Aria knows how to escape imprisonment. All she needs to do is to lead Prince Victor to his death. But she has no desire to become a murderer or assist the man that holds her captive. Instead, Aria discovers a possible solution in unfamiliar magic. The Wayward Paths may lead her to freedom, but they will require her to come face to face with the shadows of her past.
The foolish prince
Victor’s life is in danger. After barely escaping a deadly masquerade, he finds himself a target of The Mage King, an ancient being who requires royal blood. Not that Victor takes that too seriously. He’d rather think about Aria, the beautiful and mysterious woman that visits him in his dreams. Aria’s past holds the key to the identity of The Mage King, but will their encounters provide him with answers or result in his demise?
Nancy O’Toole is an author of superhero fiction and fairy tale retellings. Her body of work includes The Red and Black Series, and The Twin Kingdoms series. She is the co-host of One for All: A My Hero Academia Podcast. When not writing, or working as a librarian in Central Maine, she spends her time reading, playing video games, watching kdramas, and taking far too many pictures of her cat, Coraline.
The Wayward Tower, book three in The Twin Kingdoms series, is a unique twist on the classic Rapunzel story. Some time has passed since the conclusion of the second novella, which is when Aria and Victor, the protagonists in this novella, first met. Now trapped in a tower with no hope of escape, Aria finds herself pulled into the Mage King’s plot to capture Victor and lead him to his death. Aria wants nothing to do with the plan and thinks she might have found a way to free herself. Will she be able to travel the Wayward Paths, and what will happen to her and Victor if Aria escapes the evil clutches of the Mage King?
The story makes great use of flashbacks to further develop Aria’s character and the antagonists in the series. I loved these flashbacks! They offer so much insight into the rise of the Mage King, how he gained support, and how he and others connect to Aria. Aria is a compelling protagonist, and it was interesting to see how she became so embroiled in the Mage King’s manipulations.
Victor is also an interesting character. He’s fun and carefree, a man without a purpose, and no one takes him seriously. I think this is mainly because he doesn’t take himself seriously, but as the story progresses, he seems to long for more. His character shows a lot of growth throughout the novella, and I enjoyed his arc. I also really liked the growing relationship between Victor and Aria and think this developing connection motivates Victor. He is so moved by Aria from their first meeting, and his feelings for her, even though they spend much of the story apart, are fantastic.
Like the other novellas in the series, the magic, the overarching plot, and the world-building in The Wayward Tower are super immersive. I was so intrigued by the Wayward Paths and the role they play in Aria and Victor’s story. I also love the elements that parallel the story of Rapunzel and how they blend together with the new aspects of the plot. The author meshes the old and the new so well, and it makes for such an interesting read.
I’m really enjoying The Twin Kingdoms series. It’s unique, entertaining, and a little dark, and the love stories are fantastic. I would definitely recommend the novella to readers of ya fantasy or fairy tale retellings. And if you read the first books in the series, you’ll be happy to know that characters from those stories make appearances in this story! One of my favorite characters from the first novella has a pivotal role in this story, much to my delight, and I love how he and all of the other characters contribute to the overarching plot. Thanks so much to Nancy O’Toole for gifting me a copy of the story!
I was really looking forward to this book! O'Toole managed to write nice and fairytale like stories, keeping the backbones of the original tales, but adding so much of her own that the result is still an original and unique story. I think the retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princes was my favorite so far, but this tale is gonna be Rapunzel and who doesn't love this story of the princess locked up in her tower? I was therefore really happy when the mail came that the arc was available!
More so than the previous book in the series, this book is really a continuation of the previous book. Where you could read the previous two books separately, for this one you really have to have read the second book in this series. Since it's a continuation, I needed some time to get back into the story. I think you totally enhance your enjoyment if you read those two books back to back. It helps with the connection with the characters and the mythology.
What I really loved is how much we get to see of the fae mythology. Aria has quite some flashbacks showing us her upbringing, her home and her university. I also quite liked how the history of the villain was interwoven with hers and how I could never blame Aria for the mistakes she might have made in the past. I could easily imagine I would make them too, especially because Aria didn't know what we as readers know now.
I have to admit that in this book the elements of the original fairytale weren't too present. I missed quite a few cornerstones of the tale, but I didn't enjoy the book any less. That's also because our prince has quite a nice story of his own. He starts out as the kind of prince who does next to nothing, apart from taking risks, having drinks and dodging his guards. But during the story he grows quite a lot and I liked the prince he eventually became!
I'm already excited about the next book in the series!
Thanks goes out to Nancy for ARC. I apologize for the delay in getting this review out.
The Wayward tower picks up quite awhile after the events of A Dance with Magic. We return to Victor, now laying low at one of their family’s estates where things around them, magic-wise, seem to have settled down. You know, in that calm-that-comes-before-the-storm, kind of settled down. I have to admit I was so ready for Victor’s story. He caught my attention in the last book with his humour, and though he seemed like a laze-about kind of Prince, who didn’t have a notion in his brain about the world around him, it was obvious he cared about his sister and family.
Maybe I am the only who never reads the sneak peeks in to the next book but The Wayward Tower surprised me a bit by returning Aria to us, with whom we met during the Masquerade in the last book. She aided in their escape, catching Victor’s eye in the process.
Now imprisoned in the Tower, with the threat of falling back to sleep for years, or possibly even forever, to live in her nightmare of memories (which we see through a series of flashbacks that go a long way in explaining the present events with the mage king and his goal of curing the curse that affects his people) Aria’s only hope to escape her fate of endless sleep may be in sacrificing the prince she has grown to love.
Aria is an intriguing character just for the fact that she is one of the Fae who are doomed to sleep, and is in a sense, the enemy. I enjoyed her and getting a chance to see her early life, before the curse really hit the world around her hard.
Inspired by Rapunzel there are a few similarities in this story, though I really only know the tale from Tangled so I can’t say how much is included. I can say that The Wayward Tower continues to build the lore and magic- we get a lot more answers, and a deeper understanding this time around as to why the Elegy is trying to awaken the Mage Prince. And I really love how the premise to Cinderella has been the base of the Fae’s troubles and how the magic tied it all together, while letting each retelling and the tale its based from, shine on their own.
I’m really excited about the conclusion to this series and our final couple, involving Victor’s sister Viola.
An original and romantic retelling of Repunzel, with the Fae incorporated into it as the last two books in The Twin Kingdom series. I love how each fairytale retelling is kind of a standalone, with just a Fae theme running throughout each book. They are brilliantly written!! I’m looking forward to the next and final book of the series!
So far, this isn't my favorite of the series, but learning more about the magic was pretty cool. We learn more about the Series Villain and something about all of the characters' pasts. I'm curious about how the series will end.
The Wayward Tower is the third novella in The Twin Kingdoms series. While each story could be read as a standalone, it is ideal to read all of them in order as events and characters from the previous books are referenced. The story also builds on itself from the very first novella to this one as more of the big picture is revealed. I love how each story in the series is a retelling of a classic tale and this one was no different as it was a unique twist on Rapunzel. After visiting Rebecca, Queen of Kelvia, in the last novel, Prince Victor and his twin sister, Princess Viola Verdis have returned to their home in the Kingdom of Verdia.
After the events of the Masquerade in the previous novel, the threat of the Mage King, a member of an ancient race known as the fair folk and is waking up from a cursed sleep, draws near. Not only is Victor figuring out this danger, he also has a difficult time forgetting Aria, a member of the fair folk, who he met while at the Masquerade. Victor is unaware that Aria is in Verdia, but she is trapped in a tower with no way out under the control of the Mage King. The story follows Aria who is tasked by the Mage King to get Prince Victor although she does not wish to harm him. The way to accomplish this is through travel to the Wayward Paths, which are a series of roads that link together the walkers’ subconscious minds.
While I loved Victor’s character in the previous novel, it was great to see him have his own story. As third in line, he is more carefree than his siblings and goes through life without purpose. Throughout the story, the reader sees a lot of growth from him as he learns that he can still have purpose even though he may not be the next direct ruler. Aria’s character was very interesting as she was more mysterious in the previous installment. This story gave her some great background and insight into her character and development. Through Aria, the reader learns about the rise of the Mage King and his ties to the other characters. The elements from Rapunzel were integrated well as the two stories paralleled each other in places, but were not direct copies.
Overall, this is a very immersive series. Even though each book is shorter, there is a lot of information packed in without feeling overloaded. I love how this story not only tied together with the previous novella, but also brought back some characters/information from the first one. Given that the next book is the final installment in the series, I love how everything from the first three has come together to set up for the finale. I cannot wait to read The Starlight Blade, which will be a retelling of “Allerleirauh (All Furs).” As Viola will be the main character and is the warrior/fighter between her and her brother, I cannot wait to see her shine as the main in her own story! [4.5 rounded to 5]
**I give a special thank you to Book Sirens and the author, Nancy O’Toole, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
The Twin Kingdoms series by Nancy O’Toole are those rare books that make one crave for more. All the stories are absorbing and immersive based on different fairy tales but what I love is the method by which author Nancy O’Toole has conceptualized the stories. The basic plot from the fairy tales has been used and developed into a beautiful rendition that utterly captivates the reader.
Book # 3, The Wayward Tower is centered on Rapunzel and even though book #1 and Book #2 can be read as stand-alone’s, I would advise book #3 to be read in continuation with book #2 as the story in the Wayward Tower progresses from the events in A Dance With Magic. Victor, the young prince of Verdia was introduced in book #2 and he definitely, left behind an impression. There was no way one would not fall in love with his charm and wit, the happy and carefree guy who hides his depth of feelings behind a clownish attitude and I was glad that the author had a separate romantic story for him.
It was magical to read about Aria, the flashbacks to her past that the author has interwoven giving the readers a glimpse into the story of the Mage King and his hold on Aria. There’s a central plot of the two kingdoms Kelvia and Verdia in each of these stories that are somehow connected and the whole jigsaw puzzle has started forming in this story with the background of the evil king and the details about the bloodlines that have begun to be formed. Kris from book #1 The Rose and the Claw makes an appearance in this finding ways to help Aria from her captivity and I was overjoyed coz again he is one of those characters that one cannot have enough of.
More than anything thou, I can keep gushing about Victor who has such an interesting character arc. His easy camaraderie with the guards and his nephew and the general careless way of living and his deep desire to find a purpose in his life after meeting Aria was something to be cherished. The romance between Aria and Victor was subtle which I thought was fantastic knowing Aria’s past and easy to relate to, as the saying goes about already burnt fingers.
The Twin Kingdom as a series is a must-read for fans of fantasy as they provide a distinctive and unique perspective to the fairy tales that we are used to reading.
Addictive 5 stars.
Many thanks to the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
While this episode of the Twin Kingdoms series started a little heavy on the condensed-for-novella exposition (looking at you Victor), once we started getting into Aria's side of the story I was far more engaged. The pacing and unfolding of the plot felt a lot stronger here than part two, and I loved getting a feel for the two main characters as they discovered more about the intriguing magic system this series has, full of lore and legend. The bigger picture story arc is really starting to come into its own. It's quite simple and American YAish, but it works for the style and isn't plain old cookie cutter stuff; I loved getting some of the twists, even if others were quite harsh.
Yes, I wish it had been longer and more fleshed out because (in the Sourthern drawl of Victor) daaaang would this make a good full length novel. I'd so have loved to see more interactions between everyone, especially the Verdian royals. But hey, whatcha gonna do? We have here a good lil' tale of devious magic and unusual minor royals (plus a cameo or two from earlier on in the series) to lead on to the final part of the series. Boy oh boy, am I looking forward to picking up where we left off with Viola...
4.5 I really enjoyed this entry in the series. I found both Aria and Victor to be very likeable. The backstory for Aria was also pretty interesting and did a good job of explaining the magic system.
Again, I just wish this had been slightly longer to let their relationship develop a bit more.
I look forward to what else this author plans on publishing.
I received an arc from book sirens & am leaving this review freely.
another great entry in the Twin Kingdoms series, I loved the use of fairy tales and it was a great retelling and had the spirit of the original. The characters were great and I look forward to more from the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
As always I adore fairytales, and the retelling are just as good as the originals. The Wayward Tower was the retelling of Rapunziel, but with a twist. This is the third book in the Twin Kingdoms series, about royal intrigue and the fae folk. Looking forward to the last and final book in the series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed continuing on the journey with Aria and Victor. I always enjoy retellings and this one is no different. I loved exploring more of the magic in this world. I enjoyed watching fast paced nature of this short novella.
I'm looking forward to the next in this series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I liked this book. The characters of Victor and Aria are great, and I love the dynamic the two of them have with each other. I like where the series is going with the story and want to find out what happens in the end. This isn't my typical genre so I only gave it three stars because it was a short story and didn't really wow me.
The Wayward Tower by Nancy O'Toole – This series is on kindle unlimited. And the more we find out about the crazy megalomaniac Elegy, the less I like him! And the comic relief prince turns out to be of more substance than anyone gives him credit for! Happy Reading!
A unique twist on Rapunzel sure delight fans of fae and fairy alike.
This book in the Twin Kingdoms series, like the others, has a distinctly Grimm vibe about the magic, in that it can be very dark and twisty. Plus O'Toole really expands our awareness of that magic by providing us with the pov of one of the fae.