The Fairy Tale Collection

Contemporary MM Retellings

By: Helen Juliet

Narrated by: Kieran Flitton

Length: 30 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Experience Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, and Rapunzel as you’ve never seen them before in this box set of contemporary adaptations! Available together for the first time, each book is a stand-alone with its own HEA, but watch out for familiar faces!

Thorn in His Side

Beautiful, innocent Joshua Bellamy finds himself in an arranged marriage to the older, brutish, and scarred Darius Legrand. But in Darius’s secluded mansion, Joshua begins to see that Darius isn’t so scary after all. In fact, despite being a little grumpy, he’s actually very protective and caring. When danger comes knocking on their door, will Joshua and Darius’s blossoming love be strong enough to save each other?

A Right Royal Affair

Nobody knows that Prince James of the United Kingdom is bisexual, and as he’s sixth in line to the throne, it needs to stay that way. But when he meets the cheeky, outrageously gay Essex boy, Theo Glass, everything could change. Against his better judgement, James asks Theo to help him put on a royal charity ball to remember. Can they resist their mutual attraction for a whole week alone in a picturesque castle, or will true love bloom?

Hair Out of Place

Raphael d’Oro is a secret prince who has spent his entire life exiled in a London penthouse. But now he’s in a race against time to get back to his tiny European nation to claim the throne that’s rightfully his and save his people. Good thing he has his insanely hot older bodyguard to take care of him. But Griff Thompson would never want someone as inexperienced as Raphie, would he? Even if they keep finding themselves in places with only one bed...

©2018, 2021 Helen Juliet (P)2021 Helen Juliet

Boring

The narration was robotic and did not convey emotion well. I found this distracting. The first story was about average in terms of how enjoyable it was; a bit tedious, but saved by the interesting conflict. There were a few too many holes in the plot, and several things that just didn't make sense. For example - one of the main characters is independently wealthy and has his own home...but for some reason acts totally beholden to his father. The story never really justifies this, and it killed the stakes set up by the aforementioned conflict. The second story is just not engaging at all. Didn't even make it to the third; in part, because it felt like the characters were too simillar, in terms of internal monologue, to those in the first story.

Worth the credit

Let me
Start by saying this collection id over 25 hours of content for the low price of 1 credit. It was so worth the listen too. I have not listened to many audiobooks narrated by Kieran Flitton, but I think he did a great job with the narration of the various stories.

Also, every story is a MM retelling of classic fairy tales. If you like a bit of historical romance and remakes of classic tales, this set is definitely for you.

Fairlytale Retellings!

I absolutely loved this MM fairytale retellings book bundle.

I took a week and a half to finish this one, and I loved each and every tale.

The stories were wholesome, sweet and romantic.

The narrator performed an amazing audio delivery and narration.

Definitely recommend this one

Inner Dialogue….. Uhg

The story itself is ok, but the 60% constant inner dialogue is too much. The story moved so slowly since every action caused the characters to over analyze in their minds… forever. I really tried to finish the first one and could only get half way through.

Narration was great, stories had holes

I liked the concept of fairytales reimagined with gay leads. The characters were all likable. The stories were not believable, for example, one character was 21 and never left his apartment - like ever? Another character was rich in his own right, but concerned his father would steal his money when his husband lost (or possibly given the father) his credit card? There were many examples that just made the books frustrating, but I kept listening because the performance was great.

They all lived happily ever after in the end

Again, this is the kind of bundle that’s definitely worth the bang for your buck. 3 wonderful MM fairytale retellings of Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella and Rapunzel .. this was a delightful contemporary fairytale retelling collection.

Thorn in his side - it’s exciting and fun with a very clever horse and a pup and various household utensils that are well .. alive. It’s thrilling, romantic and quite whimsy.

A right royal affair - a very romantic story with evil stepfather and brothers in law, a very believable fairy godmother and modern shoes as glass slippers, it was a modern fairytale dreamy romance.

Hair out of place - a really funny and romantic love story with a naive knight! It was delightful.

Kieran Flitton’s narration gets better with each book I listen to and he did a wonderful job in bringing this dreamy characters to life. Highly recommended if you love whimsical romances.

4 they all lived happily ever after in the end stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️



Audio rating

Story - 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration - 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Performance - 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall - 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

loved these modern fairy tales

I loved these modern retellings with an mm twist. If you are in the mood for grown up versions you will love these.

Modern day fairytales

I read A Right Royal Affair when it first came out and loved it. It was still as good the second time around! James and Theo are an adorable couple and it’s hard not to like the thought of a fairytale romance between a commoner and a member of the royal family. This is by far my favourite book in this collection.

Thorn in His Side is a modern day Beauty and the Beast retelling with Joshua the beauty and Darius the beast. Joshua is really sweet and instantly loveable, and despite the rotten hand he’s been dealt he still tries really hard to be optimistic and positive. His forced marriage to Darius starts off decidedly bumpy as Darius is gruff, short tempered, and rarely around. But as Darius falls for Joshua his happier, gentler side comes out and he becomes a really likeable character. Enjoyable story

Hair Out of Place - this book I really struggled with. The story is completely fantastical and unrealistic and just didn’t work for me personally. I really struggled with this one and I found it difficult to stay focused on the book.

The narrator was okay and his voice was easy to listen to.

Love this bundle

I’ve listened to these titles separately but I love that it’s in a bundle now. This is perfect for those days and times when you have time to fill, such as a long road trip!

Well written

It was exceptionally good and worth my credit. I hate it’s over. I loved a little bit of each book was rolled over into the next book!

Execellent narrator

The first two stories in this bundle are both 5 * for me. The third one is too much for me, this is not on the level I have gotten used to after the first two books. The story is way too predictable and the caracters are just not doing it for me. So that is a 3- for me.
However the narration for all the three stories is excellently done, but even he can't safe book 3 for me. I had two speed it up to get through it So overall 4*, because one mweh book can't cancel out the positives of this bundle.

Enjoyable Story

A well written story with and interesting  concept.  The characters are likeable and the narration is very good.

An amazing collection of reimagined classics

I've always loved a good twist on a classic fairytale, and this collection had three amazing adaptations of old favorites! With the perfect blend of swoony romance, magical adventures, and modern struggles, each story captured my attention and swept me away on a thrilling and unexpected journey. Kieran Flitton's narration was outstanding in every single instance, and I'm impressed by how deeply he made me feel each character's emotions as I followed along. I'm really happy I gave this audio a chance and can't wait to work my way through the rest of this author's backlist!

Thorn in His Side: 5/5 stars

I found this fairytale adaptation fascinating--with plenty of unique aspects to leave me on the edge of my seat and all of the "fairytale magic" I could have hoped for. Joshua was such a sweetheart, and even though Darius tried to hide it he was a big ol' softie too. The early stages of their relationship were so freaking cute, and I felt practically giddy at every tiny gesture or small step forward the two of them made. Victor was cartoonishly villainous at times, and I seriously cannot believe how deep his hatred of Darius ran. Despite his attempts to make Joshua and Dariu miserable, the two of them did manage to carve out a slice of happiness. It filled me with so much joy to see how content and in love they were, and even though I was constantly afraid of what scheme Victor would cook up next, I also had hope that everything would turn out okay. Their romance was a much slower burn than I expected, but the sweet hesitant way they pursued each other only softened my heart more. If I ever doubted that Darius truly cared for Joshua, the way he let him go to check on his family showed me they were serious about each other. After climbing to such soaring highs, I should have known to expect horrific consequences from Victor and his minions, but I was shocked by how scary and dark this story got towards the end. When Darius and Joshua were at their lowest point, it was their conviction that their love was real that got them through it. It was incredibly satisfying to see Victor meet a fate he deserved and watch Joshua and Darius ride off into the sunset together.

A Right Royal Affair: 5/5 stars

James and Theo's romance had all the elements of a classic fairytale thoughtfully re-interpreted into the present day. Their story somehow captured both the whimsical magic of Cinderella and modern-day themes of found family and acceptance. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to their disastrous first meeting and seeing how it led them to an entirely unexpected business relationship. James was lovably awkward about exposing his secret to Theo, and the sweet way they fumbled through courting never failed to make me smile. The two of them may have seemed like an unlikely pairing, but their connection felt so natural and effortless at times that I couldn't imagine a scenario where they didn't end up together. I was a bit disappointed to see them fall victim to lies and miscommunication towards the end, but thankfully it didn't take either man long to come to their senses. I also wasn't thrilled by the way things left off with the royal family--I wish they had been forced to make a public statement of support instead of the last-minute loophole. Even without the pivotal turning point I was hoping for, Theo and James ended up exactly how I wanted them to: happily in love and able to live out their lives in peace.

Hair Out of Place: 5/5 stars

This delightfully re-imagined version of Rapunzel took me on an exciting journey full of steamy moments and sweet bonding between Griff and Raphael. Precious Sparrow kitty was an unexpected gem in this story, and the way Griff and Raphael showered her with affection showed me what wonderful people they were before I knew anything else about them. Amidst the intoxicating sexual tension and lighthearted get-to-know-you conversations, these two had to battle against surprisingly dangerous people and pull off a high-stakes mission to get Raphael to safety. I loved reading about their action-packed encounters as much as I loved swooning over their obvious attraction and inability to resist each other. Despite the rushed timeline and threat of death looming over their heads, Griff and Raphael's romance felt refreshingly realistic and not like insta-love at all. It was so much fun to see gruff, stoic Griff fall for such a sunshine-y and happy Raphie, even as Griff battled with himself over his responsibilities as a bodyguard. When the two of them did explore their chemistry, I was overwhelmed by how wildly passionate and unbelievably hot they were together. I was so caught up in the lighthearted fairytale of a romance that it took me completely by surprise when reality barged back in with its ugly brutality. Griff and Raphael had to fight every step of the way, despite brief moments of respite, and I was breathless with anticipation to see what would happen once Raphael made it to his final destination.

**I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this collection. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.

What an incredible deal

You can't go wrong with Helen Juliet and to get all these fairytale stories together for one credit is amazing. My favorite of the three was A Right Royal Affair. I loved watching Theo bring Prince James to the point where he could be who he really was. Second favorite was Hair out of place as I am a sucker for a good bodyguard romance. The takeoff on Beauty and the Beast, Thorn in His Side was very reminiscent of the old gothic romances from the 70s and it was great to return to those type of stories in an m/m format. Kieran Flitton does a wonderful job bringing all these diverse characters to life and making you feel all their emotions. Grab this one up and enjoy.

Lovely retelling of fairytales!

I enjoyed this bundle. It’s long so take your time to listen. It starts with Joshua and Darius with a beauty and the beast theme. Joshua is made to marry Darius, a scarred veteran with a very vindictive father. Joshua is an innocent trapped in a terrible situation with a man misunderstood. Loved the Thorn in his Side. The Right Royal affair with Theo and Prince James is sweet and cheeky. And Hair out of Place, show the adventure between a prince and his bodyguard. All lovely! And the narration is really good too.

Three right Royal fairy tales

This is the Fairy Tale Collection by Helen Juliet.
Three fairy tales with a comtemporary twist.

1) Thorn in his side
This was a new take on Beauty and the Beast. Darius and Joshua were forced to marry by Darius' demented father. They have to learn to live together or bad things will happen. They just happen to fall in love and this incenses Darius' Dad and he sets in place a revenge neither of them coud have forseen.
I loved both Darius and Joshua.
The only thing that spoiled this for me was there was some rather glaring editing issues and juddering in some places, but on the whole i enjyed Keirans telling of this story.

2) A Right Royal affair
Theo lives with his grandma who has practically raised him. Although elderly she raises money for a charity and it pays off when she is honoured for this. She needs to go to the palace to receive her honour and Prince James is there to honour her.

When James sets eyes on Theo he wants him. He uses the excuse that Theo can organise charity events to spend more time with him. He wants Theo to organise a ball at a remote castle. All he needs to do is keep his hands off him for a few hours.
This was a twist on Cinderella. I love how James treats Theo's gran. As though she were his own.
Keiran Flitton did a great job with this.

3) Hair Out of Place
This is a retelling of Rapunzel
Raphael has lived in the penthouse of a London Tower for nearly all his life.He has not been allowed to leave because of a huge secret that one day may be exposed.
Griffin is employed to be his new bodyguard, but on the first day on the job, a surprise attack happens.
Griff must keep Raphie safe at all costs. This includes parachuting from the top of the tower onto a busy London Street, running across London and the south-east of England and then hoofing over the continent too.

It turns out Raphie is the prince of a small kingdom in Europe and is next in line to the throne. When his father dies he has to get to Campanula and stake his claim to the throne, but there are at least 3 hitman after him trying to kill him.

I was impressed with the London tube knowledge Helen showed in this story and i tracked all the staions she mentioned as she wrote it. Brilliant research skills, not everyone would have bothered getting them all in the right order.
Keiran did a fantastic job with Raphie.

That voice!!!!

Keiran Flitton is a new to me author and holy amazeballs!!!! let's be real here since we all know Helen is an amazing writer but with Keiran narrating I couldn't put this boxset down.

Mixed bag of fairytale retellings

This set of three fairy tale retellings with modern settings and MM main characters was a little hit or miss for me. I absolutely loved the first story, including the MCs and the side characters (the household staff). The other stories were merely okay. The narration was fantastic for all three. See more details on the individual stories below.

Thorn in His Side (Beauty and the Beast)
Story – 5/Narration – 5

This was a wonderful and sometimes harrowing retelling of Beauty and the Beast, although I think the Beast was Victor, not Darius. I loved the way the MCs both grew and learned to be brave and overcome their fears, doubts, and uncertainties. I loved the way they came together and supported each other in the end. The household staff were fantastic. Boy, did this story have the vilest villain I’ve read in a while. The narration was great and each character’s voice easily distinguishable from the others.

A Right Royal Affair (Cinderella)
Story – 3/Narration - 5

Reading the other reviews for this audiobook I have to ask if we were listening to the same book. Some indicate this to be a 'fast-paced' book. I found it to be a very slow slow-burn romance. In the first three hours of this nine-hour audiobook, the MCs don't even so much as kiss. They mostly spend their time internally lamenting to themselves that they couldn't pursue any attraction that *might* exist. I mean no offense to the author, but it just didn't grab my attention. Sweet story and characters, but I felt the dogs and the secondary characters had more character than the MCs. The narration was great.

Hair Out of Place (Rapunzel)
Story – 3/Narration - 5

This was a likeable story, but I couldn't see 'Raphie' as more than a child. His habit of whining and stomping his foot was rather juvenile. The story itself started and ended in a flurry of excitement, but there were long spaces in the middle, as the MCs wrestled with their desires and self-worth, that dragged. The story is pretty light-hearted until about 8.5 hours in. Then is gets pretty violent coupled with homophobic rants for about 15 minutes before returning toward a lighter tone. This section really seemed out of place with the rest of the story, and Raphie seemed pretty useless in the fight except for begging helplessly. No spoilers, but the hero wasn't Raphie or Griff. Overall, an okay story, but too much drama and angst over the 'I want you, but I'm not good enough for you' trope. I liked the Princess and her mother. The princess acted more adult than Raphie even though she was 9 years younger at only 12. I was also thrown for a loop at one point near the end where Raphie's mother is referred to as 'departed' and I found myself asking when she died since she was alive when the story started (spoiler: she didn't). Anyway, good attempt, but could have been better with a couple hours shaved off. Like the other stories, the narration was great, with distinct voices for each character, and good expression of their emotions.

I received a free copy of this audiobook and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

Wonderful retelling of fairytales

Helen Juliet has taken Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella and Rapunzel and given them an MM twist.
Each story has had life breathed into it and taken on it's own life, only sticking loosely to the original and giving readers new heroes and villains to love and hate.
Beauty and the Beast sees an arranged marriage bring together Darian and Joshua in Darian's castle that has mostly fallen into darkness, especially since the death of his mother and then his return from the army. Joshua tries to make the best of a bad situation and his light, sunny personality brings life to them all. I enjoyed the slow burn aspect of this relationship and how Darian has those redeeming qualities that Joshua constantly sees. Victor made the perfect villain with things getting quite intense towards the end.
A Right Royal Affair has a member of British royalty put to the test when the sweetest young man comes into his life. James and Theo live such opposite lives but cannot help but be drawn to each other. There is a bit of drama but a good balance of friendship, understanding and heat as the build their relationship.
Hair Out of Place brings Griff into Raphie's tower and a lot more action and drama than the bodyguard was expecting. Raphie is gentle sweetness with an amazing story and Griff comes into his life just in time to save him from would be assassins. Again, the two men are very different but Raphie balances out Griff's surliness with his sunshine and both work to make it to Raphie's home country in time to claim his birthright and save his life. Also, who knew that Sparrow, Raphie's cat, could have such personality and bring so much to the story.
I really enjoyed listening to these three stories and the drama and romance that unfolds in each. What truly brings them all to life is Kieran Flitton's narration. Each character is brought to life and it's so easy to fall into the story as he brings the drama and emotion out in every scene.

A great collection of reimagined fairytales.

I really loved this collection of stories. I actually listened to two of them previously but somehow missed A Right Royal Affair so I was happy I received a free copy of this bundle for review.

Kieran Flitton did an excellent performance of these stories and he’s one of the main reasons I wanted to listen to them. I also enjoyed Helen Juliet’s reimaging of the fairy tales, even though one of them was really a bit over-the-top for me.

A Thorn in His Side was my favorite of the three stories. I love books with a fake marriage trope and thought that this one was really good. The audio of this story had a Victorian vibe to it for me even though set in present day.

This is a slow burn story about a timid MC who lacks confidence, and a vulnerable MC with war wounds who doesn't see how anyone could ever love him. In the end they both fight for their lives against a horrible monster. The last third of the book was particularly captivating for me and I couldn't stop listening until I finished it in the wee hours of the morning.

* * * * * *
A Right Royal Affair was also very good. The dogs in the story were really cute and I loved Theo. James was a little tedious at times but that was probably necessary to the overall storyline.

* * * * * *
Hair Out of Place
I enjoyed this story but Kieran Flitton’s audio performance is what really made it great for me. I love his voice and he really kept me engrossed in this one. The story was good, too, but a tad bit slow in places and a bit over the top in others. I really loved it as it neared the end because of the scenes with Raphie’s sister; she was just precious! Overall a very enjoyable audiobook and I’m glad I listened to it.

A complimentary copy of this audiobook was provided to me at my request but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author and/or narrator.