Once More Upon a Time

by Roshani Chokshi

Once upon a dream, there was a prince named Ambrose
and a princess named Imelda who loved each other...
But alas, no more.
"What a witch takes, a witch does not give back!"
their friends and family warn.
They resign themselves to this loveless fate...
A year and a day pass.
And then their story truly begins...

Embark on a perilous journey with Imelda and Ambrose as they brave magical landscapes and enchanted creatures on their quest to reclaim their heart's desire...But first they must remember what that is...

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Audiobook, Fiction, Young Adult, Fairy Tales, Novella

176 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 4, 2020

About the author

Roshani Chokshi is the award-winning author of the New York Times bestselling series The Star-Touched Queen, The Gilded Wolves and Aru Shah and The End of Time, which Time Magazine named one of the Top 100 Fantasy Books of All Time. Her adult debut, The Last Tale of The Flower Bride, was a #1 Sunday Times bestseller. Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and often draw upon world mythology and folklore. Chokshi is a member of the National Leadership Board for the Michael C. Carlos Museum and lives in Georgia with her husband and their cat whose diabolical plans must regularly be thwarted.

Reviews

[jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

RC has written some of my favourite fantasy books, so i was so excited to see how she would approach a classic fairytale story.

for what this is, its fine. its cute, quick, and stays true to fairytale storytelling. but thats all. RC is capable of really amazing world-building and characters, so im sad that this feels pretty shallow. but again, this is how most traditional bedtime fairytales are. so as long as you going into this expecting that kind of story, nothing intricate, you wont be disappointed.

i personally would have liked something more but, for a short story, its adequate.

thank you sourcebooks casablanca for the ARC!

↠ 3 stars

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick fabulous tour in fairy tale universe : Grimm Brothers’ famous Twelve Dancing Princesses combined with Little Briar Rose ( dark version of Sleeping Beauty) and Dragon’s Tail, Two Brothers with Maleficent vibes!

This is a story about cursed and unforgettable love of an unfaithful prince who loses everything he has in his life and a princess who only prays to gain her own freedom without being trapped in a place or being condemned by any other man!

Imelda was one of the twelve princesses who was roused up from her sleep at each night, found her slippers scuffed at the each morning as if she’d danced all night. You may already know the fairytale about princesses or you may read the modern version: “ House of Salt and Sorrow” ( highly recommended if you didn’t read it yet) Those girls found a passage to the fairyland where they danced till they passed out! One of her sisters already found her prince who was also a gardener’s assistant tipped by witch about how to solve the curse.

But this story is not about that sister. This is Imelda’s story. Imelda who found love and lost it against the curse.

Her love of her life was prince Ambrose. He was one of the three sons of the king, who loses the battles for being kind, good hearted. He aims to do the right thing for the benefit of the kingdom including saving a dragon’s life in expanse of losing the throne.

And now he’s about to lose his kingdom at Love’s Keep. For staying as a king of the place: he must be in love with his queen. But for saving Imelda’s life who is poisoned, he makes a deal with the witch in expanse of forgetting his love for her forever!

Now they’re two strangers who can’t bare to be in the same place. Imelda doesn’t want to go back home because she wants to be free from her overprotective father and his strict methods to trap her in the place.

Ambrose lurks around the woods, sulking, lost, unhappy. Their one year and one day long time is about to end. They’re so close to be ousted from their kingdom.

But the very same witch who cursed them makes an offer they can be both benefited. Imelda and Ambrose will work together to steal a potion from ruthless witch queen and if they succeed, they can move on with their lives: Ambrose can have his own kingdom and Imelda can finally earn her freedom.

But what if this long, adventurous journey is the way to remember what they meant for each other!

I’m stopping right here! The smart, sarcastic cloak of Ambrose is my favorite character at this book!

I liked the combination of different fairytales and conclusion of the story but I wish it could be a little longer.

I’m giving four careful what you wish for, tribute to Grimm Brothers, fairytales, fables stars!

Special thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all] · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Once upon a time…’ is the launchpad for so many fabulous stories that have won our hearts and minds and been told and retold until they have become a part of history themselves. And so, once more upon a time, Roshani Chokshi embarks us on a magical fairy tale on the powers of hope, love, and redemption in her charming and sweet novella aptly named Once More Upon a Time. Having been completely blown away by Chokshi’s dark, modern fairy tale-esque The Last Tale of the Flower Bride, I absolutely needed to read more of her work and I was thrilled by this delightful look at the lighter side of fairy tales. Drawing on many common tropes, Once More Upon a Time feels both familiar and fresh, told with a great deal of humor and adorable side-companions that almost made this feel like Disney fairy tales at their utmost best where both younger and older readers will find their hearts warmed.

‘You can wander the world and be beholden to no one, and still find yourself trapped.’

Something I’ve found Chokshi excels at is depictions of love and the anxieties that surround it. This is a tale of second-chances: to reverse the death of his new queen, Imelda, Ambrose agrees to have their love erased even though their rule requires them to be in love. As they venture on a quest together following the loss of their kingdom, new sparks begin to fly and all the awkwardness of rekindling romance comes pouring through the narrative. Plus the banter is utterly delightful and the side characters—notably a smartass honey badger—provide a lot of wonderful laughs. I really just sailed through this on waves of pure bliss. It’s short, sweet, and just a perfect escape read and shows Chokshi can land any fairy tale trope she sets out to perform.

4/5

[EveStar91 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imelda turned to the gate of Love’s Keep. She’d found no love here, but she had found independence. And quiet. No screaming sisters squabbling over dresses, no younger sister sneaking into her bed because of a nightmare. No one calling her by the wrong name because “my goodness, all twelve sisters look so alike!” Enough quiet to be, well, herself. She danced. She painted. She read books. She helped in the village, and although she could tell her people pitied their loveless, doomed queen, they liked her anyway.

Imelda and Ambrose lose their love to save her life a day after they get married and head to their tiny kingdom of Love’s Keep, but find they can still get to know themselves better as they go on a quest at the end of their tenancy in this quirky fairy tale Once More Upon A Time with a twist after the original Happy Ever After.

The premise of forgetting their love right after their wedding, but going on a quest together to help a witch, in return for a chance to ask for whatever they want was really intriguing and a good hook. Roshani Chokshi's narrative style through the witch's perspective who's only trying to help them get whatever they want worked well with the premise and the themes of the novel. It was good to see that the two lead characters always had some agency in the course of the story, and the plot as well as the conclusion was more character driven than simply magic driven.

This agency was a double-edged sword however - they could spent more time together and really gotten to know each other during their one year tenancy of Love’s Keep together (the kingdom doesn't accept a couple who don't love each other as rulers), even if they did forget falling in love before their wedding. There were hints that they lost all their memories of each other, not just their love for each other. This coupled with the time-frame of only a few days for the all-important quest made the book seem less subtle than the premise hinted.

The novel is still a fun read, with quirky occurrences in the quest and nice writing. On the whole, recommended for anyone looking for a fairy tale flavored novel with people focused writing.

The taste of Love’s Keep fruit was a promise of freedom, which necessitated the absence of love. Up until now, that was all she’d wanted.

🌟🌟🌟
[3/4 star for the premise and the whole book; Half a star for the characters and their growth; Half a star for plot and themes; Half a star for the world-building; 3/4 star for the writing - 3 stars in total.]

[Christy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I probably should have DNF'd this one... I usually like listening to audio over reading, but this one might have been better if I could have read it. Honestly, I was pretty bored.

[Alexis Hall]

**Received from NG. Please note: I share a publisher with this author so please bear that in mind when reading my review**

This was intensely charming; it’s a deft, delicate little novella that charts a perfect path between contemporary snark, fairytale whimsy, and an emotionally sincere exploration of what it means to fall in love—the chances you take, what you give up, and what you gain.

The language is beautiful, the tone at once arch and earnest, and the characters—while lightly sketched—very likeable. As well as a freedom-hungry princess and an overlooked prince, there’s also a honey badger of dubious moral character, a sardonic witch, and an enchanted cloak which is convinced it’s a horse.

Basically, this book made me feel all sorts of happy things. Please do pick it up if you, too, would like to feel happy things.

[Jenny Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small, sweet fairy tale novella.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

↠ 4 stars

Once upon a time, Prince Ambrose and Princess Imelda fell in love, and that would have been the end of the story if they did not forget. After one day and one night of marriage, Imelda is poisoned, and the two forfeit the love between them in order to obtain an antidote to save her life. One year passes and not much has changed between the two rulers, yet a chance quest arising from the very witch that took away their love offers a possibility to reclaim what they have lost. Ambrose and Imelda may not know what that is, but together they will brave badgers, magical landscapes, and encounters with cannibals to try to restore what was taken from them.

With a story full of wit, magic, and romance, Roshani Chokshi has once again struck a chord deep inside my heart. Once More Upon a Time is riveting, exactly the kind of story I needed to kick off October and bring a smile to my face in the process. This was such a heartwarming read from start to finish, imbued with adventure and danger at every turn. Alongside a romance so frustrating at times, this novella is typical Roshani Chokshi, and I adored every exasperating moment in the rediscovery of love between Ambrose and Imelda. The alternating chapters present were such an added bonus to the narrative, switching up the points of view and contrasting the perceptions of the quest’s purpose. As with most novellas, my main criticism with this is that it was much too short. This is really just a personal preference, because of the degree to which I got drawn into the story and how fast it concluded. While I may have been left wanting more, this is absolutely a fantasy novella worth reading for the story alone. Once More Upon a time is swoon-worthy, a heartfelt take on a classic fairytale that attempts to reconcile what is lost with what is found and reclaimed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review

Trigger Warnings: poisoning, attempted murder, cannibalism

[Alaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pretty cute.

Once More Upon a Time definitely made me smile a lot. It was honestly a really cute book to listen to and I wanted to see where everything was going to go. If I could change one thing, it would be the length. With everything that was happening.. a longer book would've made me a lot happier. Not saying I didn't enjoy this book one bit - because I really did.

Imelda and Ambrose were really cute together. I mean these two went through a lot and their adventure, in a way, brought them back to one another and they found love once again. Along the way, they find a honey badger.. who was just creepy and the horse jacket.. thing.. I don't know what he was but he made me laugh a lot.

[Scottsdale Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to read this book again and again and again!

The witty and spirited relationship between Imelda and Ambrose reminds me of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider and the humor was perfect for the setting. Add on a magic fur cloak who thinks it is a horse and a scheming, wannabe ruffian honey badger. Because you know, “honey badger don’t care!”

I laughed, smirked, and swooned, but humor and absolutely likable characters aside, I truly feel as though Chokshi knows what true love is. Thank you for pointing out and demonstrating how love frees us, rather than binds us! -Sara S.

[Lindsay (pawsomereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, whimsical fantasy. It had a lot of humor and action packed a lot into a short story!

[Maja - BibliophiliaDK ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

QUIRKY FAIRY TALE WITH A TWIST

If you're looking for fun, easy fairy tale retelling to get into on a cold autumn evening look no further! It won't take you to the moon and back, but it'll certainly keep you entertained and warm.

👍 What I Liked 👍

Narrator: The one thing that really sets this story apart from many other fairy tale retellings is the narrator of the story. It's witty, it's quirky and it's hilarious. And to top it off, the narrator is an outside - someone outside the story. That made it even funnier.

Fairy tales: There is a gaggle of different fairy tales in this story, which is something I really love. I liked seeing how the different stories intertwined and interacted with each other.

👎 What I Disliked 👎

Predictable: As it usually is with fairy tales and novellas, this was sadly a bit predictive. There were some surprises along the way, but on the whole, I had it figured out.

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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[h o l l i s · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, silly me, I requested this thinking it was a full length adult romance novel and not a novella (though it is adult, I guess). That said, I have nothing against novellas at all and was happy to have something short to sneak in between reads.

This was a pretty standard unconventional fairytale in the sense that how they come together is standard but, unlike how most go, they are then broken up -- while still being together. They go on a journey, with a few side quests, and along the way discover more about each other than they ever did before.

I think what I loved most about this, though, was their backstories. I would've read a whole book about their lives before this or, even, a full length that included said backstories and expanded on their adventures from this one.

It was cute, sometimes funny, a little silly, and sweet. If this had been longer, and more adult in the vein of the romance, I think I would've really loved it. That said, I would not discourage you from picking this up.

** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **

---

This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.

[Jsiva · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pleasant, sweet, cute, fun read.

[Brend · Rating 5 out of 5]

"She knew there was no freedom in love.
But there was no freedom in heartache either"

If you're an adult who loves fairy tales, boy do I have good news for you.

This book is a novella that packs, in less than 200 pages, everything I want from a fairy tale retelling fantasy. It is funny, compelling and in just a few chapters it made me care about the characters. The narration in hilarious and self aware (Yes, Witch Narrator, journeys across the woods are boring, thank you for just giving us the highlights) in a way that I truly enjoyed.

Most of the time I don't like narrators that talk directly to the readers, but I guess that's about it being something that pulls me out of the story I'm supposed to be immersed in (aside from how annoying it is to have a character try to throw some pop-culture references at you, which is Level 1 of cringe for me), but in this case, it feels absolutely fitting to have someone telling us the story as if we were sitting in front of each other since, again, this is a fairy tale.

Someone could have taken this story and told it in over 400 pages easily, just filling the rest of the space with those things Roshani Chokshi understood were unnecessary for the story, since at the end of it all, it is about this love story (sure, it had a quest and shoes and talking animals who try to trick you, but how dull would it be to see two people falling in lover over dinner and nothing else?)

[aarya · Rating 4 out of 5]

2020 Ripped Bodice Summer Bingo: ‪Accidentally in Wilderness‬

This is delightful. Very fun and romantic fairytale novella about no-longer-in-love married royals falling in love on an enchanted road trip. There is an off-page sex scene and an on-page removing of a bodice before they jump into bed! Romance readers, what else do you need?

I'm struggling to categorize the genre. It's a fairytale/fantasy romance but it reads like YA (that bodice part was like 2 seconds and then it's fade-to-black). I think both teens and adults would enjoy it. Lots of hijinks and humor, but also vulnerability and a solid romantic arc. I'd recommend it for fans of Shrek, Ella Enchanted, and all other fairytale subversions/retellings.

For the Ripped Bodice summer bingo, this novella also works for Apple Orchard, I’m on a Boat, and Only One Bed squares. Unfortunately it’s audible only, so you can only read via listening. The male narrator's voice for the heroine is a bit shrill at times, but otherwise I really enjoyed the narration.

Read via audio (narrated by Rebecca Gibel, Shiromi Arserio, and Vikas Adam).

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute, somewhat tongue-in-cheek take on a fairytale romance, Once More Upon a Time is perfect if you need something light and bite-sized. I read this after a heavier book and it was a perfect palate cleanser for my reading. It follows a king and queen who have lost their love because of a witch and are doomed to leave their castle after a year and a day. Instead, they go on a journey to gain what each of them most want and along the way fall in love again. It's not reinventing the wheel, but it's entertaining with some funny moments.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for sending me this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

TW: cannibalistic encounters, poisoning, murder attempts, childhood trauma

Roshani Chokshi knocks it out of the park, delivering even more than I could’ve expected from this easily devourable novella. Coming in at a little under 150 pages, this fairytale novella is a love letter for those of us who truly love fairytales and their essence. In this we follow Imelda and Ambrose, a couple that was once happily in love, until well they aren’t. I enjoyed how the narration was from the Witch's POV, which offered witty insight and provoked thought. As an extra perk we also had alternating chapters split between Ambrose and Imelda. I like that Imelda’s fairytale takes a spin on the classic ‘Twelve Dancing Princesses’ and how both her and Ambrose both struggle to comprehend and redefine what it is they are looking for both individually and together.

For a story this short it packs in a lot, in a manner that is both seamless and effortless that’ll make your heart fluttering, your smile wide, and a bit of anxiousness as you await the conclusion. It also has some of the best tropes:
-one bed
-lovers-strangers-friends-???
-animal companions (sorta)
-dark-haired Prince with a sad past
-curses
-powerful female protagonist

If you like fairy tales, banter, a good character profile and a quick read, pick this up!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was just a straight up entertaining fairy tale story where our main characters Imelda and Ambrose, a royal couple pair have to find out if they really want to spend happily ever after together. Like any good fairytale there are witches, animal sidekicks and magic all around. A novella, the audiobook experience features chapters from both protagonists and is filled with hilarity and romance.


Goodreads review published 27/10/20

[The Nerd Daily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Anuska G

Once More Upon a Time is a brand new audio novella from Audible Originals. It follows the story of a royal couple who had to sacrifice their love for each other, and are now stuck in a loveless marriage. They end up undertaking a dangerous quest for a witch that may or may not awaken lost feelings in them.

According to Chokshi, the story is loosely inspired by the Irish story of Diarmuid and Gráinne. Imelda and Ambrose rule a land called Love’s Keep, which is ironic considering they have lost the one thing they need to sustain the kingdom, their love for each other. A year and a day ago, Ambrose traded their love to a witch in exchange for Imelda’s life. When the same witch offers them a quest and tells them that if they succeed she will give them what they desire the most, Imelda and Ambrose promptly accept. Imelda wants to be free, Ambrose wants a kingdom he can rule completely in his own way, without having to seek anyone’s approval. But on their journey, as they encounter a talking cloak who thinks he’s a horse, cannibals, honey badgers, and cursed tourist destinations, they rediscover each other, and begin to wonder if they really want to be free of one another after all.

Read the FULL REVIEW on The Nerd Daily

[Rameela (Star) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to netgalley for the eARC!

Initial Thoughts: THIS WAS SO CUTE. THE CHEMISTRY WAS AMAZING AND THE STORYTELLING WAS PHENOMENAL.


Full review:

I was literally filled with so much joy when I read this book. I genuinely wish it never ended even though it was perfectly executed from beginning to end! I just love Roshani's style of writing and her storytelling is immaculate. She has equal parts of romance and fantasy and magic and world building and humor all wrapped up in a perfect present that's sure to sweep you off your feet!

The two characters had undeniable chemistry and both of them were well rounded and strong even though this was a short novella! Roshani really knows how to fully embody the characters in the shortest amount of time! The banter was just top tier and I could imagine every scene playing out so wonderfully!

One tidbit I especially loved was in the very first chapter with the poisoned tomato! I remember at some interview or event, Roshani had mentioned researching a lot and one of the stories she had told was about how people used to think tomatoes were poisoned and it just made me so excited when I got to see that little tidbit in the book!

Honestly, this book was so quick and full of love and hope and pure and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who wants that!

[Ayushi (bookwormbullet) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Roshani Chokshi strikes again. This was such a cute little novella and retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses! It’s a perfect short story if you’re looking for a whimsical, enchanting, fairytale romance mixed with humor and wit. After seeing Roshani nail it again and again with her YA fantasy romances, I had no doubt I would enjoy Once More Upon a Time. I really want to go listen to the audiobook version of this story, which is how this story was originally published, because you can tell how amazing of a bedtime story it would be. Imelda and Ambrose stole my heart and I could easily read about them forever! I’d be so interested to read what happens to them after the events of their journey and what their dynamic was like a year ago when they first met.

Overall, I’d definitely recommend this story if you’re a fan of fairytale romances, badass heroines, and sweet relationships between the main characters!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Star Rating: —> 4.5 Stars

This story is nothing new, or original, but in its own way it actually IS quite both of those very things. Which may sound a little odd, but so is this adorable, charming, heart-warming fairytale novella. This story was Joy with a capital J packaged in the shape of an adorable, charming, little book. I absolute adored it, and laughed out out, and even swooned a bit, and shed a few happy tears. Roshani Chokshi is one of my absolute favorite authors; her prose is so alluring, clever, & beautiful... and so very readable... so much so that I never want her stories to end. But alas, all stories do. Until next time!

[nidhi :)]

indian 🇮🇳 readathon book #1 ✅

i’m not rating it bc listening to audiobooks significantly decreases my enjoyment level always and its so annoying :(

i’ve read all of roshani chokshi’s work! she’s always an author i come back for, even if none of her books are like my fav books ever. she writes phenomenal characters and the love they have for each other is so intense. i love her humor and can’t wait to read more of her works <3

[Obsidian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was wonderful. This also made me miss Chokshi's writing. I have stopped reading the YA works that she has written because they are not hitting me the same way as the other books she has written. But this tale brought back how well she does with reimagining fairy tales.

"Once More Upon a Time" follows Imelda (one of the 12 dancing princesses) and Ambrose (I think he is based on one of the sons from The Three Feathers) who meet at Imelda's sister's wedding and fall in love and marry. However, Imelda eats something that may kill her and Ambrose bargains with a witch who promises to save her if they give up their love for each other. And so they do. And then the story follows them a year later after they are being forced out of their kingdom (only those truly in love can rule their kingdom) and the witch turns up to set them off on another adventure.

I loved both Imelda and Ambrose. Both of them want to stay in their kingdom and resent the other because they are not in love and am now going to have to go back home (Imelda) or find their way (Ambrose). When the witch asks them to go off and grab a potion at another wedding, they both agree because she promises to give them whatever they want in return.

Together these two are someone you can root for. The story continues with little aside given by the witch who definitely sees love in a different way. I laughed and sighed through this whole tale and absolutely loved the ending. I hope that Chokshi plays with fairy tales some more.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I didn't expect much from a small book. I knew it was a play on fairytales but I didn't expect to fall head over heels for the entire cast and lush setting!

I adored Ambrose and Imelda and their tangled up love story. I loved the Witch breaking the fourth wall in her small chapters and I loved the writing. Roshani Chokshi has a chokehold on my love for fantasy that will never ease up. She's so good.

I loved that this is a satire of fairytales and love and I liked that it was a second chance romance. I thoroughly enjoyed ever second of it.

And the horse cloak was clearly the star.

[Sylvs (NOVELty Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I have never read a book by Roshani Chokshi before.

Honestly, Once More Upon A Time was a great place to start.

When I first picked this book up, I had to double check to see if I was reading a sampler and was happy to discover this was in fact, a short story. If I could describe this book in a short sentence it would be: second chance romance. It was cute and lovely and very quick to read. I never once felt bored or felt like the story was lost at any point of my reading. I definitely want to check out Roshani's other books now (specifically the Gilded Wolves which has been on my TBR for a while).

Once More Upon A Time is told in a very fairytale-like way. From the first page it drew me in and I was already ready to fall in love with the world of Love's Keep. From a fairytale like beginning prose, we ease off into the story where past-lovers Ambrose and Imelda go on a quest to retrieve a potion for a witch in return for power, place and freedom. Their quest brings them closer together and makes them question if its possible to fall back in love with someone against all odds.

I loved all of the characters. All of them were complex and I enjoyed reading their banter a lot. Imelda was witty and fierce and Ambrose was more stoic, but those moments in the book where Imelda challenged his thoughts and feelings were some of the best parts of the novel. I didn't expect comedic or comical aspects to this book but those that we got were so light-hearted and made me enjoy this story even more. A special shout-out goes to the horse coat which I must admit, perplexed me but as the book grew on me, the horse coat did too.

All in all, a very nice introduction to Roshani Chokshi's writing. I'm very excited to delve into some more books from this author as well as read future books too.

ACTUAL RATING: 4.1 STARS

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

2.75/5 Stars

This short book follows Ambrose and Imelda and their fairytale. I liked how the narrator told the story and also the little comments that they added during the whole thing, it definitely added something to the book. Since it's a fairytale it does have a lot of the classic fairytale elements, but there might be a few surprising ones.
Overall I was a bit bored during the reading experience, so that's why I'm giving this rating.

[ShannonXO · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a nutshell this was sweet, fun and very short.

When Imelda and Ambrose first met, it was love at first sight. And they had one day and night of being married before that love was taken away in exchange for saving Imelda from death by poison. Fast forward a year, and the loveless couple failed to let their kingdom—powered literally by love—to thrive. Before they can go on their separate ways, though, no longer wanting anything to do with the other, the witch who stole their love appearances with a proposal. If the couple get her the potion she needs, she'll give them both exactly what they want most. And so begins a quest that finds them facing off against cannibals, conniving badgers, and long-lost family members.

Imelda is one of the twelve dancing princesses. You know, the ones who would go to sleep, only to find they had danced straight through their shoes thanks to the fey. As such she has a thing against shoes. She has a million pairs, but she'll be damned if they ever go on her feet and trap her again. She is a woman who wants the freedom and independence to do what she wants, and having a husband will only chain her to a man.

Ambrose is the middle child of three princes. Each brother had been sent to slay a dragon, and Ambrose gave his a job instead. He is a constant disappointment to his father, and someone who has learned to measure life in what can be given and what can be taken away. Love is something he does not want because in his eyes it is not something to keep, but rather something that can be taken from him as punishment. So why bother?

I really liked this! It was very tongue in cheek as far as humour goes. Actually, it reminded me a lot of Shrek with the fairytale style funny. Lewd comments taken out of context, over the top situations that can only be laughed at, and an overall air of ridiculousness. Take for instance the horse cloak. It's a cloak made from a dead horse, but it doesn't know that. It still thinks itself a noble steed and should be hung in the stables, not fraternizing with nobles at balls, thank you very much.

My only complaint is that I just wanted more. So much more. I know it's a novella but there really wasn't much to dig into. What makes Roshani such a fabulous author is the magical worlds she builds, and there wasn't time to sink teeth into anything here. The conflicts were all over very quick and easy so there was no angst. Even the romance rekindling was quite simple. We all want a happy ending and no one hates that moment of inevitable strife between the two characters, but I needed something more.

[Cori · Rating 2 out of 5]

Once More Upon a Time was one of my free Audible originals for the month of June. Unfortunately, I wish I had gone with the heist original instead.

Pros:
1) I love that the story was based around a marriage, and the message was that love can be found again.
2) Some of the romance elements and scenes were written very well.

Cons:
1) The male narrator's female voices were awful. I mean...I almost shut it off the first time I heard it. If you have watched the Jumanji sequels and remember how over the top Jack Black's channeling of a teen diva was, this is worse. But it's not meant to be funny. This is his real attempt at portraying all the women he voices. Nails. On. Chalkboard.
2) The humor just isn't my style. I dig quirky elements in romance. Penelope is probably my all time favorite rom-com and the weird, make-you-look-twice elements are flawless. Then you have movies like Ella Enchanted where some elements of "quirky" are so juvenile and cringy, you're a little embarrassed to be watching this as an adult. Or teen. Or human. This fell into the Ella Enchanted area of rom-coms.
3) Not much happened. It was pretty boring, all things considered.

While I think this would be a hit with the right audience, I was not that audience.

I'd rate this a PG for some very mild peril (usually written for humor more than anything), very mild swearing (mostly the use of "hell"), and a very chaste love scene.