Imelda is one of the twelve dancing princesses, who was roused up from her sleep, only to find her slippers scuffed each morning as if she’d danced all night.
She’s got one million pairs, but she doesn’t want to wear them because they made her feel captured. She is a woman who wants freedom and independence.

Ambrose is the king’s middle child among the three princes. Each brother was ordered to kill a dragon and Ambrose intended to do what’s right by saving the life of a dragon.

The witch arrives once again and promises them their most desired things if they get her the stone potion from the queen witch.

This book has a second chance trope, which is executed oh-so cutely.

If you are looking for a charming, delightful, fairytale romance mingled with humor, it is a great novella.

With all the good things, my only complaint is that I wanted more. The world-building, scene creation was all amazing, but there wasn’t much time to relish it all.

i really had hopes that this one would become a favorite for me because i usually love roshanis writing however i feel this one missed the mark for me. i didnt feel i ever quite fell into the story the way i hoped

One element I loved in Once More Upon a Time was the integration of fairy tales. The ways Chokshi plays with our expectations, the stories we think we know, to add something extra. To change something so it becomes unexpected. Once More Upon a Time is built on a foundation of stories and conventions. On the ability for love to surprise us and for hope to remain. Dual POV, Once More Upon a Time is delightful. It was fun to see both Imelda and Ambrose's POV's.

Summary : Once upon a time, there was a king, Ambrose, and queen, Imelda, in a land called Love's Keep who once loved one another, but alas, no more. Ambrose consulted a witch, trading their love to save Imelda's life - and they've been stuck with one another ever since. Without love, they were doomed to be ousted from their kingdom at the end of a year and a day.
A year and a day passed. When that same witch pays them a visit on the day they lose their kingdom, she promises to make their deepest wishes come true in exchange for a simple favor and a short journey. With nothing left to lose, Imelda and Ambrose agree and go on an adventure...

My opinion : Once More Upon A Time is a short story which takes the form of a satirical fairy tale. What I really liked about this story is that it is really funny and you can feel that the author had a great time writing it. This novella makes fun of tales in a way that is both hilarious and well-thought. It is an easy and catchy read, but beyond its simplicity, it mentions heavy theme like parental abuse, obsession for power and search for happiness. I really liked who this themes were discussed, and I think that it could also be an enlightened reading for children for example.

I also really liked the characters. Imelda, which was abused by her father, who tried to control all of her actions and made her fell imprisoned, was a really complex character to follow. She wants to be independent, free and she only accept the witch proposition to get this freedom. It was therefore interesting to see her evolution, to see her fall in love, and realize that independence can also be obtained by living with someone that respect and loves you.

Ambrose was also a good character, but I connected less with him. It was still interesting to see him open to Imelda, as he always was taught by his family to keep distance and never get too attached to anything. Their love story was thus simple, but really convincing, and even if I guessed the end, I had a nice time seeing the characters rediscover themselves, as they were really cute.

The format of a short story implies that a lot of stuff were not really developed. I understand this choice, but I personally would have liked to have more information on the characters, the world they live in and also more interaction with the members of their respective families. Some part of the story felt a bit rushed, notably some events at the end, but it was not too disturbing.

I recommend this reading if you are looking for a short light read, which still develop complex themes and characters.

Once More Upon a Time is exactly what I'd expected it to be. It was a lovely read and I adored all the fairytale elements in it, it really is a fairytale after all! I personally think that middle grade and/or young adult readers would enjoy this short story a lot.

Imelda and Ambrose's love story is reminiscent to most fairytale stories--it is sacrificial. What I adored though is Imelda's character because she is different from the princesses that I grew up knowing. Imelda knows what she wants, and that is to be free from all commands because she believed that she is capable of more than just being a follower. She is independent and at some point she knew she didn't need a man! I mean, come on, who does?! LOL Kidding aside, her character is what I really liked about this book.

Reading this also made me feel like I was brought to a different world. The setting was defined vividly and it's as if I was seeing and feeling everything as I go through the book. What I hoped to see though are themes that are quite deeper subtly integrated in the story. But I do understand that this is not what the book is aiming for. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed reading this book and it brought me back to my childhood memories of tiaras, castles, and knights in shining armor.

This book was a very sweet and different fairy tale than others I have read before.
I really liked the main character Ambrose and Imelda and their romance was very adorable.
The horse cloak was a great addition to the story and was a very funny and a clever twist on the comic relief non human side character that is often found in middle grade fiction.
Overall I did like it however I did think it was a little bit too short for my tastes but will be great for younger readers.

This was so fun to read!! Fast paced, short and sweet and exactly what I needed: a brief escape from reality to a quite magical story. A fairytale retelling with a second chance romance, a talking cloak who believes it is a horse and a grumpy/sunshine couple who falls in love again after their love for each other was taken away by a witch.

I haven't read anything by Roshani Chokshi before this book, but her series The gilded wolves have been on my TBR forever and now I can't wait to start reading it! The writing is so beautiful and the pages flew by.

Anyway, I loved this story about Imelda and Ambrose and think it's a great read to take the mind of things for a short time. It is not a lengthy book, which I feared at first, and I ended up reading it in one sitting.

This has been released as an audiobook before but is now finally coming in a printed edition, so if you, like me, prefer reading over listening to books now is the time!

Look I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little in love with Roshani Chokshi and I will read everything she writes.

Once More Upon a Time tells us the story of Imelda and Ambrose who had to made a trade with a witch to save Imelda's life but had to give up their love. However, the kingdom they ruled over had to be ruled by a queen and king in love. So they have to leave. But before they do, that very same witch comes back and send them on a quest, together...

I really liked the way this was told, it had some passages told through a narrator who just commented on choices and people and the future and it was very fun. It was a short, nice story that kept me glued to the page. The only reason I didn't rate it 5 stars is because it was so short, I didn't feel as much as I could have, I wasn't as attached to the characters as I could have, and I felt like the ending happened a little too quickly. But overall, I really had a good time and cannot wait to read my next Roshani Chokshi book.

Once More Upon a Time follows two fairytale characters who lose their love because of a curse. A year and a day after their love is taken away, they have to leave their palace to never see each other away when they are given a chance to maybe get back what they lost.

It was a splendid quick read which cleverly combined several well-known fairytales. I adored the narrator for her funny commentary. The story was very fast-paced and action-driven.

If you are looking for a quick funny read, this book is definitely for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free e-copy of the book.
All opinions are my own.

„Once more upon a time“ was my first book by Roshani Chokshi and i was so excited for this book. The Blurb sounds amazing and the Cover is so beautiful.

The author has a great writing style and because of this I felt really comfortable while reading this book. The pages just flew by while reading and the humor was just terrific. The plot was structured like a typical fairy tale and I liked the idea that the two of them have to find their true love again. On the other hand, it is shown again that true love can overcome anything. Unfortunately, although I liked the plot itself a lot, I didn’t really connect to Ambrose and Imelda. They were too superficial and not properly worked out for me and I just couldn’t understand some of their actions and decisions. But it was fun to accompany them on their way to true love

„Once more upon a time“ was a cute and quick read but sadly nothing more. The end was satisfactory for me and i definitely want to read Roshani Chokshis other books. Because i really like her writing style.

It was an absolute pleasure to read such a wonderful and lovely novella as Once More Upon a Time turned out to be. It was just what I needed at the time and actually saved me from getting into a reading slump. A perfect book for when you want an easy read which makes you believe that true love really does excist. I'll definitely read more of this author in the future!

This was such a fun read, absolutely surprising and heartwarming. Imelda and Ambrose are such a real and lively pair. Their story is of trying and not letting go, repairing the broken threads of their life and love. I enjoyed their banter and the narrator's imput, the cloak was a fun addition also. All in all a fun approach to fairytales.

Ten stars for The Horse Cloak. By far one of the quirkiest and best characters I’ve ever read about.

I loved this book. It was absolutely adorable. A perfect fairy tale (which I rarely see anymore).

Could’ve been elaborated more in areas but overall super cute. Very happy I read this one.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an arc of this book.

I was really excited to read this one, because I am a sucker for a fairytale. However, this missed the mark for me, falling flat and feeling very middle-of-the-road.I haven't read any of Roshani Chokshi's other works, but I've seen other reviewers saying how the writing style for this book differed greatly from what they are used to from this author. Nothing about the writing really jumped off the page or gripped my attention, and for a rather short book, I found myself not wanting to pick it back up.

While this wasn't the book for me, I can see how others did enjoy it, and if you're looking for something simple and easy to read, this is definitely for you.

Once More Upon a Time begins with the fairy tale of The Twelve Dancing Princesses where one princess marries the suitor at the end. However, this story features one of the other eleven princesses, Imelda. There is another tale of three princes who must defeat three dragons in order to inherit the kingdom. This story features the middle brother, Ambrose, who did not win his father’s kingdom. The story takes Imelda and Ambrose as they marry and their own tale is woven with its own fairy tale complete with a curse, a poisoned tomato, an enchanted honey badger, and a magical talking cloak.

The story has a fairy tale set-up, as there is a central narrator, who reveals their identity as the story moves forward. The narrator tells the story to the reader and stops in sections where the story slows down to give details where Ambrose and Imelda’s perspectives are told. Through this type of story telling, it was very fitting for a classic fairy tale and I could picture it playing out like a movie in my mind. Ambrose and Imelda fall in love at first sight. They are only married for a day before they are cursed to lose their love for each other, which lasts for a year before the story’s adventure begins. They are sent on a final quest where they must retrieve a potion for a witch, which is where Ambrose and Imelda are forced to become reacquainted with each other along the way.

The two characters were a delight as they had great chemistry and it was interesting to see them discover more about the other. Through their journey, each character’s original tale is integrated into their character development. Imelda’s relationship with shoes based on her past and I love how it is weaved into her part of the story and how Ambrose works to understand this part of her. In turn, Ambrose has a complex relationship with the concept of love among other issues he is dealing with from his past. These were all well integrated into his story and Imelda was a great partner to try to understand him. Although I was not quite on board with either character in the beginning, they both grew on me and I greatly enjoyed them by the end.

Overall, this is a short and sweet fairy tale with lots of witty humor. Since it is a shorter story, of course, I wish it were longer. I would love if it were expanded into a full-length novel, as it would be nice to explore both characters in more depth. There is a lot in this novel that was enjoyable and I just wanted more! Since it does utilize the twelve dancing princesses story, there could be room for expansion with ten sisters still remaining to have their story told if the author wanted to create a story for each. If it contained the same joy and great characters, easily I would read all of them!

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, for the opportunity to read this enjoyable novel. The opinions expressed are completely my own.**

Ok this was quite a short read but certainly very entertaining. Essentially we have a fairy tale that somehow lost its happy ending. No wicked fairies involved just an innocent looking fruit ! The characters grow as the story progresses and its always fun, witty, perhaps a little tongue in cheek but an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.
This voluntary take is of an advanced copy and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

I absolutely enjoy Once More Upon Time by Roshani Chokshi. It is a fun, easy and quick read, exactly what I wanted at the moment since I was on a reading slump for a while. It also reminds me a lot of my childhood memories, reading my favorite fairy tales.

I’ve been a fan of Roshani Chokshi since I first read The Star-Touched Queen, so anytime I see she has something new coming out, I try to get my hands on a preview copy (or do my best to get myself a copy as soon after it’s released as possible). Once More Upon a Time is unique because it has already been released – in fact, it was released over a year ago ¬– but only as an audio novella from Audible. Now, I have a difficult time with audio books (I tend to zone out while listening to narrated stories and do much better with podcasts that are based in discussion or analysis). Now, Once More Upon a Time is being released in print and ebook versions so as far as format goes, it’s a bit more to my taste. Of course, the fact that it plays with fairy tales is also right in my wheelhouse of interests, and – simple and short though this novella may be – it proves just as entertaining and fun as I’d hoped.

Imelda and Ambrose are both overlooked characters from other fairy tales. Imelda is one of the twelve princesses who spent her nights dancing through her shoes in a fairy realm and Ambrose was the middle prince whose father set out tasks to help him choose his successor to the throne and Ambrose neither fulfilled them in the way his father preferred nor broke the curse of a princess earning him a different throne. But when they meet and fall in love, it looks like they might just get their own fairy tale ending… until tragedy strikes and the only way to avoid it is to let a witch rob them of their love for each other. Turns out, their fairy tale is actually just beginning.

It’s entirely unsurprising to anyone who knows me (or has read my reviews of other fairy tales with twists) but my favorite element of this story was the allusions to other well-known fairy tales (and how they are subverted). First, the narrator’s interjections throughout have the ideal amount of tongue-in-cheekiness to them to delight me. The fact that Imelda and Ambrose are basically side-characters from other fairy tales gives the whole thing a bit of a Shrek feel as well. But even as the tale alludes to and subverts well-established fairy tales, it doesn’t undermine the psychology of the central characters themselves. Imelda’s experiences with her father and the enchanted shoes give her some major (and understandable) trust issues and she guards her freedom and autonomy carefully. Ambrose’s distrust and desire for independence comes from an equally tragic, family-generated place though it expresses itself in its own ways.

Though the story’s destination is pretty obvious and the minor adventures along the way are quickly and predictably resolved, it doesn’t make them any less entertaining. While I would probably have had a difficult time with the audio book, I can see exactly why and how this tale lends itself to that format. And reading this has given me the perfect little taste of Roshani Chokshi’s writing that will hold me over till the final installment of her Gilded Wolves trilogy is released later this month.

This was so sweet! I don't even think it's 150 pages so it's a very short read but so much fun. Obviously you can't expect the best world building or character development but I was surprised by how much there was in this story. Both Imelda and Ambrose were lovable and their love story was too. They are on a quest to find a potion after a year and a day of having their love stolen from them and along the way they get to relearn each other which made for a really happy, enjoyable story. I also loved our talking "horse" and all the extravagant fairy tale references, talking badgers, and other creative elements. The writing is custom Roshani Chokshi, which is to say unbelievably beautiful, and I would highly recommend this one if you like quick fairy tale-inspired romances!

This is a short book, easily read in one sitting if you're an avid reader. The writing is different from Chokshi's other work, much lighter and breezy. It actually reminds me a little of the Fairyland series by Catherynne M. Valente in terms of how it's written. I also think that it would make a very fun movie that I would actually go see in theaters, and I rarely consent to see things in theaters. That being said, I didn't like it as much as the other things I've read by this author. The style works for me, and so does the love story, I mostly just wanted more of it. Another 100 pages easily could have been added into this book, a little more adventure, and it would probably have been a home run for me. I liked Imelda and Ambrose together, the way they interacted, and I believe that they loved each other. It's because I enjoyed them so much that I wanted more.

If you're looking for something fun with a sweet romance that you can breeze through in an afternoon, I would recommend this book. I'd love to see Chokshi expand on this universe, maybe explore some of the siblings of Imelda and Ambrose; I would definitely read that.