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The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles #1
True Princess
Welcome to the ancient land of Terra, where curses run rampant throughout all the kingdoms and where the royalty desperately attempt to break their curses and claim their own happily ever afters.
Princess Elisianna wasn't gifted at birth. No, she was cursed. While her body may be weak and easy to bruise, what she did have was a strong intelligent mind. But a strong mind isn't easily seen, especially with a nickname like "Fragile Princess." Elise isn't sure she'll ever break her curse, for who could see past her weak frail body to who she truly is? Her curse, after all, can only be broken if someone falls in love with her strength and who would find her strong?
Prince Liam desperately needs to find the truest princess in the lands or else his entire kingdom will be cast into darkness and be lost forever. When the king and queen call for a tournament amongst the neighboring kingdoms to find a true princess for their son, Prince Liam is doubtful he will find a true princess to love. When he happens upon a bruised girl sleeping on the sofa in the castle and accuses her of trespassing, he doesn't realize she is one of the princesses there for the tourney. Her sharp tongue puts him in his place and while a bit stinging, he is drawn to her words and can not get them out of his head.
True princess is the first book in The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles, a series of clean stand-alone but connected, fairytale retellings. If you enjoy clean romance, adventure, and witty banter, The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles is for you!
Princess Elisianna wasn't gifted at birth. No, she was cursed. While her body may be weak and easy to bruise, what she did have was a strong intelligent mind. But a strong mind isn't easily seen, especially with a nickname like "Fragile Princess." Elise isn't sure she'll ever break her curse, for who could see past her weak frail body to who she truly is? Her curse, after all, can only be broken if someone falls in love with her strength and who would find her strong?
Prince Liam desperately needs to find the truest princess in the lands or else his entire kingdom will be cast into darkness and be lost forever. When the king and queen call for a tournament amongst the neighboring kingdoms to find a true princess for their son, Prince Liam is doubtful he will find a true princess to love. When he happens upon a bruised girl sleeping on the sofa in the castle and accuses her of trespassing, he doesn't realize she is one of the princesses there for the tourney. Her sharp tongue puts him in his place and while a bit stinging, he is drawn to her words and can not get them out of his head.
True princess is the first book in The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles, a series of clean stand-alone but connected, fairytale retellings. If you enjoy clean romance, adventure, and witty banter, The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles is for you!
382 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 7, 2023
146 people are currently reading
1242 people want to read
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April 1, 2025
3.5 stars ⭐️ Clean Fiction - Fairytale Retelling
The series prologue reminded me of the storybook opening from the old Disney princess movies, which I thought was neat!
He was a little too “she’s not like all the other girls” and “I’ve never had someone talk to me like that before” which made me roll my eyes, but honestly, I still like those tropes in Kdramas so I really don’t have a leg to stand on by saying that about this book.
The tourney doesn’t really start until over halfway through, but that wasn’t really a negative (or a positive) thing in my eyes. Those scenes reminded me a lot of “A Dance of Silver and Shadow” by Melanie Cellier, but these are different retellings, so I’m not sure why they both had similar events? On that note, some of the riddles felt way too easy but it was a boost to my puzzle-loving self’s ego. 😉 I know I’ve seen the door riddle before, though, and I can’t remember what book that was.
There were a few things and parts I didn’t love, but they were minor things (and mostly spoilers, so I’ll be vague). Some cliché moments as well, but it’s a fairytale retelling. That’s basically part of every plotline. It was a little info-dumping at the very beginning, but I think I only noticed it because Elise just explained something in her POV and then a couple pages later we get nearly the same info from Liam’s POV.
One thing that confused me were the implications of Christianity in a way. There were a handful of mentions of the Creator and praying to him once, but then Liam prays to the Ancients once which are under the Creator and doing his bidding. Meanwhile, one of the Ancients is super bitter and distrustful of all the humans, but particularly royals and has been cursing them for generations. Which doesn’t add up to the thought about them being angels or even fairy godparents, so it left me confused if there was supposed to be nods to Christianity (or an allegory) or not.
I have to say that Elise really made this book for me. At first I was hesitant because of the page length (when it’s really not as long as it says—only around 350, not the 380+ it says on Amazon), but I was in the mood for a cute retelling and because I am always game for the slightly ridiculous story that is The Princess & the Pea, I went with this book. I ended up finishing it in a few hours and completely ruined my sleep schedule for the next couple of days, so thank you to the author for that! Back to Elise, though; she was great. I really liked her determination and kindness. I think I would have liked to see a little more of her personality besides her curse pains and mooning over Liam, but that was pretty much the whole book’s plot. Regardless, I really liked her and how the author wrote her—I feel like most princess who have nods to a chronic illness cry a lot or even do the whole “woe is me” thing too much (which is understandable but it can be too much), but she didn’t do either and that endeared her to me. Liam was kind of just there for me, but he appreciated Elise so I can stand him for her—even though I would argue that he needs her way more than she needs him (she would disagree with this statement, I’m sure, but he would probably agree with me). They were a little too lovey-dovey with all the compliments they kept giving the other, but that comes with being in love, I suppose. 🤷🏻♀️
I was a little nervous that this book would be too kissy for my tastes as this was a new author to me and I hadn’t heard anything about her books in that way, but it wasn’t insanely over the top for me, personally. Because of Elise’s curse and no one being able to touch her because of it and causing her pain, some parts where Liam touches her caused a bit more reaction that I prefer, but it could be noted that her love language is probably physical touch. A bit kissier than I prefer in general.
Overall, I liked this one and would probably give it a 3.75 ⭐️ rating if I could be detailed in that way. I’ll definitely read the next book (particularly because it is Cinderella—one of my favorites!) and probably the rest of the series as well.
Main Content-
In this series, it’s said that the land is crafted from magic and there were humans, magical beings (such as dragons), and those called “Ancients” which were to care for both of the prior groups; Because of humans getting greedy, however, they sought to have magic for themselves and tried to kill all the magical beings which caused a war and one of the Ancients cursing all the descendants of those who went against the magic beings or kept a neutral ground; All royal descendants of those kingdoms are cursed (usually at birth); Elisianna is easily hurt and bruised because of her curse; Liam’s family has had the same curse for generations about finding a “true princess” in order to make their kingdom thrive again; *Major Spoilers* .
There’s a handful of mentions of a creator and praying (such as the Ancients being able to go between worlds and dwell in the heavens where the creator lived, Elise putting her hands together like she was praying to the creator for a moment (but later Liam prays to the Ancients which is said somewhat flippantly), a friend later tells Elise to pray to the creator for her (not seriously), Liam prays again and again for something to happen (not said towards Whom), an Ancient helping a kingdom until “the creator saw fit”, & the creator having a need for someone).
There’s a rumor about the main instigator of the war was transformed into “darkness itself”; Ancients have different kinds of abilities & some of them (Keepers and Seekers) are able to know the future of events (but keep it from the humans because people they told in the past didn’t even bother to try anymore after knowing); Ancients appear and disappear with a snap into a puff of smoke.
Elise and Liam have a conversation about fate and she believes some things can be changed and some cannot (Liam believes if he wants to change something, he can).
Mentions of a wish & finding a place that has items to wish on; A few mentions of ghosts & a wood being rumored to be haunted (which causes another princess to wonder if ghosts are real); A mention of it being said that fairies used magic in the weaving of a tapestry; A mention of someone’s eyes seeming magical.
No major language stronger than “gah” and “blast”; Fictional phrases and curses like “what on Terra”, “may he rot within the mountain” (or some form of it is said thrice when referring to the man who started the war years ago), and “For the love of all (things blessed by) the Ancients” is said twice in two different forms; Some eye rolling & sarcasm; Liam has a moment where he wants to curse (which is noted that would probably be the first time he has openly wanted to); When Liam says “I swear” his cousin corrects that as a prince, he shouldn’t swear; Liam lies about his feelings for Elise to his parents.
Because of her curse/condition, Elise is rarely hugged by her family and desperately wants to be touched by anyone, to feel their warmth (this brings tears a couple of times); Elise’s mother was cursed with a fearful mind and is prone to anxiety (Elise’s father calls it her gift, however, and says his wife’s sensitivity to the needs of their people prepared them for times of hardship and trouble because she prepares for every possible problem); Elise tries hard not to let her mother’s fears and anxiety become hers.
Lots of pain & injuries (up to a few sentences); Passing out & Blood/Bleeding (up to a couple sentences).
Many mentions of a war, deaths, blood, & the aftermath of the battles (such as most everyone getting cursed); Many mentions of pain, injuries, blood/bleeding, & Elise being easily killed or seriously hurt (up to a couple sentences); Mentions of a father physically abusing his young son (he blames him for his wife’s death, up to a few sentences); Mentions of the death of a father & grief; Mentions of dragons and other magical beings being killed for being magical; Mentions of thieves, bandits, stealing, & being robbed; Mentions of rumors; A few mentions of hatred; A mention of a child being taken away as an infant because due to her curse; A mention of someone being hanged for treason.
Staring at lips (up to a couple sentences),
1 fingers-to-lips touch,
1 forehead kiss,
3 cheek kisses,
1 nose kiss,
2 jaw kisses,
1 almost kiss (up to a couple sentences),
4 kisses lasting a sentence,
5 kisses lasting a few sentences (including a mention of a moan),
1 kiss lasting 5+ sentences
1 kiss lasting 7-10 sentences (including a mention of him making a noise),
Liam also kisses Elise’s bruises and hands/arms, which lasts a few sentences; Elise has a “need” for Liam to kiss her & later mentions the desire that his kiss leaves her; Remembering kisses & almost kisses (up to a few sentences); Wanting to kiss & be kissed (up to a couple sentences); Seeing a couple married couples kiss (up to a couple sentences).
Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Warmth, Nearness, & Noticing (up to a handful of sentences); Remembering all of the prior (up to a few sentences); Wanting to touch & embrace (up to a few sentences); Blushes; Jealousy.
Because of her curse/condition, Elise longs to be touched and embraced (because her parents don’t do that for fear of hurting her).
It’s said that true love is the best curse breaker as most curses will break with love (including Elise’s brother is trying to find his true love); Elise wonders if that is the case, why her mother’s curse (of fearfulness or anxiety) wasn’t broken; Elise’s new friend talks about how perhaps Elise needs a man to kiss her to break her curse (Elise tries to get her to stop talking about it, but the friend is insistent about it and finding a good kisser for her).
Liam recalls a prank where his cousin left him to bath in a mountain and stole his clothes, so Liam returned to camp in only his boots and a “small towel that barely covered the necessities”; Liam’s cousin tells him about being ten and a girl five years older than him was his first kiss (adding that she came back for more later; I’m unsure if this is actual or not because this character exaggerates and teases a lot); The same cousin teases Liam about not kissing him which Liam says he wasn’t even tempted as his (male) cousin is not his type; Liam’s cousin teases him about Elise’s best night of sleep won’t include him (which makes Liam think his best night would be spent sleeping in her arms).
Mentions of kisses, first kisses, kissing, & good kissers; A few mentions of Elise’s figure & a dress showing off Elise’s natural figure (rather than a false one which is more common because she can’t wear corsets); A couple mentions of flirting; A mention of a curse keeping someone from having heirs unless the spouse meets a certain requirement.
The series prologue reminded me of the storybook opening from the old Disney princess movies, which I thought was neat!
He was a little too “she’s not like all the other girls” and “I’ve never had someone talk to me like that before” which made me roll my eyes, but honestly, I still like those tropes in Kdramas so I really don’t have a leg to stand on by saying that about this book.
The tourney doesn’t really start until over halfway through, but that wasn’t really a negative (or a positive) thing in my eyes. Those scenes reminded me a lot of “A Dance of Silver and Shadow” by Melanie Cellier, but these are different retellings, so I’m not sure why they both had similar events? On that note, some of the riddles felt way too easy but it was a boost to my puzzle-loving self’s ego. 😉 I know I’ve seen the door riddle before, though, and I can’t remember what book that was.
There were a few things and parts I didn’t love, but they were minor things (and mostly spoilers, so I’ll be vague). Some cliché moments as well, but it’s a fairytale retelling. That’s basically part of every plotline. It was a little info-dumping at the very beginning, but I think I only noticed it because Elise just explained something in her POV and then a couple pages later we get nearly the same info from Liam’s POV.
One thing that confused me were the implications of Christianity in a way. There were a handful of mentions of the Creator and praying to him once, but then Liam prays to the Ancients once which are under the Creator and doing his bidding. Meanwhile, one of the Ancients is super bitter and distrustful of all the humans, but particularly royals and has been cursing them for generations. Which doesn’t add up to the thought about them being angels or even fairy godparents, so it left me confused if there was supposed to be nods to Christianity (or an allegory) or not.
I have to say that Elise really made this book for me. At first I was hesitant because of the page length (when it’s really not as long as it says—only around 350, not the 380+ it says on Amazon), but I was in the mood for a cute retelling and because I am always game for the slightly ridiculous story that is The Princess & the Pea, I went with this book. I ended up finishing it in a few hours and completely ruined my sleep schedule for the next couple of days, so thank you to the author for that! Back to Elise, though; she was great. I really liked her determination and kindness. I think I would have liked to see a little more of her personality besides her curse pains and mooning over Liam, but that was pretty much the whole book’s plot. Regardless, I really liked her and how the author wrote her—I feel like most princess who have nods to a chronic illness cry a lot or even do the whole “woe is me” thing too much (which is understandable but it can be too much), but she didn’t do either and that endeared her to me. Liam was kind of just there for me, but he appreciated Elise so I can stand him for her—even though I would argue that he needs her way more than she needs him (she would disagree with this statement, I’m sure, but he would probably agree with me). They were a little too lovey-dovey with all the compliments they kept giving the other, but that comes with being in love, I suppose. 🤷🏻♀️
I was a little nervous that this book would be too kissy for my tastes as this was a new author to me and I hadn’t heard anything about her books in that way, but it wasn’t insanely over the top for me, personally. Because of Elise’s curse and no one being able to touch her because of it and causing her pain, some parts where Liam touches her caused a bit more reaction that I prefer, but it could be noted that her love language is probably physical touch. A bit kissier than I prefer in general.
Overall, I liked this one and would probably give it a 3.75 ⭐️ rating if I could be detailed in that way. I’ll definitely read the next book (particularly because it is Cinderella—one of my favorites!) and probably the rest of the series as well.
Main Content-
In this series, it’s said that the land is crafted from magic and there were humans, magical beings (such as dragons), and those called “Ancients” which were to care for both of the prior groups; Because of humans getting greedy, however, they sought to have magic for themselves and tried to kill all the magical beings which caused a war and one of the Ancients cursing all the descendants of those who went against the magic beings or kept a neutral ground; All royal descendants of those kingdoms are cursed (usually at birth); Elisianna is easily hurt and bruised because of her curse; Liam’s family has had the same curse for generations about finding a “true princess” in order to make their kingdom thrive again; *Major Spoilers* .
There’s a handful of mentions of a creator and praying (such as the Ancients being able to go between worlds and dwell in the heavens where the creator lived, Elise putting her hands together like she was praying to the creator for a moment (but later Liam prays to the Ancients which is said somewhat flippantly), a friend later tells Elise to pray to the creator for her (not seriously), Liam prays again and again for something to happen (not said towards Whom), an Ancient helping a kingdom until “the creator saw fit”, & the creator having a need for someone).
There’s a rumor about the main instigator of the war was transformed into “darkness itself”; Ancients have different kinds of abilities & some of them (Keepers and Seekers) are able to know the future of events (but keep it from the humans because people they told in the past didn’t even bother to try anymore after knowing); Ancients appear and disappear with a snap into a puff of smoke.
Elise and Liam have a conversation about fate and she believes some things can be changed and some cannot (Liam believes if he wants to change something, he can).
Mentions of a wish & finding a place that has items to wish on; A few mentions of ghosts & a wood being rumored to be haunted (which causes another princess to wonder if ghosts are real); A mention of it being said that fairies used magic in the weaving of a tapestry; A mention of someone’s eyes seeming magical.
No major language stronger than “gah” and “blast”; Fictional phrases and curses like “what on Terra”, “may he rot within the mountain” (or some form of it is said thrice when referring to the man who started the war years ago), and “For the love of all (things blessed by) the Ancients” is said twice in two different forms; Some eye rolling & sarcasm; Liam has a moment where he wants to curse (which is noted that would probably be the first time he has openly wanted to); When Liam says “I swear” his cousin corrects that as a prince, he shouldn’t swear; Liam lies about his feelings for Elise to his parents.
Because of her curse/condition, Elise is rarely hugged by her family and desperately wants to be touched by anyone, to feel their warmth (this brings tears a couple of times); Elise’s mother was cursed with a fearful mind and is prone to anxiety (Elise’s father calls it her gift, however, and says his wife’s sensitivity to the needs of their people prepared them for times of hardship and trouble because she prepares for every possible problem); Elise tries hard not to let her mother’s fears and anxiety become hers.
Lots of pain & injuries (up to a few sentences); Passing out & Blood/Bleeding (up to a couple sentences).
Many mentions of a war, deaths, blood, & the aftermath of the battles (such as most everyone getting cursed); Many mentions of pain, injuries, blood/bleeding, & Elise being easily killed or seriously hurt (up to a couple sentences); Mentions of a father physically abusing his young son (he blames him for his wife’s death, up to a few sentences); Mentions of the death of a father & grief; Mentions of dragons and other magical beings being killed for being magical; Mentions of thieves, bandits, stealing, & being robbed; Mentions of rumors; A few mentions of hatred; A mention of a child being taken away as an infant because due to her curse; A mention of someone being hanged for treason.
Staring at lips (up to a couple sentences),
1 fingers-to-lips touch,
1 forehead kiss,
3 cheek kisses,
1 nose kiss,
2 jaw kisses,
1 almost kiss (up to a couple sentences),
4 kisses lasting a sentence,
5 kisses lasting a few sentences (including a mention of a moan),
1 kiss lasting 5+ sentences
1 kiss lasting 7-10 sentences (including a mention of him making a noise),
Liam also kisses Elise’s bruises and hands/arms, which lasts a few sentences; Elise has a “need” for Liam to kiss her & later mentions the desire that his kiss leaves her; Remembering kisses & almost kisses (up to a few sentences); Wanting to kiss & be kissed (up to a couple sentences); Seeing a couple married couples kiss (up to a couple sentences).
Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Warmth, Nearness, & Noticing (up to a handful of sentences); Remembering all of the prior (up to a few sentences); Wanting to touch & embrace (up to a few sentences); Blushes; Jealousy.
Because of her curse/condition, Elise longs to be touched and embraced (because her parents don’t do that for fear of hurting her).
It’s said that true love is the best curse breaker as most curses will break with love (including Elise’s brother is trying to find his true love); Elise wonders if that is the case, why her mother’s curse (of fearfulness or anxiety) wasn’t broken; Elise’s new friend talks about how perhaps Elise needs a man to kiss her to break her curse (Elise tries to get her to stop talking about it, but the friend is insistent about it and finding a good kisser for her).
Liam recalls a prank where his cousin left him to bath in a mountain and stole his clothes, so Liam returned to camp in only his boots and a “small towel that barely covered the necessities”; Liam’s cousin tells him about being ten and a girl five years older than him was his first kiss (adding that she came back for more later; I’m unsure if this is actual or not because this character exaggerates and teases a lot); The same cousin teases Liam about not kissing him which Liam says he wasn’t even tempted as his (male) cousin is not his type; Liam’s cousin teases him about Elise’s best night of sleep won’t include him (which makes Liam think his best night would be spent sleeping in her arms).
Mentions of kisses, first kisses, kissing, & good kissers; A few mentions of Elise’s figure & a dress showing off Elise’s natural figure (rather than a false one which is more common because she can’t wear corsets); A couple mentions of flirting; A mention of a curse keeping someone from having heirs unless the spouse meets a certain requirement.
January 20, 2023
True Princess is the perfect fairytale, filled with magic, delight, and sweet wholesome romance. From the first page, I found myself fully immersed myself in the land of Terra and the world of these beloved characters as if I myself had tumbled straight into the pages of this lovely fairytale.
In a land where every heir is cursed as a way to atone for the mistakes of their ancestors, Princess Elisianna is cursed with a fragile body that easily bruises and causes her near-constant pain. Despite her curse, Elise is anything but weak but is filled with immense inner strength. Rather than pitying her circumstances, she doesn't allow them to define her or what she’s capable of, but instead is determined to do her best and live her life to the best of her abilities, despite her physical limitations. She develops not only strength of will but is a confident, brilliant, and compassionate princess. I greatly admired her; she was a wonderful heroine to experience this delightful story with, and I thoroughly enjoyed her journey and development. It was truly delightful to watch Prince Liam also discover her true self and inner strength as he fell in love with her.
I absolutely adored Liam; he is exactly the type of man I myself would love for my own prince. He is cursed to find a true princess to protect his kingdom from being cast into darkness. To do this, his parents call a tourney for princesses to assemble in order to be tested and win his hand. Prince Liam is all a prince should be—stalwart, kind, honorable, and dedicated to his kingdom and responsibilities. He was such a sweetheart and the perfect match for Elise. Though they meet in an unconventional way, there is an immediate connection, and throughout the story, he comes to truly know and appreciate her for her strength as well as care deeply for her.
Elise and Liam’s romance is my favorite type to read. From the moment they meet, there’s a deep connection, and from there they develop a true friendship where eventually a beautiful love blossoms. I loved how their feelings developed. Despite Elise being one of many princesses vying for Liam’s hand, he only had eyes for her. He saw beyond her frailty and loved her for all she was, as she did him, all while together they helped one another become stronger. I adored each of their scenes together—their exchanged letters, the moonlit garden, their dances, horseback riding, their garden walks, their cute and witty banter, and especially their kisses. Their relationship was such a pleasure to watch unfold and their devotion and dedication to one another were truly beautiful. They are definitely one of my favorite couples; I could truly read an entire book on their continuing romance.
The secondary characters were also delightful. I had so much fun meeting all of the princes and princesses, getting hints about their curses, and trying to discover clues to their upcoming stories. I loved watching Elise build her first friendships with these characters, and how they all supported one another. Though I loved them all, my favorite princess was sweet Odette. I also adored the hijinks of Prince Wesley and Liam's cousin, Teddy. While I'm excited for all the stories to come, I’m especially looking forward to these characters.
In addition to the delightful characters, I adored the plot. The pacing was perfect for me—most of the story is dedicated to our beloved characters and their romance, while the last part is dedicated to the tourney challenges. This was exactly the type of story I wanted to read: an interesting fairytale plot as its structure, but the core of the story was of two wonderful characters finding love together—a more slow-moving journey that was nevertheless filled with magic and delight on every page. The elements from the original fairytale were also immensely creative and really enhanced an already lovely story.
The world-building that surrounded this enchanting tale was absolutely fascinating and beautifully written, making it easy to envision the history of this world, the setting, and the characters. I was in constant awe at the intricacies of the world-building; the author has crafted a beautiful world that the reader can effortlessly immerse themselves in. I’m so excited to unfold the stories about the Ancients and the other royalty’s curses, as well as see how everything eventually comes together and resolves.
In the end, True Princess was the perfect fairytale, filled with magic, adventure, and the most adorable sweet romance. This is not only my favorite rendition of The Princess and the Pea, but it’s the first book to rescue me from my several month-long reading slump and return me to the enchanting world of reading, making it extra special to me. I’m truly looking forward to more delightful books by this incredible author in this wonderful new series.
In a land where every heir is cursed as a way to atone for the mistakes of their ancestors, Princess Elisianna is cursed with a fragile body that easily bruises and causes her near-constant pain. Despite her curse, Elise is anything but weak but is filled with immense inner strength. Rather than pitying her circumstances, she doesn't allow them to define her or what she’s capable of, but instead is determined to do her best and live her life to the best of her abilities, despite her physical limitations. She develops not only strength of will but is a confident, brilliant, and compassionate princess. I greatly admired her; she was a wonderful heroine to experience this delightful story with, and I thoroughly enjoyed her journey and development. It was truly delightful to watch Prince Liam also discover her true self and inner strength as he fell in love with her.
I absolutely adored Liam; he is exactly the type of man I myself would love for my own prince. He is cursed to find a true princess to protect his kingdom from being cast into darkness. To do this, his parents call a tourney for princesses to assemble in order to be tested and win his hand. Prince Liam is all a prince should be—stalwart, kind, honorable, and dedicated to his kingdom and responsibilities. He was such a sweetheart and the perfect match for Elise. Though they meet in an unconventional way, there is an immediate connection, and throughout the story, he comes to truly know and appreciate her for her strength as well as care deeply for her.
Elise and Liam’s romance is my favorite type to read. From the moment they meet, there’s a deep connection, and from there they develop a true friendship where eventually a beautiful love blossoms. I loved how their feelings developed. Despite Elise being one of many princesses vying for Liam’s hand, he only had eyes for her. He saw beyond her frailty and loved her for all she was, as she did him, all while together they helped one another become stronger. I adored each of their scenes together—their exchanged letters, the moonlit garden, their dances, horseback riding, their garden walks, their cute and witty banter, and especially their kisses. Their relationship was such a pleasure to watch unfold and their devotion and dedication to one another were truly beautiful. They are definitely one of my favorite couples; I could truly read an entire book on their continuing romance.
The secondary characters were also delightful. I had so much fun meeting all of the princes and princesses, getting hints about their curses, and trying to discover clues to their upcoming stories. I loved watching Elise build her first friendships with these characters, and how they all supported one another. Though I loved them all, my favorite princess was sweet Odette. I also adored the hijinks of Prince Wesley and Liam's cousin, Teddy. While I'm excited for all the stories to come, I’m especially looking forward to these characters.
In addition to the delightful characters, I adored the plot. The pacing was perfect for me—most of the story is dedicated to our beloved characters and their romance, while the last part is dedicated to the tourney challenges. This was exactly the type of story I wanted to read: an interesting fairytale plot as its structure, but the core of the story was of two wonderful characters finding love together—a more slow-moving journey that was nevertheless filled with magic and delight on every page. The elements from the original fairytale were also immensely creative and really enhanced an already lovely story.
The world-building that surrounded this enchanting tale was absolutely fascinating and beautifully written, making it easy to envision the history of this world, the setting, and the characters. I was in constant awe at the intricacies of the world-building; the author has crafted a beautiful world that the reader can effortlessly immerse themselves in. I’m so excited to unfold the stories about the Ancients and the other royalty’s curses, as well as see how everything eventually comes together and resolves.
In the end, True Princess was the perfect fairytale, filled with magic, adventure, and the most adorable sweet romance. This is not only my favorite rendition of The Princess and the Pea, but it’s the first book to rescue me from my several month-long reading slump and return me to the enchanting world of reading, making it extra special to me. I’m truly looking forward to more delightful books by this incredible author in this wonderful new series.
Read
March 12, 2023Immediately, I was invested read it in one seating! Everything a fairytale should be a beautiful & delightful story!💚
True Princess: A Princess and The Pea Retelling
(The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles Book 1)
By Kayla Eshbaugh
Pub Date Feb.7.2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you enjoy...
💚Magic
👑Stand Alone
💚Adventure
👑Fairytales
💚Wholesome Romance
I recommend looking into this one!
True Princess reminds me of how fairytales should feel! With the magic, wholesomeness & sweet romances♡
Personally, I am always on the lookout for clean Fairytale Retellings that are fun & and fast-paced! True Princess: A Princess and The Pea Retelling delivered that. I liked the characters, the sweet moments between them & the romantic times as well. I read this book in one seating (in about two hours) & it was an enjoyable read!
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC copy exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own. 💚👑📚
Book Synopsis:
"Welcome to the ancient land of Terra, where curses run rampant throughout all the kingdoms and where the royalty desperately attempt to break their curses and claim their own happily ever afters
Princess Elisianna wasn't gifted at birth. No, she was cursed. While her body may be weak and easy to bruise, what she did have was a strong, intelligent mind. But a strong mind isn't easily seen, especially with a nickname like "Fragile Princess." Elise isn't sure she'll ever break her curse, for who could see past her weak frail body to who she truly is? Her curse, after all, can only be broken if someone falls in love with her strength and who would find her strong?
Prince Liam desperately needs to find the truest princess in the lands, or else his entire kingdom will be cast into darkness and be lost forever. When the king and queen call for a tournament amongst the neighboring kingdoms to find a true princess for their son, Prince Liam is doubtful he will find a true princess to love. When he happens upon a bruised girl sleeping on the sofa in the castle and accuses her of trespassing, he doesn't realize she is one of the princesses there for the tourney. Her sharp tongue puts him in his place, and while a bit stinging, he is drawn to her words and can not get them out of his head."
True Princess: A Princess and The Pea Retelling
(The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles Book 1)
By Kayla Eshbaugh
Pub Date Feb.7.2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you enjoy...
💚Magic
👑Stand Alone
💚Adventure
👑Fairytales
💚Wholesome Romance
I recommend looking into this one!
True Princess reminds me of how fairytales should feel! With the magic, wholesomeness & sweet romances♡
Personally, I am always on the lookout for clean Fairytale Retellings that are fun & and fast-paced! True Princess: A Princess and The Pea Retelling delivered that. I liked the characters, the sweet moments between them & the romantic times as well. I read this book in one seating (in about two hours) & it was an enjoyable read!
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC copy exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own. 💚👑📚
Book Synopsis:
"Welcome to the ancient land of Terra, where curses run rampant throughout all the kingdoms and where the royalty desperately attempt to break their curses and claim their own happily ever afters
Princess Elisianna wasn't gifted at birth. No, she was cursed. While her body may be weak and easy to bruise, what she did have was a strong, intelligent mind. But a strong mind isn't easily seen, especially with a nickname like "Fragile Princess." Elise isn't sure she'll ever break her curse, for who could see past her weak frail body to who she truly is? Her curse, after all, can only be broken if someone falls in love with her strength and who would find her strong?
Prince Liam desperately needs to find the truest princess in the lands, or else his entire kingdom will be cast into darkness and be lost forever. When the king and queen call for a tournament amongst the neighboring kingdoms to find a true princess for their son, Prince Liam is doubtful he will find a true princess to love. When he happens upon a bruised girl sleeping on the sofa in the castle and accuses her of trespassing, he doesn't realize she is one of the princesses there for the tourney. Her sharp tongue puts him in his place, and while a bit stinging, he is drawn to her words and can not get them out of his head."
February 28, 2023
This is a cute Princess and the Pea retelling. A pretty standard retelling, but the dragons were a nice touch. The romance was cute, and a lot of secondary characters were introduced, and I can't wait to read their stories!
March 4, 2023
2.5
The writing style could use some polish. The idea is nice, the the execution of the story was a bit sloppy so I was confused who was whom and what exactly was going on. Instead of focusing on differentiating between princesses by their hair color and clothes, I would’ve preferred a description of their personalities or how they reacted to their circumstances.
The story has a lot of potential. It was disturbing to me that there were similarities between this story and Camille Peters and Melanie Cellier’s stories though.
There was a lot of italics which were annoying when I was trying to focus on the story. There was also a lot of tell instead of showing. The writing style would narrate everything in a monologue instead of letting actions, the thoughts of the main character or conversations between people carry the story. So the people would be having a conversation and everything would be put on pause so details could be added to explain the convo and then the dialogue continued. This caused the story to drag and why I dnfed it. The main characters have a lot of potential though. I really liked Elise. The focus on her intelligence was refreshing.
The writing style could use some polish. The idea is nice, the the execution of the story was a bit sloppy so I was confused who was whom and what exactly was going on. Instead of focusing on differentiating between princesses by their hair color and clothes, I would’ve preferred a description of their personalities or how they reacted to their circumstances.
The story has a lot of potential. It was disturbing to me that there were similarities between this story and Camille Peters and Melanie Cellier’s stories though.
There was a lot of italics which were annoying when I was trying to focus on the story. There was also a lot of tell instead of showing. The writing style would narrate everything in a monologue instead of letting actions, the thoughts of the main character or conversations between people carry the story. So the people would be having a conversation and everything would be put on pause so details could be added to explain the convo and then the dialogue continued. This caused the story to drag and why I dnfed it. The main characters have a lot of potential though. I really liked Elise. The focus on her intelligence was refreshing.
May 21, 2023
It's hard to find new retellings of "The Princess and the Pea" that don't stray too far from the original source material. That could be because the soft delicate princess presented in the original fairy tale is the exact opposite of how princesses are portrayed in modern media. Nevertheless, Kayla Eshbaugh does her best to honor the source material in her premiere fairy tale retelling, True Princess. This is the first book in The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles, which expands upon the world of fairy tales by making each princess's unique situation a curse on her kingdom created by the Ancients, a vengeful race of magic users. The premise is similar to Ever Cursed without all the misandry. Using this overarching narrative, the book provides a simple explanation as to why the princess from "The Princess and the Pea" was so delicate that she turned black and blue from a single pea being placed under her mattress.
True Princess is stereotypical in its presentation, which is not necessarily a bad thing. It's rare to see a modern fairy tale adaptation that has a classic damsel in distress as a protagonist with a love interest who is kind, romantic, and worthy. Like most modern fairy tale adaptations, the book alternates between the perspectives of the main couple, Princess Elisianna and Prince Liam. Even though half the chapters are told from Liam's perspective, there isn't much to his character outside of wanting to marry a princess for the sake of his kingdom and falling in love with Elise. This is clearly Elise's story. The book expands upon with it would be like to be cursed with frailty. She must sleep on the most delicate pillows and take great care with her actions throughout the day lest she stumbles and injures herself. Fortunately, she is a privileged princess and has an entire castle staff devoted to her every need, so this doesn't present much of a problem for her. She spends most of her time sharpening her mind and dreaming of the physical activities that she can't do because of her condition.
Elise and Liam have a "meet cute" that is inspired by the original fairy tale. When her caravan is attacked on the way to a competition to win Liam's hand in marriage by proving she is a true princess, Elise finds herself battered and bruised and falls asleep in his sitting room. When he finds her, he assumes she is a servant due to her current state and is shocked when she proceeds to scold him about his lack of comfortable pillows and reveals that she is a princess. Unlike in the fairy tale, he believes her pretty quickly and devotes the rest of the book to making her stay as comfortable as possible. Much of their relationship progresses with snarky letters to each other in which she boasts about the comfort of her kingdom's pillows, and he continues trying to make up for his behavior on her first night. Elise's personality is not for everyone. She comes off as entitled and pretentious at times, but that is likely how she compensates for the physical weakness caused by her curse, and Liam doesn't seem to mind it.
My biggest issue with this book is the ending. Even though True Princess follows the source material pretty closely throughout, there was a bit of a "gotcha" moment at the end that didn't seem necessary and wasn't explained well. Without giving too much away, all I can say is that it involved time travel, which can be a sticky beast when it comes to fiction. As a result of that element, the book glosses over the iconic tower of mattresses from the fairy tale, which is something that rarely shows up in modern retellings despite being such a fun thing to imagine. That one transgression aside, everything else happens exactly how it should and sets the scene for future books that feature the other cursed princesses Elise met in the competition for Liam's hand, similar to how A.G. Marshall set up her Fairy Tale Adventures series.
Overall, True Princess is a mostly faithful retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale that doesn't shy away from what some might consider to be outdated stereotypes. It expands upon what it would be like for a privileged woman to grow up with a curse that doesn't allow her to participate in most physical activities and for a man to fall in love with such a woman and go to great lengths to protect her and make her happy. It's a lighthearted classic fairy tale that only struggles a moment when it tries to introduce new elements into the story. I think True Princess would be enjoyable for any fan of "The Princess and the Pea" that wishes to re-experience the story with an additional layer of detail.
True Princess is stereotypical in its presentation, which is not necessarily a bad thing. It's rare to see a modern fairy tale adaptation that has a classic damsel in distress as a protagonist with a love interest who is kind, romantic, and worthy. Like most modern fairy tale adaptations, the book alternates between the perspectives of the main couple, Princess Elisianna and Prince Liam. Even though half the chapters are told from Liam's perspective, there isn't much to his character outside of wanting to marry a princess for the sake of his kingdom and falling in love with Elise. This is clearly Elise's story. The book expands upon with it would be like to be cursed with frailty. She must sleep on the most delicate pillows and take great care with her actions throughout the day lest she stumbles and injures herself. Fortunately, she is a privileged princess and has an entire castle staff devoted to her every need, so this doesn't present much of a problem for her. She spends most of her time sharpening her mind and dreaming of the physical activities that she can't do because of her condition.
Elise and Liam have a "meet cute" that is inspired by the original fairy tale. When her caravan is attacked on the way to a competition to win Liam's hand in marriage by proving she is a true princess, Elise finds herself battered and bruised and falls asleep in his sitting room. When he finds her, he assumes she is a servant due to her current state and is shocked when she proceeds to scold him about his lack of comfortable pillows and reveals that she is a princess. Unlike in the fairy tale, he believes her pretty quickly and devotes the rest of the book to making her stay as comfortable as possible. Much of their relationship progresses with snarky letters to each other in which she boasts about the comfort of her kingdom's pillows, and he continues trying to make up for his behavior on her first night. Elise's personality is not for everyone. She comes off as entitled and pretentious at times, but that is likely how she compensates for the physical weakness caused by her curse, and Liam doesn't seem to mind it.
My biggest issue with this book is the ending. Even though True Princess follows the source material pretty closely throughout, there was a bit of a "gotcha" moment at the end that didn't seem necessary and wasn't explained well. Without giving too much away, all I can say is that it involved time travel, which can be a sticky beast when it comes to fiction. As a result of that element, the book glosses over the iconic tower of mattresses from the fairy tale, which is something that rarely shows up in modern retellings despite being such a fun thing to imagine. That one transgression aside, everything else happens exactly how it should and sets the scene for future books that feature the other cursed princesses Elise met in the competition for Liam's hand, similar to how A.G. Marshall set up her Fairy Tale Adventures series.
Overall, True Princess is a mostly faithful retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale that doesn't shy away from what some might consider to be outdated stereotypes. It expands upon what it would be like for a privileged woman to grow up with a curse that doesn't allow her to participate in most physical activities and for a man to fall in love with such a woman and go to great lengths to protect her and make her happy. It's a lighthearted classic fairy tale that only struggles a moment when it tries to introduce new elements into the story. I think True Princess would be enjoyable for any fan of "The Princess and the Pea" that wishes to re-experience the story with an additional layer of detail.
January 11, 2023
I was really excited for this book because I love the premise and think fairytale retellings are so fun. It's especially exciting to see a retelling for a less popular fairytale like The Princess and the Pea. And I liked that it's meant to be a series with all sorts of curses for different princes and princesses. (Kind of some fun easter eggs in every book, I'm guessing, because there were a lot in this one--almost too many.) Additionally, there were some interesting worldbuilding aspects with the Ancients and the differences between various kingdoms.
However, that's about all this book really has going for it. The character arcs aren't fully realized, the themes don't carry through, the pacing feels all over the place, the prose is rather average, and overall, the execution just wasn't great.
If you're the kind of romance reader who rarely complains about any of the romance novels you read, you'll probably like this book just fine. (Also, if you're a Bachelor fan, the book has a bit of that vibe, so you might enjoy that... but I don't think it was worked into the book the right way or raised the stakes the way it should have.) If you have higher standards than the average romance reader, you may come away disappointed.
(Disclaimer: I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Sorry y'all, I'm being honest.)
*SPOILERS*
I could NOT connect with Liam's character. His first chapter as the viewpoint character, it was all exposition and stiff dialogue. Throughout the rest of the book, there was nothing distinctive or interesting about him. Literally, he was at his most interesting when he was bickering with his cousin/best friend, who is funny and teasing and somewhat of a foil to Liam. Other than that, Liam was like any other forgettable male romantic lead.
Elisianna's character arc had so much potential but really fell flat at the end. Most of the book focused on her need to feel/be recognized as strong despite her curse of fragility, which I think was a good idea and has themes you can develop in interesting ways. But at the end of the story, the most important test was about her need to be sensitive to others' pain and circumstances--an attribute which she rarely showed (hello, she YELLED at the prince the first time they met). Yet she was rewarded as if she had been very sensitive to others the entire time. (Also, speaking of tests, almost all the tests were a variation on riddles. Like, yes, I'm glad the tests weren't all about beauty or using the right silverware, but why did they ALL have to be riddles? That skews the kind of "true princess" you're looking for just as much as having all physical tests would.)
I won't take time to point out all the inconsistencies or weak plot points, but I do want to finish by mentioning how much the pacing undermined the book. In the beginning when the tourney (AKA princess test) is explained, we learn there will be four tests and four balls, all spread out across four weeks. You would expect the first two or so events to be done by about the 50% mark of the book, right? Well, turns out the first event didn't even START until almost 70% of the way through the book. I appreciate that the author took time for Elisianna and Liam to bond, but that easily could have been done during and between events instead of all before they even started.
Overall, this book needed a solid developmental edit before being published to reach its full potential. Like I said, if you're not picky about your romances, I hope you have fun with this read, but it had too many shortcomings for my tastes.
However, that's about all this book really has going for it. The character arcs aren't fully realized, the themes don't carry through, the pacing feels all over the place, the prose is rather average, and overall, the execution just wasn't great.
If you're the kind of romance reader who rarely complains about any of the romance novels you read, you'll probably like this book just fine. (Also, if you're a Bachelor fan, the book has a bit of that vibe, so you might enjoy that... but I don't think it was worked into the book the right way or raised the stakes the way it should have.) If you have higher standards than the average romance reader, you may come away disappointed.
(Disclaimer: I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Sorry y'all, I'm being honest.)
*SPOILERS*
I could NOT connect with Liam's character. His first chapter as the viewpoint character, it was all exposition and stiff dialogue. Throughout the rest of the book, there was nothing distinctive or interesting about him. Literally, he was at his most interesting when he was bickering with his cousin/best friend, who is funny and teasing and somewhat of a foil to Liam. Other than that, Liam was like any other forgettable male romantic lead.
Elisianna's character arc had so much potential but really fell flat at the end. Most of the book focused on her need to feel/be recognized as strong despite her curse of fragility, which I think was a good idea and has themes you can develop in interesting ways. But at the end of the story, the most important test was about her need to be sensitive to others' pain and circumstances--an attribute which she rarely showed (hello, she YELLED at the prince the first time they met). Yet she was rewarded as if she had been very sensitive to others the entire time. (Also, speaking of tests, almost all the tests were a variation on riddles. Like, yes, I'm glad the tests weren't all about beauty or using the right silverware, but why did they ALL have to be riddles? That skews the kind of "true princess" you're looking for just as much as having all physical tests would.)
I won't take time to point out all the inconsistencies or weak plot points, but I do want to finish by mentioning how much the pacing undermined the book. In the beginning when the tourney (AKA princess test) is explained, we learn there will be four tests and four balls, all spread out across four weeks. You would expect the first two or so events to be done by about the 50% mark of the book, right? Well, turns out the first event didn't even START until almost 70% of the way through the book. I appreciate that the author took time for Elisianna and Liam to bond, but that easily could have been done during and between events instead of all before they even started.
Overall, this book needed a solid developmental edit before being published to reach its full potential. Like I said, if you're not picky about your romances, I hope you have fun with this read, but it had too many shortcomings for my tastes.
October 23, 2023
The first of a fairytale-inspired series starts with an innovative take on The Princess and the Pea. True Princess was such an interesting and absorbing book! I love fairytale inspired stories, so I am always excited to see the spin different authors put on the story.
Princess Elisianna was cursed with a weak and fragile body. However, her mind is strong and intelligent, though hidden behind the view others have of the "Fragile Princess". Elise feels stuck, for who could break her curse by falling in love with her strength when looking at her fragility? Prince Liam needs a true princess to protect his kingdom from being cast into darkness. His parents call a tournament to find one, but he is doubtful of finding a true princess to love. Upon finding a bruised girl sleeping on the sofa in his castle, he accuses her of trespassing, not realizing she is one of the princesses who has come for the tourney. While her sharp tongue stings as she puts him in his place, Liam is drawn to her words and can't get them out of his head.
I loved Elise! She wasn't self-pitying in her curse, but she sought to do what she could even with her fragility. She did not let her pain make her hard, even though she still was hoping for new experiences. It was so sweet to watch her build friendships with the other princesses and to meet all the characters through her eyes. I am so excited to see all of their stories!
Liam was also a sweetheart! I really appreciated his dedication to his kingdom and responsibilities. He was struggling as he has finally found someone he really connects with and likes in the midst of his responsibilities to the tourney.
The world of the Cursed Kingdoms was really interesting too! I am excited to unfold the stories about the Ancients and the curses that the royalty have. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting, romantic, and a fun take on the story. I would definitely recommend it to those who enjoy clean romance with fairytale and adventure elements! This is a clean romance, but probably best for teen readers and up.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
Princess Elisianna was cursed with a weak and fragile body. However, her mind is strong and intelligent, though hidden behind the view others have of the "Fragile Princess". Elise feels stuck, for who could break her curse by falling in love with her strength when looking at her fragility? Prince Liam needs a true princess to protect his kingdom from being cast into darkness. His parents call a tournament to find one, but he is doubtful of finding a true princess to love. Upon finding a bruised girl sleeping on the sofa in his castle, he accuses her of trespassing, not realizing she is one of the princesses who has come for the tourney. While her sharp tongue stings as she puts him in his place, Liam is drawn to her words and can't get them out of his head.
I loved Elise! She wasn't self-pitying in her curse, but she sought to do what she could even with her fragility. She did not let her pain make her hard, even though she still was hoping for new experiences. It was so sweet to watch her build friendships with the other princesses and to meet all the characters through her eyes. I am so excited to see all of their stories!
Liam was also a sweetheart! I really appreciated his dedication to his kingdom and responsibilities. He was struggling as he has finally found someone he really connects with and likes in the midst of his responsibilities to the tourney.
The world of the Cursed Kingdoms was really interesting too! I am excited to unfold the stories about the Ancients and the curses that the royalty have. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting, romantic, and a fun take on the story. I would definitely recommend it to those who enjoy clean romance with fairytale and adventure elements! This is a clean romance, but probably best for teen readers and up.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
April 3, 2023
Lovely premise, poor editing
The premise brought me in, and the plot and characters kept me in, but...
The prologue can be skipped because it is so repetitive and telling and most of the info is given in the first few chapters anyway. However, the repetition doesn't stop there. A good (paid) edit could have reduced the book by at least 25%. And the comma splices!
Also pretty sure Draken wanted more empathy, not apathy.
The world created here seems so interesting, and the set ups for so many other retellings. But there are so many other books on my TBR that I don't think I'll be prioritizing a series that has me yelling at the book so much for poor editing. :(
The premise brought me in, and the plot and characters kept me in, but...
The prologue can be skipped because it is so repetitive and telling and most of the info is given in the first few chapters anyway. However, the repetition doesn't stop there. A good (paid) edit could have reduced the book by at least 25%. And the comma splices!
Also pretty sure Draken wanted more empathy, not apathy.
The world created here seems so interesting, and the set ups for so many other retellings. But there are so many other books on my TBR that I don't think I'll be prioritizing a series that has me yelling at the book so much for poor editing. :(
November 24, 2024
If you're looking for a sweet fairytale romance adorable characters and a swoony romance this is the book for you! I love how Elise's curse of frailty was portrayed. She truly shows herself to be a character of strength despite her curse. And Liam was so wonderful and dependable. He knows what he must do to rescue his own kingdom from a curse but what will he do once his heart gets involved?
There came a point in the book where I simply couldn't put it down. I look forward to the next book in the series!
There came a point in the book where I simply couldn't put it down. I look forward to the next book in the series!
October 27, 2025
The only one with a wider grin than these adorable lovebirds is little me.
May 27, 2023
3.5 stars
January 4, 2024
I finished this book, so I'll give it 3 stars. But frankly, it was boring and nonsensical.
I liked the world building and the idea of the curses. I liked the main characters' innocence and their love story. But that was about it.
I disliked how humanity allow this to go on for 500 years. Really? Your children's children's children need to SUFFER because of idiotic forefathers, and this is acceptable to all? Sorry no. It's not and strong, moral humans won't stand for it for hundreds of years. At the most 1 or 2 generations.
And why were she called a true princess because her body was weak enough to feel a pea? I understand sticking to the original fairytale, but it should be believable at least. It wasn't explained to us how a weak body showed her "trueness". If sticking to fairytales, then "true" was shown through a bloodline, nothing else, in those days. And why would solving riddles and doing a little bit of accountancy prove one to be "true"? Then all humans are basically "true princesses".
We were also never really shown why the prince was considered "true". The last 10% of the book was possibly intended as an explanation, but ended up begin a fight we didn't understand, between 2 "ancients" for control. Or that's how it looked. Proving the point that humans may have had valid reasons to try and get OUT from under such control by so-called "well-meaning" (or not!) ancients.
The amount of times the heroine were told she was "remarkable", was very nauseating in the end. As a reader, I wasn't shown her as remarkable. Rather, she was curiously careless about her life or her family's love or concern. Always in need of sympathy everywhere she go. She was constantly bored and boring, and desperate to have some semblance of a life. Nothing, absolutely nothing about her, screamed "remarkable" to me, the reader. Just "average" or less even.
I also didn't understand the whole Teddy-fiasco. He gave her clues that wasn't even clues. For what reason?! That wasn't even explained and made no sense in the end.
Lastly, I didn't like the stilted conversations or too much descriptions. Like telling us the order in which 8 princesses is walking down the road. Really? Why does it matter if Lily or Rose walked 2nd or 6th? Some descriptions made sense, like describing their looks or dresses. But more events would've been nice, and showing their personalities instead of telling us where they sit or how their hair was styled.
I most likely won't read the rest of the series. Pity, because the idea of the "ancients", curses, dragons, "Creator", the clean romance, forces "guiding" humanity (for good or selfish reasons) were all extremely interesting. Maybe others can look past the issues I had with the first book. For me, it was too much of a slog getting through.
I liked the world building and the idea of the curses. I liked the main characters' innocence and their love story. But that was about it.
I disliked how humanity allow this to go on for 500 years. Really? Your children's children's children need to SUFFER because of idiotic forefathers, and this is acceptable to all? Sorry no. It's not and strong, moral humans won't stand for it for hundreds of years. At the most 1 or 2 generations.
And why were she called a true princess because her body was weak enough to feel a pea? I understand sticking to the original fairytale, but it should be believable at least. It wasn't explained to us how a weak body showed her "trueness". If sticking to fairytales, then "true" was shown through a bloodline, nothing else, in those days. And why would solving riddles and doing a little bit of accountancy prove one to be "true"? Then all humans are basically "true princesses".
We were also never really shown why the prince was considered "true". The last 10% of the book was possibly intended as an explanation, but ended up begin a fight we didn't understand, between 2 "ancients" for control. Or that's how it looked. Proving the point that humans may have had valid reasons to try and get OUT from under such control by so-called "well-meaning" (or not!) ancients.
The amount of times the heroine were told she was "remarkable", was very nauseating in the end. As a reader, I wasn't shown her as remarkable. Rather, she was curiously careless about her life or her family's love or concern. Always in need of sympathy everywhere she go. She was constantly bored and boring, and desperate to have some semblance of a life. Nothing, absolutely nothing about her, screamed "remarkable" to me, the reader. Just "average" or less even.
I also didn't understand the whole Teddy-fiasco. He gave her clues that wasn't even clues. For what reason?! That wasn't even explained and made no sense in the end.
Lastly, I didn't like the stilted conversations or too much descriptions. Like telling us the order in which 8 princesses is walking down the road. Really? Why does it matter if Lily or Rose walked 2nd or 6th? Some descriptions made sense, like describing their looks or dresses. But more events would've been nice, and showing their personalities instead of telling us where they sit or how their hair was styled.
I most likely won't read the rest of the series. Pity, because the idea of the "ancients", curses, dragons, "Creator", the clean romance, forces "guiding" humanity (for good or selfish reasons) were all extremely interesting. Maybe others can look past the issues I had with the first book. For me, it was too much of a slog getting through.
March 9, 2023
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️! Refreshing new take on "Princess and the Pea." I love the main characters and side characters. I can't wait for their stories and more from this world. Liam is the sweetest prince 🤴 ♥️!!!
January 2, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
True Princess: a Princess and the Pea Retelling
The Kingdom Chronicles
By Kayla Eshbaugh
I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this book. It is now one of my favorites! I had such an easy time connecting with the characters, such as Teddy and Oddet. Prince Liam is so lovable (even with his unusually large feet). The tender way he treats Elisianna makes me so happy for her. Even though she is frail and fragile, (because of her curse from the Ancient Draken,) Liam holds her as though she is a person, a true and unique person. He loves her for her mind, and !spoiler alert! that is how, in the end Elisianna’s curse finally broke.
I absolutely adore books were the characters have a witty sense of humor. And thankfully I got that in this wonderful “once apon a time” fairy tail. I am also pleased to tell you that this magnificent book is not only a once apon a time but also a happily ever after. I haven’t read the other books in this series, but Iam looking forward to it and sincerely hope that the next books are as deep, engaging, and entertaining as this one.
The easy friendship that blossoms between Elise and Odett is inspiring, as well as the friendship between Teddy and Liam. My favorite part is when Liam gets put in his place by Elise when he believes her to be a maid taking a nap on the settee. I also like their innocent little notes that they send back and forth to each other and how exited they are to receive and read them. The spiciest thing in this book is the lovely kisses, and I appreciate that because I don’t like to read zesty stories as I am only 13.
When characters have good relationships with their siblings it makes me happy. With Damion as Elise’s brother, she did get hugs but paid dearly for it. The sweet way that he took her riding when she when he knew their mother would flip if she found out and that Elise would be in pain for a while because of her awful curse. But she loved it and never forgot the freedom she felt while riding.
I’ve told you about how lovely and truly awesome and beautiful this book so I will leave you with the fact that this is a five star book with all the elements I love: clean romance, adventure, friendship, and fantasy. Read this book and you will not be disappointed!
It took me 3 days to read this book but it would’ve only taken me one if I hadn’t read it through the new year. Now I’m going to go remind myself that this is not real and that I will never meat a dragon.
Goodbye❤️😘
True Princess: a Princess and the Pea Retelling
The Kingdom Chronicles
By Kayla Eshbaugh
I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this book. It is now one of my favorites! I had such an easy time connecting with the characters, such as Teddy and Oddet. Prince Liam is so lovable (even with his unusually large feet). The tender way he treats Elisianna makes me so happy for her. Even though she is frail and fragile, (because of her curse from the Ancient Draken,) Liam holds her as though she is a person, a true and unique person. He loves her for her mind, and !spoiler alert! that is how, in the end Elisianna’s curse finally broke.
I absolutely adore books were the characters have a witty sense of humor. And thankfully I got that in this wonderful “once apon a time” fairy tail. I am also pleased to tell you that this magnificent book is not only a once apon a time but also a happily ever after. I haven’t read the other books in this series, but Iam looking forward to it and sincerely hope that the next books are as deep, engaging, and entertaining as this one.
The easy friendship that blossoms between Elise and Odett is inspiring, as well as the friendship between Teddy and Liam. My favorite part is when Liam gets put in his place by Elise when he believes her to be a maid taking a nap on the settee. I also like their innocent little notes that they send back and forth to each other and how exited they are to receive and read them. The spiciest thing in this book is the lovely kisses, and I appreciate that because I don’t like to read zesty stories as I am only 13.
When characters have good relationships with their siblings it makes me happy. With Damion as Elise’s brother, she did get hugs but paid dearly for it. The sweet way that he took her riding when she when he knew their mother would flip if she found out and that Elise would be in pain for a while because of her awful curse. But she loved it and never forgot the freedom she felt while riding.
I’ve told you about how lovely and truly awesome and beautiful this book so I will leave you with the fact that this is a five star book with all the elements I love: clean romance, adventure, friendship, and fantasy. Read this book and you will not be disappointed!
It took me 3 days to read this book but it would’ve only taken me one if I hadn’t read it through the new year. Now I’m going to go remind myself that this is not real and that I will never meat a dragon.
Goodbye❤️😘
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2025
In an effort to set proper expectations, it should be noted that this is a true fairy tale. It has true princesses, true princes, and true love. As with most fairy tales, the romance is swift and ‘fated’. If you start out expecting a book with great depth of plot and complex world development, you will likely be greatly disappointed. If, however, you’re looking to fill your evening with a charming and magical happily ever after, you’ll find this is everything you hoped for.
This book kicks off the series with a princess tournament introducing us to all the characters to come. It’s a sweet love story teaching us that strength is much more than our physical frame. I really enjoyed the story and am looking forward to continuing on with the series.
There is a strange placement and frequency of italics, but you get used to it.
Content:
There is no foul language, violence, or sex. There is embracing and a few mildly descriptive kisses. There is magic. There is mention of the Creator and ‘Ancients’, which appear to be fairy godmothers of sorts.
This book kicks off the series with a princess tournament introducing us to all the characters to come. It’s a sweet love story teaching us that strength is much more than our physical frame. I really enjoyed the story and am looking forward to continuing on with the series.
There is a strange placement and frequency of italics, but you get used to it.
Content:
There is no foul language, violence, or sex. There is embracing and a few mildly descriptive kisses. There is magic. There is mention of the Creator and ‘Ancients’, which appear to be fairy godmothers of sorts.
May 6, 2025
This was my intro to Kayla Eshbaugh’s writing and I was not disappointed!! This was such a unique retelling of the princess and the pea! I loved the concept of the ancients and the curses and that there are different ways to break them than the standard “true love’s kiss.” Elisianna was one of my favorite FMCs to date. While she was the “frail” princess, easily injured and bruised, she was witty and smart and strong in other ways that mattered more than physical strength. I loved how she found freedom during the tourney. And I just love how Liam fell for her and didn’t care at all about the other girls. The friendships Elise made warmed my heart, too. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
March 22, 2025
This book starts off a bit slow, with the first three chapters almost causing me to put it down. However, things really pick up once the Elisianna and Liam meet, and their dynamic adds much-needed energy to the story. The book delivers a valuable message that love is about more than just appearances; it’s about what’s on the inside. Mixed with relatable friendships and obstacles in the main character’s path—a tourney to be named as the “True Princess” and break the kingdom’s curse—the story becomes more engaging as it progresses. While it may not be a “can’t put it down” read, it’s still an enjoyable one with a meaningful message.
December 26, 2022
What a beautiful retelling of the princess and the pea. This fairytale retelling held me and let me wanting to know more. I want to know what will happen to the other characters now in that world. The female lead was beautiful and smart, but also kind and compassionate. Through all her difficulties, she didn’t complain but pushed through what her limits were. This truly is a wonderful fairytale retelling for any age.
I read and received a free copy of the e- advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. - I honestly loved it and now am invested into the series
I read and received a free copy of the e- advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. - I honestly loved it and now am invested into the series
Read
October 14, 2025Although this is a sweet clean tale, the author says the rest of the series is more spicy with make out scenes and intense passion.
Why a supposedly Christian author would draw in innocent teen girls with a wholesome book, and characters who you want to read their HEA, and then up the spice level, is beyond me.
This is a technique used by worldly writers to addict young people to porn. The devil uses a slow step by step method to desensitize the mind and heart to evil
Impressional girls will lap this up and find themselves craving more passionate scenes.
Why a supposedly Christian author would draw in innocent teen girls with a wholesome book, and characters who you want to read their HEA, and then up the spice level, is beyond me.
This is a technique used by worldly writers to addict young people to porn. The devil uses a slow step by step method to desensitize the mind and heart to evil
Impressional girls will lap this up and find themselves craving more passionate scenes.
dnf
October 3, 2025DNF’d 2% in. This book was fighting a losing battle after I saw on the author’s Instagram that she supports Charlie Kirk. I tried to put that from my mind and just focus on the story, but the prologue felt poorly written and the whole thing was tainted with this feeling of ick so it’s just not worth it for me.
January 12, 2023
True Princess is the first book in a fairytale retelling series! True Princess being a retelling of The Princess and The Pea!
Our story follows Princess Elisianna and Prince Liam. Princess Elise has been invited to the Kingdom of Embra to participate in a series of tournaments to prove whether or not she is a True Princess. Whoever wins the tournament will be married to the Prince (Liam). Finding a True Princess is important, because every prince and princess across the lands have been born with a curse that can not be broken unless they find their true loves (although i’m not certain thats the case for every character I know it is for most)
I wish I could give more of a summary but if I talk too much I will DEFINITELY spoil it. But let me just say, this book had my heart from the beginning.
Where to begin, where to begin!? I started this book a lot later than I wanted to due to personal things and truthfully i’m happy I did that. I’m happy I waited to give this book my full attention because it deserves it!!
The world building was absolutely phenomenal, it was so easy to envision the scenery and how the characters looked. The characters themselves are some of my favorite characters i’ve read all year. Selfless, kind, most importantly, loving. I cried so much more than id like to admit purely because of how much I adored the two main characters. The chemistry between Elisianna and Liam was just so??? 💋 💋 💋 I have a funny feeling I’ll be thinking about these characters for a while.
Our story follows Princess Elisianna and Prince Liam. Princess Elise has been invited to the Kingdom of Embra to participate in a series of tournaments to prove whether or not she is a True Princess. Whoever wins the tournament will be married to the Prince (Liam). Finding a True Princess is important, because every prince and princess across the lands have been born with a curse that can not be broken unless they find their true loves (although i’m not certain thats the case for every character I know it is for most)
I wish I could give more of a summary but if I talk too much I will DEFINITELY spoil it. But let me just say, this book had my heart from the beginning.
Where to begin, where to begin!? I started this book a lot later than I wanted to due to personal things and truthfully i’m happy I did that. I’m happy I waited to give this book my full attention because it deserves it!!
The world building was absolutely phenomenal, it was so easy to envision the scenery and how the characters looked. The characters themselves are some of my favorite characters i’ve read all year. Selfless, kind, most importantly, loving. I cried so much more than id like to admit purely because of how much I adored the two main characters. The chemistry between Elisianna and Liam was just so??? 💋 💋 💋 I have a funny feeling I’ll be thinking about these characters for a while.
March 6, 2023
Can’t wait for more!
Such a sweet and delightful retelling of the Princess and the Pea! It had everything I wanted—a sweet love story, charming and witty banter, memorable characters, and a happily ever after.
I can’t wait for the rest of the books in the series!
Such a sweet and delightful retelling of the Princess and the Pea! It had everything I wanted—a sweet love story, charming and witty banter, memorable characters, and a happily ever after.
I can’t wait for the rest of the books in the series!
April 25, 2024
Cute retelling, written by a friend. Some minor editing/ writing mistakes. Didn’t enjoy the narrator on audible, not enough variation/expression in the voice. It distracted from the story.
May 13, 2024
I don’t know how I finished this book in one day. I enjoyed it very much 😍
December 22, 2022
I absolutely loved this!! It’s been taking me forever to finish books so the fact that I finished this in two days is saying something. Finishing this fast was also great because I wanted to know what was going to happen. I was definitely invested in the book. The whole world was so fascinating and I can’t wait to read the next book!! I love fairytale retellings and The Princess and the Pea is not one I’ve read many of so I enjoyed this immensely.
I received an eARC from the author, all opinions are my own!
I received an eARC from the author, all opinions are my own!
July 2, 2024
Content:
Language: None
Violence: mild to nonexistent. Bruises, scrapes, that's about all.
Sexual: Mild. There is some kissing/making out. A very subtle teasing moment about intimacy that was so tame anybody could miss it. To be specific:
TW: Deals with Chronic pain and bedrest throughout. This is the main protagonist's curse. More on this below.
I'm conflicted. I enjoyed the ideas in this retelling, and the characters were interesting and fun. Teddy and Wesley were the lovable clowns and I'm intrigued to get their stories at some point. I liked the set up of the world where we're going to get a lot of fairy tale retellings from the characters we're introduced to in this book.
But...I had a major issue with the curse in this Princess and the Pea retelling. It was clever to use chronic pain and fragileness in a fairy tale where the heroine is so sensitive that she gets bruised from a pea under her mattress. And the author did an exceptional job in her depiction of chronic pain and the adjustments a person would need to make to accommodate such an issue. What I struggled with, (and here I'll need to get a smidge personal and fess up, I have a illness that causes chronic pain) was that she made it a curse.
I spent the whole book knowing that the heroine's 'curse' was going to be broken. And the thing about fairy tale curses? The whole message is they can't have their happily ever after until they're rid of it. They can't become who they are 'meant to be' while under its influence. I loved seeing a heroine I could so deeply respond and relate to, but what hurt, what really got me in the gut, was the fact of that message: you can't be happy with such a horrible curse.
That's a pretty toxic message for someone who, like me, has a disabling condition that causes a lot of turmoil in life, to see that happily ever after can't happen if it's there.
I get what the author was doing. I just wish that subtext wasn't there, waiting, glaring at me and honestly, triggering me. I had to go look at her sequel books in the series to make sure none of the other curses were centered around disabilities or illness because I'm not about to do that to myself again. (Happily it looks like they don't).
I'll read the next books, because I enjoyed the author's style and the characters. But I'm putting this one down as a triggering book and it's not healthy for me personally to read it.
Language: None
Violence: mild to nonexistent. Bruises, scrapes, that's about all.
Sexual: Mild. There is some kissing/making out. A very subtle teasing moment about intimacy that was so tame anybody could miss it. To be specific:
TW: Deals with Chronic pain and bedrest throughout. This is the main protagonist's curse. More on this below.
I'm conflicted. I enjoyed the ideas in this retelling, and the characters were interesting and fun. Teddy and Wesley were the lovable clowns and I'm intrigued to get their stories at some point. I liked the set up of the world where we're going to get a lot of fairy tale retellings from the characters we're introduced to in this book.
But...I had a major issue with the curse in this Princess and the Pea retelling. It was clever to use chronic pain and fragileness in a fairy tale where the heroine is so sensitive that she gets bruised from a pea under her mattress. And the author did an exceptional job in her depiction of chronic pain and the adjustments a person would need to make to accommodate such an issue. What I struggled with, (and here I'll need to get a smidge personal and fess up, I have a illness that causes chronic pain) was that she made it a curse.
I spent the whole book knowing that the heroine's 'curse' was going to be broken. And the thing about fairy tale curses? The whole message is they can't have their happily ever after until they're rid of it. They can't become who they are 'meant to be' while under its influence. I loved seeing a heroine I could so deeply respond and relate to, but what hurt, what really got me in the gut, was the fact of that message: you can't be happy with such a horrible curse.
That's a pretty toxic message for someone who, like me, has a disabling condition that causes a lot of turmoil in life, to see that happily ever after can't happen if it's there.
I get what the author was doing. I just wish that subtext wasn't there, waiting, glaring at me and honestly, triggering me. I had to go look at her sequel books in the series to make sure none of the other curses were centered around disabilities or illness because I'm not about to do that to myself again. (Happily it looks like they don't).
I'll read the next books, because I enjoyed the author's style and the characters. But I'm putting this one down as a triggering book and it's not healthy for me personally to read it.
February 15, 2023
Sweet, clean, but needs tightening up
The story is nicely written and would likely be well received by a younger pre-teen audience. It does tend to get a bit repetitive, and the repeated mention of the creator and punishing humans is very Christian themed.
There were incongruities within the story, such as the claim by the Queen of Embra and Prince Liam that no one would be hurt in the tournament trials, yet 2 of them were very physically demanding. Also, was it a traitor-king or traitor-prince?
The ending was anticlimactic. Of course, the one test that truly mattered was basically rigged from the start. I understand this is a princess and the pea retelling, but perhaps that particular test should have been at the beginning, maybe, or some other way to incorporate the pea into the story.
I do want to read the next book, it sounds much more interesting, and I very much like Odette, and am curious how her brother Wesley will win the heart of his mystery maiden.
The story is nicely written and would likely be well received by a younger pre-teen audience. It does tend to get a bit repetitive, and the repeated mention of the creator and punishing humans is very Christian themed.
There were incongruities within the story, such as the claim by the Queen of Embra and Prince Liam that no one would be hurt in the tournament trials, yet 2 of them were very physically demanding. Also, was it a traitor-king or traitor-prince?
The ending was anticlimactic. Of course, the one test that truly mattered was basically rigged from the start. I understand this is a princess and the pea retelling, but perhaps that particular test should have been at the beginning, maybe, or some other way to incorporate the pea into the story.
I do want to read the next book, it sounds much more interesting, and I very much like Odette, and am curious how her brother Wesley will win the heart of his mystery maiden.
March 20, 2023
The plot was good. It drew me in and kept me entertained for the most part but the book really could have used another go through with an editor. The characters poses and actions didn’t make sense and there was even a word that changed spelling from one sentence to the next. Again, I enjoyed the story line and the characters. I found the Elise’s curse really cool, but the editing issues made it harder to read.
January 17, 2023
Reader’s Notes:
– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
– this is told from Elisianna (Elise) & Liam’s points of view
– Elise’s curse makes her so fragile that bruises form just from a slightly harder touch/tap and sitting too long
– it is mentioned that a character (not our narrators) had been abused by their father when they were young (this is told with a few details to explain their deep connection with one of our main characters & later mentioned once more in a sentence)
Review:
I just finished this last night! I loved this Princess and the Pea retelling! I loved the world Kayla Eshbaugh created as well as the hints she began planting about future events/pairings for the series. The world is so cool and I love that there were legends/rumors mentioned of the kingdom/land they were in. I’m curious if any of the rumors Elise heard were true at one point or if they aren’t, who is spreading them. I loved Elise’s determination to participate in things despite her physical disability. She didn’t allow it to define her or what she was capable of. I loved that Liam & Odette saw that after spending time with her and allowed her to tell them her own limits rather than assuming. I loved Elise’s friendship with Odette and a few of the other princesses. They were happy to celebrate each other’s wins and joys despite being in competition with each other. I loved Liam & Elise’s friendship as well! They were so sweet after their initial meeting and I looked forward to each and every time they could get away on their own. Two side characters that made me laugh a lot were Wes & Teddy. Their hijinks, though separately done, was hilarious. I loved them both so much! Some of my other favorite scenes/moments included: Elise & Liam’s letters, the tourney trials, the balls, Liam’s odd behavior due to falling for Elise, Liam & Teddy’s banter, Odette & Wes’s banter, horseback riding, and the flower garden.
Summary:
Princess Elise was cursed at birth, a curse that causes bruises to bloom on her skin from the littlest touches. Because of this, she was nicknamed the Fragile Princess and her curse makes it so that Elise can’t do as much as a normal person can without a lot of bedrest afterwards. But with all the quiet time to herself, Elise has learned and gathered information to better her kingdom. To break her curse, she needs someone to see the strength her mind has given her and fall in love with her because of it. When Elise is given the opportunity to travel and participate in a princess tourney, she is delighted to do something around people who don’t know the extent of her curse. For once, she can attempt to feel like a normal person instead of someone who must be announced at every turn in order to avoid accidentally hitting into her and causing her pain. And hopefully a prince or courtier she meets there will be the one to finally break her curse…
Prince Liam’s kingdom had been cursed to be covered in darkness and only the love and marriage to a true princess can break the curse. With their kingdom’s coffers dwindling to almost nothing and the darkness closing it to devastating levels, they can’t wait much longer for the curse to be broken. In order to hopefully have their curse broken, the king and queen call for a princess tourney where princesses from the nearby kingdoms will compete for the hand of Prince Liam. Though Liam is doubtful that this will end in a love match, he is willing to do anything to end his people’s suffering. When he meets an unrecognizable princess and accuses her of being a servant, she is quick to put him in his place. Liam can’t get her out of his head as he gets to know her more through the tourney and begins to believe it’s possible to find a love match with one of the contestants. But will she be able to win the tourney or will he have to let her go in order to keep his promise to marry the winner?
– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
– this is told from Elisianna (Elise) & Liam’s points of view
– Elise’s curse makes her so fragile that bruises form just from a slightly harder touch/tap and sitting too long
– it is mentioned that a character (not our narrators) had been abused by their father when they were young (this is told with a few details to explain their deep connection with one of our main characters & later mentioned once more in a sentence)
Review:
I just finished this last night! I loved this Princess and the Pea retelling! I loved the world Kayla Eshbaugh created as well as the hints she began planting about future events/pairings for the series. The world is so cool and I love that there were legends/rumors mentioned of the kingdom/land they were in. I’m curious if any of the rumors Elise heard were true at one point or if they aren’t, who is spreading them. I loved Elise’s determination to participate in things despite her physical disability. She didn’t allow it to define her or what she was capable of. I loved that Liam & Odette saw that after spending time with her and allowed her to tell them her own limits rather than assuming. I loved Elise’s friendship with Odette and a few of the other princesses. They were happy to celebrate each other’s wins and joys despite being in competition with each other. I loved Liam & Elise’s friendship as well! They were so sweet after their initial meeting and I looked forward to each and every time they could get away on their own. Two side characters that made me laugh a lot were Wes & Teddy. Their hijinks, though separately done, was hilarious. I loved them both so much! Some of my other favorite scenes/moments included: Elise & Liam’s letters, the tourney trials, the balls, Liam’s odd behavior due to falling for Elise, Liam & Teddy’s banter, Odette & Wes’s banter, horseback riding, and the flower garden.
Summary:
Princess Elise was cursed at birth, a curse that causes bruises to bloom on her skin from the littlest touches. Because of this, she was nicknamed the Fragile Princess and her curse makes it so that Elise can’t do as much as a normal person can without a lot of bedrest afterwards. But with all the quiet time to herself, Elise has learned and gathered information to better her kingdom. To break her curse, she needs someone to see the strength her mind has given her and fall in love with her because of it. When Elise is given the opportunity to travel and participate in a princess tourney, she is delighted to do something around people who don’t know the extent of her curse. For once, she can attempt to feel like a normal person instead of someone who must be announced at every turn in order to avoid accidentally hitting into her and causing her pain. And hopefully a prince or courtier she meets there will be the one to finally break her curse…
Prince Liam’s kingdom had been cursed to be covered in darkness and only the love and marriage to a true princess can break the curse. With their kingdom’s coffers dwindling to almost nothing and the darkness closing it to devastating levels, they can’t wait much longer for the curse to be broken. In order to hopefully have their curse broken, the king and queen call for a princess tourney where princesses from the nearby kingdoms will compete for the hand of Prince Liam. Though Liam is doubtful that this will end in a love match, he is willing to do anything to end his people’s suffering. When he meets an unrecognizable princess and accuses her of being a servant, she is quick to put him in his place. Liam can’t get her out of his head as he gets to know her more through the tourney and begins to believe it’s possible to find a love match with one of the contestants. But will she be able to win the tourney or will he have to let her go in order to keep his promise to marry the winner?
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