Short Synopsis
From Elizabeth Blackwell, historical fiction at its best—The Brothers Grimm meets The Thirteenth Tale.

Full Synopsis
I am not the sort of person about whom stories are told.

And so begins Elise Dalriss's story. When she hears her great-granddaughter recount a minstrel's tale about a beautiful princess asleep in a tower, it pushes open a door to the past, a door Elise has long kept locked. For Elise was the companion to the real princess who slumbered—and she is the only one left who knows what actually happened so many years ago. Her story unveils a labyrinth where secrets connect to an inconceivable evil. As only Elise understands all too well, the truth is no fairy tale...

"Blackwell, previously a reporter and romance writer, makes her historical fiction debut with a gripping tale full of romance, secrets, and promises made and broken. This beautiful, original reinterpretation of a classic story is engrossing and often surprising." ---Library Journal Starred Review

"Dark and enchanting." ---Booklist

"[Wanda McCaddon's] plummy tones sweep and dive elegantly in this richly reworked fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty, never letting the listener out of the medieval world of royal intrigue, courtly romance, and the hardships and bawdiness of peasant life." ---Booklist Audio Review

"[Wanda McCaddon] brought this story vividly alive in my mind and while I know I would have loved this one in print as well I can't help but say that if you have a chance to listen to the audio do it! It's fantastic!" ---Peeking Between the Pages

"Narrator Wanda McCaddon clearly understands the emotional arc of Blackwell's story and gives a moving performance." ---AudioFile

"Wanda McCaddon's skillful reading keeps listeners engaged." ---Library Journal Audio Review

Library Journal Review