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The Four Kingdoms #2.5
Happily Ever Afters: A Reimagining of Snow White and Rose Red
Sometimes a fairy tale ending is only the beginning…
Sarah and Evelyn have already risked everything to help Ava win a crown. But they soon learn that a coronation is a beginning, not an ending. Not everyone in Rangmere is happy to see the young queen on the throne, and intrigue and danger lurk all around.
The cousins find themselves fighting not only for their new kingdom but also for their own survival in the royal court. When a new threat emerges, the two girls must defeat it to both save the crown and secure their own Happily Ever Afters.
Sarah and Evelyn have already risked everything to help Ava win a crown. But they soon learn that a coronation is a beginning, not an ending. Not everyone in Rangmere is happy to see the young queen on the throne, and intrigue and danger lurk all around.
The cousins find themselves fighting not only for their new kingdom but also for their own survival in the royal court. When a new threat emerges, the two girls must defeat it to both save the crown and secure their own Happily Ever Afters.
135 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 2, 2016
768 people are currently reading
2052 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Cellier
126 books2,764 followersMelanie Cellier grew up on a staple diet of books, books and more books. And although she got older, she never stopped loving children’s and young adult novels.
She always wanted to write one herself, but it took three careers and three different continents before she actually managed it.
She now feels incredibly fortunate to spend her time writing from her home in Adelaide, Australia where she keeps an eye out for koalas in her backyard. Her staple diet hasn’t changed much, although she’s added choc mint Rooibos tea and Chicken Crimpies to the list.
She writes young adult fantasy including her Spoken Mage series, and her Four Kingdoms and Beyond the Four Kingdoms series which are made up of linked stand-alone stories that retell classic fairy tales.
She now feels incredibly fortunate to spend her time writing from her home in Adelaide, Australia where she keeps an eye out for koalas in her backyard. Her staple diet hasn’t changed much, although she’s added choc mint Rooibos tea and Chicken Crimpies to the list.
She writes young adult fantasy including her Spoken Mage series, and her Four Kingdoms and Beyond the Four Kingdoms series which are made up of linked stand-alone stories that retell classic fairy tales.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 281 reviews
March 21, 2025
4 stars ✨
It was good to see the characters from the second book and what was going on in that country after that ending. Not too many thoughts. I liked it! :)
Main Content:
There’s a necklace that has a jewel which is enchanted and can bewitch and enchant others (a villain is using it; Mentions of possible bewitchment as the book continues); A mention of a group of children’s gazes being worshipful to an older girl; A mention of a godmother’s wand and a wishing star;
Evelyn faces resistance from other guards because she’s a female guard (this includes a few comments and one tripping her in a fight).
No language stronger than ‘dang it’ and ‘stupid’; The made-up phrase ‘what/where in the kingdoms’ is said a few times; Curses are said by Evelyn and others (but are not written out); Sarcasm & Eye rolling.
Being kidnapped and tied-up, Fighting and practice fights, Knocking others out, Injuries, & Blood/Bleeding (up to a handful of sentences); Seeing fights, injuries, & blood/bleeding (up to a handful of sentences); Sarah doesn’t react well to seeing blood and replays the feeling of harming an attacker with a knife (we see the event and the replays in her point of view, up to a few sentences in details); Mentions of a carriage accident & deaths; Mentions of treason, planning attacks on royalty, & kidnappings; Mentions of fights, attacks, injuries, blood/bleeding, passing out, & throwing up (up to a handful of sentences in the details); A few mentions of alcohol, drinking, & a drunk man at a party; A couple mentions of hatred & murderous looks; A mention of accidentally slitting one’s wrists when tied-up.
An almost kiss (a few sentences) and a kiss (lasting a few sentences); Touches, Dancing, Warmth, & Noticing (x2); Blushes & Flirting; There’s a few mentions of a newly married couple having their wedding night & not interrupting them when they’re alone (no details because other characters giggling about it); Evelyn teases her cousin about gaining weight; Evelyn fights and defends herself which includes kneeing a man in the groin.
See my content reviews of the rest of the series & spin-off series here:
The Four Kingdoms series:
Book #1, Book #2, Book #2.2, Book #2.5, Book #3, Book #3.5, Book #4, and Book #5.
Beyond the Four Kingdoms series:
Book #1, Book #2, Book #3, Book #4, Book #5, and Book #6.
Return to the Four Kingdoms series:
Book #1, Book #2, Book #3, Book #4, Book #5, and Book #6.
The Four Kingdoms Duology:
Book #1 and Book #2.
It was good to see the characters from the second book and what was going on in that country after that ending. Not too many thoughts. I liked it! :)
Main Content:
There’s a necklace that has a jewel which is enchanted and can bewitch and enchant others (a villain is using it; Mentions of possible bewitchment as the book continues); A mention of a group of children’s gazes being worshipful to an older girl; A mention of a godmother’s wand and a wishing star;
Evelyn faces resistance from other guards because she’s a female guard (this includes a few comments and one tripping her in a fight).
No language stronger than ‘dang it’ and ‘stupid’; The made-up phrase ‘what/where in the kingdoms’ is said a few times; Curses are said by Evelyn and others (but are not written out); Sarcasm & Eye rolling.
Being kidnapped and tied-up, Fighting and practice fights, Knocking others out, Injuries, & Blood/Bleeding (up to a handful of sentences); Seeing fights, injuries, & blood/bleeding (up to a handful of sentences); Sarah doesn’t react well to seeing blood and replays the feeling of harming an attacker with a knife (we see the event and the replays in her point of view, up to a few sentences in details); Mentions of a carriage accident & deaths; Mentions of treason, planning attacks on royalty, & kidnappings; Mentions of fights, attacks, injuries, blood/bleeding, passing out, & throwing up (up to a handful of sentences in the details); A few mentions of alcohol, drinking, & a drunk man at a party; A couple mentions of hatred & murderous looks; A mention of accidentally slitting one’s wrists when tied-up.
An almost kiss (a few sentences) and a kiss (lasting a few sentences); Touches, Dancing, Warmth, & Noticing (x2); Blushes & Flirting; There’s a few mentions of a newly married couple having their wedding night & not interrupting them when they’re alone (no details because other characters giggling about it); Evelyn teases her cousin about gaining weight; Evelyn fights and defends herself which includes kneeing a man in the groin.
See my content reviews of the rest of the series & spin-off series here:
The Four Kingdoms series:
Book #1, Book #2, Book #2.2, Book #2.5, Book #3, Book #3.5, Book #4, and Book #5.
Beyond the Four Kingdoms series:
Book #1, Book #2, Book #3, Book #4, Book #5, and Book #6.
Return to the Four Kingdoms series:
Book #1, Book #2, Book #3, Book #4, Book #5, and Book #6.
The Four Kingdoms Duology:
Book #1 and Book #2.
January 7, 2022
(2.5/5)
This was alright, all things considered.
I mean, the insta-love was extremely strong and extremely disgusting, but hey, there's a lot you have to sacrifice if you're going to put two separate romance arcs as well as an actual plot into a single novella.
Honestly, I think that this had the potential to be really good if there wasn't so much crammed into such a small amount. The romance(s ????) felt absolutely unnecessary but the plot was actually quite good. I think it was also mentioned in the next book, which was nice.
Too bad the plotline only really started in the second half, because the first half was just one of the side characters from the second book mooning over more atrocious eye descriptions. What is it with mediocre YA fantasy book and their eye descriptions??? I suffer so much because of them.
Anyway, this was nice, and it definitely could have been better, but it's just a novella, so it's fine.
This was alright, all things considered.
I mean, the insta-love was extremely strong and extremely disgusting, but hey, there's a lot you have to sacrifice if you're going to put two separate romance arcs as well as an actual plot into a single novella.
Honestly, I think that this had the potential to be really good if there wasn't so much crammed into such a small amount. The romance(s ????) felt absolutely unnecessary but the plot was actually quite good. I think it was also mentioned in the next book, which was nice.
Too bad the plotline only really started in the second half, because the first half was just one of the side characters from the second book mooning over more atrocious eye descriptions. What is it with mediocre YA fantasy book and their eye descriptions??? I suffer so much because of them.
Anyway, this was nice, and it definitely could have been better, but it's just a novella, so it's fine.
November 1, 2024
October 2024 Re-read:
Ahhhh absolutely delightful. I’m totally smiling from ear to ear like a fool right now and I don’t mind. 😁
August 2024 1st read:
First Reaction:
I liked this even more than the second book! Oh my goodness I love Sarah and Evelyn so much 🥰🥰🥰
Full Review:
N/A
Ahhhh absolutely delightful. I’m totally smiling from ear to ear like a fool right now and I don’t mind. 😁
August 2024 1st read:
First Reaction:
I liked this even more than the second book! Oh my goodness I love Sarah and Evelyn so much 🥰🥰🥰
Full Review:
N/A
![Profile Image for Jasmine (Jazzie) [Jesus Loves You!!].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1768399715i%2F174090398._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
December 5, 2025
*4.5 stars*
Rtc!!
Rtc!!
August 22, 2024
My favorite quote from the story was, “I knew Evelyn thought I should take life a little more seriously, but I just didn’t see the point. If I could simply choose to be happy and see the lighter side of things, why in all the kingdoms wouldn’t I?”
February 4, 2018
I'm glad this was a novella, because it really wasn't something I would've wanted to read much longer. Also, this is NOT a retelling. There is no sign of Snow White and Rose Red. While we can assume the two FMC's are the two girls, we only "know" that because the title declares that's the story. No other plot points arise and it feels a bit like false advertising. Not to mention it's a shame that tale is already "used" since it doesn't make it possible the author will write an actual retelling of it later.
Happily Ever Afters is an okay read. Nothing is really bad, it just falls flat for me. I thought Sarah and Evelyn were interesting enough supporting characters in the Princess Fugitive but not enough to hold their own book.
I now definitely think they didn't need their own book. This doesn't further the story line for the entire series, and everything that happened to the girls was dull enough to have just been left to our imaginations.
They get spots in the court as implied in the last book, they each meet a guy and there's no twists, both guys turn out
No twists on the guys, no twists on the events. The bad guy is identified almost immediately and shocker, he actually is the bad guy. He does everything that we anticipate him doing.
The climax didn't get me excited and the resolution was easy. Not to mention the
So while it wasn't bad and nothing got me irritated or frustrated, it was a book that easily could've been skipped and really was just not interesting.
Happily Ever Afters is an okay read. Nothing is really bad, it just falls flat for me. I thought Sarah and Evelyn were interesting enough supporting characters in the Princess Fugitive but not enough to hold their own book.
I now definitely think they didn't need their own book. This doesn't further the story line for the entire series, and everything that happened to the girls was dull enough to have just been left to our imaginations.
They get spots in the court as implied in the last book, they each meet a guy and there's no twists, both guys turn out
No twists on the guys, no twists on the events. The bad guy is identified almost immediately and shocker, he actually is the bad guy. He does everything that we anticipate him doing.
The climax didn't get me excited and the resolution was easy. Not to mention the
So while it wasn't bad and nothing got me irritated or frustrated, it was a book that easily could've been skipped and really was just not interesting.
July 14, 2021
(Not a review, just what I thought after completing the audiobook).
😍😍😍 Loved it. Jake and Miles (swoon) and that's all I can say for now. 🤣
One day, I hope to collect all the books.
😍😍😍 Loved it. Jake and Miles (swoon) and that's all I can say for now. 🤣
One day, I hope to collect all the books.
November 22, 2021
I couldn't get into this, it was ridiculous to me and could have been so much better. Female guard to the queen could have been so powerful of a character but she was made to look quite unimpressive.
April 18, 2025
While there wasn't a whole lot of connection to the actual fairy tale, I still really enjoyed this story!
July 27, 2025
5 stars ✨
Oh my goodness, this book was so good! I loved it so much!
I’m not big on novellas. At all. They’re so short that I usually feel like the book doesn’t have enough pages to be able to properly develop everything that’s going on. It’s much worse when there’s a romance going on, too. After all, how are the characters supposed to meet, turn into friends, develop feelings for each other, grow bigger feelings, and finally confess to each other within the space of 130 pages or less? It’s impossible! Yet impossible or not, novellas are still popular among readers. So, how do authors accomplish it, you might ask. Well, it’s elementary, my dear Watson! And by that, I mean they use the much-despised (by me) trope of insta-love *shudders*.
I’m a slow burn kind of girl. A strangers to friends to more. A best friends to more, brother’s best friend, best friend’s brother, etc. Either we watch them meet, and they grow to friends with the possibility of more (with lots of time sprinkled in) or they’ve been friends forever and we get to see them suddenly start developing feelings. Definitely not a “Love at first sight” fan. Sorry Disney…
This is why I usually don’t read novellas. However, I had zero intentions of missing out on Evelyn and Sarah’s story, so here we are. One afternoon and one amazing novella later, writing this 5-star review. I should have known that Cellier would find a way. Of course, I’m comparing this to other novellas I’ve read, instead of to novels, and I still prefer her full-length books, but I really liked this story. I know my review of the Princess Fugitive was… long, to say the least, so I’ll try to keep this review shorter. I don’t want to write a novella of my own, after all! 😉
Plot Summary:
Sometimes a fairy tale ending is only the beginning…
Sarah and Evelyn have already risked everything to help Ava win a crown. But they soon learn that a coronation is a beginning, not an ending. Not everyone in Rangmere is happy to see the young queen on the throne, and intrigue and danger lurk all around.
The cousins find themselves fighting not only for their new kingdom but also for their own survival in the royal court. When a new threat emerges, the two girls must defeat it to both save the crown and secure their own Happily Ever Afters.
About the plot:
I loved the plot of this book. The first time I read The Princess Pact, I was a little confused at the beginning, but this novella definitely clears some things up. I liked the fact that the book didn’t overshoot its goals. There was still action and, you know, a plot , but it was simple enough to be completed gracefully within the allotted time. It was a great premise that perfectly connected book 2 and book 3 of the series. It was very fun, and I loved coming back to Rangmere for a while!
Characters:
Evelyn: I loved all the characters in the book, but Evelyn was definitely my favorite. I loved her entire thought process, and her personality was as lovely as ever. That’s not to say I wasn’t delighted when I got to picture her face upon seeing the pink gown, but I loved her a lot. She’d faced a lot of hardship in life, but it made her into the tough, hardy girl she is today. The battle between her mind and her heart is altogether relatable and I loved getting a peek into her brain.
Sarah: I didn’t relate to Sarah as much as I did her cousin, but she was still an amazing character. Something that stood out to me in particular is that Sarah’s thoughts reveal a lot more depth and seriousness than we’re shown in the previous books, or that she shows others. After all, it’s impossible for someone to be smiley and positive all the time. She’s much smarter (and more devious!) that she looks and she’s a force to be reconned with at court. Her first interaction with Miles was so fun to me, because he was just there, wondering who she was, while she was deciding that he’d be her first “taught-a-lesson” victim. It was hilarious! I loved seeing this new, more serious (if not somber, sometimes) side of Sarah, even if her silly side was still the more prevalent one throughout the story.
Miles: To be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of Miles. He’s great, sure, but I don’t really see why Sarah chose him before any other man to fall in love with. Not that one chooses these things, but still. At first, I didn’t much like him at all. I guess the “pretty-boy”, arrogant nobleman type isn’t my favorite. As I got to know him a bit better, I grew to like him more, although he was never my favorite. He had a sense of humor and proved to be useful near the end, which definitely raised my opinion of him. I also appreciated the fact that he was fairly transparent and didn’t really play the game of court, which is perfect for Sarah. He’s nowhere near “Sarah level” of silliness, but he matched her energy pretty well. Overall, he was a good character, just not my favorite out of the four.
Jake: Ahh, now we’re talking. Jake was 100% my favorite mmc in the book. I think what made him stand out to me more, in contrast with Miles, was his personality. They both had distinct personalities, of course, but I felt Mile’s character was more “looks-based”, while Jake’s was more “personality-based”. He was always willing to offer a friendly smile and easy conversation, as well as being an accomplished swordsman. While he was a cheerful person (perfect to balance out Evelyn’s seriousness), he wasn’t a jokester and knew how to be serious when the moment called for it. I loved his personality so much and he was absolutely perfect for Evelyn. Couldn’t have picked better myself!
Anhalt: Well, this was certainly an interesting villain. His motivations throughout the book were very interesting to see and I have to admit that he was quite smart in the way he carried them out. He didn’t take all the factors into account (clearly), but he was still smarter than I expected him to be. Which may speak more about my expectations than about his character, but nevertheless… Having him not be after the actual crown was like a breath of fresh air. Don’t you just love it when villains have realistically achievable plans and smart ways to carry them out? Sure, he got overconfident and forgot some key factors, but overall, he did quite well! He was a horrible person, though, in case you were wondering. The things he did were wrong, and he shouldn’t have done them, but he didn’t make my blood boil.
In general, I loved the characters in this book (Evelyn and Jake in particular!). Since the book has four MCs, I couldn’t really write specific character sections for any other characters without drastically overshooting my length goals. I loved Ava and Hans’ appearances in the book, even though they weren’t very prevalent. Lord Adelmar was also a favorite even if he *cough cough* didn’t have a single line (that I can remember). There were heartwarming characters and annoying characters, much like there’s all different kinds of people in real life, so that was interesting to see. The concept of characters who aren’t “black and white” … or gray is a very interesting one that I loved reading. To conclude this part, seeing some of my favorite characters again was fun, as well as getting to know some new characters. I loved them!
🪶Quotes:
💕 “Ava might be tough, but some things were universal. Every girl wanted to look incredible on her wedding day.”
🗡️ “Evelyn had always preferred looking deadly to beautiful. I shook my head. She underestimated just how effective beauty could be. It was a side effect of trying to succeed in a male-dominated field.”
⚔️ “I stiffened, and my eyes narrowed. ‘Probably true enough,’ I said, keeping my voice light and shrugging my shoulders. ‘I’d hate to dent one of Her Majesty’s prize guards. But this is the first I’ve heard of Rangmeran guards turning coward.’”
❤️ Romance:
- Clean/No Spice
- 1 almost kiss
- 1 kiss
- Noticing
- A mention of not interrupting newlyweds on their wedding night. (No details provided).
I loved the romance in this book (x2)! My favorite couple was – without a doubt – Evelyn and Jake. Everything still happened quickly, of course, but I felt their romance was spaced out a bit more. Their friendship was so sweet, and their entire dynamic was just amazing. They complemented each other really well and I loved seeing them fall in love. Also, the last scene is probably my favorite in the whole book. I must have read it like 5+ times! I just loved it so much; I get excited just thinking about it. Perfect scene, honestly. 😍
I didn’t love Sarah and Miles’ romance as much, but I can still recognize that they were perfect for each other. Miles was able to both humor Sarah and have fun with her while keeping her grounded. Both the men were protective of their girls (which I loved) and both relationships were healthy and romantic. Super cute!
🩷 “I nodded, satisfied. ‘Well, in that case, I wish you joy. I’m quite certain she’ll run rings around you.’ He laughed. ‘I’m pretty sure she’s determined to run rings around us all’.”
🩵 “He looked at me and laughed. ‘Let’s just say the position I have in mind is a little higher ranked than personal guard.’” … “‘But I…I…’ I sputtered, wondering where my usual poise had gone. A full smile broke across his face, and he tucked my hand into his arm. ‘Don’t worry’, he said as he led me slowly onward, ‘you’ll come around.’”
⚠️ Content Warnings ⚠️:
- Magic jewelry/Bewitchment
- Curses (said, not written)
- Evelyn faces some opposition as a female guard.
- Fighting (Both real and practice fights)
- Kidnapping
- Stabbing (Slightly detailed)
- Blood/bleeding
- Character doesn’t react well to blood.
- Injuries
- Deaths
- Treason
- Knocking others out/passing out
- Alcohol, drinking, and a drunk man at a party (no details)
- A character mentions accidently slitting one’s wrists when tied up (they don’t)
Evelyn is a guard, so there’s more detailed fighting in this book than in others, as well as the mention of blood. As the sight of blood doesn’t cause any particularly adverse effects in me, I didn’t mind this. However, if blood or things of that sort affect you, then perhaps approach the book with a bit more caution, although, as I said, in no way did I find it overpowering or think it was a major part of the book. (As has become my custom for this particular book series, below I link a review with more extensive/detailed content warnings, for those interested. You’re also free to ask any questions in the comments.)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Conclusion:
I really enjoyed this book. My expectations were a bit lower than for the rest of the series, but it managed to far exceed them. I loved getting to know Sarah and Evelyn better, as well as their love interests, and the action helped explain the third book somewhat beyond that which I already knew. I had a lot of fun reading this and I’ll definitely be rereading it, anytime I wish to reenter Rangmere, but don’t have the time to re-read The Princess Fugitive. Easily a 5-star read! 🩷
Disclaimer: All opinions in this review are my own and have not been influenced upon in any way, shape or form.
- Camila I.
Oh my goodness, this book was so good! I loved it so much!
I’m not big on novellas. At all. They’re so short that I usually feel like the book doesn’t have enough pages to be able to properly develop everything that’s going on. It’s much worse when there’s a romance going on, too. After all, how are the characters supposed to meet, turn into friends, develop feelings for each other, grow bigger feelings, and finally confess to each other within the space of 130 pages or less? It’s impossible! Yet impossible or not, novellas are still popular among readers. So, how do authors accomplish it, you might ask. Well, it’s elementary, my dear Watson! And by that, I mean they use the much-despised (by me) trope of insta-love *shudders*.
I’m a slow burn kind of girl. A strangers to friends to more. A best friends to more, brother’s best friend, best friend’s brother, etc. Either we watch them meet, and they grow to friends with the possibility of more (with lots of time sprinkled in) or they’ve been friends forever and we get to see them suddenly start developing feelings. Definitely not a “Love at first sight” fan. Sorry Disney…
This is why I usually don’t read novellas. However, I had zero intentions of missing out on Evelyn and Sarah’s story, so here we are. One afternoon and one amazing novella later, writing this 5-star review. I should have known that Cellier would find a way. Of course, I’m comparing this to other novellas I’ve read, instead of to novels, and I still prefer her full-length books, but I really liked this story. I know my review of the Princess Fugitive was… long, to say the least, so I’ll try to keep this review shorter. I don’t want to write a novella of my own, after all! 😉
Plot Summary:
Sometimes a fairy tale ending is only the beginning…
Sarah and Evelyn have already risked everything to help Ava win a crown. But they soon learn that a coronation is a beginning, not an ending. Not everyone in Rangmere is happy to see the young queen on the throne, and intrigue and danger lurk all around.
The cousins find themselves fighting not only for their new kingdom but also for their own survival in the royal court. When a new threat emerges, the two girls must defeat it to both save the crown and secure their own Happily Ever Afters.
About the plot:
I loved the plot of this book. The first time I read The Princess Pact, I was a little confused at the beginning, but this novella definitely clears some things up. I liked the fact that the book didn’t overshoot its goals. There was still action and, you know, a plot , but it was simple enough to be completed gracefully within the allotted time. It was a great premise that perfectly connected book 2 and book 3 of the series. It was very fun, and I loved coming back to Rangmere for a while!
Characters:
Evelyn: I loved all the characters in the book, but Evelyn was definitely my favorite. I loved her entire thought process, and her personality was as lovely as ever. That’s not to say I wasn’t delighted when I got to picture her face upon seeing the pink gown, but I loved her a lot. She’d faced a lot of hardship in life, but it made her into the tough, hardy girl she is today. The battle between her mind and her heart is altogether relatable and I loved getting a peek into her brain.
Sarah: I didn’t relate to Sarah as much as I did her cousin, but she was still an amazing character. Something that stood out to me in particular is that Sarah’s thoughts reveal a lot more depth and seriousness than we’re shown in the previous books, or that she shows others. After all, it’s impossible for someone to be smiley and positive all the time. She’s much smarter (and more devious!) that she looks and she’s a force to be reconned with at court. Her first interaction with Miles was so fun to me, because he was just there, wondering who she was, while she was deciding that he’d be her first “taught-a-lesson” victim. It was hilarious! I loved seeing this new, more serious (if not somber, sometimes) side of Sarah, even if her silly side was still the more prevalent one throughout the story.
Miles: To be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of Miles. He’s great, sure, but I don’t really see why Sarah chose him before any other man to fall in love with. Not that one chooses these things, but still. At first, I didn’t much like him at all. I guess the “pretty-boy”, arrogant nobleman type isn’t my favorite. As I got to know him a bit better, I grew to like him more, although he was never my favorite. He had a sense of humor and proved to be useful near the end, which definitely raised my opinion of him. I also appreciated the fact that he was fairly transparent and didn’t really play the game of court, which is perfect for Sarah. He’s nowhere near “Sarah level” of silliness, but he matched her energy pretty well. Overall, he was a good character, just not my favorite out of the four.
Jake: Ahh, now we’re talking. Jake was 100% my favorite mmc in the book. I think what made him stand out to me more, in contrast with Miles, was his personality. They both had distinct personalities, of course, but I felt Mile’s character was more “looks-based”, while Jake’s was more “personality-based”. He was always willing to offer a friendly smile and easy conversation, as well as being an accomplished swordsman. While he was a cheerful person (perfect to balance out Evelyn’s seriousness), he wasn’t a jokester and knew how to be serious when the moment called for it. I loved his personality so much and he was absolutely perfect for Evelyn. Couldn’t have picked better myself!
Anhalt: Well, this was certainly an interesting villain. His motivations throughout the book were very interesting to see and I have to admit that he was quite smart in the way he carried them out. He didn’t take all the factors into account (clearly), but he was still smarter than I expected him to be. Which may speak more about my expectations than about his character, but nevertheless… Having him not be after the actual crown was like a breath of fresh air. Don’t you just love it when villains have realistically achievable plans and smart ways to carry them out? Sure, he got overconfident and forgot some key factors, but overall, he did quite well! He was a horrible person, though, in case you were wondering. The things he did were wrong, and he shouldn’t have done them, but he didn’t make my blood boil.
In general, I loved the characters in this book (Evelyn and Jake in particular!). Since the book has four MCs, I couldn’t really write specific character sections for any other characters without drastically overshooting my length goals. I loved Ava and Hans’ appearances in the book, even though they weren’t very prevalent. Lord Adelmar was also a favorite even if he *cough cough* didn’t have a single line (that I can remember). There were heartwarming characters and annoying characters, much like there’s all different kinds of people in real life, so that was interesting to see. The concept of characters who aren’t “black and white” … or gray is a very interesting one that I loved reading. To conclude this part, seeing some of my favorite characters again was fun, as well as getting to know some new characters. I loved them!
🪶Quotes:
💕 “Ava might be tough, but some things were universal. Every girl wanted to look incredible on her wedding day.”
🗡️ “Evelyn had always preferred looking deadly to beautiful. I shook my head. She underestimated just how effective beauty could be. It was a side effect of trying to succeed in a male-dominated field.”
⚔️ “I stiffened, and my eyes narrowed. ‘Probably true enough,’ I said, keeping my voice light and shrugging my shoulders. ‘I’d hate to dent one of Her Majesty’s prize guards. But this is the first I’ve heard of Rangmeran guards turning coward.’”
❤️ Romance:
- Clean/No Spice
- 1 almost kiss
- 1 kiss
- Noticing
- A mention of not interrupting newlyweds on their wedding night. (No details provided).
I loved the romance in this book (x2)! My favorite couple was – without a doubt – Evelyn and Jake. Everything still happened quickly, of course, but I felt their romance was spaced out a bit more. Their friendship was so sweet, and their entire dynamic was just amazing. They complemented each other really well and I loved seeing them fall in love. Also, the last scene is probably my favorite in the whole book. I must have read it like 5+ times! I just loved it so much; I get excited just thinking about it. Perfect scene, honestly. 😍
I didn’t love Sarah and Miles’ romance as much, but I can still recognize that they were perfect for each other. Miles was able to both humor Sarah and have fun with her while keeping her grounded. Both the men were protective of their girls (which I loved) and both relationships were healthy and romantic. Super cute!
🩷 “I nodded, satisfied. ‘Well, in that case, I wish you joy. I’m quite certain she’ll run rings around you.’ He laughed. ‘I’m pretty sure she’s determined to run rings around us all’.”
🩵 “He looked at me and laughed. ‘Let’s just say the position I have in mind is a little higher ranked than personal guard.’” … “‘But I…I…’ I sputtered, wondering where my usual poise had gone. A full smile broke across his face, and he tucked my hand into his arm. ‘Don’t worry’, he said as he led me slowly onward, ‘you’ll come around.’”
⚠️ Content Warnings ⚠️:
- Magic jewelry/Bewitchment
- Curses (said, not written)
- Evelyn faces some opposition as a female guard.
- Fighting (Both real and practice fights)
- Kidnapping
- Stabbing (Slightly detailed)
- Blood/bleeding
- Character doesn’t react well to blood.
- Injuries
- Deaths
- Treason
- Knocking others out/passing out
- Alcohol, drinking, and a drunk man at a party (no details)
- A character mentions accidently slitting one’s wrists when tied up (they don’t)
Evelyn is a guard, so there’s more detailed fighting in this book than in others, as well as the mention of blood. As the sight of blood doesn’t cause any particularly adverse effects in me, I didn’t mind this. However, if blood or things of that sort affect you, then perhaps approach the book with a bit more caution, although, as I said, in no way did I find it overpowering or think it was a major part of the book. (As has become my custom for this particular book series, below I link a review with more extensive/detailed content warnings, for those interested. You’re also free to ask any questions in the comments.)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Conclusion:
I really enjoyed this book. My expectations were a bit lower than for the rest of the series, but it managed to far exceed them. I loved getting to know Sarah and Evelyn better, as well as their love interests, and the action helped explain the third book somewhat beyond that which I already knew. I had a lot of fun reading this and I’ll definitely be rereading it, anytime I wish to reenter Rangmere, but don’t have the time to re-read The Princess Fugitive. Easily a 5-star read! 🩷
Disclaimer: All opinions in this review are my own and have not been influenced upon in any way, shape or form.
- Camila I.
August 12, 2024
So much intrigue and adventure⚔️ Loved seeing more with these characters. Was a good build up to the next book and I’m so excited for it!!
April 15, 2020
I liked this one a lot! good seeing Evelyn and Sarah (though I'm not a huge fan of Miles? and also why don't the male characters get some more screen time in this series?).
October 7, 2021
Oh my goodness though. Why is everyone so cuteeeee??? 🤩
January 22, 2023
Happily Ever Afters was a cute novella set in Cellier’s Four Kingdoms series that takes place immediately after The Princess Fugitive in order to develop the stories of two secondary characters from that novel, Sarah and Evelyn, and to allow them to achieve their own happily ever after. It not only explored these previous secondary characters' personalities and abilities but also served as an extended epilogue of The Princess Fugitive; I particularly enjoyed seeing a glimpse of Ava and Hans in their married life.
The perspective alternated between Sarah and Evelyn so we got to experience both the social life at Court and the training grounds for an Imperial Guard, and both storylines and protagonists were well-balanced and complemented one another. While I enjoyed Sarah’s perspective and personality more, I found myself more interested in Evelyn’s storyline and romantic relationship. I enjoyed the characters and their romance so much I’d love to see it developed into a full-length novel.
Overall, Happily Ever Afters was a cute, short, and loose reimagining of Snow White, Rose Red featuring two fun characters. I enjoyed both of their stories, development, and romances. The story was also a perfect setup for the third book in the series and I’m excited to continue reading these cleverly interconnected fairy tale retellings to see what happens next.
The perspective alternated between Sarah and Evelyn so we got to experience both the social life at Court and the training grounds for an Imperial Guard, and both storylines and protagonists were well-balanced and complemented one another. While I enjoyed Sarah’s perspective and personality more, I found myself more interested in Evelyn’s storyline and romantic relationship. I enjoyed the characters and their romance so much I’d love to see it developed into a full-length novel.
Overall, Happily Ever Afters was a cute, short, and loose reimagining of Snow White, Rose Red featuring two fun characters. I enjoyed both of their stories, development, and romances. The story was also a perfect setup for the third book in the series and I’m excited to continue reading these cleverly interconnected fairy tale retellings to see what happens next.
February 13, 2019
I'm really, absolutely, totally, completely in love with this series! Deep down, not even that well hidden but still, I'm a little princess and this series is filled with all different types of princesses and love stories. It's impossible not to connect with at least, if not more, one character and it's even more impossible to finish those books without smiling.
This book is only a novella. Therefore the love happens quite instantly, but is still just as cute and just as endearing as both the love stories in the previous books. And just like the previous two books this is not JUST a love story. It's mixed with an intriguing plot involving politics, magic, epic sword fighting and intelligent battles.
In this book we follow not one, but two girls finding their loves and battling for their kingdom. In a way they can't be more different, but in a way they're also very much alike. They're both brave, they're both fierce and they're both strong. I really enjoyed being in their heads, even though it was only relatively short and I'm glad that they too found that happily ever after!
I can't wait to read the next story in this series and to get to know our next princess longing for just a little bit of love!
This book is only a novella. Therefore the love happens quite instantly, but is still just as cute and just as endearing as both the love stories in the previous books. And just like the previous two books this is not JUST a love story. It's mixed with an intriguing plot involving politics, magic, epic sword fighting and intelligent battles.
In this book we follow not one, but two girls finding their loves and battling for their kingdom. In a way they can't be more different, but in a way they're also very much alike. They're both brave, they're both fierce and they're both strong. I really enjoyed being in their heads, even though it was only relatively short and I'm glad that they too found that happily ever after!
I can't wait to read the next story in this series and to get to know our next princess longing for just a little bit of love!
April 4, 2018
Fun short read.
September 21, 2020
3.5 stars! Quick, fun read and definitely one of the best novellas I’ve read!! I really enjoyed getting some of Evelyn and Sarah’s story. They crack me up. 😂
July 16, 2025
4.5 stars!
Loved getting to see Evelyn and Sarah more, after they were so instrumental to the series earlier on. I had a harder time liking one of the main male characters, but overall, the story was quite enjoyable!
Loved getting to see Evelyn and Sarah more, after they were so instrumental to the series earlier on. I had a harder time liking one of the main male characters, but overall, the story was quite enjoyable!
December 16, 2025
This was cute! It was a bit slow, though. I did love Sarah and Evelyn’s POV! But how come Evelyn and Jake didn’t kiss 😭 like I wanted - no NEEDED - a kiss! *sigh* at least Miles and Sarah did :D
This was overall good!
This was overall good!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2018
This is the novella that should be read between books 2 and 3 in the Four Kingdom series. The novella starred Evelyn and Sarah as Snow White and Rose Red respectively. Other than the two girl's personalities, I didn't make any connections to the original tale--though admittedly, I'm not all that upset cause the original was bizarre. I could maybe see the dwarf and bear, but that may be a bit of a stretch on my part. In spite of this, I loved the little short! I very much enjoyed getting a closer look into Sarah and Evelyn's personalities and abilities. I think I liked the training grounds parts more than the social parts, but they both complemented each other and were well-balanced. The plot as a whole was a lovely little thing with appropriate sighs of contentment and gasps of intrigue. My only complaint is that one of the girl's endings was...implied. It was quite obviously so, but I had really wanted to see it through. I won't say whose and let that be a surprise. :-) I hope to see more of all these wonderful characters, but for now, on to Marie and Rumple!!!
March 28, 2018
I have to admit, I was a lot more interested in Evelyn's story than Sarah's, but that made it work particularly well to have both stories intertwined in this one novella. A good addition to the series.
June 27, 2022
I’m a big fan of best friends finding love simultaneously. Also the grumpy/sunshine dynamic in friends instead of lovers is fun.
To be honest, I have NO IDEA what Snow White and Rose Red is about but I enjoyes this nonetheless.
To be honest, I have NO IDEA what Snow White and Rose Red is about but I enjoyes this nonetheless.
February 25, 2019
A satisfying wrap-up for two favorite characters from Book 2 in the Four Kingdoms series!
Not really a fairy-tale retelling yet well worth the read.
Not really a fairy-tale retelling yet well worth the read.
September 6, 2021
Loved seeing the perspectives of Sarah and Evelyn!
This story was a little extended from book 2 to show what happened after Ava had her wedding etc. I liked going back and seeing the characters, and I also have a feeling some of the others we were introduced to may show up in future books but not sure!
Good to see that Sarah and Evelyn both got their matches who were both well suited to each of them respectively. I do think the conflict in this novella was quite obvious from the beginning but that didn't change how much I enjoyed it
This story was a little extended from book 2 to show what happened after Ava had her wedding etc. I liked going back and seeing the characters, and I also have a feeling some of the others we were introduced to may show up in future books but not sure!
Good to see that Sarah and Evelyn both got their matches who were both well suited to each of them respectively. I do think the conflict in this novella was quite obvious from the beginning but that didn't change how much I enjoyed it
January 31, 2022
Just like other books in this series, listening to the audiobook of this is a magical experience. Since this is a novella, the characters got together faster than the other books, where it takes almost all book for characters to finally admit they're in love with each other. However, I didn't really mind it.
I have to admit I didn't love Sarah's point of view, but Evelyn's point of views definitely made up for it.
I have to admit I didn't love Sarah's point of view, but Evelyn's point of views definitely made up for it.
August 30, 2022
First of all, I would absolutely recommend this series to any younger YA, or even middls-grader. This is a pretty excellent series for that age range and it is really satisfying my weird need to read books that give full Once Upon a Time vibes.
That being said, you know I'm a 31yo woman, well read, and well read in fantasy. This series is Weenie Hut Junior to me lol. But I'm having fun. Sometimes we all need a little Weenie Hut Junior. I guess.
That being said, you know I'm a 31yo woman, well read, and well read in fantasy. This series is Weenie Hut Junior to me lol. But I'm having fun. Sometimes we all need a little Weenie Hut Junior. I guess.
May 30, 2022
This was a fantastic additional story that continued the narrative for two side characters that were introduced in book 2. Honestly princess Ava didn't do much for me, so I was really happy to find out more about her friends since they seemed much more interesting. I love a strong girl who is fighting against gender norms and aims to be a guard, with the strength and abilities from hard work to prove that she's deserved it.
August 9, 2021
The plot was well written for a coup/rebellion with gossip and overhead conversations being woven in naturally. Evelyn's romance was more realistic than Sarah's it felt like, but looking back both I do identify more with Evelyn's emotional progression so I may be biased against Sarah's to begin with. Also the cover of this edition with the pink dress and the sword with the plants on the archway is just so pretty and satisfying. Kuddos to the cover designer.
July 26, 2024
About 20 pages to the end I was almost slightly dissatisfied with how simple the plot was compared to the other books, but then I remembered that it's only a ~100 page novella and it had delivered what it was meant to. Quite cute. Jake is just a lil' baby. Just a lil' guy. A fella, if you will.
August 17, 2024
It was a cute, fast paced read. I didn't really see any reference to Snow White. (Also I haven't heard of the story Rose Red before so I don't know if this novella made any reference to the original story) All in all, it was a fun read.
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