Book excerpt: Four fairy tales. One broken spell. And a secret that threatens everyone. After his farm fails and his cow goes dry, Jack is certain the Happy Ending will intervene. He isn't prepared for how lost he feels when it doesn't. Heartbroken, he determines to save his family himself. Hepsibah resents being cast by the Happy Ending as the villain in the cursed princess story. Ignoring tradition, the aged fairy tries to give a true gift to the babe rather than a curse. She doesn't know that nothing she does will turn out as expected. Ella dreams of one night of happiness, away from the harsh reality of her life. She's crushed when the evening doesn't go as planned. After the ball ends, Ella's dreary existence becomes even more difficult for her to bear. Adalia can't decide what she wants lately. She worries about her family and the threat to her kingdom. She hates not knowing whether the midnight dances are the answer to her problem or the cause of it. Hepsibah is terrified her magic is out of control. Jack races to warn about a secret that has been hidden for millennia. Ella flees, hoping it's not too late to escape. And Adalia fights against the spell that holds her hostage. All of them are about to discover just how dangerous their world can be.