In this young adult fairy tale retelling by Melanie Dickerson, a woman arrives in Hagenheim claiming the young woman betrothed to the duke's son, Valten, is still alive. With Valten injured, his younger brother, Gabe, defies his family and travels to find Sophie himself. Meanwhile, Sophie hopes to escape her evil stepmother, believing she will be safe at the Cottage of the Seven. When Gabe arrives at the castle claiming she is to be married, Sophie must make a choice: go to the cottage and fend.
