It's the first book in my standalone novels series, featuring birds and fae magic, all in shorter fairy tale form.

Kaipo has been scarred by the death of his mother, both literally and internally. After her suicide, Kaipo is content to die -- until he meets Princess Mele, the young princess of Maluhia. When her father decrees it is time for her to marry, Kaipo wants to find a way to win her heart. Knowing his limitations, he and his adopted brother Rahj head up the Forbidden Mountain, where the Fae Queen, Jaya, resides. Knowing of her power, Kaipo and Rahj work together in hopes she will grant Kaipo the beauty he needs to win Mele's heart.

But Jaya is more than a little upset at Kaipo, and even though she's compelled to fulfill the wishes of those who conquer her mountain, she is determined to interpret his wish in her own way ... ( )

An original fairy tale, with a slight nod to Beauty and the Beast, reminds us that beauty is found within. This was a lovely story, told primarily about three characters. While that may sound simplistic, it actually made it much easier to get to know these characters as well as the backstories of each of them.

Kaipo - the narrator of the story. An orphan and an outcast. He has long loved the princess Mele, but due to an accident that left his face scarred feels unworthy of her great beauty. So he sets off on a quest to find the Fae Queen who may grant his wish to be made beautiful, although what she grants him may not turn out as he expected.

Rahj - Kaipo's adopted brother. Also an orphan. Loved by Kaiyo's father, but never Kaiyo or his mother, Rahj only wants to be part of the family. After the death of both parents, he and Kaiyo grow closer and he helps Kaiyo on his quest. Rahj is truly kind. Although he makes mistakes, he never wants to hurt his brother.

Mele - the princess. Of age to be married and bored to death with suitors who are only beautiful while lacking other redeeming qualities. Due to unusual circumstances, she ends up offering her protection to both Kaiyo and Rahj who learn that her kindness and compassion are even greater than her beauty.

The fairy tale reminds us of the importance of forgiveness, compassion, and above all, the beauty that is found within.

I received a free copy of the audiobook from the author and have reviewed it willingly. The narrator did an amazing job voicing the story and brought all of the characters to life. ( )

‘The first time I fell in love with Princess Mele was when I saw her smile, and I fell in love with her the second time the moment I heard her sing.

Two memories burn within Kaipo's heart -- the death of his mother, which left him alone to die, and the arrival of Princess Mele, which gave him a new reason to live. Together with his adopted brother, Kaipo seeks out Jaya, the Fae Queen who lives on the Forbidden Mountain, in order to gain the beauty he requires to win Mele's heart. But Jaya has other plans for the scarred outcast who climbs up her mountain ...

The Princess and the Peacock is the first in Birds of Fae, a fantasy fairy tale novella series from C. S. Johnson.’

Johnson's The Princess & the Peacock is an endearing read about the power of true beauty. First, I love this cover! So gorgeous! This was a blend of inverted ‘Princess and the Frog’ and 'Beauty and the Beast’ fairy tales, with a Hawai'ian flare. I enjoyed the writing style. It was from Kaipo's pov, and reading about his adventures as a peacock. I adore peacocks, well, peafowl in general, which is what drew me to read this story.

This was just a novella, but Kaipo did some serious growing. He started out as a rather shallow person, wanting physical beauty because he thought that was the only way Princess Mele might notice him. He climbs the Forbidden Mountain to reach the Fae Queen Jaya. It's said if you reach the top, she'll grant a wish. Kaipo and his adopted brother succeed. Rahj declines a wish. When Kaipo, impatient, pushes Jaya, she turns him into a peacock. His beauty does indeed entice Mele, who takes him and Rahj, as his Caretaker, in.

Mele is my favourite character. I was firmly convinced that she would be as shallow as Kaipo, and be focused only on physical gifts. She was just the opposite! Mele has a gentle heart, and she's long since realised that beauty is more than what's on the outside. She does charity works, despite familial disapproval. She's wearied by all of her suitors who are like Kaipo starts out, thinking only the surface matters.

I didn't understand the stigma towards physical disfigurement. Kaipo bears scars from an attempt to save his mum from a fire. This makes him outcast. There are mentions of others who had ailments, like blindness, who are also outcast. This seems strange since I got the feel this was a warrior culture. I would think scars would be valued as a sign of what has been survived.

***Many thanks to the author for providing an ecopy in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reviewed for Reads & Reels Blog Tours ( )