Once again, Champions, you have exceeded my hopes, thank you to everyone who has kindly left a review! The next short–which is actually my favorite–is now unlocked: A Gallant Celebration. (Click HERE for the PDF File)
Now, onto today’s topic: where the story fits into the Continent and the timeline.
The Twelve Dancing Princesses make their first debut in the Timeless Fairy Tale series through Cinderella, in a conversation between Friedrich, Merrich, and Deiderrik, and they pop up every few books after that. But besides saying the bare minimum (That they are cursed or something as they wear their shoes out every night) I keep all details under wraps, until the Black Swan Smugglers arrive.
In Swan Lake I reveal that Odette and her crew have been delivering a philtre that freezes the heart of emotion and inspires a passionate desire to dance. This is the first clue that the elves are tied to the twelve dancing princesses as the French version of the story includes that exact same philtre. I planned for the elves to be included since early on in the series, and I knew the Twelve Dancing Princesses would be my ticket.
As you learned in Frog Prince, all the curses, spells, and calamities that have befallen my characters is the work of the Chosen–who have been plotting and planning for centuries. The Chosen specifically target countries and people with power who ruined their attack on Verglas, so naturally the elves would make the top of the list.
Because the elves–though quite limited in number–are a people group, the Chosen would have to strike against all elves if they really wanted lock them out of the incoming fight. Preferably they would want to kill them, but as you recall the elves’ curse was originally powered by Lord Enchanter Evariste, and due to the purity of his magic it couldn’t be twisted to do that. (It is worth mentioning, however, that Angelique’s magic wouldn’t have that problem, which is some food for thought….)
It’s also worth noting that the Chosen acted against them fast. It happened so quickly, in fact, that Emerys and his people didn’t even know Evariste had been kidnapped. (There will be more about this in future books, but its safe to conclude this was done on purpose.)
And to answer your question, Yes, as many of you have asked I do have a Fairy Tale planned to explain the elven Wanderers and how the three generals were freed. My original plan was to include it before Angelique’s book, but the series is already quite long. I still plan to write it one day, but it will likely be a novella. And to answer your burning question, the selected fairy tale is The Elves and the Shoemaker. There’s actually three different stories that include some distant hints to this fairy tale, so super bonus points to any who can guess which three!
Finally, Twelve Dancing Princesses actually introduces a main protagonist from a future story that will take place after Angelique’s books, Bridget! Can anyone guess what her fairy tale is? (Hint: think about her job…)
Thank you for reading and reviewing, Champions. I really hope you enjoy the extra, and have a lovely day!
I’m a little concerned something happened to our beloved author. The amazon reviews alone have hit the 140 review mark for the last freebie to be unlocked and, get, it’s still locked! I’ve hit refresh in the last few days at least 50 times. Lol. You’re killing me with the suspense!!!!
*yet. Thank you iPhone auto correct
I think she may be taking a small vacation…I believe I remember her mentioning taking a couple weeks off after getting the Twelve Dancing Princesses published.
Glad I’m not the only one refreshing the Amazon page multiple times a day. 😀
It’s out now-sorry for the delay–but you are right! I thought I was safe for a few more days, so when I was on my vacation I nearly had a heart attack when I realized how many reviews 12 Dancing Princesses already had, ahahah. 😉
I absolutely loved The 12 Dancing Princesses, and it’s different enough from my other favourite re-telling of the story by Jessica Day George that I don’t feel like I have to say which one is better. They are both good in their own way.
Quick question for you though; who are the other statues of in Jaspers Circle. Since one is the Snow Queen, I’m guessing that the others are also enchanters and an enchantress. Could the other woman be The Girl in the Glass Coffin? And who are the men?
I’m also guessing that Jaspers Circle has more significance than has been shown here, particularly to the elves.
Thanks again for another great story.
Yes! Mrs. George’s retelling is also my other favorite, and I feel the same way.
I would like to second everything Arletta said!!!
Loved the Twelve Dancing Princesses! Another favorite to add to the collection.I am so excited to see Odette, Elle, Gabi and Quinn join forces with Angelique. Those four are my favorite from all of the books.
I am so excited to read Angelique’s story! I don’t know if its wishful thinking or not (I’m probably just reading WAY too far into things, or seeing things that I want to see) but I feel like Angelique has some relation to Rakel; not just in the Chosen’s thinking Angelique is the equivalent of Rakel. Since Snow Queen first came out and the series starting progressing further, I’ve always thought that somehow Angelique and Rakel are related. Secretly, I would love Angelique to be Rakel and Farrin’s daughter. No idea how it would work out (Evariste can do time portals? Rakel and Farrin are somehow still alive?), but it my mind I would love that tie between the books more than the Chosen being around for many years, secretly plotting revenge.
Also, can totally see Elle getting a hold Foedus. She’s like the modern day Phile. Anyways, thank you again for this wonderful, magical, fun-loving series!
I love the short story! Especially the song. 🙂 Thank you for writing these for us!
What about the special boots Rothbart leaves for Odette? Those could be Elven made.
Ding-ding-ding! Aimee has mentioned the third and final pair of shoes the elves made. Way to go! (The boots are such a minor point, I didn’t think anyone would remember them. Well done!)
I think the idea of the wandering Warrior!Elves fulfilling the role of traditional Tiny!Elves is hilarious. Tall, strong, fearsome warrior elves… makin’ baby boots. Oh yeah. Can’t wait to see how you work that out.
I am beyond impressed with your book planning skills, as you are looking as much as a dozen or more books into the future, not just with large plot points, but small details and specific references. I don’t know how you do it.
I loved the 12 dancing princess, Quinn is a great hero. My thoughts after reading the book was I want a team up of Elle, Odette, Gabbie, and Quinn helping out Angelique, who actually lets her guard down. I think they could get themselves in and out of a lot of trouble all the while making fun/praising there husbands and if they happened to run into others we have met so much the better. Quinn would have to play bait at least once. I loved how they are all warriors in there own way.
I have loved watching this story unfold. I do wonder how the girl in the glass coffin and Snow White are going to work together or separately. And if the Assasins Guild are looking/found Foedus. Can’t wait to find out!
Just checking but Farrin was an Enchanter too correct? And he had war magic as his core magic? Is Angelique the first Enchantress with war magic?
I thought perhaps the black swans delivered it to them. Either in the regular book or a short. Can’t remember. There was a mention of a dagger.
It was from the book.
To answer your question, Abbey, no, Farrin was not an enchanter. (Which is actually hotly debated. Though Rakel is considered the first enchantress, she died before the title was created and was given to it post mortem. Farrin was NOT given the title due to the amount of magic he had, but it’s still debated that he should be given the title post-mortem too.)
And actually it’s hilarious–the four girls you picked (Odette, Elle, Gabi, and Quinn) actually are lined up to join Angelique on a mini kick-butt adventure and are actually the closest things she has to companions. 🙂 Well done!
…but I”m not going to confirm or deny Tina’s observation. 😉
It does help to read, re-read, and re-re-read the books. As i have done.
And the shorts….over and over….
Can’t help myself.
Thanks for the clarification about Farrin.
I am so excited that those women will be teaming up!!! The next question of course is when will that be out? No rush as I am also waiting on the next A. M. Sohma book.
Tina you are not alone I have also re-read these books and shorts many times.
Eeeeeee!!!! So excited, can’t wait!!! Angelique and her kick-butt princesses!!! *dies of happiness at the thought*
I LOVE this short 😀
Thank you! 😀 I’m glad you liked it–it was my FAVORITE to write!
I am thinking about Puss in Boots. The tiny boots that Stil has, that Gabrielle bought, could have been made by the wandering elves.
You are a sneaky, sneaky lady. I LIKE it.
Thank you agai.
Yeeeeeeeeees! Tina nailed it, Puss’s boots–which Gabrielle bought from Stil–were originally made by the Wanderers!
Good remembering–that was the one I didn’t know anyone would get!
Cinderella’s shoes?? Maybe?? Wasn’t Angelique looking for Severin’s glass and accidentally found the slippers instead??
Wracking my brain for shoe references…
Bravo! Cinderella’s shoes were indeed made by the elves as well! 😀 (Trieux is actually the home of our intrepid shoemaker, which is given a glancing reference by Angelique when she talks about the shoes.)
Dang it. Now I’m going to have to go back to all of the books and find signs of the wanderers.
I just finished 12 Dancing Princesses last night and I have to say – it’s one of the BEST ones you’ve done yet. So, so awesome and gripping. The story was just a wonderfully smooth, cohesive read – a logical flow but not predictable. I didn’t know how on earth Quinn was going to break the curse and I definitely didn’t see it happening as it did.
The bigger picture reveals also dovetailed so seamlessly into the smaller story of Quinn and her friends. I’m SO excited for where things go next – I just love how Quinn reached out to Angelique when she needed someone (that scene where she offered to help – ALL the feels. Poor Angelique!) and I hope we’ll continue to see a lot of Quinn in Angelique’s story. It almost feels like Quinn is set up to be Angelique’s Phile.
Emerys is so awesome and fun, but I just watched the Lord of the Rings trilogy for the first time, and an elf who broke my new elf mold took some adjustment! I kept feeling like he should totally go into overly dramatic phraseology. Haha! But seriously, all the character development was really good. I was so mad at Roy! I’m not sure I would have been terribly upset if he’d shown up completely black and blue after a “talk” with Emerys. 😉
Anyhow, I LOVED it and it’s one of my favorites of all your fairy tales. Well done!!
Totally agree with the black and blue comment!!
Actually, Emerys was probably the most in danger from the rest of Band Gallant followed by Emerys. 😉
But I’m glad you liked it, Hannah! It was a bit of a difficult story to piece together because of the timeline I was stuck in, but I really felt like these characters had a lot of heart to them, and I personally was also really happy to have a character finally reach out to Angelique with the intent of helping her. I felt like it was a real game-changer in the series.
Thanks for your thoughts–I enjoy and respect your observations as usual! 😀 <3
“Emerys … followed by Emerys”? Did you mean to use the same name twice, or was that a typo?
Haha, I wouldn’t have been upset either. I wonder who would have gone against Quinn’s *stated* wishes to beat Roy up first?
Bridget is the Red Rider…so is her tale Little Red Riding Hood?!?!
I have no chance to get the 3 fairy tales leading to the Elves and the Shoemaker lol
I don’t think this series can be too long 🙂 Just write what you are inspired to write. We love all the stories you can muster!
Amen!
Bing-bing-bing! Edel is right, Bridget will star in Little Red Riding Hood! It always irritated me as a kid that the story of Little Red Riding Hood didn’t involve any riding/horses, so Bridget is going to challenge that! 😉
YAY!!!! – to Bridget being Little Red Riding Hood, and to more stories after the Angelique trilogy!! We are more than happy for the series to continue ad infinitum, hahaha….
I’d adore a Rapunzel story at some point!!! 😀