The Green-Eyed Prince

The Classical Kingdoms #0.5

by Brittany Fichter

An enchantress is murdering Queen Kartek's soldiers and threatening her kingdom. Kartek's healing jewel has been lost. Her only hope of saving her kingdom seems to lie in the hands of the green-eyed stranger who claims he can save her jewel and her people...but the price is steep, and the young queen doesn't have much time.

In this novella retelling of The Frog Prince, seventeen-year-old Queen Kartek has resigned herself to marrying the greatest warrior in the Megal Desert, but her true joy lies in sharing her healing powers with her people and meeting the everyday needs of her kingdom. When an enchantress attacks, however, her betrothed is murdered, and danger camps outside Hedjet's gates, Kartek's world is turned upside down.

To make matters worse, her healing jewel falls into an abandoned well just when she needs it the most, and her only hope of retrieving the jewel lies in marrying a green-eyed stranger and making him king.

In this retelling of The Frog Prince, Kartek must choose whether to trust that her new husband's intentions are as honorable as he promises, or to try and defeat the enchantress alone. For as much as she resents her new husband, she quickly realizes that there is more to this quiet man than meets the eye. He might just be the miracle her kingdom needs...and the balm she craves for her lonely heart.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Fairy Tales, Fairy Tale Retellings, Young Adult, Retellings, Magic

160 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 6, 2017

About the author

Brittany lives with her Prince Charming, their little fairy, and their tiny prince in a decently clean castle in whatever kingdom the Air Force has most recently placed them. When she's not writing, Brittany can be found chasing her kids around with a DSLR or belting it in the church choir. You can find more of her work at her website BrittanyFichterFiction.com.

Reviews

[Sarah Ryder · Rating 4 out of 5]

****Actual Rating 4.5****

I loved this novella! It had such a good, interesting twist on The Frog Prince fairy tale, the characters were real, and I liked how things were changed up by this story being set in a desert land rather than a traditional medieval European kingdom.

Kartek is an amazing heroine who is just trying to do what is right by her people but is also believably struggling with how to do so, and her reactions to having to be married under duras I honestly can’t blame her for because I probably would have reacted similarly! And Dakarai is such a sweetheart who really tried his best with the situation forced upon him while also being a strong protector, and I like how even though the author didn’t turn him into a frog he was ugly enough for it to work.

And while the plot was simple it was also engaging and had twists I didn’t see coming which was really nice as retellings can sometimes be rather predictable. And the romance, while a bit fast, was still believable and very swoon worthy while staying very sweet.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author!


‼️Content‼️

Violence: fighting monsters and an enchantress with weapons (not detailed); a character is stabbed in the chest; monsters bite people which cause them to turn threatening; a woman is shot with an arrow (not detailed)

Sexual: kissing (not detailed); mild suggestive comments and hints; a forced marriage; talk and hints of a married couple being together (nothing is shown or happens, just talk)

Other: magic; magical abilities, objects, and creatures; an enchantress; a manservant is a eunuch; death and grief; giant snake monsters

[Jes Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this twist to the Princess and the Frog, where the prince isn't an actual frog- but the mysterious hero is ugly as one. And thus has to fulfill his exacted vows by marrying the queen/pharaoh of the dessert land. So, yeah, I loved the twist, the romantic dynamics, and the exotic setting so much. A worthwhile and clean fairytale retelling of epic proportions!

[Alysha (For The Love of Christian Fiction) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well if that wasn’t a breath of fresh air!!

I really enjoyed the story & it was the perfect length for me! A nice novella to get my invested in the world & characters while keeping the action going so I STAYED invested.

It did take me about 40-50 pages to really get INTO the story, but once I was in I was in!

I’m excited to try some of the author’s other works!
4/5 stars

[Coralie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am increasingly impressed by Brittany Fichter's work. To be perfectly honest, I kind of put reading this one off, despite loving the previous two books of hers that I've read. Yes, I judged the book by it's cover. Guilty. I'm not a huge Asian/Middle Eastern style culture fan. They're great people and all, but the culture doesn't appeal to me personally. It doesn't draw my interest. It's not where my mind wanders when I'm bored. So, as much as I love fairy tale retellings, I kind of figured I'd sweep this one under the rug and come back to it when I felt like it. Boy, am I glad Mrs. Fichter posted a chronological order for her books. My inner OCD won out and I determined to pick this one up and read it.

The setting is in the desert and the culture is reminiscent of a Middle Eastern people, but to my surprise, I didn't mind in this book. It did take me a little while to catch onto all of the names, titles, and positions, the jahira, the emeerie, the alders, etc. The Rayis was easier to pick up on, but that may just have been because I was starting to sort all of the names out or because there seemed to be more explanation about what the Rayis was supposed to do. Some of the names were hard to get my mind around--solely because, again, I am very unfamiliar with the culture, language nuances, etc.--but eventually I guess I either settled into the names or created something similar in my mind that could pass for the name as I read it. (I probably mentally butchered these names, let's be honest XD) These two things were the most difficult part of the book for me, as a reader. Aside from that, however, not only did I not mind the desert people culture the book was written in, but I found myself curious about the broader world building. I want to know what the traditions are of the people, how they grow and change, but also how their belief system was founded. I want to know how other kingdoms and peoples in the Classical Kingdoms universe interpret that belief system and implement it in their lives. I want to learn more about the magic system we see hinted at here. This book felt like a foundation for a greater worldbuilding to come, if that makes sense.

The story was well-written and I think there was only one spot I found that held a very small inconsistency. I found no glaring grammatical errors or boo boos, plot holes or anything like that. The plot was well-paced and kept me engaged throughout. There was a lot of mystery surrounding the enchantress and it kind of all unfolded at once rather than bit by bit, but that didn't affect the continuity of the story. The nods to the Frog Prince were clear and made me smile. I liked the way the frog was depicted. This is only the second story I've seen where the frog was actually human with a froglike appearance.

The characters are what really made this story for me. Dakarai was my favorite. I could spend a whole other book diving into his character and be perfectly contented. I loved watching his character revealed. I loved watching Kartek watch him and struggle with the inconsistency in his behavior during their initial meeting versus every other time she observed him. I loved the way we got to know him: through the eyes of the children, the warriors, and his interactions with Kartek directly. He wasn't all perfect either. He got angry and he stormed off. He felt hurt and loss and grief, but he had such a noble character. Despite his circumstances, he did what he felt was best. He was an honorable man, and I loved him for it. Kartek grew through the story, and y'all know how much I love character development. I'd also love to dig into her past a little. We got the basics for this story, but if the author ever one day decided to write a prequel, I wouldn't be opposed! I wonder what she was like as a little girl, how she reacted the day everything changed, how she lost her parents, etc. I like that Kartek didn't have all the answers, that she was still a young girl in many respects, but that she had a strong courage and loyalty to her people. The secondary characters made me smile often. I'd like to see more of the different tribes one day. I feel like we kind of breezed past them a little. Ahmos was my favorite SC. He's another one I could happily learn more about him and his past.

Fantastic characters, an interesting creature, and a fun version of the Frog Prince. Overall, I enjoyed the book far more than I thought I would. And I am so ready for Beauty now! Especially after that epilogue!!

The book had no foul language, some very mild violence, and nothing more serious than a kiss. There were a few references to the "marriage bed," but they were nothing detailed at all. Clean read easily recommended to fairy tale fans.

[Tenille Berezay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little story had me totally engaged. The setting felt unique and the characters were interesting too.

[Hannah Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this little story from the moment I started it. It had an Arabian feel in the setting, and our main character's gift was unusual. I felt an instant connection with her too. She wasn't perfect; she struggled.

At first, I was stoked about the massive warrior she was to marry, but then, in waltzed the skinny white guy who ... Well, I won't give it away. You just need to read it!

Lovely and sweet with light references to the Maker. I truly loved it.

[Valery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent weekend read, and fairly clean.

For my clean readers: no language. Violence is centered mostly on war, with dark creatures as the villian's puppets. Romance-kissing and innuendos.

[Katarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the story. The setting of a desert kingdom was interesting and different. Characters were great. The main character learned things and grew. Romance was sweet.

[Coco.V]

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[Megan Coppadge · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.*

Another great and original fairytale retelling by Brittany Fichter! I'm not a fan of novellas. I don't really like short reads that feel rushed or leave things out. However, this was a quick read that I felt nothing was left out of because of the length.

I loved the growth of the characters, the scene building and I'm happy to say there's no insta-love. The relationships grow and develop over the length of the story.

If you love fairytale retellings definitely give this one a shot!

[Seraphia Bunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Green-Eyed Prince by Brittany Fichter is a retelling of the Frog Prince and the first novella in her Classical Kingdoms Collection. In this story we are introduced to Kartek. Kartek is the ruler, or the jahira, of her people. She is gifted with the ability of healing and using it to help her people. One day she notices thick yellow smoke floating in the air in the distance but since no one knows anything about it she lets it go. Then several nomadic tribes show up at her village with dire news. An enchantress has been attacking them and killing their warriors with dangerous monsters that they are losing against. They seek her help and bring her even more bad news. The man that her parents had chosen for her before their deaths, her betrothed, has been killed. The tribes’ people now do not have a man to help keep them in check and lead them as a whole when they come together. One of the tribal leaders is keeping secrets and disappears each time anyone tries to confront and question him. A new Rayis is needed to help the people but he must be found so that he can sing the Warrior’s Song. Kartek, in a moment of wishing for some solitude, loses her precious jewel that helps her to heal those who need it. Out loud she prays to the Maker that she be helped and that she’ll do anything to regain the lost jewel. A young man, Dakarai, appears and tells her he can help her but she must promise three things – to share her meals, her bed and a kiss…in other words she must promise to marry him. His striking eyes captivate her and she hesitates but she will do what she must to save her people.
The Green-Eyed Prince is a beautiful and engaging twist on the classic story the Frog Prince. Kartek and the people around her are in danger from an evil enchantress who is out to destroy them. Dakarai says that he can help but that Kartek must agree to marry him in order for him to recover her jewel. Kartek is still reeling from the news that her betrothed is dead and that danger is potentially going to turn its eye towards her and her people where they live. She has dangerous tribes at her doorstep who rarely get along with each other and quick to kill without hesitation. She must be careful as tensions will quickly climb. There are those close to her who wish to usurp her power because they view her still has nothing but a child. As she works to try and learn about the one who is to become a part of her life she learns that there are many secrets that are being kept but only because he must. But the truth will all become clear when the time is right.
This book is very engaging and interesting. I think that I actually like this retelling than the original classic story. There is danger, betrayal, romance and suspense. All of these various elements work together to draw you in and keep you reading deeper into the story. Instead of Dakarai being an actual frog he is enchanted to have some semblance to one in his appearance, and you really see that from the first time that Kartek sees him. I love how the story is so well blended together and given such a unique twist. I really didn’t know what to think when I first started reading this book but at the end of the day I was not disappointed at all. I really would love to read more about Kartek and Dakarai if that would even be at all possible.
The Green-Eyed Prince is a must read for anyone who loves the classic stories that we all grew up with and is looking for something fresh and new. This book will not disappoint. It is a clean romance story and beautifully done. Set in the desert I think that this story really captures the elements of the scenery and the environment that surrounds it. I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

[Lisa Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Green-Eyed Prince is a retelling of "The Frog Prince" set in the world of her Classical Kingdoms Collection. Since it's a novella, it was much shorter than the other books she's written, but the exotic names and made-up words she used to create a new culture took some getting used to. Overall, I found it enjoyable, but not outstanding.

The Green-Eyed Prince is told from the perspective of a woman named Kartek. Kartek is the "jahira" of her tribe, which I understood to be her culture's version of a princess. She has the ability to heal the sick using a magical jewel that she inherited from her mother. When she learns that her fiancé was murdered and her kingdom is in turmoil, she panics and accidentally drops the enchanted relic down a well in a moment of clumsiness. A mysterious loose-limbed man with piercing green eyes offers to retrieve it for her in exchange for agreeing to become his wife. Kartek is torn. She knows she needs the jewel to help her people, but as the jahira, whoever she marries will affect her entire kingdom. She reluctantly agrees. Over time, she learns more about the person she married, and her feelings for him grow deeper.

The hardest part about this book for me was keeping track of all the names, tribes, and titles. Brittany Fichter tried so hard to create another culture that it seemed as though there was a language barrier that made the book difficult for a casual read. All of the books I've read by her have a pattern of revealing the customs and cultures of their setting through the context of the characters' actions and dialogue instead of expository explanations. This is something that is generally encouraged for writers to do because the story is supposed about the characters, not the world. Yet, I think that there can be a balance between exposition and dialogue. I would at least like to understand what the characters are talking about when they discuss foreign customs with each other as if it were common knowledge.

It's interesting that many modern interpretations of "The Frog Prince" use the "frog" aspect as a metaphor instead of taking it literally like in the fairy tale. Melanie Cellier did this in her adaptation as well. In both A Midwinter's Wedding and The Green-Eyed Prince, the prince's curse causes him to be deformed in such a way that he resembles a frog but is literally a frog. It does say something about the princesses in these stories if they are ashamed to be seen with a deformed man, as there is far less shame in that than there would be in dining and sharing a bed with an actual frog. The princess from the Brothers Grimm tale was spoiled and narcissistic, so having a princess heroine who is as kind and human as Kartek in The Green-Eyed Prince makes it more believable when she eventually grows to care for the deformed stranger. Her reluctance to marry him is also understandable when she is still mourning the loss of her first groom.

The Green-Eyed Prince is not the strongest fairy tale adaptation I've ever read, but it isn't the weakest either. It builds a complex and believable world of magic and royalty with equal amounts of darkness and light. I would have preferred some more time to learn about the kingdom's customs as well as Kartek's healing powers, but the a novella at half the length of Brittany's other books, so I suppose she thought there would not be enough time for that. The characters were very strong and had interesting backstories that kept the story interesting until the very end. If you are a fan of "The Frog Prince," this is a unique retelling that might be worth looking into.

[OldBird · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unusual and courtly retelling of The Frog Prince set in a desert kingdom, I found this an enjoyable read. Retelling like this stick close enough to the source material and tone to be familiar, but play around with it in such a way that you forget you technically know the ending. If you're looking for full-on romance, this probably isn't the novella to top your list as it's more chaste fairy tale than overly emotive, but don't let that stop you from picking it up.

It's the story of a young woman, Kartek, who has been thrust into the role of leader of her people too soon. Still learning to use the healing magic that's her heritage and morning the loss of her parents, Kartek must now go ahead with her arranged marriage to the leader of the desert nomad tribes in order to unify their peoples... But tragedy strikes. An evil enchantress attacks the tribes, killed her betrothed and leaving the desert folk hiding in the shadow of her city's walls. Just when she needs it to heal the injured, Kartek loses her precious gemstone, but is made a deal by a mysterious man. He will return it to her for a price: her hand in marriage.

Oh, you know how the story goes, but you don't know how this one does. I loved how it started out feeling both new and familiar. The setting is well described and full of flavor despite being only a novella, and while the characters are those arm's length types you often find in fairy stories they fit the tone well. No wailing or whining or over-emoting here; Kartek may be a teenager but her spirit is strong. The mysterious man she marries makes for an interesting foil to her, and while the romance is rather staid it's still sweet and believable in it's own logical sort of way. It's so refreshing to see a storyline of an arranged marriage not being used for angst or over the top drama.

My one nitpick: the Big Reveal wasn't quite as dramatic as I'd hoped despite the circumstances. Kartek knew Usal? I wondered if he'd been mentioned before briefly and I'd forgotten, but no. It would have been more fulfilling if he hadn't just appeared fully formed from her past; there just felt something missing to it without the foreshadowing, and the long and strange explanation about Midgal's sudden evilness seemed again a bit out of the ether. She pops up and promptly dies very easily, so... I guess I'd have liked to have seen her and her motives in more than just reports later on.) There's an optional extra short story from the author's mailing list I'd recommend (read it afterwards, not first!) to flesh the situation out a little, but I still couldn't help but wish we'd gotten a bit of foreshadowing earlier on.

Overall it was a good short read, one that's obviously part of a fantasy universe without leaving you feeling like you'd missed something by starting here. If you want an original take on a fairy story that still feels like a traditional fairy story, you've come to the right place.

[Smasher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content:

Profanity: None.

Violence: High mild. There is a battle raging closer and closer throughout. People die, are injured, and there are statements like "she had sweat and blood all over her". It's never graphic, just statements like that. Two on-screen deaths by arrow and creature attacks.

Sexual: High mild. Because there is a forced marriage in this, there are a few moments of the MC wondering if her new husband is going to expect 'things' of her, and he swears he won't touch her without permission. There are conversations between friends saying things like "You mean you haven't..." trailing off, but meaning they haven't been intimate yet. One instance of "Let's finish this conversation in our room" which is a blatant euphemism. It's all clean though, and very subtle.

Content warning: This has a fair amount of religious undertones in it, as the characters believe in "the Maker" and pray to him.



At first, this was ridiculously hard to get into, because of all the names. They were so foreign and odd, and not just character names, but titles, cities, tribes, and so forth. There is a reason why I do not stray into high fantasy much. I cannot keep that stuff in my head. The world in this book was a mash up that I never quite understood. It's part middle-east feel, part African tribal, part nomadic asia vibe. The names were things like Oni, Ahmos (I may be spelling it wrong, again weird names) and Jibari. It was ridiculous trying to keep track of the names. It turned me off a lot in the beginning.

But I kept going, and once I decided that I wasn't going to try to remember the names, I did better. I just focused on the main girl and guy. Everyone else was, "Oh the council lady that starts with a C", or "the Guard guy that starts with an F."

I did end up enjoying the story, and I got to where I was more comfortable with the set up of the world. The plot was engaging, and the mystery behind...Drakarai (Again, spelling?) kept me reading. Their romance was, of course, rushed, but it was still believable. I appreciated that the author had the character admit she was in process of falling in love, and that time would tell what sort of love it would turn into.

There's a little peak at Everard in this, the character in the first book of the series, as a kid. I read that ages ago, but still remembered his name. It was jarring because that series is very much the medieval-esque fairy tale setting typically used, and yet this is the same world. So, just a ways away from them is this incredibly different culture and they're friends. Hmmm. Weird, but plausible.

Fun story, hard to get into, but once you stick with it, totally worth the read.

[Kristen Kooistra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was not disappointed in this book at all. Both a retelling of the Frog Prince and an Egyptian-inspired story! If nothing else, it stood out right from the start.

I loved so much about this book, like the fact that the princess character was a queen, a ruler, not a child. She was mature and was juggling a lot of real life responsibilities. I also liked the fact that unlike the original, she's not a spoiled brat who foolishly promised anything for a toy and then breaks that promise. (not to mention then throws a fit when she's force to keep her word)

Nope, not Kartek. Kartek has the weight of the world on her shoulders and what she drops is not a mere toy but something she desperately needs. And though the dropping was a bit of her own fault because she was fiddling with it, I completely understood why she'd needed to get away from her chaotic life and just have a minute of peace. She beats herself up about it but to me it made her human.

She knows right up front what she's promising and also knows she can't risk not getting her object back. She has an excuse for fleeing right after that and is not forced to keep her word later. She's an honorable person who backs up what she says.

Dakarai is the ugly little froggy man who rescues the object and is now married to Kartek. We don't know his reasons, but he is determined to respect Kartek and be an asset to her and her kingdom. He is kind, polite, respectful, and he doesn't hesitate to give her space. He also puts himself out there to help the people of the kingdom and it does a lot towards showing Kartek who he is.

I loved their slow building connection and how everything unfolds. I honestly was sad this didn't go on longer. I wasn't ready to leave their story. And this is definitely not insta-love, heck I was ready for more love at the end which is something I pretty much NEVER say. While I did kind of what more love, I also super respect where the author went with this. Pretty much these people are still new to each other and it's going to take time. Kartek says it'll take her time to fully understand this kind of love and to know the depths of her own feelings. Amazing amount of perception and depth for a YA fantasy. You don't get to see that much. (Also said as an avid lover and reader of YA fantasy)

It's also worth mentioning that this is now my favorite retelling of the Frog Prince.

[Lavinia · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all: I received an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review. Thus said...

I liked the novella, and I would recommend it to people who seek/like:

- A cute and short, romance
- Some political/strategic insight
- A heroine who has an arranged marriage and doesn't make a fuss out of it (which is extremely rare to find nowadays)
- A realistic paced romance (There are some details on the story, which I attribute to an intention of making it believable).
- Fantastic stuff
- Character development

However, my first problem with this book was that it was too short (which is usually what I dislike about novellas). I would've loved to learn more about Hedjet, get to know its people and history... I got the feeling Kartek's story was well finished, but I would love to revisit the Megal desert with new stories.

Also, the antagonist reminded me too much about the Silent mermaid. All the idea of loving someone and wanting to make him happy in your way, without seeing what really makes him happy is interesting. But I would've appreciated some more background on that story. All to blame, again, the format and the sad reality that you can't expect an author to release two full fledged novels in the span of a year.

However, it gave to the reader what you would expect of a novella: a fun quick read. With the extra of likeable responsible characters who are also human, and so, they get dirty, are sometimes egoistical and try to be rational.

Ps: Sorry about any grammar and spelling mistakes. English is not my native language.

[Beth Glass · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the BEST princess and the frog retelling that I have ever read. I 💖 LOVED this book. Dakarai's green eyes, Kartek's green wedding dress, and Dakarai's ability to swim are just a few of many details I really💖LOVED that made this story live up to the retelling it is based on. I have read complaints on the words, but they were not at all hard to figure out. The way the author wove this story into a fantasy world was amazing. It seemed natural that people had magic and that their was these creature like henchmen. I felt so sorry for Dakarai, because of not only his families treatment of him, but a friend's betrayal. I also felt for Kartek, because she was put in a situation she wasn't able to think of any alternatives. Kartek and Dakarai really made a good couple once they stopped fighting each other. They both wanted the best for their people and both suffered devastating losses. I💖LOVED it when Kartek realized that through their marriage they gained not only each other, but someone to talk to and share the responsibilities of leading their people.  Kartek and Dakarai kind of reminded me of Ruth and Boaz. Ruth really wasn't given much of an option just like Kartek and they both lost someone. Kartek also married for someone elses benefit, her people. I honestly did not figure the plot to go the way it did, which made me 💖LOVE it even more. Their was soooooo much in this book that I don't want to spoil. I will mention, though, how much I💖💖LOVE the gorgeous cover with the vivid picture and details. I Highly recommend this book to fantasy lovers, lovers of fairytale retellings, or one with an inspiring meaning on not judging people before getting to know them.

[Kanyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delightful and unique retelling of The Frog Prince. The author has put hew own twist on the classic retelling, making it a compelling story. The Green-Eyed Prince is part of The Classical Kingdoms Collection, but the first in the short novellas within this collection. It is placed well before the events of other books within the collection and you did get a sneak peek of one adorable character (not telling :) ). With it being a novella, this book was a very fast read. I ended up reading it in one sitting. I will admit a few parts at the end made me cry! The relationship between Kartek and Dakaria touched my heart and made me continuously flipping to the next page to see whether these two would get a happily ever after.

Overall, I love the world and the depth of the characters. There is plenty of action and twists within this story that will leave you satisfied at the end. I met a lot of interesting characters I would love to know more about. I recommend this story to anyone who likes clean romance and fairy-tale retellings.

I received an ARC at no cost from the author and voluntarily reviewed it. All my opinions and thoughts are in no way influenced by this.

Final Rating: 5 Stars

[Bronzed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly unexpected. Pulled me out of a reading slump.

I will make a longer review on Instagram, but I just finished this book, & I want to thank the author. I've never read any other book by Brittany Fichter, but I'm going to look up any others she has right away.
Fairytale retellings are some of my favorite books. If you don't know what to expect from one, usually there's a semi obvious connection to a fairytale of some sort, it's usually clean as far as romance & war, & there's a happy ending. I love how the beginning gave good reason for "the princess" to run away from "the frog" after he rescues her golden sphere from the water. That was the first fairytale connection I noticed. Also, keeping in mind that this genre tends to be clean, I think the reason behind their delayed honeymoon made sense & was appropriate for the plot. The frogs character was mature, protective & respectful. I remember the fairytale depicting him as a sloppy eater & spoiled sort, so I was bracing myself to dislike him a bit. But not so, he was genuinely likeable. Without giving anything not in the summary, it's a time of war - with realistic loss. A reader won't fear for the MC's life if no one gets hurt. Then again, it is that kind of genre, so I wouldn't criticize author if she had made everyone live in the end.
If this book is part of a series (& the epilogue gave me reason to suspect it is), I look forward to buying it in paperback. It's worth it.

[Rosanne Lortz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recently crowned queen of her desert-dwelling people, seventeen-year-old Kartek possesses healing powers and a magical jewel. An evil enchantress with her pack of monsters is attacking the neighboring tribes, and Kartek needs her gift more than ever. When the healing jewel disappears, Kartek must make a desperate bargain with a strange green-eyed man to get it back.

This novella is a unique retelling of The Frog Prince fairy tale. The main characters were well-portrayed, and the setting transported the reader to a vibrant fantastical world that felt rooted in Bedouin Africa or the Middle East. One quibble that I had with the structure of the novella is that since it was all told from Kartek’s point of view, there was no understanding of who the hero was–or the villain–until the very end when the whole story had to be explained in a lengthy flashback. Still, a short, fun, and clean read with an interesting take on this fairy tale world.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Notable Content: Direct mentions of sex are smoothly danced around ("spending the night with" and "the necessary details of child-rearing" are the closest), but the word is there on the tip of your tongue during a few scenes. Kissing; literal sleeping together.

A swoon-worthy, wholly entertaining book. I loved every page. It's very different from Clara's Soldier, but I think I liked it even more. The pacing was perfect. It had an incredible world that I can't wait to read more of. (Though I hear it's way in the future next!) It had an interesting take on the classic tale, and was fully unique, with a plot of its own. I have no writing complaints at all; it wasn't over- or under-described, and there were no grammar mistakes (no comma splices!), etc. I really did love this book!

P.S. I feel like I have to name-drop Coralie here now that she knows the author so well, so thanks for the recommendation! You always have great ones!

[amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC Review*

This is your perfect rainy day novella, when you have nothing but time and want to just get away for a little while with not a care in the world. With the story being a novella it is a fast easy paced, that is hard to put down. I love when you're reading something by an author you've read before and in that story you can see just how much the authors writing has grown. You can honestly see the progress Fichter has made with each story she weaves through its pages.

It also helps that she intertwines many of the stories or gives you that little easter egg somewhere in the stories. But what I think I really appreciate is that each retelling is masterfully done so that you know it's an adaptation of its original story, in this case The Frog Prince.  What I find that is also appealing is that each story is set or almost all are set with a different culture or lifestyle. 

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only problem with this novelette is that I miss the characters already. It is well crafted and fits the length well, I'm just greedy.

This is a brilliant version of a fairy-tale that I normally have problems with. It fixes all the points that worry me in the original. In this version, neither of the main characters is selfish -- something that bothers me in the original. They both have really, really good reasons for what they do, plus the "princess" character's attitude to the "frog" is wonderfully nuanced. I love how her relationship develops with the hero and of course I find the denouement to be as satisfying as in all Brittany Fichter's books.

One touch I particularly like is that we get to see Everard in the end and so we can pinpoint the timing of this book in this magical world.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great find! I started this book last night and finished it last night. I liked Brittany's version of the Frog Prince fairy tale. She did a wonderful job with her character building as well. The 17 year old Kartek was the ruler of her people, a middle-eastern type people, and she didn't try to make her into more than a 17 year old girl. She had strengths which she had learned from her parents, but she still had the fears and doubts that a girl her age would have. She was a healer, but didn't trust her gift without her amulet, which wasn't always with her at a couple of crucial moments - one of which introduced her to the man who would be her husband; a part of the story I so enjoyed the unfolding of. This is the first story I read by this author and I am so glad to find that it was clean. Thank you Brittany.

[Orangetails · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a short read, and you could kinda see the general kind of ending, but I adored it. It was clean, for one - yes, they did discuss that she was gonna have children, and she did have the awkward moment of wondering what on earth to do with this man - this stranger - who was her husband. But it is a book for adults, after all, and they go no farther than that. In fact, the main protagonist is a gentleman throughout the whole affair. And their romance is touching and while it IS a fairy tale, it's touching to see such a love story. The plot was decent, with a nice twist at the end, and the setting was GORGEOUS. Do not tell me that this wasn't written beautifully - I want to live in the desert now, heat aside. Anyway, good book, I really want to read the secret chapter from the author.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 to be more fair.

It was definitely an intriguing and unique setting for this classic story. Which I thought was a fun take. The story itself had a lot of good elements, but it also should have been a full novel rather than a novella. It felt rushed. I didn't have time to get to know or care about the characters. The plot was interesting enough that it could have -- and should have -- been expanded.

The denouement was also a bit long considering the general length of the story. Too much was hastily explained at the end, so that all the questions got answered but in a less-satisfying flashback and without enough direction.

Not bad overall, and I'd read something else by the author, but it didn't dazzle the way it could have.

[Alex L Criddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an imaginative and unique retelling of The Frog Prince. It did take me a couple of chapters to get into the story, but once I had a chance to dive in, I was able to truly appreciate the narrative. Kartek was a well developed and likable protagonist. Her thoughts and feelings added great depth to the story, and her vulnerabilities made her more relatable. The writing was impeccable and the descriptions throughout took me to a world that was full of interesting characters and beautiful scenes, as well as intense and tender moments. The relationships of several characters were well established despite the length of the novella. I really loved this story and hope to be able to read more from Brittany Fichter soon.

[Hannah Emanuele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again Brittany Fitcher does an amazing job of creating a rich and wonderful world where her characters comes to life! I read this on the way home during a long plane ride and it was amazing. I had picked it up several months ago, but finally had time to read it. And it did not disappoint. This one is a shorter novella rather than a full length book, but it was still just as rich with story and character. Kartek is a strong willed, young ruler who gets herself into a rather uncomfortable situation when she makes a deal with a stranger that she hopes will save her people. At first she regrets her choice but in the end she is able to learn about love and trust as she strives to save her people from a dark sorceress.

[Karisa P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wonderful story! The plot has plenty of twists and turns, and it fits well into the rest of Brittany Fichter’s series; it reminds me most of Becoming Beauty. It’s set before the time of Becoming Beauty, however, and we get a lovely little peek at young Everard towards the end! The characters and culture were well developed, although I would’ve liked to get to know some of the side characters a bit more; then again, this is a novella, so it’s understandable. The morals and messages that are portrayed are all good ones. Overall, I highly recommend!

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I read an ARC in exchange for an honest review) I read this book in a day! Queen Kartek is the current possessor of a jewel that gives the woman in her family the power to heal. After an enchantress starts attacking her kingdom, she accidentally drops her jewel into a well. To get it back Kartek makes a deal with a complete stranger; In exchange for him getting it out of the well, she will marry him. As she learns to trust her new husband, Kartek must trust him to help her defeat the enchantress. The Green-Eyed Prince gives a whole new twist on the classic frog prince story that is exciting and romantic, but clean.