Princess of Shadows: The Princess and the Pea Retold

Fairy Tale Adventures #1

by A.G. Marshall

Only a true princess can save the kingdom.

Alaric wants to be king. He wants to continue the peace and prosperity his father created in Aeonia. But with enemies questioning his bloodline, he’ll have to put his heart on the line and marry a stranger to secure his right to rule. Only a match with a true princess will silence his critics and protect his future.

Lina’s lineage is shocking at best and deadly at worst. Over a century ago, she put herself into an enchanted sleep to seal away a horde of dark creatures. Now both Lina and the goblins are awake. Without friends or resources, Lina must seek the help of the Council of Kings. To get close enough to them to ask for aid, she’ll need to convince everyone she’s a true princess.

As Alaric searches for a true princess to marry, Lina tries to convince the world she is one. But while they try to save the kingdom on their own, they may find what they need is each other.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Retellings, Fairy Tales, Fairy Tale Retellings, Young Adult, Fantasy Romance

336 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2016

About the author

Angela Marshall loves fairy tales and has been writing stories since she could hold a pencil. She works as a professional pianist and teacher and enjoys crocheting.

In addition to writing books, she has published numerous piano solos including Romanza, Forgotten Waltz, and Notes from the Past.

Reviews

[W.R. Gingell]

this was ridiculous fun with a delightfully sweet edge. ALL THE SEAGULLS

[Bryn Shutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first, I thought this might be the best fairy tale retelling I'd ever read ... I think it's better to say it's one of the best BOOKS I've ever read. Period.

[Lucy Tempest · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to start by saying that I, as a consumer of all things fantasy, really love it when the magical world parallels our own, reminding us that people are people no matter the setting and the ubiquity of magic.

By that I mean, holy cow, this story not just has a unique take on the Princess and the Pea, with our goblin-fighting warrior-princess but it’s a fairytale within a fairytale! We see how fairytales, myths and legends impact even those who are taking part in such an event — and it’s all about the same person!

I don’t want to spoil too much, because I want you to experience this for yourselves, but I have to say just how genius this set-up is. Our heroine, Lina, Rip Van Winkles-herself into a modern myth, and awakens to find that the conflict she battled before her century-long sleep has fragmented into a legend pursued by Prince Alaric, and they meet in the expected set-up of ‘prince seeking a princess’ while she’s looking for clues about what really happened and he’s trying to find out more about Evangelina Shadow-Storm — who he doesn’t know yet is Lina herself and ARGH I love this!

The identity-game is one of my favorite tropes along with the living legend and fantastical history and not to mention the very sweet romance between our heroes. Also, we get to meet Carina, the titular princess in the Princess and the Frog, and she was a delight.

Pick up Princess of Shadows today!

[Sarah Ryder · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this book as an ebook back in April but due to putting too much stuff on myself and becoming stressed I put it aside until I could get the physical copy from my library. And I’m really glad I got back to it because this is such a fun story!

Most fairytale retellings I’ve found tend to fall in the more “light and fluffy” category—which isn’t a bad thing! I love those types of books as much as more serious ones—but this one has a more in depth, more’s at stake type of plot line that I really liked as it’s very different and not always done in fairytale retellings, especially this well.

Both Lina and Alaric are well developed both apart and together though I couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed in their relationship—I guess I wanted just a bit more of a “spark” between them and felt the romance was lacking just a bit. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I also really liked the way the author wove The Princess and the Pea and Sleeping Beauty together—at one point Lina went in a room where there was a pile of broken spindles and I was like, “I see what you did there.” 😏 And of course, seagulls. Because why not? 😏😂

This was a really great start to a series I will be continuing! I’m super eager to read Carina and Stefan’s story next—I wonder if Carina’s still going to go on about seagulls somehow? 😉


‼️Content‼️

Violence: fighting with magic and weapons (not detailed); injuries and bruises from fighting

Sexual: kissing (not detailed)

Drug/Alcohol: characters drink wine at meals

Other: magic; magical objects, creatures, and abilities

[Sarah Jayyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

💚💚 (two stars as rated in little "emerald" green hearts that overcame the test of time to be together)

Maybe I've read too many of these. There's a good chance I'm getting jaded. But I am bummed because this could have been so much more than it was. The concept was TOP NOTCH. Seriously. I loved that. But the story felt needlessly convoluted at so many times. The actual relationship of the main two characters was... fine? I didn't much care for either of them, to be honest. I was annoyed at the prince (what was his name again?) for most of it. And for being the Commander of the Army, he never ever seems to do anything but run around chasing after princesses. So there's that.
Carina was the best part of the story, imo. I'd rather hang with her than Lina any day. So I look forward to her story being the focus of book 2!

Content warning for this book: death of a parent, death of a sibling, war themes, battle, combat, arranged marriage.

[J.M. Stengl · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a unique idea for a fairy-tale retelling!
Our heroine wakes from a hundred-year sleep to discover that she's remembered only as a folk-heroine in children's tales.
Prince Alaric has requested the "nuclear option" Princess Test to help him select the right bride and save the throne.
Lots of intrigue and a cast of delightful characters made this a book I didn't want to put down.
Now I want to read the whole series!

[Suzannah Rowntree]

The only retelling of The Princess and the Pea I've ever read...and it was actually pretty awesome.

[Coralie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one has, sadly, been on my list since before it's title was changed. I'm not sure why I never got around to it, but boy am I glad I finally did! Plus, that is a really pretty new cover! <3

This book has got it all, the heart wrenching tragedy, the misunderstood heroes, the brutal and the more subtle threats, the dash of romance all tied into one mega adventure with some kickbutt action! I'm a fairy tale nerd. We all know this by now. Sleeping Beauty is my childhood favorite and I'm a sucker for some of the more obscure tales like the 12 Dancing Princesses, Toads and Diamonds, The Goose Girl, and The Princesses and the Pea. This story weaves the Sleeping Beauty seamlessly together with the Princess and the Pea, and I'd argue it has hints of the 12 Dancing Princesses smattered throughout, too, though those are very, very light. It may just be more of an atmosphere reminiscent of the tale, but I loved it nonetheless.

But this story stands apart from other retellings. It had a goblin-fighting enchantress who never gave up, even when everything around her dug claws into her heart and told her to just let go. This girl was brave and strong and trained in some seriously cool shadow art. She was kind and human, too, which made me love her all the more. She was clever and doggedly determined. She brought this story to life. Marshall's mixture of intriguing magic, tragic foundation, imminent threats, action-packed suspense, and a literal whole other world makes this a unique and truly exciting tale. This isn't your typical fairy tale, and I loved that about it. I was sucked in immediately and chugged through the first 85% of it in the first night I started it.

Lina was a lot of fun. I mean, from page one she demanded respect and radiated authority, but she was also real. She was confused, yet determined. She was loyal, yet open to learning. I loved how stubborn and adventurous she was. She made for a firecracker of a heroine, someone I could cheer for and fall in love with. I also really liked Carina and am excited to see more of her in the sequel. Stefan was a hoot and I'm dying to see more of him open up. His relationship with Alaric was special and I very much enjoyed seeing the dynamic between those two. There were tons of side characters that held minor roles and I hope we get to dig deeper into those at some point, like Marta's sons, for instance. Oh, also, Luca!? Hello! He stole the show for me. Again, from page one, I was in love with him and I really, really loved seeing the power of the relationship he and his sister had. I seriously need to read those letters one day. <3

The story is set in kind a dual land, which is neat. I absolutely loved the world building and really hope to see more of the shadow vs. light world and the magic in later books. I was completely drawn in by the shadow warrior and light wielder concept, especially the twins! I hope one day we get a book of all their adventures!! Just the idea of shadow and light working together and in some cases opposing one another was fascinating. I didn't really have a great feel for the map of the world regarding other kingdoms, but I didn't really need it in this book. I mean, we had a council of kings present and other kingdoms represented, but the story all takes place in pretty much one city and on a hill. The castle was neat and I liked the little bits of history, architecture, and secrets that Lina brought to light throughout the book there.

The book only had a few typos in it that I found. This was a fun, clean fairy tale with a little bit of romance and a little bit of violence, but nothing very graphic and no foul language. The story had a few fight scenes, a little blood and some bruises here or there, and a few brief kisses. But I'd feel fine giving this to a preteen. I'd highly recommend the book and am about to dive into the sequel right now!

[Kathryn McConaughy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This full-length novel retells “The Princess and the Pea” with an epic twist. Waking up from an enchanted trance in which she battled invading goblin forces and sealed them away from the world of men, Lina finds that a hundred years have passed. She arrives at the Aeonian capital just in time to be accidentally included in a Princess Test.
This generation’s Princess Test is very important to the kings of Aeonia. They came to the throne under suspicious circumstances about eighty years ago, and now the King of Gaveson is threatening to annex the country unless they marry into an old royal family from one of the other nations. Now twenty princesses and noble ladies—all under strict orders not to reveal who they are or which countries they came from—have arrived to meet Crown Prince Alaric and undergo the Tests.
Being included in the Tests gives Lina access to the Council of Kings. She needs to speak to them, as her magic has revealed that there is still danger of a goblin invasion. Unfortunately, no one believes in goblins any more…
Lina is competent, smart, and determined, and she quickly makes friends with the other princesses. I loved her!
When I read the blurb for this story, I noted the “prince must marry for the good of the kingdom” plot trope and groaned internally. It wasn’t a surprise—this is “The Princess and the Pea,” after all—but I’ve gotten very tired of it. The princes usually moan and groan about their situation, but instantly forget their resistance when they first see the eyes/smile of that special someone… But Marshall’s story was not like that AT ALL. Instead, we have Prince Alaric, who is determined to do the responsible thing and marry for the good of the kingdom despite the protests of his father, brother, and stepmother, who all think he should marry someone that he actually likes. He’s actually way TOO responsible, which is something I’m have a lot more sympathy for than the usual princely (or princessly) whining. He’s great!
There are also half a dozen secondary characters who add a lot to the story. Alaric’s brother Stefan and stepmother Marta, the valet Bastien, Carina and the other princesses in the Princess Test. I’m so glad that this book is part of a series—I just know we’ll get to see more of these characters.
Sometimes I felt like the fairytale tropes and the epic fantasy tropes were a little too obvious. But for the most part Marshall does a good job of weaving them together into a single plot in a coherent setting.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

You have no idea how much time I spent searching through my e-books to find a book ending on an uneven number. Until I stumbled upon this book. My kindle said it had exactly 331 pages that really mattered to the story (it excluded the preview of the next book at the end and the introductions at the beginning) and since my love for fairytale retelling doesn't seem to know an end I was quite happy to have found a book perfect for the prompt AND one I really did wanna read.

Let me start with one little point of criticism: Although the main element of the princess and the pea was there, the original fairytale was hardly the backbone of this story. I wouldn't really call this a retelling. It's more the use of some key element in an entirely different and unique way. Which also turns this into a compliment. Since that one element was not of too much importance and since it didn't dictate the story this was basically a really enchanting original and fresh new tale.

Of course, quite a few elements of the plot were predictable because of the story structure and because this is a fairytale, but there were so many amazing additions to be discovered. The world building for example is quite interesting and it creates a small plot line that could follow us through future stories too. I also really liked how all the characters of the story, even the ones who seem very small at first, eventually play an active role in the finale and the solution.

The true stars of the story, of course, were Princess Lina and Prince Alaric. Alaric is everything a prince should be, without becoming too perfect. He's kind, charming, willing to help people in need and willing to see the best in people. He also has a sense of duty and a working brain. However, he can be quite stiff and stubborn too. Lina is also clearly an intelligent princess. She sees her possibilities and uses them. She's fierce and takes action and responsibility, but she's not reckless or running blind into situations she doesn't understand. It makes it easy to like them both and even easier to root for their happy ending.

I can't wait to read the next book in the series. We already met the main characters of that story and I kinda fell in love with them, so it will be great to see much more of them.

[Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Retelling

Love it! Can't wait to read Carina's story (Carina and Stefan in a frog prince retelling!?-eeek!) and the rest of the series!!! I can't decide which bit was my favorite, - the "seagulls" or the play. 🤣🤣🤣 ...not to mention the docks scene. tehe ;P

[Lisa Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to receive a free ebook of The Princess and the Pea by up-and-coming fairy tale author A.G. Marshall from a promotion on Facebook. Since the book was named directly after the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, I was expecting a fairly direct adaptation. Instead, I was blown away by A.G. Marshall's originality. The book is a "fish out of water" story that delves into the creation of mythology and legend. The protagonist wakes up in another time that she knows nothing about, which allows the reader to explore this new world with her. I am a huge proponent of "fish out of water" stories, so the Fairy Tale Adventures series is one that I will be following closely from this point on.

A.G. Marshall's The Princess and the Pea tells the story of a girl named Lina who wields a magic ring and fights goblins in the shadow world. Due to a sleeping spell that allowed her to stay in the protect the world from some dangerous threats, she wakes up to find that a century has passed and everyone she knew is gone. When she tries to dig into her own past, she learns that her story has become the myth of Evangelina Shadow-Storm, a bastardized version of the events that she had actually lived through. She gets involved in the competition to find a bride for the prince because she sees it as the only way for her to deliver her report about the dangers in the shadow world to the grand council, the only people who might still be aware that she exists.

Many of the characters in this book have more knowledge than they let on. When Lina learns that her past has become fiction, she must do her best to pretend to blend in so that she won't be seen as crazy. Prince Alaric, who is obsessed with the story of Evangelina Shadow-Storm, notices Lina regularly skulking around the castle and searching the library for clues of what has happened while she was asleep. He knows that she is after something other than his hand in marriage, but he keeps her secrets in an attempt to earn her trust. Carina, one of the princesses that Lina befriends in the contest, puts on a completely different facade in public than she does in private. She has no interest in winning Prince Alaric, so she attempts to be as vapid and boring as possible, resulting in some hilarious antics. She is secretly a fierce warrior, who is all too happy to learn more about Lina's quest. The queen, a former goat herder, turns out to be hiding the biggest secrets of all much later in the book.

What I love the most about Marshall's adaptation of The Princess and the Pea is that it portrays the way that people respond to fairy tales in a fairy tale setting, giving its audience a new perspective of the impact that these types of stories have on people. Prince Alaric is obsessed with what he believes to be the myth of Evangelina Shadow-Storm just as many of us find inspiration from stories about fictional princesses. It also acknowledges that many legendary characters such as King Arthur or Snow White may have originated as actual historical figures whose tales were exaggerated and fictionalized over time. Some of the changes that Lina learns were made to her story are horrifying to her but quite humorous in the context of the book. A lot of silly touches Marshall included such as Lina's password to the grand council and Carina's vapid acting skills made it a fun and light read, which was a welcome contrast to the dark turn the story could have taken if it placed more focus on Lina's family being dead when she woke up.

A.G. Marshall's adaptation of "The Princess and the Pea" overwhelmed me with its sharp and exciting storytelling. It delves into the making of a hero and how some parts of a legend can stem from reality. I loved that Lina was a confused and lonely girl first and foremost and an epic war heroine second. The ability to do great acts does not require perfection. We are all capable of great deeds if we are willing to make the effort. The Princess and the Pea was thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end thanks to its pristine pacing and perfect balance between comedy and drama. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading princess stories.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertainment in every word!

I absolutely loved this book! It is not your classic retelling or the typical modern twist but a truly unique style that is clean, captivating and fantastically original. The characters have personality and although there is a satisfying conclusion it leaves space for more tales to follow! I can't wait for the next book to come because this was by far the most unique and interesting retelling that I have ever read!

[Hayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't like this one quite as much as its sequel, but it was still fun.

[Hadassah Buie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute, predictable story. The magic system was not very clear to me at all, which was disappointing. The main characters were fine, nothing special. Carina was a fun character, and I'm looking forward to reading her story. In fact, I liked quite a few of the side characters.

[Kristen Kooistra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hands down this is one of my favorite books this year. I've been either very picky this year or I'm simply not getting floored with anything. Who knows. But anyway, 5 stars has just not been around much from me because though I'm reading a lot of good books, I'm not getting WOWED by anything.

All that to say, this came close, real close. This is a comfy 4.5 stars.

The cover is generic, the title is about as generic as you can get, and both served to leave this sitting on my Kindle for too long. But um, they didn't do this story justice.

Very unique retelling of The Princess and the Pea. Stellar writing and characterizations. Two in the morning, people! That's how late I was up to finish this. It was something I started that night and 7 pages in realized I was NOT going to bed that night. Nope. Not until that book was finished.

Dropping the one star mostly because the romance/love interest was rather lackluster. I think if the author had actually written a non-romance of the story it would've been MUCH better. Easily could've ended up being my favorite Princess and the Pea retelling. But I guess it'll have to take second place.

The "princess" was a freaking shadow warrior! How many times does the FMC from that story get to be anything but a princess or a regular commoner?

This one wakes up from an enchanted sleep and knows a ridiculous amount of time has passed. She's smart, she thinks on her feet, she immediately comes up with a plan and executes. Did I mention she's also a freaking shadow warrior?

I liked that the Alaric was the one to set up the Princess Test. Normally it's the parents but in this one his dad is actually trying to talk him out of marrying for political reasons. His dad and step-mom want him to marry for love and he's the one that wants the political connection.(Too often the parents are cuckoo and forcing the test. I like seeing sane parents for this tale.) I liked that he had a reason for doing that too.

I thought Alaric personally was okay, but not as a love interest. I thought that considering Lina is the last shadow warrior and the last person with any knowledge on how to train more of the shadow or light warriors, that hitching herself to a crown prince didn't make sense. She should be out there, traveling, finding people who could replace the old shadow/light warriors. Training people and fighting the darkness and goblins.

Other people can be princess and, one day, queen. For her I think if she'd been just friends with the prince(who could've found out that he loved one of the other contestants) and they ended up working together (him as ruler, her as head shadow warrior) that it would've been a better way to take the story.

It was really good though. Definitely give it a try.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't stop laughing. I don't think that was the book's intended effect but I found it hilarious. That may have been slightly influenced by the fact that I was reading it at 1 AM and was therefore slightly delirious, but I can't be sure. It was a really creative retelling (think The Princess and the Pea meets The Selection and Sleeping Beauty) although I do feel like it's one of those books where the order we receive the information is messed up. The storytelling jumps around a little and we're given information that takes place before the book in the middle of the book. This can be a great plot device but here it just didn't work. I think for it to be effective there needs to be a reason that the information is withheld. In this book, however, we were given a rough outline of everything so it didn't feel like there was anything particularly new being introduced. I feel like it should have started off with the myth of Evangelina Shadow-Storm as the people know it (with Lucas as a donkey). This would act as a kind of prologue that would end with a hint that most myths are based in history. It would also provide an opportunity to explain the light/dark magic thing. Then we would see it from Lina's perspective which would lead to Lina waking up which is where the book began. I think that rearranging the scenes in such a simple way could have really improved the book. I also don't feel like I have a firm grasp on the magic system. It's definitely a soft magic system but even within that context, it doesn't feel clear. That might just be me but I didn't love the way it was explained. Finally, there was the whole thing where the prince was like way to eager to have an arranged marriage. Like I appreciate it when characters aren't totally selfish and choose to put their country before themselves but his parents are telling him that it's okay for him to try to marry for love and he's just like, absolutely not. Anyway, this is a cute clean retelling, nothing particularly exceptional but good none the less.

[Angeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from the beginning! It was so good. This is the first full length book that I have read of Ms. Marshall’s and I loved it.
Evangelina Shadow-Storm has been sleeping for over a hundred years and nothing is the same. She has woken up to a drastically different home. Alaric never thought that he would be in this position. He never imagined that being the crown prince would be so hard.
They will have to learn how to get past projects and figure out how to defend their home. What will Lina and Alaric do when things seem to be stacked against them?
I loved Lina, she was so cool. But she was also human, and she was on her own. I felt for her, as she tried to complete her mission by herself. She was waking up to a totally different home, everything big had changed. Now she not only has to try to defend her home but also figure out her own life in this new place. She was so amazing because she perceived even when things felt crazy.
Alaric was awesome! He tried so hard to be the best prince he could be, but you could see that it was crippling for him. I really liked reading about how he wanted to do what was best for his people, but he also learned how to learn that there are other paths he can take.
It was so cool to see Alaric and Lina find each other and fall in love even when the odds seem to be against them. They were perfect for each other. I mean I don't even know what else to say. 😂
This was a really good book, I am hooked on Ms.Marshall's books now. I can't wait to read the next ones! I would definitely recommend this book!

[Rose Hastings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aww....this was such a cute read.

Evangelina Shadow- Storm is a shadow warrior, one of the bravest and fiercest warrior at that. But, she had been shrouded in a myth to keep her mission of safe but over time, people forgot her. She was tasked with keeping the light realm safe from the monsters in the shadow realm, but after more than hundred years of sleep, she finds that one pesky goblin has somehow escaped and must stop it. But the Council of Kings doesn't believe her and the common folk believe that she is half-goat. Things have never looked grimmer but Lina must go on with no resources at her disposal and must fight to keep her beloved Aeonia safe, even if that means enduring the stupid Princess Test.

So I loved all the characters here. Evangelina and her braveness, Carina and her sassiness, Alaric and his determination and Stefan's goofiness. They aren't complex but they're sweet. The plot was good. Nice pace. Hooks you in. I don't think I've ever read a Princess and the Pea retelling before. Well-written.

I don't think I have any problem with the book. It was kinda perfect. Kinda, not sure. I wouldn't have added, removed or improved anything.

If you're looking for your next read and don't have anything in mind, I'll definitely tell you to pick this one up. I mean, look at that cover... How can you not?😉

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

This is the first book in the Fairy Tale Adventures series by A.G. Marshall.

I really enjoyed this fairy tale retelling. I wasn’t sure what to expect since I had not read a book by this author before but I have to say I came away impressed.

I almost wish Lina had a bit more distraught about waking up and finally realizing that everyone she ever knew was already dead and buried. But I guess she had a bit more than her own worries on her mind as she stumbled into town to tell the Council of Kings about the gobblin threat.

She comes to town just as the Princess Test is underway and finds herself trying to get to the Council of Kings by way of being involved in this test for the prince to find a princess.

This book was thrilling and it kept your attention all the way through. I thought it should be one of those books that Disney uses to make a live action movie out of. It is that good. We are taken on quite a roller coaster ride as we follow Lina and Alaric as they stumble through falling in love while trying to save their kingdom.

This is definitely a series I want to continue with.

[Bess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first read by A.G. Marshall and I daresay not my last. While there were a couple of aspects from my favorite fairy tale, The Princess and the Pea, this was, in my opinion, not a "retelling". Others may argue and that is okay.
Lina was a warrior and maybe a princess but not in the traditional sense of the word. However, when she descends upon the castle after a long "nap", she is thrust into the convergence of rivaling women all vying for the prince, his attention and his throne.
Which doesn't help Alaric at all whose validity of ruling is questioned at every turn. Add a meddling brother and you're in for some serious laughs! Which I did, I don't mind saying.
This one kept me up well past the middling hour in hopes and success of finishing the tale.
Light fantasy at its best! I thoroughly look forward to continuing on in the series!
No profanity, some interesting "love" banter, an unruly goblin (some violence), girls who are okay dressing in the same attire, and competition with the rank of queen being the reward!
You won't want to miss this one!

[Book of the Universe · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 ⭐

"Princess of Shadows" was a bit of addictive retelling, but I think I've read quite a lot already to say that this book was missing something.

The characters had their own personalities, but to me they were boring. I couldn't find anything in them to like them for. Especially Alaric, who was of little interest to me. There was nothing interesting about him that would make me like him (maybe just the fact that he had a nice brother). Lina had more character and I also enjoyed reading the chapters from her perspective.

As for romance, I didn't feel it between the characters. It came and it just was, but I missed the chemistry. I already liked Lina's relationships with other princesses more - especially Carina, who won my heart.

Princess of Shadows is not a bad book, but it's not a perfect story either. I missed the development of relationships between the characters and a little more information about the world. However, the whole thing has potential, so I will reach for the second volume - especially since there will be characters that I liked 😊

[Puck · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's pretty okay. The characters were great on their own... up until the romance was happening. From one sentence to the next, insta-love. Which would've been fine, I wasn't expecting anything more complicated, but I was a little disappointed with how the characters did many uncharacteristic things when interacting with each other. It's like they couldn't figure out how these two characters would fit with each other. What was left was awkward and a little jarring. That said, I did like the characters. They never lost sight of their goals for "luurv". I just wish they had a little more time to figure out their dynamics.

I genuinely think that with a little more polish, this could've been such a great book. I mean, waking up a century later to find everything you've ever known was gone, and you've faded into a mere "baby story" would've been an interesting subject to slow down and explore, personally.

2.5 stars

[Lucía García · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story but there were some things that bothered me: the magic system (which in my opinion was vague although it had potential) and the insta-love between the two protagonists. Lina and Alaric were alright as characters but meh, they don't really excite me.
I will continue reading this series, I hope it gets better because it really has potential.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this one! Solid characters and a nice twist to the plot. Some really funny moments too, and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Heather Hayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely dark twist on the typical Princess and the Pea retelling (with a dash of Sleeping Beauty thrown in). The characters were believable, the plot intriguing, and the setting perfect for the story.

[Cassandra Key · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable Read

Thought the story was an interesting concept to keep me going. Will have to continue the series as I’m interested to read more about Lina.

[Alexandra G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

Meh. It started out really good but it gradually became a princess cartoon story. I sort of had different expectations.