What do you think?
Rate this book
Regency Magic Faerie Tales #1
Her Fae Secret
Eleanor Maybury and her sisters have spent the last five years secretly dancing in Faerie every Seventh Night. Now they've come to London for a debut Season in hopes of finding a good match. But the Faerie Queen's invitation will end as soon as they get engaged. Could Eleanor possibly fall deeply enough in love to choose marriage over their precious visits to Faerie?
Due to the restoration of peace, James Weston has returned to England after seven years of service as a magician in the Royal Navy. He isn't looking for a wife; he's looking for a new career path. But he can't deny that Eleanor is everything he's ever wanted and more.
Can their love survive her family's secret?
Enjoy this YA retelling of Grimm's "Twelve Dancing Princesses," set in a Regency London where Faeries are real and magic is an acceptable accomplishment for young ladies.
Due to the restoration of peace, James Weston has returned to England after seven years of service as a magician in the Royal Navy. He isn't looking for a wife; he's looking for a new career path. But he can't deny that Eleanor is everything he's ever wanted and more.
Can their love survive her family's secret?
Enjoy this YA retelling of Grimm's "Twelve Dancing Princesses," set in a Regency London where Faeries are real and magic is an acceptable accomplishment for young ladies.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 18, 2023
21 people are currently reading
268 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 9, 2024
This was the first in the Regency Magic Faerie Tales series, which I had always been curious about thanks to its cohesive branding strategy with matching covers and titles. Although the book was not for me, I have to give it credit for being one of the only adaptations I've read of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" that didn't turn the nightly dances into something evil that the princesses needed to be rescued from. That isn't what it was in the original story, and I think changing it discredits their autonomy, so the author gets props for not doing that.
The book demonstrates a high level of familiarity with the Regency era and customs, which is something else I have to give the author props for. However, I tend to find Jane Austen-inspired stories to be very dry and lacking in conflict or excitement. The addition of magic sadly did not help with that as it was simply treated as another skill that young single people could study to make themselves more appealing in finding a mate like needlepoint or music. Overall, I think fans of Jane Austen and fairy tales would appreciate this book, but I had a hard time getting through it.
The book demonstrates a high level of familiarity with the Regency era and customs, which is something else I have to give the author props for. However, I tend to find Jane Austen-inspired stories to be very dry and lacking in conflict or excitement. The addition of magic sadly did not help with that as it was simply treated as another skill that young single people could study to make themselves more appealing in finding a mate like needlepoint or music. Overall, I think fans of Jane Austen and fairy tales would appreciate this book, but I had a hard time getting through it.
October 10, 2024
This is charming! If you love Regency romances and tales of fairies this book merges the two together in a lovely way.
Eleanor's magic goes beyond the parlor tricks of debutants. Only her sisters know her secrets. They are all half fae and dance in fairyland every Saturday.
Mr. Weston is looking for a way to make good use of his magic now that he has left the Navy as a hero. He's not looking for a wife, but there's something about Eleanor that draws him to her.
Someone is using magic at the biggest balls of the London season. Mr Weston is determined to get to the bottom of it. Will Eleanor be found out? And what will it do to her reputation?
Jane Austen meets the 12 Dancing Princesses
Eleanor's magic goes beyond the parlor tricks of debutants. Only her sisters know her secrets. They are all half fae and dance in fairyland every Saturday.
Mr. Weston is looking for a way to make good use of his magic now that he has left the Navy as a hero. He's not looking for a wife, but there's something about Eleanor that draws him to her.
Someone is using magic at the biggest balls of the London season. Mr Weston is determined to get to the bottom of it. Will Eleanor be found out? And what will it do to her reputation?
Jane Austen meets the 12 Dancing Princesses
July 21, 2024
If you love Jane Austen and fairytales, this story is for you. It’s Jane Austen meets 12 Dancing Princesses in a beautiful magical regency world. Debutants showcase their magical talents as well as musical and dancing talents to try to make a “smart match”. Serious magic tends to be more for the men, but that doesn’t stop Eleanor from creating her own practical magic to try to better not only her life but the lives of others. Going so far to even help at an orphanage and teach a few magically inclined children practical magic to help the orphanage run better and the children to have plenty of good food to fill their bellies.
Eliza weaves magic as she spins this unique regency retelling. Her world building is wonderful and her characters leap off the page. There are twists and turns I didn’t see coming. I laughed, and I cried. I can’t wait to read more of this series!
No spice or cursing, just sweet swoony romance and kisses.
Eliza weaves magic as she spins this unique regency retelling. Her world building is wonderful and her characters leap off the page. There are twists and turns I didn’t see coming. I laughed, and I cried. I can’t wait to read more of this series!
No spice or cursing, just sweet swoony romance and kisses.
August 23, 2024
I gotta say this wasn't a bad story but I was bored for the majority of it. Sadly I couldn't really get into the story or connect with the characters. Normally I'm a fairly quick reader, this book was around 200 pages give or take and it took me an hour and a 1/2 to get through the first half. By that point i should have been mostly finished.
The set up was fine. It's a retelling of the twelve dancing princesses fairy tale. I liked the fact the girls enjoyed going to the dances and looked forward to them. The issue being they're not at home and need to figure out how to keep going to the dances. Setting the plot in regency England with the girls coming out for their seasons didn't bother me. I enjoy a good Regency story. The romances were alright. Sweet and all that but they were a bit meh. I love a good sweet romance. but oh my goodness these characters were bland. I can barely remember Eleanor's name (and at one point I mixed her up with her aunt) the Male lead for being a war hero, wasn't all that dashing. He was nice and all but I just had to go to the blurb to remember his name is James. and the side plot with Sir... Tekkan/Tekkar/Sir T. yeah maybe a bit more with him but the endgame was obviously James so absolutely no tension there.
So first 2/3 low key story, no major obstacles. the girls are making it to fairyland no problem. Overall smooth sailing, for the most part and I was reading because I was hoping it would get better.
I guess this reminds me of cotton candy. Sweet but no substance. And I'm not a huge fan of cotton candy so there you go.
So Recommended? Perhaps. I think for the most part; the reviews I read say the reviewer enjoyed the book. I'd say this is more for a YA audience then anything else. So if you're looking for low stakes low conflict then this book would be alright. I didn't hate it but it's not something I'd read again.
Buy/Borrow? Borrow
The set up was fine. It's a retelling of the twelve dancing princesses fairy tale. I liked the fact the girls enjoyed going to the dances and looked forward to them. The issue being they're not at home and need to figure out how to keep going to the dances. Setting the plot in regency England with the girls coming out for their seasons didn't bother me. I enjoy a good Regency story. The romances were alright. Sweet and all that but they were a bit meh. I love a good sweet romance. but oh my goodness these characters were bland. I can barely remember Eleanor's name (and at one point I mixed her up with her aunt) the Male lead for being a war hero, wasn't all that dashing. He was nice and all but I just had to go to the blurb to remember his name is James. and the side plot with Sir... Tekkan/Tekkar/Sir T. yeah maybe a bit more with him but the endgame was obviously James so absolutely no tension there.
So first 2/3 low key story, no major obstacles. the girls are making it to fairyland no problem. Overall smooth sailing, for the most part and I was reading because I was hoping it would get better.
I guess this reminds me of cotton candy. Sweet but no substance. And I'm not a huge fan of cotton candy so there you go.
So Recommended? Perhaps. I think for the most part; the reviews I read say the reviewer enjoyed the book. I'd say this is more for a YA audience then anything else. So if you're looking for low stakes low conflict then this book would be alright. I didn't hate it but it's not something I'd read again.
Buy/Borrow? Borrow
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2025
Content:
Profanity: Mild. Only one swear: H***
Violence: Barely there. A guy grabs a girl's arm. An old war wound is talked about (shot in the leg) in a clinical way; 'dug the bullet out, cleaned the wound, it burned like fire,' etc.
Sexual: Mild. There are a few kisses on the head/temple, and a few chaste kisses. There is a (moderate spoiler) There is a line that goes something like, 'there were a lot of things I'd like to do with [her] in an hour, but I'd have to marry her first.' There is a brief mention of men fathering children and leaving them to their own devices. Another line saying something like 'I welcomed my husband home as a wife ought' insinuating intimacy happened. Everything mentioned is brief and not leud.
This was such a nice cozy read for me. There weren't any crazy over-dramatics in the romances, and when conflicts arose they were dealt with in realistic and rational ways. Even though this book includes magic and faery as a base.
Eleanor and her sisters Anne and Sophie are in London for their first season together. It is quite proper for young ladies to be accomplished in embroidery, music, art, elocution, and...magic. The three girls are happy to share their first season, and make quite the debut, with suitors aplenty. But they have a secret. Every seventh night, they sneak away to faery to dance with the fae.
Little does Eleanor suspect that one of her most interesting and attractive suitors, Mr. James Weston, a former naval magician, senses the use of magic. He's determined to discover the source. As the two become closer, they discover a shared love of magic, and a need to serve and make a difference in the world at large. But Eleanor and her sister's secrets are causing...difficulty in her new relationship.
The story was cute. I love how Mr. Weston was drawn immediately to Eleanor NOT because she was beautiful, but because of her honesty and her laugh. Only then did he start noticing her physical features because he was already attracted to her character. I loved that. Their little polite banter was adorable, and that's what drew Eleanor to Mr. Weston, and they both realized they'd found an equal in each other. Seeing them come together was just the cozy warm fuzzy read I needed.
This is the first of Eliza Prokopovits I've read, but it certainly won't be the last! I love the alternate Regency world she's set up, and look forward to continuing this series. She's done a beautiful job of writing the manners, propriety and culture of the times, but adds that dash of magic to make it into something unique and new.
The only thing in the story I was frustrated with was the lack of explanation about (big spoiler)
Profanity: Mild. Only one swear: H***
Violence: Barely there. A guy grabs a girl's arm. An old war wound is talked about (shot in the leg) in a clinical way; 'dug the bullet out, cleaned the wound, it burned like fire,' etc.
Sexual: Mild. There are a few kisses on the head/temple, and a few chaste kisses. There is a (moderate spoiler) There is a line that goes something like, 'there were a lot of things I'd like to do with [her] in an hour, but I'd have to marry her first.' There is a brief mention of men fathering children and leaving them to their own devices. Another line saying something like 'I welcomed my husband home as a wife ought' insinuating intimacy happened. Everything mentioned is brief and not leud.
This was such a nice cozy read for me. There weren't any crazy over-dramatics in the romances, and when conflicts arose they were dealt with in realistic and rational ways. Even though this book includes magic and faery as a base.
Eleanor and her sisters Anne and Sophie are in London for their first season together. It is quite proper for young ladies to be accomplished in embroidery, music, art, elocution, and...magic. The three girls are happy to share their first season, and make quite the debut, with suitors aplenty. But they have a secret. Every seventh night, they sneak away to faery to dance with the fae.
Little does Eleanor suspect that one of her most interesting and attractive suitors, Mr. James Weston, a former naval magician, senses the use of magic. He's determined to discover the source. As the two become closer, they discover a shared love of magic, and a need to serve and make a difference in the world at large. But Eleanor and her sister's secrets are causing...difficulty in her new relationship.
The story was cute. I love how Mr. Weston was drawn immediately to Eleanor NOT because she was beautiful, but because of her honesty and her laugh. Only then did he start noticing her physical features because he was already attracted to her character. I loved that. Their little polite banter was adorable, and that's what drew Eleanor to Mr. Weston, and they both realized they'd found an equal in each other. Seeing them come together was just the cozy warm fuzzy read I needed.
This is the first of Eliza Prokopovits I've read, but it certainly won't be the last! I love the alternate Regency world she's set up, and look forward to continuing this series. She's done a beautiful job of writing the manners, propriety and culture of the times, but adds that dash of magic to make it into something unique and new.
The only thing in the story I was frustrated with was the lack of explanation about (big spoiler)
March 13, 2025
More of a 3.5, but I had to give this 4 ⭐️ simply because it was such a unique take on the Twelve Dancing Princesses—and the regency knowledge was very well researched 👍🏼
…..Buuuut it took me ~fOrEveR~ to finish because it just wasn’t that compelling. I didn’t really feel any kind of tension or conflict until over halfway through. I’ve seen other comments about the stakes being too low, and—while they were practically nonexistent for most of the book—I have to say there were two specific instances where the stakes were actually quite high!
However they were very near the end and resolved within a chapter or two.
I agree that Regency novels can be difficult to create high stakes, but I feel like this should have been easy to amend, especially given the addition of Faerie. (For example, what were those eyes staring at them from the trees?? They were mentioned once and never again 🤷🏼♀️)
This book had potential but ultimately was a bit of a drag to read. The second book in the series has quite an interesting premise, though 🤔, and as this was one of the author’s first books, I’m hoping that she continues to improve :)
…..Buuuut it took me ~fOrEveR~ to finish because it just wasn’t that compelling. I didn’t really feel any kind of tension or conflict until over halfway through. I’ve seen other comments about the stakes being too low, and—while they were practically nonexistent for most of the book—I have to say there were two specific instances where the stakes were actually quite high!
However they were very near the end and resolved within a chapter or two.
I agree that Regency novels can be difficult to create high stakes, but I feel like this should have been easy to amend, especially given the addition of Faerie. (For example, what were those eyes staring at them from the trees?? They were mentioned once and never again 🤷🏼♀️)
This book had potential but ultimately was a bit of a drag to read. The second book in the series has quite an interesting premise, though 🤔, and as this was one of the author’s first books, I’m hoping that she continues to improve :)
November 22, 2024
Eleanor and her two sisters, Anne and Sophie, have been secretly going to Faerie for years, dancing weekly at the Faerie Queen's ball. Now, they are being introduced to Society, and the difficulty of visiting Faerie while in London attending other social events is adding stress to Eleanor -- most particularly when it forces her to deceive former Naval magician James Weston, the man who is quickly becoming important to her.
This was a delightful fantasy taking place during the Regency period in an alternate reality in which magic is practiced, and even acceptable as an accomplishment for young ladies alongside music and drawing. The romance is light and gentle, the world intriguing, and the Regency feel generally well done. Prokopovits has blended strains of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" and the Regency romance genre into her original plot and made an enjoyable and charming story. I look forward to reading more in the series.
This was a delightful fantasy taking place during the Regency period in an alternate reality in which magic is practiced, and even acceptable as an accomplishment for young ladies alongside music and drawing. The romance is light and gentle, the world intriguing, and the Regency feel generally well done. Prokopovits has blended strains of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" and the Regency romance genre into her original plot and made an enjoyable and charming story. I look forward to reading more in the series.
August 7, 2025
It’s pretty rare that I LOVE a freebie from authors, but…I loved this.
Welcome to Regency England, where the *ton* is the law and…magic is commonplace. Women learn small magicks alongside their embroidery and pianoforte, while men perform larger magicks that can turn the tide in a war.
Eleanor Marbury is the middle sister in a family of five children. All three sisters are experiencing their first Season in London, and they all have varying hopes for the summer. Eleanor loves performing magic, and only wishes she could do more. Or at least find a husband who encourages her further study!
James Watson is a war veteran with a limp and a long list of magical bravery during his time at sea. He is in town at the behest of a friend, and definitely not looking for a wife.
Until he meets Eleanor.
This was an adorable regency romance, perfectly clean, and a very very clever take on the 12 Dancing Princesses, if I’m not mistaken.
Welcome to Regency England, where the *ton* is the law and…magic is commonplace. Women learn small magicks alongside their embroidery and pianoforte, while men perform larger magicks that can turn the tide in a war.
Eleanor Marbury is the middle sister in a family of five children. All three sisters are experiencing their first Season in London, and they all have varying hopes for the summer. Eleanor loves performing magic, and only wishes she could do more. Or at least find a husband who encourages her further study!
James Watson is a war veteran with a limp and a long list of magical bravery during his time at sea. He is in town at the behest of a friend, and definitely not looking for a wife.
Until he meets Eleanor.
This was an adorable regency romance, perfectly clean, and a very very clever take on the 12 Dancing Princesses, if I’m not mistaken.
June 7, 2025
Her Fae Secret by Eliza Prokopovits
🧚♀️ Invitation from the Faerie Queen
🧚♀️ A family secret
🧚♀️ A weekly visit
🧚♀️ Falling in love
🧚♀️ Sweet romance (no spice)
Genre: Fantasy romance
A retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses. Could Eleanor possibly fall deeply enough in love to choose marriage over their precious visits to Faerie?
I enjoyed how true this one stayed to Regency romance while also introducing magic. A very nice blend of the two. A sweet and simple story. The only part I didn't enjoy in this one was the climax (but perhaps the novella about a certain character could change my mind?). I will be continuing the series and would recommend!
Book 1 in Regency Magic Faerie Tales
Favorite character: James
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🧚♀️ Invitation from the Faerie Queen
🧚♀️ A family secret
🧚♀️ A weekly visit
🧚♀️ Falling in love
🧚♀️ Sweet romance (no spice)
Genre: Fantasy romance
A retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses. Could Eleanor possibly fall deeply enough in love to choose marriage over their precious visits to Faerie?
I enjoyed how true this one stayed to Regency romance while also introducing magic. A very nice blend of the two. A sweet and simple story. The only part I didn't enjoy in this one was the climax (but perhaps the novella about a certain character could change my mind?). I will be continuing the series and would recommend!
Book 1 in Regency Magic Faerie Tales
Favorite character: James
⭐⭐⭐⭐
October 10, 2025
Light hearted, creative, and magical
Eleanor is practical, caring, determined, and she loves doing magic. She pushes the boundaries of society and magic in her quest to learn more. She looks for ways to help others using her magic. Mr. Weston shares her love of magic and desire to use it in helpful ways. He is observant and skilled. They are both easy to root for. Eleanor has great sisters who add a lot to the story. Her Fae Secret is the first book in a series of standalone magical regency fairy tale retellings that can be read in any order. I read this book after hearing it recommended by fellow readers and I’m glad I did. This is a sweet and light hearted no spice romance in a magic filled regency London that is fun to imagine.
Eleanor is practical, caring, determined, and she loves doing magic. She pushes the boundaries of society and magic in her quest to learn more. She looks for ways to help others using her magic. Mr. Weston shares her love of magic and desire to use it in helpful ways. He is observant and skilled. They are both easy to root for. Eleanor has great sisters who add a lot to the story. Her Fae Secret is the first book in a series of standalone magical regency fairy tale retellings that can be read in any order. I read this book after hearing it recommended by fellow readers and I’m glad I did. This is a sweet and light hearted no spice romance in a magic filled regency London that is fun to imagine.
September 8, 2024
4 1/2 stars - A cute enjoyable YA fairy tale remake set in the Regency era. This story is about Eleanor Maybury and James Weston. Eleanor is looking forward to her debut to the ton during the Season and dancing at Lady Sterling's ball with her sisters Sophie and Anne. All are hoping for a match this Season. Eleanor gets matched to James by Lady Sterling for the first dance. James finds himself smitten with Eleanore, but when he finds out her secret will he stand by her? What occurs is an enjoyable clean romance story I read and volunteer to review.
March 5, 2025
Such a magical read!
This story takes place in the real world but regency era, but magic exists. It is a new and refreshing take on the 12 dancing princesses. The story revolves around 3 sisters who have a tie to the fairy realm that most people do not. They dance in the fairy world while making their debut into society. There is love and loss. The characters are relatable and likable. The author has a short novella that goes with this story and I couldn't wait to hear what happened with these characters next.
This story takes place in the real world but regency era, but magic exists. It is a new and refreshing take on the 12 dancing princesses. The story revolves around 3 sisters who have a tie to the fairy realm that most people do not. They dance in the fairy world while making their debut into society. There is love and loss. The characters are relatable and likable. The author has a short novella that goes with this story and I couldn't wait to hear what happened with these characters next.
April 17, 2024
This is a cute retelling of the story of he 12 dancing princesses (In this case there were only 3 sisters). It was uniquely told and I really enjoyed it. I am glad that the author offers a novella to go with the story for one of the other main characters. I am excited to read it and experience the rest of the story for Sophie the younger sister. I am going to have my pre-teen read this novel as well.
August 19, 2025
The author has a definite touch in her writing. This is the first regency romance I have read in a long time that feels fresh and different. The storyline is not all that different - debutante entering High Society - but the characters, the situations, the problems, though usual, feel new and enticing. The fusion of Fae society only enhanced the story, rather than detracting from it. This is definitely a series I want to keep reading.
October 24, 2025
A perfect blend
Her Fae Secret is a perfect blend of fantasy and regency novels. It felt like I was having high tea in fairyland. The characters were very well written and the storyline kept me hooked to the last page. I couldn’t put the book down and was so sad when it ended. Can’t wait to read the next in the series. This was the first book by Eliza Prokopovits I have read and she is now one of my favorite authors.
Her Fae Secret is a perfect blend of fantasy and regency novels. It felt like I was having high tea in fairyland. The characters were very well written and the storyline kept me hooked to the last page. I couldn’t put the book down and was so sad when it ended. Can’t wait to read the next in the series. This was the first book by Eliza Prokopovits I have read and she is now one of my favorite authors.
April 1, 2024
What a cutie little book! My only qualm was that from about the climax of the book to the end felt a bit rushed. And I thought the series was about these same characters the whole time (I didn’t look into it very well) so I was disappointed that it was just the total end! But I really enjoyed the concept and I thought the writing was good! Super easy, clean read.
August 6, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. It had the right amount of romance, humour, suspense, magic. As the first book in the series, it got me hook line and sinker. I'm going through the remaining books now! The characters here are believable and distinct, and the descriptions of the balls make me wish we still wore such magnificent dresses and accessories!
May 30, 2025
I really enjoyed this YA retelling of of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, set in Regency England. The relationship between the sisters is Austenesque, and the budding romance was so well done. This had a surprising twist I didn't see coming.
May 3, 2024
Wonderful clean uplifting fairytale regency romance with a hint of dancing princesses! I loved this story and am excited to read the next one!
August 26, 2024
Not my usual genre - I did think I’d end up not finishing it but I did find it a good read in the end.
January 11, 2025
I loved this story.
Content: clean - a mild swear word, innuendo
Content: clean - a mild swear word, innuendo
January 16, 2025
Cute, quick read. Sweet story line. Kind of a modern Jane Austin feel to the story, mixed with fairies and magic.
March 19, 2025
Twelve Dancing Princesses meets Jane Austen in this delightful fantasy of manners. I throughly enjoyed this magical version of regency England and look forward to reading more.
April 7, 2025
This was a beautiful fairytale retelling of "12 dancing princesses" with a bit of fae. The romance is clean.
May 18, 2025
very enjoyable reimagining of the twelve dancing princesses.
November 5, 2025
--Nov 5, 2025
This was a very sweet, quick romance. I think my favourite part of the book is a tie between the strong sister bonds and how Mr. Weston becomes instantly smitten with our darling Eleanor from the very first meeting. I really love how this book mixes magic within a regency setting. I found the magic and spells that Eleanor used especially useful for everyday life and really cool to imagine.
--Feb 21, 2025
I love regency romance, and I love fantasy. Together, it makes for a great read! It had huge Pride and Prejudice vibes, and the three sisters were very close, which I appreciated. I also enjoyed the twist of the fairytale, the twelve dancing princesses.
This was a very sweet, quick romance. I think my favourite part of the book is a tie between the strong sister bonds and how Mr. Weston becomes instantly smitten with our darling Eleanor from the very first meeting. I really love how this book mixes magic within a regency setting. I found the magic and spells that Eleanor used especially useful for everyday life and really cool to imagine.
--Feb 21, 2025
I love regency romance, and I love fantasy. Together, it makes for a great read! It had huge Pride and Prejudice vibes, and the three sisters were very close, which I appreciated. I also enjoyed the twist of the fairytale, the twelve dancing princesses.
May 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 17, 2025
A nice easy simple read. A couple humorous moments, nothing special but it was a nice story.
Content: no cursing | hand holding only | parental loss | non descriptive magic use
Content: no cursing | hand holding only | parental loss | non descriptive magic use
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews