Sixteen-year-old Justice wants to release her sisters from the maw of Father’s imprisonment. But what can she do? The easiest way would be to find suitors for them.
But Justice’s elder sisters are strange. With All-Gifted’s madness, Protectress’s snaky hair, Death-Bringer’s grief, Shining’s too-overt sexuality, Maiden’s tart tongue, Shadow’s crippling shyness, no sensible man would want her sisters as wives. Which leaves Justice, the seventh daughter, the one who possesses a quiet authority.
Am thrilled to announce that my novella (now out on Amazon and other retailers) is a Distinguished Favorite for the 2026 Independent Press Award in the Novella category.
“Distinguished Favorite” means that it was in second place. But I am delighted as I really didn’t expect it to win anything, the competition for prizes being so fierce these days.
Maiden Tomb, Book One of the Twelve Cursed Maidens series, is an Historical Fantasy, a Time-Drift novel set in the early Middle Ages and Bronze-Age Greece. If the series title sounds familiar to you, that’s because the whole idea of the series came from the Twelve Dancing Princesses Folk Tale.
Twelve sisters are shut up in the top of the tower by their father the King. One day, a door opens underneath the eldest daughter’s bed, showing a passageway that leads downwards. Curious, the sisters go down the passage, and come out into a grove of trees. But these trees are not just any trees, they are contain clusters of jewels. Once out of the grove of trees, they come to a lake, where twelve princes stand by twelve boats. One by one they step into each boat and are rowed across the lake. On the other side is a brightly lit palace. Each prince helps each princess out of the boat and into the castle, where they dance the night away. The princesses return at dawn, their slippers in ruins.
The King, their father, is beside himself. First of all, he is running up quite a bill in shoe leather. But how could his daughters possibly escape? For he locks the door to their bedchamber each night. So he sends out a decree, asking all the young men of the kingdom to come and solve the puzzle. The one who wins, will marry the eldest princess and rule the kingdom after his death.
It all sounds so jolly doesn’t it?
But I don’t think this story is about dancing at all.
I think it is about death.
Why do I think that? Well there appear to be some elements to the tale that go back, way back, hundreds, no, thousands of years, back into the Ancient World.
First of all, being rowed across a body of water sounds like a thread of Greek Mythology found its way into this tale. It is very reminiscent of Charon the boatman rowing the souls of the newly dead across the River Styx.
Then there are those jeweled trees. Where do they come from? Several scholars believe that element of the story comes from the Tale of Gilgamesh, which may have been originally composed around 1800 BCE. It tells the story of Gilgamesh, a King of Uruk a city-state in Sumeria, who is grieving for the death of his best friend. According to scholars, Gilgamesh ruled the Kingdom of Uruk in around 2700 BCE.
Then there are the princesses themselves. Have you ever wondered why their are twelve princesses? Again, the answer points towards the ancient kingdom of Sumeria, which existed in what is now present day Iraq, beginning in around 6,000 BCE. The Sumerians were renowned astronomers who used a base-12 numerical system, unlike the base-10 or decimal system we use today.
And so, there you have it. When you dig below the surface, a charming story from Europe has roots in the Middle East and seems to be thousands of years old!
And so, when I came to write Maiden Tomb, a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, I put back all those elements. We have the Gilgamesh epic, and elements of Greek mythology, complete with snakes, ancient gods, and powerful goddesses. And far from being a jolly novel about young people dancing, as the title suggests, I made it a novel about death.
I hope you find this novella as enjoyable to read as I found it fascinating to write.
“MAIDEN TOMB is an impressively well written and thoroughly entertaining read from cover to cover. Certain to be of immense interest to dedicated fans of fairytale inspired historical and romantic fantasy, MAIDEN TOMB is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended pick for community library Fantasy Fiction collections.” ~ The Midwest Book Review.
“I am unknown, but not unknowable. In this riveting book, the Greek myths reshape themselves and combine with other original imaginings, historical and literary allusions, to form a brand-new story. MAIDEN TOMB carries a deep message about female empowerment and survival that will resonate with contemporary audiences, and it is part of a growing wave of new, female-centered novels that explore history and folklore. This book is a powerful, refreshing read that leaves one wanting to know more.” ~ The US Review of Books.
“Cynthia Sally Haggard’s MAIDEN TOMB, the first installment in the Twelve Cursed Maidens series, is a mesmerizing retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, infused with dark fantasy and gothic intrigue. With an innovative twist on the classic fairy tale, Haggard crafts a world teeming with mystery, danger, and a haunting sense of urgency as one determined young woman seeks to liberate her sisters from their father’s oppressive grasp.
“At the heart of the novel is Justice, a sixteen-year-old burdened with an impossible mission: securing suitors for her twelve sisters, each of whom bears a unique and often unsettling trait. From All-Gifted’s madness to Protectress’s snake-infested hair and Death-Bringer’s ominous name, the sisters are anything but ordinary, making Justice’s task all the more challenging. Yet, it is precisely their peculiarities that breathe life into the narrative, making each sister a fascinating study in both character and curse.
“Haggard excels in crafting a richly textured world where magic and menace intertwine. The gothic elements are palpable, with the looming shadow of their tyrannical father and the enigmatic Lord Nobody, whose proclaimed love for Justice raises more questions than it answers. The novel deftly balances suspense and emotion, drawing readers into Justice’s plight while unraveling layers of deception and dark secrets.
“The prose is both lyrical and atmospheric, evoking a sense of timelessness that is essential in fairy-tale retellings. Haggard’s command of language allows her to weave a story that is as poetic as it is gripping, making MAIDEN TOMB a compelling read for lovers of dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, and stories that center strong, resourceful heroines.
“With its eerie charm, well-developed characters, and a plot that keeps readers enthralled, MAIDEN TOMB is an unforgettable journey into a world where love, power, and destiny collide. Fans of Naomi Novik and Katherine Arden will find much to admire in Haggard’s hauntingly beautiful tale. I eagerly anticipate the next chapter in this enchanting series.” ~ Review Tales Magazine
“MAIDEN TOMB is a shadowy, spellbinding tale where sisterhood and secrets collide in a world that makes freedom feel like a distant dream.”—Leah P.
“MAIDEN TOMB is not a retelling per se. Instead it combines elements of Greek Mythology with the tale of THE TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES into a unique collage that will appeal to readers who enjoy Madeline Miller’s CIRCE, and Naomi Novak’s SPINNING SILVER.”—Catherine H.
“MAIDEN TOMB features a wide cast of characters, each playing an intricate role. Worry not about keeping the twelve sisters separate, for author Cynthia Sally Haggard has sharply characterized each, from the brittle eldest sister to the sunny youngest.”—Katharine M.
“For fans of Fantasy and Greek Mythology, MAIDEN TOMB delivers a captivating tale of sisterly love, mad kings and undercover suitors.”—Marley V.
“In a world steeped in myth and mystery, twelve princesses are locked in a tower. Their peaceful captivity is shattered when the sisters begin dying under mysterious circumstances.” —Stephanie R.
“MAIDEN TOMB is the first installment of THE TWELVE CURSED MAIDENS series. Readers in high school and above will be captivated by the writing style and quick pace.” —Tiffany E
