More fairytale than hard-core fantasy, the author concentrates this narrative on the attraction and relationship between the two main characters, Jayce and Clove. Both are likeable with no true rough edges to smooth out, and the two have a few cute scenes that will bring a smile to the reader’s face. Clove definitely is a combination of spunk and spice. The narrative moves along at a decent pace. There is political action afoot and a fun encounter with airships as Jayce and Clove make their way to the capital city. Some elements do remind one of Disney’s Tangled.

This title was pitched to Compass Book Ratings as a cozy fantasy romance and as a book that fans of the Emily Wilde series would enjoy. However, this title might not fit everyone’s definition of cozy fantasy romance, and it does not share much in common with the Emily Wilde series in terms of Heather Fawcett’s style, vision, originality, or writing. However, readers looking for an undemanding and quick read with a lot of spice between the main characters would find Fall for a Fairytale to their taste.

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language: 17 religious exclamations; 33 mild obscenities; 16 derogatory names; 29 scatological words; 2 anatomical terms; 4 F-word derivatives.

Violence/Gore: Several reference to a bloody coup in the past; character has a scar from a violent encounter and has flashbacks a few times in the book, brief descriptions, mention of blood; character hits another with an object and smoke bomb is used; reference to someone having wounds in the past; recollection of seeing someone fall who is now presumed dead; character twists a males nipples when he blocks character’s path; characters are pursued with intent to harm; verbal threats of harm/death with and without weapons; characters locked into a structure that is deliberately set afire; character thwarts someone with a dagger attempting to stab someone; character grabs another’s face roughly; multi-page battle scene with cannon fire, injuries, mention of blood, destruction of property; characters are abducted; struggle involving hitting, kicking; assassination and coup attempt; fight with sword and crossbow, resulting in a death with mention of blood; multi-page scene of fighting with choking, hitting, tackling, mention of blood, at least one death.

Sex/Nudity: Female character finds a male character attractive and thinks on this several times throughout the book; male finds a female attractive and thinks on this throughout the book; reference to men offering a warm body for a night and then leaving the next day; characters share a bed for warmth; characters flirt and talk about flirting; characters pretend to be married, hold hands, share a room; characters feel desire for another, wish to kiss, etc.; female character notices that a male’s pants are tight between his thighs; characters strip to their undergarments and share a bed, spooning; male character gives a female character a massage; a chapter-long sex scene with explicit description; female caresses another’s female’s face, implied romantic relationship; multi-page sex scene with explicit description, including oral sex; characters kiss upon multiple occasions; it is mentioned that two men are not old friends, but old flames.

Mature Subject Matter;

Death of family members, political coup, PTSD from past violence, sex out of wedlock, prejudice and discrimination against certain fantasy species.

Alcohol/Drug Use:

Reference/scenes in a tavern; character drinks in a tavern; person recalls a hangover from when they were seventeen; reference to alcohol in barrels.