Revel: Twelve Dancing Princesses Retold

Demelza Carlton

Aug 2020 · Romance a Medieval Fairytale Book 4 · Lost Plot Press · Narrated by Mary Sarah

About this audiobook

Twelve princesses. One wounded soldier. A mystery that must be solved.

Once upon a time...

Princess Bianca is sent with her sisters to the summer palace, a place no maiden has ever returned from. While her sisters seem perfectly happy, she has only one desire: escape.

Vasco, a wounded soldier on his way home from war, stumbles across the summer palace and sets out to solve the mystery no man has managed to yet. If only they let him live long enough...

Can the fair maiden and the wounded soldier uncover the sinister secret before it's too late?

Romance a Medieval Fairytale series:

Each book is a standalone, so they can be read in any order:

Enchant: Beauty and the Beast Retold

Dance: Cinderella Retold

Fly: Goose Girl Retold

Revel: Twelve Dancing Princesses Retold

Silence: Little Mermaid Retold

Awaken: Sleeping Beauty Retold

Embellish: Brave Little Tailor Retold

Appease: Princess and the Pea Retold

Blow: Three Little Pigs Retold

Return: Hansel and Gretel Retold

Wish: Aladdin Retold

Melt: Snow Queen Retold

Spin: Rumpelstiltskin Retold

Kiss: Frog Prince Retold

Hunt: Red Riding Hood Retold

Reflect: Snow White Retold

Roar: Goldilocks Retold

Cobble: Elves and the Shoemaker Retold

Float: Enchanted Horse Retold

Steal: Forty Thieves Retold

Call: Pied Piper Retold

Feather: Swan Maidens Retold

Ratings and reviews

I found it interesting how Demelza Carlton tied this retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses with her retelling of the Little Mermaid. I also like how her characters have magic and aren't merely damsels in distress. Bianca was a talented witch in addition to being a princess. She was also a bit of an amateur sleuth. It was fun. My complaint with this book is similar to the last one. The felt like YA, except it began and ended with sex. It was unnecessary and didn't fit the book.

When Princess Bianca joins eleven of her half sisters in exile, she discovers that a mystery exists in the Summer Palace. Each morning a pile of worn out dancing shoes are found just inside the bedchamber shared by the princesses. She also discovers that the man who solves the mystery will be granted the Palace and estate, and given his choice of one of the princess to bride. Bianca teams up with Vasco, a wounded soldier who has found work at the cottage of an old woman who lives near the Summer Palace, to solve the mystery. Revel is a fresh take on an old tale. The story is familiar, but with a few twists and surprises. Bianca and Vasco are a great pair. Kun is knowing and humorous advisor. The villain(s) are particularly evil. Demelza Carlton once again brings us with an interesting and well done retelling of a favorite story. I like Mary Sarah’s presentation. Her narration is enjoyable, and she has a good range of voices.

Bianca and Vasco must solve a deadly mystery before either of them succumb to it. This story contained a few scenes which I found to be a bit gruesome, but that did not detract much from overall. Bianca is delightfully strong and intelligent. Vasco overcomes both his demons within and those in the world. Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Great world building. Happily Ever After. Haunting.Romantic. Scary. Steamy. Tragic. Twisted. Unpredictable. Wonderful characters. I received a copy of this book as a gift from the author. This is my honest review.