Review: The Dozen Damsels

The Dozen Damsels by Abigail Manning is part of the Fairmyth Chronicles, which combines popular fairy tales with Greek myths. This book blends "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" with the 12 labors of Hercules to create a new adventure that is both thrilling and unique. I received a copy of this book on National Fairy Tale Day and was eager to dive into another book from this talented author now that I'm caught up on ARCs. The story is perfectly suited to my tastes, with a strong balance of romance, action, and magic. I fell in love with the characters from the first page and couldn't wait to see how it would turn out.


Inspired by Hercules, Prince Hawthorne is half mortal and half divine, meaning he doesn't truly belong anywhere. His lack of self-worth makes him the perfect target for his brother, Aaron, but it also motivates him to do something great with his life. This opportunity arrives sooner than he expects when he meets a woman locked in a prison cell whose twelve daughters are in trouble. She gives him a magic cloak that allows him to telepathically communicate with Trinity, the eldest daughter, who has the ability to contact the others by proxy. Under Trinity's guidance, Thorne dives headfirst into twelve unique rescue missions filled with dangerous monsters and mind-boggling magic.

For a "Twelve Dancing Princesses" adaptation, this book contains very little dancing, but I can hardly fault it for that when it's jam-packed with romance, adventure, and suspense. Each "princess" is trapped in a magical prison connected to her worst fear. Thorne must determine which object contains the lock and destroy it, often putting his own life in danger along the way. Trinity communicates with all of them telepathically from her own prison, growing closer and more dependent on Hawthorne with each rescue. They fall in love on a purely spiritual level without ever seeing each other's faces, making their romance authentic and touching.

Since Thorne needs to rescue twelve different princesses, the book is fast-paced and to the point, with new twists and revelations on each page. It held my interest the entire time, and there was never a dull moment. There wasn't much time to get to know all of the sisters, but enough information was provided within the given span. I found Hydrangea particularly entertaining due to her obsession with being rescued by a handsome prince. Her insistence on primping herself to look nice for her rescuer, despite the danger, reminded me of Princess Fiona from Shrek.

The Dozen Damsels is an action-packed fairy tale that combines mythology and magic in a whimsical and creative setting. It's packed with charming characters, daring deeds, and lots of unexpected twists and turns. Reading this book made me want to read more of the Fairymyth Chronicles, especially The Beast's Labyrinth, which is referenced during a major turning point in the story. I highly recommend this book to fans of Abigail Manning and her versatile writing prowess.

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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