Review: Falling for the Dark Mage

At long last, I've returned to the other half of the books in To Win a Dark Heart. Each book in this series combines two villains from different fairy tales to create a unique story, similar to Displaced Fairytales. My next ARC is Falling for the Dark Mage by Lucy Winton. This book is the shortest in the series and can be completed within one or two sittings. It combines "The Frog Prince" with "East of the Sun and West of the Moon," with more of a focus on the latter. Set in a fantastical world, the book contains some beautiful descriptions of magic alongside lush settings and worldbuilding.

Falling for the Dark Mage tells the story of Seraphina, the daughter of a powerful sorceress who is trapped on an island full of mages with wicked intent. There, she meets Damario, a sorcerer who cursed a certain prince to become a frog. Seraphina is no stranger to animal transformations, as her mother botched an attempt to turn a prince into a type of enchanted bear, with the enchantment only taking effect during the day. Her mother is insistent that she marry Alvar, the bear prince, but Seraphina has other ideas about love after growing closer to Damario.

The first half of the book focuses mainly on worldbuilding. The criminal fortress is described in stunning detail, as well as the magic system and the intricate glowing orbs that Seraphina creates with her powers. The second half is a retelling of "East of the Sun and West of the Moon," in which Seraphina helps Khione, the heroine from the original fairy tale, get her husband back from her wicked mother. Although this is supposed to be a retelling of two villains, Seraphina is more of a victim of her mother, the true villain of the story.

The book's short length and focus on worldbuilding allow little time to form a strong bond between Seraphina and Damario. Though her interest in him is palpable, we learn little about him aside from the fact that he once cursed a prince. The book's climax is similar to many other princess stories, in which the innocent heroine must break free from her wicked captor. The inclusion of Khione and Alvar was a nice touch, as many of the books in this series do not feature the protagonists of the original fairy tales, using them instead as a supporting element for the villains' backstories.

Falling for the Dark Mage is a sweet, albeit brief, tale of love and self-discovery set in a richly imagined world. Seeing the events of "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" from a different perspective creates an additional layer of depth for readers who are already familiar with the story. The setting is its greatest strength, giving readers a tangible fantasy world that's a bit grittier than other fairy tale retellings. This book offers a charming blend of magic and romance that's sure to enchant readers interested in collecting all the stories in To Win a Dark Heart.