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Fairy Tale Royals #3
Pearl of Magic
Life in captivity is horrible.
But pretending to be a prisoner is worse.
Aizel is a Majis and, against her will, a spy. She is supposed to be uncovering secrets for a cruel king, but spends most of her time listening to the haughty, self-absorbed musings of her captor, Prince Erich.
It would be much less frustrating if she could at least complain about it, but the king has silenced her, taking away her voice so that she cannot wield her magic.
If she fails to gather information from Erich, her family will be killed. But if she reports back to the king, her people's only hope for freedom will be exterminated. Can she find a way to communicate with her captor and convince him of the truth about the Majis?
But pretending to be a prisoner is worse.
Aizel is a Majis and, against her will, a spy. She is supposed to be uncovering secrets for a cruel king, but spends most of her time listening to the haughty, self-absorbed musings of her captor, Prince Erich.
It would be much less frustrating if she could at least complain about it, but the king has silenced her, taking away her voice so that she cannot wield her magic.
If she fails to gather information from Erich, her family will be killed. But if she reports back to the king, her people's only hope for freedom will be exterminated. Can she find a way to communicate with her captor and convince him of the truth about the Majis?
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 16, 2020
156 people are currently reading
555 people want to read
About the author
Emily Deady
11 books159 followersEmily Deady was as an avid reader who hated writing. But one day she realized that most authors loved cats and tea, her two favorite things. So, she stopped fighting the inevitable and she began to write. She loves a good romance, her real life hero who patiently listens to all her plotlines, and hitting the trails for light hike in sunny San Diego.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
May 28, 2025
3 stars ⭐️ Clean Fiction - Fairytale Retelling
Because it’s been a while since I read the prior books, it took me a bit to remember all the characters and the world’s setting, but I reread my reviews of the first two books and that helped along with keeping on reading in this book.
I will say I was confused at times because things didn’t add up—there were many parts that were conflicting information between MMC and FMC’s POVS and it’s because there was more factors at play then they both knew about. We don’t get some things cleared up until 70% though, which albeit helpful (finally!) to have a discussion about the different things they know/believe, I couldn’t really figure anything out until then—I had to just trust it would all make sense later.
Erich had his very silly moments. He was also a fool at times, but that’s all boys I suppose. (I’m kidding…mostly! 😉) *Spoiler* .
I did really like the very end and seeing Onric and Ashlin (my favorite couple from this series) again. Particularly liked a certain connection/reveal that happened with them at the very end! It made this book better for me.
One thing that was interesting about this book was that is was set during the events in the second book, kind of a “meanwhile…this over here is happening”, which I thought was interesting. I liked this one more than the second book, personally. I think this series would be the best to binge read to be able to keep track of all the characters and the plot with the magic users. That said, I think I’ll be moving on to the fourth book soon!
Main Content-
The “race of magic-welders” (called Majis) have been locked away for 250 years (or one thousand seasons) with their return coming soon and many believe they are going to be back for vengeance and there will be a war; Majis’ powers come from harmony and a balance of it; Objects aren’t magical, but depending on the amount of harmony in the item, it can be used to channel a magic user’s magic.
Aizel is a Majis and has grown up on the Isle of Exile under the orders of cruel people (called “taskers”); All Majis there have to wear a necklace that keeps them from harming the taskers and/or can make them mute completely; Majis are used on the island to dive for oysters and use a special oil to be able to breath under water (which we see Aizel use as well); *Spoilers* .
Aizel is able to sing and while doesn’t always understand the meaning of what she sings, she feels comfort and/or power when she uses her magic; Aizel is able to use her magic to make people fall asleep and unlock a lock (done by envisioning what she wants while she sings).
Erich thinks he’s dead (twice) and has a couple comments about what he is experiencing not being what he pictured for the afterlife.
Many mentions of Majis, magic users (also called sorcerers), magic, singing, & putting curses/spells on others; Mentions of the attack at the end of the first book, someone being cursed and transformed into a human-shaped beast, & the curse being able to eventually claim his body and mind (Book #2); Mentions of a monastery & monks; Mentions of evil & people (mainly Majis) being called evil; A mention of a minister.
No language stronger than ‘gah’, ‘idiot’, and ‘stupid’; A few mentions of curses (said, not written); Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Eavesdropping (with little to no guilt); Erich’s brother has a few harsh words to him which hurts.
Thinking they may die (both MCs), Almost drowning, Saving someone from drowning, Being grabbed and tied-up, Fighting, Attacks, Pain, Injuries, Passing out/Being knocked unconscious, & Throwing up (up to a few sentences).
Erich has PTSD when around water after his near drowning & nightmares of it as well.
Aizel is threatened to kill someone with poison & while she doesn’t want to do it, she can’t say no because of the threat to her family; Aizel faces prejudice and hatred based on her being a Majis.
Many mentions of deaths, drownings and near drownings, a shipwreck, & attacks; Mentions of a possible war; Mentions of an ordered murder/assassination, poisons, & a man wishing for the deaths of others; Mentions of ordered executions (including of a child); Mentions of injuries & pain; Mentions of bandits/thieves & being held at knife-point; Mentions of grief; Mentions of nightmares; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of ale & taverns.
1 head kiss,
3 kisses lasting a couple sentences,
1 kissing lasting a few sentences (ending with her in his lap).
Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Tingles, & Nearness (up to 2-3 sentences); Noticing (up to a couple sentences); A bit of jealousy.
Mentions of kisses & kissing; A few mentions of others saying Aizel is a seductress & will seduce Erich with her “wiles”; A mention of a useless girl being “saved” for men at a port (which is said to be a fate worse than death and does not happen); A mention of being sweet on someone & a sibling teasing with kissing motions.
Because it’s been a while since I read the prior books, it took me a bit to remember all the characters and the world’s setting, but I reread my reviews of the first two books and that helped along with keeping on reading in this book.
I will say I was confused at times because things didn’t add up—there were many parts that were conflicting information between MMC and FMC’s POVS and it’s because there was more factors at play then they both knew about. We don’t get some things cleared up until 70% though, which albeit helpful (finally!) to have a discussion about the different things they know/believe, I couldn’t really figure anything out until then—I had to just trust it would all make sense later.
Erich had his very silly moments. He was also a fool at times, but that’s all boys I suppose. (I’m kidding…mostly! 😉) *Spoiler* .
I did really like the very end and seeing Onric and Ashlin (my favorite couple from this series) again. Particularly liked a certain connection/reveal that happened with them at the very end! It made this book better for me.
One thing that was interesting about this book was that is was set during the events in the second book, kind of a “meanwhile…this over here is happening”, which I thought was interesting. I liked this one more than the second book, personally. I think this series would be the best to binge read to be able to keep track of all the characters and the plot with the magic users. That said, I think I’ll be moving on to the fourth book soon!
Main Content-
The “race of magic-welders” (called Majis) have been locked away for 250 years (or one thousand seasons) with their return coming soon and many believe they are going to be back for vengeance and there will be a war; Majis’ powers come from harmony and a balance of it; Objects aren’t magical, but depending on the amount of harmony in the item, it can be used to channel a magic user’s magic.
Aizel is a Majis and has grown up on the Isle of Exile under the orders of cruel people (called “taskers”); All Majis there have to wear a necklace that keeps them from harming the taskers and/or can make them mute completely; Majis are used on the island to dive for oysters and use a special oil to be able to breath under water (which we see Aizel use as well); *Spoilers* .
Aizel is able to sing and while doesn’t always understand the meaning of what she sings, she feels comfort and/or power when she uses her magic; Aizel is able to use her magic to make people fall asleep and unlock a lock (done by envisioning what she wants while she sings).
Erich thinks he’s dead (twice) and has a couple comments about what he is experiencing not being what he pictured for the afterlife.
Many mentions of Majis, magic users (also called sorcerers), magic, singing, & putting curses/spells on others; Mentions of the attack at the end of the first book, someone being cursed and transformed into a human-shaped beast, & the curse being able to eventually claim his body and mind (Book #2); Mentions of a monastery & monks; Mentions of evil & people (mainly Majis) being called evil; A mention of a minister.
No language stronger than ‘gah’, ‘idiot’, and ‘stupid’; A few mentions of curses (said, not written); Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Eavesdropping (with little to no guilt); Erich’s brother has a few harsh words to him which hurts.
Thinking they may die (both MCs), Almost drowning, Saving someone from drowning, Being grabbed and tied-up, Fighting, Attacks, Pain, Injuries, Passing out/Being knocked unconscious, & Throwing up (up to a few sentences).
Erich has PTSD when around water after his near drowning & nightmares of it as well.
Aizel is threatened to kill someone with poison & while she doesn’t want to do it, she can’t say no because of the threat to her family; Aizel faces prejudice and hatred based on her being a Majis.
Many mentions of deaths, drownings and near drownings, a shipwreck, & attacks; Mentions of a possible war; Mentions of an ordered murder/assassination, poisons, & a man wishing for the deaths of others; Mentions of ordered executions (including of a child); Mentions of injuries & pain; Mentions of bandits/thieves & being held at knife-point; Mentions of grief; Mentions of nightmares; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of ale & taverns.
1 head kiss,
3 kisses lasting a couple sentences,
1 kissing lasting a few sentences (ending with her in his lap).
Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Tingles, & Nearness (up to 2-3 sentences); Noticing (up to a couple sentences); A bit of jealousy.
Mentions of kisses & kissing; A few mentions of others saying Aizel is a seductress & will seduce Erich with her “wiles”; A mention of a useless girl being “saved” for men at a port (which is said to be a fate worse than death and does not happen); A mention of being sweet on someone & a sibling teasing with kissing motions.
February 3, 2021
Loved it! I kept thinking that there was no way to get the MC out of the situation, and the result was surprising. Great read.
January 12, 2021
Pearl of Magic was my favorite book so far in this series!! XD It was just so amazing and perfect, my only complaint was that the romance went from growing to "let's get married" really fast in the last couple of chapters. But besides that it was great!
The plot was just so intriguing and cool, I loved getting to know more about the Majis and that there's more going on than thought in the previous two books.
I loved the characters so much. Aizel was such a cool protagonist, I loved her spirit and love for her sister. I liked seeing how even though Erich comes off as flippant and carefree, he's really not. He just acts like that because if he acted mature like he was, he'd be invisible next to his older brothers. I really liked him in Thorn of Rose and was excited to read his story.
I really liked Robin from what we could see of her in this book, and am so sad that her book isn't until after the next one, which comes out in June. And the next book, ahh I want to read it so bad, but again, it's not out yet!
Emily Deady is an incredible author and I'm so glad I found her. I 100% recommend reading her Fairy Tale Royals series if you like clean fairytale retellings with romance, humor, and awesome plots.
The plot was just so intriguing and cool, I loved getting to know more about the Majis and that there's more going on than thought in the previous two books.
I loved the characters so much. Aizel was such a cool protagonist, I loved her spirit and love for her sister. I liked seeing how even though Erich comes off as flippant and carefree, he's really not. He just acts like that because if he acted mature like he was, he'd be invisible next to his older brothers. I really liked him in Thorn of Rose and was excited to read his story.
I really liked Robin from what we could see of her in this book, and am so sad that her book isn't until after the next one, which comes out in June. And the next book, ahh I want to read it so bad, but again, it's not out yet!
Emily Deady is an incredible author and I'm so glad I found her. I 100% recommend reading her Fairy Tale Royals series if you like clean fairytale retellings with romance, humor, and awesome plots.
January 5, 2025
The final day of the fairy tale advent calendar contained a generous offer of four books from Emily Deady's Fairy Tale Royals series. This author was new to me, so I decided to check one of them out. Although I was going to start at the beginning with her "Cinderella" retelling, I settled for Pearl of Magic because it's hard to find good retellings of "The Little Mermaid." This was another adaptation that did not contain mermaids, but it still had some magical properties. The main character is a type of sorceress whose race is oppressed by other kingdoms. She is silenced by a magic necklace and must get to know her captor through hand gestures alone. The story is similar to The Prince's Captive by Celeste Baxendell.
Aizel is a Majis who uses her voice to command power. When her people are persecuted and her sister's life is on the line, she must agree to kill an enemy prince that she rescued from drowning. Meanwhile, Prince Erich, whose kingdom is in political turmoil, is charged with escorting Aizel to be executed due to her magical background. He does not know much about her race or that the necklace that suffocates her power also prevents her from speaking. Both are uncomfortable with their tasks and must find ways to communicate with each other despite Aizel's inability to talk. The more they get to know each other, the more they realize it would be impossible for them to complete their missions.
Although I wished this adaptation contained mermaids and undersea kingdoms, it was an interesting concept for a love story. The two are forced together because of political circumstances beyond their control and forced to overcome their prejudices and even fall in love. It was a nice twist for Aizel to sacrifice her powers to save her sister instead of to be with the prince, but she came to care for him as well over time. Erich came off as a passive character who was only doing as he was told until Aizel opened up his eyes and made him realize there was more to the Majis than he realized. Both were presented as victims of circumstance, but those same circumstances brought them together.
The worldbuilding is this book's greatest strength, and I can easily see how it is part of a bigger series. With so many different kingdoms and races, there is a great deal of potential for more stories and star-crossed lovers between those who can use magic and those who are ignorant of its potential. The persecution of the Majis created high stakes, but it didn't feel like Aizel and Erich had a lot of time to get to know each other, especially when Aizel couldn't speak for most of the book. They did the best they could under the circumstances and eventually fell in love deeply enough to be willing to risk everything for one another.
Pearl of Magic is an intriguing retelling of "The Little Mermaid" that trades in underwater kingdoms for a richly detailed world of magic and politics. While it didn't quite capture the essence of the original tale, Emily Deady's unique spin on the story is engaging and full of potential. The romance between Aizel and Erich is sweet, if a bit rushed, and the worldbuilding is undoubtedly the book's strongest aspect. Fans of fantasy romance and fairy tale retellings will likely find Pearl of Magic to be a compelling read, and the larger Fairy Tale Royals series shows promise for more magical stories to come.
Aizel is a Majis who uses her voice to command power. When her people are persecuted and her sister's life is on the line, she must agree to kill an enemy prince that she rescued from drowning. Meanwhile, Prince Erich, whose kingdom is in political turmoil, is charged with escorting Aizel to be executed due to her magical background. He does not know much about her race or that the necklace that suffocates her power also prevents her from speaking. Both are uncomfortable with their tasks and must find ways to communicate with each other despite Aizel's inability to talk. The more they get to know each other, the more they realize it would be impossible for them to complete their missions.
Although I wished this adaptation contained mermaids and undersea kingdoms, it was an interesting concept for a love story. The two are forced together because of political circumstances beyond their control and forced to overcome their prejudices and even fall in love. It was a nice twist for Aizel to sacrifice her powers to save her sister instead of to be with the prince, but she came to care for him as well over time. Erich came off as a passive character who was only doing as he was told until Aizel opened up his eyes and made him realize there was more to the Majis than he realized. Both were presented as victims of circumstance, but those same circumstances brought them together.
The worldbuilding is this book's greatest strength, and I can easily see how it is part of a bigger series. With so many different kingdoms and races, there is a great deal of potential for more stories and star-crossed lovers between those who can use magic and those who are ignorant of its potential. The persecution of the Majis created high stakes, but it didn't feel like Aizel and Erich had a lot of time to get to know each other, especially when Aizel couldn't speak for most of the book. They did the best they could under the circumstances and eventually fell in love deeply enough to be willing to risk everything for one another.
Pearl of Magic is an intriguing retelling of "The Little Mermaid" that trades in underwater kingdoms for a richly detailed world of magic and politics. While it didn't quite capture the essence of the original tale, Emily Deady's unique spin on the story is engaging and full of potential. The romance between Aizel and Erich is sweet, if a bit rushed, and the worldbuilding is undoubtedly the book's strongest aspect. Fans of fantasy romance and fairy tale retellings will likely find Pearl of Magic to be a compelling read, and the larger Fairy Tale Royals series shows promise for more magical stories to come.
December 26, 2020
I enjoyed this book so much I read it in one sitting, and then went back and read it again. The author did not disappoint and it was a very unique take on Little Mermaid that fits well in her series of books. The characters are well thought out as is the whole story. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this author. I was happy to see some characters from the first 2 books included, and it was nicely tied into the other books although you could read this as a stand alone.
January 13, 2021
A fun re-write of the Little Mermaid warmed my heart with the unusual characters. I am sad I have to wait so many months for the next ones.
December 23, 2020
I enjoyed this version of The Little Mermaid including the callbacks to Disney’s Prince Eric and Ariel’s propensity for collecting things she’s never seen before. As this is the third in the series I was happy to begin learning more about the Majis as they seemed to be secondary or even tertiary characters in the other books. I wish I didn’t have to wait until the summer for the next installment as I want to know what happens with the Majis and Iseldis.
December 13, 2020
Rating: 4 stars
• My thoughts about his story:
• The author caught my attention right from the beginning and drew me into the story with Aizel's quest to escape Istroya and save her sister.
• This story presented the dilemma: Do you judge a person by their actions or by what other people tell you they should be?
• Aizel and Erich were characters that you wanted to discover more about as you read their story. These characters were multifaceted and likeable.
• The descriptions of locations and emotions were well done, easy to visualize, and to feel. I could envision this book's scenes so clearly.
• The pacing of the story was neither too slow nor too fast. There was a smooth, coherent flow to this book.
• This story had a satisfying ending.
• To get the most out of this series you should read them in order. Each story gives you an important piece of knowledge to the puzzle of what is really happening to Iseldis and who is behind it.
• This was a clean story.
I was given a free advance copy of this book by the author. My review was voluntary and my opinions were my own. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy novel takes on fairytales. This is usually a genre that I don't read, but I enjoyed this author's unique style so much, that I will be eagerly awaiting more books to read in this series.
• My thoughts about his story:
• The author caught my attention right from the beginning and drew me into the story with Aizel's quest to escape Istroya and save her sister.
• This story presented the dilemma: Do you judge a person by their actions or by what other people tell you they should be?
• Aizel and Erich were characters that you wanted to discover more about as you read their story. These characters were multifaceted and likeable.
• The descriptions of locations and emotions were well done, easy to visualize, and to feel. I could envision this book's scenes so clearly.
• The pacing of the story was neither too slow nor too fast. There was a smooth, coherent flow to this book.
• This story had a satisfying ending.
• To get the most out of this series you should read them in order. Each story gives you an important piece of knowledge to the puzzle of what is really happening to Iseldis and who is behind it.
• This was a clean story.
I was given a free advance copy of this book by the author. My review was voluntary and my opinions were my own. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy novel takes on fairytales. This is usually a genre that I don't read, but I enjoyed this author's unique style so much, that I will be eagerly awaiting more books to read in this series.
March 5, 2021
I feel like I’m the only one who genuinely didn’t enjoy this book??? I liked the first two of the series but this one felt like it was from an entirely different series and author. The writing felt rushed. There really wasn’t any character development for Erich which is so frustrating. He was a brat the entire book and never actually had the moment of self reflection that I was expecting. It’s hard to imagine Aizel, who sacrificed everything for her family multiple times, being with him. I was hoping that she would tell him off and then after that the romance would progress. But it was just so rushed. He literally didn’t know anything about her life and then they got married??????? I’m sad. I was really looking forward to this. I did enjoy the development of the bad guys and their evil schemes. Unexpected.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2020
A high 3.5 stars. This review and many more is also available on my blog.
I've been on a huge fairytale retelling kick lately, and I really enjoyed Deady's take on Cinderella and Beauty & the Beast in the first two books in this series. I was excited for Pearl of Magic because it can be taken in so many interesting directions.
I've been on a huge fairytale retelling kick lately, and I really enjoyed Deady's take on Cinderella and Beauty & the Beast in the first two books in this series. I was excited for Pearl of Magic because it can be taken in so many interesting directions.
The first couple pages were very confusing to get into, because there was no recap to bring us back up to speed. I actually had to flip back to the earlier books to remind myself of the countries and characters that have already been established, and to verify that Erich is a younger siblings of the two princes in the earlier books. I also got muddled between the two countries on the mainland.
Once I got all that straightened out, though, I really enjoyed this interesting take on the Little Mermaid story. It was interesting to explore a scenario where the prince knows she's being forced not to talk, and her voice has been taken from her as a way to take away her magic. I'm also really glad Deady didn't go with the Ursula plotline of an imposter almost stealing the little mermaid's man, because you really have to bend over backward to make it plausible.
Both Erich and Aizel are fun characters to follow. Erich sometimes felt a bit tropey to me, like a carefully selected collection of personality traits rather than a fully-fleshed person. I thought the shift in his attitude toward Aizel and the Majis was pretty realistic, as he spent more and more time learning who she was through daily interactions. Their growing relationship is a cute thing to watch, and I enjoyed their interactions and wished there were more of them. I did feel like the climax was a bit rushed, though.
As for Aizel, her development was much more fleshed out than Erich's - which makes sense, since most of the book is told from her perspective. There is a decent amount of nuance to her, especially around her ethical struggles. The king is holding her little sister's life hostage, and says he'll only spare her if Aizel kills Erich. I liked watching her really wrestle with this challenge, questioning whether she's the sort of person who could kill anyone - even to save a loved one - but also desperate to do whatever it takes to save her sister. My only qualm about Aizel is that I didn't necessarily see how her personality was especially suited to Erich's; she spends most of the book stressed out, terrified, and/or furious. She doesn't have much of a chance to discuss hobbies or life philosophies or anything with him, because she's literally muted.
Overall, this was a cute book which I enjoyed reading. I think my favorite book in the series must still be Thorn of Rose, the Beauty & the Beast retelling. And my all-time favorite Little Mermaid retelling is definitely still A.G. Marshall's Princess of Mermaids. But this is a fun read that I do recommend to anyone looking for a nice fairytale retelling.
July 17, 2021
I really liked the first two books in this series, this one didn't quite connect (even though "The Little Mermaid" and Ariel and Eric are favorites of mine). I just didn't totally get into the story, and there were a few things that I questioned ...
In chapter 3, Erich is remembering the ball (from book 1) where his brother Aden was turned into a beast. "His only complaint was that the evening had been cut short." Boy - he's a little shallow if he's more concerned about losing out on an evening of dancing than his brother being attacked.
Robin - we're being set up for book 5, it's pretty obvious. Erich lets the name slip (connection to the oldest, Ian), then we figure out that Erich and Robin meet again, even though her name isn't mentioned. But then it's mentioned that Aizel is looking for "the leader" of the resistance, but when it's first mentioned, it's like Aizel is just given the name, not that she knows her personally. Later on, it IS like she's a personal friend. I just had to go back (put a search in my Kindle) to see if I missed something, but I didn't.
When thugs come upon Aizel and Erich, and favor Aizel, and ask "why haven't you removed her necklace?" ... WHY didn't Mr. Thug remove her necklace? He just left, with it still on, and Erich doesn't remove it until quite a bit later.
When Aizel is afraid for her sister's life "she wanted to stamp her foot into the ground and shout the angriest song she could think of." In the next few lines it does indicate that she IS more upset, but the "wanted to stamp her foot" just made me think of a little child throwing a tantrum.
A few things seemed a little TOO convenient (Peter's connection), and the whole Erich/Aden meet-up (happened in book 2, barely referred to here, felt forced/unnatural).
So ... 2.5 stars. I do think I'll continue on, but this one just didn't do it for me.
In chapter 3, Erich is remembering the ball (from book 1) where his brother Aden was turned into a beast. "His only complaint was that the evening had been cut short." Boy - he's a little shallow if he's more concerned about losing out on an evening of dancing than his brother being attacked.
Robin - we're being set up for book 5, it's pretty obvious. Erich lets the name slip (connection to the oldest, Ian), then we figure out that Erich and Robin meet again, even though her name isn't mentioned. But then it's mentioned that Aizel is looking for "the leader" of the resistance, but when it's first mentioned, it's like Aizel is just given the name, not that she knows her personally. Later on, it IS like she's a personal friend. I just had to go back (put a search in my Kindle) to see if I missed something, but I didn't.
When thugs come upon Aizel and Erich, and favor Aizel, and ask "why haven't you removed her necklace?" ... WHY didn't Mr. Thug remove her necklace? He just left, with it still on, and Erich doesn't remove it until quite a bit later.
When Aizel is afraid for her sister's life "she wanted to stamp her foot into the ground and shout the angriest song she could think of." In the next few lines it does indicate that she IS more upset, but the "wanted to stamp her foot" just made me think of a little child throwing a tantrum.
A few things seemed a little TOO convenient (Peter's connection), and the whole Erich/Aden meet-up (happened in book 2, barely referred to here, felt forced/unnatural).
So ... 2.5 stars. I do think I'll continue on, but this one just didn't do it for me.
January 1, 2021
Emily is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors of fairy tale retellings. Her latest book is no exception. In this twist on the Little Mermaid, Aizel has her voice silenced and is tasked with killing a prince. If she fails, not only will she not get her voice back, but her sister will be killed. The twist is that she doesn't want to kill the prince. Instead, she hopes she can convince him to work with her to save her sister. Actually, there are quite a few twists pertaining to past and future characters. I love this series so much!
Each book in this series shows the hero standing up to the villain, but even more importantly, dealing with their internal struggles. Erich, who has always been confident in his own abilities, faces several new challenges, most importantly, judging people on their character and actions rather than rumors and stereotypes. Aizel is a Majis, but she is nothing like the tales Erich has grown up hearing. Since she can't speak, he has to decide for himself whether to trust what he has heard about her or what he sees.
I've loved the character development throughout this series, as well as how real-life magic is found in the midst of the fairy tales. Also, this book started to really develop the political drama between the kingdoms in an unexpected way. I look forward to seeing how it unfolds in the next books.
I received a free ARC from the author and have reviewed it willingly.
Each book in this series shows the hero standing up to the villain, but even more importantly, dealing with their internal struggles. Erich, who has always been confident in his own abilities, faces several new challenges, most importantly, judging people on their character and actions rather than rumors and stereotypes. Aizel is a Majis, but she is nothing like the tales Erich has grown up hearing. Since she can't speak, he has to decide for himself whether to trust what he has heard about her or what he sees.
I've loved the character development throughout this series, as well as how real-life magic is found in the midst of the fairy tales. Also, this book started to really develop the political drama between the kingdoms in an unexpected way. I look forward to seeing how it unfolds in the next books.
I received a free ARC from the author and have reviewed it willingly.
January 6, 2021
✴️✴️ONE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY✴️✴️
Whipping wizards! Emily delivers with this tough as nails on point, tumultuous wild ride, serving up some fervent facts, harsh lessons and relentless pursuits, grabbing you from the first sentence to the last word, catapulting this jewel to staggering heights. Temperament and essence in layer upon layer that you peel back with each page your drawn into this tangled web so intricately and precise, slamming this bad boy into the eye of the hurricane, blowing it into a frenzy with astonishing results, blasting this baby to life brilliantly. Toss in riveting drama, gripping intrigue, underlying currents, electrifying suspense and intense situations, you have one thrilling adventure, merging this gem together seamlessly. The characters are complex, genuine and realistic with traits and qualities that balance and blend, with amazing depth and diversity and enough spice to add an extra kick to the mix. Throw in 100% on point realism, raising the stakes with such graphic scenarios that are so colorfully descriptive and vividly detailed its like you're living it with them instead of on the sidelines. Incredible job Emily, thanks for sharing this little treasure with us.
Whipping wizards! Emily delivers with this tough as nails on point, tumultuous wild ride, serving up some fervent facts, harsh lessons and relentless pursuits, grabbing you from the first sentence to the last word, catapulting this jewel to staggering heights. Temperament and essence in layer upon layer that you peel back with each page your drawn into this tangled web so intricately and precise, slamming this bad boy into the eye of the hurricane, blowing it into a frenzy with astonishing results, blasting this baby to life brilliantly. Toss in riveting drama, gripping intrigue, underlying currents, electrifying suspense and intense situations, you have one thrilling adventure, merging this gem together seamlessly. The characters are complex, genuine and realistic with traits and qualities that balance and blend, with amazing depth and diversity and enough spice to add an extra kick to the mix. Throw in 100% on point realism, raising the stakes with such graphic scenarios that are so colorfully descriptive and vividly detailed its like you're living it with them instead of on the sidelines. Incredible job Emily, thanks for sharing this little treasure with us.
November 29, 2021
The first book in this series was well thought out and well written. The second book suffered a little bit where the romance felt forced at first before it felt natural. This book just suffered. It felt forced at times, overly drawn out where the author mentioned every little mundane detail and the romance was more on the insta-love side of things for how suddenly they came to the realization that they loved each other. Overall, this book just needed some serious TLC as it just didn't have the quality to it that the previous two books had. Elrich seemed like a very underdeveloped character which might of been half the problem? I mean the author had him think something and then say it in the next breath, like he couldn't think for himself or convey something with an action without it having to be explained. And too, all the winded monologues from the two main characters was just a little too much for me.
My only two favorite things about this book was the war aspect and how Robin was involved (she seems like an interesting character). And the other aspect I loved is that Ashlin was reunited with her father, which made me happy for her.
Overall I would read the first two books and skip out on this one entirely.
My only two favorite things about this book was the war aspect and how Robin was involved (she seems like an interesting character). And the other aspect I loved is that Ashlin was reunited with her father, which made me happy for her.
Overall I would read the first two books and skip out on this one entirely.
January 12, 2021
I love Emily’s treatment of the fairy tales I remember as a child and the Disney movies when they first came out not what the studio has done to them in the
last couple of years or so.
Emily’s writing is magical and she weaves a very believable story like the Disney movie but then it goes in another direction entirely and finally she is able to use her voice again when it looked pretty hopeless for her.
I strongly would urge you, if you haven’t read her other two books in this series, to pick them up. You can relive the magic of Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. I am excited to read the next book about the brother’s little sister Meena and see what fairy tale it will take after. I know I will love it because I love these past three stories in this series. The books are magical because Emily’s writing is magical.
Give them a read and I am sure you will agree with me that you will want her to continue to put her special magic in future fairy tales like I do!
I can only give 5 stars because that’s as high as it goes but it’s a easy 10 to me! Anyone who loves fairy tales will love this series by Emily I am sure!
last couple of years or so.
Emily’s writing is magical and she weaves a very believable story like the Disney movie but then it goes in another direction entirely and finally she is able to use her voice again when it looked pretty hopeless for her.
I strongly would urge you, if you haven’t read her other two books in this series, to pick them up. You can relive the magic of Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. I am excited to read the next book about the brother’s little sister Meena and see what fairy tale it will take after. I know I will love it because I love these past three stories in this series. The books are magical because Emily’s writing is magical.
Give them a read and I am sure you will agree with me that you will want her to continue to put her special magic in future fairy tales like I do!
I can only give 5 stars because that’s as high as it goes but it’s a easy 10 to me! Anyone who loves fairy tales will love this series by Emily I am sure!
December 17, 2020
Oh my goodness, this third installment in the Fairy Tale Royals series by Emily Deady was so good! Definitely one of my favorite Little Mermaid retellings. I loved the character growth we saw from both MCs, how they each started out believing that the other basically represented evil and gradually grew to see them as persons. Erich's arc, from full of himself and unwilling to even consider alternate viewpoints to a point of being willing and able to choose self-sacrifice for the sake of doing what was right, was amazing. ❤️ And we got so much more insight into the building conflict across the continent! So, so excited to see vindication of some suspicions I'd had from earlier books, and then the answers we found gave rise to a whole new set of questions... Loved it, definitely recommend it, and will certainly be re-reading it to tide me over while waiting for the next one!
(I got to read an advance copy of Pearl of Magic, but I loved it enough that I bought a copy as soon as it released!)
(I got to read an advance copy of Pearl of Magic, but I loved it enough that I bought a copy as soon as it released!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2021
A nice Little Mermaid re-telling without a mermaid in it!
Aizel is a Majis, she has the ability to harness the magic that is natural in the world - through harmony. There are majis in the world that do evil through singing discord. The Majis have been exiled to an island that is ruled by an evil king who wants to rule the world. They are controlled by stones that are hung around their necks that take away their voices as well as the pain that the evil majis use when the good majis try to use their magic. They are forced to dive for pearls (and you'll have to read the story to find out what they are used for) and have an oil that they place under their noses that gives them the ability to breathe under the water. This helps Aizel to escape the island, but her plans are thwarted when she saves one of the good princes from an assassination attempt and then she is captured as soon as she hits land. Nothing goes as she had planned.
This is a clean read.
Aizel is a Majis, she has the ability to harness the magic that is natural in the world - through harmony. There are majis in the world that do evil through singing discord. The Majis have been exiled to an island that is ruled by an evil king who wants to rule the world. They are controlled by stones that are hung around their necks that take away their voices as well as the pain that the evil majis use when the good majis try to use their magic. They are forced to dive for pearls (and you'll have to read the story to find out what they are used for) and have an oil that they place under their noses that gives them the ability to breathe under the water. This helps Aizel to escape the island, but her plans are thwarted when she saves one of the good princes from an assassination attempt and then she is captured as soon as she hits land. Nothing goes as she had planned.
This is a clean read.
November 2, 2021
*Deep breath* 🙏 Okay. I am generally a sucker for this series because of the cute romance and delightful endings, so much so that I’m usually willing to look past any plot holes, plot devices, or general lags in the action, but this one was just too much. There were tons of weird inconsistencies, parts where I couldn’t tell what the heck was going on, and some obvious plot devices where the MCs acted completely out of character. Sadly, the potentially cute ending was ruined by numerous plot devices. It felt like the author tried to wrap up a tangled problem with a one size fits all happily ever after.
I loved Shard of Glass, it was fabulous. But Pearl of Magic book felt unfinished and unrealistic.
I loved Shard of Glass, it was fabulous. But Pearl of Magic book felt unfinished and unrealistic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2023
I LOVE Little Mermaid retellings but this one fell short for me. I enjoyed the new twists to the story and the creative way the author brought in the elements of it in a new way. But I found the story to be unnecessarily confusing for about 60% of the book until Aizell finally explained what Quotidians were. I literally did not know where she was or who she was being coerced by. Also, I thought Erich was missing for a long time, but he was like, with the army. Would not they have told the king and queen? I guess not, given what we learn later. I dunno, this one just didn't impress me and I found the writing to be a little repetitive and unimaginative. I'm still gonna read the next one though...if I can find a copy!
December 30, 2023
I give this 3.5 stars. The twist on the Little Mermaid story is clever. However, I feel like the characters jumped into marriage at the end (not even Onric and Ashlin did that, and it seemed more feasible based on their relationship in their book). I felt like there wasn’t enough evidence to hint at a romantic relationship between Erich and Aziel , only the potential of one. Also, the thing with Ashlin’s dad being alive was… an interesting plot twist. To be honest I really wasn’t surprised I was more confused because it seemed out of the blue and there really wasn’t any build up for it. All in all this is a decent book but I feel like there could have been… more, something deeper. I do like the little teaser with Robin’s book so I can’t wait for that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2021
I haven't read many Little Mermaid retellings without mermaids, but this was a fun retelling. It was nice to see Erich's story, and I'm enjoying how all the stories in this series weave together.
This just teetered on the edge of instalove for me.
3.5
This just teetered on the edge of instalove for me.
3.5
December 19, 2020
4.5* I am enjoying the evolving story that weaves through the FairyTale Royals series. The pieces really started coming together for me in this installment. I enjoyed Emily Deady's nod to the story of the Little Mermaid and the flashing out of the particulars of the magical world the stories are set in.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
December 28, 2020
If you’re a fan of fairy tales and royalty, you will love this third book in the Fairy Tale Royalty Series! Emily has created an entire imaginary and magical world. It’s filled with magic romance, danger, and humor. I’m enchanted with how she develops her funny, interesting, and lovable characters. With every book, I am hooked within a few pages and sad when the end comes. As always, I can’t wait for the next volume in the series. Please note, I received an advanced reader copy of this book.
January 8, 2021
I like how Eric thought Aizel would kill or harm him if he wasn't careful, while Aizel was afraid that Eric would hurt her if she did something wrong or said something (literally or with signs) he didn't like.
I didn't expect that the royal family of Iseldis knows someone who is part of the River's Talon and vica versa, or that Ashlin's father was alive and helping the people who were thought to have caused his death.
I'm enjoying this series so much!!!
I can't wait for Sky of Wind and Hood of Secrets to release.
I didn't expect that the royal family of Iseldis knows someone who is part of the River's Talon and vica versa, or that Ashlin's father was alive and helping the people who were thought to have caused his death.
I'm enjoying this series so much!!!
I can't wait for Sky of Wind and Hood of Secrets to release.
February 4, 2021
I really enjoyed this story! This is my favorite in the series so far. I loved the deeper development of the war/magic story. I enjoyed the characters. It is clean! Which I'm grateful for. I'm not normally a "Little Mermaid" fan, but I enjoyed this rewrite. I loved seeing old characters from previous stories. I'm so excited for the release of the rest of the series and wish they were coming sooner! So excited to dive back into this world!
February 26, 2022
In this book, we learn a lot more about forgotten history of the continent. I look forward to continuing to explore it in the next book. Although I liked the premise and the ending, the journey felt a little fast. The characters seemed like they suddenly decided they were in love after fearing and being angry at the other for most of the book up until then. Other than the romance aspect, I liked the book, though it felt weaker than the first two.
December 18, 2020
I enjoyed this story so, so much. The descriptions were amazing and the writing was wonderful. This adaptation of a fairy tale was captivating and filled with suspense and adventure. The underlying issues of prejudice and discrimination as well as the loss of independence were subtle but well described. This story also had a touch of romance that was the icing on the cake.
December 26, 2020
Terrific take on the Little Mermaid
Plus, great story of two people from opposing cultures learning to appreciate and love each other. Prejudice was a huge issue, with all Midas believed to be wicked witches and sorcerers, when in fact many were enslaved and treated miserably. Read and enjoy!
Plus, great story of two people from opposing cultures learning to appreciate and love each other. Prejudice was a huge issue, with all Midas believed to be wicked witches and sorcerers, when in fact many were enslaved and treated miserably. Read and enjoy!
January 1, 2021
Interesting take on the Little Mermaid
I enjoyed the author's world-building, although it was harder for me to connect with the characters. This book could be read as a standalone, but is best enjoyed after reading the first two books. This was a sweet and clean read, I'd rate it PG for kissing and thematic violence.
I enjoyed the author's world-building, although it was harder for me to connect with the characters. This book could be read as a standalone, but is best enjoyed after reading the first two books. This was a sweet and clean read, I'd rate it PG for kissing and thematic violence.
February 25, 2021
Stolen Voice
The only thing that was remotely close to 'The Little Mermaid ' was the swim in the ocean and the stolen voice. Everything else was deliciously different. Okay, the was a prince, but to be fair he a really difficult too. Aizul was a brave little nobody, who made waves like a was somebody.
The only thing that was remotely close to 'The Little Mermaid ' was the swim in the ocean and the stolen voice. Everything else was deliciously different. Okay, the was a prince, but to be fair he a really difficult too. Aizul was a brave little nobody, who made waves like a was somebody.
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