A pampered princess is told she must marry a prince she doesn’t like, let alone love,
on her nineteenth birthday. Desperate to find a way to stop this arranged marriage, she makes a bargain with her father. If she can survive for three months in the forest with no help of any kind and return healthy and unharmed, then she can choose the man she will marry. The King accepts the wager, knowing he can’t possibly lose. Princess Faith knows she must win this deal, but once she ventures into the forest, she has no idea how she can possibly succeed. – Goodreads.com
D.G. Driver’s books have always captivated me, and The Royal Deal is no exception. I generally prefer darker fairy tales, but I liked the sound of Princess Faith. Although headstrong, determined, and spontaneous, she just wants a chance to control her own life. Ill-prepared to survive in the forest, perhaps she should have thought things through a little better before striking a deal with her father, the King, but whatever the case, you have to admire her chutzpah.
With the appearance of the hermit, I wondered if this would take a turn toward Beauty and the Beast, but I was glad to see that it didn’t. Not that I have anything against Beauty and the Beast, but I was hoping for more originality than ‘they lived happily ever after’ – and that’s what the author delivered. I felt the ending was abrupt, but satisfying.
This isn’t a sparkly fairy tale with the prince rescuing the princess – it possesses a more modern spin, with the princess learning independence and building self-esteem. The Royal Deal is a charming tale that takes only a couple of hours to read at the most, and I’d recommend it to both fans of traditional fairy tales and those who are looking for a different take on the standard stories.
I received a digital copy of this book through Rosie’s Book Review Team.
Books and Such 
Hi Teri. Despite the gorgeous cover, I sort of cringed at the blurb. But your review makes it sound like a good read. Hugs.
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Not a book I’d normally pick up, Teagan, but I’ve read so many by this author, I put my faith in her previous work.
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I also enjoyed it, Teri. I’ve heard great things about the rest of the books by the author.
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You should look into them, Olga – she has some award-willing novels under her belt, and all very enjoyable.
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Thank you Teri.
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My pleasure, Rosie!
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It sounds like an entertaining read. I like the idea behind the plot.
Thanks for sharing.
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Liked the idea of a princess taking her future into her own hands instead of waiting around for someone to dictate it – definitely a more modernized fairy tale. Have a great week, Mae!
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This sounds like a great story, Teri. I like strong and independent woman.
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That’s part of what got me interested in this book – that and the author.
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I’m loving the YA fairy tale retellings. On my TBR list. Thanks, Teri!
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I especially enjoyed the modern spin on this one, Sarah. You could finish this novella easily in a couple of hours.
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I like the sound of that. 😉 Love the novellas. (Just bought it.) And only just realized this is the author of those gorgeous watercolor-cover books…mermaids and such. Cry of the Sea?
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Exactly – and that’s why I read this novella. Normally I’m not big on fairy tales, but knowing this author, I didn’t hesitate to read this one.
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