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Tales of Faerie Land #1
Curse of the Midnight King
Can she break the curse in time to save her sisters? She may conquer more than the Midnight King; she may learn to conquer herself.
In this retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses and Cinderella, Faye must sacrifice herself to save her sisters, or risk them being trapped in the Underworld forever, suffering from the curse she helped create. After being separated for three years from her sisters except when she dances with Pathos, the Midnight King, at midnight on a full moon, Faye finally sees a chance to rescue them all. But things are not as easy as they appear. Pathos, the midnight king, is determined to keep her in the Underworld with him.
In this retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses and Cinderella, Faye must sacrifice herself to save her sisters, or risk them being trapped in the Underworld forever, suffering from the curse she helped create. After being separated for three years from her sisters except when she dances with Pathos, the Midnight King, at midnight on a full moon, Faye finally sees a chance to rescue them all. But things are not as easy as they appear. Pathos, the midnight king, is determined to keep her in the Underworld with him.
280 pages, Paperback
First published November 9, 2021
12 people are currently reading
321 people want to read
About the author
Yakira Goldsberry
8 books43 followersYakira Goldsberry started writing at the age of eight, when she first discovered the power of words. She has since then buried herself in the magical worlds of fiction—and has yet to return. She is the author of the Tales of Faerie Land series, Stardust Trilogy, A Cascading Hope, and has several short stories published in online magazines and anthologies. When not writing she can be found feeding feral librarians, reading, or attempting to learn foreign languages. Her one mission in life—set the world afire with truth.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 6, 2025
A dark fairy tale with heart...
This book is engrossing. Once I sat down to read it, I could barely stop (mainly because I had work I needed to do!). But I finally had an afternoon to read it, and so I read it one sitting. Here are the major things I liked:
Faye is a character that I have tremendous compassion for. As someone who has experienced emotional manipulation and abuse, I could relate to her situation. Her feelings of unworthiness and the overwhelming desire to free her sisters just made her very relatable.
Prince Leo is someone I didn't like at first, but I slowly got to like better as I understood him more. His desire to please his father and the conflict he has with loving Faye reminded me of Arthur from the T.V. Show, Merlin.
Pathos also stirred my sympathy, despite his evilness. I think it is because he is suffering from a curse as well. He definitely is one of the more intriguing villains.
The plot is extremely fast-paced, but it is so dark! You definitely aren't sitting down and reading a light-hearted fairy-tale retelling with romantic overtones. This is more like one of those fairy tales you read in the Autumn with a cup of tea in front of a roaring fire. Or one that the stereotypical maid tells little children to scare them into submission. There is hope, don't get me wrong, but it is not light and airy like other retellings. Also, it ends on a cliffhanger, so fair warning!
Overall, a great read.
This book is engrossing. Once I sat down to read it, I could barely stop (mainly because I had work I needed to do!). But I finally had an afternoon to read it, and so I read it one sitting. Here are the major things I liked:
Faye is a character that I have tremendous compassion for. As someone who has experienced emotional manipulation and abuse, I could relate to her situation. Her feelings of unworthiness and the overwhelming desire to free her sisters just made her very relatable.
Prince Leo is someone I didn't like at first, but I slowly got to like better as I understood him more. His desire to please his father and the conflict he has with loving Faye reminded me of Arthur from the T.V. Show, Merlin.
Pathos also stirred my sympathy, despite his evilness. I think it is because he is suffering from a curse as well. He definitely is one of the more intriguing villains.
The plot is extremely fast-paced, but it is so dark! You definitely aren't sitting down and reading a light-hearted fairy-tale retelling with romantic overtones. This is more like one of those fairy tales you read in the Autumn with a cup of tea in front of a roaring fire. Or one that the stereotypical maid tells little children to scare them into submission. There is hope, don't get me wrong, but it is not light and airy like other retellings. Also, it ends on a cliffhanger, so fair warning!
Overall, a great read.
November 13, 2021
"Curse of the Midnight King" by Yakira Goldsberry is fast-paced, engaging, and emotionally riveting. It's the first fairytale retelling I've ever read, and I really enjoyed it! 🙂
"Curse" is a dark retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princes, mixed with elements from Cinderella. I also got strong Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast, and Merlin vibes. This isn't light reading, but it does make you think. There is an especial emphasis on mental health and breaking free of abusive relationships. Ms. Goldsberry also weaves threads of hope throughout the novel, breaking up the heaviness. The novel has a great mood/atmosphere.
Faye is a fantastic main character. From the beginning, I sympathized with her. Her actions, emotions, and flaws are realistic, and I found myself cheering her on as she made decisions to stand up for herself...or feeling disappointed when she didn't. Prince Leo is a great secondary MC and counterbalance to Faye's personality. He is likeable, cheerful, and has the guts to stand up for himself and others. ♚
(Mild spoiler alert) Pathos is a very complex antagonist. He's the epitome of a narcissistic abuser: ruthless, single-minded, manipulative, and great at deflecting blame. I thought he was expertly written, and the Underworld that contains him and his brothers is spooky, magical, and haunting. The other supporting characters were great, and a few had backstories or origins that (happily) surprised me.
That being said, I did have a few minor issues with "Curse." I felt like the prologue was very rushed and somewhat confusing. The epilogue completely lost me, but I don't think it's super critical to the overall book, so it didn't really bother me.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed this story and would rate it a 4.5/5. I recommend "Curse of the Midnight King" to fans of dark fantasy and/or fairytale retellings. It makes a great autumn read, too!!! 😃
"Curse" is a dark retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princes, mixed with elements from Cinderella. I also got strong Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast, and Merlin vibes. This isn't light reading, but it does make you think. There is an especial emphasis on mental health and breaking free of abusive relationships. Ms. Goldsberry also weaves threads of hope throughout the novel, breaking up the heaviness. The novel has a great mood/atmosphere.
Faye is a fantastic main character. From the beginning, I sympathized with her. Her actions, emotions, and flaws are realistic, and I found myself cheering her on as she made decisions to stand up for herself...or feeling disappointed when she didn't. Prince Leo is a great secondary MC and counterbalance to Faye's personality. He is likeable, cheerful, and has the guts to stand up for himself and others. ♚
(Mild spoiler alert) Pathos is a very complex antagonist. He's the epitome of a narcissistic abuser: ruthless, single-minded, manipulative, and great at deflecting blame. I thought he was expertly written, and the Underworld that contains him and his brothers is spooky, magical, and haunting. The other supporting characters were great, and a few had backstories or origins that (happily) surprised me.
That being said, I did have a few minor issues with "Curse." I felt like the prologue was very rushed and somewhat confusing. The epilogue completely lost me, but I don't think it's super critical to the overall book, so it didn't really bother me.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed this story and would rate it a 4.5/5. I recommend "Curse of the Midnight King" to fans of dark fantasy and/or fairytale retellings. It makes a great autumn read, too!!! 😃
November 5, 2021
This was a clever weaving-together of Cinderella, Twelve Dancing Princesses, and Hades and Persephone. It's a pretty dark story — Pathos and his realm and what he does to Faye and her sisters are storming awful — though it's not without elements of light and hope. And, frankly, dark and beautiful and terrible are what I tend to want out of a Twelve Dancing Princesses underworld, so full marks there. I appreciated Faye's struggle between her desire for freedom and her need to protect her sisters and atone for what she brought upon them. I also enjoyed Leo as a character — his desire to seek answers, his being caught between the need to please his father and his own beliefs of what's right. (I never did quite get past picturing him as Leo from Goldstone Wood, but that's beside the point.) Both struggles were very well-drawn. And the story was well-paced and never dragged, as some might.
Why only three stars? Part of it is that I'm kind of confused by the timeline of some of the most relevant lore (especially given some revelations around the climax of the book). The larger part of it is probably that I never really clicked with Faye the way I wanted to. She spends most of the book in such a dark headspace — for good reason! Given all she goes through, it would've been strange if her thoughts weren't shadowed. And I know there are people who will connect with her, who will see some of their own struggles in her. I'm just not one of those people. I cared about what happened to her, but I didn't connect with her the way I do with some other book characters or even the way I did with Leo.
In short, if you're looking for a retelling of Cinderella, the Twelve Dancing Princesses, or both combined, this is a good option. It's not my favorite such retelling, but it is a good one.
Why only three stars? Part of it is that I'm kind of confused by the timeline of some of the most relevant lore (especially given some revelations around the climax of the book). The larger part of it is probably that I never really clicked with Faye the way I wanted to. She spends most of the book in such a dark headspace — for good reason! Given all she goes through, it would've been strange if her thoughts weren't shadowed. And I know there are people who will connect with her, who will see some of their own struggles in her. I'm just not one of those people. I cared about what happened to her, but I didn't connect with her the way I do with some other book characters or even the way I did with Leo.
In short, if you're looking for a retelling of Cinderella, the Twelve Dancing Princesses, or both combined, this is a good option. It's not my favorite such retelling, but it is a good one.
September 10, 2023
I enjoyed the book. It took me a little to understand the world but once I got it, I didn't want to put the book down.
The writing was great. The story has fun magical elements, masquerades, and is a dual perspective.
The writing was great. The story has fun magical elements, masquerades, and is a dual perspective.
December 29, 2021
I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy of Yakira Goldsberry's debut novel. This is a stunning mash-up of one much-loved fairytale and another that is a personal favourite! (Twelve Dancing Princesses and Cinderella). Goldsberry doesn't stop there. She also creates an entirely new world for which these stories to occur, with magical creatures, dark underworlds, and don't forget a new romance beyond either traditional story. Oh and the masks and dresses! A must-read for fairytale retelling fans!
November 16, 2021
Do you love fairy tale retellings? A deliciously darker story? Romance? Heartbreak? All building up to a climax that will keep you on the edge of your seat?
Then this is the book for you! I adore the way Yakira Goldsberry effortlessly wove together a tale with elements of Cinderella, the Twelve Dancing Princesses, and The Phantom of the Opera. With a smoldering slow burn buildup built on heartbreak, guilt, self-hatred, and unrequited love, Curse of the Midnight King is such a satisfying read!
Faye and Leo are such believably flawed characters, and your heart will be aching, rooting for them to succeed, after all they've gone through.
Throw in some beautiful descriptions and some painfully gorgeous masquerade balls, and you have what is sure to be a story that will dazzle many minds for years to come.
Now for content disclosure: the language is clean. There's no sexual content apart from a single kiss. However, there are deeper themes of domestic abuse present, including emotional manipulation, threats, physical abuse, and verbal abuse. There is also a fairly intense fight scene at the climax, with some PG-13 violence. For this reason, I give this book a lower PG-13 rating for the themes of abuse and the violence near the end.
But overall, I love this book, and I highly recommend you give it a read!
Then this is the book for you! I adore the way Yakira Goldsberry effortlessly wove together a tale with elements of Cinderella, the Twelve Dancing Princesses, and The Phantom of the Opera. With a smoldering slow burn buildup built on heartbreak, guilt, self-hatred, and unrequited love, Curse of the Midnight King is such a satisfying read!
Faye and Leo are such believably flawed characters, and your heart will be aching, rooting for them to succeed, after all they've gone through.
Throw in some beautiful descriptions and some painfully gorgeous masquerade balls, and you have what is sure to be a story that will dazzle many minds for years to come.
Now for content disclosure: the language is clean. There's no sexual content apart from a single kiss. However, there are deeper themes of domestic abuse present, including emotional manipulation, threats, physical abuse, and verbal abuse. There is also a fairly intense fight scene at the climax, with some PG-13 violence. For this reason, I give this book a lower PG-13 rating for the themes of abuse and the violence near the end.
But overall, I love this book, and I highly recommend you give it a read!
April 1, 2022
I really loved reading this wonderful book! I loved the characters and the plot! I had a hard time putting this wonderful book down! I loved this retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses and Cinderella! I will be reading the next book in this wonderful series!
September 4, 2025
Curse of the Midnight King is somewhere between 3-stars and 3.5-stars for me.
I found the premise to be really neat. I'd never seen a Cinderella and 12 Dancing Princesses mashup before, and I think that the author did a nice job of balancing both of the fairy tales in the plot. It maybe had more 12 Dancing Princesses elements, but the Cinderella aspect of the story didn't feel lost.
It took me a little bit to orientate myself in the world at first and figure out what exactly each kingdom was and how it was tied to the various races (Faerie, Enchanter, and Human). But once I got a grasp on it, I followed the story fine.
The world-building was well done. I always had a clear mental image of the story. I do think that it maybe could have had some more original elements to it since it did feel a little bit like the classic fairy tale setting. But I didn't mind it.
The characters were well done. I do wish that I could have gotten to see more of Faye's relationship with her sisters, though I also see how it didn't really work to that. But I think that Faye's arc and struggle with guilt could have been strengthened if we'd gotten to see how much she loved her family, rather than just being told about it for the most part.
I personally found Pathos to possibly be the most interesting character in the story. He was probably the most multi-faceted character. I would love liked to get see more of what exactly went on inside of his mind and such. I always find villains who don't seem to be 100% evil a touch more interesting.
The plot, while being a retelling of both fairy tales, also had its own elements to it, which made the story stronger. The ending hinted at what is to come in the rest of the series but didn't end on a terrible cliffhanger.
My biggest critique is probably that I think the prologue could have been better executed. First off, it felt pretty long for a prologue. Secondly, I wonder if there might have been more tension, or a different kind of tension, to the story if we didn't know exactly what Pathos was up to. Now, I'm not saying that there shouldn't have been a prologue. My favorite 12 Dancing Princesses retelling, Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George has a prologue, and I think it does a great job of setting up some of the stakes to that story. So, yeah. I think that the prologue to Curse of the Midnight King could have been improved.
As far as any cautions go, there is one kiss and some moderate violence during the climax of the story.
Overall, Curse of the Midnight King was an enjoyable fairy tale retelling.
(I received a copy of this book from Neverland Book Tours. I was not required to post a positive review and all thoughts are my own.)
I found the premise to be really neat. I'd never seen a Cinderella and 12 Dancing Princesses mashup before, and I think that the author did a nice job of balancing both of the fairy tales in the plot. It maybe had more 12 Dancing Princesses elements, but the Cinderella aspect of the story didn't feel lost.
It took me a little bit to orientate myself in the world at first and figure out what exactly each kingdom was and how it was tied to the various races (Faerie, Enchanter, and Human). But once I got a grasp on it, I followed the story fine.
The world-building was well done. I always had a clear mental image of the story. I do think that it maybe could have had some more original elements to it since it did feel a little bit like the classic fairy tale setting. But I didn't mind it.
The characters were well done. I do wish that I could have gotten to see more of Faye's relationship with her sisters, though I also see how it didn't really work to that. But I think that Faye's arc and struggle with guilt could have been strengthened if we'd gotten to see how much she loved her family, rather than just being told about it for the most part.
I personally found Pathos to possibly be the most interesting character in the story. He was probably the most multi-faceted character. I would love liked to get see more of what exactly went on inside of his mind and such. I always find villains who don't seem to be 100% evil a touch more interesting.
The plot, while being a retelling of both fairy tales, also had its own elements to it, which made the story stronger. The ending hinted at what is to come in the rest of the series but didn't end on a terrible cliffhanger.
My biggest critique is probably that I think the prologue could have been better executed. First off, it felt pretty long for a prologue. Secondly, I wonder if there might have been more tension, or a different kind of tension, to the story if we didn't know exactly what Pathos was up to. Now, I'm not saying that there shouldn't have been a prologue. My favorite 12 Dancing Princesses retelling, Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George has a prologue, and I think it does a great job of setting up some of the stakes to that story. So, yeah. I think that the prologue to Curse of the Midnight King could have been improved.
As far as any cautions go, there is one kiss and some moderate violence during the climax of the story.
Overall, Curse of the Midnight King was an enjoyable fairy tale retelling.
(I received a copy of this book from Neverland Book Tours. I was not required to post a positive review and all thoughts are my own.)
March 6, 2022
I love a good fairy tale mashup! The way Goldsberry takes threads from different classic tales and weaves them together made this book so fresh and unpredictable, and I appreciated Faye's character growth along the way. A perfect blend of danger, mystery, magic, and romance - highly recommended for readers who enjoy fantasy with a fairy tale twist!
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.*
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.*
November 29, 2021
Curse of the Midnight King
By Yakira Goldsberry
A curse has hidden and trapped a kingdom underground and there is only way to free themselves from it.
Years ago Faye made a mistake and she and her sisters have been living with the consequences of it ever since. Faye unlike her sisters isn't living in the underground realm of the Midnight King but she is forced to dance in it every full moon.
Prince Leo lost the only woman who ever touched his heart - listening to his father he drove her away. But now he seeks to make amends and offer her his heart. Can he find the missing princesses or will they be lost forever?
Can I just say I love this book? It has so many layers that blend together for the perfect fairytale retelling mash-up. Magic, greed, and prejudice are at the heart of everything. I love how aspects of Cinderella and the Twelve Dancing Princesses are threaded throughout this unique tale. Can love conquer all? You'll just have to read the book for yourself to find out.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion ~ All thoughts expressed are my own.
By Yakira Goldsberry
A curse has hidden and trapped a kingdom underground and there is only way to free themselves from it.
Years ago Faye made a mistake and she and her sisters have been living with the consequences of it ever since. Faye unlike her sisters isn't living in the underground realm of the Midnight King but she is forced to dance in it every full moon.
Prince Leo lost the only woman who ever touched his heart - listening to his father he drove her away. But now he seeks to make amends and offer her his heart. Can he find the missing princesses or will they be lost forever?
Can I just say I love this book? It has so many layers that blend together for the perfect fairytale retelling mash-up. Magic, greed, and prejudice are at the heart of everything. I love how aspects of Cinderella and the Twelve Dancing Princesses are threaded throughout this unique tale. Can love conquer all? You'll just have to read the book for yourself to find out.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion ~ All thoughts expressed are my own.
July 16, 2022
Ok, I've taken way too long to review this book and that's because I've been stressing over writing the perfect review that would do this book justice. But I'm going to attempt to get over my perfectionism and just go for it!
Curse of the Midnight King features a heroine named Faye, the only one of the Twelve Dancing Princesses that escaped the curse that trapped her sisters in the Underworld. I got such cozy Cinderella vibes from Faye's life with Madame Delphine, who has kindly taken her in to live with herself and her two daughters. The hero, Prince Leo, is a dashing redhead whose sweet, uncomplicated nature and affection for Faye stole my heart.
I nearly finished this book in a single afternoon lying on the couch. I sank right into Yakira's vivid, descriptive fantasy world the way I used to sink into the worlds of Gail Carson Levine, Shannon Hale, and Jessica Day George. The stakes are high and the pacing is spot on throughout the entire book. And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, Yakira introduced the dancing magic 😍 (I won't say more, please read it to find out!)
It was such a treat to lose myself in a fairy tale retelling like I was ten years old again. Yakira Goldsberry is now up there along with Alice Ivinya as my auto-buy fairy tale authors!
Curse of the Midnight King features a heroine named Faye, the only one of the Twelve Dancing Princesses that escaped the curse that trapped her sisters in the Underworld. I got such cozy Cinderella vibes from Faye's life with Madame Delphine, who has kindly taken her in to live with herself and her two daughters. The hero, Prince Leo, is a dashing redhead whose sweet, uncomplicated nature and affection for Faye stole my heart.
I nearly finished this book in a single afternoon lying on the couch. I sank right into Yakira's vivid, descriptive fantasy world the way I used to sink into the worlds of Gail Carson Levine, Shannon Hale, and Jessica Day George. The stakes are high and the pacing is spot on throughout the entire book. And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, Yakira introduced the dancing magic 😍 (I won't say more, please read it to find out!)
It was such a treat to lose myself in a fairy tale retelling like I was ten years old again. Yakira Goldsberry is now up there along with Alice Ivinya as my auto-buy fairy tale authors!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews