A review by bookwormbunny
The Dragon Prince: A Fairytale by Anna Santos

5.0

The Dragon Prince by Anna Santos is a spin-off on the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast. A kingdom is ruled by a cursed prince. His heart is frozen as ice because of a curse. Until his heart is melted the kingdom will suffer from endless winter. Every so many months a ball is held, and a young woman is chosen to go to the Diamond palace to try and win the Prince’s heart. Some return to the town while others are never seen again. Claire will be the chosen one this time, and it falls on her to try and save those she loves. Can she melt the frozen heart of a Prince who simply wishes to be left alone? Can she accept him for what he is or will his secrets drive her away?
The Dragon Prince is an engaging short story, that while it only takes about a couple of hours to read will be a delightful story. The pace is quick so be prepared for things to happen quickly. Claire is a character that I immediately like from the beginning. She is a good reflection of Belle from the original Beauty and the Beast. She’s family oriented and cares deeply for her sick mother. I like that she has a good friend that she cares about. I honestly expected there to be some complication with the friend, but there isn’t. The author does a good job of staying focused on the primary storyline and keeps things very clean. There are a couple twists and surprises in the story that I also like quite a bit as well.
While I truly enjoyed this story, I do have some faults with it. I wanted more suspense with the ball scene. Things happen so quickly. I wanted the moment to at least be a little drawn out a bit. I was hoping for a slightly suspenseful moment because of the Regent’s daughter. I think that it would have really added more to the storyline.
All in all, I loved this story. It is a reflection of Beauty and the Beast but it is still its own unique story. It’s like Beauty and the Beast but with the Beast being in reverse. I loved it. I am an avid fan of this author and truly enjoy her work. If you are looking for a story with a guaranteed “happily ever after” then this is the book for you. I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. If you have read other books by this author then I recommend you pick up this book. You won’t be disappointed in this paranormal/fantasy romance novel.