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Retold #3
Locked
It’s hard to be a green witch when you’re surrounded by all this stone.
I’ve lived practically my entire life in a high rise tower, a side-effect of my parents ticking off an evil witch before I was born. But don’t tell Mother I called her evil, she scares me more than a little bit. With her as my guardian, good company is scarce. All I’ve got are my plants, my talking cat and my blog. And Mother isn’t exactly fond of any of them.
Especially since the latter introduced me to three ridiculously gorgeous half-elves, and I’ve fallen for all three of them. Kinden, the mage security specialist who never fails to make me smile. Rifyr, the rogue-turned-locksmith whose physical beauty almost hurts. And Sorrel, the hunter who uses his skills to track down works of art, and whose heart is so pure he rekindles my faith in the world.
Things start getting hairy when we decide to meet in person. As it turns out, Mother hates it when I sneak hot guys into the tower, go figure.
So now we have to figure out a way to get both me and my cat out of the tower without blowing everything up. Wait… did I forget to mention the threat of arcane annihilation if I were to leave the tower? Right… I always forget that part…
=========================================================================
This full-length, steamy Reverse Harem Romance is a modern fairytale, full of magic, whimsy, talking animals, and an evil villain who tries to ruin everything. Follow Rapunzel’s journey from captive to independent witch in this stand-alone novel by Penelope Wren.
All the books in the Retold Series can be read in any order!
I’ve lived practically my entire life in a high rise tower, a side-effect of my parents ticking off an evil witch before I was born. But don’t tell Mother I called her evil, she scares me more than a little bit. With her as my guardian, good company is scarce. All I’ve got are my plants, my talking cat and my blog. And Mother isn’t exactly fond of any of them.
Especially since the latter introduced me to three ridiculously gorgeous half-elves, and I’ve fallen for all three of them. Kinden, the mage security specialist who never fails to make me smile. Rifyr, the rogue-turned-locksmith whose physical beauty almost hurts. And Sorrel, the hunter who uses his skills to track down works of art, and whose heart is so pure he rekindles my faith in the world.
Things start getting hairy when we decide to meet in person. As it turns out, Mother hates it when I sneak hot guys into the tower, go figure.
So now we have to figure out a way to get both me and my cat out of the tower without blowing everything up. Wait… did I forget to mention the threat of arcane annihilation if I were to leave the tower? Right… I always forget that part…
=========================================================================
This full-length, steamy Reverse Harem Romance is a modern fairytale, full of magic, whimsy, talking animals, and an evil villain who tries to ruin everything. Follow Rapunzel’s journey from captive to independent witch in this stand-alone novel by Penelope Wren.
All the books in the Retold Series can be read in any order!
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 2, 2018
81 people are currently reading
101 people want to read
About the author
Penelope Wren
6 books33 followersPenelope Wren writes steamy, spellbinding romance full of sharp heroines, dangerously attractive men, and emotionally devastating storylines that make you scream into your pillow (in the best way). She has a tendency to name her characters like they’re auditioning for a goth indie band and delights in crafting tension-soaked slow burns with teeth.
She lives in the U.S. with her partner, their three children, and three deeply weird cats: Coco, Rat, and Fig. When she’s not writing, she’s pretending she’s a finalist on Great British Bake Off, thrifting for haunted dolls and offbeat decor, or being her most authentic, unfiltered self.
Her books range from romantasy epics to steamy paranormal 'why choose' romances, always with heart, heat, and high emotional stakes. You can find her across social media @PenelopeWrenAuthor or subscribe to her newsletter for sneak peeks, exclusive content, and unhinged baking updates.
She lives in the U.S. with her partner, their three children, and three deeply weird cats: Coco, Rat, and Fig. When she’s not writing, she’s pretending she’s a finalist on Great British Bake Off, thrifting for haunted dolls and offbeat decor, or being her most authentic, unfiltered self.
Her books range from romantasy epics to steamy paranormal 'why choose' romances, always with heart, heat, and high emotional stakes. You can find her across social media @PenelopeWrenAuthor or subscribe to her newsletter for sneak peeks, exclusive content, and unhinged baking updates.
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Blurb:
It’s hard to be a green witch when you’re surrounded by all this stone.
I’ve lived practically my entire life in a high rise tower, a side-effect of my parents ticking off an evil witch before I was born. But don’t tell Mother I called her evil, she scares me more than a little bit. With her as my guardian, good company is scarce. All I’ve got are my plants, my talking cat and my blog. And Mother isn’t exactly fond of any of them.
Especially since the latter introduced me to three ridiculously gorgeous half-elves, and I’ve fallen for all three of them. Kinden, the mage security specialist who never fails to make me smile. Rifyr, the rogue-turned-locksmith whose physical beauty almost hurts. And Sorrel, the hunter who uses his skills to track down works of art, and whose heart is so pure he rekindles my faith in the world.
Things start getting hairy when we decide to meet in person. As it turns out, Mother hates it when I sneak hot guys into the tower, go figure.
So now we have to figure out a way to get both me and my cat out of the tower without blowing everything up. Wait… did I forget to mention the threat of arcane annihilation if I were to leave the tower? Right… I always forget that part…
Blurb:
It’s hard to be a green witch when you’re surrounded by all this stone.
I’ve lived practically my entire life in a high rise tower, a side-effect of my parents ticking off an evil witch before I was born. But don’t tell Mother I called her evil, she scares me more than a little bit. With her as my guardian, good company is scarce. All I’ve got are my plants, my talking cat and my blog. And Mother isn’t exactly fond of any of them.
Especially since the latter introduced me to three ridiculously gorgeous half-elves, and I’ve fallen for all three of them. Kinden, the mage security specialist who never fails to make me smile. Rifyr, the rogue-turned-locksmith whose physical beauty almost hurts. And Sorrel, the hunter who uses his skills to track down works of art, and whose heart is so pure he rekindles my faith in the world.
Things start getting hairy when we decide to meet in person. As it turns out, Mother hates it when I sneak hot guys into the tower, go figure.
So now we have to figure out a way to get both me and my cat out of the tower without blowing everything up. Wait… did I forget to mention the threat of arcane annihilation if I were to leave the tower? Right… I always forget that part…
July 5, 2018
Review copy kindly provided by the author in exchange for a honest review
Wren’s debut hit all the right notes with me, so there was a bit of expectation with her second novel Locked. A modern retelling of the fairytale Rapunzel with her own reverse harem twist. This immediately peaked my interested given that I’m a sucker for these retellings and reverse harem has become my staple go to genre these days.
Zelle as she likes to be known is a harmless green witch who lives in a locked tower with all she could hope given her circumstances. Yet she wants more, after discovering the joys of blogging and three particular guys who she has become super close to,
‘Mother’ however has other ideas and would love to keep her simplified existence as it is . Hence the conundrum and Locked is born.
Locked goes right to the crux of the problem. Throwing readers right into the deep end, showing how things are.
The relationships are established and as a result the early stages were told to us. it worked as we did to get to see things with her given the scenario that we presented with . I like the way we were part of the story whilst making it plausible .
It was fun and creative which worked given the heroine and her ways.
Zelle comes across as someone who needs a push. She knows what she wants and her thoughts and actions reflect this . For someone who has been locked up for so long, she does know a lot and doesn’t seem too naïve for the situation . Yet she still stuck because creative tactics that Wren uses to make this story work .
Locked is interesting retelling that works well because it shows restraint , Wren did keep the key elements which makes this tale instantly recognisable but she made them her own and obvious added her own twist with the reverse harem. I enjoyed this tale but I didn’t love it as much as Unsuitable. But that been said, this is an excellent book and everyone has different experiences.
For more of my reviews, visit Thoughts by Tash.And drop by the blog's Facebook page
Wren’s debut hit all the right notes with me, so there was a bit of expectation with her second novel Locked. A modern retelling of the fairytale Rapunzel with her own reverse harem twist. This immediately peaked my interested given that I’m a sucker for these retellings and reverse harem has become my staple go to genre these days.
Zelle as she likes to be known is a harmless green witch who lives in a locked tower with all she could hope given her circumstances. Yet she wants more, after discovering the joys of blogging and three particular guys who she has become super close to,
‘Mother’ however has other ideas and would love to keep her simplified existence as it is . Hence the conundrum and Locked is born.
Locked goes right to the crux of the problem. Throwing readers right into the deep end, showing how things are.
The relationships are established and as a result the early stages were told to us. it worked as we did to get to see things with her given the scenario that we presented with . I like the way we were part of the story whilst making it plausible .
It was fun and creative which worked given the heroine and her ways.
Zelle comes across as someone who needs a push. She knows what she wants and her thoughts and actions reflect this . For someone who has been locked up for so long, she does know a lot and doesn’t seem too naïve for the situation . Yet she still stuck because creative tactics that Wren uses to make this story work .
Locked is interesting retelling that works well because it shows restraint , Wren did keep the key elements which makes this tale instantly recognisable but she made them her own and obvious added her own twist with the reverse harem. I enjoyed this tale but I didn’t love it as much as Unsuitable. But that been said, this is an excellent book and everyone has different experiences.
For more of my reviews, visit Thoughts by Tash.And drop by the blog's Facebook page
July 2, 2018
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
If you are looking for a wonderful retake on a classic fairy tale then look no further. This is an adaptation of Rapunzel only just the bare details are similar. Other then that the two are so far apart it kind-of blew my mind to be honest. Who would have thought of a completely sealed tower with DNA to work the door. "Mother" is a real piece of work if I do say so myself. The technology twist was just awesome. Overall this is a very well written fairy tale RH retelling that I highly recommend to fans of the genre. I really enjoyed it so I give it 4/5 stars.
If you are looking for a wonderful retake on a classic fairy tale then look no further. This is an adaptation of Rapunzel only just the bare details are similar. Other then that the two are so far apart it kind-of blew my mind to be honest. Who would have thought of a completely sealed tower with DNA to work the door. "Mother" is a real piece of work if I do say so myself. The technology twist was just awesome. Overall this is a very well written fairy tale RH retelling that I highly recommend to fans of the genre. I really enjoyed it so I give it 4/5 stars.
July 1, 2018
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book and, voluntarily decided to post my honest review.
The book is fast paced, unique and even though, Penelope have changed a few things (hello, Reverse Harem spin) she still manages to stay somewhat true to the fairy tale. So, in my opinion Penelope almost nailed this retelling of Rapunzel.
In this version Rapunzel aka Zelle lives in her tower with her talking cat, Basil, and unlimited Wi-Fi access. Well, unlimited as long as she obeys “Mother”. Mother bares more similarity to the wicked witch than to any maternal parent, but I assume that’s what she wants Zelle to call her. Anyway, Zelle was given to Mother years ago, when she discovered Zelle’s dad stealing green stuff on her property. Or at least that’s what she’s told Zelle her entire life.
The 22-year-old Zelle lives a very simplified existence where Mother truly knows best. Disobeying her leads to lost Wi-Fi signals and no access to her sun garden. The denied access to the garden is particularly cruel, as Rapunzel is a green witch that thrives on sunshine and plants. Obeying her doesn’t really makes much difference, because Mother is the kind of person that looks for things she can punish Zelle for. When she doesn’t find too many of those, she threatens Basil and actually, goes as far as trying to kill him.
To pass time Zelle starts a blog and through that, she gets to know three elves:
- Kinden
- Rifyr
- Sorrel
When we’re introduced to them, they’re kind of already Zelle’s online boyfriends but they still haven’t met. The tower Zelle lives in has some magical borders/rules. If there’s more than two humanoids in the building, the power explodes. However, the same goes if there’s none in the building. So, whilst Zelle cannot leave, the elves can visit as long as it’s only one at a time. In this day and age, you’d think they could just do some video calls, but even that proves to be tricky, as Mother somehow knows when Zelle access the camera on her tablet. So, first she has to find some protective magic, that shields the use of the camera app. Zelle succeeds at that and manages to have video calls with each of her men.
Of course, these three elves can’t and won’t just leave Zelle in her prison, so they do try to come up with a plan of how to free her. However, as Mother knows best she constantly seems to be one step ahead of them. But as this is a fairy tale inspired Reverse Harem, a Happy Ending is guaranteed.
The only reason I’m not giving this book five stars is because there’s quite a few noticeable errors. Sentences like “he said so he said” – where one of the “he said” should have been removed. It’s not major mistakes, it’s just some stuff that haven’t been picked up by the author, editor and BETA readers. However, for me it stuck out. Towards the end Mother again takes Zelle’s sun garden and Wi-Fi privileges away. This time it’s no problem because Zelle have practised her magic and thus, she can still access both things. However, Mother doesn’t know Zelle has done this and two weeks later, she sends her an email. That obviously doesn’t add up. You wouldn’t email someone you assume isn’t online. It is a possibility that Mother knows Zelle is online (even though she hasn’t posted on her blog, which Mother checks every evening), but whether it’s that or a mistake, it’s not explained. Again, I’m aware it’s not mistakes that really ruin anything, but it did make me a tad confused.
On a positive note this book reads like something Penelope had fun writing and seriously, it’s one of the best feelings reading something where you can tell the writing part was enjoyed. I was a bit sceptic when I received my ARC copy because the only other book I’ve read by Penelope (Unsuitable) didn’t wow me, however, that’s definitely rectified in this book. Even though, it is a standalone it had me wanting more.
The book is fast paced, unique and even though, Penelope have changed a few things (hello, Reverse Harem spin) she still manages to stay somewhat true to the fairy tale. So, in my opinion Penelope almost nailed this retelling of Rapunzel.
In this version Rapunzel aka Zelle lives in her tower with her talking cat, Basil, and unlimited Wi-Fi access. Well, unlimited as long as she obeys “Mother”. Mother bares more similarity to the wicked witch than to any maternal parent, but I assume that’s what she wants Zelle to call her. Anyway, Zelle was given to Mother years ago, when she discovered Zelle’s dad stealing green stuff on her property. Or at least that’s what she’s told Zelle her entire life.
The 22-year-old Zelle lives a very simplified existence where Mother truly knows best. Disobeying her leads to lost Wi-Fi signals and no access to her sun garden. The denied access to the garden is particularly cruel, as Rapunzel is a green witch that thrives on sunshine and plants. Obeying her doesn’t really makes much difference, because Mother is the kind of person that looks for things she can punish Zelle for. When she doesn’t find too many of those, she threatens Basil and actually, goes as far as trying to kill him.
To pass time Zelle starts a blog and through that, she gets to know three elves:
- Kinden
- Rifyr
- Sorrel
When we’re introduced to them, they’re kind of already Zelle’s online boyfriends but they still haven’t met. The tower Zelle lives in has some magical borders/rules. If there’s more than two humanoids in the building, the power explodes. However, the same goes if there’s none in the building. So, whilst Zelle cannot leave, the elves can visit as long as it’s only one at a time. In this day and age, you’d think they could just do some video calls, but even that proves to be tricky, as Mother somehow knows when Zelle access the camera on her tablet. So, first she has to find some protective magic, that shields the use of the camera app. Zelle succeeds at that and manages to have video calls with each of her men.
Of course, these three elves can’t and won’t just leave Zelle in her prison, so they do try to come up with a plan of how to free her. However, as Mother knows best she constantly seems to be one step ahead of them. But as this is a fairy tale inspired Reverse Harem, a Happy Ending is guaranteed.
The only reason I’m not giving this book five stars is because there’s quite a few noticeable errors. Sentences like “he said so he said” – where one of the “he said” should have been removed. It’s not major mistakes, it’s just some stuff that haven’t been picked up by the author, editor and BETA readers. However, for me it stuck out. Towards the end Mother again takes Zelle’s sun garden and Wi-Fi privileges away. This time it’s no problem because Zelle have practised her magic and thus, she can still access both things. However, Mother doesn’t know Zelle has done this and two weeks later, she sends her an email. That obviously doesn’t add up. You wouldn’t email someone you assume isn’t online. It is a possibility that Mother knows Zelle is online (even though she hasn’t posted on her blog, which Mother checks every evening), but whether it’s that or a mistake, it’s not explained. Again, I’m aware it’s not mistakes that really ruin anything, but it did make me a tad confused.
On a positive note this book reads like something Penelope had fun writing and seriously, it’s one of the best feelings reading something where you can tell the writing part was enjoyed. I was a bit sceptic when I received my ARC copy because the only other book I’ve read by Penelope (Unsuitable) didn’t wow me, however, that’s definitely rectified in this book. Even though, it is a standalone it had me wanting more.
June 30, 2018
This retelling of the Rapunzel classic was fast paced and unique. It has many of the same facets of the well known tell but set in a world that was full of fantasy beings including witches, warlocks, Fae, and elves.
Rapunzel is locked in her tower as a debt owed to her by Rapunzel’s parents. “Mother” is cruel and manipulative and the only person Rapunzel had communication with since she was 5 years old x other than her talking cat that is. Until Rapunzel started a blog (I know, I got a laugh out of that too) and met 3 men online. They started a relationship of sorts until they wanted, more than anything, to get Rapunzel out of her tower.
There is action, one on one sexy times with her three men and a final showdown with Mother.
The writing was wonderful and I couldn’t put the story down until I finished. I was slightly disappointed with the end because the showdown ended rather abruptly and we don’t know the outcome of Mother’s defeat, and I expected it to be good.
All in all, I did enjoy it and would recommend this fairytale retelling to any that like them.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Rapunzel is locked in her tower as a debt owed to her by Rapunzel’s parents. “Mother” is cruel and manipulative and the only person Rapunzel had communication with since she was 5 years old x other than her talking cat that is. Until Rapunzel started a blog (I know, I got a laugh out of that too) and met 3 men online. They started a relationship of sorts until they wanted, more than anything, to get Rapunzel out of her tower.
There is action, one on one sexy times with her three men and a final showdown with Mother.
The writing was wonderful and I couldn’t put the story down until I finished. I was slightly disappointed with the end because the showdown ended rather abruptly and we don’t know the outcome of Mother’s defeat, and I expected it to be good.
All in all, I did enjoy it and would recommend this fairytale retelling to any that like them.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 28, 2018
Locked is a relatively light read and is perfect for a rainy afternoon. As a retelling of Rapunzel, a story that most people know, it makes the wise decision to be character driven. This works to its advantage with likeable protagonists and an utterly hateable villain.
Pros:
A truly wonderful written villain. I cannot overstate how much I loathed ‘Mother’
Fun worldbuilding, it’s got a nice high modern day high fantasy flavor and is peppered with little bits of wonder
Likeable characters, it’s easy to root for Zelle to break free of ‘Mother’s’ control
Seeing Zelle’s work around Mother and her ingenuity was very enjoyable
While it would have been nice for Zelle and the love interests to have had more scenes together what we did get had some very nice dynamics and good chemistry
There are some really fun metaphors and general wordplay. Overall, the novel was very well written
The blog entry format to start the chapters is a nice way to look into Zelle’s life
Cons:
During point of view shifts it can be hard to tell which character is speaking due to a lack of distinct voices
In the beginning, it’s a bit exposition dumpy though that peters out as the story continues
A few odd word choices that are distracting but it’s relatively uncommon
The references to dungeons and dragons are also distracting as they don’t really fit with the rest of the world
This is more of nitpick but the online chats Zelle has with her love interests are done in standard speech formatting with quotation marks. This lead to it reading as if they were actually talking instead of typing. This would be fine if not for the fact that the main plot point early in the novel is Zelle getting a way to video chat with the love interests.
Also somewhat of a quibble but the twist had little to know foreshadowing. There were red herrings but those work when the reader has a chance of guessing the actual answer
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Pros:
A truly wonderful written villain. I cannot overstate how much I loathed ‘Mother’
Fun worldbuilding, it’s got a nice high modern day high fantasy flavor and is peppered with little bits of wonder
Likeable characters, it’s easy to root for Zelle to break free of ‘Mother’s’ control
Seeing Zelle’s work around Mother and her ingenuity was very enjoyable
While it would have been nice for Zelle and the love interests to have had more scenes together what we did get had some very nice dynamics and good chemistry
There are some really fun metaphors and general wordplay. Overall, the novel was very well written
The blog entry format to start the chapters is a nice way to look into Zelle’s life
Cons:
During point of view shifts it can be hard to tell which character is speaking due to a lack of distinct voices
In the beginning, it’s a bit exposition dumpy though that peters out as the story continues
A few odd word choices that are distracting but it’s relatively uncommon
The references to dungeons and dragons are also distracting as they don’t really fit with the rest of the world
This is more of nitpick but the online chats Zelle has with her love interests are done in standard speech formatting with quotation marks. This lead to it reading as if they were actually talking instead of typing. This would be fine if not for the fact that the main plot point early in the novel is Zelle getting a way to video chat with the love interests.
Also somewhat of a quibble but the twist had little to know foreshadowing. There were red herrings but those work when the reader has a chance of guessing the actual answer
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 2, 2018
Zelle is such a heart warming character. She is kind, caring, and selfless. At first one might think she has a meek personality, but when it comes to the people and things she cares about she is brave and her passion is unyielding. The way she grows into her own sense of self and independence throughout the book just fills your heart with fuzzy feelings.
The modern world created around Zelle was done beautifully. I was worried how the transition of pulling Rapunzel into a modern world was going to translate. The melding of the tower and the restriction to modern technology blended smoothly. Zelle's blog was also an entertaining touch and created an effortless way for her to meet her harem without taking away from the key tower plot. Adding the green witch aspect was also a refreshing magical touch. Mother was crafted as a really good villain and every scene she was in I wanted to jump through the screen and throttle her neck. Basil the talking cat reminded me a lot of Salem from Sabrina the Teenage Witch and I loved him even more for it.
This was the first RH story I've read where the FMC is already in "relationships" with her men. It was nice to come upon that, especially when mixed with the online dating aspect it allowed them to develop a more emotional relationship long before they could develop a physical one. The build up to the physical scenes made them feel more intense and sensual.
I wish there would have been more distinct voices between Kinden, Rifyr, and Sorrel. For me personally their voices kind of blended into one at times, so I often had to backtrack to remind myself who Zelle was speaking to. I think this could have been helped with more interaction between Zelle and all of her men at once allowing them to develop apart from one another better. Online conversations can tend to blend into one voice.
The big climactic scene at the end could have been bigger in my opinion. It was over too quick and left me with even more questions than I had before that scene. Since the ending came quick, I felt like the decline at the very end came careening to a halt. The ending fell a little flat for me because I was wanting so much more from it.
Overall the novel was well written. The wordplay and metaphors were really fun. Zelle's chemistry with her men felt natural and worked really well. Basil was a hoot and a half. It was a great light read and would be perfect for anyone dipping their toes into the reverse harem.
The modern world created around Zelle was done beautifully. I was worried how the transition of pulling Rapunzel into a modern world was going to translate. The melding of the tower and the restriction to modern technology blended smoothly. Zelle's blog was also an entertaining touch and created an effortless way for her to meet her harem without taking away from the key tower plot. Adding the green witch aspect was also a refreshing magical touch. Mother was crafted as a really good villain and every scene she was in I wanted to jump through the screen and throttle her neck. Basil the talking cat reminded me a lot of Salem from Sabrina the Teenage Witch and I loved him even more for it.
This was the first RH story I've read where the FMC is already in "relationships" with her men. It was nice to come upon that, especially when mixed with the online dating aspect it allowed them to develop a more emotional relationship long before they could develop a physical one. The build up to the physical scenes made them feel more intense and sensual.
I wish there would have been more distinct voices between Kinden, Rifyr, and Sorrel. For me personally their voices kind of blended into one at times, so I often had to backtrack to remind myself who Zelle was speaking to. I think this could have been helped with more interaction between Zelle and all of her men at once allowing them to develop apart from one another better. Online conversations can tend to blend into one voice.
The big climactic scene at the end could have been bigger in my opinion. It was over too quick and left me with even more questions than I had before that scene. Since the ending came quick, I felt like the decline at the very end came careening to a halt. The ending fell a little flat for me because I was wanting so much more from it.
Overall the novel was well written. The wordplay and metaphors were really fun. Zelle's chemistry with her men felt natural and worked really well. Basil was a hoot and a half. It was a great light read and would be perfect for anyone dipping their toes into the reverse harem.
July 24, 2018
This was a fun and quick read!
Pros:
1. I loved how this story is inspired in Rapunzel‘s tale and the unique take the author took on the fairytale.
2. one of the best developed villain characters I have ever encountered in a book. ‚Mother‘ really made me dislike her and thus, root even more for Zelle.
3. Zelle is a likable and relatable character who I was able to in vision easily and connect to.
4. The blog entries at the beginning of the chapters were a nice detail that made feel like I could have an even deeper into Zelle’s mind.
Cons:
1. When Zelle was chatting with her love interests it felt like direct speech because the font and size were the same as when they were speaking directly to each other. It might have been better to choose a different font or size to indicate that this was some different form of communication.
2. The different POVs were sometimes difficult to distinguish because it wasn’t always clear whose it is.
Overall I enjoyed this story and I can recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who likes RH and a different take on the classic fairytale of Rapunzel!
*I received this book as an arc in return for an honest review*
Pros:
1. I loved how this story is inspired in Rapunzel‘s tale and the unique take the author took on the fairytale.
2. one of the best developed villain characters I have ever encountered in a book. ‚Mother‘ really made me dislike her and thus, root even more for Zelle.
3. Zelle is a likable and relatable character who I was able to in vision easily and connect to.
4. The blog entries at the beginning of the chapters were a nice detail that made feel like I could have an even deeper into Zelle’s mind.
Cons:
1. When Zelle was chatting with her love interests it felt like direct speech because the font and size were the same as when they were speaking directly to each other. It might have been better to choose a different font or size to indicate that this was some different form of communication.
2. The different POVs were sometimes difficult to distinguish because it wasn’t always clear whose it is.
Overall I enjoyed this story and I can recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who likes RH and a different take on the classic fairytale of Rapunzel!
*I received this book as an arc in return for an honest review*
June 26, 2018
I honestly read this book in hours. I couldn't put it down. The characters were fun, funny, and engaging and I wanted to know what came next (something hard to do with a well-known fairytale). Penelope put an old story in a new, modern day light, and I loved every second of it. The relationships (both romantic and ... Erotic) we're believable, lovable, and I just couldn't get enough. It was sweet, it was steamy, and I highly recommend it.
Penelope also managed to do a whole heck of a lot as far as showing and healing from an abusive relationship in a very short time. It was impressive to see the accurate representation of someone who has been traumatized and abused find their power and being the healing process. The abusive relationship was delicately and believably written, and it added a depth to the story which would have been lacking otherwise.
Honestly, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. It is well worth the time you will spend on it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Penelope also managed to do a whole heck of a lot as far as showing and healing from an abusive relationship in a very short time. It was impressive to see the accurate representation of someone who has been traumatized and abused find their power and being the healing process. The abusive relationship was delicately and believably written, and it added a depth to the story which would have been lacking otherwise.
Honestly, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. It is well worth the time you will spend on it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 1, 2018
Fairy tales are my jam. They always have been, despite those awkward years where we pretend to be too grownup for childish things. I’m old enough now to appreciate fairy tales again and enjoy reading them and innumerable variations of tales. This is one of them.
Okay, so it’s not a tale for children, the original tales weren’t either, though they weren’t as hot as this tale. The sex scenes are steamy, but for me the best part of the book was how character driven it is. Zelle is more than a princess locked in a tower, though she is that, it is the nature of the story after all. Zelle is one smart cookie, a green witch with a beautiful heart, and above all a survivor. ‘Mother’ is an excellent villain and the reverse harem boys are caring and individual characters with diverse personalities.
Locked is a fun romp with heart and I look forward to whatever stories Penelope Wren weaves in the future.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Okay, so it’s not a tale for children, the original tales weren’t either, though they weren’t as hot as this tale. The sex scenes are steamy, but for me the best part of the book was how character driven it is. Zelle is more than a princess locked in a tower, though she is that, it is the nature of the story after all. Zelle is one smart cookie, a green witch with a beautiful heart, and above all a survivor. ‘Mother’ is an excellent villain and the reverse harem boys are caring and individual characters with diverse personalities.
Locked is a fun romp with heart and I look forward to whatever stories Penelope Wren weaves in the future.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 22, 2018
Modern day magical twist on a classic fairytale. Zelle is the FMC and the men are already sort of in her life when it starts, but you still learn about them and can see the foundations of their commitments to each other. Kindon, Rifyr and Sorrel go through many challenges to be there for Zelle. And can we say hot?! There's Basil, her talking cat and companion who helps her keep her sanity, even if he is a little snarky at times. You get to experience how Zelle copes being a modern day magical Rapunzel. Mother in this story makes Mother Gothel look like a darling in the Disney version. Huge plot twist I wasn't expecting. And a crucial detail with a twist from the original Rapunzel from the brothers Grimm story. Overall it keeps you feeling like you can relate with wifi issues, tablets, phones. Definitely love the new spin that Penelope Wren delved into with this story.
July 2, 2018
This story was not what I was expecting. I thought I'd be stuck sloughing through sex scenes strung together to make a book - but there was actually a story here. And a great one. I'm a HUGE fan of the "reverse harem" and where I usually read explicitly-detailed acts, these descriptions were almost tender. But the big surprise was that interest in the men took a backseat to my intent to see how the situation between Zelle and Mother resolved itself. Was it the author's note advising there was one messed up relationship between the two? Maybe. All I know is that it shocked me to realize that I had more invested between the female-female relationship then the romantic interactions. However, the romantic interludes were "off the chart" sexy.
July 2, 2018
The light and airy retelling of a modern day Rapunzel story was wonderful. Rapunzel has been locked away in a downtown high rise apartment that is magically enhanced with a sunroom for her plants and to help her maintain her own magical powers. She falls in love with three suitors via the internet who together they plot her escape. Together they are able to free Rapunzel but also able to rid the world of a nasty, evil woman.
I have to say that at first if was reluctant to read a retell of Rapunzel. It it not take long for me to become enthralled with the new modern telling of this story of old. It was a enjoyable, quick easy read. Highly recommend it a The next book on your list as a must read.
I have to say that at first if was reluctant to read a retell of Rapunzel. It it not take long for me to become enthralled with the new modern telling of this story of old. It was a enjoyable, quick easy read. Highly recommend it a The next book on your list as a must read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2019
Couldn't put it down. Read in a day and a half...
Book was great! It kept my interest with its sort of Harry potter like spells filled throughout the book as well as the attitudes of each character and reading from each of their points of view.
What i will say though is that I was really really taken back/surprised with the sexuality of the book... Didn't see that coming from reading the summary of the book on Amazon. But don't worry though.. It's not like 50 shades of grey with every page filled with sex, it just had some in there..
Overall it was a more mature Harry potter like story except about a princess. So if you like rapunzel, witches and spells, and sex, to pull like this book.
Book was great! It kept my interest with its sort of Harry potter like spells filled throughout the book as well as the attitudes of each character and reading from each of their points of view.
What i will say though is that I was really really taken back/surprised with the sexuality of the book... Didn't see that coming from reading the summary of the book on Amazon. But don't worry though.. It's not like 50 shades of grey with every page filled with sex, it just had some in there..
Overall it was a more mature Harry potter like story except about a princess. So if you like rapunzel, witches and spells, and sex, to pull like this book.
July 8, 2018
Penelope Wren has managed to weave a fantastic retelling of the classic fairytale, Rapunzel. This story manages to keep us on our toes throughout with Zelle, the FMC, contacting her princes via online blogging and video chats (reminiscent of online-dating). Featuring a combination of angst, wit, charm, and humour, Locked is able to retain it's classical background but be more relevant to today. While I loved this book a lot (the little fairy princess in me was CHEERING), I felt like it was a long lead up to a very brief ending. Though I wouldn't want the ending to have been drawn out, I just felt like decisions were made by the characters to end the struggle too quickly.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for review consideration.**
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for review consideration.**
June 30, 2018
Locked was a very well-written, modern take on the story of Repunzel. I love how Penelope modernized the story, adding in small details of life as we now know it. Zelle (Repunzel) holds strength and power beyond what she knows. Her character development through the book had me cheering for Zelle as she grew as a confident woman. I also loved her side-kick, and the addition of her companion, Basil the cat. This tale was woven in very well with her men, and there was some HOT scenes throughout the book! I could not put it down! This is a must-read, and I highly recommend it!
July 2, 2018
4.5 Stars!
This retelling of Rapunzel with a modern twist was entertaining. Zelle has been locked away for many years, with only her cat and her blog to keep her entertained. Though her blog, she meets three elves that want nothing more than to get her out of her tower. The RH twist in this book is sexy! The only issue I have with this story is the final showdown was over very fast and I found myself wanting more. Otherwise, a great story that is definitely not the fairy tale I remember from when I was a kid!
This retelling of Rapunzel with a modern twist was entertaining. Zelle has been locked away for many years, with only her cat and her blog to keep her entertained. Though her blog, she meets three elves that want nothing more than to get her out of her tower. The RH twist in this book is sexy! The only issue I have with this story is the final showdown was over very fast and I found myself wanting more. Otherwise, a great story that is definitely not the fairy tale I remember from when I was a kid!
July 3, 2018
I really liked Locked. It was a unique twist on Rapunzel. I don’t know how Zelle was always so happy in the beginning, but I loved seeing her gain her backbone. The only thing that slightly felt off about the book is I felt like the final fight with “Mother” was a little anticlimactic. Not in a bad way, but in an I wanted more of a fight way. I also think that if I were Zelle, I would be a little more shocked about the information that “Mother” dropped on me right before the end. Overall, it was a good read and I would recommend it to those who love RH and fairy tales.
July 3, 2018
Locked was very well written. Penelope Wren did a beautiful job telling the tale of Zelle, a modern day Rapuzel trapped in a tower by her "Mother". It's through the 'magic' of the Internet that she is able to meet "her guys" who want to rescue her, and her cat, from the life they live. Kinden, Sorrel, and Rifyr and three men who know exactly how to take care of Zelle, and the situation she is forced to be in.
But who is Mother really?
Can Zelle's guys rescue her, or will they die trying?
Find out in this enchanted book!
But who is Mother really?
Can Zelle's guys rescue her, or will they die trying?
Find out in this enchanted book!
March 7, 2019
A fun retelling of Rapunzel! 💖
So many fairytales have been done and OVER done, BUT this is the first Rapunzel I have come across, and a reverse harem to boot.
I enjoyed it tremendously, and thought it held good imagination. The characters were well rounded and complimented each other well, even the villain. Just a nice little story to tuck in to.
Be warned however, this is an adult romance, with adult situations. 💋
4 Happily Ever After Stars🌟🌟🌟🌟
So many fairytales have been done and OVER done, BUT this is the first Rapunzel I have come across, and a reverse harem to boot.
I enjoyed it tremendously, and thought it held good imagination. The characters were well rounded and complimented each other well, even the villain. Just a nice little story to tuck in to.
Be warned however, this is an adult romance, with adult situations. 💋
4 Happily Ever After Stars🌟🌟🌟🌟
June 30, 2018
Very cute retelling of Rapunzel. Grabbed my interest right away and kept me entertained with the little twists on an old story. I loved Basil. Wish I had one of my own! The men are amazing and Rapunzel is not some ditzy woman trapped in a tower. Written in 1st person alternating POV. HEA. Short read but very cute.
July 3, 2018
I really liked this modern magical reverse harem version of rapunzel. Zelle has a blog and is a witch locked in a tower in the city by "mother". She meets 3 fae through her blog and becomes friends. She wants to escape but isn't sure how to get away. Zelle was so cute and sweet and all three of her boys were perfect for her. I really enjoyed this fairytale.
July 5, 2018
This is not my favorite story by Penelope Wren but I thought that it was a nice, RH modern retelling of the Rapunzel story. I loved the 3 men and Zelle. I was surprised by a few twists in the story and I definitely enjoyed that. I would still recommend it to my friends and family (and have already done so)!
June 26, 2018
I found this book very interesting. It was exciting to see a modern version of Rapunzel. I loved how it was a fast paced and a get it done type book. The only thing I would’ve liked was explaining what exactly happened at the end. Other than that, it was fun and hot and steamy! Everything I love!!
June 30, 2018
I really enjoyed this!!! It was such a good retelling of a well loved and known story.
I hope there are more re-tellings in the pipe line!
I'm not one to post spoilers, but please do read it, it will be well worth it!!
I hope there are more re-tellings in the pipe line!
I'm not one to post spoilers, but please do read it, it will be well worth it!!
July 2, 2018
I really enjoyed this book, it was great to see the FMC meet her guys in a new way. The way Mother has been written is so well done even I got scared of her. All the magic that goes on as well is brilliant.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 4, 2018
A fun, easy read. Once you pick it up you don't want to put it down. An amazing twist on Rapunzel. Will be reading again.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 10, 2018
Interesting twist on Rapunzel. Zelle, has her 3 guys she met online and a guardian that keeps her locked away. Fast burn, not a lot of character or world building. Does end happily ever after.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 19, 2018
This book is about Zella... shes stuck in a tower not know who or where she is... the mother owes her now... will her knights in waiting save her? Read it and find out. RH tale.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 27, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this story! The characters are well written & the steamy scenes are great! The mix of modern & magical is wonderful!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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