Royal deal for Usborne as they collaborate with Storymix on 'Princess (Apparently)' by Siren Knight

Usborne has acquired Princess (Apparently) in their first collaboration with multi-award-winning fiction studio Storymix. A fun and romantic coming-of-age drama for teen readers with an exciting Caribbean Island setting, it’s perfect for fans of Geek Girl, The Princess Diaries and Jenny Han. 

When a video of Della protesting in the streets of London goes viral, she receives a royal invitation to a Caribbean palace that changes everything. With themes covering family and identity, first crushes and first kisses, PRINCESS (APPARENTLY) is a charming modern take on a fish-out-of-water princess story from West Midlands based author Siren Knight.

Publishing in August 2026, PRINCESS (APPARENTLY) is the perfect book for teens looking for their next romantic read.

Previous Fiction Editor, Alice Moloney, acquired world rights for PRINCESS (APPARENTLY) in Usborne’s first collaboration with Storymix, the multi-award-winning studio that creates original and high-concept series for children and teenagers with inclusive casts of characters. 

Rebecca Hill, Fiction Editorial Director, Usborne comments: “We are delighted to be publishing the brilliant 'Princess (Apparently)' as our first collaboration with Storymix – the multi-award-winning fiction studio that creates original and high-concept series for children and teenagers with inclusive casts of characters. With love triangles and first kisses, ball gowns and royal secrets, this is the perfect book for teens looking for their next romantic read.”

Siren Knight, author of PRINCESS (APPARENTLY) comments: “Being published by and working alongside the Usborne team is more than a dream come true. Writing the diverse characters that I rarely got to see in books when I was a child/teen has always been so important to me, and I can’t wait for everyone to meet witty Della and friends in the funny, thought-provoking and romantic book that is 'Princess (Apparently)'.”

Ashley Thorpe, Storymix, comments: “I recognised Siren's immense talent early on and knew that with Storymix we could provide a platform to allow more readers to see it. Usborne has published my own stories, so I'm delighted that 'Princess (Apparently)' found a home with them. I can't wait for teen readers to meet Della.” 

'PRINCESS (APPARENTLY)' synopsis

One summer, two boys and a secret that could change everything.

Two weeks ago and a few thousand miles away, Della was just a normal teenage girl. She didn't fit in at her posh school in London, she didn't think her crush would ever like her back, and she certainly didn't know anything about a Caribbean royal family. But when a video of her protesting goes viral, she receives a royal invitation that changes everything. Now, she's at a lavish ball in a Caribbean palace, caught in a love triangle with her best friend and a dreamy islander, and discovering dangerous royal secrets.

With so much at stake, the last thing Della needs is to find out that her connection to the royal family runs far deeper than she ever imagined…

About Siren Knight

Siren Knight is a writer and artist, born in Birmingham and currently living in Wolverhampton. Siren holds an MA in creative writing and has had short stories and flash fiction published in various publications. She also has a mission to write the diverse characters that were not present in books when she was a child.