Rapunzel's Gambit

By Mary Mecham

Some princesses would rather be the villain than the damsel in distress.

Desperate to rid his kingdom of a troublesome dragon, King Harrigan offers his daughter's hand in marriage to any man who can slay the beast, but Rapunzel refuses to be pawned off. Deciding that a life of crime is preferable to wedding some power-hungry suitor, Rapunzel fakes her own kidnapping and joins forces with the cunning dragon plaguing her own kingdom.

Together, they plot a grand scheme that would amass them both riches beyond their wildest dreams. As the lure of a reward for the princess's safe return attracts men tempted by greed and Rapunzel's flirtations, the would-be heroes soon become the ones in need of rescue atop a tower only accessible by dragonback. But as her alliance with the dragon grows more precarious and dangerous, Rapunzel is forced to question whether she's trusted the wrong side.

Amidst the chaos, Griffin, the humble but brilliant squire, emerges as an unexpected ally. His quick wit and resourcefulness stand in stark contrast to the arrogant knights he serves, and Rapunzel can't help but take notice. On the chessboard of fate, the swindler princess of Rookwyn must make her own moves with every calculated gambit and soon realizes...

The real game was never about knights, kings, and queens, but about how a mere pawn could become a legend.

Rapunzel's Gambit is a no spice, diabolical fairytale retelling packed with villain vibes, a dragon/princess con artist duo, and banter that will have you laughing out loud.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0F8SDP7RP
• ISBN13: 9798349313912
• Release Date: May 2025
• Publisher: Mary Mecham
• Length: 302 Pages
• Weight: 0.94 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.0" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 13 to 18 years
• Grade Range: Grade 8 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

Retelling of Rapunzel

This was a really fun Retelling of Rapunzel that I really enjoyed reading that had several interesting characters as well as a few unexpected plot twists. I loved Rapunzel in this story and seeing how her and Pollox the dragon interacted with each other, especially all their playful banter and teasing. Pollox was another character in this story that I really enjoyed getting to know. I was happy with how things worked out although questioned how it would come together for a moment and thought the epilogue at the end was a great way to wrap the story up. I look forward to reading more fairy tale retellings by this author in the future. I received a free advanced reader ebook copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.