The Storyteller's Daughter: A Retelling of ''The Arabian Nights'' (Once upon a Time Series) »

Cameron Dokey is the author of nearly thirty teen novels. She lives in Seattle, Washington.

"ONCE UPON A TIME"IS TIMELESS

In a faraway kingdom, a king has been betrayed. Deeply hurt and bitterly angry, he vows never to be deceived again. Unfortunately, the king's plan to protect himself will endanger all of the realm's young women, unless one of them will volunteer to marry the king — and surrender her life.

To everyone's relief and horror, one young woman steps forward. The daughter of a legendary storyteller, Shahrazad believes it is her destiny to accept this risk and sacrifice herself.

On the night of her wedding to the king, Shahrazad begins to weave a tale. Fascinated, the king lets her live night after night. Just when Shahrazad dares to believe that she has found a way to keep her life — and an unexpected love — a treacherous plot will disrupt her plan. Now she can only hope that love is strong enough to save her.

KLIATT

Shahrazad is a bewitching storyteller, a trait she inherited from her mother. After being alienated from her peers as a child, she has spent much of her life in seclusion, only seeing her father and younger sister. In the same land, Shahrayar the king has been deceived. His wife and her lover plotted against him, and both died horrible deaths in retribution. Now he can trust no one. In despair, he makes a vow that he will forcibly wed one maiden every month at the full moon. She will be his bride for only one night and be murdered the following morning so that she is unable to betray him. His kingdom is terrified at the awful change in their formerly kind and righteous ruler. Shahrazad selflessly volunteers to marry him, hoping that she may teach him to trust and love again, thus preventing him from executing any of his subjects. He finds her stories so captivating that he is unable to kill her. However, another conspiracy against him may ruin her clever plans to save the kingdom. This novel touches upon the familiar themes of loyalty, honor, and family. Another fine entry in the Once Upon a Time series, this retelling of "The Arabian Nights" will appeal to any YA reader who enjoys fairy tales, or adventures with a little romance added.