Classical Kingdoms Collection

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...but the price is steep, and the young queen doesn't have much time. Seventeen-year-old Queen Kartek has resigned herself to marrying the greatest warrior in the Megal Desert. Her true joy, however, lies in sharing her healing powers with her people. But when an enchantress attacks, her betrothed is murdered, and danger camps outside of 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. Kartek must either choose to trust that her new husband's intentions are as honorable as he promises, or try to defeat the enchantress alone. For as much as she resents her new husband, she quickly realizes 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. The Green-Eyed Prince is a novella set in the world of the Classical Kingdoms Collection, a series of clean fairy tale retellings full of sacrifice, true love, and the magic of happily-ever-afters. It can, however, be read as a stand-alone.

Can an accursed prince and a broken beauty move beyond their hatred for one another, not only to break the curse and save their kingdom but to find love as well?Prince Everard's father spent the boy's youth forging the prince into a warrior. Upon the king's death, however, Everard realizes he's lost himself somewhere along the way, and in his pain, makes a decision that brings a dark curse upon both him and the great Fortress that has so long guarded the people of Destin. The prince's sin doesn't simply affect those of his citadel, however. Isa, the daughter of a local merchant, has suffered the prince's hasty temper before, and it changed her life forever. When Everard's final outburst cuts off his people's source of protection with the curse, he demands that she, a crippled commoner, comes to help him break it. All the while, Destin's northern enemy crouches at the foot of the Fortress's mountain, waiting for the right moment to capture the stronghold that has stood for a thousand years.Can Ever and Isa move past their brokenness to save Destin together, or will they and their beloved kingdom remain under darkness forever?Buy Before Beauty today to escape into the world of The Becoming Beauty Trilogy, as well as the Classical Kingdoms Collection, a series of fairy tale retellings for grownups who still believe in sacrifice, true love, and the magic of happily-ever-afters. Even though Before Beauty is an introduction to both series, it can be read as a stand-alone as well.

Beauty might have married the Beast, but vows never promised anyone a simple life, least of all, the king and queen of Destin. Only five months have passed since their wedding, but Ever and Isa are already being pulled in opposite directions. Duty to the kingdom keeps Ever occupied, while Isa struggles to master the Fortress's mysterious fire. So when the young couple is invited to an ally's betrothal ceremony, they go in hopes of enjoying the honeymoon they never had. Upon arrival, however, something is sorely amiss. A glass hill, an ancient enchanter, and the mysterious tribute paid to Isa's younger brother quickly dash their hopes of rest, and it's not long before Ever and Isa must fight to protect the Fortress, their neighbors, and even the very love that binds them. If you love the magic of Narnia and the romance of traditional fairy tales, The Classical Kingdoms Collection is the series for you. Blinding Beauty, a clean fantasy fairy tale retelling of The Princess and the Glass Hill is the second book in The Becoming Beauty Trilogy and the third book in the Classical Kingdoms Collection. Read it today to discover magical mystery, clean, passionate romance, and heroic happily-ever-afters. Author's Note: Many books in this series can be read as standalones, but this one is best read after Before Beauty, Book #1.

*This story takes place between Blinding Beauty (book #2) and Beauty Beheld (book #3) in the Becoming Beauty Trilogy.*Etulle is happening for the first time in fifteen years, and Isa couldn't be more excited. Unfortunately, however, it seems Ever couldn't be less.After their recent costly victory over the Glass Enchanter, Isa and the residents of the Fortress need the sacred holiday more than ever. Furthermore, Isa is sure this is just what Ever needs to bring him out of the melancholy he's been living in. Unfortunately, it seems to bring him more anxiety than ever.A surprise visit from an unexpected, unwelcome familiar face, however, has Isa questioning the very peace she's been seeking for Ever, and before they know it, they're on a mission while the rest of the Fortress celebrates without them.But just as they're sure the day is ruined, perhaps forever, Ever and Isa discover that maybe their beloved Fortress has special plans for them after all.Beauty's Bell is a novelette written for fans of the Becoming Beauty Trilogy and the larger Classical Kingdoms Collection in which the trilogy exists. This story takes place between books #2 and #3 of the trilogy. In it, you'll find a message of hope and joy in the face of uncertainty as only Ever and Isa can bring. Read Beauty's Bell today to revisit beloved friends at the Fortress and find the magic of happily ever after once again.

King Everard and Queen Isabelle have no heir. Two children have no family. But what happens when Isa and Ever find out that these children might be the greatest threat the kingdom has seen in five hundred years? In this retelling of Hansel and Gretel, Henri and his little sister, Genny, find themselves abandoned in the forest when something dark beckons to them. Something sweet. And though Henri strives to use his special abilities to protect his sister, the call soon becomes too strong for even him to ignore. Back at the Fortress, King Everard and Queen Isabelle are enjoying a reign of peace, but what should be a time of joy is marred by the pain of being childless. So when Isa and Ever find themselves in charge of two forsaken children with unusual abilities, and they are called to face an enemy with unexpected connections to Ever's past, they must trust the Fortress once again if they wish to hold onto their kingdom, the hope of parenthood, and ultimately, one another. Beauty Beheld is the third book in The Becoming Beauty Trilogy and also the third book in the Classical Kingdom Collection, a series of clean fairy tales retold to help readers find the long lost world of magic and destiny. Buy Beauty Beheld today to rediscover the fairy tales that taught you to wonder as a child.

What if you fell for the one man who could save you from your dark curse...or doom you to it? In this retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, when Liesel's mother died, Liesel felt as though the world had ended. To make matters worse, in his grief, her father moves them to a village deep in a sunless forest. In her terror, Liesel tries to flee back to her grandparents that they left behind, but before she can escape, she's bitten by a wolf, and unbeknownst to her, marked for a terrifying destiny. Just when she's ready to despair, however, Liesel is befriended by a mysterious boy in the woods, one who does his best to bring her light once more. Before long, she finds herself falling in love with Kurt, a romance that brings her closer to the darkness and the light than she's ever been before. Unfortunately, the wolf's bite only grows with time, and eventually, Liesel finds herself ensnared, albeit unwillingly, by the one she had once loved. Faced with the knowledge that her decision will affect an entire village, she must decide whether to accept her fate for the sake of those she loves, or fight for the freedom to choose her own way. Girl in the Red Hood is book #4 in the Classical Kingdoms Collection, but it can be read as a stand-alone fairy tale novel. Buy "Girl in the Red Hood" to escape into the world of the Classical Kingdoms Collection, a set of fairy tale retellings for grownups who still believe in sacrifice, true love, and the magic of happily-ever-afters. This book comes after The Becoming Beauty Trilogy.

How does a silent mermaid win a war of song? How does she break the siren song of the one holding her beloved captive? After being touched by the sun at birth, Princess Arianna has grown up imprisoned between two worlds, neither fully mermaid nor fully human. Her life is one of solitude and dreams. But when she loses her family and her kingdom in a war between man and merfolk, she is forced to flee into the arms of the enemy. Her only hope of protection lies in the penniless prince that she once saved and his two boisterous nieces. Prince Michael is at his wit's end. After the great maritime war, he must clean up the pieces of neglect, folly, and evil that his grandfather has left behind. With his people starving and his treasury nearly empty, the familiar girl from the past that falls piteously at his feet cannot be afforded his attention. He has only the resources and time for the barest of good deeds to pay back that which she gave him. But the more Michael begins to hear the girl beneath her silence, the more he realizes she just might be the distraction he cannot survive without. All the while, darkness is beginning to poison the ocean, and an evil foreseen by neither Arianna nor Michael threatens the very existence of both peoples. If they wish to restore their kingdoms, Arianna and Michael will need to reassess their alliances, their beliefs, and an ancient prophecy that's been all but forgotten. Most importantly, however, they must decide whether they can move past their personal pain and trust one another. Because if they can't, everything and everyone they love will fall. Silent Mermaid is fifth in the Classical Kingdoms Collection but can be read as a stand-alone. Buy Silent

What if the prince didn't throw the ball to meet his true love?What if he was trying to save her instead? Since the murder of her gifted mother, Elaina has been sheltered on her father's ship. But when Elaina's secret is compromised, she must return to land and live under the king's protection...much to her objection. Ashland's crown prince, Nicholas, has never been without. He is, however, facing a possible civil war and a deadly foe who preys on his gifted citizens. So when he meets Elaina, Nicholas delights in insisting that she share her military expertise gained on her father's ship. He gets more than he bargains for, though, when he finds that he might have fallen for the one girl who refuses to fall for his charms. Just as Elaina and Nicholas begin to realize they might need each other after all, a dark turn of events finds Elaina exiled and forced into servitude, a civil war declared, and the murderer bloodthirstier than ever. Can Nicholas and Elaina defeat the dark forces that have poisoned their kingdom…and find their own happy ending as well? Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers is sixth in the Classical Kingdoms Collection, a series of fairy tale retellings. It can, however, be read as a stand-alone. Read this retelling of Cinderella today to experience adventure, intrigue, clean romance, and Cinderella like you've never read her before.

Can she risk trusting a man if it means saving her sister? And what will she do when that reluctant trust begins to change into something more? Jaelle knows better than to trust men. Every girl in Terrefantome is wiser than that. But when her plan to escape her oppressive kingdom with her sister goes awry, she finds herself with an unwanted gift and her sister in peril. To make matters worse, she's thrust into the company of a foreign prince on a strange mission. With no one else to turn to, Jaelle must choose between trusting and aiding him in his quest and receiving his help in return...or saving her sister on her own. Prince Lucas of Maricanta is on the most important mission of his life; if he fails, his kingdom will be overrun by criminals of the most violent kind. When his meddling mother follows him into enemy territory, however, dragging along some poor girl that she insists is his future wife, he must alter plans to finish his mission and protect them all. Jaelle and Lucas know his mother's plan to betroth them is far-fetched. They also know, however, that in Terrefantome, playing along with the sham engagement is safer by far. But with enemies closing in on every side and their own affections getting muddled along the way, Lucas and Jaelle must choose between the futures they've sacrificed for and the love of which they've always dreamed. A Curse of Gems is the seventh book in The Classical Kingdoms Collection, but it can also be enjoyed as a stand-alone. Read this fairy tale retelling now to experience danger, intrigue, and passionate, clean romance as only fairy tales can give.

Neverland is dying.And it's all Wendy's fault.Wendy's parents have finally chosen her prospective husband, and her world is falling apart. So when the mysterious, handsome Peter invites Wendy and her little brothers to run away to a place called Neverland, she accepts.At first, Neverland is more wonderful than anything Wendy could have imagined. So are the variety of interesting characters who live there, from the Lost Boys to the mermaids to the fae to the misunderstood privateer, Captain Jay. But as time rolls on, Wendy realizes that growing up might not be so bad...if she had the right person to do it with.The only problem is that in Neverland, growing up is forbidden. And the farther she gets from childhood, the more she endangers them all. Unfortunately, when the fae decide she's gone too far, both Peter and Wendy must decide where their love and loyalty lie and how far they're willing to chase it.For if they're not careful, Neverland and everyone in it will fall.Neverland Falling is the first in the Neverland Duology, which takes place in the world of The Classical Kingdoms Collection, and is followed by Breaking Neverland. While the story is part of the shared world, the duology can be read on its own. Pick up Neverland Falling today for clean, passionate, childhood sweethearts romance, magical mystery, and heroic happily ever afters.

Author's Note: This book is the sequel to Neverland Falling, A Retelling of Peter Pan, Part I, and it takes place in the the Classical Kingdoms Collection fairy tale world.Neverland is breaking.Wendy has been banished.Peter Pan is losing control.Peter has banished Wendy from Neverland, but she's determined to return to fetch her brothers. To go back, however, she'll need a miracle. Such a miracle will be costly, and Wendy must decide whom to trust and how far she's prepared to go...as well as how willing she is to leave Peter Pan to his fate.Peter and the Neverstar are upholding a skeleton of the place Neverland once was. And without Wendy beside him, the effort seems doomed to futility. Just as he's about to give up, though, redemption looms on the horizon…but with it comes sacrifice of monumental proportions.And while Captain Jay might be gone, his schemes haven't been forgotten. The more Peter and the captain and Wendy play their dangerous games, the more Neverland begins to crumble. Everything he loves is going to come crashing down, and Peter must choose which to save before he loses it all.Breaking Neverland is the ninth book in The Classical Kingdoms Collection and is the sequel to Neverland Falling Duology. Read this fairy tale retelling now to experience clean, passionate romance, magical mystery, and heroic happily-ever-afters.

Sabra needed an army of warriors.She only found one. Sabra has spent her entire life studying, practicing, and preparing to become Segzein's Crown Princess. Prepared to take on the burden of the crown - and give up hope of ever finding love - Sabra is confident that she's ready to lead. But just as the crown is within reach, questions about her bloodline give rise to fighting within the kingdom's clans, and the most indignant of them all gives Sabra an ultimatum: Sabra must step down...or he'll reduce the kingdom to ashes with the use of ancient forbidden arts. Sabra wants to fight, but when the dragon brings her kingdom to its knees, she decides there's only one path she can follow. She must find the Segzein's eighth clan - the Sentinels. Her only problem? They've vanished into thin air. Against her advisers' will, Sabra goes in search of the missing warriors, determined to stop the dragon without capitulating to his demands. And she finds...one warrior. But only one. And to Sabra's shock, that one warrior has a surprisingly familiar face.Will the missing clan's survivor be enough to defeat the dragon? Or will Sabra's future and her kingdom perish?Author's Note: The Sentinel's Song is the tenth book in the Classical Kingdoms Collection but can be read as a stand-alone. It was previously published as "The Princess and St. George's Dragon" in novelette form but has been rewritten as a complete novel and set in the Classical Kingdoms Collection World. Buy The Sentinel's Song today to experience clean, passionate romance, magical mystery, and heroic happily-ever-afters.

Her kingdom is in ashes.Her crown is worth even less.Her betrothed is promised to another.But this princess is determined to reclaim it all.On her seventeenth birthday, Princess Maleen's future couldn't be brighter. Despite the loss of her parents at a young age and her controlling uncle's constant paranoia, Maleen is on the cusp of everything she ever dreamed of. Her people adore her. Her coronation is only seven years away. And best of all, her childhood sweetheart, Prince Roburts, has proposed. Their two kingdoms, which have always had an uneasy relationship, will be united in peace for the first time since becoming sovereign nations of their own.Unfortunately, this is more than her uncle can abide. Angered by her betrothal, he locks her in a tower in hopes that she'll have come to her senses in seven years' time when she comes of age to ascend the throne.For seven years, Maleen tries to escape, expecting at any minute that her beloved will break down the door. But when seven years come and go, she realizes that escape is up to her if she ever wishes to see the sun again. Upon breaking out of the tower, however, she quickly finds that getting out was the easy part. War and death have torn the two kingdoms apart. And an even worse fate is awaiting her people and her beloved if she can't find a way to muster her courage one more time.The Seven Years Princess is the eleventh book in the Classical Kingdoms Collection series, but it can be read as a stand-alone story. Buy The Seven Years Princess today to escape into the world of clean, passionate romance, magical mysteries, and heroic happily-ever-afters.

The curse of a wolf bite. A war of song. A ball to save the girl the prince loves. 1. Girl in the Red Hood: A Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood After moving to a village deep in a sunless forest, Liesel is bitten by a wolf and marked for a terrifying destiny. Befriended by a mysterious boy in the woods soon after, however, Liesel finds herself falling in love with the one person in the world who might save her from that awful end... or doom her to it. Faced with terrifying odds, Liesel must decide to accept her fate for those she loves or fight for the freedom to choose her own way. 2. Silent Mermaid: A Retelling of The Little Mermaid After being touched by the sun at birth, Princess Arianna has grown up imprisoned between two worlds, neither fully mermaid nor fully human. But when she loses her family and her kingdom in a war between man and merfolk, she is forced to flee into the arms of her family's enemies. Her only hope of protection lies in the penniless prince that she once saved and his two boisterous nieces. Prince Michael is at his wit's end. With his people starving and his treasury nearly empty, the familiar girl from the past that falls piteously at his feet cannot be afforded his attention. He has only the resources and time for the barest of good deeds to pay back that which she gave him. But the more Michael begins to hear the girl beneath her silence, the more he realizes she just might be the distraction he cannot survive without. All the while, darkness is beginning to poison the ocean, and an evil foreseen by neither Arianna nor Michael threatens the very existence of both peoples. If they wish to restore their kingdoms, Arianna and Michael will need to reconsider their alliances, their beliefs, and an ancient prophecy that's been all but forgotten. Most importantly, they must decide whether or not they can move past their personal pain and trust one another. Because if they can't, everything and everyone they love will fall. 3. Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers: A Retelling of Cinderella Since the murder of her gifted mother, Elaina has been sheltered on her father's naval ship. But when Elaina's secret is compromised, she must return to land and live under the king's protection, much to her objection. Ashland's crown prince, Nicholas, has never been without. He is, however, facing a possible civil war and a deadly foe that preys on his gifted citizens. So when he meets Elaina, Nicholas delights in insisting she share her military expertise gained on her father's ship. He gets more than he bargains for, though, when he finds that he might be falling for the one girl who refuses to fall for his charms. Just as Elaina and Nicholas begin to realize they might need each other after all, a dark turn of events finds Elaina exiled and forced into servitude, a civil war declared, and the murderer bloodthirstier than ever. Can Nicholas and Elaina defeat the dark forces that have poisoned their kingdom… and find their own happy ending as well? This Classical Kingdoms Collection Trilogy 2 contains Books 4, 5, and 6, full-length novel retellings of Little Red Riding Hood, The Little Mermaid, and Cinderella. These fairy tale retellings take place in the same world as The Becoming Beauty Trilogy but can be read as standalones. Read these tales today to experience clean, passionate romance, magical mystery, and heroic happily-ever-afters.

A girl willing to do anything to save her sister...even if it means trusting a man.A magical land that's falling apart.Peter Pan is losing control. 1. A Curse of Gems: A Retelling of Toads and Diamonds Jaelle knows better than to trust men. Every girl in Terrefantome knows that. But when her plan to escape her oppressive kingdom with her sister goes awry, she finds herself with an unwanted magical gift and her sister in peril. To make matters worse, she's thrust into the company of a foreign prince on a strange mission. With no one else to turn to, Jaelle must choose between aiding him in his quest and receiving his help in return...or saving her sister on her own. Prince Lucas of Maricanta is on the most important mission of his life; if he fails, his kingdom will be overrun by an army of criminals. When his meddling mother follows him into enemy territory, however, dragging along some poor girl that she insists is his future wife, he must alter plans to protect them all. Jaelle and Lucas know his mother's plan to betrothe them is far-fetched. They also know, however, that in Terrefantome, playing along with the sham engagement is safer by far. But with enemies closing in on every side and their own affections getting muddled along the way, Lucas and Jaelle must choose between the futures they've sacrificed for and the love of which they've always dreamed. 2. Neverland Falling: A Retelling of Peter Pan, Part I Wendy's parents have chosen her prospective husband, and her world is falling apart. So when the mysterious, handsome Peter invites Wendy and her little brothers to run away to a place called Neverland, she accepts. At first, Neverland is more wonderful than Wendy imagined. So are all the people who live there, from the Lost Boys to the mermaids to the fae to the misunderstood privateer, Captain Jay. But as time rolls on, Wendy realizes that growing up might not be so bad...if she had the right person to do it with. Unfortunately, growing up in Neverland is forbidden. And the farther she gets from childhood, the more she endangers them all. And when the fae decide she's gone too far, both Peter and Wendy must decide where their love and loyalties lie and how far they're willing to chase them. For if they're not careful, Neverland and everyone in it will fall. 3. Breaking Neverland: A Retelling of Peter Pan, Part II Peter has banished Wendy from Neverland, but she's determined to return to fetch her brothers. To go back, however, she'll need a miracle. Such a miracle will be costly, and Wendy must decide whom to trust and how far she's prepared to go...as well as how willing she is to leave Peter Pan to his fate. Peter and the Neverstar are upholding a skeleton of the place Neverland once was. And without Wendy beside him, the effort seems doomed to futility. Just as he's about to give up, though, redemption looms on the horizon…but it will demand sacrifice of monumental proportions. And while Captain Jay might be gone, his schemes haven't been forgotten. The more Peter, the captain, and Wendy play their dangerous games, the more Neverland begins to crumble. Everything he loves is going to come crashing down, and Peter must choose which to save before he loses it all. This Classical Kingdoms Collection Trilogy Book 3 contains Books 7, 8, and 9, full-length novel retellings of Toads and Diamonds and a two-book retelling of Peter Pan. These fairy tale retellings take place in the same world as The Classical Kingdoms Collection novels but can be read as standalones. Read these tales today to experience clean, passionate romance, magical mystery, and heroic happily-ever-afters. *This book was previously published as The Classical Kingdoms Collection Bookset 3

A beastly man who is powerful but deeply flawed. A crippled beauty possessing a secret strength. Can they save the kingdom… and each other? And even if they break the curse, will they get their happy ending? Follow Beauty and the Beast not only through the curse but through their journey across these three beloved fairy tales to find their happily ever after. 1. Before Beauty: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast Prince Everard was raised to be a warrior, but after the death of his father, his entire life has fallen apart. Unsure of who he is and unable to cope with the pain, Everard makes a choice that puts both his Fortress and himself in great jeopardy… Isabelle wishes she could be rid of the prince and his unruly temper after he ruined her life in more ways than one. But when Everard summons the merchant's daughter to help him break a curse, she wonders if the prince is the beast she always thought him to be. As she moves from resentment to acceptance to affection, she discovers the sheer joy love can bring… as well as the utter devastation of loss. Can Ever and Isa move past their brokenness to find love and save Destin together, or will they and their beloved kingdom remain under darkness forever? 2. Blinding Beauty: A Retelling of The Princess and the Glass Hill It has been only five months since their wedding, but Ever and Isa are already being torn apart. Duty to the kingdom keeps Ever occupied, while Isa struggles to master the Fortress's mysterious fire. So when the young couple is invited to an ally's betrothal ceremony, they go in hopes of enjoying the honeymoon they never had. Upon arrival, however, something is sorely amiss. A glass hill, an ancient enchanter, and the mysterious tribute paid to Isa's younger brother, Launce, quickly dash their hopes of rest, and it's not long before Ever and Isa must fight to protect the Fortress, their neighbors, and even the very love that binds them. 3. Beauty Beheld: A Retelling of Hansel and Gretel Henri and his little sister, Genny, find themselves abandoned in the forest when something dark beckons to them. Something sweet. And though Henri strives to use his special abilities to protect his sister, the call soon becomes too strong for even him to ignore. Back at the Fortress, King Everard and Queen Isabelle are enjoying a reign of peace, but what should be a time of joy is marred by the pain of being childless. So when Isa and Ever find themselves in charge of two forsaken children with unusual abilities, and they are called to face an enemy with unexpected connections to Ever's past, they must trust the Fortress once again if they wish to hold onto their kingdom, the hope of parenthood, and ultimately, one another. The Classical Kingdoms Collection Trilogy Book 1 contains the first three books in the Classical Kingdoms Collection. These fairy tale retellings are set in the same world as the other Classical Kingdoms Collection, featuring (as always) clean and wholesome romance, magical mystery, and heroic happily ever afters. Follow Ever and Isa on their journey as they go from Beauty and the Beast to beyond! *This book was previously published as The Becoming Beauty Trilogy.

A mysterious young woman held captive on a silent moor. Her captors plotting revenge. The unlikeliest hero determined to save her. When the king of Eridan decided to eradicate the Ruby Witches from the land, he knew it would be difficult. But he had no idea the crushing form their revenge would take. And though he does his best to prepare for their retribution, he knows it may never be enough. Angered by the king's attempt, the witches spread their malice all over the land, taking a young woman captive and preparing her for the cruelest of fates. Her only hope of rescue lies in a poor, mute man who is unable to even save himself. But the king's efforts weren't all in vain. There may be hope yet if this unlikely hero can find the courage to do the impossible—and sacrifice as none have before to save the princess of the silent moor. Princess of the Silent Moor is a clean fantasy fairy tale retelling novella of Princess Finola and the Dwarf. Complete with magical mystery, clean, passionate romance, and heroic happily ever afters. It takes place in the world of the Classical Kingdoms Collection, but it can be read as a standalone. Read this fairy tale retelling for a magical adventure today!