Engaging Helen: A Riddle Retelling

by Toney Larson

Traditions are harmless, until they threaten your freedom… Helen Brown’s house is filled to the brim with flowers from suitors, but she couldn’t care less about the illiterate boys in her town. When a wealthy, but simpleminded, suitor proposes, she gladly refuses him, though local tradition demands she accept any eligible match. She ignores the town’s threats of being ostracized, and tries to pretend nothing has changed. However, she quickly realizes she is losing all the things she dancing at the festivals, teaching the town children to read, and even her sister’s happiness. In an attempt to ward off more suitors and prove she is too clever to marry, Helen issues a anyone can win her hand if they bring her a riddle she can’t answer. When an arrogant and scorned suitor brings her just such a riddle, she must do all she can to find the answer, swallow her pride and marry, or be outcast from her home once and for all. This exciting next chapter in the Legends of Draven series coincides with Book Growing Amaranth.

371 pages, Paperback

Published June 23, 2022

About the author

When Toney Larson was a child, she dreamed of being a writer. When she grew up, she acted more responsibly and went to art school. After graduating from Southern Virginia University with a BA in Art, Toney reworked the Rapunzel fairytale in her first book, Growing Amaranth. Since then, she has continued to add tales to her YA fantasy series Legends of Draven. Originally from both Wales and Virginia, Toney uses her travels to increase her ability to relate to others. Through her writing, Toney hopes to help even one individual find comfort and companionship. A current resident of Utah, Toney lives with her husband and four children. When she’s not writing she spends her time in graphic design, homeschooling, and homesteading.