Review: Of Pine and Pretense

Of Pine and Pretense by Laurie Lucking is another ARC I received in the Twist of Tales series from Beyond the Bookery. This book is a non-magical retelling of "Rumpelstiltskin" with heavy inspiration from Cyrano de Bergerac. It's a beautifully written story full of twists and turns with a proactive heroine at its heart. I enjoyed reading it from the princess's perspective and following her journey alongside her. Having enjoyed the recent musical adaptation of Cyrano, the incorporation of those elements made the book unique as a fairy tale retelling.

Princess Deirdre has never forgotten her former sweetheart, Oran, who lost touch with her after getting drafted for a war. She looks for signs of his return everywhere she goes and finally discovers one in a marketplace where she recognizes his craftsmanship on a chest for sale. Jumping at the opportunity for a long-awaited reunion, she asks the shopkeeper to recruit the craftsman to work on a cathedral her kingdom recently commissioned. However, the woodworker who arrives acts differently from the man she remembers before he went to war. Could he have really changed so much after his time away?

Deirdre is a wonderful protagonist who is easy to root for. I love how determined she is to find Oran and how she refuses to give up, even when her friends think it might be better for her to move on. She has a kind heart and is a little daring, taking risks in the name of love to learn the truth. As someone who's been deceived in the past, I found it admirable that she was never afraid to ask questions and take whatever actions are necessary to reunite with Oran, no matter how difficult he made it for her.

I also loved all of the supporting characters from this book. Deirdre has an adorable cat named Cormac, a protective companion that helps her uncover the truth. Her best friend, Fia, is a vibrant and fun confidante who is always willing to listen to her troubles and offer unsolicited advice. Peadar is a supportive and understanding brother. The people living in the village have colorful personalities and don't treat her differently just because she's their princess. The entire cast was a pleasure to read about, especially after learning certain characters' secrets and exploring other facets of their personalities.

Overall, Of Pine and Pretense is a lovely fairy tale retelling with a relatable protagonist and a surprisingly suspenseful climax. The narration from Deirdre's perspective makes her easy to root for and follow on her quest to find true love. I particularly enjoyed the story elements from Cyrano de Bergerac because they translate well to the fairy tale format and are not used frequently in retellings like this. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a suspenseful romantic mystery with a proactive heroine.