Kiss: Frog Prince Retold

Romance a Medieval Fairytale #14

by Demelza Carlton

A desert princess. A cursed prince. Can a kiss break the spell?

Once upon a time...

When Anahita picks up a pet frog on her way to marry a distant sheikh, she laughs at his claim to be a prince under a curse that can only be broken by a kiss.

Until he transforms into a man in her tent.

With one man in her bed as she's preparing to marry another, what's a desert princess to do?


Romance a Medieval Fairytale series:
Each book is a standalone, so they can be read in any order:
(#1) Enchant: Beauty and the Beast Retold
(#2) Dance: Cinderella Retold
(#3) Fly: Goose Girl Retold
(#4) Revel: Twelve Dancing Princesses Retold
(#5) Silence: Little Mermaid Retold
(#6) Awaken: Sleeping Beauty Retold
(#7) Embellish: Brave Little Tailor Retold
(#8) Appease: Princess and the Pea Retold
(#9) Blow: Three Little Pigs Retold
(#10) Return: Hansel and Gretel Retold
(#11) Wish: Aladdin Retold
(#12) Melt: Snow Queen Retold
(#13) Spin: Rumpelstiltskin Retold
(#14) Kiss: Frog Prince Retold
(#15) Hunt: Red Riding Hood Retold
(#16) Reflect: Snow White Retold
(#17) Roar: Goldilocks Retold

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Paranormal, Audiobook, Ebooks, Retellings

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 16, 2018

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author Demelza Carlton has always loved the ocean, but on her first snorkelling trip she found she was afraid of fish.
She has since swum with sea lions, sharks and sea cucumbers and stood on spray-drenched cliffs over a seething sea as a seven-metre cyclonic swell surged in, shattering a shipwreck below.
Sensationalist spin? No - Demelza tends to take a camera with her so she can capture and share the moment later; shipwrecks, sharks and all.
Demelza now lives in Perth, Western Australia, the shark attack capital of the world.
The Ocean's Gift series was her first foray into fiction, followed by the Nightmares trilogy. She swears the Mel Goes to Hell series ambushed her on a crowded train and wouldn't leave her alone.

Reviews

[*❆ Kαɾҽɳ ❆* · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting fairytale retelling, I have to admit!

The Frog Prince tale never really interested me, maybe because I do not like frogs, hence this tale I never really read must about

But, of course I'll read anything written by Demelza because she has surprised me before with the way she tells the tale and make it really enjoyable to read

And I can happily say that I was not disappointed!

In previous books we have met most of the characters in this book, Anahita, our heroine Princess, is the half sister of Princess Maram, from "Wish", the enchantress who cursed Philemon to be a frog is Zuleika, from "Enchanted", and Anahita is also mentioned in "Melt"
So, there is plenty of overlapping of characters and background knowledge, yet you can read these books in any particular order since they can be read as standalone

Anyways, now thats covered, we begin the journey with Anahita, who has been married five time, and widowed five times
While her sister, Maram seduces men to give her father powerful allies, Anahita is given other measures to do the Sultan's bidding

And it is one of these journey to marry a hateful leader that she comes across the deserted city of Tasman, and strangely meets a frog who claims he is a Prince, THE Prince of Tasman who has been cursed

Now, talking Frogs does not bother Anahita, since her magical abilities is being able to talk to all animals, yet when she laughs about this frog being a prince, she isn't laughing when a man appears in her tent out of nowhere

Philemon has no hope in becoming a prince again, no matter what he does or say, the strange desert girl does not acknowledge him at all.

But both Philemon and Anahita will begin to talk and bond with one another, even as a frog, Anahita is happy with his company
But what will each do when there is no clear instructions on how to break his curse?

Such a delightful and funny tale, I loved every moment and am eager to know what else follows in this series!

Received a copy from the author herself, for an honest review, thank you!

[Renee Arthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the deserts in the time of princes and sheiks, this is an interesting read. Princess Ahanita is one of the sultan's lesser daughters and she was sent off to wed a truly horrible man. The night he broke her arm, she lost her fear and killed him. She set off for home with two of his guards and hoped her father would set them free. They became her friends and her personal guards. The last time he sends Ana off to marry, her newest hunting bird brings her a frog stuck on it's face. Since Ana can speak to and understand animals, she enjoys listening to the frog talk and allows him to accompany her on her journey. The frog is a cursed Prince, but Ana isn't sure about that and she doesn't let him know she is a princess. It's a very interesting tale and quite fun to read. The plot is a good one and the main characters are well written. It also shows how different people act in the desert world where women are sometimes nothing but possessions or just the opposite depending on what type of people rule. This is definitely an interesting retelling of the frog Prince where not all is as it seems.

[The Mysterious Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Demelza Carlton’s remodeling of classic fairy tales is wildly imaginative, and Kiss: Frog Prince Retold (Romance a Medieval Fairytale series Book 14) is perfect proof of that. The frog prince here, Prince Philemon, is no Disneyfied ideal at the book’s start. He frankly deserved the curse he got, and did not deserve Anahita, the desert princess heroine of this set piece. What develops from that starting point is a tale that’s totally unsuitable for children but totally yummy for adults. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises - the book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, it is easy to highly recommend. I’m definitely lookin

[Elizabeth Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

As she always does, Demelza Carlton took a familiar tale and turned it into something completely different. This is the story of Philomen, the frog prince, and Anahita, princess and sister to Maram, the one who married Aladdin. Exploring the sister's relationship and Anahita’s role as her father's assassin was interesting.

The characters were complex and realistic, despite the fairytale aspect of the story. What really sets this book apart though is the plot, which was thoroughly unexpected and inspiring. I always find it encouraging when female characters who find themselves treated as nothing more than property rise above expectations to become something more. Anahita was a compelling character, a woman who proved herself to be self-sufficient, confident, and brave.

[Alex L Criddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an imaginative fairytale retelling of The Frog Prince. The story was original and well-paced. Like most of Carlton’s female protagonists, Anahita was a strong, independent woman who knew how to take care of herself. Philemon was definitely frog-worthy in the beginning, but I like how he actually learned from his experience, though I wish his transformation of becoming a better man had been detailed more thoroughly. The characters were well-developed and the writing flowed and had few errors. As a caution, there were some intimate and violent scenes throughout the novel. I really love how the whole series intertwines, and I look forward to meeting new characters and reading more about those I’ve already met.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kiss is another interesting fairy tale redo by Demelza Carlton. There is a prince who is, of course, cursed. He’s a frog (at least sometimes). The trouble started when this prince commanded one of his djinns to create an oasis. It drained the city’s water supply (this djinn has a terribly dark sense of humor and of justice). There is a princess. She is an assassin with no luck in the romance department. Should Anahita take a chance and kiss Philemon (the frog)? A familiar tale with some odd twists and an unusual cast of characters (even Aladdin drops by) make this an entertaining story.

I received an ARC of this book. I voluntarily reviewed it.

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spunky sultan's daughter turned assassin on the way to marry her latest husband/victim meets and befriends a frog who turns out to be much, much more in this sweet and spicy romance. Like all oc Carlton's heroines, Ana is strong, independent and sassy, a thoroughly modern woman in an Arabian fairy tale world. Her frog prince is confident to the point of arrogance but he is also sweet and well meaning - not the Alpha male we're used to but one we can easily warm up to and their romance leads a checkered path, fraught with dangers, from hawks to sheikhs.
Kiss is a great summer get away - and a lot of fun.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall rating: 4.7***

This fairytale retold could easily be read as a stand-alone, however I love how characters from other retold stories play supporting roles in others. Having that knowledge of their origins just enrich the tales even more. The creativity of the storyline makes it a magical experience to absorb page after page. It bothers me more to have to pause following the tale in order to complete one of life’s demands. Selfish me wants to pause real life instead! A joy to experience, I look forward to another tale retold. All my reviews are always voluntarily written.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy. I really enjoyed reading about Anahita's and Philemon's story. Demelza Carlton made the characters so believable. You feel for Anahita and it's appropriate that Philemon is turned into a frog. This book will make you laugh and make you cringe. You meet characters from the previous books and the stories are all coming together. Even if you haven't read the other books you will want too. This is a stand-alone and I recommend to all who love a different version to an old fairytale.

[Patricia Hoffstaetter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a excellent, well-written retelling of a popular fairy tale with adult contents and a intriguing story-line. It filled with drama, intrigue, twists & turns, adventure, action, secrets, violence, conflict, tension, compassion, family issues, passion and love.
The characters are interesting and entwined well with each other and reacted with emotional feelings of fear, doubts & desire to the situation they found themselves in.
I would recommend this book and I look forward to future books from this talented author.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should note that romance isn’t usually my thing. I also listened to this as an ebook and the narrator did NOT do it for me. She sounded like a sssssssnake a little bit with all the drawn out s sounds. The story was interesting, but needed… more. More action in the travel, or more interaction with the main characters, or better or more sex scenes, or better character development. Any one of those would have boosted my opinion of it. As a shorter, lightweight book it was ok. I’m not upset I listened to it, but I probably wouldn’t do it again.

[Dmcl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful retelling of this favorite fairy tale. Highly recommended. Well written, unpredictable with great characters and sparkling dialogue. Includes characters from other fairy tale retellings, but you don’t have to read them to enjoy and understand this story. If you want to, though, read Wish: Aladdin Retold and Melt: Snow Queen Retold to add depth to your understanding of and another layer of enjoyment to this story. You won’t regret it.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great fairytale retelling. I love the ways these books weave together the storylines from different fairytales, and how characters return. These books can be read as standalone stories but I think the experience is greater if you read all of them as a series, this way you get to know the characters and discover their connections to each other. Not your childhood fairytales these stories definitely have an adult focus.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up on fairy tales, not just Disney but the actual Brothers Grim. These are tales for adults and Ms. Carlton does them right and she doesn't sugar coat the story ( more a Bros Grim then Disney) making them real with a touch of magic. I love her characters who are smart, brave and sometime all too human which makes them relatable. This is a beautiful retelling of the Frog Prince set in the Arabian desert.
Perfect for fans of Robin McKinley and fairytales in general

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another awesome fairytale retelling by the queen of the genre. Absolutely loved the story, and the characters really brought it to life - from the imperious Philemon to the dangerous but still sweet and naive Ana, and her true and steadfast warriors Haidar and Asad. A brilliant story that all adult lovers of fairytales should read. I can't wait to find out which tale will receive her magical touch next.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that this author writes strong women characters. Anahita is one of the strongest she has written. She doesn't need a hero to save her, but it is always nice to have someone to share your life with. Philemon learns his lesson while on a journey through this story and while he is a good man, he does need some growing up. He and Anahita are perfect for each other. I loved this story. I volunteered to read this story.

[Suez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Demelza Carlton has a wondrously magical way of retelling this fairytale. This adult storyline is able to absolutely captivate the reader from the very beginning. I loved every second I was absorbed in these pages especially with such enjoyable, witty characters as Philemon and Anahita. This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

[Richard Goodrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story which ties together elements of other books in the series. Anahita is a thoroughly charming character with the strength and conviction to do what must be done. Philemon is a man in need of learning responsibility. Together they are a fantastic couple.

I received a copy of this book as a gift. I am leaving my honest review

[Sophie Koufes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kiss: Frog Prince Retold is a unrivaled imagitive retelling of the classic fairytale. This tale is originally & smoothly paced. Character's are complex as well as compelling. I love that supporting character's crossover from other classic fairytale retellings. A creative storyline with a unexpecting plot.

[Ola Adamska · Rating 4 out of 5]

That retelling is intriguing as I have never read any retellings of Frog Prince so this one for a Good Basics for The others.
Story was Good. Kept my interest and characters allowed me to "feel" The story on its own.
Each book can be read as standalone but I recommend reading Them in order for more pleasure.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free book and voluntarily chose to review it. This is not your children’s fairy tale. This author puts her own “Spin” (She has another fairy tale called Spin.) to this fairy tale. The author puts romance and danger into this story. She knows how to keep me stuck to my Kindle.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining, well-written retelling of the Frog Prince fairy tale, for adults. The princess was smart, strong and fierce, and the prince turned frog was able to learn some things after meeting the princess. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

[Annie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great fairytale retelling by Demelza Carlton. I absolutely loved this retelling of the frog prince. The story captured me from the beginning and kept me enthralled till the end.

I received this book as an arc and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing. Anahita is on her way to marry a distant Sheik, when she picks up a frog. He claims he needs a kiss to break the spell. Now she has a man in her tent on the way to the Sheik. An amusing different version of the Frog Prince. Loved it.

[Stephanie Villere · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Kiss: A Frog Prince Retold written by Demelza Carlton. It’s a retelling of a classic fairy tale, with quite a twist. Prince Philemon is cursed and turned into a frog. Can Princess Anahita trust the words of a frog? Can she break the spell? Has Prince Philemon truly learned his lesson?

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The frog prince retelling

Great story with ties to others in the series, but still able to be read as a stand alone. My favorite part was when the frog tries to strangle the hawk.

[Jennifer Kaser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frog Prince

I often wished that I could talk to animals. It would be cool. I always wondered how the frog got the girl to kiss him. Now I know.

[Angela Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story

I love the take on this fairytale. A great story that that also tied in some of the earlier books, which is great.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Starr Wilde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun adventure

This one was a fun adventure and I am so glad that we rescued Anahita from these terrible people so she could be happy....