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56 reviews for:
Once Upon a Forbidden Desire: Fairy Tales and Other Stories
Zoey Ellis, November Dawn, C.M. Nascosta, Colleen Cowley, Grace Draven, Vela Roth, Jennie Lynn Roberts, S.L. Prater, Trish Heinrich, Erin Vere, A.J. Lancaster, Lisette Marshall, Jeffe Kennedy, Erin Grey, Elsie Winters, H.R. Moore, Jaycee Jarvis, Maria Vale, Kristin Gleeson, L. Penelope, Mimi B. Rose, Kathryn Ann Kingsley, Dani Morrison
3.94 AVERAGE
56 reviews for:
Once Upon a Forbidden Desire: Fairy Tales and Other Stories
Zoey Ellis, November Dawn, C.M. Nascosta, Colleen Cowley, Grace Draven, Vela Roth, Jennie Lynn Roberts, S.L. Prater, Trish Heinrich, Erin Vere, A.J. Lancaster, Lisette Marshall, Jeffe Kennedy, Erin Grey, Elsie Winters, H.R. Moore, Jaycee Jarvis, Maria Vale, Kristin Gleeson, L. Penelope, Mimi B. Rose, Kathryn Ann Kingsley, Dani Morrison
3.94 AVERAGE
Anthologies can be hit-and-miss for me. Sometimes, you'll get a great collection. Other times, it will be a list of mediocre stories. ONCE UPON A FORBIDDEN DESIRE definitely belongs in the first category. If you love fairy tales, then you will adore this collection. There is a heat level here for everyone, with stories ranging from The Pied Piper of Hamelin to Hansel and Gretel, told with their own twist by each of the authors.
With an abundance of new-to-me authors, as well as old favourites, I now have a list of various stories and series that I want to read, based on their stories in this anthology. There was not a single one that let the side down.
This was a fantastic collection of fairy tale retellings, each with its own heat rating at the beginning. I loved every story and thoroughly appreciated the range of various fairy tales to enjoy. Highly recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 19, 2022
With an abundance of new-to-me authors, as well as old favourites, I now have a list of various stories and series that I want to read, based on their stories in this anthology. There was not a single one that let the side down.
This was a fantastic collection of fairy tale retellings, each with its own heat rating at the beginning. I loved every story and thoroughly appreciated the range of various fairy tales to enjoy. Highly recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 19, 2022
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
This anthology has a mix of spice ratings. Romantasy and monster romance oh my! I absolutely loved this!!! I was extremely happy to see the names of so many of my favorites in this anthology!
I feel bad for saying I didn't really get on with this anthology as it turned out it mostly wasn't really my thing (so there are warnings about tail-play and other things, but I didn't even know what they meant). I bought the anthology recommended for authors who ended up not being able to submit in time.
While it promises a variety, I was a bit disappointed by how many of the stories are of the higher end of the heat spectrum with many being that PNR growly sweary panting stuff (not my thing) or slightly disturbing kink stuff (really not my thing). Many also came across as long form stories with pieces left undeveloped on the cutting room floor in order not to overrun, which in many cases was a shame because kinky/sweary or not they had great potential if they'd been worked through.
However I did very much enjoy Colleen Cowley's entry (a glorious example of an short-form story with whimsy, magic and romance - and yes, a tiny bit of steaminess - that made me wish for more) and A.J. Lancaster's Cinderella retelling (not quite as fleshed out as it could have been, but fae-tastic sweet fantasy fun with Kiwi flair all the same).
Overall, not what I'd expected and I'm not sure I'd have purchased it if I'd realized how many were going to be too creepy for my taste, but I did really enjoy those two authors' works and appreciated the worlds of a few others I may check out in future if they have a longer page count to work with.
While it promises a variety, I was a bit disappointed by how many of the stories are of the higher end of the heat spectrum with many being that PNR growly sweary panting stuff (not my thing) or slightly disturbing kink stuff (really not my thing). Many also came across as long form stories with pieces left undeveloped on the cutting room floor in order not to overrun, which in many cases was a shame because kinky/sweary or not they had great potential if they'd been worked through.
However I did very much enjoy Colleen Cowley's entry (a glorious example of an short-form story with whimsy, magic and romance - and yes, a tiny bit of steaminess - that made me wish for more) and A.J. Lancaster's Cinderella retelling (not quite as fleshed out as it could have been, but fae-tastic sweet fantasy fun with Kiwi flair all the same).
Overall, not what I'd expected and I'm not sure I'd have purchased it if I'd realized how many were going to be too creepy for my taste, but I did really enjoy those two authors' works and appreciated the worlds of a few others I may check out in future if they have a longer page count to work with.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I received an e-ARC from author Maria Vale in exchange for an honest review. Review can also be found on *Milky Way of Books*
I have developed a carving for anthologies this year. For some strange reason, I get to enjoy reading multiple stories that also include my favorite authors but also get me to discover new ones, making me squeal from joy and my wallet moan in despair.
So when Maria Vale approached me with this chance I jumped into it (whom I had the joy to meet at Apollycon and she is the sweetest person EVER). So the anthology as you guessed contains fairytales with a twist some are familiar like Rapunzel and Cinderella and others, like the one Maria Vale wrote are myths.
Hers is inspired by Cernunnos, the Celtic horned keeper of wild places, but placed in the fictional land of Summerhouses where the Keepers exist, humans who tattoo demons on their skin, and everyone live in a capitalistic tourist city with an old forest that is threatened. Idara is such a demonkeeper and when she takes in yet another demon, adding to the many others she already carries, she will soon discover that the being inside her is not something to be contained.
The other one I enjoyed was C. M. Nascosta who wrote a spicy yet very emotional version of Beauty and the Beast. And if you follow her Instagram you'll understand why some will like her version lol.
Overall yes this will satisfy all those who like some good fairytales with all the spicy stuff :P
I have developed a carving for anthologies this year. For some strange reason, I get to enjoy reading multiple stories that also include my favorite authors but also get me to discover new ones, making me squeal from joy and my wallet moan in despair.
So when Maria Vale approached me with this chance I jumped into it (whom I had the joy to meet at Apollycon and she is the sweetest person EVER). So the anthology as you guessed contains fairytales with a twist some are familiar like Rapunzel and Cinderella and others, like the one Maria Vale wrote are myths.
Hers is inspired by Cernunnos, the Celtic horned keeper of wild places, but placed in the fictional land of Summerhouses where the Keepers exist, humans who tattoo demons on their skin, and everyone live in a capitalistic tourist city with an old forest that is threatened. Idara is such a demonkeeper and when she takes in yet another demon, adding to the many others she already carries, she will soon discover that the being inside her is not something to be contained.
The other one I enjoyed was C. M. Nascosta who wrote a spicy yet very emotional version of Beauty and the Beast. And if you follow her Instagram you'll understand why some will like her version lol.
Overall yes this will satisfy all those who like some good fairytales with all the spicy stuff :P
“When it comes to true love, rules are meant to be broken.”
This book of short stories comes out September 13th. I was provided this arc and this is my honest review!
What a wonderful read! I loved getting to see the fairytales I fell in love with retold in a more romantic, spicy manner. I didn’t know many of the authors and am happy to say I plan on looking into them. I adored every story and was disappointed to see each one end. I wanted the story to keep going!
If you enjoy fairytales and a mixture of fluffy sweet and hot and spicy romance, this book is for you!
This book of short stories comes out September 13th. I was provided this arc and this is my honest review!
What a wonderful read! I loved getting to see the fairytales I fell in love with retold in a more romantic, spicy manner. I didn’t know many of the authors and am happy to say I plan on looking into them. I adored every story and was disappointed to see each one end. I wanted the story to keep going!
If you enjoy fairytales and a mixture of fluffy sweet and hot and spicy romance, this book is for you!
These stories were great for the few minutes I have to kill between work and when I can't focus long enough for a whole book. Once I started them I got the book finished quickly and enjoyed the stories. A great read when you don't have a lot of time or energy for a full meal!
Awesome book chock full of great fantasies and retellings. This anthology is worth the read . Some stories range from low to high spice . This is a book all fantasy lovers will enjoy!
Like the following two gems I read.
The prince and the fairy godmother
Wow what a nice twist on snow white ! Totally fabulous and I love the steamy scenes between the prince and godmother. I loved that there were angels in it even though they were conniving .I throughly enjoyed this reverse telling of Snow White .
Blood dance
This story was so great! A mortal locked away taking care of her sisters , just to be able to escape and dance with her beloved Hesperian.
I just love fantasy stories like this with ,so much love for one another . They will give up everything . Now these two are free to dance forever. Spice level is hot on this one and so worth the read.
Like the following two gems I read.
The prince and the fairy godmother
Wow what a nice twist on snow white ! Totally fabulous and I love the steamy scenes between the prince and godmother. I loved that there were angels in it even though they were conniving .I throughly enjoyed this reverse telling of Snow White .
Blood dance
This story was so great! A mortal locked away taking care of her sisters , just to be able to escape and dance with her beloved Hesperian.
I just love fantasy stories like this with ,so much love for one another . They will give up everything . Now these two are free to dance forever. Spice level is hot on this one and so worth the read.