Angie Grigaliunas

I really enjoyed this Cinderella retelling. The entire story took place in three days but the flashbacks, the incredibly detailed world of the autumn feys, and the heart-wrenching backstory behind Kirran and Alia made it so captivating and enchanting. The magical world of the autumn feys and their gifts was wonderful and I loved how the author weaved a fairy tale world full of history, suffering, triumph, betrayal, and steadfast loyalty.
The plot moved at a good pace and it revealed the past one tasty bit at a time to keep me guessing and hungering for more. There were definitely moments of shock and surprise which added urgency to the already tight timeline Kirran had.
I loved Kirran and his good, faithful heart though he never gave himself enough credit for how good and faithful his heart really is. Alia was a beautiful soul mate for Kirran, opposite in so many ways but a perfect complement. Their childhood friendship becoming more was delightful, even if riddled with painful and conflicting memories.

Anyone who loves clean YA fairy telling retelling would love this story. I received complimentary copy courtesy of the author and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.… (altro)

After spending seven years away at war, Prince Kirren returns to find he has three days--three balls--to select a bride before his coronation. If only he could Alia, his best friend and the girl who rejected him, out of his head once and for all.

Alia doesn't even want to see the prince after everything he's done, but is dragged to the first ball by her best friend who wants company while she waits for her sweetheart. And of course, masquerade or no, the prince finds her.

It's a whirlwind of court intrigue, secrets and lies, fantastical magic, and second chances. I loved how almost nothing was quite how it seemed--even Alia wasn't Cinderella (although, if the shoe fits...)--and the twists kept coming right up until the end of the story. It felt like deja vu as events from the past came full circle, and I loved it. Kirren and Alia struggling to be able to trust felt real, as those who have experienced betrayal, but there was also a constant underlying note of hope that was truly beautiful.

The characters were lovely and unique, and story was unpredictable enough, but what I loved most was the diverse types of magic. It was really hard to predict what would happen next because there were so many types of magic that I didn't know about. I want to read more in this world. I also want to learn about the other kingdoms that were briefly mentioned. I hope there will be more books following this one. This is my first time reading one of Angie's books, and I can't wait to read more.

I received an ARC as part of the launch team for the Once Upon a Prince multi-author series and have reviewed it gladly and freely.… (altro)