Böcker av Stephanie Ascough

Beauty Giordano can duplicate precious stones, a skill too closely linked to the dangerous, secretive fey for her family's comfort. But when she must use her double alchemy to save her family from financial ruin, she accidentally draws the attention of an indignant stranger from the forest and finds herself in a strange castle, where a cursed fey prince hides in the shadows. Discovering the necklace she stole is the key to breaking the castle's curse, Beauty strikes a bargain with Prince Armand du Soir which allows them both to benefit from her double alchemy. Despite their initial prickly encounter, the human woman and fey man see through one another's defenses in a way no one else has. Both quickly grow to understand and care for the wounds hidden beneath each other's resistance and pride, and their attraction becomes undeniable. As the curse continues to weaken, Beauty and Armand must choose between their responsibilities and their growing love. But other forces at play won't let them find a happily ever after so easily, and Beauty's choices produce consequences she can't escape. Magic brought them together. Will it tear them apart?

Love and lost chances, innocence and scars. Enchantments and adventure. Freedom and silence. Magic spells and bloodied keys. The Wistful Wild offers a wide selection of poetry inspired by fairy tales and myths. Through stories both familiar and obscure, readers will encounter the perspectives of oft-overlooked side characters and main characters alike. Some celebrate love, whether platonic, familial, or romantic. Others warn of its potential dangers. At its heart, this poetry book explores the experiences of fairy tale characters who are many things: wild, wicked, and wondrous; sweet, scarred, and satisfied; forgotten, found, and forged; maiden, mother, and crone. In other words, souls of longing and ferocity. Featuring poems inspired by:Sleeping BeautySnow WhiteBeauty and the BeastWhite Bear King ValemonThe Little MermaidThe Twelve Dancing PrincessesMaid MaleenBluebeard…and others

Flowers reveal identities. Identities conceal secrets. Fairy tales remove the cloak.A fearless girl faces her most cunning foe, and this one stands on two legs.A young man with a secret strives to make a place for himself in a harsh and unwelcoming world.A fugitive who must rescue her lover finds that the life she left behind isn't what she thought it was.A dragon falls in love with a god, but their differences may keep them apart.A witch strikes a bargain with a forest spy, leaving both with more than they expected.Explore heritage, friendship, and love in many forms in these three retellings and two original tales. Follow five characters as they discover that the past, the present, or the person they thought they knew conceals far more than they imagined.