Solstice War Fairy Tales Series by Kel E. Fox

Dancer and circus performer Tryxan was born with a shard of ice for a heart, never feeling anything but numbing cold and bitter disdain for a cruel world, which presents a crueler live without joy, or risk death for a chance at being able to feel... moreDancer and circus performer Tryxan was born with a shard of ice for a heart, never feeling anything but numbing cold and bitter disdain for a cruel world, which presents a crueler live without joy, or risk death for a chance at being able to feel. Tryxan takes the risk with a lethal stage performance, but instead of dying, they fall into a portal that leads them to a castle in a far-off land… and a prince who longs to dance at the Yuletide Ball, but who is cursed to die by setting foot in a ballroom. Somehow, the ice is not so cold in the prince's world, and as Tryxan teaches him to dance in the confines of his study, they find themselves feeling things they never have before. But a curse is not so readily thwarted, a shard not easily cast aside, and the pair’s desire cannot survive across worlds unless both are willing to sacrifice body and soul. A gender-swapped romantic fantasy Sleeping Beauty novelette with winter solstices, dancing and stolen kisses. less

Eliott, Prince of Iris, is trapped. He and five other Princes of the Floral Realms are locked in a tower, kept as collateral for a treaty in a war that will never end. Desperate to do something, the princes sneak out every night, meeting other conscientious objectors, dissenters and deserters to dance in defiance of their monarchs' warring. Suspicious, the Queen sends spy after spy to find out why the princes' shoes are always worn to nothing... moreEliott, Prince of Iris, is trapped. He and five other Princes of the Floral Realms are locked in a tower, kept as collateral for a treaty in a war that will never end. Desperate to do something, the princes sneak out every night, meeting other conscientious objectors, dissenters and deserters to dance in defiance of their monarchs' warring. Suspicious, the Queen sends spy after spy to find out why the princes' shoes are always worn to nothing. Every spy fails until the Midsummer Masquerades, when a masked stranger appears, and Eliott is drawn to her despite his wary caution. Every Realm is at war. She can't possibly be on his side. But when it's love, there are no sides, and Eliott lets himself fall. The stranger, Nina, does too. .. except she has another mission, one that could cost them love, the Rebels, and their freedom. less

Marguerite Baccata intends to do big things as the first female businesswoman at Baccata Industries. So when her father suggests her best contribution will be in marrying a Floral Realms prince, she's appalled. And furious, because he's right – a royal wedding is a coup for the company. After all, Baccata Industries makes weapons, and the Floral Realms are at war. Hoping to make the best of the situation, Marguerite attends a ball in her honour with the intention of finding a royal spouse... moreMarguerite Baccata intends to do big things as the first female businesswoman at Baccata Industries. So when her father suggests her best contribution will be in marrying a Floral Realms prince, she's appalled. And furious, because he's right – a royal wedding is a coup for the company. After all, Baccata Industries makes weapons, and the Floral Realms are at war. Hoping to make the best of the situation, Marguerite attends a ball in her honour with the intention of finding a royal spouse. The princes are stuffy, the princesses cold, and Marguerite is instead drawn to the enigmatic Lord Sigaro, who claims to be a pirate. Then they both meet a beautiful stranger who glides like a swan on the dance floor, and their lives change. Once a prince, now a destitute exile, Jules is the opposite of what Marguerite is looking for. But he knows more of the war than Marguerite ever imagined, and Jules needs her help. More; the whole of the Floral Realms needs her help. Neither she nor Lord Sigaro can walk away. Marguerite realises that it's time for her to take a stand. But can she abandon everything she's worked so hard for? less

Belle is on a hopeless quest. She's traipsing across the Floral Realms seeking a weapon hidden in a cursed castle that might not even exist. But it's that or be cast out of the Witchs' Guild, and then she'd be destitute and alone in a world at war. When Belle is attacked by wolves near the ominous Blacklily Castle, she thinks she's found her curse – except now she's wounded and at the mercy of the castle's recalcitrant lord, Raphael... moreBelle is on a hopeless quest. She's traipsing across the Floral Realms seeking a weapon hidden in a cursed castle that might not even exist. But it's that or be cast out of the Witchs' Guild, and then she'd be destitute and alone in a world at war. When Belle is attacked by wolves near the ominous Blacklily Castle, she thinks she's found her curse – except now she's wounded and at the mercy of the castle's recalcitrant lord, Raphael. Raphael is clearly hiding a dangerous secret, and he won't talk about it. Worse, Belle is having strange dreams about a love lost long ago, and the longer she stays at Blacklily Castle, the more she realises nothing is as it seems. Not the castle, not Raphael, not the woman in her dreams, and not the Guild she's risked her life for. Then the curse turns deadly, and Belle must untangle the castle's secrets in time to save herself, Raphael and any chance of a happily ever after. This is a romance with a queer MF element and a sapphic HEA. Sorrow for Thorns is the fourth book in the Solstice War Fairy Tales, a series of retelling novellas with all kinds of queer, high drama, low spice, angst up to 11 and a little bit of absurdism. Each title is a standalone romance but the books are best read in order to understand the series arc. less

A queer MF romantasy retelling of The Princess and the Pea.