Prince Fier was cursed and now haunts his manor. Anyone who tries to enter is overcome by an incapacitating fear. All but Petra, the manor’s gardener, who hasn’t encountered the missing prince.

Once upon a time, they said, as if they had not yet been born when the happenings transpired.
Once upon a time, they said, as if to turn the already-inexplicable truth into something even more mysterious.

I first heard of this book in a list of queer retellings, and it jumped up on my TBR. I loved the prose of some passages but wished it was consistent all through. Not that it was ever bad, mind you, just more neutral and the author’s voice wasn’t as evident.

I liked the depiction of how hiding who you are takes a toll on you. How it causes irritability, hurting you and the people around you.

It’s a heartwarming tale of trauma, acceptance, consent, and trust.