Grimm Academy · #18

The Winter Ball

Name: The Winter Ball
Rating: 10 (1 reviews)
Author: Laura Greenwood

Laura Greenwood

Fantasy Fairy Tale Retellings Young Adult Retellings Romance

10.0 / 10

1 rating

1 review

The eldest princess of twelve knows the dangers of dancing the night away.

Audrey has always wanted to attend Grimm Academy and prove to her father that she's the perfect heir to the kingdom, but now she's there, she has bigger things to worry about.

With a prophecy hanging over her head that could mean a dire fate for both her and her eleven sisters, the clock is ticking for Audrey to break free of the spell.

Can she stop dancing in time?

The Winter Ball is part of the Grimm Academy fantasy fairy tale romance series and is a standalone retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses. It includes a fairy tale heroine determined to save herself and a sweet m/f romance.

If you enjoy fairy tale retellings, fantasy academy settings, friendship, prophecies, strong heroines, and sweet romance, start the Grimm Academy series!

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Published: January 11, 2024 (Drowlgon Press)

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Grimm Academy

The series

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There’s a place where fairy tale legacies weigh heavy on young shoulders—and where rewriting your story is the only way to survive.

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Grimm Academy invites readers into a reimagined world where the daughters of myth and legend aren’t content to let fate dictate their futures. These aren’t the docile heroines from bedtime stories. They're students, rebels, and dreamers, each haunted by a prophecy—and determined to break it.

Set against the gothic charm of a magical school filled with whispers of curses, enchanted corridors, and secret alliances, the series weaves together the familiar and the new. Rapunzel isn’t trapped in a tower—she’s climbing out of expectations. Sleeping Beauty isn’t waiting to wake up—she’s trying to stay ahead of a fate she never asked for. Each book focuses on a different heroine, but the threads of destiny, friendship, and quiet rebellion tie them all together.

What makes this series shine isn’t just the inventive fairy tale retellings—it’s the emotional core. These are stories about agency, growth, and the messy path to self-acceptance, wrapped in the allure of magical realism and school-life drama. With a tone that blends intrigue, heart, and a whisper of danger, Grimm Academy turns the traditional fantasy academy trope into something far more resonant: a place where legacy is a challenge, not a destiny.

Perfect for readers who crave character-driven fantasy with strong female leads, slow-burn romance, and a rich, enchanted atmosphere, this series is a quietly powerful journey through the question: what if you could choose your own ending?

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Chelsea K2024-07-22

This book is part of the Grimm Academy Series of Stand Alone Fairy Tale Retellings and so far it is only the third I have read although I do intend to read them all. I enjoyed reading this Retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses and getting to know Audrey & Eugene in this story. It was fun that Audrey had a cousin from a previous book in this series that we got to interact with although I haven't read Pumpkins And Proms: A Fairy Tale Retelling Of Cinderella yet so I look forward to backtracking and reading Florian & Ella's story later. Three of Audrey's Twelve younger sister's also joined the story partway through the book and Karen also has a fairy tale connection by introducing elements of "The Red Shoes" which is a Fairy Tale by Hans Christian Andersen that also revolves around dancing that I was less familiar with although the two worked together here really well. In the end notes the author says she may write more about Karen later which should be interesting.

Series Character and Story Connections for The Winter Ball: A Fairy Tale Retelling Of The Twelve Dancing Princesses (Grimm Academy Book 18)
Cordelia's story can be found in Princess Of Peas: A Fairy Tale Retelling Of The Princess And The Pea (Book 17)

Morgiana's story can be found in Dance Of Daggers: A Fairy Tale Retelling of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (Book 19)

Marie's story can be found in Slippers and Sugarplums: A Fairy Tale Retelling Of The Nutcracker And The Mouse King (Book 20)

Florian & Ella's story can be found in Pumpkins And Proms: A Fairy Tale Retelling Of Cinderella (Book 03)

Arthur, Lancelot, and Guinevere all appear in The Almost Queen: A Legend Retelling Of Guinevere and Lancelot (Book 10) and The Rightful King: A Legend Retelling Of King Arthur (Book 11)

Prince Enver is the love interest in Lamps And Lies: A Fairy Tale Retelling Of Aladdin (Book 08) = A Gender-Flipped Aladdin

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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