Can a pea under a mattress turn a mermaid into a princess?

Banished from the sea and without a kingdom to call her own, Cordelia's only chance of inheriting is to win the Bellpoint Castle competition and become their heir.
And, with the help of her friends, she might stand a chance. But the one thing she hadn't considered was her heart, and when she starts to get close to her best friend's brother, there's no doubt that's on the line.
With the competition drawing to a close, and her prophecy rearing its ugly head, does Cordelia have time to work out matters of her heart?
-
Princess Of Scales is part of the Grimm Academy fantasy fairy tale romance series and is a standalone retelling of the Princess and the Pea. 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!

 

Published
April 13, 2023 (Drowlgon Press)
Where to find this book
External links open a book search at the selected retailer. Availability may vary.
Grimm Academy

The series

Full series details →

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

Read full series description

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?

Risingshadow

Rating distribution

How reader ratings are distributed across the 1–10 scale.

101
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
Risingshadow

What did you think of this book?

Share your experience with other Risingshadow readers.

Risingshadow

Reader reviews

1 review

What Risingshadow readers think about this book

10/10

This was a really fun Retelling Of The Princess And The Pea and I loved getting to read Cordelia & Efron's story. It was fun to have Efron come to Grimm Academy and paired with Cordelia after having briefly met him in the previous book Princess of Feathers and him and Cordelia made a really good couple. I enjoyed the conclusion of the Bellpoint Castle competition and the introduction of Audrey for the next story. I look forward to reading more books from this fun and lighthearted fairy tale series.

Series Character and Story Connections
Matilda & her fiancé Lewis's story are in Song Of Seas: A Fairy Tale Retelling Of The Little Mermaid (Book 13)
Astrid's story is in Princess Of Petals: A Fairy Tale Retelling Of Beauty & the Beast (Book 15)
Elisa & her brother Efron are featured in Princess of Feathers: A Fairy Tale Retelling Of The Wild Swans (Book 16)
Audrey's story is in The Winter Ball: A Fairy Tale Retelling Of The Twelve Dancing Princesses (Book 18)

Risingshadow

Readers Also Enjoyed