Once Upon an Silver Strand (ebook)

I love a good fairy tale reimagining. This story pulls a lot of the plot points from the Disney movie version of Rapunzel. The story itself is very different with Ariadne coming literally from the stars and discovering she has magic powers that have laid dormant all this time.This is a novella so I knew this wouldn't involve a lot of world building or in depth character development. The plot became a bit rushed towards the end. It seems like the author was trying to get them from point A to point B as quickly as possible. There is a little bit of romance that also felt rushed at the end. But overall, I enjoyed the story and the characters, especially Cassian. I'm excited for Ariadne's sequel and can't wait to see more of Cassian and Twill. I appreciate receiving the ARC of this book.

“When prophecy stirs, the world listens.”The tale begins with a child that is not part of our known reality, born of two celestial gods whose life had been isolated, portrayed as a myth or is she part of a prophecy. An heir to rule, or disrupt, hidden until she could be brought home to the magical realm of Spartna.Born in the stars, of light and shadow, raised in a magical tower with only books to keep her company after her caretaker died. She had been warned that her long-braided silver hair kept her bound to this mortal realm, hidden from those who would harm her. Told she must never cut her hair for she would go mad. Tales to keep a child in line or warnings about men with dark hearts who would use her for their own gain…Until the day he came, Cassian.He knew her name, Ariadne. Told her she was the princess of a magical land that had been torn asunder by tyrant who had ruled over her people for more than two decades. She was at the center of a prophecy that told of a time when she would return to save the land from destruction, as well as the human realm in which she grew up. She would set her people free, from the usurper, as the rightful ruler. The stars were disappearing; it was time for her to return to Spartna. Trust doesn’t come easily to all in Spartna. Ariadne will have to prove her worth.It begins with Cassin and Ariaden, their attraction to each other is as if they were fated to meet. Along the way there are allies that will walk at their side while others will guide them in their quest to reach the Celestial Gate. Twill, an elven sylph, has just a touch of rascally behavior that the tale needs to shake up the characters and twists in the storyline. There are villains as well that try to stop our heroes. Battles rage here, there is a quest, a relic that is at the center, a piece of the final key needed to return the worlds to their natural order.This is intriguing speculative fiction, beyond a simple fairy tale a mix of science fiction, fantasy and descriptive elements that make this one to be heard aloud. So, suspend reality and what you know of the world; what you believe you know of fantasy tales because this tale may have begun in the stars, but it brings the reader down to the common theme of good versus evil, greed for power and control. While a sheltered young woman must face her fears, and destiny to bring the world to rights, she won’t do it alone, the young man who first believed in her and then loved her will be by her side. A narrative romantic tale that opens the world around Ariaden and Cassin for the reader to see. As a storyteller, I believe this is a tale best served aloud as listeners gather round to share and learn of a story that began in the stars above and will continue into the next book. I thoroughly enjoyed this new twist on an old fairy tale.I received an advanced readers copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Such a wonderful book. It is a great rendition of Rapunzel. I loved the story about going to another realm and being the stars. It was a wonderful story it was hard to set down.

This is an enchanting and magical fairytale romance. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. The author did a great job with describing each scene to make you feel as if you were there. As with most fairytales, there is a villain and a battle, but nothing to violent. It is part of a series that can be read as a standalone.I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love how this Rapunzel retelling gave a twist. This alternative was fun to read and magical. YA. Clean. Good story.I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.