The fact that he figured that "oh well, it's for my own safety, let's just keep going and hope to survive the assassins who are sent after me but are REALLY after my older brother" means that either (1) he is a weak-willed nincompoop, and not someone I will view as a hero or (2) the author needs to rethink the nature of this protagonist.
February 2, 2018
At this point in the series, if you, my fellow bloggers and book lovers, don't know how I feel about these books, then you have not been paying attention. K.M. Shea's Timeless Fairy Tales feature retellings of old classics with new twists. They are full of love, beauty, humor, strong women, and stunning surprises that make the old tales come alive.
The Frog Prince shimmers with all the magical aspects of the series, but also feels like it has the most to offer, as far as retellings go. It blooms with rich, flowery details from the original tale, but also springs several new buds of uniqueness on us. It is full of life and everything that is K.M. Shea.
I love how much this one had me laughing. Lucien is the perfect frog prince. His antics and attitude are quite hilarious. Ariane is a perfect match to stand up to Lucien's foolish behavior.
I remember hearing the original tale as a child, and I feel like this one really brought back the nostalgia. If you love the tale, you will adore this retelling. And, if you have not read the first 8 books in this series, you are really missing out!
I highly suggest the entire series, because this one alone is worth reading the first 8. Though they can all be read as stand-alones, this one brings a lot of the characters from the first 8 books together, and really just fills your heart with the whimsy and beauty of these enchanting faerie tales!
Thank you to the author for sending me this free e-copy in exchange for my honest review, and as part of my Faerie Tale Friday posts.
The Frog Prince shimmers with all the magical aspects of the series, but also feels like it has the most to offer, as far as retellings go. It blooms with rich, flowery details from the original tale, but also springs several new buds of uniqueness on us. It is full of life and everything that is K.M. Shea.
I love how much this one had me laughing. Lucien is the perfect frog prince. His antics and attitude are quite hilarious. Ariane is a perfect match to stand up to Lucien's foolish behavior.
I remember hearing the original tale as a child, and I feel like this one really brought back the nostalgia. If you love the tale, you will adore this retelling. And, if you have not read the first 8 books in this series, you are really missing out!
I highly suggest the entire series, because this one alone is worth reading the first 8. Though they can all be read as stand-alones, this one brings a lot of the characters from the first 8 books together, and really just fills your heart with the whimsy and beauty of these enchanting faerie tales!
Thank you to the author for sending me this free e-copy in exchange for my honest review, and as part of my Faerie Tale Friday posts.
February 25, 2022
This was a pretty funny book.
It was a clean romance, there is maybe one kiss in front of other people. No intimate scenes.
It was a slow build romance (enemies to lovers) as he is the arrogant prince and she is the maid assigned to carry him around on his cushion after he is turned into a frog.
You get funny moments like this, "The prince showed his inattention to the Summit by making swirling designs in his teacup with his toes."
It was a clean romance, there is maybe one kiss in front of other people. No intimate scenes.
It was a slow build romance (enemies to lovers) as he is the arrogant prince and she is the maid assigned to carry him around on his cushion after he is turned into a frog.
You get funny moments like this, "The prince showed his inattention to the Summit by making swirling designs in his teacup with his toes."
November 7, 2022
Yes I read this whole book in a day! I had been excited about it since I read Beauty and the Beast and I actually skipped two books just so I could read it faster! lol
Lucien, it was so nice to see his story play out in this book and I loved that he was a complex character. I could see the potential in him and actually didn't think he was all that bad in the Beauty and the Beast book. When he did speak deeply about his feelings it was so beautiful!
Ariane, I didn't like her in the beginning I think more because she only seemed to have OCD and nothing much else to her character but I loved that as the story went on she was brave and bold and I did feel like she was exactly what Lucien needed.
The story was really well done. I loved that they were desperately trying to figure out who was behind everything and I loved that Lucien rose to the occasion. The pacing and writing were magnificent.
I did NOT receive a complimentary copy. This review is my honest opinion. I bought this/ read it on KU/ got it from the library.
Lucien, it was so nice to see his story play out in this book and I loved that he was a complex character. I could see the potential in him and actually didn't think he was all that bad in the Beauty and the Beast book. When he did speak deeply about his feelings it was so beautiful!
Ariane, I didn't like her in the beginning I think more because she only seemed to have OCD and nothing much else to her character but I loved that as the story went on she was brave and bold and I did feel like she was exactly what Lucien needed.
The story was really well done. I loved that they were desperately trying to figure out who was behind everything and I loved that Lucien rose to the occasion. The pacing and writing were magnificent.
I did NOT receive a complimentary copy. This review is my honest opinion. I bought this/ read it on KU/ got it from the library.
November 5, 2017
A Classic With A Twist
I love the way that K.M. Shea takes a fairytale and makes it her own! In this case, Prince Lucien is turned into a frog after a failed assassination attempt. As a frog, he can be enchanted to be pretty indestructible. A maid, Arianne saved him, and is now watching over him as a frog. I loved this relationship! Lucien is a bit of a toad at first, and prince or not, Arianne is not afraid to tell him so. I also loved the way that Lucien’s sister-in-law, Elle, gave Arianne permission to throw frog Lucien or do whatever she wants if he is rude. He is indestructible after all.
While each of the books in the series can be read independently, this is the first time where I have felt like reading the rest of the series would be important. The countries have all gathered for a summit to discuss the magical attacks and what they can do to unite. There are many characters who overlap from previous books. We also get some new information about the big picture of who is behind these attacks.
I cannot wait for the next book!
If you like clever fairytales, I highly recommend this series.
Content: clean (a kiss, mild violence)
I love the way that K.M. Shea takes a fairytale and makes it her own! In this case, Prince Lucien is turned into a frog after a failed assassination attempt. As a frog, he can be enchanted to be pretty indestructible. A maid, Arianne saved him, and is now watching over him as a frog. I loved this relationship! Lucien is a bit of a toad at first, and prince or not, Arianne is not afraid to tell him so. I also loved the way that Lucien’s sister-in-law, Elle, gave Arianne permission to throw frog Lucien or do whatever she wants if he is rude. He is indestructible after all.
While each of the books in the series can be read independently, this is the first time where I have felt like reading the rest of the series would be important. The countries have all gathered for a summit to discuss the magical attacks and what they can do to unite. There are many characters who overlap from previous books. We also get some new information about the big picture of who is behind these attacks.
I cannot wait for the next book!
If you like clever fairytales, I highly recommend this series.
Content: clean (a kiss, mild violence)
August 24, 2018
Ah, I don't know what I expected. It was a retelling of a classic fairytale, but I think I'm too old to believe they suddenly love each other after 5 encounters at most. 😂 But thinking back, it IS what happens in fairytales, isn't it? Never bothered me before, though, I guess because we read fairytales when we're young and they're meant for (younger) readers who believe in insta love.
July 14, 2018
This was so much fun to read -I'm beaming as I continue to reflect on the fun features in the story! K.M. Shea's ninth installment in her "Timeless Fairy Tales" series of "The Frog Prince" was a royal win.
A downside of the series being a combination of stand-alone-stories-that-are-enjoyed-best-when-read-in-order-and-as-a-series type of book series, is that we don't get to peek into the lives of our heroes after leaving them at "The End". The past characters are made mention of in various installments -enough to keep us satisfied- but I still was personally curious about what was going on their lives(Particularly about a certain foster sister and her "lover boy"). Here, with "The Frog Prince", we get some questions answered (and -naturally- even more questions, but still).
This book is unique, because although the maid and prince realize they love each other fairly early on in the book (compared to Shea's other stories), they still have a lot to solve. Plus, their storyline was only dipped into because of the Summit Prince Severin and Princess Elle of Loire called. The continent is in turmoil, and reports need to be brought in for dissection and discussion. Due to the disasters hitting the kingdoms, we readers are able to revisit our past favorite characters (and their quirks!) because of the gathering at our favorite Beauty and Beast's chateau.
The dialogue is funny and also distinct to each respective character. There were many names and faces (both old and new) in this story, but it wasn't confusing with the great distinctions Shea applies to her characters. This particular story's plot is vital to the overarching scheme in the entire series, and came just in time to give us readers connections about all the hubaloo occurring on the continent.
It is recommended on Shea's website, but I'll also reaffirm it here, to definitely read "The Snow Queen" TRILOGY before diving into this book. First, the 2 books and 1 novella of short stories are CHARMING and absolutely a delight. Secondly, it gives more power to a specific discovery found in this story. Third, I mean, c'mon. It's K.M. Shea -why not read something she'd write? (I'd honestly read a phonebook by her, though).
A downside of the series being a combination of stand-alone-stories-that-are-enjoyed-best-when-read-in-order-and-as-a-series type of book series, is that we don't get to peek into the lives of our heroes after leaving them at "The End". The past characters are made mention of in various installments -enough to keep us satisfied- but I still was personally curious about what was going on their lives(Particularly about a certain foster sister and her "lover boy"). Here, with "The Frog Prince", we get some questions answered (and -naturally- even more questions, but still).
This book is unique, because although the maid and prince realize they love each other fairly early on in the book (compared to Shea's other stories), they still have a lot to solve. Plus, their storyline was only dipped into because of the Summit Prince Severin and Princess Elle of Loire called. The continent is in turmoil, and reports need to be brought in for dissection and discussion. Due to the disasters hitting the kingdoms, we readers are able to revisit our past favorite characters (and their quirks!) because of the gathering at our favorite Beauty and Beast's chateau.
The dialogue is funny and also distinct to each respective character. There were many names and faces (both old and new) in this story, but it wasn't confusing with the great distinctions Shea applies to her characters. This particular story's plot is vital to the overarching scheme in the entire series, and came just in time to give us readers connections about all the hubaloo occurring on the continent.
It is recommended on Shea's website, but I'll also reaffirm it here, to definitely read "The Snow Queen" TRILOGY before diving into this book. First, the 2 books and 1 novella of short stories are CHARMING and absolutely a delight. Secondly, it gives more power to a specific discovery found in this story. Third, I mean, c'mon. It's K.M. Shea -why not read something she'd write? (I'd honestly read a phonebook by her, though).
December 15, 2018
Hmm, this book was surprisingly good. I read it in a couple hours, and originally got it only because I intended to catch up on the last of the Timeless Fairy Tales series. I was doubtful, though, as Prince Lucien always irritated me in earlier books and I had no idea who Ariane was, so yeah.
Also, kill me but, I'm not a huge fan of Severin and Elle. I just... sorry, no.
So while I had my doubts reading this, I still enjoyed it!
I definitely liked getting to see more of Lucien's personality in his perspective and in Ariane's. Ariane was a nice character, not my favorite; however, I disagree with about half of Elle's descriptions about her. In my opinion, Ariane wasn't mouthy or brash or whatever they called her; she was quite sensible and almost as down-to-earth as Gemma from RUMPELSTILTSKIN. (Speaking of whom, appeared in the book! With Stil! !!!)
This was a fun and unique twist on "The Frog Prince" fairytale. I kind of only had one little problem with it.
It's root problem comes from Elle. *Deeply regrets having ever read BEAUTY AND THE BEAST* *because what happened to Beauty*
People, it is NOT right to throw a human being around just because he says something unpleasant. Yes, Lucien was in frog form, and throwing the prince against a wall IS part of the original fairytale, but it's just not right for something so trivial as a smart remark. If Lucien was human, would you throw him off the sofa every time he said something snide? And for goodness' sake, he's a full-grown man. That was beyond unnecessary. :(
So yeah, here I am being petty and blaming Elle about it, but hey. I'm sure Ariane wouldn't have thrown him around otherwise.
... Yeah, other than that, this book was great. I especially loved seeing the representatives from all over coming for the Summit! While the political discussion and stuff got ramped up during this book, the author did a great job keeping it far from boring and long and draggy. Besides, I had a fair share of theorizing going on while reading the book... *gazes at the 22-or-so notes I've made while reading*
Also, the royal family of Arcainia... and Puss. I need more Puss. And I think I'll get more Puss if I go read PUSS IN BOOTS.
But I won't; I'll be reading the next book in the series instead, so. :)
Also, kill me but, I'm not a huge fan of Severin and Elle. I just... sorry, no.
So while I had my doubts reading this, I still enjoyed it!
I definitely liked getting to see more of Lucien's personality in his perspective and in Ariane's. Ariane was a nice character, not my favorite; however, I disagree with about half of Elle's descriptions about her. In my opinion, Ariane wasn't mouthy or brash or whatever they called her; she was quite sensible and almost as down-to-earth as Gemma from RUMPELSTILTSKIN. (Speaking of whom, appeared in the book! With Stil! !!!)
This was a fun and unique twist on "The Frog Prince" fairytale. I kind of only had one little problem with it.
It's root problem comes from Elle. *Deeply regrets having ever read BEAUTY AND THE BEAST* *because what happened to Beauty*
People, it is NOT right to throw a human being around just because he says something unpleasant. Yes, Lucien was in frog form, and throwing the prince against a wall IS part of the original fairytale, but it's just not right for something so trivial as a smart remark. If Lucien was human, would you throw him off the sofa every time he said something snide? And for goodness' sake, he's a full-grown man. That was beyond unnecessary. :(
So yeah, here I am being petty and blaming Elle about it, but hey. I'm sure Ariane wouldn't have thrown him around otherwise.
... Yeah, other than that, this book was great. I especially loved seeing the representatives from all over coming for the Summit! While the political discussion and stuff got ramped up during this book, the author did a great job keeping it far from boring and long and draggy. Besides, I had a fair share of theorizing going on while reading the book... *gazes at the 22-or-so notes I've made while reading*
Also, the royal family of Arcainia... and Puss. I need more Puss. And I think I'll get more Puss if I go read PUSS IN BOOTS.
But I won't; I'll be reading the next book in the series instead, so. :)
May 16, 2019
First, I just want to say how thankful I am for an interesting series while I am recovering from an injury. I have something to read when I can't sleep (which is most of the time) and feeling down or need a distraction from the pain. Thank you KM Shea for that.
This is a continuation of Timeless Fairy Tales. It was interested to have a character redeemed that I hadn't thought much of beforehand. Another solid book in the series.
This is a continuation of Timeless Fairy Tales. It was interested to have a character redeemed that I hadn't thought much of beforehand. Another solid book in the series.
March 26, 2023
Determined to finish the Timeless Fairy Tales series - up to number 9! I was pretty unimpressed with 8 but this was getting back on the right track :) We're back in the French-style country and meet the same pair of brothers from the very first book Beauty and the Beast - Severin and Lucien. This takes place after Severin has had his curse broken by Belle; it basically happens after all the books so far but within the timeline of Sleeping Beauty (they're all still asleep).
What was great about this one was that there was so much more joined up world building! We had all the other characters (just about) return to a meeting at Severin's chateau to discuss the apparently unconnected dark magic events that have been plaguing the continent. I love the way Shea has made all the books connect up; I haven't been enamoured of any of the stories individually, but the way they are linked is clever, and we really get to see it here!
So, yes, I liked the politics mostly :P We get some big picture thinking and realisations, thanks to a character that everyone thought was basically just a cad...
The storyline for this wasn't as important for me as for the series itself. The MC is Arianne, a maid, who is tasked with looking after Lucien who has been turned (voluntarily) into a frog. That didn't really work for me Angelique (our main magical gal) doesn't seem the type to turn someone into a frog quite so glibly...
There's instalove and all those annoying tropes but finally getting some overall backbone to the full storyline arc. I'm all for that.
What was great about this one was that there was so much more joined up world building! We had all the other characters (just about) return to a meeting at Severin's chateau to discuss the apparently unconnected dark magic events that have been plaguing the continent. I love the way Shea has made all the books connect up; I haven't been enamoured of any of the stories individually, but the way they are linked is clever, and we really get to see it here!
So, yes, I liked the politics mostly :P We get some big picture thinking and realisations, thanks to a character that everyone thought was basically just a cad...
The storyline for this wasn't as important for me as for the series itself. The MC is Arianne, a maid, who is tasked with looking after Lucien who has been turned (voluntarily) into a frog. That didn't really work for me Angelique (our main magical gal) doesn't seem the type to turn someone into a frog quite so glibly...
There's instalove and all those annoying tropes but finally getting some overall backbone to the full storyline arc. I'm all for that.
May 18, 2021
Best book it was so funny I couldn't even control my laughter the argument between Lucien and Ariaen are best .😂😂🤣
November 4, 2017
Warning for those new to the series: This is the first book of the series that isn't really a standalone. You'll want to get your feet wet with the other Timeless Fairy Tale books and / or the shorter Snow Queen series first.
And now for a review of this book. First of all, how amazing is it that everything else in this world up to this point is getting its payoff! We get characters back from all the other Timeless Fairy Tale books AND get to see how they all get along - or don't, as that many royals in a room means there are at least a few egos too big for completely smooth sailing. But, no worries, nobody turns into an egomaniacal jerk; everyone is just as amazing as we remember and concerned about the fate of the continent.
Also, although the fate of the continent is the big plot monster looming over everyone's heads, this book also has the most charming new romance. Lucien dodges all the pitfalls Severin had previously fallen into while also wrestling with some drama of his own that I found completely believable and fulfilling. I was shocked to find that I actually fell in love with his character before the book was a quarter through. I think, previously, only Stil managed to capture my heart so quickly. Or Farrin. No, probably just Stil.
And Ariane is brilliant as the heroine, too. She's proactive and sensible (except when she's addled on spider venom and adrenaline, poor girl xD) and a refreshing set of eyes through which we readers can view the continent-endangering events. As it's all new to her, it makes sense that she would provide a good filter to jog our memories on the others' stories, but the author never overburdens readers with the reminders.
I absolutely adored the relationship between Lucien and Ariane. I was laughing out loud in countless scenes, such as the Princess of the Golden Curls (just wait xD) and froggy physical comedy (seriously, Lucien's movements as a frog were (unintentionally, as far as he was concerned) hilarious - a type of humor I wasn't sure was possible to pull off in prose). Ariane also demonstrates a level of meta-awareness of her own love story that I found super refreshing; meanwhile, Lucien, as aware as surely anyone can be of his own love story, was completely on board for the whole ride - another really refreshing attitude. <3
Meanwhile, what would be a Timeless Fairy Tale book without Angelique? In most of them, she's a lone, wandering, magic do-gooder who's searching for Evariste. In this one, we get to see a little first-hand glimpse into WHY she's so alone. She has friends and admirers here and there, and the non-magical love her to death for all her help, but the people who are supposed to support her as equals are either too busy (Stil and Sybilla) or too blinded by prejudice (practically EVERYONE else from the Conclave). I'm really curious to know exactly what her core magic is.
Okay, I've probably rambled long enough. I'd love to rant more (if you want, message me, and we can trade conspiracy theories xD), but I should wrap this up. In short: Get this book! It's got everything from humor to romance to intrigue. Any fan of the series will NOT want to miss everything that's revealed by the end of this book!
And now for a review of this book. First of all, how amazing is it that everything else in this world up to this point is getting its payoff! We get characters back from all the other Timeless Fairy Tale books AND get to see how they all get along - or don't, as that many royals in a room means there are at least a few egos too big for completely smooth sailing. But, no worries, nobody turns into an egomaniacal jerk; everyone is just as amazing as we remember and concerned about the fate of the continent.
Also, although the fate of the continent is the big plot monster looming over everyone's heads, this book also has the most charming new romance. Lucien dodges all the pitfalls Severin had previously fallen into while also wrestling with some drama of his own that I found completely believable and fulfilling. I was shocked to find that I actually fell in love with his character before the book was a quarter through. I think, previously, only Stil managed to capture my heart so quickly. Or Farrin. No, probably just Stil.
And Ariane is brilliant as the heroine, too. She's proactive and sensible (except when she's addled on spider venom and adrenaline, poor girl xD) and a refreshing set of eyes through which we readers can view the continent-endangering events. As it's all new to her, it makes sense that she would provide a good filter to jog our memories on the others' stories, but the author never overburdens readers with the reminders.
I absolutely adored the relationship between Lucien and Ariane. I was laughing out loud in countless scenes, such as the Princess of the Golden Curls (just wait xD) and froggy physical comedy (seriously, Lucien's movements as a frog were (unintentionally, as far as he was concerned) hilarious - a type of humor I wasn't sure was possible to pull off in prose). Ariane also demonstrates a level of meta-awareness of her own love story that I found super refreshing; meanwhile, Lucien, as aware as surely anyone can be of his own love story, was completely on board for the whole ride - another really refreshing attitude. <3
Meanwhile, what would be a Timeless Fairy Tale book without Angelique? In most of them, she's a lone, wandering, magic do-gooder who's searching for Evariste. In this one, we get to see a little first-hand glimpse into WHY she's so alone. She has friends and admirers here and there, and the non-magical love her to death for all her help, but the people who are supposed to support her as equals are either too busy (Stil and Sybilla) or too blinded by prejudice (practically EVERYONE else from the Conclave). I'm really curious to know exactly what her core magic is.
Okay, I've probably rambled long enough. I'd love to rant more (if you want, message me, and we can trade conspiracy theories xD), but I should wrap this up. In short: Get this book! It's got everything from humor to romance to intrigue. Any fan of the series will NOT want to miss everything that's revealed by the end of this book!
May 27, 2022
only read this for my English class but I can say the action that took place throughout the story for a "fantasy" was pretty interesting. because it was a series, it was hard to truly identify all the characters when so many of the characters from other books introduce themselves making it confusing to comprehend their interference.
November 3, 2025
Every book is better than the previous.
Every new book in this series is better than the ones before. I love love love this book. One of my absolute favourites.
Every new book in this series is better than the ones before. I love love love this book. One of my absolute favourites.
January 3, 2022
I had so much fun reading this one. 🤣 Classic!
July 27, 2023
More like 2.5 Stars, but barely
"Time to be wettened, Your Highness," Henry announced.
It would be hypocritical for me to say to ignore the haters, because I AM, in fact, a hater. The first half of this book was fantastic and set up the potential for a really good character arc from Lucien and Ariane's end. He SLOWLY and GRADUALLY changes his prejudices and pulls back his facade, she SLOWLY and GRADUALLY comes to trust him. Do we get slow and gradual? NO, WE DO NOT. Their little "change of heart" happens LITERALLY in pages. Which is absolutely baffling to me because so much of the narration is their inner thoughts, but not in a meaningful way.
This book frustrates me because like I said, the set up was full of potential for a thought provoking story about appearances vs. what's inside. But the story fell flat on its face. During the characters' narration, we see them begin to question their beliefs and behaviors, wondering why. But we never see them finish their thought process. One day, Ariane is like "Ugh Lucien is such a pretentious flirt and his room is always a mess" and the next she's like "Oh my gosh, I'm in love with the prince." Same for Lucien, "I am so apathetic about everything and am so angry about being turned into a frog" to "I like the maid that's been carrying my pillow around for the past two weeks." WHERE WAS THE TRANSITION. WHY DID THEIR FEELINGS CHANGE. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN.
The romance was mindboggling. I've read my fair share of InstaLove, but this was just plain bonkers. Adriane loves Lucien because he (*checks notes) was worried when she got attacked by a rogue mage??????? If that is the standard for what it takes for her to fall in love with a guy, then the bar must be in hell. Lucien loves Adriane because she "saw the true him" which apparently his PRINCE BROTHER and SPY SISTER-IN-LAW couldn't even do?? Their whole "romance" REEKS of "high schools working on a school project together and start dating by the end of it." Except, oh no, Lucien and Adriane aren't dating by the end of the book. No no no, they're ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED. AFTER THREE WEEKS.
Also, consistency in the book wasn't a thing. At all. I'll admit that it's my fault for reading the ninth book in a series without having read the others (except for the B&B one), HOWEVER the blurb says this book can be read as a stand-alone. Heads up, no it can't. I mean if you focus ONLY on the "romance" you can read this by itself, but nothing else in the book will make sense (which may be contributing to why I was raging so hard at this book). But that's not the issue here. No, the issue is the characters and narration either being self-contradictory or vague.
Example 1: Lucien is turned into a frog to protect him from the assassination attempts. He needs to be a frog because the protection spells will only work on a small animal (the fact that he's a frog "the size of a dinner plate" is beside the point). You would assume that the royals would want to keep this fact under the radar to add a further layer of safety BUT NOPE. Not only are the characters actively telling each other that Lucien is now a frog and being chauffeured around the palace, he is also publicly attending the summit! What makes this even more confusing is that Severin explicitly says something like, "I want to limit the amount of people who know this" but everyone in the continent and their monarchs know?!!? NO WONDER LUCIEN ALMOST GOT ASSASSINATED LIKE FIVE TIMES.
Example 2: Page X says, "Now that the summit was over, most of the monarchs had left." Page X+1 says, "Technically the summit wasn't over even though most of the monarchs were gone." Both of those are paraphrased but I think you get the point.
This book was written years before Shea's Magicford series, which I actually do like. I'm glad to see that Shea has grown as a writer since this book, because it definitely doesn't do her writing potential justice. However, if this were my first book by Shea I read, I probably wouldn't read more. The confusing writing and flimsy characterization were too distracting for me to enjoy the book.
"Time to be wettened, Your Highness," Henry announced.
It would be hypocritical for me to say to ignore the haters, because I AM, in fact, a hater. The first half of this book was fantastic and set up the potential for a really good character arc from Lucien and Ariane's end. He SLOWLY and GRADUALLY changes his prejudices and pulls back his facade, she SLOWLY and GRADUALLY comes to trust him. Do we get slow and gradual? NO, WE DO NOT. Their little "change of heart" happens LITERALLY in pages. Which is absolutely baffling to me because so much of the narration is their inner thoughts, but not in a meaningful way.
This book frustrates me because like I said, the set up was full of potential for a thought provoking story about appearances vs. what's inside. But the story fell flat on its face. During the characters' narration, we see them begin to question their beliefs and behaviors, wondering why. But we never see them finish their thought process. One day, Ariane is like "Ugh Lucien is such a pretentious flirt and his room is always a mess" and the next she's like "Oh my gosh, I'm in love with the prince." Same for Lucien, "I am so apathetic about everything and am so angry about being turned into a frog" to "I like the maid that's been carrying my pillow around for the past two weeks." WHERE WAS THE TRANSITION. WHY DID THEIR FEELINGS CHANGE. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN.
The romance was mindboggling. I've read my fair share of InstaLove, but this was just plain bonkers. Adriane loves Lucien because he (*checks notes) was worried when she got attacked by a rogue mage??????? If that is the standard for what it takes for her to fall in love with a guy, then the bar must be in hell. Lucien loves Adriane because she "saw the true him" which apparently his PRINCE BROTHER and SPY SISTER-IN-LAW couldn't even do?? Their whole "romance" REEKS of "high schools working on a school project together and start dating by the end of it." Except, oh no, Lucien and Adriane aren't dating by the end of the book. No no no, they're ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED. AFTER THREE WEEKS.
Also, consistency in the book wasn't a thing. At all. I'll admit that it's my fault for reading the ninth book in a series without having read the others (except for the B&B one), HOWEVER the blurb says this book can be read as a stand-alone. Heads up, no it can't. I mean if you focus ONLY on the "romance" you can read this by itself, but nothing else in the book will make sense (which may be contributing to why I was raging so hard at this book). But that's not the issue here. No, the issue is the characters and narration either being self-contradictory or vague.
Example 1: Lucien is turned into a frog to protect him from the assassination attempts. He needs to be a frog because the protection spells will only work on a small animal (the fact that he's a frog "the size of a dinner plate" is beside the point). You would assume that the royals would want to keep this fact under the radar to add a further layer of safety BUT NOPE. Not only are the characters actively telling each other that Lucien is now a frog and being chauffeured around the palace, he is also publicly attending the summit! What makes this even more confusing is that Severin explicitly says something like, "I want to limit the amount of people who know this" but everyone in the continent and their monarchs know?!!? NO WONDER LUCIEN ALMOST GOT ASSASSINATED LIKE FIVE TIMES.
Example 2: Page X says, "Now that the summit was over, most of the monarchs had left." Page X+1 says, "Technically the summit wasn't over even though most of the monarchs were gone." Both of those are paraphrased but I think you get the point.
This book was written years before Shea's Magicford series, which I actually do like. I'm glad to see that Shea has grown as a writer since this book, because it definitely doesn't do her writing potential justice. However, if this were my first book by Shea I read, I probably wouldn't read more. The confusing writing and flimsy characterization were too distracting for me to enjoy the book.
December 4, 2017
Timeline di cerita ini ternyata berbarengan dengan cerita Sleeping Beauty.
Lucien di cerita ini ngga berbeda dengan Lucien di Beauty and The Beast. Walaupun Severin dan Elle sudah menikah setahun lamanya, karakter Lucien masih sembrono dan dandy. Padahal di balik semua itu, Lucien ini dianugrahi kecerdasan, kalau ngga dia ngga akan mengepalai organisasi Ranger Loire.
Ariane (aku suka namanya) hanyalah maid biasa. Dirinya suka banget bebersih. Tapi Ariane sudah diajarin sejak kecil ama papa nya sedikit bela diri. Jadi ketika ngga sengaja dia terlibat konfrontasi Dark Mages yang hendak membunuh Lucien, Ariane menyumbang inisaitif menggetok kepala si villain dengan sapu !!! Dari sinilah, Lucien mengenal lebih dekat dengan Ariane.
Severin dan Elle menyelenggarakan Round Table, mengundang petinggi-petinggi negara tetangga untuk membahas ancaman Dark Magic. Hampir semua karakter dari Timeless Fairy Tales bermunculan di sini. (aku tulisin supaya bisa dibaca ulang lagi)
- Kakak Beradik Elise dari Arcainia
- Friederich dari Erlauf
- Stil dan Gemma dari cerita Rumpelstiltskin
- Dylan dan Callan dari cerita The Little Selkie
- Gabrielle dan Puss dari cerita Puss in Boots
- Sol dan (lupa namanya) , Mage yang menjaga Briar dari cerita Sleeping Beauty
Selagi ada pertemuan ini, ternyata Dark Mage masih belum menyerah ingin membunuh Lucien. So, ketika Angelique datang, dia menyihir Lucien menjadi kodok supaya gampang diawasin. Angelique berjanji selepas pertemuan, dia akan mengembalikan Lucien seperti semula ATAU dicium oleh gadis yang tadinya membencinya, adalah syarat khas Angelique untuk kutukan-kutukan seperti di cerita sebelumnya.
Lucien misuh-misuh. masak dirinya yang ganteng diubah jadi kodok ? dan dimana dia mesti mencari si gadis yang dimaksud Angelique ? untungnya lewat serangkaian peristiwa, dia menemukan yang dicari pada Ariane, so Ariane dititahkan untuk menemani dirinya selama perjamuan berlangsung.
Di momen-momen setelahnya ketika Ariane melihat Lucien yang dikiranya cuek dan suka ngalor ngidul, ternyata cerdas dan perhatian. Sedangkan untuk Lucien, dia melihat potensi Ariane sebagai observant. Aku suka karakter Ariane. Observant dan perhatian walaupun selain itu, karakternya biasa. Lucien dan Ariane ini karakter cucok deh.
Untuk romancenya, sudah karakter mba Shea, romance masuk kategori heart warming. pelan-pelan romansa Lucien dan Ariane terjalin. puncaknya saat
Untuk intriknya, wah acungin jempol, karena memaksa pembaca untuk inget-inget cerita sebelumnya dan mostly cerita Snow Queen. Lucien berhasil menemukan pola yang terulang kembali sejak dari zamannya Snow Queen. Jadi pengen baca ulang lagi.
4 bintang
Lucien di cerita ini ngga berbeda dengan Lucien di Beauty and The Beast. Walaupun Severin dan Elle sudah menikah setahun lamanya, karakter Lucien masih sembrono dan dandy. Padahal di balik semua itu, Lucien ini dianugrahi kecerdasan, kalau ngga dia ngga akan mengepalai organisasi Ranger Loire.
Ariane (aku suka namanya) hanyalah maid biasa. Dirinya suka banget bebersih. Tapi Ariane sudah diajarin sejak kecil ama papa nya sedikit bela diri. Jadi ketika ngga sengaja dia terlibat konfrontasi Dark Mages yang hendak membunuh Lucien, Ariane menyumbang inisaitif menggetok kepala si villain dengan sapu !!! Dari sinilah, Lucien mengenal lebih dekat dengan Ariane.
Severin dan Elle menyelenggarakan Round Table, mengundang petinggi-petinggi negara tetangga untuk membahas ancaman Dark Magic. Hampir semua karakter dari Timeless Fairy Tales bermunculan di sini. (aku tulisin supaya bisa dibaca ulang lagi)
- Kakak Beradik Elise dari Arcainia
- Friederich dari Erlauf
- Stil dan Gemma dari cerita Rumpelstiltskin
- Dylan dan Callan dari cerita The Little Selkie
- Gabrielle dan Puss dari cerita Puss in Boots
- Sol dan (lupa namanya) , Mage yang menjaga Briar dari cerita Sleeping Beauty
Selagi ada pertemuan ini, ternyata Dark Mage masih belum menyerah ingin membunuh Lucien. So, ketika Angelique datang, dia menyihir Lucien menjadi kodok supaya gampang diawasin. Angelique berjanji selepas pertemuan, dia akan mengembalikan Lucien seperti semula ATAU dicium oleh gadis yang tadinya membencinya, adalah syarat khas Angelique untuk kutukan-kutukan seperti di cerita sebelumnya.
Lucien misuh-misuh. masak dirinya yang ganteng diubah jadi kodok ? dan dimana dia mesti mencari si gadis yang dimaksud Angelique ? untungnya lewat serangkaian peristiwa, dia menemukan yang dicari pada Ariane, so Ariane dititahkan untuk menemani dirinya selama perjamuan berlangsung.
Di momen-momen setelahnya ketika Ariane melihat Lucien yang dikiranya cuek dan suka ngalor ngidul, ternyata cerdas dan perhatian. Sedangkan untuk Lucien, dia melihat potensi Ariane sebagai observant. Aku suka karakter Ariane. Observant dan perhatian walaupun selain itu, karakternya biasa. Lucien dan Ariane ini karakter cucok deh.
Untuk romancenya, sudah karakter mba Shea, romance masuk kategori heart warming. pelan-pelan romansa Lucien dan Ariane terjalin. puncaknya saat
Untuk intriknya, wah acungin jempol, karena memaksa pembaca untuk inget-inget cerita sebelumnya dan mostly cerita Snow Queen. Lucien berhasil menemukan pola yang terulang kembali sejak dari zamannya Snow Queen. Jadi pengen baca ulang lagi.
4 bintang
January 28, 2018
I loved The Frog Prince, mostly because I was excited to see all the threads and hints come together after ten books (including the Snow Queen duology) I loved seeing the heroes of previous books come back in for the Summit and I loved all the lore. KM Shea has done an AMAZING job keeping all the characters, plotlines, history, and lore straight. It makes this storyworld so vivid and real.
Now on to the characters. I'm not going to mention all the previous heroes and heroines from previous books because I love them all and it would take too long. So I'm going to focus on Ariane and Lucien. When I was reading Beauty and the Beast- jeez, it's been like four years- I didn't much care for Lucien. In that book he was an okay side character. But in the Frog Prince, we learn so much more about him and I'm beginning to like him more. I think when I reread the Frog Prince I will start to love him as much as Severin. Speaking of, Lucien and Severin's relationship is one of my favorites, probably even more so than Lucien/Ariane or Severin/Elle. I have a weakness for sibling bonds :)
I loved Ariane from the first moment we meet her. She's capable, she doesn't feel any shame about being a servant, she loves to clean. One of the most interesting things about her is that we learn Lucien isn't her first love. Which is, I think, the first time in the Timeless Fairy Tales world we hear about the heroines having other loves besides their One True Love. I just thought was an interesting character bit.
The plot, ah, the plot. I could go on for days about how amazed I am that KM Shea kept all the plotlines and world stuff straight. I could tell you how excited I am that everything is coming together, how I loved meeting our favorite heroines from previous books, and how much I can't wait for the next book. But I will suffice to say, I loved every bit of it.
The ending, after Lucien was freed from his curse, dragged on a little. But it wasn't boring, so I won't count it against the book.
I really have no problems with this book. I liked how Ariane, once she realized she loved Lucien, didn't waste any time releasing him from his curse. That was my biggest problem with Sleeping Beauty, so I really like that.
The Frog Prince is an amazing addition to the Timeless Fairy Tales series and ties into all the other books so beautifully. I can't wait for the grand finale of the series, but at the same time I'm a little sad that we're getting so close to the end. The Timeless Fairy Tales have been a large part of my reading life for so long, I'm not sure what I'll do without it. So, thank you, KM Shea, for this amazing series, and hurry up with the last books so I can see what happens!
Now on to the characters. I'm not going to mention all the previous heroes and heroines from previous books because I love them all and it would take too long. So I'm going to focus on Ariane and Lucien. When I was reading Beauty and the Beast- jeez, it's been like four years- I didn't much care for Lucien. In that book he was an okay side character. But in the Frog Prince, we learn so much more about him and I'm beginning to like him more. I think when I reread the Frog Prince I will start to love him as much as Severin. Speaking of, Lucien and Severin's relationship is one of my favorites, probably even more so than Lucien/Ariane or Severin/Elle. I have a weakness for sibling bonds :)
I loved Ariane from the first moment we meet her. She's capable, she doesn't feel any shame about being a servant, she loves to clean. One of the most interesting things about her is that we learn Lucien isn't her first love. Which is, I think, the first time in the Timeless Fairy Tales world we hear about the heroines having other loves besides their One True Love. I just thought was an interesting character bit.
The plot, ah, the plot. I could go on for days about how amazed I am that KM Shea kept all the plotlines and world stuff straight. I could tell you how excited I am that everything is coming together, how I loved meeting our favorite heroines from previous books, and how much I can't wait for the next book. But I will suffice to say, I loved every bit of it.
The ending, after Lucien was freed from his curse, dragged on a little. But it wasn't boring, so I won't count it against the book.
I really have no problems with this book. I liked how Ariane, once she realized she loved Lucien, didn't waste any time releasing him from his curse. That was my biggest problem with Sleeping Beauty, so I really like that.
The Frog Prince is an amazing addition to the Timeless Fairy Tales series and ties into all the other books so beautifully. I can't wait for the grand finale of the series, but at the same time I'm a little sad that we're getting so close to the end. The Timeless Fairy Tales have been a large part of my reading life for so long, I'm not sure what I'll do without it. So, thank you, KM Shea, for this amazing series, and hurry up with the last books so I can see what happens!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2021
This isn't my first Timeless Fairy Tale, but it's been a while. And having said? I didn't remember the characters from previous books enough to tolerate the DOZENS upon DOZENS of previous characters that were in this. The summit week in this book was like a long, drawn-out class reunion for a school you visited maybe once. It was NOT enjoyable, and did NOT feel like a stand-alone. Or even a part of a series you can read from at any point. It was a M.E.S.S. And what's worse is that they all have the same. exact. voice. None of them stand apart from one another.
This particular story is SUPPOSED to be about Lucien. Lucien is a whiny, gripey asshole that they turn into a frog because protective spells work better on smaller creatures than a human, and he needs some serious protection from multiple assassination attempts. He spends too much time sniffing at people and demanding wine for ANYONE to believe he actually gives a crap about his kingdom.
Elle and Severin (Beauty & the Beast) are his closest friends/family, but all they do is condescend on him while teasing about glass roofs over and OVER and O.V.E.R. again... yes, we get that she fell through a glass roof when she met the Beast. Even if you *HAVEN'T* read Shea's version, you know REAL well about the damned glass roof just halfway into this mess.
Another reviewer put it well by saying that SO MUCH time is spent on past characters that the story of THIS book's characters suffers because of it. And it's true - we just don't feel any connection between Lucien and Ariane... because we're busy dealing with mages, enchantresses, selkies, kelpies, talking cats, and more that the author has to TELL us to be convinced that Lucien is more than meets the eye. We just don't get it, ourselves. It's not there, other than Shea's demand that we believe he's better than he puts across.
And then it gets better: Shea has Elle/Belle/Beauty TELL us that Lucien and Ariane are in love. Because after five days of him being a twat and her dealing with his shit, we're in need of being informed that at THIS point, we should have feels. That THEY have feels. Which nobody is feelin', quite frankly.
I have to be honest - I was sick of the whole thing halfway through. Wanted desperately to start skimming, which is never a good thing. But it was just SO. CONVOLUTED to read. Too many people, too many threats, too many complaints. And by 61%? I *was* skimming. It ends with an HEA, but...
Not worth it.
This particular story is SUPPOSED to be about Lucien. Lucien is a whiny, gripey asshole that they turn into a frog because protective spells work better on smaller creatures than a human, and he needs some serious protection from multiple assassination attempts. He spends too much time sniffing at people and demanding wine for ANYONE to believe he actually gives a crap about his kingdom.
Elle and Severin (Beauty & the Beast) are his closest friends/family, but all they do is condescend on him while teasing about glass roofs over and OVER and O.V.E.R. again... yes, we get that she fell through a glass roof when she met the Beast. Even if you *HAVEN'T* read Shea's version, you know REAL well about the damned glass roof just halfway into this mess.
Another reviewer put it well by saying that SO MUCH time is spent on past characters that the story of THIS book's characters suffers because of it. And it's true - we just don't feel any connection between Lucien and Ariane... because we're busy dealing with mages, enchantresses, selkies, kelpies, talking cats, and more that the author has to TELL us to be convinced that Lucien is more than meets the eye. We just don't get it, ourselves. It's not there, other than Shea's demand that we believe he's better than he puts across.
And then it gets better: Shea has Elle/Belle/Beauty TELL us that Lucien and Ariane are in love. Because after five days of him being a twat and her dealing with his shit, we're in need of being informed that at THIS point, we should have feels. That THEY have feels. Which nobody is feelin', quite frankly.
I have to be honest - I was sick of the whole thing halfway through. Wanted desperately to start skimming, which is never a good thing. But it was just SO. CONVOLUTED to read. Too many people, too many threats, too many complaints. And by 61%? I *was* skimming. It ends with an HEA, but...
Not worth it.
Read
January 21, 2023The Frog Prince is one of my favorite fairy tales and I was so excited to see how K.M. Shea made this plot her own. While this adaptation focused more on the political aspects of this world and the overall arching plot than I personally prefer, the creativity of the plot shone through and the romance itself was fun.
I really liked the maid Ariane and thought she was a strong, intelligent, and noble character, with a fun quirk of genuinely liking to clean. Prince Lucian began the story arrogant and not particularly likable, but thankfully he gradually uncovered his true self to reveal his own intelligence and caring heart, making it easy to forgive him for his earlier behavior knowing he grows in such a satisfying way. Ariane truly brought out the best in him, and overall I thought they were a good couple.
However, I feel compelled to include a trigger warning: their relationship starts off negative enough to be considered unhealthy and thus potentially triggering for readers. The enemies aspect of this enemies-to-lovers romance was too intense and rather hostile for my sensitive tastes, especially with the hero repeatedly insulting the heroine and she herself having moments of abuse towards him, such as throwing him against a wall while in his frog form. While this couple eventually develops a healthy romance, I found this questionable beginning of their romance very difficult to read, and I know it can also be triggering for others, so I feel compelled to mention it, even as I acknowledge this is a matter of personal taste. Thankfully, it’s a small part of the book that doesn’t last too long, which is good news for readers who, like me, are sensitive to such hostility in their romances.
Also, I do want to be clear that I really began to enjoy the story once Lucia and Ariane began to develop a more positive relationship and friendship, especially when Ariane began to see his true self. Their growth was satisfying and their scenes together were overall cute and enjoyable.
While not my favorite of this series, with the exception of the political sections and the hostile word spars between our love interests, overall I enjoyed my time reading The Frog Prince. K.M. Shea’s tales are fun and creative reads, the fun twists of the original Frog Prince fairytale no exception.
I really liked the maid Ariane and thought she was a strong, intelligent, and noble character, with a fun quirk of genuinely liking to clean. Prince Lucian began the story arrogant and not particularly likable, but thankfully he gradually uncovered his true self to reveal his own intelligence and caring heart, making it easy to forgive him for his earlier behavior knowing he grows in such a satisfying way. Ariane truly brought out the best in him, and overall I thought they were a good couple.
However, I feel compelled to include a trigger warning: their relationship starts off negative enough to be considered unhealthy and thus potentially triggering for readers. The enemies aspect of this enemies-to-lovers romance was too intense and rather hostile for my sensitive tastes, especially with the hero repeatedly insulting the heroine and she herself having moments of abuse towards him, such as throwing him against a wall while in his frog form. While this couple eventually develops a healthy romance, I found this questionable beginning of their romance very difficult to read, and I know it can also be triggering for others, so I feel compelled to mention it, even as I acknowledge this is a matter of personal taste. Thankfully, it’s a small part of the book that doesn’t last too long, which is good news for readers who, like me, are sensitive to such hostility in their romances.
Also, I do want to be clear that I really began to enjoy the story once Lucia and Ariane began to develop a more positive relationship and friendship, especially when Ariane began to see his true self. Their growth was satisfying and their scenes together were overall cute and enjoyable.
While not my favorite of this series, with the exception of the political sections and the hostile word spars between our love interests, overall I enjoyed my time reading The Frog Prince. K.M. Shea’s tales are fun and creative reads, the fun twists of the original Frog Prince fairytale no exception.
June 15, 2025
Prince Lucien is known as the idiot and frivolous heir. He uses his charm, wit, and short attention span to woo the nobility and other kingdoms. When he is targeted for assassination by dark mages and saved by the maid who was nearby, his brother takes drastic measures. Prince Severin suggests he be transformed into a frog for safety, an idea that the king agrees with and Enchantress Angelique is more than happy to help with. Knowing that the curse will only last as long as the Summit between kingdoms to address the increasing magical threats doesn't comfort Lucien. He is tired of being treated like a child but doesn't see the point in showing himself just to be compared to Severin. However, being a frog did create some issues and he now needs someone to carry him around, much to his annoyance. The maid who saved him, Ariane, is noticed for her actions and is given this task much to her annoyance. She finds Lucien to be lazy and disinterested when he should be paying attention. And Princess Elle gave her permission to tell him as such. However, their forced proximity allows her to notice that maybe he isn't as disinterested and selfish as he seems.
The fact that the curse was intentional, everyone knew about it, and it actually worked to protect Lucien was equal parts hilarious and brilliant. Lucien didn't think he would have to deal with the consequences of his false personality. And how he handles it, both on a personal level and political, was refreshing. Something I appreciated with this book and how the author tells their story is that all of the characters and kingdoms are unique. How Loire and their royalty handles an issue is vastly different than how Sole and their royalty handles a similar one. This book can be read as a standalone but due to the Summit taking place in this book having read the other books would be helpful, especially reading the first book Beauty and the Beast. As you can probably tell from my previous statement we get to see familiar faces (or not if you haven't read them and get humorous introductions). We get some bigger picture answers as well. This was a fun and humorous addition to the series and I am very curious about where the series is going.
The fact that the curse was intentional, everyone knew about it, and it actually worked to protect Lucien was equal parts hilarious and brilliant. Lucien didn't think he would have to deal with the consequences of his false personality. And how he handles it, both on a personal level and political, was refreshing. Something I appreciated with this book and how the author tells their story is that all of the characters and kingdoms are unique. How Loire and their royalty handles an issue is vastly different than how Sole and their royalty handles a similar one. This book can be read as a standalone but due to the Summit taking place in this book having read the other books would be helpful, especially reading the first book Beauty and the Beast. As you can probably tell from my previous statement we get to see familiar faces (or not if you haven't read them and get humorous introductions). We get some bigger picture answers as well. This was a fun and humorous addition to the series and I am very curious about where the series is going.
May 23, 2018
A lovely read
This was a lovely retelling of the classic fairy tale of the Frog Prince, Prince Lucien a complicated and arrogant Prince hinds his true colours from everyone, so that he may protect himself but thus only leading half a life. Ariane is it Maid who is smart and loves to clean and is disturbed by Prince Lucien and what it means for the future of the Kingdom under good rule. But one day when Prince Lucien is attacked by two rogue Mages, Ariane steps in to try and save him. But due to these assassination attempts,his brother Severin and Elle decide to request the services of the Enchantress in Training Angelique. Who ends up turning him into a frog and spell him to be indestructible. But Ariane gets pulled into the mess and has to drag Lucien all around the summit that Severin has put together in which to fight the surrounding evil, attacking the continent and all the royal families. But with kindness, arrogance, dangerous situations, understanding and sly whitted observations. Ariane will tear down the walls Lucien has built around him on how he wants people to see him as, rather than seeing his full potential, showing me in the light in loving someone and being loved in return and how it can change you for the better. She pulls him from a lonely life and thrusts him into the world where he can use his outstanding knowledge and insight to discover who is behind the growing evil (which he does)
I really enjoyed this book as the Frog Prince is a beautifully crafted tale of a arrogant Prince who falls in love with someone you'd least expect to break the curse that has been placed upon him. (Even though it was done in his best interest and saved him a few times)
This was a lovely retelling of the classic fairy tale of the Frog Prince, Prince Lucien a complicated and arrogant Prince hinds his true colours from everyone, so that he may protect himself but thus only leading half a life. Ariane is it Maid who is smart and loves to clean and is disturbed by Prince Lucien and what it means for the future of the Kingdom under good rule. But one day when Prince Lucien is attacked by two rogue Mages, Ariane steps in to try and save him. But due to these assassination attempts,his brother Severin and Elle decide to request the services of the Enchantress in Training Angelique. Who ends up turning him into a frog and spell him to be indestructible. But Ariane gets pulled into the mess and has to drag Lucien all around the summit that Severin has put together in which to fight the surrounding evil, attacking the continent and all the royal families. But with kindness, arrogance, dangerous situations, understanding and sly whitted observations. Ariane will tear down the walls Lucien has built around him on how he wants people to see him as, rather than seeing his full potential, showing me in the light in loving someone and being loved in return and how it can change you for the better. She pulls him from a lonely life and thrusts him into the world where he can use his outstanding knowledge and insight to discover who is behind the growing evil (which he does)
I really enjoyed this book as the Frog Prince is a beautifully crafted tale of a arrogant Prince who falls in love with someone you'd least expect to break the curse that has been placed upon him. (Even though it was done in his best interest and saved him a few times)
May 23, 2025
I loved it!
It was so enticing that I couldn’t put it down, this book grabbed my interest from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what happened next. The story is well written with a very good storyline. This is Book Nine of the Timeless Fairy Tales series, each book in this series takes place in the same world and can be read all together, or as individual, stand-alone books. This is a retelling of The Frog Prince, with witty banter, fat frogs, political intrigue, broom-wielding heroines, sweet romance, and magical adventures.
Crown Prince Lucien has spent his life pretending to be a flirtatious idiot in order to manipulate his courts and hide his deficiencies. His acting backfires, however, when his father orders an enchantress to turn him into a frog for his own safety after he narrowly escapes an assassination plot. Ariana is a servant, she is capable, expendable, and strong-willed, which makes her the perfect escort for the newly transformed Frog-Prince Lucien.
Carting the lazy prince around on a velvet cushion is the last thing Ariane wants to do when it seems like the dark magic that has been plaguing her world for years is winning, but when a pair of rogue mages attack Prince Lucien, Ariane realizes the threat of darkness is much closer than she thought. Even worse, she finds herself drawn to the prince and noticing that perhaps he is not as foolish as he acts. Can Ariane break the spell on Lucien's body and his heart and convince him to step into his role as the Crown Prince, or will the mages kill them both? So with all that and more this story pulls you in and holds you tight. It’s a must read. I highly recommend to everyone.
It was so enticing that I couldn’t put it down, this book grabbed my interest from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what happened next. The story is well written with a very good storyline. This is Book Nine of the Timeless Fairy Tales series, each book in this series takes place in the same world and can be read all together, or as individual, stand-alone books. This is a retelling of The Frog Prince, with witty banter, fat frogs, political intrigue, broom-wielding heroines, sweet romance, and magical adventures.
Crown Prince Lucien has spent his life pretending to be a flirtatious idiot in order to manipulate his courts and hide his deficiencies. His acting backfires, however, when his father orders an enchantress to turn him into a frog for his own safety after he narrowly escapes an assassination plot. Ariana is a servant, she is capable, expendable, and strong-willed, which makes her the perfect escort for the newly transformed Frog-Prince Lucien.
Carting the lazy prince around on a velvet cushion is the last thing Ariane wants to do when it seems like the dark magic that has been plaguing her world for years is winning, but when a pair of rogue mages attack Prince Lucien, Ariane realizes the threat of darkness is much closer than she thought. Even worse, she finds herself drawn to the prince and noticing that perhaps he is not as foolish as he acts. Can Ariane break the spell on Lucien's body and his heart and convince him to step into his role as the Crown Prince, or will the mages kill them both? So with all that and more this story pulls you in and holds you tight. It’s a must read. I highly recommend to everyone.
February 9, 2018
This series has been so much fun to read. As with the others in the series, the heroine is a strong, capable girl who knows her own mind. She does not waffle, whine or wail about things that happen around her. Instead, she does what she must and accepts the consequences with grace and fortitude, learning more about herself and coming to terms with her future. The hero in this book begins as a self-absorbed prince and ends up as a worthy love interest for the girl.
Along the way, Shea provides some wonderful insights into overcoming personal fears and insecurities and what love and marriage are all about. This is a book that has the potential to encourage someone to step out of her own comfort zone and take a risk.
If you enjoy romances with clean, positive representations of love and marriage, check out this book and series. While this book can stand alone, readers will benefit from reading the other books in the series. Readers should definitely read Beauty and the Beast before this one, just to have a better understanding of some of the prince's motivations and some references in the story. For those looking at the series, know that the books are numbered in order, but they are not strictly chronological. This one takes place during some of the events of other books, but readers will not experience too many spoilers if they proceed.
Along the way, Shea provides some wonderful insights into overcoming personal fears and insecurities and what love and marriage are all about. This is a book that has the potential to encourage someone to step out of her own comfort zone and take a risk.
If you enjoy romances with clean, positive representations of love and marriage, check out this book and series. While this book can stand alone, readers will benefit from reading the other books in the series. Readers should definitely read Beauty and the Beast before this one, just to have a better understanding of some of the prince's motivations and some references in the story. For those looking at the series, know that the books are numbered in order, but they are not strictly chronological. This one takes place during some of the events of other books, but readers will not experience too many spoilers if they proceed.
June 4, 2021
This one made me laugh some. And I can see the underlying structure for the Enchantress Angelique series really coming together here in a stronger way than it has in the preceding fairy tales.
I get a little lost when the prior stories are referred to by country names. Since I'm reading these on my kindle it's hard to go back and check the map of the kingdoms every time something is referenced geographically. At this point in the series, I have three or four countries and their associated characters and fairytales sorted in my head, but it still took longer than it perhaps should have for me to realize this was going to be the story of Severin's legitimate half brother, the crown prince of Loire. My initial reaction upon realizing that was disappointment. Lucien isn't really that sympathetic or likeable a character, and like many of K.M. Shea's secondary characters, he's been mostly two-dimensional up until this point whenever he's appeared in the series.
In the end it was rewarding to see him get fleshed out (as a frog and as a character!) and become fully realized - for the reader, for Ariane, and to himself. It was interesting seeing how Shea wrote around her own previous characterization of him to give him new depth while still remaining true to her earlier depiction. By the end of the book, I liked him. I liked how Ariane saw him.
I get a little lost when the prior stories are referred to by country names. Since I'm reading these on my kindle it's hard to go back and check the map of the kingdoms every time something is referenced geographically. At this point in the series, I have three or four countries and their associated characters and fairytales sorted in my head, but it still took longer than it perhaps should have for me to realize this was going to be the story of Severin's legitimate half brother, the crown prince of Loire. My initial reaction upon realizing that was disappointment. Lucien isn't really that sympathetic or likeable a character, and like many of K.M. Shea's secondary characters, he's been mostly two-dimensional up until this point whenever he's appeared in the series.
In the end it was rewarding to see him get fleshed out (as a frog and as a character!) and become fully realized - for the reader, for Ariane, and to himself. It was interesting seeing how Shea wrote around her own previous characterization of him to give him new depth while still remaining true to her earlier depiction. By the end of the book, I liked him. I liked how Ariane saw him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2024
KM Shea is one of the first fairy tale authors I came across, and I started reading this book back when I didn’t know to write reviews. In light of the fact that I now know, I’m trying to make an effort to write reviews on rereads. I don’t think there is a single one of Shea’s books that I have not read more than once, or twice. Some I know I’ve read as many as five times. This particular book is certainly on the higher end of rereads at at least three, and I’m thinking likely four or more.
So, as you can see, I love it! Filled with Shea’s signature humor, it interests me from the first to final pages and I get sucked in every time. This was another one-sitting reread with me finishing at 2:30 in the morning.
It’s completely clean romantically and the heroine is so incredibly level headed and logical about it all. If we could only all be so reasonable…
Violence-wise there are several attempted murders but no successes and I don’t feel anything is overly violent, especially since the overall tone of the book is lighthearted and humorous. I deem it appropriate for any age old enough to appreciate it well enough, probably 10 or so, though I think a younger child would be able to read it just fine emotionally-speaking. If worried, do it with a little Parental Guidance. : )
So, as you can see, I love it! Filled with Shea’s signature humor, it interests me from the first to final pages and I get sucked in every time. This was another one-sitting reread with me finishing at 2:30 in the morning.
It’s completely clean romantically and the heroine is so incredibly level headed and logical about it all. If we could only all be so reasonable…
Violence-wise there are several attempted murders but no successes and I don’t feel anything is overly violent, especially since the overall tone of the book is lighthearted and humorous. I deem it appropriate for any age old enough to appreciate it well enough, probably 10 or so, though I think a younger child would be able to read it just fine emotionally-speaking. If worried, do it with a little Parental Guidance. : )
November 4, 2017
I loved this book! Of course, I was expecting it to be wonderful given that Miss Kitty wrote it, but still. :)
First, Ariane. A wonderful heroine who made me laugh. She's smart and doesn't let Lucien get away with anything *gleeful smile*. Seeing Lucien dealing with a female who doesn't like him or let him get away with anything was highly entertaining.
Lucien. Ah, Lucien. The charming fool that made me roll my eyes in Beauty and the Beast. His character development in this books was wonderful. He is still the Lucien we all know and *cough* love (or not...), but the side that shows of him in this book made him much more likable.
Severin and Elle: I was so happy seeing more of their relationship. Elle is as entertaining as ever, and her and Severin's interactions left me laughing.
Dylan and Callan: I was happy to see more of the blunt, ever-voracious princess and her amusingly tolerant fiancee.
Cagney and Dooley: The same as ever. What more needs to be said?
There were plenty of other characters present, but these were my favorites and the ones that made me chuckle.
I highly recommend this book! K. M. Shea is a superb author, and I recommend all of her books to everyone!
First, Ariane. A wonderful heroine who made me laugh. She's smart and doesn't let Lucien get away with anything *gleeful smile*. Seeing Lucien dealing with a female who doesn't like him or let him get away with anything was highly entertaining.
Lucien. Ah, Lucien. The charming fool that made me roll my eyes in Beauty and the Beast. His character development in this books was wonderful. He is still the Lucien we all know and *cough* love (or not...), but the side that shows of him in this book made him much more likable.
Severin and Elle: I was so happy seeing more of their relationship. Elle is as entertaining as ever, and her and Severin's interactions left me laughing.
Dylan and Callan: I was happy to see more of the blunt, ever-voracious princess and her amusingly tolerant fiancee.
Cagney and Dooley: The same as ever. What more needs to be said?
There were plenty of other characters present, but these were my favorites and the ones that made me chuckle.
I highly recommend this book! K. M. Shea is a superb author, and I recommend all of her books to everyone!
August 1, 2021
A Truly Delightful Read
This story very neatly wraps up all the others of the Timeless Fairy Tales series which also includes The Snow Queen series and the Enchantress series about Angelique. For all those who aren't reading these stories in order, this is one that really should wait until you have read all that comes before it including the two other series referred to above with one exception: put Trial of Magic, book 4 of the Fairy Tale Enchantress series as the very last read.
As with all the stories in these three series, The Frog Prince is totally enchanting and difficult to put down. The picture is painted of a fat, self absorbed, and rather rude frog prince laying on his royal pillow so bored he sleeps through important meetings while dangling his foot in a water glass. Even almost being swallowed by a magic snake didn't seem to bring him out of his act. For that to happen a fair maiden was needed to do what fairy tale fair maidens do best when they meet frog princes. Deftly woven through that are the tales of all the other stories that have come before so by the end we find the frog prince ....
Oops, you have to read this totally delightfully story to find out why it's a home run with bases loaded.
This story very neatly wraps up all the others of the Timeless Fairy Tales series which also includes The Snow Queen series and the Enchantress series about Angelique. For all those who aren't reading these stories in order, this is one that really should wait until you have read all that comes before it including the two other series referred to above with one exception: put Trial of Magic, book 4 of the Fairy Tale Enchantress series as the very last read.
As with all the stories in these three series, The Frog Prince is totally enchanting and difficult to put down. The picture is painted of a fat, self absorbed, and rather rude frog prince laying on his royal pillow so bored he sleeps through important meetings while dangling his foot in a water glass. Even almost being swallowed by a magic snake didn't seem to bring him out of his act. For that to happen a fair maiden was needed to do what fairy tale fair maidens do best when they meet frog princes. Deftly woven through that are the tales of all the other stories that have come before so by the end we find the frog prince ....
Oops, you have to read this totally delightfully story to find out why it's a home run with bases loaded.
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