A Filling of Fables and FirelightA 1,001 Nights Retelling
A slice of bridal competition
A dusting of mistaken identity
And a whisk of love that might be nothing more than a fable.
Rana Schehera is fully content with her simple life. Newly employed as a seamstress under one of the most sought-after tailors in El Huram, she’s paid enough for her beautiful creations to both provide for her aging grandmother and keep a steady supply of her favorite sweets. That simple life is threatened, however, when the new Sultan decides to select his bride the traditional way—through competition—and Rana is one of the lucky seamstresses chosen to attend the competitors. Still, it should all be fairly straightforward…until the Sultan mistakes her for one of the princesses he’s meant to be courting and inexplicably keeps coming back.
Kamaran knew the throne was inevitable, but he wasn’t prepared for it to be his so soon. Now, reeling from loss and weighed down by the crown he never wanted and the responsibilities he never cared for, his council of viziers has added insult to injury by arranging for him to select a bride. His plan is simple: Go through the motions, eliminate a prospect each week, and hope that by the end, the last one standing will be at least tolerable. What he didn’t plan for was the pragmatic princess with an obsession for needlework and stories that capture his imagination.
With each evening that passes, Rana begins to see that Kamaran is more than the fickle, irresponsible Sultan he pretends to be, and she wants to be the one to fill the empty spaces in his heart. But as the end of the competition draws near, it becomes all too clear that the story she’s weaving may never have a happy ending.
A Filling of Fables and Firelight, a retelling of 1,001 Nights, is a standalone novella, complete with tropes such as Mistaken Identity, Commoner x Royalty, and Forbidden Love. It is part of The Enchanting Confections series, a collection of clean and cozy stories guaranteed to delight your sweet tooth.
Sarah Beran
Sarah Beran is a writer who has found her true passion in blending enchanting tales with relatable characters, bringing magic, romance, and adventure to life through her unique lens. Living in sunny Southern California, Sarah is not only a writer but also a devoted wife, mother to two young children, and an elementary music teacher by day. Her life is filled with the hum of creativity, both in the classroom and in her writing.
When she's not guiding young minds in music, Sarah spends her free time running, creating new melodies, or immersing herself in a world of make-believe with her family. These moments of balance between the practical and the whimsical are often reflected in her stories, where everyday life meets the extraordinary. Her writing journey is one that began with a love for storytelling, evolving into a deep connection with the craft of creating worlds that feel both magical and grounded in reality.
Enchanting Confections
There is something comforting about a small-town bakery, the scent of fresh pastries drifting through the air, familiar faces gathering each morning, and recipes passed down through generations. Enchanting Confections takes that warmth and adds a touch of magic, creating a cozy fantasy mystery series where every treat may hold a secret and every day brings the possibility of the unexpected.
Enchanting Confections consists of nine primary books, and includes one additional book that complement the series but is not considered mandatory reads and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of two more books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
Reviews and Comments
I loved this Retelling of 1,001 Nights and getting to know Kamaran & Rana. The two animal companions Spot (tiger) and Zade (Rana's fennec fox) were both amusing and entertaining characters. This story has a lot of fun scenes and the fun banter I have learned to expect from a Sarah Beran story and the epilogue was really sweet as well.
Steam Rating: Glimpses and Kisses
I received a free advanced reader copy of this book from the Enchanting Confections ARC Team and am voluntarily leaving a review.