My voice doesn’t charm forest animals…

It predicts death.

That’s right—I’m a banshee. And I’m locked up in Nightmare Penitentiary with no hope of escape. I don’t expect to be rescued by handsome Fae princes, either, since the last ones I had a crush on put me here.

Now, the princes are here to rattle my cage, and they’re just as handsome and judgmental as I remember. I’d tell them exactly what I think about them, but in addition to stealing my freedom, they’ve taken my voice.

**Stolen Song is a paranormal prison reverse harem romance.

Imogen is a Banshee, they sing laments for someone who is or is about to be dead. In Imogen’s case one such lament made her look guilty of a crime she didn’t commit, the death of the King.

As a resident of Nightmare Penitentiary, Imogen has a collar around her neck that prevents her from speaking. Well it doesn’t actually stop her she has to do that herself, should she even utter a word the collar subjects her to excruciating pain. Since she’s been imprisoned she hasn’t lamented, so it’s not known if she can stop a lament from happening or if the magic of the collar can.

Killian is the Crown Prince and he and his brother’s Flynn and Ronan have come to Nightmare Penitentiary to see her. They’ve being having some doubts about Imogen’s guilt caused by Killian developing the same symptoms as his father. Realizing she won’t speak because of the collar, the princes visit her in her cell after the librarian delivers a spelled book to her. With the book’s magic they can hear her thoughts as they ask their questions.

That doesn’t go very well either and they start watching her in her cell, what they see is her first lament since her imprisonment and the after effects.

This is a favorite scene the second time Imogen wakes in the infirmary.

The next time I woke up, I immediately knew something was different. A new scent lingered in the air; one I was as familiar with as my own shampoo. Well, the shampoo I’d used back home. Here, I was lucky to get hosed down once a week.

Still weaker than I would have liked, I pushed myself up, surprised to find that I was alone. I inhaled deeply, and no, I hadn’t imagined it. Fresh water, musty earth, and wild daisies filled my senses, practically taking me back to my favorite loch in Tuatha.

But, how?

A faint scratching sound reached me, and I glanced down to find a mouse sitting at my feet. I watched in amazement as he worked to release one and then the other of my ankle shackles. When he was done, he sat back and looked up at me.

“Thank you…” I didn’t know his name, but I was sorely tempted to call him Gus Gus. Not that he resembled the chubby mouse from Cinderella in any way. “My little hero,” I finally finished as I shook out my legs, trying to return feeling to them.

I glanced around, expecting Brina to show up at any moment. “You should probably get out of here, though. I’d hate for you to get caught.”

He scurried off the bed and toward the back corner of the room. But instead of disappearing behind a wall, he started running in a small circle, stopping a few times to look at me.

“What is it?” On shaky legs, I stood and slowly made my way toward him.

My gaze caught on a subtle purpleish shimmer near the mouse, and I paused, knowing it had to be the result of magic. Were the princes going to show up again?

As I approached, the shimmer grew, morphing and stretching into a distorted oval. Inside, I saw a familiar shoreline and blue water before a backdrop of green.

I gasped. It was a portal. And not just any portal— a portal to home.

Stretching my hand out, I walked forward, as though in a trance. Was this a trick?

It had to be. Portals didn’t just appear in Nightmare Penitentiary. In fact, I would have thought it was impossible to perform any magic inside the prison, but the princes had proved me wrong with their fairy tale book ploy. Still, only someone with godlike magic could pull something like this off.

I sensed movement at my feet and halted when I saw the mouse scurrying around, like he was trying to stop me. He was probably right. My gut told me this was a bad idea, especially when I got a whiff of that same bad magic that seemed to be following me.

But my heart yearned for home.

It was so close— a mere step or two away.

The scents of Tuatha Dé Danann were stronger now, and they drew me in like a siren calling a sailor into her snare. I could practically feel the sunlight on my face and the water lapping at my feet.

Home.

Right there was a place I’d never expected to see again. Behind me, a door slammed, and my decision was made. Before I had a chance to second guess myself, I took that step through the portal.

My bare feet sank into dew-covered grass, and I gulped in the sweet, fresh air. Turning back, I got only a glimpse of Brina’s enraged face before the portal shattered into thousands of glittery, magical pieces that fell harmlessly to the ground.

I stood there for a moment, taking in my surroundings. I was in the woods near the loch, and I could see the city spread out behind it. The amphitheater— one of the Fair Folks’ favorite spots to watch challenges and competitions— towered nearby. And the castle perched proudly on the top of a hill, separate but still a part of the beloved landscape.

If this was another dream, I didn’t want to wake up.

Suddenly weary, I sat under a hawthorn and leaned against its trunk. Other than the low murmur of nature around me, the woods were silent. There were no angry villagers with pitchforks and torches. No prison or castle guards creeping forward to take me back into custody. And no princes.

I didn’t understand what was going on. Someone had sprung me from NP, but instead of coming forward, he or she was remaining in the shadows.

It didn’t make sense. Who would want me free? More importantly, who had the power needed to make it happen?

A sinking feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. There was something very off about this entire situation. I’d known it as soon as I’d spotted the portal.

But I hadn’t been able to resist— not with the lure of home before me.
Autumn Reed; Ripley Proserpina. Stolen Song – ARC Version: A Paranormal Prison Novel (Kindle Locations 659-694)

Now that she’s home there really was no safe place for her, but with the Kings Tournament soon to begin, the Princes secret her into the castle.

There is so much emotion in this book, for each of the Princes still love her and she them. Someone was framing her, and they need to discover who before Killian is dead and someone other than one of the princes sits on the throne as king.

Plenty of suspense, some very scary moments, a few giggles and a slow building relationship between Imogen and all three of her princes.

I really have to read every book in this new series. I can’t wait to see what other authors come up with.

5 Contented Purrs for Autumn and Ripley!

Ripley Proserpina

Ripley Proserpina spends her days huddled near a fire in the frozen northern wilds of Vermont. She lives with her family, two magnificent cats, and one dog who aspires to cat-hood. She is the author of the Reverse Harem series, The Searchers, Midnight’s Crown, and the young adult/fantasy duet, Wishes and Curses.