The Dark King and the Eternal Dance

by Alesha Adamson

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An unwanted proposal. An unexpected curse. Will Rayna and her eleven sisters ever be free of the Dark King and his eternal dance?

Rayna is not usually the boldest of her sisters. However, when her eldest sister, Faelynn, seems ready to abandon her own happily ever after and accept the Dark King’s proposal, Rayna knows she must act and take drastic measures before someone gets hurt. Measures that just might cost her her heart.

Drake’s reputation as the Dark King precedes him—a reputation he doesn’t quite deserve. When the opportunity arises, Drake seizes the chance to barter for Princess Faelynn’s hand. Weaving his magic, he establishes a weekly ball to court his intended. After six months of rejection, something must change. He never anticipated finding Princess Rayna in his castle disrupting his quiet life.

Will he change directions and acknowledge his heart before it is too late? Or will he live up to his reputation as the Dark King, shattering more than one happily ever after?

An intertwined retelling of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” and of “Hades and Persephone.”

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Book Details

Genre

Fantasy/Science Fiction Romance

Subgenre

Fairytale, Mythology-Based (Greek, Norse, Celtic, etc.), Royal

Series

Ever After in Vilastroia: Magic • Book 1

Audience

New Adult

Bell Peppers

🫑🫑

Profanity

1 None

Violence

2 Mild

Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco

1 None

Publication Date

September 24, 2021

Language Versions

English

Fiction Form

Novel

Sensitive Themes

Grief or loss of a loved one, Murder or attempted murder

Representation

BIPOC main character / cast, Depictions of prayer, worship, or scripture

Slow start, but soon becomes delightful

Rayna's older sister is in love, but not with the man who is courting her. With the fate of the kingdom at stake, Rayna decides to act. Six months of secrets balls had done nothing to temper the Dark King's fearsome reputation. But better Rayna than her sister.Drake desperately needs to restore his reputation by finding a bride. But convincing the crown princess of Danzari that he's not a monster isn't working. Her sister, on the other hand, might just be the one he needs, if only he sees her in time.It took me a while to get into the story, but once I did, the characters captivated me. Rayna and Drake are perfectly matched and their romance was sweet to watch unfold. The world building was fantastic, from the delicate magic to the mesmerizing Forest of Abundance.This is Adamson's debut novel, and I can't wait to see what she has coming next.

fun and romantic

A great debut novel. I liked the fantasy world building and the mash up of two stories.

A beautiful retelling

Another great addition to the series! This book is a combination of Twelve Dancing Princesses and Hades and Persephone, and the author did a great job with the story.The characters were well written and interesting. I like books where the MCs have many siblings with contrasting personalities. I enjoy the banter, teasing, and loyalty towards one another. Though I found it a bit difficult to remember all the names, I had fun reading about their interactions. It made me wish I had a large family.Though this was Rayna's story, there were romances between other characters included as well, but it did not take away the attention from her. Instead, it felt like multiple threads were woven together to form a beautiful story.This is my first book by the author, and I'm very impressed by her writing. There was never a dull moment. One of the best parts of the book was the concept of the Forest of Abundance. I won't say more about it for fear of giving away a spoiler, but I'd say there's a lesson in it.I also liked the way Rayna and Drake brought out the best in each other. It was a sweet relationship. I'm eager to see what happens with the other characters; their stories are a part of a different series, and I'm excited to check it out.I recommend this book to readers who enjoy romantic fantasies with misunderstood heroes and sunshine heroines.

Not perfect, but worth a read if romantic fantasy/retellings are you thing!

Eh, okay! Pretty solid for a debut (and big congrats to the author! we love a debut), but it does still have some of the shaky hallmarks of a green author. Some inconsistencies in the writing, overly repetitive plot & character points, and some lack of clarity in the characters themselves (acting out of character, being a little flat, etc).That said, it’s still quite enjoyable. There’s magic, a pretty solid doubt retelling, fun family dynamics, and a very sweet love story. I read it quickly and had fun. I still recommend it despite some flaws and might look at the next book I saw promoted in the end pages.

A Charming Story and a Wonderful Representation of Persephone

This was a delightful story and perfect for a cozy afternoon/evening! (Also, perfectly timed for autumn—it has (at least for me) that kind of feel, which made reading it really fun.)A couple of kudos and commendations:As someone with a fair amount of background in literature, I'm very happy this novella is as light and charming as it is: many authors when attempting to rewrite the Hades/Persephone myth make their stories very dark, which is such a shame. I studied the classics and Greek mythology in University, and Hades/Persephone is one of the few myths where the deities' choices are surprisingly reciprocal. The main reasons people have this misguided notion of kidnapping, etc. are the most famous translations which were done by British male scholars in the late 1800s and early 1900s (John Edgar, Hugh Gerard Evelyn-White to name a few). A more direct translation of Hesiod's Theogeny is perhaps a more accurate representation of the Homeric Hymn, and doesn't add the negative lens some of the early modern and more contemporary scholars put in place. But anyway, I digress!The fact of the matter is I love Rayna's agency in this story. She is a wonderful heroine because she is so very relatable: observant, helpful, quiet, compassionate, but often overlooked. I believe many readers (including me) can identify and associate with her. Every choice she makes is her own, and it's inspiring (and so, so nice) to read a story where a character's choices can be and are beneficial to both them AND their loved ones. Too often a protagonist's choices are selfish and stories punish them for their decisions—an exhausting trend. Therefore, Rayna's decisions benefitting all was a wonderful and unexpected surprise, and it's a powerful nod to the mythological Persephone's own agency in deciding to stay in the Underworld with Hades.Drake is adorable, and I just wanted to hug him. He's a grumpy curmudgeon of a king, but in an incredibly charming way he is sincerely trying his best. He is misunderstood largely due to his, well, large appearance and dark demeanor, and Rayna (our observant heroine) is able to see past that. I adored their interactions, and my cheeks hurt from smiling so much by the end of the book.I am looking forward to this author's future works, but in the meantime, bravo Ms. Adamson on a stunning debut!