Missing since age five, a young woman discovers her captor never intended to release her, and reacts with a hasty plan which results in an unforeseen death.

The only possessor of the secret ingredient in Votras Alute—a miracle healing drug—Zenna strikes a bargain with the notorious mob boss “Mother” Gothel, to clear her parents’ debt and free herself from servitude. However, Mother has other plans…

Malik Gothel, next in line to run the family business, follows orders without question. When fate crosses his path with Zenna, his simple life is upended, and he makes a shocking decision that alters the course of his life forever.

But Mother is not a romantic, and love is not part of the plan. When separating Malik and Zenna fails, Mother resorts to a more sinister plot, one which will cost someone their life.

Mafia meets the Brothers Grimm in this dark, twisted retelling of the classic fairytale, Rapunzel.

One-Click today and fall under the spell of true love!

*Hair, She Bears is part of the Never After Tales collection–giving your favorite fairy tales a new twist.

Fly Girl’s Review

I thought this was going to be a contemporary romance in the style of Rapunzel, I had no idea it was going to be a dark fairytale. I think that made it all the more exciting as I got into it. It was tough to put down, but work did call one day while I was reading it. As many of you know, I love Alyssa Drake’s work and I’ve read a lot of it. Some reviewed and some not, only because it isn’t all romance so it doesn’t really fit Wickedcoolflight’s profile. Alyssa writes whatever strikes her mind and does it with such great relish that if feels like it’s the only genre she writes in. So for those that follow her you get a lot of great stories and you have no idea what she’s gonna give you next.

This one starts out about a broken down, heartbroken young woman who sees no end to her tragic existence until she meets a man at the bottom of her tower who shows her there is so much more to life than making drugs and being beaten by her captor. Her hope blossoms again under his tutelage and she gets stronger than she ever dreamed she was. She also starts to believe she’s worth more than the meager existence he’s relegated her to. When sacrifices have to be made for her to secure her freedom she’s ready and willing. As in Rapunzel this one has a HEA too, you just have to be patient.

The world building Alyssa does in this one makes me want more from this world. Are there other fairy tales she’s going to write in the same world? I certainly hope so, maybe the heroine’s can all meet when they’ve conquered their captors…Although this is really about one girl in a two room tower, there is a lot of political and dynamic layout of the society that happens. She also gives us these amazing descriptions of this drug called Votras Alute and what it does to people. Beyond the dystopian society she builds, she also gives so much feeling to the beatings, both physical and mental reactions, that it made me cringe a couple times. Her captor realizes after much trial and error that the drug is more powerful when made with hair that has grown during and after the beatings. And he’s not letting a penny or a person get away.

There is a little magic too which I always love in fairy tales. Although the denigration and beating of Vella is the worst, Alyssa somehow gives us hope sprinkled throughout so you still see Vella in your minds eye as a beautiful young lady with brightness in her eyes and hope in her voice. By the end, you just want a little more story. You’re like a little kid saying, “one more time, please.” So there you have it, this one is too good to pass up if you love Rapunzel, but wish for something a little more adult. Of course I’m giving this 5 of 5…everyone needs to read this one!!!

5 of 5 Propellers

Connect with Alyssa Drake

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Best-selling, award winning, author Alyssa Drake has been creating stories since she could hold a pen, preferring to construct her own bedtime tales instead of reading the titles in her bookshelves. Enraptured with many different types of genres, Alyssa currently writes Historical romance, Paranormal/Urban Fantasy romance, Contemporary romance, and Dark romance stories. She thoroughly enjoys strong heroines and often laughs aloud when imagining conversations between her characters.

Alyssa graduated from the University of the Pacific, with a B.S. in business and a concentration in French literature. Currently she resides in Northern California with her blended family, where she works full-time at a chocolate factory.

She believes everyone is motivated by love of someone or something. One of her favorite diversions is fabricating stories about strangers surrounding her on public transportation. Alyssa can often be found madly scribbling notes on a train or daydreaming out the window as the scenery whips past.