A Garden of Fairy Tales
By Madisyn Carlin
No matter what she does, Princess Ivelisse Shenden is a disappointment to her parents. Somehow, she's managed to drive away every prince that has come seeking her hand. Now she is being sent away to a remote cabin in the woods. What's worse she is being guarded by a less than thrilled spy, not that she's supposed to know that he is a spy.
Cage Nior tried to prevent the King and Queen from chosing his aunt to guide and help Ivelisse find herself away from the pressures of court. There is just one thing wrong with this plan, well maybe more than one, Ivelisse is not suited for working and living as a peasant.
When it becomes apparent that danger is encircling them Cage and Ivelisse must learn to trust one another if they hope to survive the evil that has found them.
This was a delightful story that took elements from The Plain Princess and Little Red Riding Hood to create a unique and engaging story of love, sacrifice, and self-discovery. Truly lovely and not to be missed.
FYI: This book is in the same storyworld as A Noble Protector and several of the characters make an appearance in Lilac. But it is not necessary to read A Noble Protector first to enjoy this book.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.
About the Book:
She's a spoiled princess. He's a spy unknowingly protecting a deadly secret.
Spy Cage Nior is used to lurking in the shadows. What he's not used to is being called out of a mission and sent to babysit a withdrawn princess who has no idea how to smile or survive outside the palace walls. He expects the three months to pass in tedious dullness, but what he instead finds is danger and secrets.
Princess Ivelisse Shenden is used to hiding in the shadows, ignored by most and gossiped about by all. She's also used to rejection, and it's after her tenth courtship rejection that she finds herself shipped off to a humble hovel in the middle of nowhere. She expects drudgery and toil, but what she finds is danger and something she's long forgotten about---her purpose in life.
The quaint cottage may be surrounded by idyllic woods and fragrant lilac bushes, but sinister intentions shift in the shadows. If Cage and Ivelisse are to survive, they must learn to not only trust themselves, but each other.
Lilac is a combined Christian fantasy fairy tale retelling of The Plain Princess and Little Red Riding Hood and features tropes such as forced proximity, slow burn, and royalty x commoner.
Spring has sprung with these seven swoony sweet retellings. Each novella finds its happily ever after amidst themes of rebirth, hope, and new life. Each book is fully independent and they can be read in any order.
Spy Cage Nior is used to lurking in the shadows. What he's not used to is being called out of a mission and sent to babysit a withdrawn princess who has no idea how to smile or survive outside the palace walls. He expects the three months to pass in tedious dullness, but what he instead finds is danger and secrets.
Princess Ivelisse Shenden is used to hiding in the shadows, ignored by most and gossiped about by all. She's also used to rejection, and it's after her tenth courtship rejection that she finds herself shipped off to a humble hovel in the middle of nowhere. She expects drudgery and toil, but what she finds is danger and something she's long forgotten about---her purpose in life.
The quaint cottage may be surrounded by idyllic woods and fragrant lilac bushes, but sinister intentions shift in the shadows. If Cage and Ivelisse are to survive, they must learn to not only trust themselves, but each other.
Lilac is a combined Christian fantasy fairy tale retelling of The Plain Princess and Little Red Riding Hood and features tropes such as forced proximity, slow burn, and royalty x commoner.
Spring has sprung with these seven swoony sweet retellings. Each novella finds its happily ever after amidst themes of rebirth, hope, and new life. Each book is fully independent and they can be read in any order.
