Winter Flame: The Little Match Girl and The Princess and the Pea Reimagined

Happily Ever After #5

by K.A. Last

Wish from the heart, and you will never be wrong.

Ember’s Papa is too sick to work. They can’t face another winter without enough food, so Ember sets out for Stormbridge Castle. Blessed with the ability to see visions in fire, she plans to sell her gift at the market to help put food on the table for Christmas.

But a snow storm hits, and Ember loses her way.

Prince Rhys finds Ember buried in the snow. He won’t leave her, so he escorts her to the castle and insists she stay until she recovers. Ember thinks she doesn’t belong, but Rhys’s feelings for her grow. He attempts to shield her from his mother’s test, hoping their relationship will develop on its own.

But the Queen has other ideas.

She wants someone worthy to marry her son, and Ember’s trial began the moment she set foot in Stormbridge Castle. Rhys is torn between obeying his mother and telling Ember the truth.

Will Ember pass the Queen’s test, or will one wish ruin everything?

Find out in this sweet retelling of the classic tales, The Little Match Girl , and The Princess and the Pea .

This novelette is book 5 in the Happily Ever After series. Each book is a standalone story, and they can be read in any order. If you believe in love and magic, start reading this series of retold fairy tales today.

Genres: Fantasy, Fairy Tale Retellings

57 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 6, 2021

About the author

K. A. Last is a graphic designer and author blessed with a vivid imagination. She has a Diploma in Graphic Design, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in English, and minors in Children’s Literature, Art History, and Visual Culture. She lives in the Australian countryside with her family and a menagerie of animals, where she loves to immerse herself in creativity and nature.

Reviews

[Lavay Byrd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of all the fairy-tale retellings, very few are that of the Princess and the Pea, and probably for understandable reasons. I've been searching for a short but sweet retelling for a story, and stumbled upon this LOVELY story! Not only does this retell Princess and the Pea, but it also weaves together another lesser-known fairytale, The Little Match Girl.

Considering this is mostly a romance, I love how we see Ember, our main girl, and Prince Rhys grow from their struggles to their strengths, all the wall falling in love with each other. And I so love the unexpected, yet subtle magical twist of both the visions of fire, but also the "pea"... adding depth to the story. Somethings doesn't need to be explained in full details, and I believe that's what adds to the beauty of this simple fairy-tale retelling.

Definitely worth savoring again and again!

[Sara Lawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute fairy tale that combined The Little Match Girl and The Princess and The Pea, but also felt like Beauty and the Beast in its settings: a poor widowed father, a girl lost in a storm, a girl who quickly finds herself living in a castle. The twists made it something unique and I only wish I could have gotten to know Ember a little better - the story was very short. Ember sells her father's matches, but she also sees visions in the fire and has a way to keep, and therefore sell, those visions. The magic was undeveloped and never explained. But as much as I wished for that, it's pretty standard treatment of fairy tales.

I read this as part of the Fairytale Christmas anthology.

[Ilona Nurmela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Princess and the Pea meets Match Girl

I loved this short fairytale retelling of the Princess and the Pea. When Ember sets out to sell her visions at the Christmas market, little does she know she’s about to get lost in a snow storm and capture the heart of a prince. I liked how the elements of the traditional story (like bruising from the pea under a gazillion mattresses) were twisted into a new pattern and a new test for the girl. In such a short space the author has managed to spin a truly wintry love story with a HEA. Recommended for fans of retold rare fairytales, under 90minute reads and HEAs.

[Beba Andric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always loved fairytales and 2 of my favourite converge in this beautiful retelling of The Little Match Girl and The Princess and The Pea. It had me clogged up, much as I am when reading the original Little Match Girl, so sad yet heartening. I loved the spin on it, how elements of both fairytales are spun together and the very clever way of describing the pea as a pendant. The actual story doesn't veer too far off the original, I was still very familiar with the events of both originals but the slight twisting of them, makes it fresh and new. The story is sheer joy with no one a villian, delightful!

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yesterday I had a really stressful day and I just needed something nice, heartwarming and easy to keep me company. This book was absolutely perfect! I loved how the author blended the two fairytales and made it work incredibly well. I also loved the heroine of the story, who was so sweet and so kind hearted! I also liked the magic in this story and the power this magic had and how careful our heroine was with it, even though she could have made loads of money with it. The love was, of course, quite insta-love, but I like how the story ended with them wanting to really get to know each other instead of them planning their wedding and future.

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written tale that's a retelling mix of the Little match girl and The Princess and the Pea. I love Ember feisty resilient and Rhys kindness to Ember when she's a stranger and continues as he gets to know her more. Will Ember prove that despite the fact she's a daughter of a match stick maker she is worth on the Princes hand. don't wait to find out

[Lorin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved reading this wonderful book! I loved the characters and the plot! I had a hard time putting this really wonderful book down! I absolutely loved this retelling of The Little Match Girl and The Princess and the Pea! I really loved reading all of the books in this really wonderful series!

[Jessica Kimbel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winter Flame is a beautiful, uplifting and inspiring read perfect for the holiday season. I've read many of Ms Last's reimagined fairytales, and I think this might be my favorite. The characters are perfect without being too much and I didn't want it to end.

[SEng · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this sweet mash up of these two fairy tales featuring Prince Rhys and Ember. This retelling is very cleverly spun and left me smiling. I received an arc of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gayle Krause · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice characters. Story too short.

[Rowan Creech · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how K. A. Last has taken the sad tale of the little match girl and made it into such a wonderful and heart-warming tale. It just melts your heart. This is a must-read tale.