Wilting Captive: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast
A duchess, a beast, and a castle full of hungry hostages...
A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast
Duchess Mirabel Brantley has spent nearly all her life being sheltered due to her fragile health. With no hope of ever living the life of adventure she dreamed of, Mira agrees to an arranged marriage with the neighboring duke of Dhurin. Their betrothal celebration might have been pleasant if they didn’t already despise each other, but it also might have helped if the entire party wasn’t taken hostage...
The ex-prince Conan has been left beaten and scarred after his partnership with the criminal group, the beasts. With a hunger for vengeance against the Ruby Realm and a never-ending craving for power, Conan seizes the entire Dhurin castle with the help of an enchanted gift. His terms are simple; hand over Dhurin, and the hostages live. Refuse and... well, the guests will learn why he was favored by the beasts.
Mira is a prisoner at her own party, but they might not be in as much trouble as they thought when a lone caster offers up her powers as protection. With the ability to cast her magic into living plants, the caster selects a simple rose to contain her gift. With only the dwindling lifespan of a rose keeping the hostages from being torn apart, it’s only a matter of time before matters get grim. Can Mira convince their captor to set them free before their time runs out? Or will they simply wilt with their rose?
The Ruby Realm is a collection of clean, intercepting stories, best enjoyed when read as a series.
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Abigail Manning
Abigail Manning writes fantasy with the comforting warmth of a bedtime story and the sense of wonder that first draws readers into magical worlds. Her novels are filled with enchanted kingdoms, hidden destinies, courageous heroines, and romances that unfold amid adventure, creating stories that feel inspired by the fairy tales many readers grew up loving while still offering surprises of their own.
Rather than treating classic folklore as something fixed and untouchable, she approaches it as a living tradition. Familiar legends become starting points rather than boundaries. A tale that once seemed complete may reveal an entirely different perspective, a forgotten character, or a new path through a magical realm. This creative curiosity has become one of the defining qualities of her work, allowing her to craft fantasy romances that feel both recognizable and refreshingly original.
The Ruby Realm
The Ruby Realm is a collection of clean, intercepting stories, best enjoyed when read as a series.
For more information on The Ruby Realm sign up for my free monthly newsletter Abigailmanningauthor.com
The Ruby Realm consists of five books and considered as a complete series. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
