Review: Falling for the Mad King

I have now received ARCs for just about every book in To Win a Dark Heart, a multi-author series of villainous fairy tale retellings. Among the ones I've read so far, Falling for the Mad King by Sydney Winward is my favorite. This book does an excellent job of bringing two troubled souls together to improve each other's lives for the better with a touch of whimsy and magic. The book combines Alice in Wonderland with "The Twelve Dancing Princesses," two stories that often lack clearly defined villains, allowing the author to create her own protagonists. Parts of it resembled Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, one of my favorite romantic TV shows of all time, but it is very much an original story.


Falling for the Mad King takes place primarily in Wonderland and introduces a villainous incarnation of Alice. The book follows the story of Rylan, the Mad King, an original character whose personality is a mix between the Mad Hatter and Queen of Hearts, leaning more toward the former. He meets his match in Ellie Strife, a sorceress who cursed twelve princesses to dance every night in a vengeful act against their cheating father. She is punished by being stripped of her powers and exiled to Wonderland. After growing closer to Rylan, she agrees to help him recover his heart from the devious Alice.

Though these characters are meant to be villains, they are extremely likable from the start. Rylan comes off as silly and frivolous at first, but it is clear that he takes his duties as King of Wonderland seriously, doing his best to protect his subjects from his enchanted roses except in situations where he feels it would benefit him or the kingdom. Ellie was hurt by a previous betrayal and thought she was getting revenge on the king who scorned her by cursing his daughters. She is a sympathetic character who feels lost without her powers in Wonderland and learns to open herself up to Rylan's kindness. They are an excellent match who make each other better people through their actions and words.

Most villainous retellings lean on darker or more mature themes, but this book was surprisingly light and whimsical thanks to the Wonderland setting. Rylan's obsession with rhyming creates some welcome humor and levity for the story, while Ellie's stunted powers eliminated any threat she may have posed. The choice to create a Mad Hatter-inspired villain instead of the intimidating Queen of Hearts gives the story a lighter overall feel than some of the others in the To Win a Dark Heart series. It's the perfect book for someone looking for a villainous retelling but doesn't want to read about villains.

Falling for the Mad King is a charming addition to the To Win a Dark Heart series, offering a whimsical and lighthearted take on villainous fairy tale retellings. Sydney Winward's colorful characters, witty dialogue, and inventive world-building make for a spellbinding romance that will leave you rooting for these troubled souls. If you're looking for a story that subverts traditional villainous tropes and celebrates the power of love and redemption, this book is a must-read.
I have always dreamed of being a writer and creating the next great fairy tale princess heroine. Princesses inspire us to be our best selves. While you're here, feel free to follow my page on Facebook, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and check out my books. I'm also on Instagram and Twitter.

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