Q: Do you like retellings that extend past the happily ever after?
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Once More Upon a Time
by Roshani Chokshi
Pub Date: 10/5/21 – Happy Pub Day!
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I just loved this!

This was a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses… well it picks up where that story ends for one of the Princesses. It is a retelling adjacent. Princess Imelda is cursed to a loveless marriage to live in a kingdom with King Ambrose. They are both resigned to their fate to live together for one year and a day. They don’t remember they once loved each other because they exchanged their memories to save her life.

Once the time is up and they had not broken the curse the witch came back and would lift the curse but they must go on a short quest.  Then she will give them what their hearts desire. But will their hearts desire change with close proximity. And omg horse cape, I love you! It can’t be a myth or legend without a strange character like you. or Honey badger.

This was a sweet love story of not taking chances, realizing that it’s not the end of your story and getting do overs. A year and a day isn’t that much wasted time in the grand scheme of things. I mean after this pandemic which has been longer than a year and a day we know that time can be wasted but also revalued in a way. Or the great 6 hour IG/FB blackout of 2021. 

The physical book looks like a little fairytale its so pretty!! 😻

Thank you sourcebookscasa and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

Synopsis:

A dazzling fairy tale about falling in love again by the New York Times best-selling author of The Star-Touched Queen and The Gilded Wolves.

Once upon a time, there was a king and queen in a land called Love’s Keep who once loved one another, but alas, no more. Without love, they were doomed to be ousted from their kingdom at the end of a year and a day.

A year and a day passed.

This is where their story starts.

Imelda and Ambrose can’t remember why they got married. A year and a day ago, Ambrose consulted a witch, trading their love to save Imelda’s life – and they’ve been stuck with one another ever since. When that same witch pays them a visit on the day they lose their kingdom, she promises to make their deepest wishes come true in exchange for a simple favor and a short journey. With nothing left to lose, Imelda and Ambrose agree. But, over the course of their enchanted road trip peppered with a delirious cloak, cannibals, and at least one honey badger, something magical happens…little by little, step by step, they regain what they had forgotten.

They remember why they fell in love.

When the end of their journey nears and they confront parting ways forever, a new decision faces them. Will Imelda and Ambrose choose their deepest wishes, or will they choose each other – again?