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Aedyllan Chronicles #1
The Crownless Prince
A dreamer prince. A princess out of his reach. A second chance to keep their promises.
Four years ago, Prince Marcus was imprisoned in a tower with only his servant-bodyguard for company. His crime? Falling in love with the daughter of his father's rival.
After the spell keeping them trapped breaks, the prince and servant escape to discover that the war Marcus wished to avoid already came and claimed the lives of his family. Penniless, homeless, and the target of an assassin sent by the father of the woman he hoped to marry, the erstwhile prince sets out to reassure himself that his beloved is alive and well.
But Princess Adriana is about to wed a wealthy lord, and when a brokenhearted Marcus and his friend accept jobs as servants, they find themselves in the last place they should be-serving Adriana's betrothed in the castle of a king who wants Marcus dead.
Yet the princess may still have feelings for him and her betrothed is more cruel than charming. With his life and love at stake and only days until the wedding, Marcus will find his resolve to achieve his dreams tested.
The Crownless Prince is a gender-swapped retelling of Maid Maleen.
This standalone book is set in the same world as and has crossover with Selina R. Gonzalez's The Miraveld Chronicles series of fairy tale reimaginings, but is set 200 years before that series.
Content: Fade-to-black (married)
TW: Brief scenes of physical abuse
(This book was previously published as part of the Once Upon a Prince multi-author series. The story remains the same.)
Four years ago, Prince Marcus was imprisoned in a tower with only his servant-bodyguard for company. His crime? Falling in love with the daughter of his father's rival.
After the spell keeping them trapped breaks, the prince and servant escape to discover that the war Marcus wished to avoid already came and claimed the lives of his family. Penniless, homeless, and the target of an assassin sent by the father of the woman he hoped to marry, the erstwhile prince sets out to reassure himself that his beloved is alive and well.
But Princess Adriana is about to wed a wealthy lord, and when a brokenhearted Marcus and his friend accept jobs as servants, they find themselves in the last place they should be-serving Adriana's betrothed in the castle of a king who wants Marcus dead.
Yet the princess may still have feelings for him and her betrothed is more cruel than charming. With his life and love at stake and only days until the wedding, Marcus will find his resolve to achieve his dreams tested.
The Crownless Prince is a gender-swapped retelling of Maid Maleen.
This standalone book is set in the same world as and has crossover with Selina R. Gonzalez's The Miraveld Chronicles series of fairy tale reimaginings, but is set 200 years before that series.
Content: Fade-to-black (married)
TW: Brief scenes of physical abuse
(This book was previously published as part of the Once Upon a Prince multi-author series. The story remains the same.)
236 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2023
90 people are currently reading
455 people want to read
About the author
Selina R. Gonzalez
14 books205 followersSelina R. Gonzalez is a Colorado local with mountains in her blood and dreams that top 14,000 feet. She loves swords, fantasy, costumes, bread, history, castles, superheroes, things that sparkle, snark, dogs, dragons, and Jesus—not in that order.
She writes medieval-inspired fantasy with swoon but no on-page spice. She loves writing about relationships—platonic, familial, and romantic—and her books center healthy romances founded on mutual values, trust, and respect between imperfect people who make mistakes but always strive to grow.
Get bonus short stories, book playlists, cut scenes, and more by subscribing to Selina's newsletter at: https://www.selinargonzalez.com/newsl...
I only accept friend requests from people I personally know.
She writes medieval-inspired fantasy with swoon but no on-page spice. She loves writing about relationships—platonic, familial, and romantic—and her books center healthy romances founded on mutual values, trust, and respect between imperfect people who make mistakes but always strive to grow.
Get bonus short stories, book playlists, cut scenes, and more by subscribing to Selina's newsletter at: https://www.selinargonzalez.com/newsl...
I only accept friend requests from people I personally know.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
September 8, 2023
I mean, it’s a Selina book—was there any doubt I’d utterly love it and read it all in the span of two days? No, no there was not.
I freaking loved this book!!!! Marcus is such a sweetheart with a heart of gold and I just wanted to hug him through the majority of this book because boy does he go through ALLLL the feels and angst, and my heart both broke for him plus rejoiced and cheered when he fought for Adriana and his happily ever after. And Adriana! She’s amazing, and I loved how they both waited so long for each other and fought to stay together despite the insurmountable odds stacked against them the whole way. I also really liked the flashbacks at the beginning of the earlier chapters of them together as they really showed what Marcus had lost and was fighting so hard to get back despite the odds.
And while the romance was adorable and swoony, the action exciting, the angst for real making my heart break, and every emotion in between, Selina also throws in a wonderful brother bond bromance between Marcus and Edwin and I love how she writes these so well and I’m so so glad Marcus had someone with him all those years locked in that tower and beyond.
And while I’ve never read the original Maid Maleen story I feel as if I’ve heard bits of it somewhere as parts sounded familiar though I can’t fathom from where, lol. So while I can’t say how well the genderbent retelling was in regards to the original, I thought the story was amazing and loved every second of it, even though I originally was going to read it slow. Ha! Should have known that would never have lasted, lol.
I HIGHLY recommend this book (not to mention ALL of Selina’s amazing works!) and I can’t wait to try the other books in this series!
‼️Content‼️
Violence: fighting with weapons (not detailed); an assassin tries to kill a character; injuries and blood (not detailed); a man slaps another’s face; a hot fire poker is put against a man’s side and burns him; a girl’s wrist is grabbed by a man; a man has bruises from being beaten
Sexual: kissing (not detailed); mild suggestive hints; an extremely vague hint to a fade to black scene between a married couple
Drug/Alcohol: characters drink ale and wine
Other: a character is imprisoned in a tower; magic; fae; enchanters; grief over dead/lost family; a man is cursed
****Note: I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher. All thoughts and opinions are most assuredly my own, and I wasn’t required to write a positive review. If I was, I wouldn’t have read it. 😜****
I freaking loved this book!!!! Marcus is such a sweetheart with a heart of gold and I just wanted to hug him through the majority of this book because boy does he go through ALLLL the feels and angst, and my heart both broke for him plus rejoiced and cheered when he fought for Adriana and his happily ever after. And Adriana! She’s amazing, and I loved how they both waited so long for each other and fought to stay together despite the insurmountable odds stacked against them the whole way. I also really liked the flashbacks at the beginning of the earlier chapters of them together as they really showed what Marcus had lost and was fighting so hard to get back despite the odds.
And while the romance was adorable and swoony, the action exciting, the angst for real making my heart break, and every emotion in between, Selina also throws in a wonderful brother bond bromance between Marcus and Edwin and I love how she writes these so well and I’m so so glad Marcus had someone with him all those years locked in that tower and beyond.
And while I’ve never read the original Maid Maleen story I feel as if I’ve heard bits of it somewhere as parts sounded familiar though I can’t fathom from where, lol. So while I can’t say how well the genderbent retelling was in regards to the original, I thought the story was amazing and loved every second of it, even though I originally was going to read it slow. Ha! Should have known that would never have lasted, lol.
I HIGHLY recommend this book (not to mention ALL of Selina’s amazing works!) and I can’t wait to try the other books in this series!
‼️Content‼️
Violence: fighting with weapons (not detailed); an assassin tries to kill a character; injuries and blood (not detailed); a man slaps another’s face; a hot fire poker is put against a man’s side and burns him; a girl’s wrist is grabbed by a man; a man has bruises from being beaten
Sexual: kissing (not detailed); mild suggestive hints; an extremely vague hint to a fade to black scene between a married couple
Drug/Alcohol: characters drink ale and wine
Other: a character is imprisoned in a tower; magic; fae; enchanters; grief over dead/lost family; a man is cursed
****Note: I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher. All thoughts and opinions are most assuredly my own, and I wasn’t required to write a positive review. If I was, I wouldn’t have read it. 😜****
April 13, 2024
I have to say that I was looking forward to this book a lot, and was very excited to read it. It took me much longer than it should’ve, given the length of the book, but I wasn’t too happy with the characters, and when I don’t like the characters, it ruins the book, no matter how great the plot.
With that said, it wasn’t a terrible book, and I’m really sad I couldn’t give it a higher ranking.
Honestly the events dragged on till about 65% and then rushed things way too quickly. Marcus and his girl were not too likable, and I would’ve liked it better had Edwin and Leena been the protagonists.
The villain was mediocre, and never really reached “villain” status for a fantasy book, and he was said to be really strong and intimidating but his scenes were rushed and you only saw a faint glimpse of the possibility. Marcus was disappointing, as he didn’t have much backbone or courage, and where this was probably intentional, it left me wanting more. He didn’t have to be strong all the time, he didn’t have to be a tough warrior, but some more confidence would’ve been nice.
I really liked the prince, who I can’t remember his name off the top of my head. It started with a J.
Would’ve liked it to be more in depth and flushed out.
Content wise it was clean for the most part
It was not outright said but it was mentioned that the characters wanted to be married and do—you know
SPOILER BELOW!!!!
And once the two were married they did have a scene where people burst in on them in the bedroom, and the girl was said to have just pulled her dress up and he was helping her tie it. And then mentioned he had done——with her. But they were married. The scene wasn’t written out either.
With that said, it wasn’t a terrible book, and I’m really sad I couldn’t give it a higher ranking.
Honestly the events dragged on till about 65% and then rushed things way too quickly. Marcus and his girl were not too likable, and I would’ve liked it better had Edwin and Leena been the protagonists.
The villain was mediocre, and never really reached “villain” status for a fantasy book, and he was said to be really strong and intimidating but his scenes were rushed and you only saw a faint glimpse of the possibility. Marcus was disappointing, as he didn’t have much backbone or courage, and where this was probably intentional, it left me wanting more. He didn’t have to be strong all the time, he didn’t have to be a tough warrior, but some more confidence would’ve been nice.
I really liked the prince, who I can’t remember his name off the top of my head. It started with a J.
Would’ve liked it to be more in depth and flushed out.
Content wise it was clean for the most part
It was not outright said but it was mentioned that the characters wanted to be married and do—you know
SPOILER BELOW!!!!
And once the two were married they did have a scene where people burst in on them in the bedroom, and the girl was said to have just pulled her dress up and he was helping her tie it. And then mentioned he had done——with her. But they were married. The scene wasn’t written out either.
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December 14, 2023I swore I wrote some kind of "review" on this...weird. Hopefully this one doesn't also disappear. Anyway:
1) This book is out now! I still love all of the wintry and cinnamon roll vibes in this book, and I'm so glad to see others enjoying it, too. ❄️💜
2) The Goodreads librarians are feuding on whether to allow us to have a series page (GR, despite being owned by Amazon and Amazon allowing multi-author series connected by a theme, says series have to have connecting characters or settings, which is one of many archaic things GR needs to fix 🙄), so it keeps appearing and disappearing, and although we'd added links to a page with all of the books to our book descriptions, the helpful Amazon/Goodreads bots keep overwriting our descriptions, too. So here's that page where you can find all twelve of these books: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...
1) This book is out now! I still love all of the wintry and cinnamon roll vibes in this book, and I'm so glad to see others enjoying it, too. ❄️💜
2) The Goodreads librarians are feuding on whether to allow us to have a series page (GR, despite being owned by Amazon and Amazon allowing multi-author series connected by a theme, says series have to have connecting characters or settings, which is one of many archaic things GR needs to fix 🙄), so it keeps appearing and disappearing, and although we'd added links to a page with all of the books to our book descriptions, the helpful Amazon/Goodreads bots keep overwriting our descriptions, too. So here's that page where you can find all twelve of these books: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...
December 28, 2024
This was a lot of fun and I really liked the surprising twist near the end. Selina is good at crafting gripping stories. I always enjoy reading her short books.
July 3, 2023
I received a free copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.
Oh my gosh. I can't even explain how much I loved this!!! It was such a nice, quick read and helped pull me out of a reading slump (aren't those the worst?) I loved the friendship between Marcus and Ed, it was so heartwarming. Everyone needs a friendship like theirs 😆. The romance was also SOOOOO cute and I loved the little snapshots of their past together. It really made me want to see them get their happily ever after!
Intriguing plot, nasty villain, swoony romance. What more could I ask for? I seriously cannot WAIT to read more of this series! It's literally all I would ever want from a book series. I mean, come on! Fairy tale retellings but with more of a focus on the princes? Sign me up!
Oh my gosh. I can't even explain how much I loved this!!! It was such a nice, quick read and helped pull me out of a reading slump (aren't those the worst?) I loved the friendship between Marcus and Ed, it was so heartwarming. Everyone needs a friendship like theirs 😆. The romance was also SOOOOO cute and I loved the little snapshots of their past together. It really made me want to see them get their happily ever after!
Intriguing plot, nasty villain, swoony romance. What more could I ask for? I seriously cannot WAIT to read more of this series! It's literally all I would ever want from a book series. I mean, come on! Fairy tale retellings but with more of a focus on the princes? Sign me up!
June 29, 2023
There aren’t many books that effectively balance sweet romance AND brotherhood AND immaculate fantasy world building…but this is one of them.
I went into this story without any knowledge of the fairy tale that inspired it, but I still found myself able to identify the original elements (with the kind of AHA feeling that comes with finding an Easter egg) within the retelling. I also really appreciated how a seemingly surface-level element of world building was tied intrinsically into the plot of the story. The Miraveld world has an amazing blend of fairy tale elements and realism, and this novella did not disappoint in that area.
I’m a known curmudgeon when it comes to romance, but the relationship between the two main characters had just the right balance of sweetness and practicality, without any irritating miscommunication or drama for drama’s sake.
The main character (Prince Marcus) spends a lot of time in introspection, and his emotional arc at times felt a little ‘added in’ as opposed to seamlessly integrated into the story. Some readers may not mind that, but I personally felt like the sections of emotional exposition might have slowed the pace in what was otherwise an extremely well paced novella.
Content notes:
Physical violence (not gory or gratuitous) enacted by a villain against a main character.
Fade-to-black marital intimacy, but nothing outside of a PG-13 rating. I’d be ok with letting a teenager read this, but probably not a middle schooler.
I went into this story without any knowledge of the fairy tale that inspired it, but I still found myself able to identify the original elements (with the kind of AHA feeling that comes with finding an Easter egg) within the retelling. I also really appreciated how a seemingly surface-level element of world building was tied intrinsically into the plot of the story. The Miraveld world has an amazing blend of fairy tale elements and realism, and this novella did not disappoint in that area.
I’m a known curmudgeon when it comes to romance, but the relationship between the two main characters had just the right balance of sweetness and practicality, without any irritating miscommunication or drama for drama’s sake.
The main character (Prince Marcus) spends a lot of time in introspection, and his emotional arc at times felt a little ‘added in’ as opposed to seamlessly integrated into the story. Some readers may not mind that, but I personally felt like the sections of emotional exposition might have slowed the pace in what was otherwise an extremely well paced novella.
Content notes:
Physical violence (not gory or gratuitous) enacted by a villain against a main character.
Fade-to-black marital intimacy, but nothing outside of a PG-13 rating. I’d be ok with letting a teenager read this, but probably not a middle schooler.
February 20, 2024
This was moderately entertaining but I didn't love Marcus. And I know that's just a me problem because I like my male characters more confident and less emotional, and Marcus was crying like every five minutes.
Content notes: This is clean, but there's a couple suggestive comments and a fade to black scene. The couple is married though, and they have to hurriedly consummate the marriage before anyone finds out they got married and undoes it or whatever because she was supposed to marry someone else and then everyone barges in on them while they're trying to get back dressed. Awkward.
Content notes: This is clean, but there's a couple suggestive comments and a fade to black scene. The couple is married though, and they have to hurriedly consummate the marriage before anyone finds out they got married and undoes it or whatever because she was supposed to marry someone else and then everyone barges in on them while they're trying to get back dressed. Awkward.
December 28, 2024
This was my first time reading one of Selina’s books, and it won’t be my last! She’s crafted a world and characters I desperately want to return to.
Going in, I wasn’t super familiar with the original story of Maid Maleen, as I’ve only read one other retelling (which wasn’t my favourite) and a synopsis of the original fairytale. But I thoroughly enjoyed this take on the story. And the TWIST at the end?! Loved it!
Romance wise, Marcus & Adriana are very cute in a very forbidden romance kind of way. Forbidden romance usually makes me all kinds of stressed and antsy, but it was well done here. I loved that we got flashbacks to their relationship as teenagers when they were falling in love. But my favourite part was Marcus & Edwin. The bonds of brotherhood run strong and I just adore them. ☺️
Content: some graphic images regarding branding a man; a fade to black between a married couple (mild); a comment about making love
Going in, I wasn’t super familiar with the original story of Maid Maleen, as I’ve only read one other retelling (which wasn’t my favourite) and a synopsis of the original fairytale. But I thoroughly enjoyed this take on the story. And the TWIST at the end?! Loved it!
Romance wise, Marcus & Adriana are very cute in a very forbidden romance kind of way. Forbidden romance usually makes me all kinds of stressed and antsy, but it was well done here. I loved that we got flashbacks to their relationship as teenagers when they were falling in love. But my favourite part was Marcus & Edwin. The bonds of brotherhood run strong and I just adore them. ☺️
Content: some graphic images regarding branding a man; a fade to black between a married couple (mild); a comment about making love
November 28, 2023
This sweet novella has some of my favorite signature Selina things: an adorable healthy romance where the characters communicate well, supportive brothers who express their emotions, truly despicable villains, and cute baby animals. It's also got Romeo and Juliet vibes (their families are rivals), a wintery setting (perfect timing for a northern hemisphere seasonal read!), and shenanigans while trying to get out of an unwanted arranged marriage. Adriana is spunky and determined, Marcus is a hopeless romantic, and Edwin is steadfast. All fantastic characters. But my favorite might have to be Jairus, Adriana's brother who sticks up for her to their father and also has some perfectly-timed snarky comments. I'm a sucker for those show-stealing side characters. (Selina is good at writing those too.)
I received a free ARC in return for an honest review.
I received a free ARC in return for an honest review.
December 3, 2023
*I received an ARC from the author. This does not influence my opinion of the book.
This was a cute YA romantasy. It started up a bit slow for me, but I ended up really getting into it. I you like bromance like banter, flashbacks to awkward teenagers meet-cute's, the prince-turned-servant trope, arranged marriages and lovers climbing up the castle walls to save the princess, this should be your next read. I really enjoyed it and will read more by the author in the future.
spoilers:
Content warnings:
Violence & gore: no gore, violence in the form of corporal punishment and an assassin
Coarse language: there's a single comment that could be seen as mild innuendo
Sexual content: there is a non-steamy, non-graphic, very innocent fade-t0-black scene between a married couple
This was a cute YA romantasy. It started up a bit slow for me, but I ended up really getting into it. I you like bromance like banter, flashbacks to awkward teenagers meet-cute's, the prince-turned-servant trope, arranged marriages and lovers climbing up the castle walls to save the princess, this should be your next read. I really enjoyed it and will read more by the author in the future.
spoilers:
Content warnings:
Violence & gore: no gore, violence in the form of corporal punishment and an assassin
Coarse language: there's a single comment that could be seen as mild innuendo
Sexual content: there is a non-steamy, non-graphic, very innocent fade-t0-black scene between a married couple
August 20, 2023
I enjoyed this one! When I’m in the fantasy mood, I’m IN the fantasy mood. 🤣 This was super entertaining and a fun retelling! More YA/high schooler vibes because of the violence and intimacy between a married couple. Closed door/fade to black, and all the swoony vibes.
Loved the bromance, the meet-cute, and all that witty banter. 😁 Definite cinnamon roll vibes.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Loved the bromance, the meet-cute, and all that witty banter. 😁 Definite cinnamon roll vibes.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
December 14, 2023
This one is SO GOOD!!!! It is a retelling of Maid Maleen, but this time it is the prince and his guard who are locked in a tower for years (in this case four instead of seven) instead of a princess and her maid. I really loved the romance. It was really sweet and adorable and unfolded believably for the circumstances.
December 21, 2023
What an exciting story! I have never read a Maid Maleen retelling, so I was intrigued. Four years ago, Prince Marcus was imprisoned in a tower with only his servant-bodyguard. His crime: falling in love with the daughter of his father’s rival. When the spell keeping them trapped breaks, they escape to find the war Marcus wished to avoid which has come and claimed his family’s lives. Penniless, homeless and the target of an assassin sent by the father of the woman he hoped to marry, he sets out to reassure himself that his beloved is alive and well. Princess Adriana is about to wed a wealthy lord and so a brokenhearted Marcus and his friend accept jobs as servants. They find themselves serving Adriana’s betrothed in the castle of a king who wants Marcus dead, yet the princess may still have feelings for him and her betrothed is more cruel than charming. With his life and love at stake and only days until the wedding, Marcus will find his resolve to achieve his dreams tested.
This was a lot of fun. Marcus was such a sweetheart. He was not a warrior, although he was a protector. He wanted to take care of his loved ones and to protect his people from senseless war.However, he found himself lost after emerging from the tower. I admired his devotion to Adriana and his determination to ensure her wellbeing. He was not a stoic and not afraid to share his feelings. His friendship with Edwin was so heartwarming. I loved how they supported each other and had the other’s back. Adriana was also a delight! She and Marcus were adorable together. They seemed so genuine and earnest.
There was so much going on in the story! I was on the edge of my seat to see how things would play out. The magic was interesting and I am excited to read more from Ms. Gonzalez! This is a fairytale inspired romance with a fade-to-black scene of a married couple, there is also some brief physical abuse.
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.
This was a lot of fun. Marcus was such a sweetheart. He was not a warrior, although he was a protector. He wanted to take care of his loved ones and to protect his people from senseless war.However, he found himself lost after emerging from the tower. I admired his devotion to Adriana and his determination to ensure her wellbeing. He was not a stoic and not afraid to share his feelings. His friendship with Edwin was so heartwarming. I loved how they supported each other and had the other’s back. Adriana was also a delight! She and Marcus were adorable together. They seemed so genuine and earnest.
There was so much going on in the story! I was on the edge of my seat to see how things would play out. The magic was interesting and I am excited to read more from Ms. Gonzalez! This is a fairytale inspired romance with a fade-to-black scene of a married couple, there is also some brief physical abuse.
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.
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July 11, 2023Review to come :) :)
April 9, 2025
This was a new fairy tale for me. I enjoyed it and all of the twists.
September 12, 2023
I received an ARC copy of The Crownless Princess from Selina R. Gonzalez in exchange for an honest review.
I just want to start off by saying thank you to the author. I am a huge fan of Selina R. Gonzalez. I’ve been hooked ever since I read A Thieving Curse. Her fairytale retellings come alive and feel unique. The Crownless Prince was no exception. It was a perfect addition to her fairytale world. And look at that cover. It’s gorgeous!
The world building is magnificent as always. I do think that you get the best feel for the world if you have read the other Miraveld Chronicles novels. It’s not essential, though. I loved the overall chilly, wintry atmosphere. The nods to Scotland were lovely (I’m looking at you, highland cows 👀). The political structure is different than we see in most fantasy novels. The attention to detail when creating fashion within the kingdom was neat.
On to the characters! Marcus was a very sweet male main character. He was a cinnamon roll. I loved how he interacted with Adriana and Edwin. Marcus is humble and sincere in every action. He’s gentle and kind. Adriana was a cute female main character. She was so very devoted to Marcus even when pushed into a corner. I loved reading the scenes between Marcus and Adriana. Edwin was loyal to the end and a brother to Marcus. Lastly, out villain in this story was interesting.
Overall, The Crownless Prince was a sweet and hopeful story with wintry feels and cute romance. The story wrapped up nicely with no loose ends. The only thing I would have liked to see was an epilogue that showed the characters a year or so later. Even so, the ending was very sweet and I look forward to reading the rest of the Once Upon A Prince novellas and more of Selina’s books!
I just want to start off by saying thank you to the author. I am a huge fan of Selina R. Gonzalez. I’ve been hooked ever since I read A Thieving Curse. Her fairytale retellings come alive and feel unique. The Crownless Prince was no exception. It was a perfect addition to her fairytale world. And look at that cover. It’s gorgeous!
The world building is magnificent as always. I do think that you get the best feel for the world if you have read the other Miraveld Chronicles novels. It’s not essential, though. I loved the overall chilly, wintry atmosphere. The nods to Scotland were lovely (I’m looking at you, highland cows 👀). The political structure is different than we see in most fantasy novels. The attention to detail when creating fashion within the kingdom was neat.
On to the characters! Marcus was a very sweet male main character. He was a cinnamon roll. I loved how he interacted with Adriana and Edwin. Marcus is humble and sincere in every action. He’s gentle and kind. Adriana was a cute female main character. She was so very devoted to Marcus even when pushed into a corner. I loved reading the scenes between Marcus and Adriana. Edwin was loyal to the end and a brother to Marcus. Lastly, out villain in this story was interesting.
Overall, The Crownless Prince was a sweet and hopeful story with wintry feels and cute romance. The story wrapped up nicely with no loose ends. The only thing I would have liked to see was an epilogue that showed the characters a year or so later. Even so, the ending was very sweet and I look forward to reading the rest of the Once Upon A Prince novellas and more of Selina’s books!
September 3, 2023
Ok, first of all, I have never in my life heard of Maid Maleen before! So this was an original fairytale to me haha
Summary—
Prince Marcus refuses to marry the woman his father has chosen, because he has fallen in love with and secretly betrothed himself to the Adriana, princess of a rival kingdom. As punishment, his father locks him in a tower. When Marcus finally escapes years later, he finds his kingdom has been conquered, his Adriana’s father is emperor, Adriana is engaged to another man … and oh yeah, an assassin is after him. With no money and no home, he accidentally becomes the servant of the very man Adriana is supposed to marry. Can there be a happily-ever-after with so many obstacles, or is it too late?
What I loved about this book—
•strong male friendship
•themes of bravery, of knowing when to wait and when to act, and of owning mistakes without letting it cripple us
•mature writing and even some darkness without it being explicit. Some fairytale retellings are almost saccharine sweet, which is great if I’m in a mood for that! But I love that Selina’s not afraid to go to some dark, adult places without being gratuitous.
•overall: romantic, brave, and satisfying
Favorite quotes, because I read an eARC and thus can’t just share my kindle highlights—
“But we can’t let the weight of could haves and unprovable hypotheticals steal our lives and choices now.”
“Cattle didn’t have any right to make Marcus as emotional as they did.”
Summary—
Prince Marcus refuses to marry the woman his father has chosen, because he has fallen in love with and secretly betrothed himself to the Adriana, princess of a rival kingdom. As punishment, his father locks him in a tower. When Marcus finally escapes years later, he finds his kingdom has been conquered, his Adriana’s father is emperor, Adriana is engaged to another man … and oh yeah, an assassin is after him. With no money and no home, he accidentally becomes the servant of the very man Adriana is supposed to marry. Can there be a happily-ever-after with so many obstacles, or is it too late?
What I loved about this book—
•strong male friendship
•themes of bravery, of knowing when to wait and when to act, and of owning mistakes without letting it cripple us
•mature writing and even some darkness without it being explicit. Some fairytale retellings are almost saccharine sweet, which is great if I’m in a mood for that! But I love that Selina’s not afraid to go to some dark, adult places without being gratuitous.
•overall: romantic, brave, and satisfying
Favorite quotes, because I read an eARC and thus can’t just share my kindle highlights—
“But we can’t let the weight of could haves and unprovable hypotheticals steal our lives and choices now.”
“Cattle didn’t have any right to make Marcus as emotional as they did.”
December 10, 2023
I’m a huge, HUGE fairytale lover and I have to admit I’d never heard of Maid Maleen before. However I loved this story! Might have to search out more retellings of this 🤔 however I like the gender bent angle and having the majority of the story in a male’s pov a lot.
In fact I can’t get over how this entire multi author series is turning into something so spectacular that I am left craving more and more!
The writing was smooth and was such an enjoyable reading experience I want more from this author. Her camaraderie between noble and servant was more found family than caste system. The details were perfect and the humor throughout had me grinning more than once…‘Don’t protest door, it’s my wedding day.’ 🤣
The darker undertones didn’t overpower the overall story, if anything it cemented the determination and resolve of Marcus.
A m/f clean fairytale romantic fantasy retelling. Second chance, ‘I’ll wait for you’ love, political intrigue, deception and fighting for what you want.
Dual povs told in third person
Characters -
Mmc - Prince Marcus Ailmer
His right hand man/best friend - Edwin
Mfc - Princess Adriana Faine
Her maidservant - Leena
Prince Jarvis - Adriana’s brother
His man - Felix
Lord Lucien Thorne - the ‘noble’ villain
Steam - kissing
Triggers - imprisonment, corporal punishment, death
In fact I can’t get over how this entire multi author series is turning into something so spectacular that I am left craving more and more!
The writing was smooth and was such an enjoyable reading experience I want more from this author. Her camaraderie between noble and servant was more found family than caste system. The details were perfect and the humor throughout had me grinning more than once…‘Don’t protest door, it’s my wedding day.’ 🤣
The darker undertones didn’t overpower the overall story, if anything it cemented the determination and resolve of Marcus.
A m/f clean fairytale romantic fantasy retelling. Second chance, ‘I’ll wait for you’ love, political intrigue, deception and fighting for what you want.
Dual povs told in third person
Characters -
Mmc - Prince Marcus Ailmer
His right hand man/best friend - Edwin
Mfc - Princess Adriana Faine
Her maidservant - Leena
Prince Jarvis - Adriana’s brother
His man - Felix
Lord Lucien Thorne - the ‘noble’ villain
Steam - kissing
Triggers - imprisonment, corporal punishment, death
November 3, 2024
I don’t know why it has taken me so long to finally finish reading this book-it was magical, humorous, beautiful, and stunning!
Marcus Alimer finds himself locked away in a tower, held captive by the order of his father, King Arius, for refusing to accept an arranged marriage set up by his father. In doing so, he’d give up his dream of marrying the love of his life, Adriana, daughter of his father’s rival. Four years later, Marcus and his servant turned brother Edwin, find them self free-but at a cost. King Arius is dead and Marcus is left crownless and penniless. A chance encounter leaves Marcus and Edwin accepting the first offer of work they find, but little do they know that the Lord they now work for is engaged to marry the new king’s daughter, which happens to be Marcus’s love Adriana, who believes Marcus is dead after her father defeated King Arius in war.
This story was filled with so many sweet and heartfelt moments! I felt the longing and loss both Marcus and Adriana experienced as they worked through their own duties while still in love with each other. The found family aspect in a post-war and new kingship rule was such an added element to the story.
I highly recommend this fairytale retelling!
Romantic Content: Closed Door, Fade to Black, Mild Attraction and Kisses
CW: Death of Loved Ones, Imprisonment, Abandonment
Marcus Alimer finds himself locked away in a tower, held captive by the order of his father, King Arius, for refusing to accept an arranged marriage set up by his father. In doing so, he’d give up his dream of marrying the love of his life, Adriana, daughter of his father’s rival. Four years later, Marcus and his servant turned brother Edwin, find them self free-but at a cost. King Arius is dead and Marcus is left crownless and penniless. A chance encounter leaves Marcus and Edwin accepting the first offer of work they find, but little do they know that the Lord they now work for is engaged to marry the new king’s daughter, which happens to be Marcus’s love Adriana, who believes Marcus is dead after her father defeated King Arius in war.
This story was filled with so many sweet and heartfelt moments! I felt the longing and loss both Marcus and Adriana experienced as they worked through their own duties while still in love with each other. The found family aspect in a post-war and new kingship rule was such an added element to the story.
I highly recommend this fairytale retelling!
Romantic Content: Closed Door, Fade to Black, Mild Attraction and Kisses
CW: Death of Loved Ones, Imprisonment, Abandonment
September 2, 2023
I was blessed and given this story as an ARC. Here is my honest review.
The Crownless Prince by: Selena R. Gonzalez
A dreamer prince. A princess out of his reach. A second chance to keep their promises.
This book was so fun! The story was easy to read and easy to follow. It was a comfort read, you definitely should have a soft blanket near.
The characters were easy to relate to and likable. I especially liked Edwin for his never ending support for Marcus. Poor Marcus endured so much but Edwin was always there.
The author brought me to a point where I had no idea how they were going to get out of a certain situation. So when it was time to tell us how that was going to happen I had to read it 3 times just to make sure I was reading it correctly it was a surprise! Her solution to the situation was genius!
If you love romance, lovable characters, fairytales and retellings (this is A Maid Maleen retelling) then I highly recommend this book!
This story is part of a multi author series called Once Upon a Prince and I can’t wait to read about more princes!!
The Crownless Prince by: Selena R. Gonzalez
A dreamer prince. A princess out of his reach. A second chance to keep their promises.
This book was so fun! The story was easy to read and easy to follow. It was a comfort read, you definitely should have a soft blanket near.
The characters were easy to relate to and likable. I especially liked Edwin for his never ending support for Marcus. Poor Marcus endured so much but Edwin was always there.
The author brought me to a point where I had no idea how they were going to get out of a certain situation. So when it was time to tell us how that was going to happen I had to read it 3 times just to make sure I was reading it correctly it was a surprise! Her solution to the situation was genius!
If you love romance, lovable characters, fairytales and retellings (this is A Maid Maleen retelling) then I highly recommend this book!
This story is part of a multi author series called Once Upon a Prince and I can’t wait to read about more princes!!
September 5, 2023
Ahhh I loved this!!! The Crownless Prince is a story of heart, fighting for true love, standing up for what’s right, and holding onto your promises and dreams. 😍 Marcus and Adelaide were so cute and sweet together! I loved them and really liked how they stayed steadfast to each other, even when time, war, uncertainty, and even death seemed to separate them. The first 40% of the novella was just Marcus’s POV, and then it added in Adelaide’s, which I was happy about!!
All of the characters were great and Marcus and Edwin’s brotherly relationship was so well written. They were the best of friends and I loved that! 😆
If you enjoy clean, fantasy retellings, a focus on the male protagonist, star-crossed lovers, HEA, and a story of fighting for love, check out The Crownless Prince by Selina R Gonzalez!! 🤩
/I received an ARC from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own/
All of the characters were great and Marcus and Edwin’s brotherly relationship was so well written. They were the best of friends and I loved that! 😆
If you enjoy clean, fantasy retellings, a focus on the male protagonist, star-crossed lovers, HEA, and a story of fighting for love, check out The Crownless Prince by Selina R Gonzalez!! 🤩
/I received an ARC from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own/
October 20, 2023
This book was SO good! I love the unique way the author showed flashbacks (at the beginning of each chapter). The characters were super likable (except the one that wasnt supposed to be, haha), and the ending was absolutely PERFECT!!
February 3, 2024
Reader’s Notes:
– this is part of a series, but is meant to be read as a stand-alone
– this is connected to Selina’s Miraveld Chronicles, but you don’t have to read them to enjoy this story
– this is told from Marcus & Adrianna‘s point of view
– there are some mentions/scenes of cruelty & harm towards servants (done by one character)
– it is mentioned that characters’ consummated their marriage (no details shown/given beyond except mentioning that they needed to get dressed afterwards)
Review:
This is my second story from Selina that I’ve read and I’m still excited to read more of her books! And this is the first Maid Maleen retelling I’ve read! It was a very interesting tale to read about (I only vaguely know the details of the original tale) and see some of the differences between the two. (Though you don’t need to know the tale to enjoy this story, it’s still really interesting to follow on it’s own!) I also really liked the spin Selina put on it, it was unexpected but added another layer to the already growing story. I loved how gone both characters were for each other and how though they fell in their hope at times, they still held onto their love for each other. I also really loved Marcus’s best friend/bodyguard and his loyalty. Edwin wasn’t willing to leave Marcus’s side, even though Marcus had nothing to give him but friendship. And though I’m sure Edwin wanted to knock some sense into Marcus, he also went along with Marcus’s plans and stood by him despite things not turning out as expected. I also loved that Adrianna’s brother wanted Adrianna to be happy and safe, so he went up against her suitor when it was clear that Adrianna not only didn’t have any interest in him, but also started to get uncomfortable with the way he made advances on her.
Summary:
Prince Marcus has been trapped in a tower for four years with only his bodyguard/best friend, Edwin, for company. They’d been trapped there as a result of Marcus choosing to refuse an arranged marriage and proclaiming he’d marry no one but Adrianna, the daughter of one of his father’s enemies. Without any outside information and bare contact with others, Marcus and Edwin don’t know what to expect when they finally emerge from the tower, but Marcus holds onto hope that Adrianna stills waits for him.
But his hopes are dashed when he hears she is betrothed to a wealthy lord and her father sends an assassin after Marcus. Faking the prince’s death may save the pair’s lives, but at the cost of Marcus’s happily ever after.
With no hope of his own happily ever after, Marcus hopes for Adrianna’s happiness and the pair begin work as servants with the hope of travelling far from the capitol. The only problem? Marcus and Edwin accidentally indentured themselves to the same lord that’s betrothed to Adrianna. And he is most definitely not someone Marcus wants anywhere near her…
Adrianna mourns the reported death of her love, Marcus, and wants nothing to do with the man her father has betrothed her to. But she knows that refusing will only cause more issues than needed at the moment. Though unwilling to truly entertain thoughts of love, Adrianna pretends to be interested in the various topics the lord has to speak on. Until one night, she finds hope. In the form of a man she thought dead…
– this is part of a series, but is meant to be read as a stand-alone
– this is connected to Selina’s Miraveld Chronicles, but you don’t have to read them to enjoy this story
– this is told from Marcus & Adrianna‘s point of view
– there are some mentions/scenes of cruelty & harm towards servants (done by one character)
– it is mentioned that characters’ consummated their marriage (no details shown/given beyond except mentioning that they needed to get dressed afterwards)
Review:
This is my second story from Selina that I’ve read and I’m still excited to read more of her books! And this is the first Maid Maleen retelling I’ve read! It was a very interesting tale to read about (I only vaguely know the details of the original tale) and see some of the differences between the two. (Though you don’t need to know the tale to enjoy this story, it’s still really interesting to follow on it’s own!) I also really liked the spin Selina put on it, it was unexpected but added another layer to the already growing story. I loved how gone both characters were for each other and how though they fell in their hope at times, they still held onto their love for each other. I also really loved Marcus’s best friend/bodyguard and his loyalty. Edwin wasn’t willing to leave Marcus’s side, even though Marcus had nothing to give him but friendship. And though I’m sure Edwin wanted to knock some sense into Marcus, he also went along with Marcus’s plans and stood by him despite things not turning out as expected. I also loved that Adrianna’s brother wanted Adrianna to be happy and safe, so he went up against her suitor when it was clear that Adrianna not only didn’t have any interest in him, but also started to get uncomfortable with the way he made advances on her.
Summary:
Prince Marcus has been trapped in a tower for four years with only his bodyguard/best friend, Edwin, for company. They’d been trapped there as a result of Marcus choosing to refuse an arranged marriage and proclaiming he’d marry no one but Adrianna, the daughter of one of his father’s enemies. Without any outside information and bare contact with others, Marcus and Edwin don’t know what to expect when they finally emerge from the tower, but Marcus holds onto hope that Adrianna stills waits for him.
But his hopes are dashed when he hears she is betrothed to a wealthy lord and her father sends an assassin after Marcus. Faking the prince’s death may save the pair’s lives, but at the cost of Marcus’s happily ever after.
With no hope of his own happily ever after, Marcus hopes for Adrianna’s happiness and the pair begin work as servants with the hope of travelling far from the capitol. The only problem? Marcus and Edwin accidentally indentured themselves to the same lord that’s betrothed to Adrianna. And he is most definitely not someone Marcus wants anywhere near her…
Adrianna mourns the reported death of her love, Marcus, and wants nothing to do with the man her father has betrothed her to. But she knows that refusing will only cause more issues than needed at the moment. Though unwilling to truly entertain thoughts of love, Adrianna pretends to be interested in the various topics the lord has to speak on. Until one night, she finds hope. In the form of a man she thought dead…
July 14, 2024
4.5 Stars
This book is also part of "The Miaveld Chronicles", being a prequel, about 200 years before the events in "A Fated Quest" takes place. And it's a "Maid Maleen" retelling. So I knew nothing about "Maid Maleen" before reading this book, but it's kinda like "Rapunzel" except they are locked in a tower because they wanted to marry their true love. I really enjoyed it. Marcus's character had a lot of growth.
I really enjoyed how both Marcus and Adriana remained steadfast to each other. Even when they had no contact for four years. Especially Adriana, as I felt she had the least amount of knowledge of what had happened to Marcus. It really showed how much they loved each other. It didn't matter if they were apart and had no contact, they still loved each other so much.
Edwin was an excellent friend, I liked how both him and Marcus helped each other out when things were tough and looked out for each other.
And man, Marcus's dad was brutal. Locking his son in a tower just because Marcus wanted to be with the woman he loved and refused to marry his pick. Geez. He was horrible.
While I really enjoyed this one, I felt something was missing compared to the other books by this author. I think it has to do with this one being a novella, so everything was a little more condensed. And the romance was a little bit different compared to the other books, considering that both Marcus and Adriana knew each other throughout the entire book and they were trying to get back to one another. I'm not saying that was bad, it just meant that we didn't spend as much time developing their relationship. Though, it still made it a good story.
Who I Would Recommend This Book To:
Those who want a "Maid Maleen" retelling. Those who want a steadfast romance of two long-time friends trying to get back together. Those who want a book with good friendships.
Content in Book:
1. Abuse. (A parent locking his son in a tower for years. Verbal abuse. Degrading someone's self-worth. Trying to force someone to marry someone else).
2. Violence. (Killing entire families (not detailed). Burning someone with a hot poker. Hand-to-hand combat. Breaking ribs. Smashing someone's face. Beatings. An assassin. A head injury with a lot of blood. Some healing scenes. Etc.)
3. A fade-to-black sex scene between two married characters. Characters who are excited to have sex after marriage. (Not detailed).
4. Magic.
This book is also part of "The Miaveld Chronicles", being a prequel, about 200 years before the events in "A Fated Quest" takes place. And it's a "Maid Maleen" retelling. So I knew nothing about "Maid Maleen" before reading this book, but it's kinda like "Rapunzel" except they are locked in a tower because they wanted to marry their true love. I really enjoyed it. Marcus's character had a lot of growth.
I really enjoyed how both Marcus and Adriana remained steadfast to each other. Even when they had no contact for four years. Especially Adriana, as I felt she had the least amount of knowledge of what had happened to Marcus. It really showed how much they loved each other. It didn't matter if they were apart and had no contact, they still loved each other so much.
Edwin was an excellent friend, I liked how both him and Marcus helped each other out when things were tough and looked out for each other.
And man, Marcus's dad was brutal. Locking his son in a tower just because Marcus wanted to be with the woman he loved and refused to marry his pick. Geez. He was horrible.
While I really enjoyed this one, I felt something was missing compared to the other books by this author. I think it has to do with this one being a novella, so everything was a little more condensed. And the romance was a little bit different compared to the other books, considering that both Marcus and Adriana knew each other throughout the entire book and they were trying to get back to one another. I'm not saying that was bad, it just meant that we didn't spend as much time developing their relationship. Though, it still made it a good story.
Who I Would Recommend This Book To:
Those who want a "Maid Maleen" retelling. Those who want a steadfast romance of two long-time friends trying to get back together. Those who want a book with good friendships.
Content in Book:
1. Abuse. (A parent locking his son in a tower for years. Verbal abuse. Degrading someone's self-worth. Trying to force someone to marry someone else).
2. Violence. (Killing entire families (not detailed). Burning someone with a hot poker. Hand-to-hand combat. Breaking ribs. Smashing someone's face. Beatings. An assassin. A head injury with a lot of blood. Some healing scenes. Etc.)
3. A fade-to-black sex scene between two married characters. Characters who are excited to have sex after marriage. (Not detailed).
4. Magic.
November 26, 2023
This is not a fairytale I'm familiar with so I had no idea what to expect or compare it to. I loved it though, I loved that it was entirely new to me and I really loved story! A father's lust for power can mean many things but to imprison your own son for daring to defy you, well heck, that's a whole different kettle of fish! And that's exactly what happened to Marcus and his servant/friend, both were thrown into an impregnable tower where they languished for years. Abandoned. All because he refused to marry any other than the woman he loved, who also happened to be the daughter of his father's rival to become the king. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't escape. Until a strange tremor, 4 years into their imprisonment, gave them that very opportunity. But here's the thing, Marcus finds out his family has been killed, by the very father of the woman he loves, a man who has no qualms to marry his daughter for his own benefit.
Crownless, homeless and now even countryless Marcus and his faithful friend Edwin have no alternative but to seek employment to survey. But heavens, where and with whom they found employment was a shock to their system! Unable to relinquish his promise nor his love for Adriana, his shock is understandable.... Marcus evoked every emotion possible in me, my heart bled for him. He's so decent and good, all he wanted was peace between the Prince's, not war, not strife and definitely not the demise of his entire family. The rawness he feels is heart breaking, especially on discovering Adriana is about to be married.
As for Adriana, her heart still belongs to Marcus, she's distraught thinking him dead and devastated that her father is forcing a marriage she doesn't want on her. Where once her father was loving and caring of his children, his grabbing of power, the war itself, had made him impervious to any plea or kindness. And gosh is her intended loathsome! He's cruel and calculated and just a vile so and so! Adriana's brother, Jairus, now there's a loving brother! Loved him.
I enjoyed this immensely, I enjoyed the way it played out, and the excellent subterfuge in the final chapters had me grinning like a Cheshire cat! Loved it! Although, in all honesty, I did despair for Marcus a time or two or three... Ms Gonzalez really kept the story flowing so beautifully, albeit a bit tense...but hey, isn't that just the mark of a great storyteller? Which In my book, is definitely true of Selena Gonzalez!
Crownless, homeless and now even countryless Marcus and his faithful friend Edwin have no alternative but to seek employment to survey. But heavens, where and with whom they found employment was a shock to their system! Unable to relinquish his promise nor his love for Adriana, his shock is understandable.... Marcus evoked every emotion possible in me, my heart bled for him. He's so decent and good, all he wanted was peace between the Prince's, not war, not strife and definitely not the demise of his entire family. The rawness he feels is heart breaking, especially on discovering Adriana is about to be married.
As for Adriana, her heart still belongs to Marcus, she's distraught thinking him dead and devastated that her father is forcing a marriage she doesn't want on her. Where once her father was loving and caring of his children, his grabbing of power, the war itself, had made him impervious to any plea or kindness. And gosh is her intended loathsome! He's cruel and calculated and just a vile so and so! Adriana's brother, Jairus, now there's a loving brother! Loved him.
I enjoyed this immensely, I enjoyed the way it played out, and the excellent subterfuge in the final chapters had me grinning like a Cheshire cat! Loved it! Although, in all honesty, I did despair for Marcus a time or two or three... Ms Gonzalez really kept the story flowing so beautifully, albeit a bit tense...but hey, isn't that just the mark of a great storyteller? Which In my book, is definitely true of Selena Gonzalez!
November 28, 2023
The Crownless Prince was my first introduction to this author's writing but it won't be my last. The story was beautiful and really sweet, but at the same time, the first part of it felt slow. Now, I know that's more due to the fairytale this book is retelling itself than a reflection of the author's skills (it's what made it hard for me to pick it up in the beginning) but at the same time it was good. From the original tale, I knew I wasn't a fan of going through all the details up till her (or, in this case, his) imprisonment, and thus, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this story started at that point. It was really cool to get the backstory interwoven in flashbacks, while also keeping the action moving forward. This retelling also made me realize that I'm a fan of a book starting with the meet-cute, or, in this case, first reunion, so, while it took a while to happen here, it was definitely worth it. Marcus and Adriana are really sweet together, and I loved how tender and real he is with her, and how strong and steadfast she is to him.
Overall, I think one of my favorite things in this book was the talk about emotions. Yes, some are sweet, like their reunion, but others are simply honest about feeling inadequate or even scared about the future. Yet, it doesn't stay there, showing that sometimes one just needs to talk about it with someone else before taking action about it. In this regard, I loved how great of a friend Edwin was to Marcus. Yes, there's the servant/bodyguard thing going on, but he definitely proves his friendship time and again, and the same goes for Marcus.
I definitely recommend this book, since it has a bit of everything: sweet romance, action, mystery, impossible odds, an enemy you'll love to hate, beautiful descriptions (warning: you'll want your own fluffy cow after this), character growth, and a deserving HEA. Now I'm off to check out other books by this author and in this series. ~ 4.5 stars since that "slow" start made me consider giving this book a 4, but rounding it up to 5 stars since after that reunion I was *hooked* and that ending had me holding my breath and racing through the last two chapters.
Many thanks to the author for the eARC of this book.
Content:
Romance: just kisses + implied intimacy between a married couple (closed door)
Violence: maltreatment of servants (the worst is when the lord marks one of his servants with a hot iron poker due to a perceived offense.)
Overall, I think one of my favorite things in this book was the talk about emotions. Yes, some are sweet, like their reunion, but others are simply honest about feeling inadequate or even scared about the future. Yet, it doesn't stay there, showing that sometimes one just needs to talk about it with someone else before taking action about it. In this regard, I loved how great of a friend Edwin was to Marcus. Yes, there's the servant/bodyguard thing going on, but he definitely proves his friendship time and again, and the same goes for Marcus.
I definitely recommend this book, since it has a bit of everything: sweet romance, action, mystery, impossible odds, an enemy you'll love to hate, beautiful descriptions (warning: you'll want your own fluffy cow after this), character growth, and a deserving HEA. Now I'm off to check out other books by this author and in this series. ~ 4.5 stars since that "slow" start made me consider giving this book a 4, but rounding it up to 5 stars since after that reunion I was *hooked* and that ending had me holding my breath and racing through the last two chapters.
Many thanks to the author for the eARC of this book.
Content:
Romance: just kisses + implied intimacy between a married couple (closed door)
Violence: maltreatment of servants (the worst is when the lord marks one of his servants with a hot iron poker due to a perceived offense.)
January 24, 2024
Prince Marcus defies his father about an arranged marriage while spouting ideas of peace. Additionally, Marcus already has someone he loves but hasn’t found the right way or time to talk to his father believing that he would never be taken seriously. His father is so enraged by his son’s defiance that he decides to lock him and his friend/guard Edwin in a tower as a lesson/punishment. A magic seal is placed on the door that only the father can open himself or upon his death. Four years has left Marcus and Edwin a lot of time to self-reflect and Marcus feels responsible and guilty for his inaction while his family was making preparations for aggressive behaviors against the other principalities. He also wishes he had done more to make his relationship with Princess Adriana public instead of making promises that he was not able to keep. While going through the motions of another day on increasingly shortened rations, the tower shakes and the once impenetrable walls can now be breached. Once outside their walls they set out to figure out what happened with Marcus keeping out hope that Adriana has waited for him. Upon realizing what has happened to his home, they make plans to set out to seek his girl and work. However, Marcus hears that Adriana is to be wed and they decide to seek employment with a Lord who holds an unusual contract. Realizing they are employed by the Lord that is to wed his beloved, he is able to rest his conscious on whether she truly moved on or not.
I am not as familiar with the tale of Maid Maleen but this genderbent version is a great way to be introduced to a new tale. Something I enjoyed was Marcus’s journey on learning that he is not responsible for his family’s actions and takes responsibility for his choices. That the actions, or inactions, of a 17 year old cannot change paths that his family has taken if they are not willing to listen. And I really appreciate that as much as he wants to do the impulsive thing he cannot because his actions would have consequences for all. The last several chapters had me not putting the book down because I was so caught up in what was going on, especially when everyone was working together. A very well done book and I am looking forward to more from this author.
I am not as familiar with the tale of Maid Maleen but this genderbent version is a great way to be introduced to a new tale. Something I enjoyed was Marcus’s journey on learning that he is not responsible for his family’s actions and takes responsibility for his choices. That the actions, or inactions, of a 17 year old cannot change paths that his family has taken if they are not willing to listen. And I really appreciate that as much as he wants to do the impulsive thing he cannot because his actions would have consequences for all. The last several chapters had me not putting the book down because I was so caught up in what was going on, especially when everyone was working together. A very well done book and I am looking forward to more from this author.
February 20, 2024
This is the first time I've ever read a Maid Maleen retelling (gender-swapped or otherwise) but I really enjoyed the story none-the-less.
Marcus and Adriana are star-crossed lovers, a prince and a princess from neighbouring kingdoms who meet by chance and fall in love, meeting in secret and planning to join their kingdoms together in peace.
Until Marcus's father arranges for him to marry someone else, in a strategic military alliance that would pit his kingdom against Adriana's. He refuses to agree to the match, vowing he will never marry anyone but his true love, and for this, he and his man-servant Edwin (who has been covering for him every time he snuck off to be with Adriana) are both locked in a secluded tower that's been sealed with magic to prevent their escape or rescue.
Four years pass, during which time a war rages in the countries but Marcus and Edwin receive no news, only enough food, water, and fuel to survive for four long years. When Marcus's father dies, the magic sealing their tower disappears, so they quickly flee to Ariana's country to find out if she is still as in love with Marcus as he is with her.
They learn she has just become engaged to another man. Marcus is devastated and, since his father has been murdered and his country taken over by Adriana's father, he has no money and no prospects. He and Edwin take jobs as servants to some local nobleman, who unfortunately turns out to be Adriana's betrothed.
When they discover that Adriana is being forced into this marriage, which she only reluctantly agreed to after hearing a false report about Marcus's death, they know they have to do something to stop the wedding. But will Adriana still want Marcus, now that he's a penniless pauper with a price on his head?
The love between Marcus and Adriana is so sweet. No one ever deserved a happily ever after more than those two.
I would put a slight trigger warning for violence, as Marcus is treated quite badly by the fiancé while posing as his servant. Nothing too graphic but it was definitely more intense than other books in this series.
Marcus and Adriana are star-crossed lovers, a prince and a princess from neighbouring kingdoms who meet by chance and fall in love, meeting in secret and planning to join their kingdoms together in peace.
Until Marcus's father arranges for him to marry someone else, in a strategic military alliance that would pit his kingdom against Adriana's. He refuses to agree to the match, vowing he will never marry anyone but his true love, and for this, he and his man-servant Edwin (who has been covering for him every time he snuck off to be with Adriana) are both locked in a secluded tower that's been sealed with magic to prevent their escape or rescue.
Four years pass, during which time a war rages in the countries but Marcus and Edwin receive no news, only enough food, water, and fuel to survive for four long years. When Marcus's father dies, the magic sealing their tower disappears, so they quickly flee to Ariana's country to find out if she is still as in love with Marcus as he is with her.
They learn she has just become engaged to another man. Marcus is devastated and, since his father has been murdered and his country taken over by Adriana's father, he has no money and no prospects. He and Edwin take jobs as servants to some local nobleman, who unfortunately turns out to be Adriana's betrothed.
When they discover that Adriana is being forced into this marriage, which she only reluctantly agreed to after hearing a false report about Marcus's death, they know they have to do something to stop the wedding. But will Adriana still want Marcus, now that he's a penniless pauper with a price on his head?
The love between Marcus and Adriana is so sweet. No one ever deserved a happily ever after more than those two.
I would put a slight trigger warning for violence, as Marcus is treated quite badly by the fiancé while posing as his servant. Nothing too graphic but it was definitely more intense than other books in this series.
March 4, 2024
༻❥☆☘️☆❥༺
📖🄱🄾🄾🄺•🅁🄴🅅🄸🄴🅆📖
──────☆☘️✨☘️☆──────
📚🧚♀️🌸✨𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊•𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒✨🌸🧚♀️📚
☘️𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙲𝚁𝙾𝚆𝙽𝙻𝙴𝚂𝚂 𝙿𝚁𝙸𝙽𝙲𝙴 𝙱𝚈 𝚂𝙴𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙰 𝚁. 𝙶𝙾𝙽𝚉𝙰𝙻𝙴𝚉
☘️𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝟷𝟶 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙾𝙽𝙲𝙴 𝚄𝙿𝙾𝙽 𝙰 𝙿𝚁𝙸𝙽𝙲𝙴 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂 (𝚂𝚃𝙰𝙽𝙳𝙰𝙻𝙾𝙽𝙴 𝙽𝙾𝚅𝙴𝙻𝙻𝙰 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂)
☘️𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄: 𝙵𝙰𝙸𝚁𝚈𝚃𝙰𝙻𝙴 𝚁𝙴𝚃𝙴𝙻𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙶
☘️𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 𝙳𝙴𝙲. 𝟷𝚂𝚃, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟹
╰┈❥𝙰𝚅𝙰𝙸𝙻𝙰𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝙾𝙽 𝙺𝚄!✨
☘️𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 𝟻
☘️𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋: 🌶️ || 𝟻
──────☆☘️✨☘️☆──────
✨✨𝑀𝑦 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠✨✨
Thank you so much to Selina R. Gonzalez for my gifted eARC of 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞!
This was my first read by Selina and I definitely need to go back and read her other books, because I enjoyed this one so much! I really loved her writing style, it was so easy for me to read and immerse myself in the world she created in this book! I really want to go back and read the Miraveld Chronicles books to get even more of this world!
I loved Prince Marcus! Talk about a cinnamon roll MMC. Marcus is the epitome of cinnamon rolls. He’s sweet, loving, gentle, and so unbelievably kind in everything he does. There was so much that happened in this book, and my heart just went out to Marcus. I loved that Edwin was always in his corner. I liked Adriana as a FMC and I loved that they both fought for true love and for what was right.
This was such a quick and cozy read, and I really enjoyed it! I hadn’t heard of Maid Maleen before, so this retelling was a first for me and I loved it so much. I loved the ending and loved the way they all found a solution to what was going on! I think the greatest pull for me was the characters. I really loved the way all of them were written and they were just so relatable and easy to connect with. I think that, coupled with Selina’s beautiful and delightful storytelling prose, really skyrocketed this book into a top read for me! And don’t even get me started on the Highland Cows!! Eeeekk I loved them so much!
It’s definitely going in my cozy comfort read pile & I definitely recommend it!
☘️✨𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄...✨☘️
❥Maid Maleen Genderswapped Retelling
❥Riches to Rags
❥Cinnamon Roll MMC
❥Second Chance Romance
❥Highland Cows
❥Star-Crossed Romance
──────☆☘️✨☘️☆─────
📖🄱🄾🄾🄺•🅁🄴🅅🄸🄴🅆📖
──────☆☘️✨☘️☆──────
📚🧚♀️🌸✨𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊•𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒✨🌸🧚♀️📚
☘️𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙲𝚁𝙾𝚆𝙽𝙻𝙴𝚂𝚂 𝙿𝚁𝙸𝙽𝙲𝙴 𝙱𝚈 𝚂𝙴𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙰 𝚁. 𝙶𝙾𝙽𝚉𝙰𝙻𝙴𝚉
☘️𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝟷𝟶 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙾𝙽𝙲𝙴 𝚄𝙿𝙾𝙽 𝙰 𝙿𝚁𝙸𝙽𝙲𝙴 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂 (𝚂𝚃𝙰𝙽𝙳𝙰𝙻𝙾𝙽𝙴 𝙽𝙾𝚅𝙴𝙻𝙻𝙰 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂)
☘️𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄: 𝙵𝙰𝙸𝚁𝚈𝚃𝙰𝙻𝙴 𝚁𝙴𝚃𝙴𝙻𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙶
☘️𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 𝙳𝙴𝙲. 𝟷𝚂𝚃, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟹
╰┈❥𝙰𝚅𝙰𝙸𝙻𝙰𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝙾𝙽 𝙺𝚄!✨
☘️𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 𝟻
☘️𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋: 🌶️ || 𝟻
──────☆☘️✨☘️☆──────
✨✨𝑀𝑦 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠✨✨
Thank you so much to Selina R. Gonzalez for my gifted eARC of 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞!
This was my first read by Selina and I definitely need to go back and read her other books, because I enjoyed this one so much! I really loved her writing style, it was so easy for me to read and immerse myself in the world she created in this book! I really want to go back and read the Miraveld Chronicles books to get even more of this world!
I loved Prince Marcus! Talk about a cinnamon roll MMC. Marcus is the epitome of cinnamon rolls. He’s sweet, loving, gentle, and so unbelievably kind in everything he does. There was so much that happened in this book, and my heart just went out to Marcus. I loved that Edwin was always in his corner. I liked Adriana as a FMC and I loved that they both fought for true love and for what was right.
This was such a quick and cozy read, and I really enjoyed it! I hadn’t heard of Maid Maleen before, so this retelling was a first for me and I loved it so much. I loved the ending and loved the way they all found a solution to what was going on! I think the greatest pull for me was the characters. I really loved the way all of them were written and they were just so relatable and easy to connect with. I think that, coupled with Selina’s beautiful and delightful storytelling prose, really skyrocketed this book into a top read for me! And don’t even get me started on the Highland Cows!! Eeeekk I loved them so much!
It’s definitely going in my cozy comfort read pile & I definitely recommend it!
☘️✨𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄...✨☘️
❥Maid Maleen Genderswapped Retelling
❥Riches to Rags
❥Cinnamon Roll MMC
❥Second Chance Romance
❥Highland Cows
❥Star-Crossed Romance
──────☆☘️✨☘️☆─────
September 15, 2023
Prince Marcus wanted two things: to avoid war between the three regions and to marry Princess Adriana. His father agreed with neither of those things, so threw Marcus and his friend/servant/bodyguard into a dark tower. Four years later, the curse keeping him in the tower breaks, and Marcus emerges to a new reality. His family is dead, Adriana’s father wants him dead, and she’s betrothed to another.
Princess Adriana held out hope for four years that Marcus would return to her, but now the war is over, her father has crowned himself king and needs to refill the treasury. Adriana’s hand in marriage is the cost.
When she discovers that Marcus is still alive and hasn’t stopped loving her either, the pair have three days to stop the wedding and maintain the fragile peace.
“Wanting something isn’t enough if I don’t take risks to pursue it.”
I love these two characters! I appreciate that we got to see flashbacks of their relationship prior to the start of the story and how they fell in love. Marcus is a cinnamon roll, and how he grows throughout is amazing to watch. And Edwin is just the best sidekick.
This was my first Maid Maleen retelling, and I love how Gonzalez twisted the original story to fit the gender-swapped roles. (And honestly made the whole thing more plausible than the original.)
A fantastic fantasy retelling set in the world of Gonzalez’s main series.
5 Roses
No swearing
Injuries: non-graphic, but includes confinement, assassination attempts, and beatings
Only a couple of sweet kisses, but there are repeated mentions of “consummating the marriage,” with a very mild fade-to-black scene between a married couple. One reference to “making love.” This was part of the plot.
(Thank you to the author for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review.)
Princess Adriana held out hope for four years that Marcus would return to her, but now the war is over, her father has crowned himself king and needs to refill the treasury. Adriana’s hand in marriage is the cost.
When she discovers that Marcus is still alive and hasn’t stopped loving her either, the pair have three days to stop the wedding and maintain the fragile peace.
“Wanting something isn’t enough if I don’t take risks to pursue it.”
I love these two characters! I appreciate that we got to see flashbacks of their relationship prior to the start of the story and how they fell in love. Marcus is a cinnamon roll, and how he grows throughout is amazing to watch. And Edwin is just the best sidekick.
This was my first Maid Maleen retelling, and I love how Gonzalez twisted the original story to fit the gender-swapped roles. (And honestly made the whole thing more plausible than the original.)
A fantastic fantasy retelling set in the world of Gonzalez’s main series.
5 Roses
No swearing
Injuries: non-graphic, but includes confinement, assassination attempts, and beatings
Only a couple of sweet kisses, but there are repeated mentions of “consummating the marriage,” with a very mild fade-to-black scene between a married couple. One reference to “making love.” This was part of the plot.
(Thank you to the author for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review.)
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