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.

When I was a kid I was obsessed with fairy tales - and did a complete deep dive into the obscure and original ones. 12 Dancing princesses was one of my favorite stories, and I really enjoyed this retelling of it. The world itself is deceptively simple, and I loved the magical creatures and enchantments sprinkled throughout. I think my only criticism is that it was short (maybe I missed if it's a novella?) because I thought there was so much potential to go more deeply into the world and the characters.

The banter itself is what makes this fun - it's cute, sharp, and just to the right of a fairytale romance. I really love Chokshi's other books, but as fun as this was I didn't quite love it.

ARC received from NetGalley for a review.

"Hazel eyes that reminded him of a lioness"

e-ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars for Once More Upon a Time by Roshani Chokshi. This retelling of the 12 dancing princesses highlights the adventure Queen Ismelda and King Ambrose embark upon to retrieve a magical potion for a witch.

The main characters Ismelda and Ambrose and I enjoyed the dual POV. The side characters we meet along the way (both good and bad) make for some interesting scenes and dialogue. The world is simple to fall into as it is not complex but has all the key components of imagery to transport your self there! Magical creatures and enchanted things like a horse cloak, a honey badger, flying shoes, and even enchanted roads were so intriguing!

The book is technically more Novella style and can be easily read quickly. I would recommend this to someone who is looking for a really easy fun read with an interesting (but simple) fantasy component. Bonus points if you are looking for some fun banter between the couple. You can easily read this in a sitting and come out feeling happy. The perfect book if you are looking for a quick pick me up!

Overall I really enjoyed this read. It highlights the importance of love and how love it can actually be the most freeing thing of all. <3

But at least she tried... and wasn't that the truest sense of bravery? To open one's eye in the dark and step forward anyway?

So I requested this book solely on author alone. I love her books. So i was basically going in blind on this book. The 12 Dancing Princesses is one of my absolute favorite fairy tales! This spin ... or really a continuation of .. was everything I could have asked for. Plus the narration was so comical. The characters were well developed even with such a short story.

Imelda and Ambrose stole my heart and I fell in love with their story as small as it was. I would love to see more stories like this from Chokshi.

I highly recommend anything by Roshani Chokshi because her writing is AMAZING!

3.5, rounding up to 4 because I love Roshani Chokshi!

I actually really enjoyed the humour in this book, the honey badger part did indeed make me giggle lol. There were also a lot of themes of empowerment and finding freedom in love which I really enjoyed!

And as always I love Roshani Chokshi's writing style. I find novellas are often quite forgettable so I'll be interested to see if this one sticks with me but I did enjoy my time reading it!

A cute, somewhat tongue-in-cheek take on a fairytale romance, Once More Upon a Time is perfect if you need something light and bite-sized. I read this after a heavier book and it was a perfect palate cleanser for my reading. It follows a king and queen who have lost their love because of a witch and are doomed to leave their castle after a year and a day. Instead, they go on a journey to gain what each of them most want and along the way fall in love again. It's not reinventing the wheel, but it's entertaining with some funny moments.

2.5⭐ rounded up.
Once More Upon a Time is a retelling of Twelve Dancing Princesses, except it's about the other sister.
Imelda, the other sister, and Ambrose were married, but they fell out of love a day later. They lived together for a year and a day before they have to go separate ways. And that's where the story begins; they embark on a journey to retrieve a potion.

It's actually been a week or so after I finished the book, and I haven't yet decided on the rating and what I feel about the book. Because frankly, I don't feel anything at all. I love Roshani Chokshi's other books, so I had high expectations. Maybe this book isn't for me. It's too short, and the characters are less entertaining than her other characters.

The only thing that I love about this book is that in the end, Imelda and Ambrose made peace with their traumas to made peace with their present. And that's something that I can learn from.

This was a short read but I loved every second of it! The author has such an incredible way with words and the storytelling genuinely reminded me of the fairytales younger me fell in love with as a child! Thank you for reintroducing a little bit of magic back into my life 🤍

This was a really cute read. I wasn’t totally invested with the characters and I found it to be a little predictable, but I still enjoy this and would recommend giving it a shot if you enjoy this author.

Thankyou for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Boy Oh Boy!! This was exactly what I needed right now. My hectic routine and daily problems had sucked all the magic out of my life, to read this book was to dive back into magic and remember that life is still enchanting if only you pay attention.
I cannot tell you how many times I laughed out loud while reading this book, the cloak sorry the dignified steed was hilarious. Ambrose was charming and very likeable, he was the kind of character you just wanted to hug. Imelda was fierce and I liked her energy, she had such a strong and wild personality, I honestly considered taking up her wit, bravery, fierceness and strength and incorporating it into my personality.
The book reads like a fairytale, I guess thats a given because of the title. But trust me its the kind of tale that warms your heart. A book that's perfect if you're looking for a fun, romantic lighthearted read that'll teleport you back to your childhood.
I didn't find any flaw in this novella, I loved every single minute of reading it. It was a fairytale but it wasn't ludicrous with songs sung by princesses every 5 minutes or who needed rescuing by a true love's kiss. The characters were raw and original with real relatable problems.
And did I mention how badass Imelda was, thankyou for not giving us anoyher damsel in distress princess who needed rescuing. I loved that she was distressed, she was vulnerable but she was her own saviour.
I know this review has gotten pretty long so I am going to wrap this up by saying please read this feel good novel with diverse and funny characters that will leave you with butterflies in your stomach and a grin long after you've FINISHED the book

Full of emotion and imagination, Once More Upon a Time is a lot of story in a little package! Chokshi is a master of multilayered fantasy, and this tale is no exception.. I was captivated by Ambrose and Imelda as they fought for their little slice of happiness against magical and entertaining circumstances, not to mention a nefarious witch. Great crossover potential for adults and teens.

A little under baked; but hey I like eating cookie dough out of the bowl.
It was a whimsical and sweet, a great afternoon read. While I wish there was a bit more, I found myself smiling the whole time.
Overall fun but lacking.

A sweet and charming story that blends traditional and modern fairytales together to create a masterful new story. A new re-telling of the 12 dancing Princesses.

Comparable with the Princess Bride. It has a good dash of fantasy and romance, more so a different take on romance. Classic fairytale vibes with entertaining antics and humour. There are great and imaginative cameo appearances from other fairy tale characters.

This is a very short but refreshing read. I would call it a palette-cleanser, something after a heavy read. The writing is delightful and magical.

A classic plot which entails a magical quest, witch's curse, cute romance, whole lot of comedic gold, and that happily ever after does not mean its without its struggles.

Firstly, thank you for allowing me to read this beautiful story — and for the ARC. This however will not affect my review.

It was extremely well written and I loved the whole story telling aspect involved in it. The world was beautiful and I absolutely loved the characters. It was very refreshing and I really enjoyed it. I needed a little more world building to invision where I was when I was reading — but it is still a beautiful read and story.

I absolutely love a spin on classic fairy tales. This one was so much fun! I had already listened to the audio book but it was nice to be able to read it in eformat. Some of it was predictible but for what it was, I enjoyed it.

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I love Roshani's writing, and this was a truly unique one! What happens AFTER the fairytale? And what happens when they stumble into a few other fairytales themselves?

I became a huge fan of the 12 dancing princesses fairytale after House of Salt and Sorrows, so I was really excited to dive into this one! And while it was a bit strange and took some time ot get used to the novella format, it was a really great, quick read!

I know this was originally an Audible original, but if you're like me you probably support other audiobook formats, so I actually didn't know that this was being printed for the first time! Definitely a great, quick read with a wonderful slow-burn romance.

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Roshani Chokshi strikes again. This was such a cute little novella and retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses! It’s a perfect short story if you’re looking for a whimsical, enchanting, fairytale romance mixed with humor and wit. After seeing Roshani nail it again and again with her YA fantasy romances, I had no doubt I would enjoy Once More Upon a Time. I really want to go listen to the audiobook version of this story, which is how this story was originally published, because you can tell how amazing of a bedtime story it would be. Imelda and Ambrose stole my heart and I could easily read about them forever! I’d be so interested to read what happens to them after the events of their journey and what their dynamic was like a year ago when they first met.

Overall, I’d definitely recommend this story if you’re a fan of fairytale romances, badass heroines, and sweet relationships between the main characters!

I was literally filled with so much joy when I read this book. I genuinely wish it never ended even though it was perfectly executed from beginning to end! I just love Roshani's style of writing and her storytelling is immaculate. She has equal parts of romance and fantasy and magic and world building and humor all wrapped up in a perfect present that's sure to sweep you off your feet!

The two characters had undeniable chemistry and both of them were well rounded and strong even though this was a short novella! Roshani really knows how to fully embody the characters in the shortest amount of time! The banter was just top tier and I could imagine every scene playing out so wonderfully!

One tidbit I especially loved was in the very first chapter with the poisoned tomato! I remember at some interview or event, Roshani had mentioned researching a lot and one of the stories she had told was about how people used to think tomatoes were poisoned and it just made me so excited when I got to see that little tidbit in the book!

Honestly, this book was so quick and full of love and hope and pure and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who wants that!