Author friend Lyndsey Hall is part of a multi-author collection of fairy tale retellings where the villain gets their own happy-ever-after. I decided to sign up to read the ARCs for the entire series.
About the Book
Falling for the Pied Piper by Ashley Evercott
A Stewardess branded by failure
A Piper on the run
One pursuit that blurs the line between justice and love
Selene was the perfect stewardess—until she cursed a prince into a beast. To atone for her transgression, she is branded and must apprehend the Pied Piper who stole one-hundred-and-thirty children from their homes. But the man she finds isn’t the villain she expected.
Living on the run is the only way Reid can mask the truth of his crime. He never expected to be caught, but a crafty, magic-wielding stewardess outsmarts him. Yet, the more time he spends with her, the harder it becomes to keep his secrets buried.
What begins as a mission of redemption becomes a journey of unraveling truths—and hearts. In a world of peril and wild magic, Selene and Reid must decide whether to cling to their facades or risk everything for a love that could cost them both their freedom.
Falling for the Pied Piper is a retelling that combines elements of The Beauty and the Beast and The Pied Piper. Set after the events of each of these stories, this no-spice romantasy is the 10th book in the To Win a Dark Heart series which retells fairytales as old as time, but this time it’s the villain’s turn to get a happy ending.
Check it out on Goodreads.
About the Author
Ashley Evercott was born and raised where it’s mostly sunny and there’s always traffic on the 91. From a young age, she has dreamed of far-off worlds and star-crossed lovers. She is proud to pen these stories to life. When she is not writing, she is consuming as many books as she can and daydreaming at home with her cat and supportive husband.
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My Review
I really liked the worldbuilding and how the journey Selene takes teaches her that she’s worth more than just her magic. The mash-up of the “Pied Piper” and “Beauty and the Beast” was well-done with great twists on the original tales. I liked how the world they inhabit plays its own role in their story.
Reid’s relationship with Petunia is so endearing.
“What I care about is the truth. I’d rather see all your broken, honest parts than the perfect lie you serve to the world. Let me see you.”
When he said that to Selene, the story became swoonworthy.
There’s a lot of action, adventure, magic, and things for Selene to experience to become a better version of herself.
Highly recommended romantasy. I’ll read more by this author.
*I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.
Do you enjoy fairy tale retellings and no-spice fairy tale mash-ups? Have you read anything by this author?
*FYI, my reviews are my honest opinion and if something bothers me, I tell it straight. How else will anything change? My opinions are based on being a voracious reader and book buyer, not an attack on the author.*