Review: Falling for the Sorcerer

Falling for the Sorcerer by Jes Drew is the first of many ARCs I received last week from the new multi-author series of villainous retellings, To Win a Dark Heart. I will be reviewing these books in the order they were received, so expect to see a lot of reviews from this series on here in the coming weeks. Each book in To Win a Dark Heart contains a romance between two different fairy tale villains. In these books, the villains are misunderstood and not truly evil. Falling for the Sorcerer combines "Swan Lake" and "Rapunzel," introducing nicer versions of Gothel and Rothbart, whose stories differ greatly from their wicked counterparts. It's a great book for older readers who find fairy tale heroes difficult to relate to due to their age.

Forget everything you know about the stories of "Swan Lake" and "Rapunzel" because this book takes both in a completely new direction. Falling for the Sorcerer is a second-chance romance about two worldly parental figures who put their caretaker duties before romance, even if it means needing to dabble in dark magic in the process. It introduces a young and more glamorous version of Gothel, the older sister of Rapunzel, who brings her to a tower to protect her from their greedy parents, who want to marry them both off to wealthy strangers. Rothbart works for Gothel's betrothed and is determined to protect her from her wicked fiancé until she runs away, forcing him to devote his energy to raising his daughter, Odile, and the cursed younger brother of his former employer.

Although this is a clean retelling, it feels more mature than other fairy tale retellings due to the advanced ages of the protagonists, who differ from the typical wide-eyed, innocent ingénues these stories often focus on. Both Gothel and Rothbart are cynical and jaded from their experiences and fully devoted to protecting their young charges. When they reunite, they have lots of baggage and adult responsibilities standing in their way. It takes time for them to realize that they can tackle these responsibilities together instead of stubbornly refusing their own happiness in favor of the younger generation.

This was certainly the most original take I have ever read of either one of these stories, but the vast differences made it difficult for me to enjoy as a fairy tale retelling. These characters and their stories diverge so far from the classic fairy tales that if the names had been changed, it could have worked as an original fantasy or even a contemporary romance for adult readers. Still, the little nods to the fairy tales were fun and clever as these two dark magic users struggled to see the light and allow themselves a chance at happiness.

Falling for the Sorcerer is a unique villainous retelling that offers a fresh take on "Swan Lake" and "Rapunzel," with complex and relatable protagonists who will resonate with older readers. While it may not be a traditional fairy tale retelling, Jes Drew's story shines as an original fantasy romance, exploring themes of love, protection, and self-discovery. If you're looking for a mature and atmospheric read with a focus on character development, Falling for the Sorcerer is definitely worth checking out. Keep an eye on my blog over the coming weeks for more reviews from the To Win a Dark Heart series.