As the Petal Falls

Midnight & Malice Series, Book 1

By: Ashley Bundy

Narrated by: Christina Fountain

The Forest Hides More than Magic.

She was supposed to plan a wedding. Instead, she stepped into a cursed kingdom.

Gabby has always preferred books to reality—especially when reality means an unwanted engagement and a future she didn’t choose. But after a bitter argument with her ailing father, she returns home to find him being taken by strangers into the forest no one dares enter.

The dark forest marks the boundary between her world and another—one steeped in secrets and long-buried magic. When Gabby learns her father is being forced to repay an old debt in a hidden kingdom, she makes an impossible choice: offer herself in his place.

Now bound to a mysterious palace beyond the trees, Gabby finds herself at the mercy of a cold, enigmatic prince and a bargain she barely understands. As she adjusts to a life ruled by ancient magic, she begins to uncover truths that don’t match the fairy tales she once loved.

Her story isn’t the only one unfolding—and some endings were never meant to be happy.

As the Petal Falls, this twisted Beauty and the Beast retelling begins an epic fantasy series where familiar stories intertwine, secrets run deep, and the forest never forgets.

©2025 Ashley Bundy (P)2025 Ashley Bundy

Fantasy

As the Petal Falls by Ashley Bundy is an excellent fantasy. Christina Fountain did an incredible job with the narration, she brings the story to life. The story is entertaining, interesting, engaging, enjoyable, well written, adventurous, action, and more. As the Petal Falls is the first book in Midnight and Malice series. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.highly recommended

A Very Good Twist on the Story

I’m a huge fan of Beauty and the Beast, so the bar was set pretty high for me on this one. I have to say, I was impressed with this book. It’s different from the original BATB but does its own thing in a unique and enjoyable way. I definitely recommend it.

A takeoff on beloved fairy tales

Ashley Bundy’s As the Petal Falls is a good fantasy adventure story into the dark forest to help break a spell. One problem is that the conditions of the spell require everything be held as the strictest secret and no one can even mention it. The characters are well written and the story is so compelling that the reader gets pulled in. The narration by Christina Fountain is outstanding. Her performance brings the characters and story to life.

Amazing

I love a twist on fairytales and Bundy does it best. The way the story grabs your attention is definitely a statement on her writing.

Compelling tale

In this fascinating fantasy tale, the storytelling is engaging, the characters are loaded with spirit, and the dialogue is engaging. The narrator does a fantastic job bringing the story to life.