First published 2026
Sir Bram Duncan once served as a legendary knight in Harvest Hollow until a jealous prince and autumn sprite cursed him into the hulking orc Jask Bone-Cracker. Now bound to Grimroot Farm for three years, he tends pumpkins and hides his monstrous form from the world. When Princess Marigold flees an arranged marriage to the insufferable Prince Crispin, she stumbles upon Jask's enchanted farm deep in the forest. She finds refuge there, drawn to the grumpy orc's unexpected gentleness and remarkable baking skills. Marigold begins to feel a familiar stirring she thought died when her beloved Bram vanished. As autumn magic swirls around them and they bake pies together, the truth about Jask's curse slowly emerges. But breaking ancient magic requires more than recognition, and wronged princes refuse to surrender easily. When their forest sanctuary faces threats, both Jask and Marigold must choose between the protective lies they've built and risking everything for a love powerful enough to shatter curses.
Genres: romance, fantasy, fantasy-romance, fairy-tale-retellings
Vibes: bittersweet, cozy, emotional, enchanting, romantic, whimsical
Tropes: curse-breaking, enemies-to-lovers, hidden-identity, second-chance-romance
Setting: Harvest Hollow, Grimroot Farm, forest
352 pages · Paperback · MIRA