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The Forgotten Kingdom #1
The Dragon Princess: Sleeping Beauty Reimagined
A curse upon her head I place,
that all will see her truest face.
Princess Elisa has more than guests to worry about on her birthday. She was cursed to transform into a dragon, the faeries who vowed to save her are being murdered, and her mother has arranged her marriage to a handsome stranger from the northern kingdoms.
When Prince Gerard leaves on a quest to find a cure for her, Elisa decides she’s done being like the girls in the stories. She’s not going to wait for her prince to save her.
But there's more to her curse than she could have ever imagined. If Elisa accepts the dragon within, she could destroy her kingdom. But if she doesn't, an entire race will be killed, and she'll lose the one person she's learned to love.
Elisa must save herself before she burns her kingdom to the ground.
that all will see her truest face.
Princess Elisa has more than guests to worry about on her birthday. She was cursed to transform into a dragon, the faeries who vowed to save her are being murdered, and her mother has arranged her marriage to a handsome stranger from the northern kingdoms.
When Prince Gerard leaves on a quest to find a cure for her, Elisa decides she’s done being like the girls in the stories. She’s not going to wait for her prince to save her.
But there's more to her curse than she could have ever imagined. If Elisa accepts the dragon within, she could destroy her kingdom. But if she doesn't, an entire race will be killed, and she'll lose the one person she's learned to love.
Elisa must save herself before she burns her kingdom to the ground.
275 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2019
415 people are currently reading
1143 people want to read
About the author
Lichelle Slater
27 books211 followersPersonal dragon trainer, lover of glitter, writer of fantasy.
Reading has always been a huge passion, from The Hobbit to Goosebumps. Some of my fondest memories are at the library or being read to, and when I embarked on my journey of becoming an author, I did so with the dream of sharing the worlds in my mind with others.
I currently live in Salt Lake City, UT with my adorable King Charles, Perseus, and work full-time as a special education preschool teacher.
I am a USA Today Bestselling author and was nominated for "Unforgettable Book of the Year" for The Beast Princess and "Mind-Blowing Fantasy of the Year" for The Siren Princess at Penned Con 2020, and as Best Debut Author at UtopiaCon in 2017 for Step Right Up (now Circus of the Stars, Ringmaster).
Reading has always been a huge passion, from The Hobbit to Goosebumps. Some of my fondest memories are at the library or being read to, and when I embarked on my journey of becoming an author, I did so with the dream of sharing the worlds in my mind with others.
I currently live in Salt Lake City, UT with my adorable King Charles, Perseus, and work full-time as a special education preschool teacher.
I am a USA Today Bestselling author and was nominated for "Unforgettable Book of the Year" for The Beast Princess and "Mind-Blowing Fantasy of the Year" for The Siren Princess at Penned Con 2020, and as Best Debut Author at UtopiaCon in 2017 for Step Right Up (now Circus of the Stars, Ringmaster).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
August 18, 2019
Dormir stood to leave, but I grabbed his fingers.
“Don’t go,” I asked weakly. “Please?”
Dormir smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck. “You want me here?”
“You can close your eyes.” I smiled.
He chuckled and sat down before closing his eyes.
“Just don’t pass out,” I teased.
The way this author writes is inoxicating. I honestly felt like a child waiting to fall asleep while faires whispered a lullaby right into my ear. The world-building involved with this book is absolutely astounding. I'm thoroughly impressed with the main characters, they were so lovable.
This book was a beauty to read. I enjoyed it from page one and am still enjoying it now, after having finished.
“Don’t go,” I asked weakly. “Please?”
Dormir smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck. “You want me here?”
“You can close your eyes.” I smiled.
He chuckled and sat down before closing his eyes.
“Just don’t pass out,” I teased.
The way this author writes is inoxicating. I honestly felt like a child waiting to fall asleep while faires whispered a lullaby right into my ear. The world-building involved with this book is absolutely astounding. I'm thoroughly impressed with the main characters, they were so lovable.
This book was a beauty to read. I enjoyed it from page one and am still enjoying it now, after having finished.
Want to read
November 16, 2019thanks for the recommendation Britt!
May 22, 2020
The general plot is interesting and definitely had potential, but the writing itself is not good. Feels like a first attempt, or maybe a mediocre fanfic.
August 21, 2019
A fresh fairy tale fantasy with bits of nostalgia that is sure to leave you yearning for more. I loved the updated, loose interpretation and how Slater played on the story of Sleeping Beauty. It has dragons, adventure, romance, and twists that kept me turning the pages. I laughed, felt my heart pounding, nearly cried, and gasped in shock which pulled me in, making me feel more like a participant than a reader. While the story establishes itself a little slow, it quickly picks up and I couldn’t put it down.
I loved the variety of characters, their progression throughout the story, and how much I came to care about them. One in particular (don’t want to spoil it) had me riled up and twisted in knots which left me with this visceral reaction even after the last page. Like a marshmallow, one minute I wanted to burn his face off and the next, I wanted to toss away the burnt shell and enjoy the soft, gooey center. I did struggle with Elisa’s naivete at first but found it was congruent with her backstory and enjoyed her growth as the story progressed. Marigold and Dahlia were adorable and feisty while adding depth and character to the story.
With it’s throwback nods to Sleeping Beauty, enriching cast of characters, and story line complexity, The Dragon Princess is an absolute must for fans of clean fantasy and fairy tale reinventions!
I loved the variety of characters, their progression throughout the story, and how much I came to care about them. One in particular (don’t want to spoil it) had me riled up and twisted in knots which left me with this visceral reaction even after the last page. Like a marshmallow, one minute I wanted to burn his face off and the next, I wanted to toss away the burnt shell and enjoy the soft, gooey center. I did struggle with Elisa’s naivete at first but found it was congruent with her backstory and enjoyed her growth as the story progressed. Marigold and Dahlia were adorable and feisty while adding depth and character to the story.
With it’s throwback nods to Sleeping Beauty, enriching cast of characters, and story line complexity, The Dragon Princess is an absolute must for fans of clean fantasy and fairy tale reinventions!
August 31, 2019
This book is definitely not your classic fairytale. There are just enough similarities to the classic to let you think you know where the storyline is going. This makes it all the more intense and exciting when the book takes its plot twists; and there are plenty of plot twists. The character development pulls you into the story and leaves you anxious for their welfare. Make sure that you have enough time to binge read because the cliffhangers definitely make this a hard read to put down. If you crave the nostalgia of the classics but want to still be surprised this is an amazing read.
August 3, 2020
This is a fun book, and I enjoyed my time with it!
Goodreads blurb:
A curse upon her head I place,
that all will see her truest face.
Princess Elisa has more than guests to worry about on her birthday. She was cursed to transform into a dragon, the faeries who vowed to save her are being murdered, and her mother has arranged her marriage to a handsome stranger from the northern kingdoms.
When Prince Gerard leaves on a quest to find a cure for her, Elisa decides she’s done being like the girls in the stories. She’s not going to wait for her prince to save her.
But there's more to her curse than she could have ever imagined. If Elisa accepts the dragon within, she could destroy her kingdom. But if she doesn't, an entire race will be killed, and she'll lose the one person she's learned to love.
Elisa must save herself before she burns her kingdom to the ground.
The Dragon Princess is a really interesting take on Sleeping Beauty! Slater takes the classic tale of Princess Aurora pricking her finger on a spinning wheel and turns it on its axis in ways that are noticeable yet surprising, if that makes sense. Though it’s kind of a shame that the stable boy named Phillip didn’t end up the love interest… Nah, just kidding, I really liked the direction the romance went 😂. I was going along with the story and its insta-loveness because I knew this is a take on a Disney classic, so I was honestly fine with it But then the book took me by surprise by shifting the narrative, and I was so there for it!! But I don’t want to spoil too much ;)
Besides the romance (hehe), I enjoyed the characters and the overall plot line - this book kept me entertained and excited to keep reading at every turn, and I definitely didn’t see the plot twist coming! I will say, I wasn’t super happy with the turn the book takes after the plot twist; it feels a bit mediocre because there are many times in the book when the “twist” should realistically have been revealed to her earlier and less dramatically but conveniently isn’t until this big twist. However, it gets back on track to a satisfying, albeit cliche, ending, making this an enjoyable Sleeping Beauty retelling! I’m so intrigued to see how Slater transforms other fairy tales in the next few books!
Thank you, Lichelle Slater, for the free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions in this review are my own :))
If you enjoyed this review, you can friend me here on Goodreads and follow my Bookstagram/Twitter @ashton_reads. Thanks for reading!
Goodreads blurb:
A curse upon her head I place,
that all will see her truest face.
Princess Elisa has more than guests to worry about on her birthday. She was cursed to transform into a dragon, the faeries who vowed to save her are being murdered, and her mother has arranged her marriage to a handsome stranger from the northern kingdoms.
When Prince Gerard leaves on a quest to find a cure for her, Elisa decides she’s done being like the girls in the stories. She’s not going to wait for her prince to save her.
But there's more to her curse than she could have ever imagined. If Elisa accepts the dragon within, she could destroy her kingdom. But if she doesn't, an entire race will be killed, and she'll lose the one person she's learned to love.
Elisa must save herself before she burns her kingdom to the ground.
The Dragon Princess is a really interesting take on Sleeping Beauty! Slater takes the classic tale of Princess Aurora pricking her finger on a spinning wheel and turns it on its axis in ways that are noticeable yet surprising, if that makes sense. Though it’s kind of a shame that the stable boy named Phillip didn’t end up the love interest… Nah, just kidding, I really liked the direction the romance went 😂. I was going along with the story and its insta-loveness because I knew this is a take on a Disney classic, so I was honestly fine with it But then the book took me by surprise by shifting the narrative, and I was so there for it!! But I don’t want to spoil too much ;)
Besides the romance (hehe), I enjoyed the characters and the overall plot line - this book kept me entertained and excited to keep reading at every turn, and I definitely didn’t see the plot twist coming! I will say, I wasn’t super happy with the turn the book takes after the plot twist; it feels a bit mediocre because there are many times in the book when the “twist” should realistically have been revealed to her earlier and less dramatically but conveniently isn’t until this big twist. However, it gets back on track to a satisfying, albeit cliche, ending, making this an enjoyable Sleeping Beauty retelling! I’m so intrigued to see how Slater transforms other fairy tales in the next few books!
Thank you, Lichelle Slater, for the free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions in this review are my own :))
If you enjoyed this review, you can friend me here on Goodreads and follow my Bookstagram/Twitter @ashton_reads. Thanks for reading!
November 14, 2019
...I... might have enjoyed that as much as, or perhaps even more, than Disney’s actual Sleeping Beauty movie.
If you excuse me, I think I need a moment.
Right, so, I quite enjoyed this book, in case you couldn’t tell from my very smitten opening statement. The only other Lichelle Slater book I’ve read is Step Right Up!, which is about a circus... in space. I loved that book so I decided to check out this one too, even though a fantasy fairy tale retelling is... probably the furthest you could ever get from a circus in space.
Spoiler alert, I loved both.
One of my favorite things about this story, and the writing in general, were all the subtle hints to the Disney movie. Yes, there are more obvious parallels — like, obviously, the curse woven by an evil queen. But it was the little hints I loved most — like, for example, the scene with Elisa’s dress that is pink, green, and blue. Just like the pink, green, and blue fairies in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. Amazing.
There’s also a character with narcolepsy... named Dormir. Which literally means “to sleep” in Spanish. In a book that is a retelling or Sleeping Beauty. I fucking LOVED THAT and was very amused. 10/10, would recommend.
Speaking of Dormir, he’s involved in a (slight) love triangle. But, even though I’m not a huge love triangle fan, I actually didn’t mind this one. I thought it was well-written, fairly believable... and slightly reminiscent of the love triangle in Frozen.
I won’t say anything else about it, but take from that what you will.
Pretty much, if you like Disney/Sleeping Beauty and dragons, I think you’ll fucking love this book. It’s super fun, has GREAT fairy tale parallels, and Slater’s portrayal of dragons is some of the best I think I’ve read. If I had one bit of criticism, it might be that I found it a little hard to wrap my head around how the dragons speak. Like... are they literally speaking, out loud, verbally (which, if they’re literally moving their mouths, is a tad hard to picture, anatomically) or is it like a telepathic thing?
I think I’ll finish out this review by saying: I LOVED the epilogue, and I loved the hinting at... perhaps another fairy tale? (👀). I think it was a fantastic closer for this book/leader into the next.
Overall, as I said above... if you like fairy tale retellings, I’m pretty certain you’ll like this book. Fun, fast-paced, with excellent parallels. I would recommend it to anyone.
If you excuse me, I think I need a moment.
Right, so, I quite enjoyed this book, in case you couldn’t tell from my very smitten opening statement. The only other Lichelle Slater book I’ve read is Step Right Up!, which is about a circus... in space. I loved that book so I decided to check out this one too, even though a fantasy fairy tale retelling is... probably the furthest you could ever get from a circus in space.
Spoiler alert, I loved both.
One of my favorite things about this story, and the writing in general, were all the subtle hints to the Disney movie. Yes, there are more obvious parallels — like, obviously, the curse woven by an evil queen. But it was the little hints I loved most — like, for example, the scene with Elisa’s dress that is pink, green, and blue. Just like the pink, green, and blue fairies in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. Amazing.
There’s also a character with narcolepsy... named Dormir. Which literally means “to sleep” in Spanish. In a book that is a retelling or Sleeping Beauty. I fucking LOVED THAT and was very amused. 10/10, would recommend.
Speaking of Dormir, he’s involved in a (slight) love triangle. But, even though I’m not a huge love triangle fan, I actually didn’t mind this one. I thought it was well-written, fairly believable... and slightly reminiscent of the love triangle in Frozen.
I won’t say anything else about it, but take from that what you will.
Pretty much, if you like Disney/Sleeping Beauty and dragons, I think you’ll fucking love this book. It’s super fun, has GREAT fairy tale parallels, and Slater’s portrayal of dragons is some of the best I think I’ve read. If I had one bit of criticism, it might be that I found it a little hard to wrap my head around how the dragons speak. Like... are they literally speaking, out loud, verbally (which, if they’re literally moving their mouths, is a tad hard to picture, anatomically) or is it like a telepathic thing?
I think I’ll finish out this review by saying: I LOVED the epilogue, and I loved the hinting at... perhaps another fairy tale? (👀). I think it was a fantastic closer for this book/leader into the next.
Overall, as I said above... if you like fairy tale retellings, I’m pretty certain you’ll like this book. Fun, fast-paced, with excellent parallels. I would recommend it to anyone.
December 15, 2020
Fine idea just poorly written
I love fairy tale retellings, and this one had an interesting concept, but it was not executed well. There were definitely some eye-roll moments....too many for me to give it more than 2 stars.
I love fairy tale retellings, and this one had an interesting concept, but it was not executed well. There were definitely some eye-roll moments....too many for me to give it more than 2 stars.
November 30, 2021
Curse or Prophecy?
Is Elisa cursed to be a dragon or born to be one? This creative retelling leads you on a very unexpected journey as races unite to save their homes and kingdom from darkness.
Note for CF readers: while this is cleanly written, it does mention same sex couple in passing. I believe others in the series may mention that as well.
Is Elisa cursed to be a dragon or born to be one? This creative retelling leads you on a very unexpected journey as races unite to save their homes and kingdom from darkness.
Note for CF readers: while this is cleanly written, it does mention same sex couple in passing. I believe others in the series may mention that as well.
February 13, 2021
3.5💜 me gustó mucho
August 30, 2019
I received a digital arc in exchange for an honest review. This is simply my opinion on the book and is not influenced by any external factor.
This is such an original take on the Sleeping Beauty Fairytale. What if instead of pricking her finger on a spinning wheel and doomed to sleep for a century on her eighteenth birthday, she was cursed to turn into a dragon? Princess Elisa just turned seventeen and with one year before the curse takes effect, it’s on her mind more than ever. She also finds out that her mother has arranged her marriage to a prince from the northern kingdoms without even consulting her first!
However, Elisa is not like the girls in the fairytales, who wait for their prince to find a cure and save her with true love’s kiss; she decides to look for answers herself. But by doing so, she discovers her life isn’t as she always thought it was, and maybe there is a way for her to accept the curse after all.
This was a well-written fast-paced fantasy adventure loosely based on the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale, but has bits in it reminiscent of other fairy tales; such as from Rapunzel (by being bound to the castle and having a very controlling mother) and Frozen (mainly with one particular character who I will not name because it is a spoiler and also the name Elisa is so close to Elsa, don’t you think? Elisa also reminds me of Anna from Frozen, but I think I’m getting off topic here).
The characters are all amazing! Elisa’s character is that of a strong-willed heroine.
There is not a huge romantic focus in the story, and while there are some elements of romance, it doesn’t take away from the main story.
The book wrapped up nicely for a stand alone, but that epilogue makes it clear that there is definitely more to come.
Overall, I have nothing else to say but a huge well done to Lichelle Slate for this literary masterpiece. It was a rollercoaster of fantasy adventure combined with action and paranormal (dragons and fae). I look forward to seeing how the rest of the story develops in future installments.
This is such an original take on the Sleeping Beauty Fairytale. What if instead of pricking her finger on a spinning wheel and doomed to sleep for a century on her eighteenth birthday, she was cursed to turn into a dragon? Princess Elisa just turned seventeen and with one year before the curse takes effect, it’s on her mind more than ever. She also finds out that her mother has arranged her marriage to a prince from the northern kingdoms without even consulting her first!
However, Elisa is not like the girls in the fairytales, who wait for their prince to find a cure and save her with true love’s kiss; she decides to look for answers herself. But by doing so, she discovers her life isn’t as she always thought it was, and maybe there is a way for her to accept the curse after all.
This was a well-written fast-paced fantasy adventure loosely based on the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale, but has bits in it reminiscent of other fairy tales; such as from Rapunzel (by being bound to the castle and having a very controlling mother) and Frozen (mainly with one particular character who I will not name because it is a spoiler and also the name Elisa is so close to Elsa, don’t you think? Elisa also reminds me of Anna from Frozen, but I think I’m getting off topic here).
The characters are all amazing! Elisa’s character is that of a strong-willed heroine.
There is not a huge romantic focus in the story, and while there are some elements of romance, it doesn’t take away from the main story.
The book wrapped up nicely for a stand alone, but that epilogue makes it clear that there is definitely more to come.
Overall, I have nothing else to say but a huge well done to Lichelle Slate for this literary masterpiece. It was a rollercoaster of fantasy adventure combined with action and paranormal (dragons and fae). I look forward to seeing how the rest of the story develops in future installments.
October 30, 2023
2.5 estrellas talvez.
Definitivamente el mismo estilo ligero, dinámico y fácil de digerir que ya había leído de la autora, sin embargo a la historia le falta madurez en el sentido de la construcción del factor fantasía, y la protagonista es poco creíble su desarrollo.
Habla de cosas geniales como profecía, magia, hadas, piedras mágicas y dragones, pero de alguna manera hace ver a los dragones ridículos.
Definitivamente el mismo estilo ligero, dinámico y fácil de digerir que ya había leído de la autora, sin embargo a la historia le falta madurez en el sentido de la construcción del factor fantasía, y la protagonista es poco creíble su desarrollo.
Habla de cosas geniales como profecía, magia, hadas, piedras mágicas y dragones, pero de alguna manera hace ver a los dragones ridículos.
March 30, 2020
**I received a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review**
Growing up, I always loved the clasosic fairy tales, and now I’m really enjoying these same stories told in a new light. This book is loosely based on the story of Sleeping Beauty, but I can’t help but get Frozen and Rapunzel (and by extension, Tangled) vibes.
Our princess, much like Princess Aurora, is cursed, but instead of pricking her finger on a spinning wheel, Princess Elisa is cursed to turn into a dragon by her 18th birthday. Her 17th birthday, the start of the last year she will remain, human, is, well, stressful to say the least. From interesting developments in the search for a cure for the curse, to finding out her mother has arranged a marriage for her to a man she just met, its understandably not the best birthday for Elisa.
Elisa knows that people are searching for a cure for her, however she refuses to stay at home twiddling her thumbs. She runs away from the castle, and on her journey finds out truths that turn her world upside down.
This book was a masterpiece. The writing itself was almost poetic, and the story was an amazing experience. The story itself tied up the loose ends and until I got to the epilogue I felt closure. Of course, the epilogue made it quite clear the story isn’t finished yet - which is a really good thing; after reading this gem, I’d love to read another book of its caliber. The only issue is, now I have to wait for the sequel!!
Growing up, I always loved the clasosic fairy tales, and now I’m really enjoying these same stories told in a new light. This book is loosely based on the story of Sleeping Beauty, but I can’t help but get Frozen and Rapunzel (and by extension, Tangled) vibes.
Our princess, much like Princess Aurora, is cursed, but instead of pricking her finger on a spinning wheel, Princess Elisa is cursed to turn into a dragon by her 18th birthday. Her 17th birthday, the start of the last year she will remain, human, is, well, stressful to say the least. From interesting developments in the search for a cure for the curse, to finding out her mother has arranged a marriage for her to a man she just met, its understandably not the best birthday for Elisa.
Elisa knows that people are searching for a cure for her, however she refuses to stay at home twiddling her thumbs. She runs away from the castle, and on her journey finds out truths that turn her world upside down.
This book was a masterpiece. The writing itself was almost poetic, and the story was an amazing experience. The story itself tied up the loose ends and until I got to the epilogue I felt closure. Of course, the epilogue made it quite clear the story isn’t finished yet - which is a really good thing; after reading this gem, I’d love to read another book of its caliber. The only issue is, now I have to wait for the sequel!!
June 7, 2021
I wanted to like it
I wanted to like this book. I did. It had a wonderful plot, that would have made for an excellent story if it had been written well.
One of the first issues with this was the lack of editing. Right off the bat there are spelling and grammar errors, not to mention a lot of repetition. Editing would have fixed that and cleaned this story up.
Another big problem? The reader is told everything. It’s all telling, no showing. I cried. The pain made me fall over. She died, and it broke me heart. No. Make us FEEL what the characters feel! Tell me how her keening echoed down the halls, how it felt as if a thousand daggers had pierced her heart! Don’t just tell us that she’s sad, mad, happy, etc. It made it so there was a complete disconnect from the characters. Not once were we painted a picture so we could relate to Elisa.
There was no character development either. Massively disappointing. The entire book takes place over, what? 2 weeks I believe? Elisa goes from a whiny child that knows nothing, to a whiny child that knows the truth, and magically becomes a powerful figurehead? Yeah, not exactly the most exciting of characters. She’s actually an extremely irritating one. We never truly learn anything about any of the other characters either. The emotions are all very shallow, and the characters basic. I wouldn’t recommend spending money on this one.
I wanted to like this book. I did. It had a wonderful plot, that would have made for an excellent story if it had been written well.
One of the first issues with this was the lack of editing. Right off the bat there are spelling and grammar errors, not to mention a lot of repetition. Editing would have fixed that and cleaned this story up.
Another big problem? The reader is told everything. It’s all telling, no showing. I cried. The pain made me fall over. She died, and it broke me heart. No. Make us FEEL what the characters feel! Tell me how her keening echoed down the halls, how it felt as if a thousand daggers had pierced her heart! Don’t just tell us that she’s sad, mad, happy, etc. It made it so there was a complete disconnect from the characters. Not once were we painted a picture so we could relate to Elisa.
There was no character development either. Massively disappointing. The entire book takes place over, what? 2 weeks I believe? Elisa goes from a whiny child that knows nothing, to a whiny child that knows the truth, and magically becomes a powerful figurehead? Yeah, not exactly the most exciting of characters. She’s actually an extremely irritating one. We never truly learn anything about any of the other characters either. The emotions are all very shallow, and the characters basic. I wouldn’t recommend spending money on this one.
August 30, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the princess who saved not just herself and not just one prince, but two princes and three races of beings. This book needs to be read with the original sleeping beauty soundtrack playing and throw in some Frozen & Brave songs for good measure.
The beginning was a little on the slower side but it still gave me butterflies guessing what would happen next and how the sleeping beauty theme would tie in. Honestly, I wasn't living for this book until Dormir showed up.
I felt that there could have been more excitement and build up prior to her discovering her dragon side and icy powers. I also didn't like how the food dishes didn't seem to fit the time period. It just doesn't seem like a time when muffins, peanut butter and chicken noodle soup existed.
The story line was amazing and I loved how realistic her thoughts were during her first adventure outside castle walls. I'm glad to see that she didn't somehow know exactly where to go and how to take care of a horse let alone herself after living a sheltered life. The world building & character building were amazing.
I'm really excited about the sequel. Say what you will but I simply cannot bring myself to dislike Gerard and I want to see his character grow.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
The beginning was a little on the slower side but it still gave me butterflies guessing what would happen next and how the sleeping beauty theme would tie in. Honestly, I wasn't living for this book until Dormir showed up.
I felt that there could have been more excitement and build up prior to her discovering her dragon side and icy powers. I also didn't like how the food dishes didn't seem to fit the time period. It just doesn't seem like a time when muffins, peanut butter and chicken noodle soup existed.
The story line was amazing and I loved how realistic her thoughts were during her first adventure outside castle walls. I'm glad to see that she didn't somehow know exactly where to go and how to take care of a horse let alone herself after living a sheltered life. The world building & character building were amazing.
I'm really excited about the sequel. Say what you will but I simply cannot bring myself to dislike Gerard and I want to see his character grow.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2020
The Dragon Princess
This was the first of three that I received as an ARC from the author in the Forgotten Kingdom series.
I think this is the first time ever I've found myself speechless over. I cant decide whether I enjoyed this book or not. There were parts that I absolutely adored but then there were others that I was just a little confused about.
The concept of reimagining fairytales has a special place to me, it's one of my favorite thing. However, I felt like a lot of the story was rushed and she could have gone way more in depth. We jumped so much between different things that it gave me whiplash. Now I have to give this a benefit of the doubt however because it was an ARC, there were some types and even a character had his name changed part way through and then changed back lol.
I would highly recommend you read this though because of the fact that its connected and I'm halfway through the siren princess and I'm enjoying it.
This was the first of three that I received as an ARC from the author in the Forgotten Kingdom series.
I think this is the first time ever I've found myself speechless over. I cant decide whether I enjoyed this book or not. There were parts that I absolutely adored but then there were others that I was just a little confused about.
The concept of reimagining fairytales has a special place to me, it's one of my favorite thing. However, I felt like a lot of the story was rushed and she could have gone way more in depth. We jumped so much between different things that it gave me whiplash. Now I have to give this a benefit of the doubt however because it was an ARC, there were some types and even a character had his name changed part way through and then changed back lol.
I would highly recommend you read this though because of the fact that its connected and I'm halfway through the siren princess and I'm enjoying it.
September 7, 2019
DNF - quit at 30%
The blurb for this drew me in, & had me wanting to read this. But by 30%, I was totally bored and thinking of things to do besides read. The flow on this is super duper slow. I also didn't like the insta-love for a fairy tale type story that seems to be for Y/A readers, when the couple decides they are in love -so quickly, with no real time together, had me shutting down. The character development felt shallow, too, I really didn't feel like I knew or understood the characters (or story) enough to care to read about them.
At my age, life is to short & my time to important to force myself to read a book I'm not enjoying, especially when there are so many other books out there waiting to be read.
The blurb for this drew me in, & had me wanting to read this. But by 30%, I was totally bored and thinking of things to do besides read. The flow on this is super duper slow. I also didn't like the insta-love for a fairy tale type story that seems to be for Y/A readers, when the couple decides they are in love -so quickly, with no real time together, had me shutting down. The character development felt shallow, too, I really didn't feel like I knew or understood the characters (or story) enough to care to read about them.
At my age, life is to short & my time to important to force myself to read a book I'm not enjoying, especially when there are so many other books out there waiting to be read.
August 28, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was more than a Sleeping Beauty retelling. It seemed more of a cross between Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel with a touch of Frozen. I don’t want to leave spoilers, so I’ll just say I didn’t expect all of the twists the author threw. And I was absolutely right about Gerard.
Definitely a recommended read from me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Definitely a recommended read from me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
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August 31, 2019A reimagined sleeping beauty like no other. I have read many reimagined fairy tales and this is one of the best.Elisa is a very strong girl that goes through so much betrayal in her life but overcomes it. My favorite part of the book was Elisa’s bond with her sisters Marigold and Dahlia they were always there for each other.I love the three worlds and hope to read more of them.
April 21, 2021
In need of editing
Needs a good editor or someone to just correct the typos and errors. Also very juvenile Main characters which got exhausting
Needs a good editor or someone to just correct the typos and errors. Also very juvenile Main characters which got exhausting
August 30, 2019
Sweet story of discovering who you are and who you were meant to be: Coming of age and having to rethink your life as you knew it. The main character does a good job of redefining her life on her terms.
Good book for young audiences.
Good book for young audiences.
September 1, 2019
This book was beyond what I thought possible. Highly recommend. Definitely will be rereading it in the future.
March 24, 2020
The Dragon Princess by Lichelle Slater is the unexpected twist on Sleeping Beauty a classic fairytale. Instead of a curse that will cause her to fall asleep, Elisa is told that she is cursed to become a dragon on her 18th birthday and that the fae will be the ones who help her to find the cure. Elisa just turns 17 and she is afraid of the curse coming true and her hurting those that she loves. But what if the truth is something that is the complete opposite of what she has been told?
I am a huge fan of fairy tale retellings so when I heard about this book I was eager to dive in and see where the author took me. The twist on the "curse" hooked me into the story from the very beginning. The author pulled me deeper in when Elisa begins to change and struggles to control her emotions. I have to admit that I absolutely loved her sisters. They were so sweet and always there to lend a helping hand and help nudge her in the right direction. The twists in this book were pretty well done overall. The familiar landmarks of the original story are hidden away, removed by the characters and twisted around by the author. There were a couple of moments where I felt disappointed with certain details, but overall it does play well with the author's general idea for the storyline. I like that there is some danger, but not a lot since this is a YA book.
The downside for me concerning this book is I felt that there were some gaps. The "love at first sight" with the prince that she is betrothed to on her 17th birthday...I can get that. It happens and plus she learns a bit of surprising news behind another prince that she has been trying to catch his eye but failed. But when the author shifts the love interest to another, I felt that things...jumped from point A to point K. Yes, they get close during their travels, but...where is the build-up? There isn't any and I felt disappointed. Then a character suffers no real punishment for their crimes. It feels like a let-down. I was expecting more. There are also a few editorial errors in this book. A few words here and there are misspelled. They are small mistakes and don't detract from the overall storyline, but they do catch the eye.
This book has quite a bit going for it and I did enjoy the storyline as Elisa tries to become a better princess and save herself from her "curse" but I just wanted a bit more depth. I am rating this book 4 out of 5 stars. This is a good book for young adult readers.
I am a huge fan of fairy tale retellings so when I heard about this book I was eager to dive in and see where the author took me. The twist on the "curse" hooked me into the story from the very beginning. The author pulled me deeper in when Elisa begins to change and struggles to control her emotions. I have to admit that I absolutely loved her sisters. They were so sweet and always there to lend a helping hand and help nudge her in the right direction. The twists in this book were pretty well done overall. The familiar landmarks of the original story are hidden away, removed by the characters and twisted around by the author. There were a couple of moments where I felt disappointed with certain details, but overall it does play well with the author's general idea for the storyline. I like that there is some danger, but not a lot since this is a YA book.
The downside for me concerning this book is I felt that there were some gaps. The "love at first sight" with the prince that she is betrothed to on her 17th birthday...I can get that. It happens and plus she learns a bit of surprising news behind another prince that she has been trying to catch his eye but failed. But when the author shifts the love interest to another, I felt that things...jumped from point A to point K. Yes, they get close during their travels, but...where is the build-up? There isn't any and I felt disappointed. Then a character suffers no real punishment for their crimes. It feels like a let-down. I was expecting more. There are also a few editorial errors in this book. A few words here and there are misspelled. They are small mistakes and don't detract from the overall storyline, but they do catch the eye.
This book has quite a bit going for it and I did enjoy the storyline as Elisa tries to become a better princess and save herself from her "curse" but I just wanted a bit more depth. I am rating this book 4 out of 5 stars. This is a good book for young adult readers.
February 27, 2020
A fun story that follows a princess on her quest to save herself from her curse. I wouldn't have put this together as a Sleeping Beauty retelling since the references are VERY sparse and I think the label is a stretch. So you might be disappointed if you're going in expecting that.
BUT it's a good story. Elisa has a lot of spunk and personality. I liked that she had a good relationship with her sisters. The decision to take matters into her own hands and go on a quest reminded me of a childhood story that I LOVED. But what was really great is how realistic it was. Her struggles to figure out what she needed, being unsure what to do with her horse at night, being out of her depth with travel and roughing it. A lot of times characters go on these trips and just magically get everything to work. Slater actually took the time to think about the struggles an isolated princess would have and either provide a logical solution to a way around them (such as the kitchen maid helping her pack and writing instructions for cooking) or had her actually end up in a "what the heck do I do?" spot and having to leave the saddle on her horse or not finding water, etc. Reading maps backwards, bad cooking, I mean, it really had one of the most realistic fantasy journeys of this type I've read.
I liked the twist on is this a curse or not and what's actually going on? I thought the attachment so quickly to the first prince was handily dealt with but that "I learned my lesson about insta love" was a bit moot since she kind of repeats the mistake with the next guy she meets.
The final battle was really well described and there was a lot of great descriptive elements throughout the book.
I did think both the villain and the mother got off easily. The mother, especially considering not only what she'd done back when Elisa was young but what she'd done to Elisa her whole life, really got off easy. I wanted her to have some sort of consequences instead everyone was like, "yeah it's cool." and they all lived HEA.
BUT it's a good story. Elisa has a lot of spunk and personality. I liked that she had a good relationship with her sisters. The decision to take matters into her own hands and go on a quest reminded me of a childhood story that I LOVED. But what was really great is how realistic it was. Her struggles to figure out what she needed, being unsure what to do with her horse at night, being out of her depth with travel and roughing it. A lot of times characters go on these trips and just magically get everything to work. Slater actually took the time to think about the struggles an isolated princess would have and either provide a logical solution to a way around them (such as the kitchen maid helping her pack and writing instructions for cooking) or had her actually end up in a "what the heck do I do?" spot and having to leave the saddle on her horse or not finding water, etc. Reading maps backwards, bad cooking, I mean, it really had one of the most realistic fantasy journeys of this type I've read.
I liked the twist on is this a curse or not and what's actually going on? I thought the attachment so quickly to the first prince was handily dealt with but that "I learned my lesson about insta love" was a bit moot since she kind of repeats the mistake with the next guy she meets.
The final battle was really well described and there was a lot of great descriptive elements throughout the book.
I did think both the villain and the mother got off easily. The mother, especially considering not only what she'd done back when Elisa was young but what she'd done to Elisa her whole life, really got off easy. I wanted her to have some sort of consequences instead everyone was like, "yeah it's cool." and they all lived HEA.
November 4, 2020
First half is better then the rest
Starting out on this book I really liked it. It was well written, the editing was good, it was a new fun take and was overall very engaging.
The second half was a slog. It feels like the writers changed, the writing become really immature, the editing was not great, a lot of weird or conflicting plot points, plot holes and things that were really contradictory and just didn’t make sense. The descriptions, which were beautiful in the first half, become overly drawn out on the wrong things, excessive narrations on what rooms and people looked like and what they were doing to where you were just skimming paragraphs and paragraphs of needless information.
The first half was like a legit good book and the second half was like a 13 year old on Wattpad. The first half was so good the weird switch was jarring and so disappointing. I went from loving this book and being totally engrossed to struggling to force myself to just finish it.
Would not recommend.
Starting out on this book I really liked it. It was well written, the editing was good, it was a new fun take and was overall very engaging.
The second half was a slog. It feels like the writers changed, the writing become really immature, the editing was not great, a lot of weird or conflicting plot points, plot holes and things that were really contradictory and just didn’t make sense. The descriptions, which were beautiful in the first half, become overly drawn out on the wrong things, excessive narrations on what rooms and people looked like and what they were doing to where you were just skimming paragraphs and paragraphs of needless information.
The first half was like a legit good book and the second half was like a 13 year old on Wattpad. The first half was so good the weird switch was jarring and so disappointing. I went from loving this book and being totally engrossed to struggling to force myself to just finish it.
Would not recommend.
November 11, 2021
I'm always a sucker for a fairytale retelling, so as soon as I saw these gorgeous covers and saw it was a series I scooped these bad boys up quick. I was so interested in this take on the sleeping beauty retelling. It's always nice to see a fresh take on an old story
Princess Elisa was a very naïve character for me but began to prove herself as the book continued. She was really naïve for completely valid reasons because she was kept locked in the castle and not allowed to venture out very often. Her sisters were honestly the highlight of the book for me in the beginning. The love the sisters had for each other was very genuine and sweet. When she was finally off adventuring on her own was when I felt she made the most progress. I was not expecting some of the twists and turns that happened, yet the book flowed really nicely for me. Was I hoping for a little more world building and maybe character connection yes... however this was a great starter book into this series. Also all of the covers of the books into this series are GORGEOUS.
Princess Elisa was a very naïve character for me but began to prove herself as the book continued. She was really naïve for completely valid reasons because she was kept locked in the castle and not allowed to venture out very often. Her sisters were honestly the highlight of the book for me in the beginning. The love the sisters had for each other was very genuine and sweet. When she was finally off adventuring on her own was when I felt she made the most progress. I was not expecting some of the twists and turns that happened, yet the book flowed really nicely for me. Was I hoping for a little more world building and maybe character connection yes... however this was a great starter book into this series. Also all of the covers of the books into this series are GORGEOUS.
July 24, 2020
THE GOOD: What a refreshing look at a traditional fairy tale that has been told so many times! I deeply enjoyed the logical plot twists and cheered along with the characters. The author managed to integrate many of the classic elements in new ways and draw attention to the true turmoil within our heroine.
THE BAD: I don’t actually have too much to say bad. Maybe that she really made me hate a character in one scene and I can’t wait for revenge... oh and I felt that fact that she was stolen was totally too downplayed and her parents shouldn’t have been forgiven so quickly.
THE WISH: I wish to immediately begin the next book. But seriously, I hope we are not done with these characters and that they make appearances later in the series. And of course that a certain character hadn’t died!
THE BAD: I don’t actually have too much to say bad. Maybe that she really made me hate a character in one scene and I can’t wait for revenge... oh and I felt that fact that she was stolen was totally too downplayed and her parents shouldn’t have been forgiven so quickly.
THE WISH: I wish to immediately begin the next book. But seriously, I hope we are not done with these characters and that they make appearances later in the series. And of course that a certain character hadn’t died!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2020
This Sleeping Beauty fairy tale retelling was unlike any I have ever read.
Princess Elisa is expected to become a dragon by eighteen based on her curse. On her seventeenth birthday she meets a suitor who is to be her betrothed. He decides to help Elisa figure out her curse by finding the faeries.
Tired of reading the passive princesses who wait on a man to save them, Elisa gets the courage to set out on her own...
I loved this book! It was exciting and kept me turning the pages. I loved exploring the new worlds with Princess Elisa as she did as well. Several twists and turns and the end was surprising. I loved what Slater did with Sleeping Beauty and can't wait to continue reading in this series!!
Princess Elisa is expected to become a dragon by eighteen based on her curse. On her seventeenth birthday she meets a suitor who is to be her betrothed. He decides to help Elisa figure out her curse by finding the faeries.
Tired of reading the passive princesses who wait on a man to save them, Elisa gets the courage to set out on her own...
I loved this book! It was exciting and kept me turning the pages. I loved exploring the new worlds with Princess Elisa as she did as well. Several twists and turns and the end was surprising. I loved what Slater did with Sleeping Beauty and can't wait to continue reading in this series!!
September 8, 2020
So much potential
The plot of this remaining was filed to the brim with potential. It could have been the next big thing to hit the fantasy world, but the writing fell flat, though not for a lack of literary talent. It reads like a rushed book report finished the night before it was due. Had the author taken the time to fully flesh out the story, give more details and expend some effort to actually developing the world and characters, this book could have been something incredible. Everything happens too quickly, too conveniently, and wraps up too neatly. I wanted more meat in the story. Hopefully the next books in the series carry a bit more depth.
The plot of this remaining was filed to the brim with potential. It could have been the next big thing to hit the fantasy world, but the writing fell flat, though not for a lack of literary talent. It reads like a rushed book report finished the night before it was due. Had the author taken the time to fully flesh out the story, give more details and expend some effort to actually developing the world and characters, this book could have been something incredible. Everything happens too quickly, too conveniently, and wraps up too neatly. I wanted more meat in the story. Hopefully the next books in the series carry a bit more depth.
November 25, 2020
I did enjoy this book. It was wonderfully crafted and I loved that it was magical. I will admit that it did not live up to my expectations. It felt a bit strained and jumped from one part to the next. If you are looking for an adventure with some identity discovery, this book is for you. It does include some slight romance, but that is not the focal point. Please don't let this review stop you from reading this book. Everyone has different opinions, and this book was a good one.
If anyone wants me to give a more detailed review, comment below. I didn't go into description too much, so that anyone could read this without me spoiling the book for them.
If anyone wants me to give a more detailed review, comment below. I didn't go into description too much, so that anyone could read this without me spoiling the book for them.
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