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Summary

Three princes are sent to a foreign land for a testing, to determine which one is worthy to be the next king, while an evil queen hunts for the final ingredient needed for her alchemy. 

Stats

 Genre: YA (16+ years) fairy-tale styled romances

Series length: Three books

Violence: Moderate violence

Magic/Supernatural: Moderate supernatural, most occurring off the page, plus the existence of mythological creatures. 

Romance: Strong 

Christian/spiritual element: A few overt Christian elements

Recommendation: Excellent for girls who enjoy fairytales with a twist

You might like this book if you liked... 
Melanie Dickerson, Once Upon A Time and the original Grimm & Anderson fairy tales

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Opening Lines:

I knelt before my father, King Christian. My two brothers did likewise on either side of me.

"The time for the Testing has come." The king's voice resounded through the great hall, which was filled to overflowing with nobility and commoners alike, vying to witness the fate of their princes.

"We are ready, Your Majesty," I said in unison with my brothers, our heads bent low.

Though I spoke the words expected of me, a part of me questioned whether I needed the Royal Testing. After all, of the three of us, I already had the favor of the Lagting. In face, 'twas no secret the king's council would likely pick me to inherit the throne.

Beholden (The Fairest Maidens, Book 1)
by Jody Hedlund

In a land where being the fairest maiden is a curse . . .

A beautiful noblewoman with a terrible secret, and a prince subjected to slavery.

Upon the death of her wealthy father, Lady Gabriella is condemned to work in Warwick’s gem mine. As she struggles to survive the dangerous conditions, her kindness and beauty shine as brightly as the jewels the slaves excavate. While laboring, Gabriella plots how to avenge her father’s death and stop Queen Margery’s cruelty.

Prince Vilmar of Scania enslaves himself in Warwick’s gem mine as part of a royal test to prove himself the most worthy of three brothers to become the king’s successor. Amidst the hardships, he doesn’t anticipate his growing compassion for the other slaves, especially tenderhearted Gabriella.

As the annual summer ball looms nearer, Gabriella sets into motion her plan to end Queen Margery’s evil. When Vilmar learns of Gabriella’s intentions, he resolves to come to her aid and fight against Warwick’s queen. But doing so may require him to give up his chance of becoming Scania’s next king, perhaps even cost him his life.

The real Cinderella story.

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Opening Lines:

Thick fog swirled around our boat like steam rising from a cauldron. 

"We should return to camp." I glanced around, unable to see past the white mist that hedged us in on every side. For midmorning, the fog was unusual in the estuary. "Something in the air bodes of evil."

At the bow, Folwer tilted up his head and sniffed the air as if he were a hunting dog searching for prey. "Nay, the morn mist be hugging the shore longer this day. 'Tis naught more to it."

Beguiled (The Fairest Maidens, Book 2)
by Jody Hedlund

In a land where being the fairest maiden is a curse . . .

A princess rejected and hunted by her mother, and a prince who lives as a shunned outcast.

Princess Pearl flees for her life after her mother, Queen Margery, tries to have her killed during a hunting expedition. Pearl finds refuge on the Isle of Outcasts among criminals and misfits, disguising her face with a veil so no one recognizes her. She lives for the day when she can return to Warwick and rescue her sister, Ruby, from the queen’s clutches.

Amidst his royal testing on the Isle of Outcasts, Prince Mikkel of Scania has kept his identity a secret. Captured by a warring band of outcasts and condemned to die, he finds himself making friends with an intriguing but feisty young veiled woman. Intending to win her trust and gain her help to escape, he soon finds himself coerced to wed her.

Mikkel reluctantly agrees to the union to save his life, and Pearl hopes the marriage will provide protection for her and Ruby. But the queen is more determined to kill her daughter than either Pearl or Mikkel realizes and has a sinister reason neither expects—one that could rip their new love apart forever.

The real Snow White story.

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Opening Lines:

Hunger raged through my stomach like a boar on an attack. I plucked a handful of red currants and stuffed them into my mouth, but the tart berries couldn't begin to sate my appetite.

"We need to hunt today." I reached for another plump bunch, and the ripe berries slide off their stems into my palm.

Jorg stood beside me, feasting ravenously on the wild currants. "We should have hunted yesterday instead of frolicking with Walter's daughters." He spoke through a mouthful, even as he shoveled in more berries. His ragged garments hung loosely on his tall, lean frame, elbows and shoulder blades protruding sharply. His overgrown dark beard couldn't hide his sunken cheeks.

Guilt chopped into me like a back-cut threatening to fell me.

Besotted (The Fairest Maidens, Book 3)
by Jody Hedlund

In a land where being the fairest maiden is a curse . . .

A young queen trying to stay alive until she comes of age to rule, and a prince turned into a pauper.

Queen Aurora of Mercia has spent her entire life deep in Inglewood Forest, hiding from Warwick’s Queen Margery, who seeks her demise. As the time draws near for Aurora to take the throne, she happens upon a handsome woodcutter. Although friendship with outsiders is forbidden and dangerous, she cannot stay away from the charming stranger.

Only two months away from completing his royal testing, Prince Kresten of Scania is ready to be finished with the poverty and hardships of being a woodcutter. When he meets a beautiful peasant woman, he doesn’t plan to fall in love, especially when he must soon leave and return to his homeland.

As Queen Margery’s forces close in, Aurora finds herself in mortal danger. Kresten knows a future with Aurora is impossible, but he is desperate to save her and bring an end to the queen’s threat. To do so, he joins the ultimate battle against the evil queen, risking everything, including his chance at true love.

The real Sleeping Beauty story.