Monday, September 30, 2024

Lost Kerchiefs Release Week: Goose Princess

Hello, friends! Welcome back to the Lost Kerchiefs Arista Challenge release week! We have two more books releasing, and today's is the long-awaited Goose Princess, book four of the Beyond the Tales series by Tricia Mingerink. This Goose Girl/Wild Swans mashup takes place in an American-inspired world and features protective brothers, backwoods adventure, and animal curses. As usual, I have a couple snippets of the book to share here, and you can visit Light and Shadows for an interview with the author.

About . . .

Goose Princess

Before he can have peace, he has one last curse to face.

In the three years since he woke from his enchanted sleep, High King Alexander has faced multiple curses, nearly died, and re-united the Seven Kingdoms of Tallahatchia. He has watched everyone around him find peace and happiness. Is it finally time for him to secure happiness for himself?

When an old enemy strikes once again, Alex finds himself on the run, hunted in his own kingdom, and all alone except for the most unlikely ally: a princess who can't talk to people and her gaggle of goose brothers.

With his enemies closing around him, Alex must make a choice. Will he rescue his best friend or save his kingdom? And, after everything he suffered, does he even want to be the high king or is this his chance to walk away and pursue his own happy ending?

Find it on: Amazon || Goodreads

Tricia Mingerink

Tricia Mingerink is author of adventurous fairytales and action-packed Christian kingdom adventure stories. She lives in Michigan with her dog, horse, and in a house stuffed to the rafters with books.

Find her online at: Website ||  Goodreads || Facebook || Instagram || Amazon 

Goose Princess Excerpts

First Lines

High King Alexander of Tallahatchia dipped his paddle into the still waters of the Kanawhee River. The prow of his canoe parted the shrouding morning mist lying thick over the river and clinging to the surrounding mountains. The faintest blush of pink painted the horizon and highlighted the edges of the summer leaves. 

For a moment, he rested his paddle across his knees and let his canoe drift with the current. He drew in a deep breath of the misty air tinged with the muddy wet of the river and crisp green of the trees crowding the banks. 

Potatoes

        Princess Keziah of Buckhannock perched on the edge of her seat at the dinner
table as she plotted how to ask for the potatoes.

~~~

Are you curious about Goose Princess? Please tell me in the comments!
Thanks for reading!

 

Friday, September 27, 2024

Lost Kerchiefs Release Week: Illusion's Reign Is Here!!!

Hello, hello, hello! Today is day five of the Lost Kerchiefs Arista Challenge release week, and that means it's a very special day for me: release day for my newest novel, Illusion's Reign! I'm super excited to be able to share this story with you after having worked on it so long, and I hope y'all will enjoy it. In fact, I'm so excited to share it that I'm posting an excerpt from the first chapter here . . . and if you're still curious after that, you can visit Light and Shadows for a behind-the-scenes look at some of my worldbuilding for the book.

About . . .

Illusion's Reign

A transformed princess is determined to reclaim what's hers — but can truth prevail when illusion wears the crown?

Crown Princess Onora of Atìrse is eager to prove herself as the heir to her parents' throne. Moving into one of her family's holdings away from the Royal Seat offers the chance to put into practice all she's learned and demonstrate what kind of queen she intends to one day be, and even the shadow of an uprising among Atìrse's faery neighbors can't dull her excitement. Yet her plans go awry when one of her attendants proves false and she's transformed and replaced by a faery imposter.

Though cursed and cast into the role of a lowly goose-keeper, with only her beloved cat as an ally, Onora refuses to admit defeat. She'll do whatever it takes to break the curse, expose the imposter, and take back the role that is rightfully hers. However, that's easier said than done when her opponent can so easily manipulate the truth — and the fickle feelings of the locals and the surliness of the miller's strange assistant don't make her task any less difficult.

Time is swiftly passing, and Onora must reclaim her place before the transformation becomes permanent. But can she do so when nothing is as it seems and even her allies have secrets?

Return to the kingdom of Atìrse and discover what happens when "The Goose Girl" meets "Puss in Boots" in this prequel to the award-winning Song of the Selkies.

Find it on: Amazon || Goodreads

Illusion's Reign Excerpt: A New Beginning

The castle came into view as Onora’s party crested the hill, the grey walls and keep rising against the blue of the summer sky. The sight brought a thrill and a thrumming excitement to Onora’s heart. Nearly there!
The road here had been—not hard. They’d spent every night at the homes of nobles, had been welcomed and feted and given every courtesy. The weather had been fair, the road free of brigands and other hazards. And despite all the unrest in Tìr Soilleir, the kingdom of the faeries and Atìrse’s nearest allies, and despite all Onora’s parents’ and grandmother’s worry about trouble with rogue faeries along the road, especially with message mirrors largely unusable, the greatest inconvenience anyone in the party had suffered was the moping of Onora’s maid, Brigid.


No, the road hadn’t been hard. But it had been long. Onora felt she could have done just as well with a faster pace and fewer stops, even if that would have meant staying at inns or camping rough instead of resting in noble houses. Still, that was past. They were here—they were home—at last.


The same excitement that had caught her seemed to have touched her companions as well. The guards and the handful of servants she’d brought with her exchanged jokes and comments about what they’d do first when they reached the castle, laughing and teasing one another. None addressed Onora, but that was fine. She would be their queen someday, and so it was only right that she should stay a little aloof.


The castle remained in view as they trotted their horses down the slope of the hill and along the road that led through the fields. Spirits remained high as well; when Onora glanced back, she saw that even Brigid had perked up—somewhat, at least. Her petulant frown remained, puckering the burn scar that covered one cheek, but at least she had straightened in her seat on the back of the little-used carriage.


Onora sighed and turned to face forward again. When she got to the castle and got settled, the first thing she’d do would be give Brigid three days off to sort herself out. She knew the woman had reason to be upset. Brigid didn’t like travel, she hadn’t wanted to leave her family in the royal seat, and the man she’d been seeing had broken things off with her three days before the party left. 


All the same, Onora had given her the chance to resign, and Brigid had chosen to come. “I’ll manage,” she’d said the day before they departed. “Maybe being far away from Rian will be good for me.”


So far, all Brigid had managed to do was mope, sulk, and be so slow to do as Onora asked that Onora frequently found it easier to fend for herself. But maybe she’d be better once they weren’t on the road anymore—and if not, Onora would send her back to the royal seat and find a replacement among the castle maids. 


Despite her eagerness to reach the castle, however, as they drew nearer, Onora turned her horse towards the sea cliffs and the small, round tower set upon one of them. Though it was still day, a light shone at the top. “We’ll go to the Tùr-Faire first to meet with the priest and ask Dèanadair’s blessing on this next stage.”


Brigid groaned, but the guard commander, Captaen Atholl, nodded and called out the order to the company. They all turned with Onora and made for the Tùr-Faire. 


The doors of the Tùr-Faire stood open, but Onora could see no one inside. That was hardly a surprise. It was too early for an evening service and too late for a morning one, and Onora wouldn’t expect services on Speuratha, two days after the main day of worship, anyway. 


Still, no one visible on the main level didn’t mean no one was present at all. So, as they reached the door, Onora reined her horse in and dismounted, swinging expertly to the ground. As she did, her cat, Càirdeil, roused himself with a sharp “Meowl?” from the nest of blankets Onora had made for him behind her saddle. He stretched and then hopped to her shoulder, landing atop the protective leather she wore there for just such a purpose and hooking his back paws into the chain loops at its edge.


Onora waited for him to settle himself there before addressing Captaen Atholl. “Captaen, will you and one of your men come in with me?” Turning to the others, she added, “The rest of you can come or stay as you please. I do not plan to be long.”


Captaen Atholl dismounted, gesturing for one of his men to do the same. A few of the servants also climbed off their horses or their seats on the carriage. The greater part remained where they were, however, and Brigid sighed wearily.


Was even honoring Dèanadair not reason enough for Brigid to cease her grumbling? Onora shut her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. She would not allow her maid to ruin this day for her, nor would she harbor bitterness in her own spirit when she entered the house of Dèanadair. Her parents had taught her better than that.


Opening her eyes once more, Onora led the way into the Tùr-Faire. It was as empty within as it had looked from outside, but she could hear voices and movement from the second floor, where the priests had their quarters. So, she asked one of the guards, “Will you go inform the priests that I have arrived and wish to speak with one of them, preferably the head priest?” She couldn’t recall his name just now—the one she’d known growing up had stepped down after many long years of faithful service, and she was tired enough that she wasn’t quite sure which of the two possible replacements had been selected.
The guard saluted and obeyed, jogging towards the staircase—cleverly hidden from easy view by a trick in the curving architecture in the walls. He vanished up the steps. Onora heard his footsteps, then muffled voices. A moment later, he returned. Just behind him came a dark-haired man whom Onora judged to be perhaps five or six years younger than her father. He wore the green robes of a priest, trimmed in white to indicate his rank as the spiritual leader of this community. 


As he neared her, he stopped and bowed. “Greetings, your highness. Dèanadair’s blessings be upon you.”
“And upon you,” Onora replied, gesturing for him to rise. “So, you have taken Aoghaire Rowan’s place?”
“Indeed, your highness. Dòmhnall is my name.” Now that he’d performed the necessary formalities, Dòmhnall stood straight before her and looked her in the eyes, much like Deòrsa, the head priest who often counseled Onora’s father, did before King Seòras. Good! Exactly what Onora had hoped for. “And you have come to take the place of her majesty your grandmother?”


“I have, yes.” Not that Queen Moireach would be leaving permanently anytime soon—this was her favorite of the royal holdings, and no one would dream of telling her she couldn’t stay. But this was also one of the holdings where heirs to the throne often dwelt between coming of age and starting their reigns, and in the same way, Onora would now take over the ruling of this castle and its lands, with Queen Moireach serving as an advisor.


In ordinary circumstances, the summer would have seen a slow shift of responsibility from Queen Moireach to Onora. However, the business of the faery uprising had kept Queen Moireach in the royal seat for a month and a half now, and she would most likely remain there until the rest of Onora’s family arrived in a few months’ time to make ready for Onora’s wedding. So, the transition would be much more rapid—but this was a quiet location, safe from most threats, and most aspects of life here managed themselves, and Onora doubted there would be any issue.


Dòmhnall inclined his head slightly. “Then I welcome you once more, your highness, not just as yourself but as the new lady of these lands.”


“Thank you, Aoghaire,” Onora replied. “I have not yet taken up residence in nor command of the castle, for I wished to come here first. I hoped that you might pray over these next steps in my path, that I would have both Dèanadair’s blessing and His wisdom as I walk them, before I truly began.”


A smile spread over Dòmhnall’s square face. “It would be my honor, your highness. Will you come kneel at the altar?”


“Gladly.” Onora did as Dòmhnall had asked, walking to the carved and painted altar and kneeling just before it. Càirdeil leapt from her shoulder as she descended, landing with his stub-tail in the air, and padded off to investigate the corners of the room. 


Onora clasped her hands and bowed her head as Dòmhnall rested his hands on her shoulders. For a moment, he was silent, no doubt finding the right words. Then he spoke, his voice quiet, but authoritative. “Dèanadair, Maker of Earth and Sea and Sky, we praise You, for You set the paths of men both noble and common according to Your unending wisdom. You lead us through green pastures and by clear streams, and You do not abandon us when we walk through valleys of thorns and snares.


“You set our paths, Dèanadair, and You already know each step that lies before Princess Onora. Until now, she has walked beside her parents and been guided by them in Your ways. Now she steps onto a path of her own, yet I pray that she would remain on Your true path, Dèanadair. May she follow in the footsteps of Cìobair, the Shepherd, walking in the way that leads to life and leading others in the same way, regardless of the cost. May the flame of the Gèadh Naomh, Your guiding Spirit, never dim in her heart; may she listen to its warnings and heed its guidance in each decision she makes.”


Dòmhnall’s hands squeezed Onora’s shoulders in a fatherly sort of way. “May she have courage, Dèanadair. A queen needs courage every day; so, too, does a young woman whose kin are far away. May she not forget that You walk with her. May she have wisdom to discern right from wrong and truth from lie, wisdom to find good friends and counselors and to avoid those who would try to draw her off Your way. And in all things, I pray that she would bring honor to You, her heavenly father, and to the king, her father in this realm, and that, despite her youth, she would be a shining example of what it is to walk in Your ways. As we pray, Dèanadair, so may it be.” 


“So may it be,” Onora echoed softly. Dòmhnall’s hands left her shoulders, and she stood. “Thank you, Aoghaire. I appreciate your prayer, and I hope you will not cease to pray on my behalf.”


“I have been doing so long before now, your highness, and I have no intention of stopping.” Dòmhnall looked as though he might have laughed but caught himself just in time. “And if there is aught else a priest may do for a princess, I am at your service.”


“I am of the opinion that a princess always needs a priest.” Onora smiled wryly. “Or so my royal father and mother have taught me. They take council often with Aoghaire Deòrsa, the head priest nearest our castle. I hope I will be able to call on you for advice in the same way.”


Dòmhnall bowed his head. “It would be my honor, your highness, as well as being my duty before Dèanadair.”


“Good! Then I am certain we will see much of each other.” Even from this brief interaction, Onora had no doubt that Dòmhnall would be a valuable councilor. He was younger than Deòrsa, but he was devoted and seemed to know the words of Dèanadair well. “And do not hold back in your council, please. If you see me walking down a foolish path, or a path that would dishonor Dèanadair, warn me of my folly, whether I ask for it in the moment or not. No king or queen is above such warnings when given by a servant of the Maker.”


“I will do my best, your highness,” Dòmhnall replied. There was a hint of humor in his voice as he added, “And you will forgive me if, should such warnings be necessary, I remind you that you made this request.”
“I would expect nothing less.” Onora almost laughed at that. “Thank you once more, Aoghaire, and good day to you.”

~~~

Are you excited to read Illusion's Reign? Please tell me in the comments!
Thanks for reading!

Thursday, September 26, 2024

Lost Kerchiefs Release Week: Arabella's Song

Hello, friends! We are now on day four of the Lost Kerchiefs Arista Challenge release week, celebrating the release of Arabella's Song by Meagan Myhren-Bennett. This retelling blends The Goose Girl with The Pied Piper, featuring a kingdom in danger, royals in disguise, and a mysterious song that just might save our heroine's life. Get a taste of this book in the snippet I have to share with you, or learn more about the author and story in an interview over at Light and Shadows!

About . . .

Arabella's Song

A song calls her to her destiny until a betrayal threatens her future.

Arabella's future has long been decided, but she'll have to fight for it when her trusted servant betrays her.

All her life, a song has drawn her towards her destiny, and now it may very well be what saves her life.

With the aid of a talking horse, a mysterious stranger, and a foreign dignitary, Arabella is in a race against time to reclaim the identity stolen from her in this story based on the Goose Girl and the Pied Piper of Hamelin.

This is the first book in The House of Sorah series.

Find it on: Amazon || Goodreads || Full Series

Meagan Myhren-Bennett

Meagan's love of words began at an early age - starting with bedtime stories read nightly. Her first foray into the printed word was a collection of poems and stories, which was limited to a one-copy printing when she was eight years old. Unfortunately, this rare single copy was lost in a cross-country move.

When not creating word magic, Meagan spends her working hours among the stacks of her local library, where she has been happily employed for several years.

This Northern Californian native who now calls Wisconsin home, after brief excursions to Florida and Illinois, shares her home with a small herd of Dachshunds.

Sharing my heart through words.

Find her online at: Website || Blog || Goodreads || Facebook || X formerly Twitter || YouTube || Newsletter || Instagram || MeWe || Bookbub || Amazon 

Arabella's Song Snippet

I wanted to get closer. I wanted to see the player's face. I needed to  see his face. The bank was at least twenty feet from where I stood and I was  unsure of the river's depth. The moonlight playing across its surface gave nothing away. I wanted to get the player's attention, but I didn't  want to interrupt the song. I drew as close to the water's edge as I could, but I needed to be closer. I stepped into the river and was shocked by the cold. I was barefoot. Why am I barefoot? I looked down at my feet only to notice that I was dressed in my  nightgown without even a robe to protect me from the cold night air. How did I get here? And why hadn't I changed into more suitable clothing? The confusion was overwhelming, and I felt a sense of disorientation that I couldn't shake off. 

Are you curious about Arabella's Song? Please tell me in the comments!
Thanks for reading!

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Lost Kerchiefs Release Week: Wind Charmer

Hello, everyone! It is now day two of the Lost Kerchiefs Arista Challenge release week, and today's book is Wind Charmer by Meredith Leigh Burton. This retelling features an autistic heroine, talking animals, hidden powers, and chosen destinies, as well as a friends-to-lovers arranged marriage romance. You can read a small snippet of the book if you scroll down this post, or you can visit Light and Shadows for an interview with the author.

About . . .

Wind Charmer

Felicity does not conform to her kingdom’s idea of a princess. She is shy, clumsy and very routine in her habits. Yet she is also fiercely protective, adores animals and determined to fulfill her royal duties despite the anxiety that often grips her heart.

Felicity has been chosen to marry Prince Nathan of the kingdom of Fidel, a man whom she has never met. Will her eccentricities upset him? When Felicity sets forth on her momentous journey to Fidel, she quickly realizes that a threat lurks closer than she could ever have imagined.

Thrust into a kingdom with different customs, Felicity struggles to adapt to the changes that she must encounter. The malevolent circumstances that follow her every waking moment begin to encroach upon those she holds dear. Felicity must confront the evil that seeks to devour her, an evil that is as deceptively beautiful as it is deadly. Yet how can she do so when feelings of self-doubt and shame plague her every waking moment? Can she find the courage to leave her comforting routines behind in order to save two kingdoms from an impending tyrant’s rule? A surly goose herder, a brusque groom and possibly the prince himself may be the only ones who can help. But can she trust them?

A story of hidden strength, deception and finding your voice, Wind Charmer is a tale of two kingdoms grappling to survive. Gifts of unusual power can be used to hurt or heal. A golden goose and a kind horse will play pivotal roles in a young maiden’s quest to find the courage to face an insidious threat, and a young prince must face a harrowing past in order that he may become the ruler he is destined to be. Wind Charmer is a tale not to be missed, a story of perseverance and faith in the midst of evil.

Find it on: Amazon || Goodreads

Meredith Leigh Burton

Meredith Leigh Burton is a voracious devourer of fairy tales. She is a motivational speaker, teacher and writer. She attended the Tennessee School for the Blind and Middle Tennessee State University, where she received a degree in English and theater. Meredith hopes to convey through her writing that people with differences can contribute much to the world. "Snow White" has always been her favorite fairy tale. Meredith has written another fairy tale based on "Snow White" entitled Hart Spring, which can be found in her anthology, Blind Beauty and Other Tales of Redemption. She resides in Lynchburg, Tennessee.

Find her online at: Goodreads || Amazon 

Wind Charmer Snippet

Felicity’s head jerked up, and she gasped. That was surely Falada’s voice she was hearing, but it was impossible. Suddenly, Felicity became aware of a gentle cooling sensation upon her wrist, the sensation of an autumn breeze. A scent of apple blossoms and honey permeated the air. Shaking, Felicity gazed at the horsehair bracelet upon her arm. It glowed a deep golden hue, the color of sun-kissed honey. Was she going mad? “Falada?”

What did you think of that snippet? Are you excited for Wind Charmer? Please tell me in the comments!
Thanks for reading!

 

Monday, September 23, 2024

Lost Kerchiefs Release Week: The Handmaid's Blood

Hello, friends! Welcome to release week for the Lost Kerchiefs Arista Challenge! Aka, the week in which we launch seven new Goose Girl retellings into the world and hope they land well. For this week, I'll be sharing snippets and fun facts here on Dreams and Dragons, while Light and Shadows will host interviews with each of the authors. We're starting out the group release with Kendra E. Ardnek's new short story, The Handmaid's Blood, a villain-twist retelling featuring compulsion magic, political intrigue, and an unexpected alliance. Read on to learn more, including some behind-the-scenes info from Kendra on how The Handmaid's Blood came to be!

About . . .

The Handmaid's Blood

Three drops of blood bind her to the princess’s will.

But three drops of blood bind the princess to her mother’s will. And when her mother’s will is to travel to the neighboring kingdom as a bride to its doom, the princess sees only one way out. Can the handmaid carry on the charade long enough to prevent a war? Or is compulsion magic not even enough to disguise a handmaid as a royal?

Find it on: Amazon || Goodreads || Full Series

Kendra E. Ardnek

Kendra E. Ardnek is the self-proclaimed Arista of Fairy Tales. Having just gotten married and moved across the state, she doesn’t know who she is anymore, but once she figures that out, she fully intends to create a new author bio just as silly as her previous bio.

Find her online at: Website || Blog || Goodreads || Facebook || Twitter || YouTube || Newsletter || Instagram || TikTok || Tumblr || Amazon 

The Handmaid's Blood Fun Fact: Changing Plans

While I knew from the start that this retelling would involve compulsion-flavored-blood-magic, I didn't have much else set in stone for this retelling. I really thought that the princess was going to be evil and the handmaid's quest for freedom was going to be the center of it. However, as soon as I sat down to write, I discovered that the handmaid was actually sympathetic to the princess and happy with her lot, and it was the princess who felt trapped. 

Then I had the issue that the original setup for the princess's mission was just a little too close to Elindala's goals in Pumpkin War, and just a little too vague for me to properly foil within the word constraint of the Once Upon a Twisted Time tales. It was actually this plot point that held me in a writer's block coma right up until the day before I needed to upload it to Amazon, when I suddenly realized that there was a much simpler scheme that the queen could employ to get her war, and then everything fell into place from there. I did have a hot minute where I didn't think Falada was going to properly make his way into the story, but then the handmaid and princess both wandered their way into the stable and I knew I had my Goose Girl retelling. 

So, all told, I think this was a fun first stab at the fairy tale, and I should do it again sometime. 

~~~

Are you excited about the Lost Kerchiefs releases? Have you ever changed your plans on a project at the last minute, and how did that work out for you? Please tell me in the comments!
Thanks for reading!

 

Friday, September 13, 2024

Fall 2024 Reads

Hello, everyone! Much as I hate to admit it, fall is rapidly approaching . . . but at least that means we have a new season of reads to spotlight! Some of you may be saying "Isn't it a week early for this list, Sarah?" — and you are correct, but next week is the Silmaril Awards ceremonies, and the week after is the Lost Kerchiefs release celebration, so we're doing our Fall Reads round up now. As is mostly usual, I'll post the full list here, but if you just want my top five, you can hop over to Light and Shadows for that. So, without further ado, let's find out what this season has in store for us!

Before we get into that, though, a couple quick reminders! First, ARCs are available for Illusion's Reign and the other Lost Kerchiefs stories! So, if you're interested in getting your hands on any of those early in exchange for a review, make sure you sign up ASAP. The blog/social tour form should be available soon as well, so keep an eye out for that. Second, today is the final day to vote in the Silmaril Awards! Go cast your vote for who you think is the most epic hero and heroine, most silver tongue, most nefarious villain, and so on — awards ceremonies begin on Monday!

Fall 2024 Reads

1. Her Fake Superhero Boyfriend by H.L. Burke (September 9). This is another superhero rom-com from H.L. Burke, this time featuring a variation on one of my favorite romance tropes (which goes by many names, but I usually describe as "the rogue and the princess"). I've read this one already, and I absolutely loved it — it was fun to see KC again and get to know him better after having met him in Wishing on a Supervillain, and Mira was such a sweet and fun heroine. Definitely would recommend this one, especially if you enjoyed Wishing!

2. The Handmaid's Blood by Kendra E. Ardnek (September 23). The highlight of the fall reads list is usually the Arista Challenge release group, and this year is no different! We start off the Lost Kerchiefs with a short story retelling from Kendra, focusing on the princess's handmaiden who takes her place. This is another of Kendra's hero/villain swap retellings, and I look forward to seeing how that twist plays out here.

3. Wind Charmer by Meredith Leigh Burton (September 24). Our second Lost Kerchiefs story! This one looks like it'll be the closest to the original Goose Girl fairy tale out of all the retellings, though Meredith has, of course, put her own unique spin on the tale, including interpreting the princess as being on the autism spectrum. I'm definitely curious to see how this version of the story will turn out.

4. Friend and Faux by Erudessa Gentian (September 25). This is a contemporary AnimeLit retelling of the Goose Girl — AnimeLit meaning that it borrows tropes and themes often found in anime and manga, similar to Japanese light novels. I'm not super familiar with the genre, but I'm sure it'll be interesting to see how Erudessa has used it to reimagine this fairy tale!

5.  Arabella's Song by Meagan Myhren-Bennett (September 26). This retelling blends The Goose Girl with the Pied Piper, which is not a combination I ever would've expected. Honestly, this might be the Lost Kerchief (other than my own) that I'm most looking forward to, simply because I really want to know how Meagan is going to blend those two stories! It also sounds like she's making more use of Falada than most Goose Girl retellings do, though, which should also be cool.

6. Illusion's Reign by Sarah Pennington (September 27). It's my book! I have been hard at work putting the final polishes on Illusion's Reign over the last couple weeks, and I am so excited to share Onora's story with y'all. I am also excited to be done with proofreading (bane of my existence), but that's neither here nor there. I love Onora, and I can't wait for y'all to meet her . . . and her cat. I do quite love her cat. Y'all will find out why when the book comes out. If you haven't already, make sure you preorder the ebook before release! The price will go up by a dollar or so once the book actually comes out.

7. Collusion by H.S.J. Williams (September 27). Behold! A book that is not a Goose Girl retelling! I realized when making this list that Collusion and Illusion's Reign are release-day twinsies, and I genuinely could not be more delighted. I loved Moonscript when it came out several years ago, and I've been eagerly anticipating the sequel ever since. I admit that there is a fair chance this book will wreck me — Hannah is very good at writing angst — but I also have no doubt that it will come out to light and beauty and hope in the end.

8. Goose Princess by Tricia Mingerink (September 30). Back to the Lost Kerchiefs! Speaking of long-awaited sequels, Goose Princess is the final Beyond the Tales book from Tricia Mingerink. It's another blended fairy tale, combining The Goose Girl and The Wild Swans, which I've thought for a long while would be a natural fit together. And, of course, series fans will be happy that Alex just might get his happily-ever-after.

9. Curse of Silence by Erin Halbmaier (October 1). Our final Lost Kerchiefs story is a mystery retelling of The Goose Girl, which should be a lot of fun! Plus, we have a childhood-friends-to-lovers romance, and that's always a delight.

10. Splintered Life by W.R. Gingell (October). While the exact launch date for the second Shattered Worlds Kickstarter hasn't been announced yet (at least not that I can find), we know it's coming in October, and we do have a prelaunch page. In any case, I am very much looking forward to more of Viv and Luca! I read Splintered Mind, the first book in the series, earlier this month, and I loved it, though the vibe is a little different from the City Between and Worlds Behind series. I will definitely be backing this as soon as it comes available!

11. Wyldling Armor by A. R. Grimes (October 8). Ok, full disclosure, I have not read the first two books in this series . . . but it's a portal fantasy series, and I've been meaning to get back to reading more of those, so it's on my TBR. The concept sounds really cool, and I think the series might touch on some of the themes I really like to see in portal fantasy, so it should be worth a look, at least.

12. The Death of Clara Willenheim by Charlotte Lesemann (October 29). This is not precisely fantasy (though there is apparently a ghost in it) and is therefore not my usual fair . . . but I have been enjoying Gothic stories more of late, and I'm always down for a good mystery. The blurb is definitely enough to make me curious as well — we have an imprisoned heroine, secret passages, and more.

13. One Must Die by multiple authors (October 31). Another mystery story! This one looks and sounds delightfully steampunky as well — it's been a while since I found a good steampunk story. Some early reviewers are comparing it to Clue, and the book has an interesting conceit wherein each of the involved authors wrote a version of the story from a different character's point of view. That sounds like it was probably hard to coordinate and edit . . . but if it was well-done, it could be super cool! I'll be keeping an eye on this one for sure.

14. Valley of Dragons by Christina Baehr (November 15). We wrap up the season with the final Secrets of Ormdale novel! I cannot believe that this series is already ending, but I also cannot wait for the ending. The hints and snippets Christina has shared on her socials are simply tantalizing, and after the last couple books, I desperately need a good happy ending for our heroine (and hero). I have no doubt that Christina will deliver just that.

What book releases are you excited for this fall? Am I missing any? Please tell me in the comments!
Thanks for reading!