Charming by Jade Linwood Review

Title: Charming

Author: Jade Linwood

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Solaris

Pages: 416

Release Date: 20 July 2023

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Hello fellow book lovers! Today I'm sharing my review for Charming by Jade Linwood. A fast paced and thoroughly enchanting fantasy that reads like a wonderfully chaotic mashup of Shrek, The Princess Bride and John Tucker Must Die which I must say I thoroughly enjoyed.

Synopsis

Prince Jean-Marc Charming Arundel, known to friends and enemies alike as "Prince Charming," is handsome, well-mannered, brave, a peerless swordsman, a cunning tactician – and a liar, a con man and a fraud. For years he has been travelling from one kingdom to the next, rescuing endangered princesses and maidens, securing their troths and his place in their fathers' palaces, then looting their treasuries and having it away before dawn.

Until a chance meeting of three of his victims – raven-haired Marie Blanche de Neige, the sorceress Doctor Emilia Rapunzel and the long-slumbering Bella Lucia dei’ Sogni – suggests a course of revenge...

Review

With a cast of feisty female characters, scheming fae and even a DRAGON —not to mention a plot that promises a satisfying dose of revenge from some of my favourite fairytale characters, I pretty much jumped at the chance to read an early proof copy. And let me tell you — it DID NOT disappoint!

The lighthearted tone and whimsical fairytale elements really reminded me of the early 00s show The 10th Kingdom, which I was completely obsessed with as a kid (does anyone else remember this?) and loved how well Linwood’s witty, almost satirical writing style paired perfectly with such an eccentric (and delightfully charming) premise.

I really liked the princesses, particularly Doctor Rapunzel, whose sharp wit and formidable determination made for a quite an interesting array of schemes—on the path to capturing the charismatic con-man.

We also get to see Prince Charming from the perspective of his grouchy servant, Roland who I found surprisingly entertaining and really enjoyed the twists that are revealed at the end.

Overall a really enjoyable and adventurous read that fairytale lovers will most certainly enjoy! I just wish the pacing was a little quicker to start.

A huge thank you to Casey Ann & Solaris Books for the Proof

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

About The Author 

Jade Linwood was raised in Oxfordshire, with books, cats and apple trees.

Jade has lived in Dorset, Wiltshire, Wales, Cambridgeshire and London, and has travelled to Venice, Paris, Rome, Athens, Jordan, and Egypt’s White Desert. Jade has competed in swordfighting competitions, been a member of a travelling theatre company, flown on military transport and was once offered a part in The Bill.