Arabella is the hidden princess, the one her family hides as much as possible and the one who doesn’t have great prospects for future power. She is abused and neglected, with little prospect of having any of her dreams come true.

Felix, the famed shadow emperor, is battling to save his people and lands from a curse inflicted upon him by his mother. He is running out of time to reverse the curse that has left his lands frozen and desolate, his people starving and desperate.

In a prophecy, Felix sees that a woman will help him save his empire, and so he demands the woman’s hand in marriage.

The chemistry between Arabella and Felix had me questioning for some time, as she went from thinking she was near to marrying her best friend to married to a stranger and leaving her home within a single day. The balance of power early in their relationship made for a few uncomfortable encounters. Arabella is incredibly innocent and naive in the beginning, and Felix’s magical powers and his demand for her immediate marriage meant she had little choice in her situation. Add in the fact that she thought she was in love with another man and was near to having an engagement to him, and it made it hard to believe she was falling in love with Felix in the way it was portrayed.

I love a good Beauty and the Beast retelling but this one isn’t necessarily one that will be a favorite. The beginning felt very closely tied to one particular version of the tale, with aspects like a deserted east wing, sentient home furnishings, clothing that chooses itself, and a few other elements that were very reminiscent. But it also shifted the tale with the addition of magical users in a variety of roles, including Arabella after she learns to control her magic.

I did like Felix’s reaction to learning the treatment Arabella faced at the hands of her father, and the retribution he sought on her behalf did redeem him at least partially.

Speaking of magic, the magic system was unique but at times I wished there was more detail about the how and why of magic use. The curse shifts the power and adds a time constraint to the use of magic but I would have loved to know more about the world.

The ending happened fast, but with an unexpected twist I wasn’t expecting to break the curse in the end. I am interested in the next book in the story because I love the idea of Elaine and Raphael’s future.