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Fairy Tale Fatal Mystery #3.5
Sleeping Beauty, Borrowed Time: A Fairy Tale Fatal Novella
Switzerland, 1868. Resolute variety hall actress Ophelia Flax has spent the last several months performing in a traveling circus, settling into the gritty camaraderie of circus life, and—almost, anyway—forgetting all about Professor Penrose, love, enchantment, and bunkum generally. When Ophelia breaks her arm in a trick pony-riding accident under the big top, she is whisked away by a guilt-ridden benefactor to convalesce in the Waldsanatorium, a grand hospital perched high over a valley. Soon after her arrival, she discovers that one of the patients, the young American Imogen Melchor, is trapped in a morbid lethargy from which she cannot be woken and which—so her parents insist—was caused by the prick of an enchanted spindle. Ophelia is not one to twiddle her thumbs, even though she’s discomfited by the sudden reappearance Professor Penrose, whose head is turned by rumors of magical spinning wheels. Inquiring together into Imogen’s plight, they uncover a wicked plot concerning medical theories, a pagan goddess, and a contested will . . . and, along the way, perhaps reawaken their own slumbering hearts.
92 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2017
5 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 22, 2017
After breaking her arm in a circus accident, Ophelia Flax finds herself in a fancy hospital in Switzerland. Another patient there, Imogen Melchor, has been asleep for 8 days. Her parents claim it is related to the Sleeping Beauty legend, which is strong in the area. Meanwhile, Professor Gabriel Penrose is in the area, officially to track down local legends, but really in hopes of finding Ophelia again. Will he succeed? What happened to Imogen?
This is a novella written specifically to wrap up loose ends after the series was canceled. As a result, it will appeal most to series fans. With only 100 pages to work with, the story is fast paces with something always happening to move it forward. The new characters are a bit short changed, but Ophelia and Gabriel are strong, and the plot kept me guessing until the end.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
This is a novella written specifically to wrap up loose ends after the series was canceled. As a result, it will appeal most to series fans. With only 100 pages to work with, the story is fast paces with something always happening to move it forward. The new characters are a bit short changed, but Ophelia and Gabriel are strong, and the plot kept me guessing until the end.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
October 17, 2017
WHAT a delightful way to end this series. I loved every second of this lovely little novella.
May 21, 2017
Great wrap up to a fun series. I wish we could see more of what the future holds for these characters. Maybe someday... :)
February 4, 2018
Interesting start to a series.
October 31, 2017
This was written as the conclusion to the 3-book series as the author doesn't seem to be writing any more of this series. She has a note in the front saying it's a tribute to her readers who asked for Ophelia to get her happy ending. This is a fun, light mystery series with delightful characters and this novella is no different. Ophelia gets in a scrape, Professor Penrose is looking for a fairy-tale item, and they meet up to solve two questions: Sleeping Beauty's stolen spindle and a young American girl who is mysteriously asleep. It's fun all around and a satisfying end.
September 11, 2017
I loved this book, I recommend you read the series so far( In order of course).
December 9, 2018
I was glad to see another story for this series. This series really sticks to the fairy tale setting, and this shorter episode did not disappoint. Nice setting, the high alps of Switzerland.
October 8, 2019
Good wrap up to series. Love her books
September 7, 2020
A quick, short story to give the main characters a happy ending and closure for their fans.
November 17, 2021
I read this book during a 2 1/2 flight flight. It's an interesting mystery with fun references to the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale.
May 18, 2023
I was so sad when this series ended! Can't wait to see what this author does in the future!
September 19, 2023
Excellent series except for last book. There was no mention
of her lost brother.
of her lost brother.
September 28, 2020
So glad the author was able to being the series to a good conclusion.
July 25, 2022
Ms. Flax gets her man!
I was glad to have a happy ending to the story. It felt as if there should be one more chapter in which the 'crooks' are exposed but I'll take it.
I was glad to have a happy ending to the story. It felt as if there should be one more chapter in which the 'crooks' are exposed but I'll take it.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews