Mirage a Dark Fairy Tale Retelling by C.M. Radcliff

Title: Mirage

Collection: The Sinister Fairy Tales Collection

Author: C.M. Radcliff

Genre: Dark Fairy Tale Retelling

Release Date: February 20, 2020 Cover Design: Black Widow Designs

Painted in gold, Jaslyn was born into a life of luxury with the world at her feet.

After the death of her father, his empire became hers and the princess became a queen. Painted in gold, Jaslyn was born into a life of luxury with the world at her feet.

Her fortune was sought after and deception and deceit had a ring around her finger.

But with the ring, came the accessories that money can’t buy.

At the hands of the new king, the empire began to crumble as Jaslyn’s world spiraled out of control.

Through the bars of her prison, she watched life pass her by.

Hope was fading quickly… until she met him.

Axel was the glimmer that she needed to survive.

From the wrong side of the tracks, Axel’s life was never easy.

He worked his way through the blood and sweat and went from rags to riches.

When you’re on top of the world, one mistake is all it takes to lose it all. And getting back up is always harder than the fall.

Getting his life back came with an offer he couldn’t refuse and he would pay the cost.

Jaslyn wasn’t part of the deal, but she was a temptation that he couldn’t escape.

She was his endgame and he would fight to the death to get to that finish line.

Together, they roll the dice and risk it all for love.

But when you gamble in the game of life or death, you pay a price.

And sometimes, that price could cost you everything.

My stomach is in knots!

It took me a bit to place each of the cast in their respective roles.

Jasper would be the nausea-inducing sultan

Rush is the ever lovable, I want him as a best bud, not so stable genie

Alex our viciously sweet and ruthless main man would be Aladdin

And lastly would be Jaslyn... self-explanatory

I have to say this story kept me on edge from the opening scene right to the cliff-hanging end and yes this ends quite painfully.

The story itself is intense and fast-paced.

There is no breathing room in-between moments.

So buckle up buttercup!

There are some areas that tease at the character's pasts, enough for me to accept certain behaviors for the moment but I would have liked more. I hope the answers to some of my questions will be in the next episode.

My feelings toward Jaslyn are touch and go. Her character confused me at times. She is strong-willed but something made her at times seem IDK...

There seems to be a lot more to the whole sordid affair than what lies on the surface

It takes a bit to see beyond the tarnished and tragic

This touches deeply on physical abuse - just know that going in if you find this a trigger you may want to skip this duet

For those who choose the journey -- see you on the other side

C.M. Radcliff lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two demon children. Known as the Psycho Queen, she speaks fluent sarcasm, dark humor, and has the mouth of a sailor. If she isn't reading or writing, she's probably on an adventure with her little family.