Good lord, as much time as they both waste...

Hey girl, you're going to meet your true love soon. We're going to send you out on a mission for no reason. Perhaps an intelligent human might have thought maybe she'd meet her true love NOW. But no...

I loved this story.

Content: clean

The next in The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles is a lovely story inspired by Cinderella. Although Princess Gabriella wasn’t cursed at birth like the other royals, she feels the ever present threat from the neighboring kingdom of Lune. This threat has caused her to grow up with a unique set of skills, beautiful dancing skills along with incredible skill with the blade. Prince Wesley isn’t sure if he will live to see himself crowned king with his curse that requires someone to love him for himself, not his crown. His uncle, the regent, believes that wearing a mask to keep his identity secret will find him a maiden who will love him for who he truly is. However, after hiding his face all his life, he fears that no one will truly see who he is beyond the mysterious masked prince.
I was really excited to read Wes's story. We met him in the first book, so it was cool to see him again! It did take me a little longer to really get into this book. I had a bit more trouble staying engaged with the story. However, overall I enjoyed it! Wes is really fun and a bit mischievous. But he really cared about his sister and wanted to be a good ruler for his kingdom. His relationship with Odette was adorable and it was so fun to see his friendship with Sir Thomas. I loved the brotherly teasing that they did! The story watches him grow into understanding his position as crown prince more and his ability to help his kingdom.
Ellie was so cool! I loved her devotion to her father and kingdom. She really felt the weight of the responsibility of being the princess. She was swept up into a romance with Wes, which was adorable! Yet throughout it all, she had the big picture in mind. I admired her dedication. She and Wes were also so sweet, they both were able to relax and be themselves with the other.
I enjoyed seeing more into the world of Lune and Solea, as well as seeing more into the lives of other royals. It was fun to see the threads of the fairytale woven through as well. Wes and Ellie had to work to ensure Luna and Solea would have peace and to break Wes’s curse. It was also exciting to see old characters and hints of next books! This is a sweet fairytale-inspired romance, with only some kissing!

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.

A Cinderella retelling? Yes please! It's a tale that's been told so many times and in so many different ways, and I loved this one too. Ellie was already royalty, Princess Gabriella of Solea, but after her kingdom was attacked and her father captured, she had to disguise herself as a maid in the enemy kingdom of Lune. I loved that twist.

I also felt like it had a Beauty and The Beast element to it in that Prince Wesley of Lune had to wear a mask and his curse would only be broken if someone fell for him as he was and not because of his title before his twenty-first birthday.

Wesley was such an incorrigible flirt, always making it his mission to annoy Ellie and distract her from her worries and fears. The clock was ticking on his life, but he was patient with her all the same.

I kept turning the pages just to see what would happen next. It was also wonderful to see other characters from book one. I'm so excited to read about the rest of the royals

Reader’s Notes:

– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone

– this is told from Ellie (Gabriella) & Wes (Wesley)’s points of view

– Ellie is hit twice by her employers (within a couple of paragraphs from each other)

– it is mentioned that both character’s parents are dead or dying (which later results in death)

Review:

I loved this sweet Cinderella retelling! I loved that both characters needed ‘saving’ throughout the story while also keeping a lot of the original tale’s key features. I loved how the step-family aspect was woven in to fit and still make sense with the differences added to this Cinderella. I loved the friendships that both characters had (outside of each other). I loved that Wes’s best friend helped him by letting him let off some steam by playing pranks on him and just being a general nuisance. I loved that Odette and Wes had such a close relationship with each other (and I am so excited to see how Odette’s curse/story plays out when it comes!). I loved that Ellie’s best friends were also her literal closest companions and that neither of them really wanted to leave her side. I loved their loyalty to her and their willingness to go with whatever Ellie impulsively chose to do. Some of my favorite scenes/moments in the book included: dancing in the ballroom ruins, exploring the ruins, Wes meeting the king of Solea, their meeting in the garden, sneaking around the palace, Wes swapping with his knight, and when Wes comforts Ellie.

Summary:

Solea hasn’t had to worry about a curse falling on their royals since they sided with the Ancients during the war. So Princess Gabriella has a fairly simple life in comparison to most of her peers, but Solea instead has to worry about attacks from her sister kingdom, Lune. They may have once been one peaceful kingdom, but the war split them and caused much strife between their people. Gabriella is said to be able to fix this fissure when she marries her true love, if only someone would tell her who it was…

Prince Wesley of Lune is cursed to die on his twenty-first birthday unless someone loves him for who he is and not the crown he wears. To try and help him, Wes’s uncle has him wear a mask that covers majority of his features. Dubbed the Masked Prince, Wes is doubting that anyone could love him for who he is, especially with how ladies throw themselves at him -no matter how broody he or his knight portray the prince to be. But when Wes decides to take one night for himself without the mask, he meets a woman that shocks and thrills him. Not only is she not afraid to refuse him, but she is also something different altogether from any of the other ladies he’s met at court. She’s his Moonbeam, the light in the middle of the hopelessness that gives him hope that he could be loved for himself. If only he could break through her walls and get her to give them a shot like he wants to…