This is a retelling of an Irish fairytale, which certainly makes it more interesting and more understandable but doesn't make it any more joyful or the characters any more likable. Readers who pick it up expecting a typical Regency romance may find it off-putting. Those interested in the fairytale beginnings may find that it loses its way and lacks magic. (A sequel, "A Fairy Palace" is a better, more enjoyable read; London's Haberdashers series is even better yet.)