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The Tower Princess
The townspeople call her the Tower Princess, but Gressa’s life is no fairy tale. She’s never understood why she’s been separated from the rest of the kingdom, but now that she’s older the pieces are coming together.
For too long she’s been trapped in her brother’s scheme to find a way through the magical wall dividing their kingdom in two. She doesn’t expect any help from the prince to the south, even if he did manage to bumble his way to her rescue. If she could pick anyone to form an alliance, it would be the squire she watches train from her window; he shows promise. But, confined to her tower, there’s nothing she can do…or is there?
One day a hole opens up in the Dividing Wall and with it, a chance for Gressa to change everything.
For too long she’s been trapped in her brother’s scheme to find a way through the magical wall dividing their kingdom in two. She doesn’t expect any help from the prince to the south, even if he did manage to bumble his way to her rescue. If she could pick anyone to form an alliance, it would be the squire she watches train from her window; he shows promise. But, confined to her tower, there’s nothing she can do…or is there?
One day a hole opens up in the Dividing Wall and with it, a chance for Gressa to change everything.
304 pages, Paperback
First published February 26, 2018
46 people are currently reading
560 people want to read
About the author
Shonna Slayton
23 books523 followersSHONNA SLAYTON is the author of the Fairy-Tale Inheritance Series of young adult novels, beginning with Cinderella’s Dress.
She edited curriculum for an education company before homeschooling her own children using literature-based whole book learning. She’s taught writing using fairy tales in school classrooms and workshops, as well as in public libraries as a writer in residence. Instead of seeing her in person, you can get the Lessons from Grimm Series which includes a writer’s guide and workbooks for writers to learn fiction techniques through fairy tales.
Join her email list and receive a free story as a welcome gift. Be the first to learn of new books and get behind-the-scenes info you can't read anywhere else. Sign up on her website Shonna Slayton
She edited curriculum for an education company before homeschooling her own children using literature-based whole book learning. She’s taught writing using fairy tales in school classrooms and workshops, as well as in public libraries as a writer in residence. Instead of seeing her in person, you can get the Lessons from Grimm Series which includes a writer’s guide and workbooks for writers to learn fiction techniques through fairy tales.
Join her email list and receive a free story as a welcome gift. Be the first to learn of new books and get behind-the-scenes info you can't read anywhere else. Sign up on her website Shonna Slayton
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
March 11, 2018
What a delightful story! This was such a different tale to the one everyone knows about Rapanzel.
The story begins with the legend of the two friends who become knights and later kings, but once best friends, they became enemies when their ambitions and ego grew.
Because they both wanted to be king, the kingdom was divided, north and south, with a Dividing Wall between them.
The king of the north was ruthless and strong. He had 7 sons and a daughter. His oldest son Herrick was worse than him, and he hated his sister. Since she was destined to destroy the plans he had created his whole life
While the king of the south, king Simon was smart and wise. He had his only son Manny. But because his wife died during labour, he feared for his sons life, and in the desperation to keep him safe, he traded his son for another baby boy, to take his place.
This is where Manny grew up to be a tailor's son, and a training squire. And during his training he is watched from above the tallest tower in the north kingdom, watched by the tower princess, Princess Gressa.
With a wall between them, it seems very unlikely they will meet, but fate has other plans.
Will their new friendship lead to more problems or could it be a solution? But what will Herrick do to Gressa if she is caught ? Is it worth the risk?
Such a beautiful tale, loved it and can't wait to read more lost stories!
Received a copy, for an honest review, thank you!
The story begins with the legend of the two friends who become knights and later kings, but once best friends, they became enemies when their ambitions and ego grew.
Because they both wanted to be king, the kingdom was divided, north and south, with a Dividing Wall between them.
The king of the north was ruthless and strong. He had 7 sons and a daughter. His oldest son Herrick was worse than him, and he hated his sister. Since she was destined to destroy the plans he had created his whole life
While the king of the south, king Simon was smart and wise. He had his only son Manny. But because his wife died during labour, he feared for his sons life, and in the desperation to keep him safe, he traded his son for another baby boy, to take his place.
This is where Manny grew up to be a tailor's son, and a training squire. And during his training he is watched from above the tallest tower in the north kingdom, watched by the tower princess, Princess Gressa.
With a wall between them, it seems very unlikely they will meet, but fate has other plans.
Will their new friendship lead to more problems or could it be a solution? But what will Herrick do to Gressa if she is caught ? Is it worth the risk?
Such a beautiful tale, loved it and can't wait to read more lost stories!
Received a copy, for an honest review, thank you!
February 26, 2018
I would give this book a 3.5 stars review. This was my first Romeo and Juliet retelling and I definitely enjoyed reading the unique twist on the classic tale. Magic makes everything better lol Usually I love prologue but I feel like this one gave away too much information that as a reader I would of like to find out slowly through out the book. I wished the book was a little long too. The ending seemed a little rushed and would of like another chapter or two with how crazy the ending was. With that being said the rest of my review will contain some kind of spoilers.
I wish during the prologue we didn't find out the Manny was the true Prince. Yes Manny didn't know but I wish we would of figured it out with him before the end of the book. However I did really love Manny's character in the book and he did fix the character of Romeo pretty good. I also felt like there was a lack of real romance between Manny and Gressa. We had a few good moments with them but a lot was just implied with the retelling. Maybe it was just me but I would of liked to see more scences with them in the meadow. I love how try did get their happily ever after everything they went through though. That was a happy change to the classic story.
I'm sooo glad that Herrick got what was coming to him lol being trapped in the tower was the perfect ending for him!
I wish during the prologue we didn't find out the Manny was the true Prince. Yes Manny didn't know but I wish we would of figured it out with him before the end of the book. However I did really love Manny's character in the book and he did fix the character of Romeo pretty good. I also felt like there was a lack of real romance between Manny and Gressa. We had a few good moments with them but a lot was just implied with the retelling. Maybe it was just me but I would of liked to see more scences with them in the meadow. I love how try did get their happily ever after everything they went through though. That was a happy change to the classic story.
I'm sooo glad that Herrick got what was coming to him lol being trapped in the tower was the perfect ending for him!
February 26, 2019
Brilliant Plan: Put the Princess in a Tower!
For the record, no matter how popular this solution may be, every king and wicked witch who has tried this has had it backfire miserably.
Also a bad idea: sending your son to be raised in ignominy and raising a decided in his place.
Good book. Go read.
For the record, no matter how popular this solution may be, every king and wicked witch who has tried this has had it backfire miserably.
Also a bad idea: sending your son to be raised in ignominy and raising a decided in his place.
Good book. Go read.
April 17, 2018
The Tower Princess was sweet and fun! Not my favorite by Shonna Slayton, but it was an enjoyable and pretty quick read, and I quite adored the little woodlings! *winks* If you like original fairy tales with just a touch of magic and romance, you should check this book out!
February 28, 2019
I wanted to like this book. I mean, I did like it to a point. It was a solid three star book until all the stupidity of characters happened about 60% in. That last 40% or so had me throwing my arms up and shouting why?!?
First, Gressa’s brother is a horrible human being. He’s not even the king and yet everyone follows his orders as if he already is. Why???? That is one of the plot points, but why??? Why is the king always searching for the Rowan tree and not having his most trusted knights do it instead? Where is he always going that he leaves Herrick in charge? Shouldn’t Herrick be running some errands? WHY??? And why exactly does it take King Simon on his deathbed to FINALLY tell his son that he lied to him all these years and actually he’s the crowned prince, not Nigel? And I feel like Nigel’s response to this was too neatly wrapped up.
“Hey, you thought you were the prince your whole life but you actually aren’t.”
“Oh, ok great I’m going to leave and do other things.”
What?? I think a lot of people would be pretty upset and wanting to know why. And not just because the king wanted to keep Manny safe. I guess that’s a good reason, but King Simon says he did it because the Panther (aka Herrick) wanted to kill him. Manny is what, 16? And for 16 years Herrick never actually tried to kill Nigel when he was standing in for Manny. He never tried to invade before Manny was born. But suddenly now that all these people (Gressa, Nigel and Manny) are sort of adults, let’s plot a coup and overthrow and murder both kings so Herrick can rule them all! Which is one of the plot points where other people want to join the two kingdoms together again...so does that mean Herrick wanted this just like everyone else? I don’t know! He never actually goes into detail as to why he seems to hate his sister so much and why he does what he does. He just says horrible things to her and treats her like dirt.
Ah I’m rambling. This story seems like a loose (very loose) retelling of some sort of fairy tale. One reviewer said it was Romeo and Juliet, but since that’s a play I just don’t think of it as a fairy tale. I had vibes of that but also Rapunzel and then I gave up trying. So what happens is two knights fight over who is going to be the king and create large amounts of destruction. A woodling fairy stops them and makes it so the kingdom is divided because they can’t agree. And there’s no trade or contact at all. One king has five hundred children (ok, 8 or something like that) and the other one has one. And of course the queen dies giving birth to that one because...well just because. She was delicate. And then it goes on about how one kingdom was full of Vikings and the other wasn’t. Why exactly does that matter?? And why are there Vikings? Why so specific? So when they split the kingdom were all the Vikings on one side and the other people were on the other? But then there’s the whole plot point of people trying to get the kingdoms back together because people’s families were separated because of the wall...
This story shows us a very good example of why walls are bad, and why when the Berlin Wall came down everyone rejoiced (they do that in this story too, just not pulling down the whole wall - just parts in the story). Also why putting up a wall between the US and Mexico is a bad idea...
I didn’t hate the book. I enjoyed the first 3/4 of it and was looking forward to the end. And then it just kind of stagnated. Everyone just let Herrick do whatever he wanted and no one seemed to question his motives except his sister. And she’s a female and we can’t have her going out into the world because she could get hurt or find her true love which is the prince from the other side of the wall.
I did like the two main characters though. I liked Manny’s steadfastness and how he always went after his goals. I liked Gressa and how she would sneak out against all orders (her brother’s from what I can gather) and go and meet Manny in the secret grove between the two kingdoms that no one can see(because it’s magic). But plot points and ideas are important and I needed more information. Quick wrap ups at the end of a book always annoy me.
First, Gressa’s brother is a horrible human being. He’s not even the king and yet everyone follows his orders as if he already is. Why???? That is one of the plot points, but why??? Why is the king always searching for the Rowan tree and not having his most trusted knights do it instead? Where is he always going that he leaves Herrick in charge? Shouldn’t Herrick be running some errands? WHY??? And why exactly does it take King Simon on his deathbed to FINALLY tell his son that he lied to him all these years and actually he’s the crowned prince, not Nigel? And I feel like Nigel’s response to this was too neatly wrapped up.
“Hey, you thought you were the prince your whole life but you actually aren’t.”
“Oh, ok great I’m going to leave and do other things.”
What?? I think a lot of people would be pretty upset and wanting to know why. And not just because the king wanted to keep Manny safe. I guess that’s a good reason, but King Simon says he did it because the Panther (aka Herrick) wanted to kill him. Manny is what, 16? And for 16 years Herrick never actually tried to kill Nigel when he was standing in for Manny. He never tried to invade before Manny was born. But suddenly now that all these people (Gressa, Nigel and Manny) are sort of adults, let’s plot a coup and overthrow and murder both kings so Herrick can rule them all! Which is one of the plot points where other people want to join the two kingdoms together again...so does that mean Herrick wanted this just like everyone else? I don’t know! He never actually goes into detail as to why he seems to hate his sister so much and why he does what he does. He just says horrible things to her and treats her like dirt.
Ah I’m rambling. This story seems like a loose (very loose) retelling of some sort of fairy tale. One reviewer said it was Romeo and Juliet, but since that’s a play I just don’t think of it as a fairy tale. I had vibes of that but also Rapunzel and then I gave up trying. So what happens is two knights fight over who is going to be the king and create large amounts of destruction. A woodling fairy stops them and makes it so the kingdom is divided because they can’t agree. And there’s no trade or contact at all. One king has five hundred children (ok, 8 or something like that) and the other one has one. And of course the queen dies giving birth to that one because...well just because. She was delicate. And then it goes on about how one kingdom was full of Vikings and the other wasn’t. Why exactly does that matter?? And why are there Vikings? Why so specific? So when they split the kingdom were all the Vikings on one side and the other people were on the other? But then there’s the whole plot point of people trying to get the kingdoms back together because people’s families were separated because of the wall...
This story shows us a very good example of why walls are bad, and why when the Berlin Wall came down everyone rejoiced (they do that in this story too, just not pulling down the whole wall - just parts in the story). Also why putting up a wall between the US and Mexico is a bad idea...
I didn’t hate the book. I enjoyed the first 3/4 of it and was looking forward to the end. And then it just kind of stagnated. Everyone just let Herrick do whatever he wanted and no one seemed to question his motives except his sister. And she’s a female and we can’t have her going out into the world because she could get hurt or find her true love which is the prince from the other side of the wall.
I did like the two main characters though. I liked Manny’s steadfastness and how he always went after his goals. I liked Gressa and how she would sneak out against all orders (her brother’s from what I can gather) and go and meet Manny in the secret grove between the two kingdoms that no one can see(because it’s magic). But plot points and ideas are important and I needed more information. Quick wrap ups at the end of a book always annoy me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2018
A new fairytale coming from a combination of ideas from folktales and Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Gressa’s always been sheltered, some might say too much so. When the old King died and his two heirs fought over who was next, Magic split the kingdom, and the son of one king was raised by commoners while the daughter of the other was raised in a Tower.
But, you can guess what happens when Gressa and Manny meet at a weak point in the division wall. Their “destiny”..
This is a wonderfully inventive spin on the fairytale genre, and a very enjoyable read. Both too fast and too slow in places, I wish Gressa’s brother wasn’t so evil and such a user, but there’s always a bad guy. I highly recommend this book
But, you can guess what happens when Gressa and Manny meet at a weak point in the division wall. Their “destiny”..
This is a wonderfully inventive spin on the fairytale genre, and a very enjoyable read. Both too fast and too slow in places, I wish Gressa’s brother wasn’t so evil and such a user, but there’s always a bad guy. I highly recommend this book
September 27, 2018
A splendid new and original fairytale that readers will absolutely adore!! Full review coming soon!!
September 26, 2018
this is truly a fairy tale that needs to be read, the story takes you to a kingdom that is divided by a wall of stone, but when a princess and a boy find a way thought the enchanted cracks in the wall can and will they see things in a different light, and if so, how are they going to change the minds of there parted kingdoms.
a must read if you love lost fairy tales.
by Eleanor M. Eckert
a must read if you love lost fairy tales.
by Eleanor M. Eckert
March 10, 2019
The Tower Princess by Shonna Slayton turns the Shakespearean story of "Romeo and Juliet" into a beautiful fairy tale. Outside of a certain famous Taylor Swift music video, Shakespeare is not the first place most writers turn to when looking to adapt a fairytale, so it was a breath of fresh air for me. Shonna is a huge fan of fairy tales in general and has a wonderful Facebook group for other fairy tale lovers. Her passion is clear in this book through her intricately fleshed out medieval world and original mythology surrounding it. The prologue alone told an expertly crafted fable that developed an intriguing backstory for the troubled kingdom of Morlaix and those who reside within it. Her poetic use of language and world-building drew me into the story before I even met the main characters.
The setting of The Tower Princess reminded me a bit of Neil Gaiman's Stardust. Both stories have protagonists whose lands are blocked by a mysterious forbidden wall. In this story, the wall separates the two halves of the Kingdom of Morlaix so that two rival kings can each rule their half the way that they see fit without the need to compromise. For this reason, they make every effort to separate the prince of South Morlaix and princess of North Morlaix to prevent an alliance that would reunite the land. Of course, the wall is not enough to keep the two star-crossed lovers apart. Something magical within it causes it to open up for Gressa, the princess of North Morlaix, and Manny, the secret prince of South Morlaix, revealing a meadow that they use as a private sanctuary to escape the very different struggles in their lives. Through their secret meetings, they learn the truth about the divide between their separate halves of the kingdom.
Aside from the "Romeo and Juliet" setting, Shonna draws inspiration from other fairy tales to weave together the separate day-to-day lives of Gressa and Manny. Gressa leads a life that is vaguely similar to Rapunzel, but without the magical long hair or being separated from her family. As the youngest child of the king and queen and the only girl, her parents choose to keep her in a tower for most of her life because they can't think of a better way to protect her from the outside world or the possibility of her falling in love, especially with the prince of South Morlaix. She is not quite a prisoner, though. Princess Gressa is allowed to leave on occasion to explore the palace gardens, where she discovers the secret entrance to the wall. Manny's story draws inspiration from the tale of The Prince and the Pauper. In order to prevent his son from falling in love with the princess of North Morlaix, the king has him switched at birth with a peasant baby to act as a decoy. Manny is raised by a kind tailor and his wife, who hide the truth about his birth. Even though he does not know he is the prince, Manny is favored by the king and has great accolades bestowed upon his adoptive father's shop, ensuring that he has a good life. This inspires him to train as a squire so that he can one day become a knight and serve the king who was so kind to him.
The premise of two unlikely lovers being brought together by a magical meadow is similar to Pathways, the last book I read, but The Tower Princess does this in a more engaging way by giving both protagonists lots of obstacles that try to them apart. The very circumstances that bring them together occur only because of the actions their parents take in fear that they might one day meet and fall in love. In addition to that, Gressa's wicked brother, Herrick, is the heir to her parents' throne. He always has her worst interests at heart, forcing her to watch her back for him whenever she leaves the tower in case he learns her secret and tries to use it against her. Manny always has hands full at the tailor shop trying to cover for Hoxham, the tailor's lazy apprentice. As much as he looks forward to his visits with Gressa, he often has to perform the work of two people at the shop in addition to his training to become a squire. He has all this on his plate before he even learns about his true destiny.
The Tower Princess is an expertly crafted work of fiction. It draws many elements from other stories while creating a rich and original world that is full of romance, adventure, and poetry. I was a bit surprised to learn that the Fairy Tale Inheritance series was also written by Shonna Slayton because I was never quite able to make it through the first book, Snow White's Mirror. The Tower Princess appears to be part of a new series called Lost Fairy Tales that should hold more appeal for lovers of old-timey fantasy like me. If you adore fairy tales and stories about star-crossed lovers, you should definitely give The Tower Princess a try.
The setting of The Tower Princess reminded me a bit of Neil Gaiman's Stardust. Both stories have protagonists whose lands are blocked by a mysterious forbidden wall. In this story, the wall separates the two halves of the Kingdom of Morlaix so that two rival kings can each rule their half the way that they see fit without the need to compromise. For this reason, they make every effort to separate the prince of South Morlaix and princess of North Morlaix to prevent an alliance that would reunite the land. Of course, the wall is not enough to keep the two star-crossed lovers apart. Something magical within it causes it to open up for Gressa, the princess of North Morlaix, and Manny, the secret prince of South Morlaix, revealing a meadow that they use as a private sanctuary to escape the very different struggles in their lives. Through their secret meetings, they learn the truth about the divide between their separate halves of the kingdom.
Aside from the "Romeo and Juliet" setting, Shonna draws inspiration from other fairy tales to weave together the separate day-to-day lives of Gressa and Manny. Gressa leads a life that is vaguely similar to Rapunzel, but without the magical long hair or being separated from her family. As the youngest child of the king and queen and the only girl, her parents choose to keep her in a tower for most of her life because they can't think of a better way to protect her from the outside world or the possibility of her falling in love, especially with the prince of South Morlaix. She is not quite a prisoner, though. Princess Gressa is allowed to leave on occasion to explore the palace gardens, where she discovers the secret entrance to the wall. Manny's story draws inspiration from the tale of The Prince and the Pauper. In order to prevent his son from falling in love with the princess of North Morlaix, the king has him switched at birth with a peasant baby to act as a decoy. Manny is raised by a kind tailor and his wife, who hide the truth about his birth. Even though he does not know he is the prince, Manny is favored by the king and has great accolades bestowed upon his adoptive father's shop, ensuring that he has a good life. This inspires him to train as a squire so that he can one day become a knight and serve the king who was so kind to him.
The premise of two unlikely lovers being brought together by a magical meadow is similar to Pathways, the last book I read, but The Tower Princess does this in a more engaging way by giving both protagonists lots of obstacles that try to them apart. The very circumstances that bring them together occur only because of the actions their parents take in fear that they might one day meet and fall in love. In addition to that, Gressa's wicked brother, Herrick, is the heir to her parents' throne. He always has her worst interests at heart, forcing her to watch her back for him whenever she leaves the tower in case he learns her secret and tries to use it against her. Manny always has hands full at the tailor shop trying to cover for Hoxham, the tailor's lazy apprentice. As much as he looks forward to his visits with Gressa, he often has to perform the work of two people at the shop in addition to his training to become a squire. He has all this on his plate before he even learns about his true destiny.
The Tower Princess is an expertly crafted work of fiction. It draws many elements from other stories while creating a rich and original world that is full of romance, adventure, and poetry. I was a bit surprised to learn that the Fairy Tale Inheritance series was also written by Shonna Slayton because I was never quite able to make it through the first book, Snow White's Mirror. The Tower Princess appears to be part of a new series called Lost Fairy Tales that should hold more appeal for lovers of old-timey fantasy like me. If you adore fairy tales and stories about star-crossed lovers, you should definitely give The Tower Princess a try.
February 26, 2018
3.5 Stars!
The Tower Princess was an absolutely original fairy tale adventure, and I had a lot of fun reading it! That being said, I did have a few little issues which brought the rating down, but this was just my opinion and may not be the case for other people. Alright, let's get to the review by breaking down each section below!
Characters: The core characters Gressa and Manny were delightful. The secondary characters, except for Old Anne, did fade a lot into the back ground. Even the villain of the piece felt too one-dimensional, and that is why I couldn't get fully on board with the overall drama of the novel. I knew nothing bad was going to happen, because the main two characters were the most fleshed out and everyone else was window dressing. You might say 'Why does this matter in a fairy tale? Isn't that the point?' and I say - many original fairy tales take dark and horrific turns, so don't say that stakes never count. Further, if you want to peg an entire story on just a character (or a few main characters) it has to be that you fall so in love with reading them that you don't care if the book mainly involves them reading a shopping list. That may be the case for some readers with this book, but not for me.
Plot: *shrug* I really loved the premise, a lot! All the praise for the author there, but at times, the execution felt rushed and little too convenient. Stuff fell into place too easily or you just thought 'Wut?' at everything that was happening. The drama in the unknown elements was never realized because as a reader you were told before you could even begin to speculate. As a fast-paced, fun, fluffy read, The Tower Princess is wonderful, but I suppose I was looking for a little more.
Romance: Insta-love. I know there was a reason for this (won't say because spoilers), but even then, that angle of the romance wasn't explored enough. Once again, at times it felt too convenient and too automatic on behalf of the characters.
Setting: Have this say, this was a real strength of the book! I loved the history behind the story and how everything had become the way it had. I felt immersed in the world of Moraix and feel that the author has a lot to play with and expand if she decides to stay in this world. I would certainly be interested in reading on!
Overall, would I recommend this book? Well, if you want a light, fluffy, quick read with a straight forward romance, original fairy tale story and overall fun characters, then absolutely yes! The Tower Princess is for you! If you want a more elaborate fantasy-style story/series (in the vein of S. J. Maas), then maybe keep on browsing the shelves.
*Thank you to the author, Shonna Slayton, for providing me with an eARC. I received this eARC in exchange for an honest review*
The Tower Princess was an absolutely original fairy tale adventure, and I had a lot of fun reading it! That being said, I did have a few little issues which brought the rating down, but this was just my opinion and may not be the case for other people. Alright, let's get to the review by breaking down each section below!
Characters: The core characters Gressa and Manny were delightful. The secondary characters, except for Old Anne, did fade a lot into the back ground. Even the villain of the piece felt too one-dimensional, and that is why I couldn't get fully on board with the overall drama of the novel. I knew nothing bad was going to happen, because the main two characters were the most fleshed out and everyone else was window dressing. You might say 'Why does this matter in a fairy tale? Isn't that the point?' and I say - many original fairy tales take dark and horrific turns, so don't say that stakes never count. Further, if you want to peg an entire story on just a character (or a few main characters) it has to be that you fall so in love with reading them that you don't care if the book mainly involves them reading a shopping list. That may be the case for some readers with this book, but not for me.
Plot: *shrug* I really loved the premise, a lot! All the praise for the author there, but at times, the execution felt rushed and little too convenient. Stuff fell into place too easily or you just thought 'Wut?' at everything that was happening. The drama in the unknown elements was never realized because as a reader you were told before you could even begin to speculate. As a fast-paced, fun, fluffy read, The Tower Princess is wonderful, but I suppose I was looking for a little more.
Romance: Insta-love. I know there was a reason for this (won't say because spoilers), but even then, that angle of the romance wasn't explored enough. Once again, at times it felt too convenient and too automatic on behalf of the characters.
Setting: Have this say, this was a real strength of the book! I loved the history behind the story and how everything had become the way it had. I felt immersed in the world of Moraix and feel that the author has a lot to play with and expand if she decides to stay in this world. I would certainly be interested in reading on!
Overall, would I recommend this book? Well, if you want a light, fluffy, quick read with a straight forward romance, original fairy tale story and overall fun characters, then absolutely yes! The Tower Princess is for you! If you want a more elaborate fantasy-style story/series (in the vein of S. J. Maas), then maybe keep on browsing the shelves.
*Thank you to the author, Shonna Slayton, for providing me with an eARC. I received this eARC in exchange for an honest review*
January 26, 2018
"The Tower Princess" is a great new fairy tale (not really based on anything pre-existing- but something different!) about North and South Morlaix. Once a single kingdom, when the king died, his successors could not agree on how it should be run, and a magical creature split it into two to be ruled by each king. In North Morlaix, they value strength and battle-saavy; the king had many sons and a youngest daughter. In South Morlaix, they value knowledge, and the king had only one heir, a boy.
When the daughter and son reached out to each other through the wall as babes, for fear of destined love, the kings on either side took action- in North Morlaix, locking the daughter in a tower, and in South Morlaix, sending him to be raised by common folk and having another baby boy take his place. Everything is soon to change when the young princess, Gressa, and the commoner, Manny, find a way through the wall into a magical realm.
Full of magical occurrences, Romeo-and-Juliet love, and tournaments, this is a fairy tale that is sure to delight fans of fairy tales and historical fiction. I absolutely loved the two main characters, Manny and Gressa, who are absolutely charming and sweet. Old Anne was another great character, and I loved the role she plays in the overall story. The book is very well-written and a delight for fans of Slayton's other fiction. Although it is a little predictable, it didn't bother me in the least because the story is simply delightful!
Please note that I was a beta reader for this book. All opinions are my own.
When the daughter and son reached out to each other through the wall as babes, for fear of destined love, the kings on either side took action- in North Morlaix, locking the daughter in a tower, and in South Morlaix, sending him to be raised by common folk and having another baby boy take his place. Everything is soon to change when the young princess, Gressa, and the commoner, Manny, find a way through the wall into a magical realm.
Full of magical occurrences, Romeo-and-Juliet love, and tournaments, this is a fairy tale that is sure to delight fans of fairy tales and historical fiction. I absolutely loved the two main characters, Manny and Gressa, who are absolutely charming and sweet. Old Anne was another great character, and I loved the role she plays in the overall story. The book is very well-written and a delight for fans of Slayton's other fiction. Although it is a little predictable, it didn't bother me in the least because the story is simply delightful!
Please note that I was a beta reader for this book. All opinions are my own.
February 26, 2018
The Tower Princess by Shonna Slayton is a tale of a kingdom split in half by two warring rivals. A wall is built and a treaty of peace is made; while these two rivals rule, there will be no war. A prince is born on one side and a princess on the other. Both kings are afraid of the two heirs falling in love when they are older, so the two children are hidden away. Without knowing about each other, the heirs discover the hidden space in the wall where they meet for the first time and become friends. Little do they know of the underlying intrigue and plot to rid the kingdoms of both of the heirs. The Tower Princess is a wonderfully told fairy tale that is the beginning of a collection by Shonna Slayton. Strong main characters brought the story to life and an imaginative magical place and Rowan king made it special, 5 stars!
February 21, 2018
I really enjoyed this book! I couldn't put it down. It's not a re-telling, but more of a new fairy tale here. There are hints of the typical fairy tales we do see - knight in shining armor, damsel in distress, etc. etc. But it's done better here. The tower princess is a damsel in distress, but she does show she can handle herself quite well. The knight in shining armor is a tailor boy who wants to become a knight, but that pathway didn't fully work out. We have great supporting characters that are all connected in someway, which was pretty interesting to see. The villains of the story do show how they're villains, but you don't really get an ending for them though. That's why I docked it a star. What happened after they got caught? It felt rushed for them. I wanted justice! It is a predictable story, so if you want a happily ever after book, then read this book!
*I received this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
*I received this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
March 1, 2018
I'm not sure really how I feel about this book. I liked it but I didn't. I found the pace of the book to be very slow. I'm also not sure I like the characters all that much. So I am going to go with the opinion that the book was okay not great. I understand where the author was trying to go with the story but I think it just falls flat in this book.
*Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this for my honest opinion*
*Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this for my honest opinion*
April 3, 2019
This was a pretty good book! I read a sample of it and then purchased it. I liked the main characters, Gressa and Manny, and that this was an original fairy tale. It progressed nicely, and I am happy to have read it. I have also read Shonna Slayton's Cinderella's Dress and Cinderella's Shoes duology, as I discovered when buying this book, so she has a good track record with me. If you enjoy fairy tales, I would recommend The Tower Princess. 3.7 stars.
February 27, 2018
This is the first book that I have read by this author and wow I was captivated by this book. It is an amazing new fairytale that is creative and witty as it was not based on anything pre-existing and it is completely unique. I look forward to see what the second book in the Lost Fairy Tales series will be like. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
March 3, 2018
A kingdom split in two, a princess in a tower, a hidden prince and so much more. This is a fairytale unlike any other. I really enjoyed this one. Gressa and Manny are wonderful characters and the rest of the people were just as interesting. I wish there had been a clearer ending for the villains, but maybe that will happen in another book??
March 6, 2018
A unique fairy tale story. When I first read the title, The Tower Princess, I immediately thought it would be a retelling of Rapunzel. It's not. It actually has it's own original plot. Manny and Gressa are great characters that are drawn to one another to help their two separate kingdoms that were once one kingdom become a reunited kingdom again. They also get a little help along the way.
March 11, 2018
An original fairy tale.
The blurb sounded really promising and: it delivered!
A kingdom divided in two halves. One the one side of the Dividing Wall Manny, son of a tailor, kind and capable, with his head full of dreams. On the other side Gressa, daughter of King Jorvik, compassionate and courageous, but confined to her tower.
An original fairy tale. With a bit of magic. I really liked it.
The blurb sounded really promising and: it delivered!
A kingdom divided in two halves. One the one side of the Dividing Wall Manny, son of a tailor, kind and capable, with his head full of dreams. On the other side Gressa, daughter of King Jorvik, compassionate and courageous, but confined to her tower.
An original fairy tale. With a bit of magic. I really liked it.
June 11, 2018
A fun escape to happy ever after.
I enjoyed reading this story. It had all the ingredients for a fairytale and enough mystery to hold my intention.
I enjoyed reading this story. It had all the ingredients for a fairytale and enough mystery to hold my intention.
September 15, 2018
A fun story to read. Loved it from beginning to end.
September 10, 2019
I loved reading this wonderful book! I loved the characters and the plot! I had a hard time putting this wonderful book down! I am looking forward to reading the next book in this wonderful series!
June 27, 2020
A new fairy tale, weaving in bits of classic fairy tales. A good read aloud for younger kids as well as interesting for adults.
October 19, 2022
Very cute, clean fairy tale. Not a re-telling, but an original story full of magic, evil and love! I'll be checking out more by this author.
March 11, 2018
Really enjoyed reading this. A fun retelling of Rapunzel with some laugh out loud moments. If you love fairy tales and want a light, breezy read, this is definitely for you.
May 16, 2018
North Morlaix and South Morlaix were once a single kingdom, but the rivalry between two knights broke it into two halves. Some of their citizens secretly wished that the two halves could be reunited under one ruler.
The wall that separated the two kingdoms also divided the original castle. The people of the North could hear the infant Southern Prince cry; the people of the South could hear the newborn Northern Princess’ cries. Both kings took measures to ensure their children would never meet, for legend decreed that if they fell in love and married, that would mean the end of their separate thrones. However, no one knew that the Woodling King had made a magical opening in the wall that only the Prince of South Morlaix and the Princess of North Morlaix would be able to navigate.
This is the premise of The Tower Princess, a “lost” fairy tale. Shonna Slayton has written retellings of Cinderella and of The Sleeping Beauty, but this is her first original fairy tale, full of intrigue and magic and romance and warring knights.
The wall that separated the two kingdoms also divided the original castle. The people of the North could hear the infant Southern Prince cry; the people of the South could hear the newborn Northern Princess’ cries. Both kings took measures to ensure their children would never meet, for legend decreed that if they fell in love and married, that would mean the end of their separate thrones. However, no one knew that the Woodling King had made a magical opening in the wall that only the Prince of South Morlaix and the Princess of North Morlaix would be able to navigate.
This is the premise of The Tower Princess, a “lost” fairy tale. Shonna Slayton has written retellings of Cinderella and of The Sleeping Beauty, but this is her first original fairy tale, full of intrigue and magic and romance and warring knights.
September 8, 2024
This was a sweet and light hearted fairytale. I liked how a divided kingdom became whole. There was Gressa, a princess, and Manny, a tailor. I think what keeps it from being a five star is how rushed the story felt at the end. And I felt like the characters lacked a bit of depth that kept me from completely connecting with them. But as an original fairytale, it was a solid four star.
November 11, 2022
So fun! A great new and unique fairytale. I hope there will be a sequel!
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