The Courtesan's Forgotten Prince by Megan Mackie

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Grab your copy HERE!!

In Megan Mackie’s The Courtesan’s Forgotten Prince, readers are swept into a world that evokes the lush, atmospheric "vibes" of 16th-century England, blending the classic bones of Beauty and the Beast with the shadowed mystery of The Phantom of the Opera.

Book Description

Beauty’s benefactor maybe more than a Beast…

Lydia is no stranger to intrigue and dangerous liaisons. Being a courtesan, she has experienced her share as one of the renowned "Virtues” of the Crimson Court. And she is most intrigued when a mysterious invitation comes from an enigmatic nobleman to be his private courtesan for the evening; he is not only hiring her for her body, but also her intellect and company.

There is only one she is not allowed to see his face

Damian was once the Imperial crown prince, but now he is a shadow of a man. Having lost everything, his title, his status, and even his face, he has resigned himself to his only purpose in the shadows, to protect his brother, the emperor. But when he risks it all to spend one night with the Courtesan Beauty, he finds he cannot continue in his lonely existence.

Surrounded by intrigue and political machinations, these two find themselves plunged into danger, not only for their lives, but also their hearts.

About Megan Mackie

Beyond the smashing success of her inaugural, Amazon bestseller, The Finder of the Lucky Devil, Megan Mackie is the author of The Lucky Devil Series (urban fantasy/cyberpunk), the Dead World Series (Post Post Zombie Apocalypse), The Adventures of Pavlov’s Dog and Schrodinger’s Cat (Mid-grade science fiction) and the Working Mask series (wannabe superhero). Her other work can be found on the Yonder app, where she has published three web novels, Cookbooks and Demons (paranormal demon romance), Star Courier (speculative Firefly-like fiction), and Novantis (steampunk political intrigue with sky pirates—think Bridgerton meets Black Sails).

Outside of her own series, she is a contributing writer for the RPGs Legendlore and Legendlore: Legacies by Onyx Path Publishing and Sirens: Battle of the Bards through Apotheosis Studios. When she isn't writing, she likes to play games—board games, puzzle boxes, RPGs, and video games. She lives in Chicago with her husband and children, two dogs, two cats, and her mother in the apartment upstairs. She also has a thing for iconic leather hats.

My Thoughts

In Megan Mackie’s The Courtesan’s Forgotten Prince, readers are swept into a world that evokes the lush, atmospheric "vibes" of 16th-century England, blending the classic bones of Beauty and the Beast with the shadowed mystery of The Phantom of the Opera.

Lydia, a renowned "Virtue" of the Crimson Court, is no stranger to the dangerous liaisons of her profession, yet she finds herself uniquely intrigued by an invitation from an enigmatic nobleman. Damian, once an Imperial crown prince, has been reduced to a shadow of his former self—disfigured by a curse and stripped of his status.

He hires Lydia not merely for her body, but for the intellect and companionship he has lacked in his self-imposed exile. However, the arrangement comes with one haunting stipulation: she must never look upon his face.

What begins as a transactional arrangement quickly evolves into something far more complex as Lydia becomes a balm for Damian’s profound loneliness. While the narrative thrives on a "slow burn" romance, it skillfully avoids becoming a one-dimensional retelling by weaving in a high-stakes subplot involving political machinations and assassination attempts.

This infusion of action and intrigue keeps the pacing sharp, ensuring that the story is as much about unraveling a conspiracy as it is about the hearts of the two protagonists. The writing style is immersive and sophisticated, drawing the reader deep into the courtly drama and the heavy atmosphere of the shadows Damian inhabits.

Though the "push and pull" of their relationship offers moments of tension, some may find themselves wishing for even deeper emotional development between Lydia and Damian to fully cement their connection.

However, the story more than compensates for this with refreshing deviations from standard fairy tale tropes. Rather than following a predictable path, the plot takes unexpected turns that culminate in a truly surprising ending. It is a delightful, polished read that leaves one feeling more sophisticated for having experienced it—and hopeful that this is only the beginning of a larger series exploring the Crimson Court.

For a free, no-obligation vacation quote, CLICK HERE!!