This review is part of the Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS). SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”. This is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the talent and creativity present in the indie community. It’s a sister competition to both SPFBO and SPSFC, and it highlights greatness in the novella format in all areas of speculative fiction (fantasy, science fiction, horror, etc.).
To see more information on my team Behind the Musings check out this post!
Blurb for Gothel and the Maiden Prince
Deep in the forest, far from the light, a sorceress with magic of the blackest kind keeps prisoner the princess she stole away years ago. From time to time, a prince will come to challenge her, but by and large, life is peaceful for Gothel. And that's just the way she likes it.
She's not prepared for the earnest young prince who seems more determined to talk her to death than challenge her to a duel of magic; nor, having tricked him into a battle of questions, is she expecting him to show more interest in her than the tower-bound princess.
And Gothel is certainly not prepared to give up any of her power to keep him around, though she might be prepared to answer just a few more questions...
Gothel and the Maiden Prince is one of twelve short novels in A Villain's Ever After, a collection of standalone stories featuring villainous twists on some of your favourite classic fairytales. Read the series in any order for magical adventures...and fall in love with villains as you've never seen them before. Who said villains can't have happily-ever-afters?
Gothel and the Maiden Prince Book Review
Gothel and the Maiden Prince takes the story of Rapunzel and completely turns it around. Gothel has earned quite a reputation for herself. Kidnapping a princess and building your own magical tower on the outskirts of a village can make quite a fuss. So much so that princes find their way to the tower to challenge her and are no longer seen or heard from again. And despite multiple warnings, one pesky villager keeps sending those princes her way. Gothel’s journey into the village to take care of said villager once and for all, will unknowingly cause her to cross paths with a prince unlike the rest. One that would rather talk than fight, and isn’t interested in what Gothel thinks he is.
Gothel is quite the character to follow. She radiates the feeling of an annoyed mother who has repeatedly told the kids to leave her alone for some peace and quiet. And yet despite it all the kids (aka the villager) continue to push buttons where they really shouldn’t be. And while her wicked ways seem to be the talk of the village, there is another side of Gothel that readers can see. Where her magic might be dark, there are reasons she has both obtained and used it. Were they entirely good? No, but W.R. Gingell challenges readers to look between the lines into the murky grey Gothel’s actions reside. And they might just be surprised at what they find.
The introduction of Prince Lucian is a delight. Where Gothel is bristly Lucian is gentle natured. In an attempt to trick him and make him go away, Gothel convinces him to enter a True Bargain. Essentially a spell that will cause the two characters to have conversations. The only way for the bargain to end is Gothel’s satisfaction. Little does Gothel know though, Lucian is quite the talker and has a sense of humor that will intrigue her. As the two share banter back and forth, readers will enjoy the contest of wills and bits of history revealed through the Prince’s engagement.
Gothel and the Maiden Prince is a wonderful reimagining of Rapunzel, where the characters are much more than they seem. In only a short time, readers will find an enriching world and complex characters.
To Purchase: Amazon | Author's Website
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