[THIS STORY WILL BECOME FREE ON THE 5th OCTOBER 2023] Fara's husband, the Prince of Azura, is murdered and she's enslaved by his killer, Theodan, a warrior fighting a war he doesn't believe in - until her. ***** Following the assassination of her husband and the invasion of the kingdom of Azura, Princess Fara is forced to go into hiding. She disguises herself as a lowly servant, determined to escape the war-torn capital, only to catch the eye of Theodan, the commander of the invading army that killed her family. Taken as his slave and a spoil of war, the last thing Fara expects is the forbidden connection that grows between them, compelling Theodan to protect her at any cost. But when Theodan discovers her true identity puts a target on her back, he will have to decide between saving the woman he loves, and betraying all he has ever known. [Wattys' Shortlist] [[word count: 150,000-200,000 words]]

"Our kingdom was once beautiful, but now the towers are everywhere. They say that Queen Rapunzel has lost her mind--and I believe them. Before, I might have felt sorry for her, but now I just fear her. I fear the sound of her soldiers pounding at the door, demanding that I be taken away. I fear the towers." Years after the original tale of Rapunzel took place, the kingdom--left to the grief-stricken Queen after her husband's death--is falling apart. People live in constant fear of the many terrible towers across the land, built by her Majesty's decree to imprison any who dare question her. Bird's nothing but a girl from the north, but when someone she cares about is taken by the mad Queen's soldiers, she'll stop at nothing to save them. With nothing but her friends, a sled, and a mind full of songs, she sets out to get rid of the towers, once and for all. DISCLAIMER: this is a retelling of the *ORIGINAL FAIRY TALE* by the Brothers Grimm and has no connection to Disney's version whatsoever. DISCLAIMER PART II: I wrote this book when I was 15 and am still in the middle of huge revisions that I haven't posted here yet! Please feel free to read, but keep in mind this is a work in progress. :)