Charming
(Libby/OverDrive eAudiobook)

Once upon a time, Prince Charming cut his way through the briar patch, waited on bent knee for the princess, Bella, to wake up from her hundred years of cursed sleep then, with his sidekick, Roland's, assistance, robbed her blind and made his escape the night before their wedding. The prince in Linwood's Charming is a heartbreaking thief, seeking out damsels in distress to rescue and rob while evading the royal guard of his own kingdom, where rumors of a deal with a demon to sicken his father have him wanted for treason. Three of his victims, Bella, Marie Blanche, and Doctor Rapunzel, compare stories at a wedding then set out to discover Charming's secrets and recover their stolen goods, though Bella still holds out hope that it was just a misunderstanding. Balancing negotiations with the Infernal, a fae offended that the story she foretold did not play out properly, and accounting for the magical items Charming uses, these ladies set a trap and show the strength of self-rescuing princesses working as a team in this delightful romp.

Jean-Marc Charming Arundel is everything a prince should be: handsome, charismatic, and skilled with swords and saving kingdoms. His bravery earns praise and the hand of the beautiful lady of the land, but his true motives are revealed when he is gone the next morning. Left behind are an empty treasury and broken hearts. When three of his victims--Marie Blanche de Neige, Bella Lucia dei' Sogni, and Doctor Emilia Rapunzel--meet by chance, they discover the depths of his artifice. Now Prince Charming will face the wrath of women scorned--and their plans for revenge. Minor characters such as dwarves, fairies, and donkeys are given stronger roles to support the leads and create a more robust backstory. The twists in the plot pay respect to the original tales, while creating three-dimensional characters with their own desires. VERDICT A delightfully twisted mash-up of fairy tales, filled with amusing dialogue and unusual character variations. Fans of Alix E. Harrow's "Fractured Fables" series or Kevin Hearne and Delilah S. Dawson's "The Tales of Pell" series will enjoy this story from Linwood (who wrote Bad Gods under the name Gaie Sebold).--Kristi Chadwick

Once upon a time, Prince Charming cut his way through the briar patch, waited on bent knee for the princess, Bella, to wake up from her hundred years of cursed sleep then, with his sidekick, Roland's, assistance, robbed her blind and made his escape the night before their wedding. The prince in Linwood's Charming is a heartbreaking thief, seeking out damsels in distress to rescue and rob while evading the royal guard of his own kingdom, where rumors of a deal with a demon to sicken his father have him wanted for treason. Three of his victims, Bella, Marie Blanche, and Doctor Rapunzel, compare stories at a wedding then set out to discover Charming's secrets and recover their stolen goods, though Bella still holds out hope that it was just a misunderstanding. Balancing negotiations with the Infernal, a fae offended that the story she foretold did not play out properly, and accounting for the magical items Charming uses, these ladies set a trap and show the strength of self-rescuing princesses working as a team in this delightful romp. Copyright 2023 Booklist Reviews.

Jean-Marc Charming Arundel is everything a prince should be: handsome, charismatic, and skilled with swords and saving kingdoms. His bravery earns praise and the hand of the beautiful lady of the land, but his true motives are revealed when he is gone the next morning. Left behind are an empty treasury and broken hearts. When three of his victims—Marie Blanche de Neige, Bella Lucia dei' Sogni, and Doctor Emilia Rapunzel—meet by chance, they discover the depths of his artifice. Now Prince Charming will face the wrath of women scorned—and their plans for revenge. Minor characters such as dwarves, fairies, and donkeys are given stronger roles to support the leads and create a more robust backstory. The twists in the plot pay respect to the original tales, while creating three-dimensional characters with their own desires. VERDICT A delightfully twisted mash-up of fairy tales, filled with amusing dialogue and unusual character variations. Fans of Alix E. Harrow's "Fractured Fables" series or Kevin Hearne and Delilah S. Dawson's "The Tales of Pell" series will enjoy this story from Linwood (who wrote Bad Gods under the name Gaie Sebold).—Kristi Chadwick