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A Villain's Ever After #2
The Sultan and the Storyteller
For thirty-nine nights, the sultan of Zunbar has chosen a new wife.
For thirty-nine dawns, they are pronounced dead.
When Sultan Zayne summons my best friend to be taken as his newest victim, I can no longer pretend to be blind and volunteer in her stead. My only plan--weave a story each night and hopefully learn why he would kill in the first place.
I never anticipated unravelling the tapestry of lies.
But most of all, I never expected to fall in love with him.
The Sultan and the Storyteller is one of twelve short novels in A Villain's Ever After, a collection of standalone stories featuring villainous twists on some of your favourite classic fairytales. Read the series in any order for magical adventures . . . and fall in love with villains as you've never seen them before. Who said villains can't have happily-ever-afters?
For thirty-nine dawns, they are pronounced dead.
When Sultan Zayne summons my best friend to be taken as his newest victim, I can no longer pretend to be blind and volunteer in her stead. My only plan--weave a story each night and hopefully learn why he would kill in the first place.
I never anticipated unravelling the tapestry of lies.
But most of all, I never expected to fall in love with him.
The Sultan and the Storyteller is one of twelve short novels in A Villain's Ever After, a collection of standalone stories featuring villainous twists on some of your favourite classic fairytales. Read the series in any order for magical adventures . . . and fall in love with villains as you've never seen them before. Who said villains can't have happily-ever-afters?
186 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 20, 2021
87 people are currently reading
912 people want to read
About the author
Lichelle Slater
27 books211 followersPersonal dragon trainer, lover of glitter, writer of fantasy.
Reading has always been a huge passion, from The Hobbit to Goosebumps. Some of my fondest memories are at the library or being read to, and when I embarked on my journey of becoming an author, I did so with the dream of sharing the worlds in my mind with others.
I currently live in Salt Lake City, UT with my adorable King Charles, Perseus, and work full-time as a special education preschool teacher.
I am a USA Today Bestselling author and was nominated for "Unforgettable Book of the Year" for The Beast Princess and "Mind-Blowing Fantasy of the Year" for The Siren Princess at Penned Con 2020, and as Best Debut Author at UtopiaCon in 2017 for Step Right Up (now Circus of the Stars, Ringmaster).
Reading has always been a huge passion, from The Hobbit to Goosebumps. Some of my fondest memories are at the library or being read to, and when I embarked on my journey of becoming an author, I did so with the dream of sharing the worlds in my mind with others.
I currently live in Salt Lake City, UT with my adorable King Charles, Perseus, and work full-time as a special education preschool teacher.
I am a USA Today Bestselling author and was nominated for "Unforgettable Book of the Year" for The Beast Princess and "Mind-Blowing Fantasy of the Year" for The Siren Princess at Penned Con 2020, and as Best Debut Author at UtopiaCon in 2017 for Step Right Up (now Circus of the Stars, Ringmaster).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
January 24, 2022
Video Review: https://youtu.be/0muCr_MClMM
I loved this book. So. Much! And I wasn’t sure I was going to like this one though I don’t know why I ever got that feeling because I was clearly wrong. 😂
Shahira and Zayne are so sweet and I loved both of them from the start along with Shahira’s sister Kiara—the characters felt vibrant and alive and I truly loved following them through this adventure. The romance is also really believable despite the whole book taking place over like four days I think? It was extremely well done and believable to the point where near the end something started going south and I was just like “noooo don’t do this to them!” and then read really fast to make sure everything turned out okay in the end, LOL!
The magical elements are strong and slightly dark on the evil side but nothing bothersome to me though there is a demon spirit involved along with magical controlling and near possession that may not be some people’s cup of tea. I enjoyed the vibrant Middle Eastern setting and the way everything even the clothing was described so vibrantly but not overdone as to bog down the story.
Since this story does have the main characters married early on there is talk at one point about consummating the marriage and then they do in a fade to black but, as someone who really doesn’t like this stuff in books, I found it was done really well and without details that I would rather not know, haha. They’re also married which I find doesn’t bother me as much as an unmarried couple doing the same thing, but that’s just me and something to be aware of if you don’t like this at all.
I loved this story! Truly I have nothing else to say except READ IT!!!!! It’s sooo good! 🥰
Content: magic; magical abilities, objects, and creatures; magical controlling and attempted possession of a character; violence and injuries (not detailed); kissing (not detailed); a fade to black moment between a husband and wife (not detailed aside from the husband’s hand sliding under his wife’s shirt); a magical demon spirit; characters are called sorceresses/sorcerer
I loved this book. So. Much! And I wasn’t sure I was going to like this one though I don’t know why I ever got that feeling because I was clearly wrong. 😂
Shahira and Zayne are so sweet and I loved both of them from the start along with Shahira’s sister Kiara—the characters felt vibrant and alive and I truly loved following them through this adventure. The romance is also really believable despite the whole book taking place over like four days I think? It was extremely well done and believable to the point where near the end something started going south and I was just like “noooo don’t do this to them!” and then read really fast to make sure everything turned out okay in the end, LOL!
The magical elements are strong and slightly dark on the evil side but nothing bothersome to me though there is a demon spirit involved along with magical controlling and near possession that may not be some people’s cup of tea. I enjoyed the vibrant Middle Eastern setting and the way everything even the clothing was described so vibrantly but not overdone as to bog down the story.
Since this story does have the main characters married early on there is talk at one point about consummating the marriage and then they do in a fade to black but, as someone who really doesn’t like this stuff in books, I found it was done really well and without details that I would rather not know, haha. They’re also married which I find doesn’t bother me as much as an unmarried couple doing the same thing, but that’s just me and something to be aware of if you don’t like this at all.
I loved this story! Truly I have nothing else to say except READ IT!!!!! It’s sooo good! 🥰
Content: magic; magical abilities, objects, and creatures; magical controlling and attempted possession of a character; violence and injuries (not detailed); kissing (not detailed); a fade to black moment between a husband and wife (not detailed aside from the husband’s hand sliding under his wife’s shirt); a magical demon spirit; characters are called sorceresses/sorcerer
August 23, 2021
I enjoyed the Arabian Nights stories as a kid, and Scheherazade was one of my favorite characters, so when I found out this retelling is based on her, I was ecstatic.
I loved the twist on the original plot, and the story had a good flow. The characters were well-written, and Shahira was my favorite. I admired her strength and determination to do what is needed no matter what.
This is the second book in the series and based on them I feel like the "villains" are just misunderstood or misguided people who need someone to show them the right path. So, the Sultan, Zayne wasn't bad. I wanted him to be bad initially since I like a good redemption arc, but then the story would have taken a completely different direction, and I liked this one. So it all turned out for the best.
The idea behind the magic was amazing. Shahira was a storyteller, her friend Jade could heal others by taking their wound or illness on herself. The women were born with magical abilities, while the men could only use them through an artifact. I liked how it created a conflict among the people, especially royalty.
The romance could have been better. Shahira went from hate to love for Zayne in a matter of a few days, so the feelings didn't have enough time to develop. Also, there was a revelation at the end of the book that caught me off-guard.
The writing was great, but the book could have used another round of editing. I found some errors, and Zayne was written as Zane on two different occasions. Usually, it is not something I pay attention to, but in this case, it was more noticeable.
Keeping aside the negative points, I think the rest of the book was awesome, and people shouldn't miss out on it due to these minor issues. I recommend it to readers who enjoy the fantasy genre and retellings.
I loved the twist on the original plot, and the story had a good flow. The characters were well-written, and Shahira was my favorite. I admired her strength and determination to do what is needed no matter what.
This is the second book in the series and based on them I feel like the "villains" are just misunderstood or misguided people who need someone to show them the right path. So, the Sultan, Zayne wasn't bad. I wanted him to be bad initially since I like a good redemption arc, but then the story would have taken a completely different direction, and I liked this one. So it all turned out for the best.
The idea behind the magic was amazing. Shahira was a storyteller, her friend Jade could heal others by taking their wound or illness on herself. The women were born with magical abilities, while the men could only use them through an artifact. I liked how it created a conflict among the people, especially royalty.
The romance could have been better. Shahira went from hate to love for Zayne in a matter of a few days, so the feelings didn't have enough time to develop. Also, there was a revelation at the end of the book that caught me off-guard.
The writing was great, but the book could have used another round of editing. I found some errors, and Zayne was written as Zane on two different occasions. Usually, it is not something I pay attention to, but in this case, it was more noticeable.
Keeping aside the negative points, I think the rest of the book was awesome, and people shouldn't miss out on it due to these minor issues. I recommend it to readers who enjoy the fantasy genre and retellings.
April 19, 2022
The Sultan and the Storyteller is the second installment of the A Villain's Ever After series. In it, you will meet Shahira and Zayne. She has the magic for storytelling and he's the Sultan currently looking for a wife. I know that I've read a story about 1001 Nights, but I don't remember exactly when I did. So, it was definitely interesting to read this retelling of it.
The whole mystery surrounding the deaths of the Sultan's wives was a pretty good mystery. In the beginning, I didn't really suspect the person I probably should have. We definitely got little clues, but I overlooked them. So, when the big reveal came, well, I was a little surprised. Then things clicked into place, and I was annoyed with myself for missing them.
Besides that, I liked the romance/friendship that was building between the two main characters. I did think that little action towards the end was a bit short though. Definitely wanted a bit more than I got but I'm happy with the overall result of the book.
In the end, I can't wait for the next fairy tale adventure!
The whole mystery surrounding the deaths of the Sultan's wives was a pretty good mystery. In the beginning, I didn't really suspect the person I probably should have. We definitely got little clues, but I overlooked them. So, when the big reveal came, well, I was a little surprised. Then things clicked into place, and I was annoyed with myself for missing them.
Besides that, I liked the romance/friendship that was building between the two main characters. I did think that little action towards the end was a bit short though. Definitely wanted a bit more than I got but I'm happy with the overall result of the book.
In the end, I can't wait for the next fairy tale adventure!
October 10, 2021
Interesting blend of 1001 Nights meets Disney’s Aladdin.
The villain that gets his happily ever after is mostly a villain due to incompetence and possible influence from the actual villain. I don’t want to give too much away, but it really is a lovely and interesting story
The villain that gets his happily ever after is mostly a villain due to incompetence and possible influence from the actual villain. I don’t want to give too much away, but it really is a lovely and interesting story
December 25, 2021
This was a fun little novella! I actually really liked this one. I'm vaguely familiar with the original fairytale. I know of it, but haven't actually read it myself. But that said, I found Shahira's ability a really cool twist on the 1001 Arabian Nights story.
I liked Shahira's character. I liked her complicated relationship with her father and her little sister was really fun! I must admit, I was rather confused about her sister's age. She read off the page as if she wasn't much younger than Shahira, but I think two-thirds of the way in it says she's like 13 or something.
I also really liked their shop. We didn't see much of it, but it was a neat setting within the world. Actually, I was pleasantly surprised at the variety in setting and how fleshed out the world felt. Novella's don't have a lot of room for developing things like that sometimes, but Slater did a really good job of immersing us in her culture and world without info dumping or taking up unnecessary room in the story.
The sultan was also well done, I think. He was conflicted and torn and just a little hopeless. I liked the way his character struggled with his predicament and how he slowly came to hope again. The villain's grip on him (though unsurprising was still fun to watch unfold) added to that struggle in his temperament and behavior, which I thought was really cool.
The family at the beginning didn't really seem to have much to do with the story except to incite Shahira to action. For being a best friend, they sure didn't have much interaction at all. And the guy (I can't think of his name) seemed like a really nice guy, so I'm curious about him. (I think the next book is about him?) I appreciated how respectful he was and how he remained loyal even after Shahira married the sultan. A lot of writers could create tension there, but Slater chose to create an honorable guy (and girl, too) and that was refreshing.
The plot had just enough mystery to intrigue me and it was definitely a page turning. I couldn't put the thing down! I read over half of it in one night and finally crashed in the wee hours of the morning XD There were a few expected elements, but they still felt like a natural part of the story and I still enjoyed discovering how Slater would weave everything together. The climax was cool, too. Again, there's only so much room in a novella, but I felt like Slater used the room she had well. And, for the most part, the climax was satisfactory.
I do have to point out that the tiger was really weird. It came out of nowhere and didn't feel natural at all. So, that little bit before we hit the main climax felt a little disjoined and rushed and underdeveloped. Also, one minute the tiger couldn't talk to anyone and the next everyone understood it, so that was a pretty big inconsistency. And there were some typos and things I think another round of edits would have really helped, but truly, the story was very engaging and I look forward to checking out more of Slater's work in the future.
There's no swearing and only mild, fantasy violence. The book is set in Arabian-like culture and draws from their mythology, so there is magic and ifrits and sorcery, etc. The romance was pretty clean, but there are allusions to the goings on of a married couple and some mild oneliners about desiring the other shortly after they were married. There is one fade-to-black sex scene between the two main characters after they marry. I'd probably feel fine giving the book to a 16+ year old.
I liked Shahira's character. I liked her complicated relationship with her father and her little sister was really fun! I must admit, I was rather confused about her sister's age. She read off the page as if she wasn't much younger than Shahira, but I think two-thirds of the way in it says she's like 13 or something.
I also really liked their shop. We didn't see much of it, but it was a neat setting within the world. Actually, I was pleasantly surprised at the variety in setting and how fleshed out the world felt. Novella's don't have a lot of room for developing things like that sometimes, but Slater did a really good job of immersing us in her culture and world without info dumping or taking up unnecessary room in the story.
The sultan was also well done, I think. He was conflicted and torn and just a little hopeless. I liked the way his character struggled with his predicament and how he slowly came to hope again. The villain's grip on him (though unsurprising was still fun to watch unfold) added to that struggle in his temperament and behavior, which I thought was really cool.
The family at the beginning didn't really seem to have much to do with the story except to incite Shahira to action. For being a best friend, they sure didn't have much interaction at all. And the guy (I can't think of his name) seemed like a really nice guy, so I'm curious about him. (I think the next book is about him?) I appreciated how respectful he was and how he remained loyal even after Shahira married the sultan. A lot of writers could create tension there, but Slater chose to create an honorable guy (and girl, too) and that was refreshing.
The plot had just enough mystery to intrigue me and it was definitely a page turning. I couldn't put the thing down! I read over half of it in one night and finally crashed in the wee hours of the morning XD There were a few expected elements, but they still felt like a natural part of the story and I still enjoyed discovering how Slater would weave everything together. The climax was cool, too. Again, there's only so much room in a novella, but I felt like Slater used the room she had well. And, for the most part, the climax was satisfactory.
I do have to point out that the tiger was really weird. It came out of nowhere and didn't feel natural at all. So, that little bit before we hit the main climax felt a little disjoined and rushed and underdeveloped. Also, one minute the tiger couldn't talk to anyone and the next everyone understood it, so that was a pretty big inconsistency. And there were some typos and things I think another round of edits would have really helped, but truly, the story was very engaging and I look forward to checking out more of Slater's work in the future.
There's no swearing and only mild, fantasy violence. The book is set in Arabian-like culture and draws from their mythology, so there is magic and ifrits and sorcery, etc. The romance was pretty clean, but there are allusions to the goings on of a married couple and some mild oneliners about desiring the other shortly after they were married. There is one fade-to-black sex scene between the two main characters after they marry. I'd probably feel fine giving the book to a 16+ year old.
August 29, 2021
3.5 stars? Sweet enough little story, though possibly owing more to Disney's Aladdin than The Arabian Nights in its classic form. The romance was a bit much insta-love for my taste, though there is actually a plot justification given I can't discuss without spoilers. Fast paced but none of the characters really grabbed me as anything other than generic fantasy types. Apart from the weird crossover cameo from a cheery necromancer (??!), possibly from another book?
I get that our MC tells magical stories, but I was a little disappointed that, unlike Sheherezade, she didn't actually tell that many, and none with actual cliffhangers. Oh well.
I get that our MC tells magical stories, but I was a little disappointed that, unlike Sheherezade, she didn't actually tell that many, and none with actual cliffhangers. Oh well.
August 22, 2021
This is the first time I have read one of Lichelle Slater's books. I am especially pleased with this one, as it is the second in a series. If the other books in the series are as good as the two that I have read so far, I have been most fortunate in subscribing to the full set.
Here is what I thought of this one:
An enjoyable story with strong, likeable characters. The Sultan seems too young to have such a murderous reputation, yet he offers no explanation or excuses for the tragedy that has befallen his previous wives. The storyteller does not expect to survive her first meeting with the Sultan, but she is determined to be brave. As the story unfolds dark secrets are revealed. Will she be able to solve the riddles and unmask the real danger before she is silenced and loses everything she holds dear?
There is nothing predictable about the way the story unfolds, although there are familiar threads that helped me make bold predictions. Some of my ideas were poor shadows to what unfolded. I don't want to give anything away, and highly recommend this book for those who like a little romance, a touch of magic, and palace intrigue.
Here is what I thought of this one:
An enjoyable story with strong, likeable characters. The Sultan seems too young to have such a murderous reputation, yet he offers no explanation or excuses for the tragedy that has befallen his previous wives. The storyteller does not expect to survive her first meeting with the Sultan, but she is determined to be brave. As the story unfolds dark secrets are revealed. Will she be able to solve the riddles and unmask the real danger before she is silenced and loses everything she holds dear?
There is nothing predictable about the way the story unfolds, although there are familiar threads that helped me make bold predictions. Some of my ideas were poor shadows to what unfolded. I don't want to give anything away, and highly recommend this book for those who like a little romance, a touch of magic, and palace intrigue.
August 15, 2021
The Sultan and the Storyteller
By Lichelle Slater
Rating: 4/5
As someone who enjoys fairytale retellings, I was super excited to read A Villain’s Ever After story based off of 1001 Nights - I’ve never read a retelling of that story before and it did NOT disappoint.
Shahira is the eldest daughter of the vizier who has to hide and contain her magic. She is a storyteller who can infuse her magic into her stories and make them come true. When her best friend’s life is threatened by becoming the next bride of the Sultan, Shahira decides to volunteer in her stead. 39 brides lost is enough and Shahira won’t allow the murderous sultan to continue when she has the power to stop him. When she realizes that there’s more to the story, she and the sultan must learn to trust each other and discover where the evil shadows come from before it’s too late.
Beautifully written characters against a lavish backdrop create such a thrilling story with magic and romance and mystery. Since this book is only the prequel to a new series by Lichelle Slater, I look forward to reading more.
Highly recommend if you enjoy fairytale retellings with magic, romance and mystery.
My thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.
By Lichelle Slater
Rating: 4/5
As someone who enjoys fairytale retellings, I was super excited to read A Villain’s Ever After story based off of 1001 Nights - I’ve never read a retelling of that story before and it did NOT disappoint.
Shahira is the eldest daughter of the vizier who has to hide and contain her magic. She is a storyteller who can infuse her magic into her stories and make them come true. When her best friend’s life is threatened by becoming the next bride of the Sultan, Shahira decides to volunteer in her stead. 39 brides lost is enough and Shahira won’t allow the murderous sultan to continue when she has the power to stop him. When she realizes that there’s more to the story, she and the sultan must learn to trust each other and discover where the evil shadows come from before it’s too late.
Beautifully written characters against a lavish backdrop create such a thrilling story with magic and romance and mystery. Since this book is only the prequel to a new series by Lichelle Slater, I look forward to reading more.
Highly recommend if you enjoy fairytale retellings with magic, romance and mystery.
My thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.
September 11, 2023
3,75 stars. A lot of fun overall but I feel like it needed a bit more work? Fun nonetheless.
August 7, 2021
I received a copy of this book from the author, Lichelle Slater as an ARC. This is my honest review.
I read this in one sitting. As soon as I downloaded this book, I just devoured it. I hadn't read a retelling of this story before, so I had no idea what to expect.
I am a sucker for a good villain, and an even bigger sucker when they are more than what they appear to be. Zayne was a great villain, and the story behind his killings were well imagined, and unexpected. I loved the twists this took, you never knew what to expect.
The magical element to this book made it even more enjoyable too. Everything was just well thought out, and I loved it!
My only complaint was that it was over too quickly! I'm excited to see what else this author has written!
I read this in one sitting. As soon as I downloaded this book, I just devoured it. I hadn't read a retelling of this story before, so I had no idea what to expect.
I am a sucker for a good villain, and an even bigger sucker when they are more than what they appear to be. Zayne was a great villain, and the story behind his killings were well imagined, and unexpected. I loved the twists this took, you never knew what to expect.
The magical element to this book made it even more enjoyable too. Everything was just well thought out, and I loved it!
My only complaint was that it was over too quickly! I'm excited to see what else this author has written!
March 6, 2022
In honor of National Tell a Fairy Tale Day last weekend, all of the books from the Villain's Ever After series went on sale, so I decided to add one more to my collection. The Sultan and the Storyteller by Lichelle Slater caught my eye because instead of doing the obvious choice of reimaging "Aladdin," it is an adaptation of One Thousand and One Nights, a myth that rarely gets much attention. Lichelle Slater's previous books were just okay for me, so I wasn't too sure what to expect from this one. Still, I was eager to read something new. I found it adequate, but not as enjoyable as some of the other books in this series, considering that they are all written by different authors.
In this rare adaptation of One Thousand One Nights, the role of Shahrazad is taken by a young lady named Shahira, who has the unique ability to prophesize the future by speaking it out loud in the form of a story. Such a powerful ability could allow her to change the world in a single night, but she rarely uses it due to a traumatic experience from her childhood that resulted in her mother's death. Shahira lives in a kingdom ruled by a sultan who takes on a new wife every night only for her to die the next morning. It is Shahira's desire to end this senseless string of murders, which made me wonder why she never took advantage of her powers by telling a story about the sultan's wives living long and prosperous lives. Instead, she chooses to sacrifice herself in order to save her friend, Jade, who was selected as the sultan's next victim. This Hunger Games-inspired tactic leads to a series of revelations about Shahira's past that she could never have imagined in her stories.
The custom for this series is to take a classic villain and reveal that they were simply misunderstood, a tradition that was first made popular with Gregory Maguire's Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. The sultan who killed his wives in One Thousand and One Nights is not exactly an infamous villain among fairy tale lore, but his actions are certainly despicable. This book provides an alternative explanation as to why all of his wives died until he met the storyteller. In this version, the true villain is Shahira's father, who is a cookie-cutter copy of Jafar from "Aladdin," which is one of the stories that Shahrazad told in the original One Thousand and One Nights. He is a Grand Vizier with a magic staff, so it's pretty easy to connect the dots from there.
This book presents itself as somewhat of a romance, but I have to admit I wasn't really feeling it. There are lots of defenses against the Stockholm Syndrome theory for "Beauty and the Beast," and I feel like it's a lot harder to argue against that theory with this story. At least Belle didn't agree to marry the Beast until she fell in love with him. Shahira marries Zayne within the first few chapters of The Sultan and the Storyteller despite believing that he killed his wives. Even when she learns the secrets of their pasts and the truth behind the mysteries, it doesn't feel enough to justify the love between a husband and wife. It's almost as though Shahira decided to stay with Zayne because it was easier than trying to get out of the marriage once she realized that she wasn't going to suffer the same fate as his other wives. She even had someone else she was in love with, but she had to give him up to save her friend.
Overall, The Sultan and the Storyteller is just fine for what it is, but it is certainly not the best book in the Villain's Ever After series. It was interesting to read an adaptation of One Thousand and One Nights and even more interesting that the author intends to expand it into a longer series with a preview for an upcoming sequel at the end. However, the book has too many plotholes for me, and I didn't find the characters all that interesting. For someone who could literally change the world with a single story, Shahira still doesn't use her powers to save the lives that came before her. Even when she decided to give in and use them, it doesn't feel like the powerful magic that you usually see in the climax of a fairy tale. This is the most underwhelming story I've read so far in A Villain's Ever After.
In this rare adaptation of One Thousand One Nights, the role of Shahrazad is taken by a young lady named Shahira, who has the unique ability to prophesize the future by speaking it out loud in the form of a story. Such a powerful ability could allow her to change the world in a single night, but she rarely uses it due to a traumatic experience from her childhood that resulted in her mother's death. Shahira lives in a kingdom ruled by a sultan who takes on a new wife every night only for her to die the next morning. It is Shahira's desire to end this senseless string of murders, which made me wonder why she never took advantage of her powers by telling a story about the sultan's wives living long and prosperous lives. Instead, she chooses to sacrifice herself in order to save her friend, Jade, who was selected as the sultan's next victim. This Hunger Games-inspired tactic leads to a series of revelations about Shahira's past that she could never have imagined in her stories.
The custom for this series is to take a classic villain and reveal that they were simply misunderstood, a tradition that was first made popular with Gregory Maguire's Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. The sultan who killed his wives in One Thousand and One Nights is not exactly an infamous villain among fairy tale lore, but his actions are certainly despicable. This book provides an alternative explanation as to why all of his wives died until he met the storyteller. In this version, the true villain is Shahira's father, who is a cookie-cutter copy of Jafar from "Aladdin," which is one of the stories that Shahrazad told in the original One Thousand and One Nights. He is a Grand Vizier with a magic staff, so it's pretty easy to connect the dots from there.
This book presents itself as somewhat of a romance, but I have to admit I wasn't really feeling it. There are lots of defenses against the Stockholm Syndrome theory for "Beauty and the Beast," and I feel like it's a lot harder to argue against that theory with this story. At least Belle didn't agree to marry the Beast until she fell in love with him. Shahira marries Zayne within the first few chapters of The Sultan and the Storyteller despite believing that he killed his wives. Even when she learns the secrets of their pasts and the truth behind the mysteries, it doesn't feel enough to justify the love between a husband and wife. It's almost as though Shahira decided to stay with Zayne because it was easier than trying to get out of the marriage once she realized that she wasn't going to suffer the same fate as his other wives. She even had someone else she was in love with, but she had to give him up to save her friend.
Overall, The Sultan and the Storyteller is just fine for what it is, but it is certainly not the best book in the Villain's Ever After series. It was interesting to read an adaptation of One Thousand and One Nights and even more interesting that the author intends to expand it into a longer series with a preview for an upcoming sequel at the end. However, the book has too many plotholes for me, and I didn't find the characters all that interesting. For someone who could literally change the world with a single story, Shahira still doesn't use her powers to save the lives that came before her. Even when she decided to give in and use them, it doesn't feel like the powerful magic that you usually see in the climax of a fairy tale. This is the most underwhelming story I've read so far in A Villain's Ever After.
June 6, 2024
Enjoyable but needed a bit more editing
Overall a fun read but definitely could have used more editing. First of all, I appreciate that Lichelle included regional foods, instruments, etc. This shows that she did some research and I love to see it. This might sound super basic but I think many authors skimp a little here. Seriously, I have read way too many books that refer to biological parents as “real parents” when a quick google search about adoption language will tell you that this is the worst possible wording. (Lichelle is actually guilty of doing this in The Dragon Princess). Feel free to skip to the next paragraph for the main review but I’m also including this next part as general knowledge that more people should know! Many people don’t know much about adoption which is understandable. However, this makes it even more important for media such as books and movies to get adoption representation right as this guides the publics’ knowledge. The issues comes when adoption is treated as a plot device rather than as an identity. When adoption is used as a plot device (i.e. to explain special powers), authors don’t feel the need to research it because it’s being used to accomplish something in the plot. When adoption is an identity, you have to research it, just like you would when writing a character who is different from you.
The main review:
I’m actually going to focus on the bad as that’s normally why I read reviews. Not that I’m trying to find negative reviews but here’s a lot of books of my list and I have to prioritize.
The small things first. I found several grammatical errors such as typos (misspelled word, wrong name used), incorrect punctuation, and inconsistent verb tense. Not a big deal but definitely had to read a few sentences twice to understand the author’s indented meaning. There was also some awkward phrasing such as “her magical strength with magic” and referring to her best friend’s father as “the tailor.” Another little thing that bothered me was the use of the title “queen” because normally it would be sultan and sultans.
Now, the bigger issues. There was a pretty big plot inconsistency (not a spoiler) with the tiger. At first, no one could understand him, then all of a sudden they can? The relationships and character development also felt rushed and as a result I didn’t really care about the characters. This is a common problem for shorter stories and I kind of expect it but still worth mentioning as it does really take away from the story.
SPOILER: I was also a little confused by how she was suddenly able to use her magic with no voice. This seems like a pretty big jump in power. She was able to reverse he father’s magic to free her voice but not the spell-blocking wards? This part just needed more explanation.
Overall a fun read but definitely could have used more editing. First of all, I appreciate that Lichelle included regional foods, instruments, etc. This shows that she did some research and I love to see it. This might sound super basic but I think many authors skimp a little here. Seriously, I have read way too many books that refer to biological parents as “real parents” when a quick google search about adoption language will tell you that this is the worst possible wording. (Lichelle is actually guilty of doing this in The Dragon Princess). Feel free to skip to the next paragraph for the main review but I’m also including this next part as general knowledge that more people should know! Many people don’t know much about adoption which is understandable. However, this makes it even more important for media such as books and movies to get adoption representation right as this guides the publics’ knowledge. The issues comes when adoption is treated as a plot device rather than as an identity. When adoption is used as a plot device (i.e. to explain special powers), authors don’t feel the need to research it because it’s being used to accomplish something in the plot. When adoption is an identity, you have to research it, just like you would when writing a character who is different from you.
The main review:
I’m actually going to focus on the bad as that’s normally why I read reviews. Not that I’m trying to find negative reviews but here’s a lot of books of my list and I have to prioritize.
The small things first. I found several grammatical errors such as typos (misspelled word, wrong name used), incorrect punctuation, and inconsistent verb tense. Not a big deal but definitely had to read a few sentences twice to understand the author’s indented meaning. There was also some awkward phrasing such as “her magical strength with magic” and referring to her best friend’s father as “the tailor.” Another little thing that bothered me was the use of the title “queen” because normally it would be sultan and sultans.
Now, the bigger issues. There was a pretty big plot inconsistency (not a spoiler) with the tiger. At first, no one could understand him, then all of a sudden they can? The relationships and character development also felt rushed and as a result I didn’t really care about the characters. This is a common problem for shorter stories and I kind of expect it but still worth mentioning as it does really take away from the story.
SPOILER: I was also a little confused by how she was suddenly able to use her magic with no voice. This seems like a pretty big jump in power. She was able to reverse he father’s magic to free her voice but not the spell-blocking wards? This part just needed more explanation.
October 31, 2021
3.5 stars // read October 2021
“The Sultan and the Storyteller” features an interesting world and likeable characters, but I finished the book feeling slightly disappointed. I’ve never read an Arabian Nights retelling before, so I expected certain elements to be included- for example, the cliffhangers- but that wasn’t incorporated at all. Also, I know this is an incredibly minor thing, but the MC’s name was not Scheherazade. (Seriously, that is such an epic name; why wouldn’t you call your character that if given the chance?) Ignoring petty details like that, this story just gave me more “Aladdin” vibes than what it is a retelling of. All in all, this is a solid story; it just wasn’t what I was expecting.
Content:
Language: None.
Violence: Mild.
Sensuality: Medium. Due to the “arranged marriage” aspect of this book, there are some references to marriage consummation. If a certain scene had gone any farther I would’ve skipped it.
Other things to be aware of: Mentions of demons, possession, and bargains involving souls. One character is a necromancer, although that doesn’t really come into play. One character tries to get drunk. Brief mentions of childhood abuse.
“The Sultan and the Storyteller” features an interesting world and likeable characters, but I finished the book feeling slightly disappointed. I’ve never read an Arabian Nights retelling before, so I expected certain elements to be included- for example, the cliffhangers- but that wasn’t incorporated at all. Also, I know this is an incredibly minor thing, but the MC’s name was not Scheherazade. (Seriously, that is such an epic name; why wouldn’t you call your character that if given the chance?) Ignoring petty details like that, this story just gave me more “Aladdin” vibes than what it is a retelling of. All in all, this is a solid story; it just wasn’t what I was expecting.
Content:
Language: None.
Violence: Mild.
Sensuality: Medium. Due to the “arranged marriage” aspect of this book, there are some references to marriage consummation. If a certain scene had gone any farther I would’ve skipped it.
Other things to be aware of: Mentions of demons, possession, and bargains involving souls. One character is a necromancer, although that doesn’t really come into play. One character tries to get drunk. Brief mentions of childhood abuse.
September 6, 2021
Grammar mistakes
I really wanted to like this. The plot had so much potential.
The book begins with so much unnecessary death. I get that death was a big chunk of the plotline, but the deaths in the beginning could have just not happened and the story would progress just fine.
There are repetitive sentences throughout the book.
The writing style is childish.
There are characters that are introduced as though the reader ought to know them (and the reader would if they had read a certain other series by this author).
There is a tiger that, all of a sudden, the main protagonist calls her familiar, when it only came to her aid once before and without any real tangible explanation as to its purpose.
I had to skim through the second half because I just could not take it anymore.
It is almost as though the author put off her writing assignment till the last possible moment, then had to rush the story, ending up with a patchwork of thoughts that barely fit together.
I really wanted to like this. The plot had so much potential.
The book begins with so much unnecessary death. I get that death was a big chunk of the plotline, but the deaths in the beginning could have just not happened and the story would progress just fine.
There are repetitive sentences throughout the book.
The writing style is childish.
There are characters that are introduced as though the reader ought to know them (and the reader would if they had read a certain other series by this author).
There is a tiger that, all of a sudden, the main protagonist calls her familiar, when it only came to her aid once before and without any real tangible explanation as to its purpose.
I had to skim through the second half because I just could not take it anymore.
It is almost as though the author put off her writing assignment till the last possible moment, then had to rush the story, ending up with a patchwork of thoughts that barely fit together.
August 20, 2021
The Sultan and the Storyteller is a clean, lovely retelling of 1001 Nights. I sat down to just start a few chapters at 9 in the evening, and next thing I knew, I could not put this one down and finished it at midnight in a single sitting.
The author handles the tricky romance with a wife-killing villain very well, and I couldn't help but root for the main characters! Scheherazade has long been a favorite and fascinating character to me, ever since I read Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher while growing up. I'm so excited to see another, excellent retelling of this tale out in the world!
If you loved The Wrath and the Dawn or Shadow Spinner, then you'll want to check out this clean retelling of 1001 Nights!
The author handles the tricky romance with a wife-killing villain very well, and I couldn't help but root for the main characters! Scheherazade has long been a favorite and fascinating character to me, ever since I read Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher while growing up. I'm so excited to see another, excellent retelling of this tale out in the world!
If you loved The Wrath and the Dawn or Shadow Spinner, then you'll want to check out this clean retelling of 1001 Nights!
September 22, 2021
This book was… ok. The storyline was interesting I suppose and the world building was great, IF you can ignore the bad presentation of said world. Overall I for sure wouldn’t recommend it or read more by this author. This may be aimed at younger audiences, but the lazy writing, almost all in passive voice annoyed me. It has potential, but told almost everything instead of showing. Honestly, if this same story had been better written, I think I would’ve loved it. The world she built was really creative and I could’ve read more books about it/placed in it. Shows how much bad writing can affect even a good story.
August 24, 2021
This Book Came Alive!
I haven’t read anything by this author before, but I’m about to play catch up! This world came alive through her writing. I loved the sights, the sounds, the magic, and the sweet romance. I loved her take on 1,001 Nights.
The Sultan takes a new bride each day, and she’s dead the next morning, until Shahira volunteers in her friend’s place. I loved the mystery of how the wives keep dying, and Shahira’s determination and magic.
Content: clean (fade to black intimacy in marriage, a few kisses, one fighting scene, no language)
I haven’t read anything by this author before, but I’m about to play catch up! This world came alive through her writing. I loved the sights, the sounds, the magic, and the sweet romance. I loved her take on 1,001 Nights.
The Sultan takes a new bride each day, and she’s dead the next morning, until Shahira volunteers in her friend’s place. I loved the mystery of how the wives keep dying, and Shahira’s determination and magic.
Content: clean (fade to black intimacy in marriage, a few kisses, one fighting scene, no language)
September 10, 2021
There were some things I liked about this story, and some things that needed a bit more work and a bit more thought on the author's part.
The main character, Shahira, is very likeable, as is her love interest Zayne--most of the time. I enjoyed the founding idea that some women have magic in this universe, while men can use magical objects if they want that kind of power. Descriptions of the settings were nicely done, and the pacing was decent. It's an easy, pleasant read.
But there's a lot of stuff that happens that the characters just kind of let pass without much mental scrutiny when I feel like an actual person who didn't have a plot to follow would have questioned things a bit more. Like, for example, Shahira and her sister Kiara...don't remember their childhoods. At all. Shahira has almost no memories from before she was twelve. And it's just sort of handwaved away as "oh, too bad we don't have any memories, it would be nice." And Zayne is only mildly disturbed at waking up every morning for forty straight mornings to find his wife has died while they slept. He just keeps taking new wives, instead of, I don't know, investigating this bizarre and tragic phenomenon? He has vague memories of strangling them, but he clearly doesn't want to do so while awake and lucid, and you'd think he could take steps to prevent it. If I were him, I'd frankly be terrified at why this keeps happening, not just doubling down and dragging yet another unwilling woman into the palace because there's some vaguely articulated tradition that the sultan must have a wife. Especially since it's starting to cause economic and diplomatic problems for the country. "Oh well, I guess I'm a murderer now," is not exactly the response one wants to see in a lead character if we're supposed to sympathize with said character (and we are). This is the kind of stuff that only happens when there's a story going on with a set plot to follow, rather than the way actual people would react when placed in a situation like this. It strains credibility past my personal threshold for such things.
I'm not hugely fond of the extended interlude with characters from a previous story of Slater's; there are elements to that which aren't fully explained or relevant to the current story (why did they randomly show up, say they wanted to buy the sultan's magic mirror, and then destroy it? "I promised a demon" isn't a real explanation.) It's clearly just an attempt to get the reader to buy the other books and I didn't appreciate it.
On top of these plot/character issues, there are enough clumsily constructed sentences for me to say that this story needed a few more passes with an editor for both clarity and line editing before it was released into the world.
The main character, Shahira, is very likeable, as is her love interest Zayne--most of the time. I enjoyed the founding idea that some women have magic in this universe, while men can use magical objects if they want that kind of power. Descriptions of the settings were nicely done, and the pacing was decent. It's an easy, pleasant read.
But there's a lot of stuff that happens that the characters just kind of let pass without much mental scrutiny when I feel like an actual person who didn't have a plot to follow would have questioned things a bit more. Like, for example, Shahira and her sister Kiara...don't remember their childhoods. At all. Shahira has almost no memories from before she was twelve. And it's just sort of handwaved away as "oh, too bad we don't have any memories, it would be nice." And Zayne is only mildly disturbed at waking up every morning for forty straight mornings to find his wife has died while they slept. He just keeps taking new wives, instead of, I don't know, investigating this bizarre and tragic phenomenon? He has vague memories of strangling them, but he clearly doesn't want to do so while awake and lucid, and you'd think he could take steps to prevent it. If I were him, I'd frankly be terrified at why this keeps happening, not just doubling down and dragging yet another unwilling woman into the palace because there's some vaguely articulated tradition that the sultan must have a wife. Especially since it's starting to cause economic and diplomatic problems for the country. "Oh well, I guess I'm a murderer now," is not exactly the response one wants to see in a lead character if we're supposed to sympathize with said character (and we are). This is the kind of stuff that only happens when there's a story going on with a set plot to follow, rather than the way actual people would react when placed in a situation like this. It strains credibility past my personal threshold for such things.
I'm not hugely fond of the extended interlude with characters from a previous story of Slater's; there are elements to that which aren't fully explained or relevant to the current story (why did they randomly show up, say they wanted to buy the sultan's magic mirror, and then destroy it? "I promised a demon" isn't a real explanation.) It's clearly just an attempt to get the reader to buy the other books and I didn't appreciate it.
On top of these plot/character issues, there are enough clumsily constructed sentences for me to say that this story needed a few more passes with an editor for both clarity and line editing before it was released into the world.
November 15, 2021
This series has quickly become one of my new favorites. I'm a lover of fairytales and I love retellings even more because it's always a surprise what the author is gonna do with the story. But I might be loving fairytales where the hero and the villain eventually fall in love even more. Mostly because the author is forced to build a bond, to make these characters connect, to create something more than insta-love.
I'm not that familiar with the tale of 1001 nights. It wasn't a tale my mother used to read to me, I assume because it was simply not in the fairytale books she read to me. However, of course I had some basic knowledge of the tale and knew the gist of it. It was quite a lot of fun though to read a tale with a total fairytale vibe without having the knowledge to connect the dots between elements and plot points. Everything in this story was a surprise for me.
The biggest surprise was the eventual ending of the story. It's quite brutal and harsh. I mean, I guess that the tale of 1001 nights is quite harsh to begin with, but although this is a story with a happily ever after there are quite a few moments where I might have gotten a little sick. It did keep the story interesting though. The relationships between the different characters were incredibly complicated and there were literally no guarantees.
Just like in the other tales in this series, so far, I like how the relationship between the characters takes some time to grow. Of course, the story is relatively short and only a few days pass between the beginning of the book and the end, but it still felt like the characters had to work to make their relationship and love work. It wasn't love at first sight. There was a lot of hatred and judgement that had to be dealt with first.
I can't wait to read the other tales in this series!
I'm not that familiar with the tale of 1001 nights. It wasn't a tale my mother used to read to me, I assume because it was simply not in the fairytale books she read to me. However, of course I had some basic knowledge of the tale and knew the gist of it. It was quite a lot of fun though to read a tale with a total fairytale vibe without having the knowledge to connect the dots between elements and plot points. Everything in this story was a surprise for me.
The biggest surprise was the eventual ending of the story. It's quite brutal and harsh. I mean, I guess that the tale of 1001 nights is quite harsh to begin with, but although this is a story with a happily ever after there are quite a few moments where I might have gotten a little sick. It did keep the story interesting though. The relationships between the different characters were incredibly complicated and there were literally no guarantees.
Just like in the other tales in this series, so far, I like how the relationship between the characters takes some time to grow. Of course, the story is relatively short and only a few days pass between the beginning of the book and the end, but it still felt like the characters had to work to make their relationship and love work. It wasn't love at first sight. There was a lot of hatred and judgement that had to be dealt with first.
I can't wait to read the other tales in this series!
October 18, 2021
3.5
This book isn’t bad, it just wasn’t what I wanted to be.
I love Lichelle Slater’s Forgotten Kingdom series! Each fairytale was combined with another to produce a new, original tale. It’s actually one of my favorite fantasy/fairytale series in recent years! But, if you haven’t read that series yet, this book contains major/minor spoilers for the series, depending on what book you’re on. If you haven’t started the series, the spoiler reveals a lot about a certain character and the interconnected plot of the series, which I believe is a major spoil. But if you’ve read the series, it’s a nice crossover!
This story combines One Thousand and One Nights with Aladdin elements, a combo I normally love. The a thousand tales were a handful of short (most a paragraph long) stories. And the plot that reminded me of the two-part One Thousand and One Nights on Amazon Prime, as well as other YA retellings of One Thousand and One Nights. I almost quit reading this novella so many times because it felt like something I’ve read before. (If you haven’t read a lot of fairytale retellings of One Thousand and One Nights, you should probably be fine, I just read one or two or five too many)
All in all, if you love Lichelle Slater or want more of her Forbidden Kingdom series, pick this up!
This book isn’t bad, it just wasn’t what I wanted to be.
I love Lichelle Slater’s Forgotten Kingdom series! Each fairytale was combined with another to produce a new, original tale. It’s actually one of my favorite fantasy/fairytale series in recent years! But, if you haven’t read that series yet, this book contains major/minor spoilers for the series, depending on what book you’re on. If you haven’t started the series, the spoiler reveals a lot about a certain character and the interconnected plot of the series, which I believe is a major spoil. But if you’ve read the series, it’s a nice crossover!
This story combines One Thousand and One Nights with Aladdin elements, a combo I normally love. The a thousand tales were a handful of short (most a paragraph long) stories. And the plot that reminded me of the two-part One Thousand and One Nights on Amazon Prime, as well as other YA retellings of One Thousand and One Nights. I almost quit reading this novella so many times because it felt like something I’ve read before. (If you haven’t read a lot of fairytale retellings of One Thousand and One Nights, you should probably be fine, I just read one or two or five too many)
All in all, if you love Lichelle Slater or want more of her Forbidden Kingdom series, pick this up!
August 21, 2021
I throughly enjoyed this book. This is the first book that I have read by Lichelle Slater. It won't be the last! I have never read a retelling of 1001 Nights. I don't think there are many retellings of this particular story. It is a wonderful book. The characters were good and the story itself was great. I was worried that it would be hard to like the "villian" but it wasn't. She did a great job making you want to root for him. Once I started the book it was hard to put it down. I became invested in the characters. I wanted to see what would happen. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fairy tale retellings.
August 20, 2021
Unputdownable retelling!!! 😍
I love Lichelle's work and was so excited to read this book and I have to tell it is beyond my expectations; Lichelle, you outdid yourself!!! 🥰
This brilliantly written installment will sucked you in since the first chapter, with its mysterious plot and unexpected twists and turns; the world building is amazing and the characters, awesome, I love Shahira and Zayne so much!!! 😍
The kind of magic is unique and the twist from the original tale will blow your mind, it’s fantastic!!! 🤩
Can't wait to read the rest of the series in this amazing world... oh and that crossover, girl, you know the way to my heart!!! ❤
I love Lichelle's work and was so excited to read this book and I have to tell it is beyond my expectations; Lichelle, you outdid yourself!!! 🥰
This brilliantly written installment will sucked you in since the first chapter, with its mysterious plot and unexpected twists and turns; the world building is amazing and the characters, awesome, I love Shahira and Zayne so much!!! 😍
The kind of magic is unique and the twist from the original tale will blow your mind, it’s fantastic!!! 🤩
Can't wait to read the rest of the series in this amazing world... oh and that crossover, girl, you know the way to my heart!!! ❤
September 10, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3 1/2 stars rounded up to four.
This is such a fun take on 1,001 Nights! I really enjoyed this reimagining on the old tale, especially the lush worldbuilding.
It’s a short novel, and I’d have liked to spend a bit more time in Zunbar—but it seems the author has written more in the same world, so don’t let that fact turn you away.
While fantasy romance isn’t my cup of tea, I enjoyed a lot of the aspects of this one—especially how Shahira cleverly and bravely stands up to the sultan and slowly breaks down his defenses.
I predicted the twist, but that’s no bad thing. The foreshadowing is great. The ending is climactic.
Overall, a fun take on a classic tale!
Content: Contains fantasy violence. No strong language. One fade to black scene and kissing.
This is such a fun take on 1,001 Nights! I really enjoyed this reimagining on the old tale, especially the lush worldbuilding.
It’s a short novel, and I’d have liked to spend a bit more time in Zunbar—but it seems the author has written more in the same world, so don’t let that fact turn you away.
While fantasy romance isn’t my cup of tea, I enjoyed a lot of the aspects of this one—especially how Shahira cleverly and bravely stands up to the sultan and slowly breaks down his defenses.
I predicted the twist, but that’s no bad thing. The foreshadowing is great. The ending is climactic.
Overall, a fun take on a classic tale!
Content: Contains fantasy violence. No strong language. One fade to black scene and kissing.
August 20, 2021
*All of my reviews are voluntarily written*
Let me start by saying that Lichelle Slater is one of my favorite authors. It all started when I read her Forgotten Kingdom series. When I heard this was coming out, I was so excited to read it!
This is a retelling of 1,001 Nights, and the twists in this always caught me by surprise. When her best friend is next to wed the Sultan, Shahira steps in instead. She's had to hide her magic, but uses it to her advantage here. Will there be a happily ever after? You'll have to read to find out!
I look forward to more from Lichelle Slater!
Let me start by saying that Lichelle Slater is one of my favorite authors. It all started when I read her Forgotten Kingdom series. When I heard this was coming out, I was so excited to read it!
This is a retelling of 1,001 Nights, and the twists in this always caught me by surprise. When her best friend is next to wed the Sultan, Shahira steps in instead. She's had to hide her magic, but uses it to her advantage here. Will there be a happily ever after? You'll have to read to find out!
I look forward to more from Lichelle Slater!
August 21, 2021
This book was so refreshing. It hardly felt like a short story and I can’t wait to get more from this world. Lichelle does such an incredible job with her world building and character development. I couldn’t put it down for a second!
August 21, 2021
Great retelling of a lesser told fairy tale. I love reading retellings, especially told from different points of view, and this one is a very good one that puts you into the story.
August 15, 2021
I love Lichelle Slater books and I tend to read them in two days or so. Therefore it comes as no surprise that I read this book in two days and absolutely loved it. With this book being a part of a new series written by various authors, I was pleasantly surprised to find a connection to her Reimagined series. The characters in this book are great and I found myself wrapped up in the mystery of the plot. Similar to the Reimagined series, this book loosely follows the storyline of Aladdin, but is a unique retelling with new characters and twists in the story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 31, 2022
Good story but could have gone without the slight yucky part in chapter 12
September 26, 2021
Almost DNF. I normally really like series like this with standalone books where you can try books from multiple authors, but this was just not for me. Also there were so many typos that it was distracting.
September 27, 2021
This book of a fun series. Planning to check out all of the other books. Love fairytale retellings. This one is from 1000 & 1 nights.
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