The Blacksmith Princess

by Rowan Mallory

“I am the fraudulent princess. Everyone knows it. I’m the one who doesn’t belong here.”
— Princess Jaclyn (Jax) of Venia

The Fairy Tale …

When the crown prince of Aldforth is killed by a manticore, King Wulfric invites twelve eligible princesses to a ball where he will choose a bride for his surviving son.

The Reality ...

King Wulfric is more dangerous than any mythical monster, and when the princesses find themselves trapped in a cursed fortress far from home, they don’t have the luxury of waiting for a prince to rescue them.

The Blacksmith Princess ...

Jax was never meant to be a princess. The bastard child of the queen of Venia, daughter of a blacksmith, she’s determined to make a place for herself in her small village. But when Wulfric demands her attendance at his ball, she must leave behind all she has ever known to protect her family and her kingdom.

With nothing but her hammer, her wits and a talent for disruption, will Jax be able to survive court intrigue, dangerous rivals, and an angry giant king to rescue the boy she loves, save the Blessed Kingdoms from war—and figure out where she really belongs?



Perfect for fans of Naomi Novik’s Spinning Silver and Jennifer Donnelly’s Stepsister, this fairy-tale adjacent historical fantasy will take you on an adventure inspired by friendship and forging your place in the world.

375 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 5, 2021

Reviews

[Jennifer Sowle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of alternative fairy tales, such as the books of Robin McKinley and Naomi Novik. I’m now adding "The Blacksmith Princess" to that list. A modern take on the fairy tale of the twelve dancing princesses, these women are about as far from the traditional story as you can get. They are smart, courageous, skilled with weapons and wit, and are definitely not in need of rescuing. Indeed, King Wulfric invites the twelve princesses to his castle to see which woman will prove strong enough to protect his son and heir. This is but one of the many brilliant plot twists that Mallory introduces in this first book of her series. When she provides her heroine Jax, a hammer-wielding blacksmith, with a dramatic yet delightful spin on the Jack-the-Giant-Killer myth, Mallory exhibits her deft ability to combine old tropes with fresh, new characters. Her gorgeous imagery never lets up, the romance between Jax and a certain someone is touching and sweet, and the budding friendships among the princesses will leave you eager for the next book. Highly recommended!

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My local bookstore, Bookleggers, was promoting a new local author, Rowan Mallory. The Blacksmith Princess was a delightful read and an unexpected twist on the fairy tale princess waiting on her white knight to be rescued. Jax was raised as a blacksmith by her father who instilled the qualities of love for family and fairness. She is not happy to find herself one of twelve princesses to compete to protect Prince Theodor’s life and become his bride. A lovely adventure!

[Rich LeDuc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this story. I suspect that it was targeted towards Young Adult, which is something I haven't been for a long time ;-)

In book 1, Mallory is setting up the backstory for a series books based around twelve separate princesses who all attend a certain ball--hence Twelve Dancing Princesses--but who have their separate adventures. Accordingly, when Jax (our first princess) meets the others near the middle of the book, I found it hard to keep track of everyone. But that soon cleared up as we settled back into Jax's story.

[Lorin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved reading this wonderful book! I loved the characters and the plot! I loved this retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses! I had a hard time putting this wonderful book down! I am looking forward to reading the next book in this wonderful series!

[Nilda McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! I'm so glad I started this book on a Saturday, because I could not put it down! Great pacing and a fun, unique story. I can barely wait for the next one!

[Taylor Cheatham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up on a vacation to Eureka. Lively, fun, and heartwarming. We just ordered the second book.

[Cayenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good retelling! This one has an amazing twist and reconstruction of the story. I loved the princesses and even the prince of course. I can’t wait to see how the story continues