Dagger's Sleep: Beyond the Tales Series, Book 1
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Dagger's Sleep: Beyond the Tales Series, Book 1 Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Tricia Mingerink (Author), Emily Lawrence (Narrator), Tantor Audio (Publisher)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 178 ratings
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A prince cursed to sleep.

A princess destined to wake him.

A kingdom determined to stop them.

High Prince Alexander has been cursed to a sleep like unto death, a curse that will end the line of the high kings and send the Seven Kingdoms of Tallahatchia into chaos. With his manservant to carry his luggage and his own superior intelligence to aid him, Alex sets off to find one of the Fae and end his curse one way or another.

A hundred years later, Princess Rosanna learns she is the princess destined by the Highest King to wake the legendary sleeping prince. With the help of the mysterious Daemyn Rand, can she find the courage to finish the quest as Tallahatchia wavers on the edge of war?

One curse connects them. A hundred years separate them. From the rushing rivers of Tallahatchia's mountains to the hall of the Highest King himself, their quests will demand greater sacrifice than either of them could imagine.

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  1. Listening Length
    10 hours and 50 minutes
  2. Author
    Tricia Mingerink
  3. Narrator
    Emily Lawrence
  4. Audible release date
    July 14, 2020
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Tantor Audio
  7. ASIN
    B08BX8V8FF
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 10 hours and 50 minutes
Author Tricia Mingerink
Narrator Emily Lawrence
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date July 14, 2020
Publisher Tantor Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B08BX8V8FF
Best Sellers Rank #472,628 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#3,000 in Fairy Tale Fantasy (Audible Books & Originals)
#7,326 in Fantasy for Teens
#29,167 in Folklore (Books)

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
178 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Meagan @ Blooming with Books
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic reading that fans of Fractured Fairy Tales will LOVE!
Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2018
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Dagger's Sleep
Beyond the Tales #1
By Tricia Mingerink

For almost one hundred years the Seven Kingdoms of Tallahatchia have been divided as High Prince Alexander of the kingdoms sleeps a cursed sleep within the walls of Castle Eyota. But the way to the seventh kingdom Kanawhee is not easily traveled as the kingdoms of Tuckawassee and Pohatomie war against any who seek this path. Legends surround the prince - promising a princess who will with love's true kiss break the curse and awaken the prince. But one hundred years will soon be upon them and the curse has yet to broken. Any thought to be the promised cursebreaker are all too soon targeted by those who want the sleep to be endless and unto death.

Princess Roseanna has always enjoyed hearing the tales told of the High King and the High Prince. The tales of old have filled her dreams with sights she's never beheld. With the current state of warring among the kingdoms she knows she'll never see these distant lands. But when a raiding party is found within the Kingdom of Neskahana she is set on a path she never sought or expected. Daemyn Rand has been pursued by Tuckawassee raiders deep into Neskahana because he has news he needs to share with those within Castle Deeling. And he has even more important news for Princess Roseanna ~ she is the promised cursebreaker and he is bound to bring her to Castle Eyota and High Prince Alexander.

But who is this prince that she is to awaken?

High Prince Alexander has been blessed with superior intelligence and in true princely fashion, he is amazed at his own superior abilities. But Alexander is living under a curse ~ on his 21st birthday he will be pricked by his own dagger and fall into a sleep from which he will never wake. Determined to prevent this curse from being fulfilled the prince sets out on a mission with his manservant Jadon Rand. Alexander is on a mission to seeking out a Loyal Fae whom he hopes to convince to lift his curse. But Alex's mission doesn't go quite how he planned it. In fact, traveling his kingdom in disguise opens his eyes to the true state of Tallahatchia.

Dagger's Sleep seems at first glance of the story summary to be a retelling of Sleeping Beauty but this is so much more than that. There is a spiritual element that runs throughout that adds an extra depth to this story. And then there is Daemyn Rand who seems to know more than he is willing to share and yet seems resigned to what he must do. There is a thread of mystery that runs through the story that one gets little glimpses of. This was a delightful read that one just doesn't want to put down. The story is told from both Rosanna and Alexander's perspectives as it unfolds before the reader. The story comes to a satisfying ending and can be considered complete so I'm interested to read what comes next in book 2 of the Beyond the Tales series. This is one book you don't want to miss out on. Fans of both Fairy Tale retellings and Speculative Fiction will love this book. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good book.
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Lisa Dawn
4.0 out of 5 stars Sleeping Beauty Meets Pocahontas
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2020
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The best way I can describe Dagger's Sleep is that it felt like a cross between Charles Perrault's "Sleeping Beauty" and Disney's Pocahontas. Princess Rosanna lives in a land that resembles something between a Native American village and a medieval kingdom. She is a nature child who enjoys riding her canoe around the riverbend with her friend Isi. Her life is flipped upside-down when a messenger named Daemyn arrives to tell her that she is the fabled cursebreaker who is destined to wake the sleeping High Prince Alexander from his century-old curse. The journey won't be easy. Her kingdom has many enemies who don't want the prince to wake up and end the war for ownership between its two provinces. Rosanna's family, friends, and guards must do everything in their power to protect her and make sure she is successful in her quest to awaken the prince and end the war.

The book alternates between the present time and 100 years earlier when the prince went on his own journey to see if he could get the fae to lift the curse that would cause him to prick his finger on his dagger on his 21st birthday and sleep for 100 years. At first, I didn't think these chapters added much to the story, possibly because I've read so many other retellings of "Sleeping Beauty" where the cursed princess tries to convince the fae to lift the curse. However, when I got about halfway through the book, I understood that the flashback sequences were really about the prince's servant Jadon teaching him humility. The story became significantly more interesting after that, but the first half felt like it was mostly filler, alternating between Rosanna' and Alex's journeys through various parts of the kingdom to achieve their goals. This book would probably appeal more to environmentalists who enjoy lush descriptions of natural environments.

Most "Sleeping Beauty" adaptations avoid the 100 year gap because it eliminates the possibility for romance to blossom between the two main love interests before one of them falls asleep. This book resolved that by giving Rosanna a different love interest than the prince. In fact, she doesn't even wake Alexander with a kiss, something that made this version truly unique. I appreciated that Tricia Mingerink got so creative with her interpretation of the story, but I didn't find the romance as engaging as I would have liked. Rosanna was so busy trying to prevent a war for most of the book that it seemed like she didn't have time to think about romance until the end. Much like Pocahontas, she was a very independent person who never needed someone else to make her life fulfilling. In fact, Rosanna is one of the most progressive heroines I've ever seen in a "Sleeping Beauty" adaptation, which is quite telling on the possibilities to modernize even the ultimate "damsel in distress" story.

Overall, Dagger's Sleep is one of the most creative retellings of "Sleeping Beauty" I've ever read. It wasn't my favorite due to the war background and underplayed romance, but I have to give credit where credit is due. Rosanna is a terrific modern-day princess who knows how to take care of herself and go on her own adventures. The Native American elements added a unique cultural perspective to the story that made it feel fresh. Even though some of the flashbacks felt unnecessary, all the loose ends were tied together by the end. The love interest was a fascinatingly complex character, and it was a pleasure learn his secrets. I would recommend this book to anyone who disliked elements of the original "Sleeping Beauty" and wants a more modern take on the classic fairy tale.
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Kathryn
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2023
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If you’re here because you read Tricia’s Blades of Acktar series and needed something just as good to read next, you’re in the right place. If this is the first book from Tricia you’re considering buying, do yourself a favour and buy it right now! There are few books that can so excellently capture fantasy, a strong Christian message and perfectly timed plot twists. I can’t wait to read this entire series!
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Katherine
5.0 out of 5 stars Epic world and lovable characters
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2023
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Dagger's Sleep is a gender-swapped Sleeping Beauty in a creative and fascinating world where nobles are given curses by Fallen Fae and gifts by Fae who serve the Highest King. The characters are diverse and the story is told from multiple perspectives and times. The world-building is both epic and succinctly done and has Chronicles of Narnia vibes as faith elements are woven into the very trees themselves. The story gradually builds until it becomes incredibly hard to put down. This would be a great read for those who enjoy Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, clean fantasy romance, Christian faith elements, creative magic/gifts, non-gory fight scenes, self-discovery, characters with realistic flaws and strengths, strong female characters, fate of the kingdom level adventures, fairy tale retellings, and significant side characters.
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Top reviews from other countries

Lizbiz
5.0 out of 5 stars a powerful message
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 16, 2021
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I liked the message that the High King's son gave in this story. He reminds me of Jesus and that he helps us in our relationship with God.
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Kiitteriine
5.0 out of 5 stars A promising start to a new series
Reviewed in Australia on May 27, 2020
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Very comprehensive backstories - I love a retelling of the traditional especially when it's gender swapped and a few surprising twists
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AA Lee
4.0 out of 5 stars Just the Right Mix
Reviewed in Canada on March 14, 2021
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This was an engagingly different take on the Sleeping Beauty story. The gender reversal was not particularly unusual. What I found unusual was the prince's attempt to avoid the curse - this makes so much sense, given royal attitudes, the valet's loyalty - this reminds me of the Beloved Apostle, and the princess' determination - women can be strong and this shows it. This retelling has just the right feel of the original fairy tale, just the right relevance of the characters, just the right degree of thought-provoking philosophy and faith, just the right amount of action to tie all the elements together into a retelling that flowed and eddied from beginning to end, bearing the reader's attention with it. I recommend this to fans of K.M. Shea, Melanie Cellier and Maria Grace.
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