What do you think?
Rate this book
Princess of the Broken
Princess Raylin has spent the best part of fourteen years isolated and alone, locked inside a tower, told it was for her own good—her own protection. Darkness writhes inside her, an endless battle against the light powers of her kingdom. A child born with the never wavering magic of the sun and the moon—the first in 300 years. There are those that would hunt her for her gifts, destroy her without hesitation. But that is the last thing on her mind when she flees her stone prison.
Thievery has become second nature, but after being caught inside the palace gates, Raylin is given a choice, a chance at a new path. There’s just one catch, she must live among the royals of Sorrelle and play the part of another princess entirely. When her protector uncovers her secret escape, she gives Raylin a new task—find her long-lost heirloom; a pendant made of the blackest obsidian. With that, Raylin can do what she has always longed for—go home, and reunite with her family at last.
Deception is a dangerous game, and around her, secrets and lies burn to ash. No one can be trusted, not even herself. As her powers come to blows, Raylin finds herself wrapped in the hateful fist of revenge.
Thievery has become second nature, but after being caught inside the palace gates, Raylin is given a choice, a chance at a new path. There’s just one catch, she must live among the royals of Sorrelle and play the part of another princess entirely. When her protector uncovers her secret escape, she gives Raylin a new task—find her long-lost heirloom; a pendant made of the blackest obsidian. With that, Raylin can do what she has always longed for—go home, and reunite with her family at last.
Deception is a dangerous game, and around her, secrets and lies burn to ash. No one can be trusted, not even herself. As her powers come to blows, Raylin finds herself wrapped in the hateful fist of revenge.
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2023
8 people are currently reading
782 people want to read
About the author
Jasmine K. Swinburne
4 books10 followersJasmine Swinburne was born and raised in Oxford, UK, where she still lives now with her fiance, two children, their dog, and their cat. Her dreams of becoming an author started at a young age, and the mass of notebooks in which she wrote her stories still live to tell the tale.
Her debut novel, Princess of the Broken, is an adult novel inspired by the darker side of Rapunzel. Aside from reading and writing, she enjoys attending musicals at the theatre, crocheting (somewhat badly), and binge-watching TV.
Her debut novel, Princess of the Broken, is an adult novel inspired by the darker side of Rapunzel. Aside from reading and writing, she enjoys attending musicals at the theatre, crocheting (somewhat badly), and binge-watching TV.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
July 28, 2024
Princess of the Broken by Jasmine K. Swinburne is a Rapunzel retelling following the princess Raylin, who has been isolated for years in a tower. Her aunt claims to be protecting her because of the threatening sun and moon magic she possesses, which endows her with the ability to conjure objects from anywhere, among other powers. But after an encounter on one of her getaways from the tower, Raylin finds herself in the royal court, impersonating a princess vying for the hand of Prince Malakai, who happens to already be in love.
The premise of Princess of the Broken asked me to suspend my disbelief too much. It was difficult for me to become immersed in the story when I was left incredulous from the early plot setup, in which a lieutenant not only prevents the arrest of a thief (Raylin) but also meddles in the foreign affairs of his ruler by disguising her as a princess—a potential political match for the prince—and sends the intended princess home. I couldn’t imagine what he has to gain from this.
In addition, I wish more focus were given to the particularly thought-provoking aspects of the plot, such as the question of how a relationship survives between a servant and a king forced to choose a wife. Teddy, Malakai’s lover, exists as a figure, not a character with his own personality and story. This was a letdown for me. And how did Raylin’s time in captivity change her? I hoped this would receive more attention in the story, since I think it’s an important part of the foundational Rapunzel story.
In general, Princess of the Broken left me confused, particularly in relation to magic. Its limitations were inconsistent. The abilities of characters stayed dormant and then became powerful in certain scenes with little justification. Raylin’s powers—as well as each ability’s stipulations—seemed to change without reason. I think the requirements for conjuring and the more abstract facets of her magic could have been explored in a clearer way. For example, it’s mentioned that she must imagine an object perfectly to conjure it, but she later conjures seemingly whatever she wishes without already having seen the object. A soft magic system can work well, but it often becomes a crutch in this book.
Another trend in Princess of the Broken that I didn’t care for was how characters who first seemed morally gray always became either completely likable or completely evil by the end of their stories. Overall, I was unsatisfied with the antagonists and their motives. To me, lust for power isn’t a convincing enough reason for the convoluted nature of the villains’ plot. In fact, it almost seems like they lost power along the way instead.
That being said, this book does feature very sweet friendships between women, which I wasn’t expecting given the Selection-type setup. This was a pleasant surprise. The narration is fast-paced and easy to follow. Princess of the Broken subverts tropes related to the Rapunzel story in an interesting and dark way. However, I wouldn’t call it a hopeless story—although Raylin’s situation is arguably worse than the original Rapunzel’s, this time, she has the solidarity of a band of princesses at her side.
Although this book is a cut from SPFBOX, readers who like fairytale retellings and court-based fantasy may enjoy Jasmine K. Swinburne’s Princess of the Broken. It didn’t click with me, but there is still a compelling story within these pages.
This is a review for the tenth Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off. More SPFBOX reviews can be found at Before We Go Blog.
The premise of Princess of the Broken asked me to suspend my disbelief too much. It was difficult for me to become immersed in the story when I was left incredulous from the early plot setup, in which a lieutenant not only prevents the arrest of a thief (Raylin) but also meddles in the foreign affairs of his ruler by disguising her as a princess—a potential political match for the prince—and sends the intended princess home. I couldn’t imagine what he has to gain from this.
In addition, I wish more focus were given to the particularly thought-provoking aspects of the plot, such as the question of how a relationship survives between a servant and a king forced to choose a wife. Teddy, Malakai’s lover, exists as a figure, not a character with his own personality and story. This was a letdown for me. And how did Raylin’s time in captivity change her? I hoped this would receive more attention in the story, since I think it’s an important part of the foundational Rapunzel story.
In general, Princess of the Broken left me confused, particularly in relation to magic. Its limitations were inconsistent. The abilities of characters stayed dormant and then became powerful in certain scenes with little justification. Raylin’s powers—as well as each ability’s stipulations—seemed to change without reason. I think the requirements for conjuring and the more abstract facets of her magic could have been explored in a clearer way. For example, it’s mentioned that she must imagine an object perfectly to conjure it, but she later conjures seemingly whatever she wishes without already having seen the object. A soft magic system can work well, but it often becomes a crutch in this book.
Another trend in Princess of the Broken that I didn’t care for was how characters who first seemed morally gray always became either completely likable or completely evil by the end of their stories. Overall, I was unsatisfied with the antagonists and their motives. To me, lust for power isn’t a convincing enough reason for the convoluted nature of the villains’ plot. In fact, it almost seems like they lost power along the way instead.
That being said, this book does feature very sweet friendships between women, which I wasn’t expecting given the Selection-type setup. This was a pleasant surprise. The narration is fast-paced and easy to follow. Princess of the Broken subverts tropes related to the Rapunzel story in an interesting and dark way. However, I wouldn’t call it a hopeless story—although Raylin’s situation is arguably worse than the original Rapunzel’s, this time, she has the solidarity of a band of princesses at her side.
Although this book is a cut from SPFBOX, readers who like fairytale retellings and court-based fantasy may enjoy Jasmine K. Swinburne’s Princess of the Broken. It didn’t click with me, but there is still a compelling story within these pages.
This is a review for the tenth Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off. More SPFBOX reviews can be found at Before We Go Blog.
April 9, 2023
I may be biased, I am the author after all. But if I could wrap these characters up in cotton wool and keep them safe forever, I would.
There's nothing scarier than releasing your book child into the world, but it is also the most exciting thing. I hope everyone that finds this book in their hands, falls in love with its contents. I hope you get absorbed into the lives of the people of Aldros just like I did while writing.
Enjoy, and always remember... The suffering is what makes us who we are.
There's nothing scarier than releasing your book child into the world, but it is also the most exciting thing. I hope everyone that finds this book in their hands, falls in love with its contents. I hope you get absorbed into the lives of the people of Aldros just like I did while writing.
Enjoy, and always remember... The suffering is what makes us who we are.
April 12, 2023
This review is spoiler free as most of what I’m gushing about is revealed in the blurb and literally the first few chapters. I’ve barely skimmed the surface.
Whew, this book has A LOT going on and Swinburne weaves this Rapunzel retelling together in fast paced scenes, magical moments and suspense throughout.
I’m a sucker for a retelling or fairytale inspired stories and Princess of the Broken is as good as it gets. Swinburne has managed to write a well known fairytale that still leaves you wondering what’s about to happen.
I love that the story starts with the root of the magic of the land and it’s strong footing for a fantasy debut because you can see that there is much more to come. ( *cough* *cough* Elio and Aruna need a spin off).
So we have:
Raylin – a lost princess… pretending to be a princess from another kingdom after being caught stealing. She is trapped, whether it be in the tower by Genevieve for her ‘safety’ or trapped in the plot to try to win Malakai’s hand. There is a slight innocent naivity about her, despite her killing time as a thief, I was glad to see she wasn’t meek, but her trauma of being locked away reveals itself in other ways.
Malakai – if you loved Dorian in the Throne of Glass series you will adore Malakai. He is already in an established gay relationship when we are introduced to him, albeit secret as he is faced with choosing a princess to help unite the kingdoms. He and Teddy are adorable and I spent most of the story wishing they could just run away and be happy together without all the drama of ruling a kingdom.
"Malakai cannot keep the smile off his face as he makes his way back to his room. His heart is full, beating not for himself, but for Teddy. Theodore. His love. His king. He vows at that moment to tell his parents everything. He wants to share this love, not hide it away. Something this magical should never be kept locked in a box, tucked away from the world. It should be celebrated, cherished."
Princess of the Broken – Jasmine K. Swinburne
Damian – a royal guard and loyal friend to Malakai. For some reason he doesn’t arrest Raylin when he catches her stealing, and this leads a to a few swoony intense moments with the two of them and it’s his idea to infiltrate her into the castle with the other princesses…
One thing in particular that I loved about this story, was the positive friendships with Raylin and the other princesses. They were in direct competition and although I expected all the awkward moments that come with rivalry… I was pleasantly surprised. Even Princess Arabella thawed to the point of being my absolute fave;
"Malakai keeps his tone warm as he says, “Don’t ever beg for someone else’s love, Arabella. You do not need to. I have watched you since you arrived here, and you are not what you pretend to be. You may fool your kingdom, you may fool everyone else, but you cannot fool me. I have been pretending my whole life to be someone else."
Princess of the Broken – Jasmine K. Swinburne
That brings me to the next thing I realised; and whether intentional or not is that most of the characters aren’t as they seem, mostly in a good way but a certain someone can jump on his horse and take a run off a short cliff… we also have the super manipulative Aunt Genevieve and this is where Raylin’s naivity leaves her wide open and vulnerable. She’s quite strong willed but Genevieve’s control over her leaves a daunting feeling whenever they have scenes together. I swear I kept singing Mother Knows Best from Tangled every time Genevieve reared her head.
And then there is Fee. Animal companion – need I say more?!
New bonds are formed throughout the tale – making way for the ultimate betrayals and Raylin rising into her power and discovering more about herself.
If you think you know how this story ends… you don’t. The conclusion gives you whiplash and leaves you needing the second book straight away. It paves the way for a darker and even more magical journey from here.
When I say it’s a page turner I mean it. So much happens, leaving you thinking about the events and what’s to come long after you’ve finished reading.
There are twists and turns towards the end that sucker punch you and leave you an emotional wreck (but in a good way I promise) and I’ve already slid in the author’s DMs too many times demanding book two.
I was fortunate to receive (begged for) an arc for an honest review. I was also lucky enough to read a few draft snippets too… so seeing this in it’s full form is awesome.
If you love retellings with a dark edge, this book is for you. It has a wonderful diverse cast of characters (and again each princess could have their own spin off… the world is so HUGE), and each page is filled with magic. The conclusion will leave your heart pounding. This has been so fun to read and I cant wait for the next installment!!
Whew, this book has A LOT going on and Swinburne weaves this Rapunzel retelling together in fast paced scenes, magical moments and suspense throughout.
I’m a sucker for a retelling or fairytale inspired stories and Princess of the Broken is as good as it gets. Swinburne has managed to write a well known fairytale that still leaves you wondering what’s about to happen.
I love that the story starts with the root of the magic of the land and it’s strong footing for a fantasy debut because you can see that there is much more to come. ( *cough* *cough* Elio and Aruna need a spin off).
So we have:
Raylin – a lost princess… pretending to be a princess from another kingdom after being caught stealing. She is trapped, whether it be in the tower by Genevieve for her ‘safety’ or trapped in the plot to try to win Malakai’s hand. There is a slight innocent naivity about her, despite her killing time as a thief, I was glad to see she wasn’t meek, but her trauma of being locked away reveals itself in other ways.
Malakai – if you loved Dorian in the Throne of Glass series you will adore Malakai. He is already in an established gay relationship when we are introduced to him, albeit secret as he is faced with choosing a princess to help unite the kingdoms. He and Teddy are adorable and I spent most of the story wishing they could just run away and be happy together without all the drama of ruling a kingdom.
"Malakai cannot keep the smile off his face as he makes his way back to his room. His heart is full, beating not for himself, but for Teddy. Theodore. His love. His king. He vows at that moment to tell his parents everything. He wants to share this love, not hide it away. Something this magical should never be kept locked in a box, tucked away from the world. It should be celebrated, cherished."
Princess of the Broken – Jasmine K. Swinburne
Damian – a royal guard and loyal friend to Malakai. For some reason he doesn’t arrest Raylin when he catches her stealing, and this leads a to a few swoony intense moments with the two of them and it’s his idea to infiltrate her into the castle with the other princesses…
One thing in particular that I loved about this story, was the positive friendships with Raylin and the other princesses. They were in direct competition and although I expected all the awkward moments that come with rivalry… I was pleasantly surprised. Even Princess Arabella thawed to the point of being my absolute fave;
"Malakai keeps his tone warm as he says, “Don’t ever beg for someone else’s love, Arabella. You do not need to. I have watched you since you arrived here, and you are not what you pretend to be. You may fool your kingdom, you may fool everyone else, but you cannot fool me. I have been pretending my whole life to be someone else."
Princess of the Broken – Jasmine K. Swinburne
That brings me to the next thing I realised; and whether intentional or not is that most of the characters aren’t as they seem, mostly in a good way but a certain someone can jump on his horse and take a run off a short cliff… we also have the super manipulative Aunt Genevieve and this is where Raylin’s naivity leaves her wide open and vulnerable. She’s quite strong willed but Genevieve’s control over her leaves a daunting feeling whenever they have scenes together. I swear I kept singing Mother Knows Best from Tangled every time Genevieve reared her head.
And then there is Fee. Animal companion – need I say more?!
New bonds are formed throughout the tale – making way for the ultimate betrayals and Raylin rising into her power and discovering more about herself.
If you think you know how this story ends… you don’t. The conclusion gives you whiplash and leaves you needing the second book straight away. It paves the way for a darker and even more magical journey from here.
When I say it’s a page turner I mean it. So much happens, leaving you thinking about the events and what’s to come long after you’ve finished reading.
There are twists and turns towards the end that sucker punch you and leave you an emotional wreck (but in a good way I promise) and I’ve already slid in the author’s DMs too many times demanding book two.
I was fortunate to receive (begged for) an arc for an honest review. I was also lucky enough to read a few draft snippets too… so seeing this in it’s full form is awesome.
If you love retellings with a dark edge, this book is for you. It has a wonderful diverse cast of characters (and again each princess could have their own spin off… the world is so HUGE), and each page is filled with magic. The conclusion will leave your heart pounding. This has been so fun to read and I cant wait for the next installment!!
March 20, 2023
I love a good retelling, and Princess of the Broken takes the Rapunzel story and makes it dark.
There are two main characters in this book and it was fun to experience the story through their eyes. There’s a whole host of side characters too (lots of queer rep!) and they were a really interesting way to explore the wider realm. I loved the friendships/relationships formed and explored between characters as the book went on.
The plot was easy to keep reading, and I was excited to see how it would resolve. And the end was full of some really big twists - I can’t wait to see where the sequel goes!
There are two main characters in this book and it was fun to experience the story through their eyes. There’s a whole host of side characters too (lots of queer rep!) and they were a really interesting way to explore the wider realm. I loved the friendships/relationships formed and explored between characters as the book went on.
The plot was easy to keep reading, and I was excited to see how it would resolve. And the end was full of some really big twists - I can’t wait to see where the sequel goes!
March 14, 2023
I always love a retelling but haven't come across many based on the story of Rapunzel before, so this was so much fun! My absolute favourite parts of this story were the friendships that are established throughout. They are so easy to root for and, despite the huge differences between each character's lives, they come together and build strong bonds. The princesses and their unique personalities are so vivid too! I definitely didn't see some of the twists and turns coming, which is a mark of a great story in my eyes! Do yourselves a favour and read this one 🖤
April 7, 2023
WOWWWWW, HOLY MFING SHIT, I-I-I CAN'T STRING TOGETHER POPER SENTENCES OTHER THAN WOW AND HOLY SHIT.
I'm simply mind blown like JASMINE, what, whyyy, I'm heartbroken, angry, shocked, and hurt all at the same mfing time, the plot twists (yes, you read it right, plot twistS, with an S, as in there are multiple), the character arc, the cliffhanger, the way some chapters left you reeling with more questions than answers, this was not what I was expecting when I started this book, I honestly thought that I would be reading through while being bored because my romance addicted ass doesn't read enough fantasy, but I'm SHOOKETH, the secret reveals, the betrayal, Raylin and her motherfucking badassery in the last few chapters and my mind is reeling, this book is AMAZING, it will leave you in the edge of your seat after you finish, I ate it up, maybe it's because I'm a fast reader or this book is just THAT good, I finished it in less than 7 hours, I binge read this whole thing and it was amazing, you guys need to read this, hundred percent.
I'm simply mind blown like JASMINE, what, whyyy, I'm heartbroken, angry, shocked, and hurt all at the same mfing time, the plot twists (yes, you read it right, plot twistS, with an S, as in there are multiple), the character arc, the cliffhanger, the way some chapters left you reeling with more questions than answers, this was not what I was expecting when I started this book, I honestly thought that I would be reading through while being bored because my romance addicted ass doesn't read enough fantasy, but I'm SHOOKETH, the secret reveals, the betrayal, Raylin and her motherfucking badassery in the last few chapters and my mind is reeling, this book is AMAZING, it will leave you in the edge of your seat after you finish, I ate it up, maybe it's because I'm a fast reader or this book is just THAT good, I finished it in less than 7 hours, I binge read this whole thing and it was amazing, you guys need to read this, hundred percent.
July 5, 2023
I couldn't put this down, so engrossing! I was lost in it.
May 22, 2023
This book had no right to be so damn good! Jasmine, Imma need the sequel, like now!?
It’s always a great feeling reading a book published by a friend. Maybe I’m biased for knowing the author but this was damn good either way.
If you’re in the market for a quick to read Rapunzel retelling, with romance, LGBTQ rep, POC, twists and turns, easy to read writing and found family, pick this up. Immediately.
Starting with the characters:
Raylin, our lovely FMC. She was incredibly naive and vulnerable, but at the same time headstrong, powerful and compelling.
Malakai. The cinnamon roll of the story. Who actually has a secret of his own, which I won’t spoil! One which I did not see coming either. He was a sweetheart to be honest and wouldn’t hurt a fly!
The princesses. Arabella, Catalina, Soraya, Briar and Kiyoko. My personal favourite was of course Soraya and honestly I’m jealous because I want her as my friend! She was just so perfect and brought the lighthearted-ness to the story! Shoutout to the POC rep too for Soraya and Kiyoko! Always amazing to see. Arabella at first, I despised, but I kinda felt like she had some character growth. She at first was the Celeste of this world like from The Selection series but you grew to enjoy her as the story progressed.
I loved learning do the different powers each princess possessed too
Damien. LOL I won’t even go into detail with this one, so as to not spoil it, but let’s just say in the beginning, I was rooting for him and Raylin..
Ella (if you know, you know), but MY HEART, JASMIME WHY
Fee - the best character If you ask me. By a long shot
The king’s brother can get in the bin
Honestly the story moved along at such a nice pace. I didn’t feel it rushed, but it wasn’t slow. It was giving huge The Selection vibes in the beginning. 6 princesses given the chance to join Malakai on the throne? Yes PLEASE!
I loved the prologue and set-up of the story. It was nice to hear some background information of Aldros.
Honestly, I love a fantasy retelling and I am yet to read a Rapunzel take, so this was incredibly unique, for me anyway
The LGBTQ rep was a delight too. With 2 characters being queer
The last 125 had me by the throat and it was just twist after twist that I audibly gasped at times
With this being a review, I have to be 100% honest and say that the only thing that didn’t do it for me was Malakai’s chapter being in third person, as opposed to Raylin’s in first person. Also the lack of romance. But that’s a ME thing, I’m a huge romantacy person and so personally, I wish there was more of that going on or perhaps more spice. But this is just a preference I have myself.
Honestly for a debut novel, this was incredible and I highly recommend you pick this one up!
It’s always a great feeling reading a book published by a friend. Maybe I’m biased for knowing the author but this was damn good either way.
If you’re in the market for a quick to read Rapunzel retelling, with romance, LGBTQ rep, POC, twists and turns, easy to read writing and found family, pick this up. Immediately.
Starting with the characters:
Raylin, our lovely FMC. She was incredibly naive and vulnerable, but at the same time headstrong, powerful and compelling.
Malakai. The cinnamon roll of the story. Who actually has a secret of his own, which I won’t spoil! One which I did not see coming either. He was a sweetheart to be honest and wouldn’t hurt a fly!
The princesses. Arabella, Catalina, Soraya, Briar and Kiyoko. My personal favourite was of course Soraya and honestly I’m jealous because I want her as my friend! She was just so perfect and brought the lighthearted-ness to the story! Shoutout to the POC rep too for Soraya and Kiyoko! Always amazing to see. Arabella at first, I despised, but I kinda felt like she had some character growth. She at first was the Celeste of this world like from The Selection series but you grew to enjoy her as the story progressed.
I loved learning do the different powers each princess possessed too
Damien. LOL I won’t even go into detail with this one, so as to not spoil it, but let’s just say in the beginning, I was rooting for him and Raylin..
Ella (if you know, you know), but MY HEART, JASMIME WHY
Fee - the best character If you ask me. By a long shot
The king’s brother can get in the bin
Honestly the story moved along at such a nice pace. I didn’t feel it rushed, but it wasn’t slow. It was giving huge The Selection vibes in the beginning. 6 princesses given the chance to join Malakai on the throne? Yes PLEASE!
I loved the prologue and set-up of the story. It was nice to hear some background information of Aldros.
Honestly, I love a fantasy retelling and I am yet to read a Rapunzel take, so this was incredibly unique, for me anyway
The LGBTQ rep was a delight too. With 2 characters being queer
The last 125 had me by the throat and it was just twist after twist that I audibly gasped at times
With this being a review, I have to be 100% honest and say that the only thing that didn’t do it for me was Malakai’s chapter being in third person, as opposed to Raylin’s in first person. Also the lack of romance. But that’s a ME thing, I’m a huge romantacy person and so personally, I wish there was more of that going on or perhaps more spice. But this is just a preference I have myself.
Honestly for a debut novel, this was incredible and I highly recommend you pick this one up!
April 25, 2023
sooooo… i’m going to need book 2 like right now?! you can’t leave me hanging like this!
there’s A LOT going on in this book and A LOT of plot twists (that is correct, MULTIPLE PLOT TWISTS) i did indeed yell at Jasmine a few times in her DMs… you know what you did 🤺
this rapunzel retelling is full of magic, found family, animal companionship, lgbt rep, betrayal, character growth, secrets, love and so much more!!
it’s dual POV, following Raylin a lost princess and Malakai a prince who is heir to the biggest kingdom in Aldros. His parents have set up a meet and greet kinda thing with all the eligible princesses of Aldros.
Raylin gets caught stealing and finds herself pretending to be one of those princesses vying for Malakai’s hand. BUT sh*t hits the fan, secrets get spilled, betrayals left, right and centre and then revenge. All the while Raylin battles an inner fight between light and dark😱
thank you so much Jasmine for sending this to me, i loved every second and i can’t wait for book two💞 still don’t forgive you though
there’s A LOT going on in this book and A LOT of plot twists (that is correct, MULTIPLE PLOT TWISTS) i did indeed yell at Jasmine a few times in her DMs… you know what you did 🤺
this rapunzel retelling is full of magic, found family, animal companionship, lgbt rep, betrayal, character growth, secrets, love and so much more!!
it’s dual POV, following Raylin a lost princess and Malakai a prince who is heir to the biggest kingdom in Aldros. His parents have set up a meet and greet kinda thing with all the eligible princesses of Aldros.
Raylin gets caught stealing and finds herself pretending to be one of those princesses vying for Malakai’s hand. BUT sh*t hits the fan, secrets get spilled, betrayals left, right and centre and then revenge. All the while Raylin battles an inner fight between light and dark😱
thank you so much Jasmine for sending this to me, i loved every second and i can’t wait for book two💞 still don’t forgive you though
May 13, 2025
DNF @ 49%
May 12, 2025
Sterk begin, alleen het einde leek afgeraffeld alsof er last minute een plottwist nodig was.
October 30, 2023
I really liked this Repunzel retelling. The storyline is fast paced with plenty of action. There are some good swoon worthy moments. as well. The twists on the storyline keep you engaged and intrigued.
I liked how the characters were darker than a normal fairytale. This added a depth to the characters that I really liked and a new aspect to the story.
Raylin - the lost princess of Gavaria - struggles to balance the light and darkness inside her. She has learnt to master the powers she knows about but there seems to be a lot she doesn't yet know.
Malakai and the princesses from the other kingdoms are fantastic. I really liked the interactions between them all. I hope this book wasn't the last time we meet the other princesses, Raylin could definitely use the backup and friendship they bring. I would be interested to find out more about each kingdom and see more of the world this book is set in.
Overall a very compelling story with great characterisation. I am eagerly awaiting a sequel to this book!
I liked how the characters were darker than a normal fairytale. This added a depth to the characters that I really liked and a new aspect to the story.
Raylin - the lost princess of Gavaria - struggles to balance the light and darkness inside her. She has learnt to master the powers she knows about but there seems to be a lot she doesn't yet know.
Malakai and the princesses from the other kingdoms are fantastic. I really liked the interactions between them all. I hope this book wasn't the last time we meet the other princesses, Raylin could definitely use the backup and friendship they bring. I would be interested to find out more about each kingdom and see more of the world this book is set in.
Overall a very compelling story with great characterisation. I am eagerly awaiting a sequel to this book!
May 18, 2023
I've not read many retellings but this one was so good!! I loved the little introduction chapter at the start and it gave really nice background details for the story. Prince Malakai is an absolute sweetheart and I love him (plus he's gay and is such a cinnamon roll it's adorable), he's so kind to Raylin, even after he discovers who she really is, he doesn't care and only wants to keep her safe when it all goes south. I highly highly recommend this if you enjoy a book full of plot twists, of revenge and mayhem, a sneaky bit of romance and an adorable but secret couple!!
Thank you so much to Jasmine for this gorgeous book that I won in a giveaway, it's so amazing and the cover is beautiful 🫶🫶
Thank you so much to Jasmine for this gorgeous book that I won in a giveaway, it's so amazing and the cover is beautiful 🫶🫶
August 1, 2023
I am an absolute sucker for a retelling and a retelling of one of my fave tales of all time? SIGN ME UP!! This book was fabulous! The way the world was crafted was absolutely brilliant and the characters were oh so loveable. Let me just say that I am trying not to spoil anything but this took me on A TRIP!! Like my emotions were flying! And just wow. I can't wait for the next book! I neeeeed to know what happens next!!
October 20, 2023
4.5 stars. This book was so good!! It started a bit slow but oh my god so much happens in the second half! 😱 the plot twist I did not see coming, there’s so many interesting characters (with diverse rep!) and magical powers. I need the second book as soon as possible 😁 I hope we see more of Lennox and less of Caspian.
October 12, 2023
Such a nice book to read
October 18, 2023
Really enjoyed this book and cannot wait for the 2nd one.
If you like fantasy books you will like this.
If you like fantasy books you will like this.
October 13, 2023
Contains mild spoilers.
There is so much I liked about this book.
FMC being the one to have the kick arse powers. The friendships between princesses (so refreshing that they were not all catty). Gay representation. The spooky dark setting. And of course the retelling of Rapunzel itself.
I enjoyed the twists and turns and how everything revealed itself. I think the author is talented. I enjoyed the writing both in her broad storytelling at the beginning, which set that fairy tale tone and in scene descriptions and dialogue. The chapter titles were the funniest I’ve seen for a good while.
Can you feel the but impending? A lot of the plot points, though at times riveting, felt ungrounded. A lot of what happened the beginning I kept saying to myself ‘Why is she doing this’? It eventually made more sense but the twist would have hit harder if I had believed more in what was currently happening.
People and instances kept popping up without enough foreshadowing for it to feel authentic to the story.
FMC romance storyline felt rushed and would have liked more of a burn (not necessarily slow) before they got together. I would have felt more too, as things were unveiled, if I was more invested in why they liked each other.
So, I do like this book. I do like this author. I feel she will get better and better and I will definitely read more from her. As this story and world grows it will be interesting to see if what made this book feel satisfying but bumpy will get ironed out.
Describe in a sentence: Shadow mummy but make it tangled.
Would I recommend: To readers who love fantasy and retellings – yes.
You may like this book if: You love a fairy tale retelling. You love intrigue and twists. You love yourself some romantacy.
You may not like this book if: You are a critical reader. If plot holes make you crazy.
There is so much I liked about this book.
FMC being the one to have the kick arse powers. The friendships between princesses (so refreshing that they were not all catty). Gay representation. The spooky dark setting. And of course the retelling of Rapunzel itself.
I enjoyed the twists and turns and how everything revealed itself. I think the author is talented. I enjoyed the writing both in her broad storytelling at the beginning, which set that fairy tale tone and in scene descriptions and dialogue. The chapter titles were the funniest I’ve seen for a good while.
Can you feel the but impending? A lot of the plot points, though at times riveting, felt ungrounded. A lot of what happened the beginning I kept saying to myself ‘Why is she doing this’? It eventually made more sense but the twist would have hit harder if I had believed more in what was currently happening.
People and instances kept popping up without enough foreshadowing for it to feel authentic to the story.
FMC romance storyline felt rushed and would have liked more of a burn (not necessarily slow) before they got together. I would have felt more too, as things were unveiled, if I was more invested in why they liked each other.
So, I do like this book. I do like this author. I feel she will get better and better and I will definitely read more from her. As this story and world grows it will be interesting to see if what made this book feel satisfying but bumpy will get ironed out.
Describe in a sentence: Shadow mummy but make it tangled.
Would I recommend: To readers who love fantasy and retellings – yes.
You may like this book if: You love a fairy tale retelling. You love intrigue and twists. You love yourself some romantacy.
You may not like this book if: You are a critical reader. If plot holes make you crazy.
May 18, 2024
“Every day that I can, I leave. I know it’s. It safe. If anything happened, how would she ever find me? But it is as if the wind calls to me, whispering my name until it can touch me.”
I’m giving Princess of the Broken by @author_jks 5 ⭐️
Oh my! This was a breath of fresh air from all the Beauty and the Beast Retellings I’ve read! Swineburn does this Rapunzel Retelling beautifully and it maybe in my top five for the year now! We have so many twists and turns your brain doesn’t know how to react. It did take me a few chapters to get into it, but I love it! It’s dark and twisted and full of loveable characters:
Raylin- Our MFC who has been locked away in a tower since she was 6 by her Aunt Genevieve for her safety, suddenly finds herself pretending to be another Princess from another Kingdom after being caught thieving, now she has to pretend to win Prince Malakai’s hand in marriage.
Prince Malakai- Our MMC, even though his parents the King and Queen of Sorelle have announced that the princess from the neighboring kingdoms have come to be compete to be his bride, he’s already in a gay relationship with one of the kitchen servants, they have to keep it secret for themselves. (I adore them both.)
There’s so many twists and turns to keep up with, the magic system is just amazing, nothing like I’ve read before. The relationship the characters build together especially the princess is my favourite to see. I hope we get more world building and character development and we get to see relationships blossom!
Raylin and Malakai’s story is my retelling so far, I can’t wait to see what happens to them in book two!
I’m giving Princess of the Broken by @author_jks 5 ⭐️
Oh my! This was a breath of fresh air from all the Beauty and the Beast Retellings I’ve read! Swineburn does this Rapunzel Retelling beautifully and it maybe in my top five for the year now! We have so many twists and turns your brain doesn’t know how to react. It did take me a few chapters to get into it, but I love it! It’s dark and twisted and full of loveable characters:
Raylin- Our MFC who has been locked away in a tower since she was 6 by her Aunt Genevieve for her safety, suddenly finds herself pretending to be another Princess from another Kingdom after being caught thieving, now she has to pretend to win Prince Malakai’s hand in marriage.
Prince Malakai- Our MMC, even though his parents the King and Queen of Sorelle have announced that the princess from the neighboring kingdoms have come to be compete to be his bride, he’s already in a gay relationship with one of the kitchen servants, they have to keep it secret for themselves. (I adore them both.)
There’s so many twists and turns to keep up with, the magic system is just amazing, nothing like I’ve read before. The relationship the characters build together especially the princess is my favourite to see. I hope we get more world building and character development and we get to see relationships blossom!
Raylin and Malakai’s story is my retelling so far, I can’t wait to see what happens to them in book two!
November 24, 2023
*I received this copy in exchange for an honest review*
I absolutely devoured this book!! If you're a fan of retellings infused with a darker tone, this book is right up your alley.
I'm a big fan of retellings, but I did not read a lot of Rapunzel retellings, so this one holds a special place in my heart.
As for the plot, I absolutely adored the world building, the details, everything just fell into place.
I feel like this book show the perfect balance between romance and fantasy, you root for the characters, while you are also enchanted by the plot.
Another thing that stood out for me in this story was the portrayal of positive friendships, especially among Raylin and the other princesses. I anticipated the awkwardness or even hate, that usually comes with rivalry, but I couldn't be more wrong.
Overall, I really loved this story, and the final rating for this books would be 4.5 ⭐ as it captivated me throughout the whole book. I will warn you, there is a cliffhanger, which could only mean one thing: I AM SO FRAKING EXCITED FOR BOOK 2!!
I absolutely devoured this book!! If you're a fan of retellings infused with a darker tone, this book is right up your alley.
I'm a big fan of retellings, but I did not read a lot of Rapunzel retellings, so this one holds a special place in my heart.
As for the plot, I absolutely adored the world building, the details, everything just fell into place.
I feel like this book show the perfect balance between romance and fantasy, you root for the characters, while you are also enchanted by the plot.
Another thing that stood out for me in this story was the portrayal of positive friendships, especially among Raylin and the other princesses. I anticipated the awkwardness or even hate, that usually comes with rivalry, but I couldn't be more wrong.
Overall, I really loved this story, and the final rating for this books would be 4.5 ⭐ as it captivated me throughout the whole book. I will warn you, there is a cliffhanger, which could only mean one thing: I AM SO FRAKING EXCITED FOR BOOK 2!!
May 3, 2024
Princess of the Broken by Jasmine Swinburne ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Princess of the Broken is the story of Princess Raylin, who has been kept secluded from her royal family since childhood due to her unrequited magical abilities. Raylin enjoys sneaking out of her isolated tower to walk amongst the commoners in the markets of Sorrelle, the kingdom where she was hiding, until one day she is nearly caught stealing by palace guards. Out of necessity, Raylin must masquerade as another - Princess Lena, as princess from far and wide have come to compete for Princess Malakai’s hand in marriage.
I enjoyed the magical world-building and historical details that were put into building this fantasy novel. Each royal family of the different kingdoms has unique magical abilities, and the princesses from each nation are vibrant, dynamic women. The beginning and middle of the plot were most enjoyable for me - the story had so much potential and enthralling exposition. Swinburne blended familiar Rapunzel lore with a fresh fantasy feeling and I really wanted to love this story. However, the ending just didn’t hit for me. The conflict and resolution felt quite rushed, and Raylin’s personality seemed to change in a heartbeat. I enjoyed being surprised by the plot twists, but I feel like there wasn’t enough time spent at the end to fully understand those surprises. Ultimately, fantasy lovers and anyone who enjoyed Disney’s Tangled should check out Princess of the Broken, there will be a sequel, but the release date is currently unknown.
Princess of the Broken is the story of Princess Raylin, who has been kept secluded from her royal family since childhood due to her unrequited magical abilities. Raylin enjoys sneaking out of her isolated tower to walk amongst the commoners in the markets of Sorrelle, the kingdom where she was hiding, until one day she is nearly caught stealing by palace guards. Out of necessity, Raylin must masquerade as another - Princess Lena, as princess from far and wide have come to compete for Princess Malakai’s hand in marriage.
I enjoyed the magical world-building and historical details that were put into building this fantasy novel. Each royal family of the different kingdoms has unique magical abilities, and the princesses from each nation are vibrant, dynamic women. The beginning and middle of the plot were most enjoyable for me - the story had so much potential and enthralling exposition. Swinburne blended familiar Rapunzel lore with a fresh fantasy feeling and I really wanted to love this story. However, the ending just didn’t hit for me. The conflict and resolution felt quite rushed, and Raylin’s personality seemed to change in a heartbeat. I enjoyed being surprised by the plot twists, but I feel like there wasn’t enough time spent at the end to fully understand those surprises. Ultimately, fantasy lovers and anyone who enjoyed Disney’s Tangled should check out Princess of the Broken, there will be a sequel, but the release date is currently unknown.
September 15, 2024
Loose Retelling, Good Read
This book was fairly well-written. The plot is driven and keeps moving forward. Some of the character development was lacking, and the world-building was slow, especially at the beginning. But once I understood the inner workings of the book, I found moments where I was enthralled.
Though a very loose retelling, this book offers a darker, twistier version of Disney's Tangled.
Some aspects of the book, like a little bit of spice, I'm not personally a fan of. However, as this is a personal preference, this in no way affected my review.
My overall rating is 3.8/5 stars, but I am rounding up to 4 for the sake of leaving this review on various platforms.
This book was fairly well-written. The plot is driven and keeps moving forward. Some of the character development was lacking, and the world-building was slow, especially at the beginning. But once I understood the inner workings of the book, I found moments where I was enthralled.
Though a very loose retelling, this book offers a darker, twistier version of Disney's Tangled.
Some aspects of the book, like a little bit of spice, I'm not personally a fan of. However, as this is a personal preference, this in no way affected my review.
My overall rating is 3.8/5 stars, but I am rounding up to 4 for the sake of leaving this review on various platforms.
October 16, 2023
Where to begin…
It took me a few chapters to get my bearings, but once I start getting into the story, its enjoyable.
The varying POV between 1st and 3rd person for different characters was an interesting change.
The story itself is immersive, with magic, royals, animal companions, lies and revenge, the book has plenty going for it. Even has a little spice thrown in there for extra enthralment.
Its a great book and Im looking forward to what comes next.
It took me a few chapters to get my bearings, but once I start getting into the story, its enjoyable.
The varying POV between 1st and 3rd person for different characters was an interesting change.
The story itself is immersive, with magic, royals, animal companions, lies and revenge, the book has plenty going for it. Even has a little spice thrown in there for extra enthralment.
Its a great book and Im looking forward to what comes next.
October 21, 2023
I saw this book on TikTok and got drawn in so had to download it. What can I say, I loved it. It’s a Rapunzel retelling but the twist and turns in this book really make it seem like a whole new story. I loved the friendship Raylin had with the other princesses and her loyal animal companion. The twist at the end really threw me and left me an emotional wreck.
I can’t wait to read the next book and need it ASAP 💜
I can’t wait to read the next book and need it ASAP 💜
November 24, 2023
A great start
This is a fantastic start to a series. For the first time in a while I was actually surprised by the twists in a tale of this genre. A few editing issues (word choice, sentence structure and other little things) that interrupted the flow are what made this not quite a 5 star read. Looking forward to the next in the series!
This is a fantastic start to a series. For the first time in a while I was actually surprised by the twists in a tale of this genre. A few editing issues (word choice, sentence structure and other little things) that interrupted the flow are what made this not quite a 5 star read. Looking forward to the next in the series!
August 10, 2024
I absolutely LOVED this book, from the characters to the setting and the plot! I cannot recommend it enough. Raylin is an absolutely amazing character, and Malakai, I cannot pick a favourite character! The multiple POV, was so good.
I really cannot wait for the next one!
Whole heartedly love these characters, I want to know what happens to each of them, I need to know that they will all be okay!
I really cannot wait for the next one!
Whole heartedly love these characters, I want to know what happens to each of them, I need to know that they will all be okay!
April 3, 2023
I really enjoyed this and couldnt put it down. The characters came to life on the pages and made you feel like you really knew them. Now i have to wait for part two! Would recommend for all fantasy fans.
February 28, 2023
Absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to continue Raylins journey in the second book! An amazing debut novel. It really covers everything!
April 3, 2023
Absolutely adored this book and all it’s characters. I can’t wait for the second one! I definitely recommend it!
October 13, 2023
This was a really interesting well thought out debut. Proper review to come in the near future, but I would recommend :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews