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Mercilessly Bred
**A Dark Beauty and the Beast Retelling**
There is no prince charming in my future. Instead, the cards handed to me led me down a dark and dreary path filled with pain and loss.
But even with the odds stacked against me, I got out, freeing myself from the everyday horrors I endured.
My feat wasn’t met with victory, though, because I left behind the one person I cared about the most. My sister.
Now on the run, with zilch to my name and worn clothes on my back, I’m left to find a solution.
Anyone else in my situation would be happy to just be free, but being out in the open is just as dangerous.
Stumbling upon a castle, nestled between the tall snow-topped trees, hiding in plain sight, I think I’ve found my saving grace.
Or so I thought.
Salvage and safety come at a steep price, and it’s one I must pay if I ever want to see my sister again.
The terms from the beast of a man are simple. Let him breed me and then I’ll have my freedom . He needs a kid, and I need cash and protection.
Only, as time goes on I’m left to wonder how far he’s willing to go to keep me.
There is no prince charming in my future. Instead, the cards handed to me led me down a dark and dreary path filled with pain and loss.
But even with the odds stacked against me, I got out, freeing myself from the everyday horrors I endured.
My feat wasn’t met with victory, though, because I left behind the one person I cared about the most. My sister.
Now on the run, with zilch to my name and worn clothes on my back, I’m left to find a solution.
Anyone else in my situation would be happy to just be free, but being out in the open is just as dangerous.
Stumbling upon a castle, nestled between the tall snow-topped trees, hiding in plain sight, I think I’ve found my saving grace.
Or so I thought.
Salvage and safety come at a steep price, and it’s one I must pay if I ever want to see my sister again.
The terms from the beast of a man are simple. Let him breed me and then I’ll have my freedom . He needs a kid, and I need cash and protection.
Only, as time goes on I’m left to wonder how far he’s willing to go to keep me.
239 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 12, 2023
184 people are currently reading
617 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
May 19, 2023
I just couldn't seem to reconcile the idea that this girl Belle had been sold into sex slavery and had every sexual experience she had stolen and forced on her while being kept in a cage and sold repeatedly, only to escape and find a man who wants her only for whats between her legs and tells her as such is some pretty crude ways such as calling her a cum dumpster, and he is "somehow different " and she is immediately drawn to him and aroused by him because why? Hes a total cunt to her.
For me, I just couldn't get over it and believe in their feelings. There wasnt even any build up of her getting over her trauma, thats probably my biggest issue, which means I couldn't believe their relationship at all, I dont mind dark books so I wasnt triggered by the content it just wasn't a book I could get into.
It just wasn't for me.
For me, I just couldn't get over it and believe in their feelings. There wasnt even any build up of her getting over her trauma, thats probably my biggest issue, which means I couldn't believe their relationship at all, I dont mind dark books so I wasnt triggered by the content it just wasn't a book I could get into.
It just wasn't for me.
May 12, 2023
So, I've been on a dark retelling binge. I literally cannot get enough of it. From Alice in Wonderland, to Peter pan, now to Beauty and the Beast!
Mercilessly Bred is a veeeery dark, modern day version of Beauty and the Beast Retelling. This is also my very first book by Natalie Knight, so I was definitely in for a bigger treat. Belle started off in such a horrendous situation and in that brief moment I thought she was safe, that is until she finds herself the belly of the beast, in Sebastian's grasp.
Belle and Sebastian...I should reeeeally hate them together. But, (book)toxic guys are my jam. Sparks literally fly. It's absolutely delicious and DEFINITELY a must read. I found another favorite author!!!
Mercilessly Bred is a veeeery dark, modern day version of Beauty and the Beast Retelling. This is also my very first book by Natalie Knight, so I was definitely in for a bigger treat. Belle started off in such a horrendous situation and in that brief moment I thought she was safe, that is until she finds herself the belly of the beast, in Sebastian's grasp.
Belle and Sebastian...I should reeeeally hate them together. But, (book)toxic guys are my jam. Sparks literally fly. It's absolutely delicious and DEFINITELY a must read. I found another favorite author!!!
May 12, 2023
I love love loved this book! This was my first Natalie Knight book and I will definitely be back for more!
Who doesn’t want to read a dark retelling of one of their favorite child fairytales. Make sure you check the trigger warnings before diving into this one. Because there are definitely some triggers in this book. This book was spicy!! I really liked the story line and the interactions between the characters! You definitely need to read this! It is honestly a unique storyline and not something that should be missed!
Who doesn’t want to read a dark retelling of one of their favorite child fairytales. Make sure you check the trigger warnings before diving into this one. Because there are definitely some triggers in this book. This book was spicy!! I really liked the story line and the interactions between the characters! You definitely need to read this! It is honestly a unique storyline and not something that should be missed!
pass-nfm
June 20, 2023what a beautiful story.
she has been sold into a sex ring and raped for 4 years by countless of men, she escaped and find her self into a house and she agreed to give a child to Bastian for money....which treated her of course like a cum dumpster. amazing story indeed. 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮
she has been sold into a sex ring and raped for 4 years by countless of men, she escaped and find her self into a house and she agreed to give a child to Bastian for money....which treated her of course like a cum dumpster. amazing story indeed. 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮
tried-n-failed
May 24, 2023DNF @47%
I really liked the idea of the story, but there is a major plot point that was playing out in a way that just wasn't believable for me, and I couldn't get past it.
I really liked the idea of the story, but there is a major plot point that was playing out in a way that just wasn't believable for me, and I couldn't get past it.
December 27, 2024
we listen and we don’t judge… the first 40% of this book wasn’t bad but then it got really insta lovey and the ending was kind of ridiculous. the MMC went from saying the meanest, nastiest things to her and then suddenly confessing his love so didn’t love that. it could’ve been a cool story since it was a retelling of the beauty and the beast but besides the characters having the same names and them living in a castle, it wasn’t that much of a retelling.
May 13, 2023
Mercilessly Bred by Natalie Knight is a dark Beauty and the Beast retelling.
The relationship between Belle and Sebastian starts off messy and a bit toxic in my opinion. But you couldn't help but root for them. I really enjoyed getting both of their points of views throughout the book. It really brought the story to life.
I would highly recommend downloading the extended epilogue that is offered at the end of the book for free. I felt like it was definitely needed to wrap the book up.
I would recommend this book if you like dark romances, fairy tale retellings, or age gap romances.
The relationship between Belle and Sebastian starts off messy and a bit toxic in my opinion. But you couldn't help but root for them. I really enjoyed getting both of their points of views throughout the book. It really brought the story to life.
I would highly recommend downloading the extended epilogue that is offered at the end of the book for free. I felt like it was definitely needed to wrap the book up.
I would recommend this book if you like dark romances, fairy tale retellings, or age gap romances.
June 24, 2023
5 ⭐️
Beauty and the Beast is my favourite disney film and I adore all retellings. Especially this one. It's filthy, dark, has pregnancy, spice. this is my first from Knight and I'm so glad I chose this one. It was brilliant.
Beauty and the Beast is my favourite disney film and I adore all retellings. Especially this one. It's filthy, dark, has pregnancy, spice. this is my first from Knight and I'm so glad I chose this one. It was brilliant.
August 21, 2023
I bloody love Beauty And The Beast retellings!!!
This was dark, emotional, dripping, spicy and so so beautiful 🥹
In the beginning you’ll hate the things that Sebastian says and does, but eventually you’ll understand him and love him. It’s what I did, on the outside he was this stone cold, closed off dick but on the inside he’s got a huge heart that’s filled with love for Belle. He’ll do anything to protect her and keep her safe.
Belle is incredibly strong and I loved how feisty she was towards Sebastian. She had been through hell and back but she never gave up fighting.
This story as amazing.
This was dark, emotional, dripping, spicy and so so beautiful 🥹
In the beginning you’ll hate the things that Sebastian says and does, but eventually you’ll understand him and love him. It’s what I did, on the outside he was this stone cold, closed off dick but on the inside he’s got a huge heart that’s filled with love for Belle. He’ll do anything to protect her and keep her safe.
Belle is incredibly strong and I loved how feisty she was towards Sebastian. She had been through hell and back but she never gave up fighting.
This story as amazing.
Read
May 19, 2023Dnf 13%
Lost interest
Lost interest
May 10, 2023
3.5 STARS ✨
Rounded up to four stars.
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of Mercilessly Bred from Booksprout in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Mercilessly Bred is a darker, twisted, contemporary retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It follows twenty year old Belle who stumbles upon Sebastian's castle in Switzerland, desperate for a place to stay on the run from her captors that have forced her into years of slavery and unspeakable acts. Belle needs money in order to start afresh, and Sebastian needs an heir to detach him from his family's chocolate company that he never wished to run. After the death of his first wife, Charlotte, Sebastian vows that he will never fall in love again, and that Belle is simply the means to an end: but, of course, that wouldn't be the fairytale we know and love, would it?
I had my reservations at first, especially at the beginning: it's a few chapters in when we discover that Belle is actually American, so I spent the first 10-20% of the book being confused as to why she was describing London with American terminology, but that of course flattened itself out after the explanation. There were some predictable points, and it would have been nice to see a little bit more of Belle and Sebastian's relationship developing between the time jumps, but, in general, it was an interesting twist on the classic and was an enjoyable read that I struggled to put down.
Rounded up to four stars.
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of Mercilessly Bred from Booksprout in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Mercilessly Bred is a darker, twisted, contemporary retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It follows twenty year old Belle who stumbles upon Sebastian's castle in Switzerland, desperate for a place to stay on the run from her captors that have forced her into years of slavery and unspeakable acts. Belle needs money in order to start afresh, and Sebastian needs an heir to detach him from his family's chocolate company that he never wished to run. After the death of his first wife, Charlotte, Sebastian vows that he will never fall in love again, and that Belle is simply the means to an end: but, of course, that wouldn't be the fairytale we know and love, would it?
I had my reservations at first, especially at the beginning: it's a few chapters in when we discover that Belle is actually American, so I spent the first 10-20% of the book being confused as to why she was describing London with American terminology, but that of course flattened itself out after the explanation. There were some predictable points, and it would have been nice to see a little bit more of Belle and Sebastian's relationship developing between the time jumps, but, in general, it was an interesting twist on the classic and was an enjoyable read that I struggled to put down.
May 28, 2023
I am a huge fan of fairy tale retellings! This one had a bunch of different twists that, while modern and different, still fit pretty close to the main plot of the original tale. This one focuses on giving the beast an heir however. The beast has a different form but in 'normal society' would probably still considered a beast. The spice was good but could have been more of that.
November 24, 2025
Not the normal breeding book. Holds a dark Beauty and The Beast feelings. Lots of trigger in this book.
Although its not my "normal" smutty reads. I was not disappointed by it.
Although its not my "normal" smutty reads. I was not disappointed by it.
May 13, 2023
I got bored 1/3 of the way through and it never got better. It did not contain any nc or any fear of the hero which I love and expect in beauty and the beast it was all willing and she instantly falls in lust with him which just made it boring.
December 31, 2025
This story seeped into my bones. Deliciously wicked....
May 17, 2023
This book had so much potential. Unfortunately, both the hero and the heroine made dumb decisions.
This book also had trigger warnings: sex trafficking, rape by multiple men in the past, kidnapping.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILR
The heroine is a victim of sex trafficking. She manages to escape her newest owner by jumping out of the car and running away. It turns out she is in London.
She gets on a train. She is dirty and has no ticket. The conductor takes pity on her and brings her some crackers. He doesn't kick her off of the train.
She did not call the police for help. She didn't tell anyone she was abducted. She sneaks into the back of a truck and ends up at a castle. She decides to sneak around this castle for days. The hero knows she is there.
He does not want to run his family's candy company. He figures out a loophole. He can have a baby and leave the company to the baby.
So he gives heroine a contract to sign. $250,000 for getting pregnant with his baby. The natural way.
Heroine wants the money to look for her missing sister, who was also a victim of human trafficking. She does not call the police or ask the very rich hero to help her find her sister.
The hero likes to talk dirty and insult her during sex. Sometimes he ties her up and spanks her.
She ends up pregnant with twins. He finally asked her about her past. She tells him everything. He puts a tracker in her arm.
He decides to have a charity party. During the party he allows the heroine to go off alone. The human traffickers kidnap her. He doesn't remember she has a tracker. His assistant has to remind her.
They track the heroine. They do not call the police or security team. It's the hero and his assistant.
The hero is reluctant to kill anyone. His assistant says I thought you killed during your time as a soldier. He said that was different. The assistant says your love is missing and these guys did it.
Hero kills a guy who was attacking the heroine. Her sister is miraculously there in the sex trafficking place but injured and malnourished. Hero rescues them both but leaves all of the other girls there.
On the way home he calls the police from a burner and says victims of human trafficking are in that building and hangs up. We don't know if they ever get rescued.
Heroine has twin boys. Her sister has to stay in the hospital a few days. Heroine leaves her sister, alone, in the hospital in a foreign country. After having not seen her for years. She doesn't bring the sister to the castle with doctors. She doesn't leave security with her sister in the hospital.
After all that time heroine spent trying to find her sister and worrying about her sister, we don't even see them have a conversation. We are told in the epilogue that her sister fell in love with the hero's assistant and they moved in together.
This book also had trigger warnings: sex trafficking, rape by multiple men in the past, kidnapping.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILR
The heroine is a victim of sex trafficking. She manages to escape her newest owner by jumping out of the car and running away. It turns out she is in London.
She gets on a train. She is dirty and has no ticket. The conductor takes pity on her and brings her some crackers. He doesn't kick her off of the train.
She did not call the police for help. She didn't tell anyone she was abducted. She sneaks into the back of a truck and ends up at a castle. She decides to sneak around this castle for days. The hero knows she is there.
He does not want to run his family's candy company. He figures out a loophole. He can have a baby and leave the company to the baby.
So he gives heroine a contract to sign. $250,000 for getting pregnant with his baby. The natural way.
Heroine wants the money to look for her missing sister, who was also a victim of human trafficking. She does not call the police or ask the very rich hero to help her find her sister.
The hero likes to talk dirty and insult her during sex. Sometimes he ties her up and spanks her.
She ends up pregnant with twins. He finally asked her about her past. She tells him everything. He puts a tracker in her arm.
He decides to have a charity party. During the party he allows the heroine to go off alone. The human traffickers kidnap her. He doesn't remember she has a tracker. His assistant has to remind her.
They track the heroine. They do not call the police or security team. It's the hero and his assistant.
The hero is reluctant to kill anyone. His assistant says I thought you killed during your time as a soldier. He said that was different. The assistant says your love is missing and these guys did it.
Hero kills a guy who was attacking the heroine. Her sister is miraculously there in the sex trafficking place but injured and malnourished. Hero rescues them both but leaves all of the other girls there.
On the way home he calls the police from a burner and says victims of human trafficking are in that building and hangs up. We don't know if they ever get rescued.
Heroine has twin boys. Her sister has to stay in the hospital a few days. Heroine leaves her sister, alone, in the hospital in a foreign country. After having not seen her for years. She doesn't bring the sister to the castle with doctors. She doesn't leave security with her sister in the hospital.
After all that time heroine spent trying to find her sister and worrying about her sister, we don't even see them have a conversation. We are told in the epilogue that her sister fell in love with the hero's assistant and they moved in together.
May 16, 2023
a tale as old as time but add a little spice and angst
pls read tw/cw before reading!!
this book was given to me as an ARC copy on book sprout 🌱 in exchange for an honest review🩵
Tropes:
🌹alpha male
🌹HEA
🌹breeding kink
🌹curvy heroine
Adding this to my list of favorite beauty and the beast retelling my fist book I’ve ever read by Natalie Knight and I can’t wait to see what else she has to write or has written!! So much was happening I couldn’t put it down it was super addictive read (stayed up till 5AM!!) some parts was hard to get through when it came to her backstory. Loved Sebastian and Belle and even the side characters(pls give them their own story)
After years of being sex trafficked Belle escapes and finds herself at a castle belonging to Sebastian. Belle finds the door to be opened and decides to hide there. Sebastian is the owner of a chocolate company his family has all passed away as well as his wife so now he locks himself in his castle and build walls around his own heart vowing to “never fall in love again.” now he’s stuck having to run the company alone tired of working he wants to find a way for someone else to take over. The only way to do that is to have a heir that will be able to run the company. Deciding he needs a kid he sends out ads to find someone who will be able to have his kid. When the plan doesn’t work he realizes that the girl he has been keeping a watch on and allowing her to stay in his house for some reason is in his home stealing food and acting like she lives there. So he decides to make a contract with her. Belle still worried about her sister Fiona still out there with the people who trafficked her agrees to have his baby. Making a baby with a guy she has no feelings for easy right?
‼️SPOILER ALERT‼️
ngl i thought of dabi the whole time reading this as soon as they mentioned how he was in a fire and had scars the whole book i was thinking of dabi😭
the dirty talk in this book!! was delicious as fuck i ate that shit up fr!! as soon as i saw beauty and the beast i knew i needed this book. i was not disappointed at all. i actually cried when i got the ARC. not him ripping out her birth control i actually cringed thinking about that scene like i had to rub my own arm it was yikes!! also the tracker in her arm like i guess it was good for finding her so it made sense unlike how they do that in fanfiction and then do nothing with it i mean at least she liked it in the end but dude could have asked her if he could put one in or something first. i love that maxwell and fiona found love as well🥹
pls read tw/cw before reading!!
this book was given to me as an ARC copy on book sprout 🌱 in exchange for an honest review🩵
Tropes:
🌹alpha male
🌹HEA
🌹breeding kink
🌹curvy heroine
Adding this to my list of favorite beauty and the beast retelling my fist book I’ve ever read by Natalie Knight and I can’t wait to see what else she has to write or has written!! So much was happening I couldn’t put it down it was super addictive read (stayed up till 5AM!!) some parts was hard to get through when it came to her backstory. Loved Sebastian and Belle and even the side characters(pls give them their own story)
After years of being sex trafficked Belle escapes and finds herself at a castle belonging to Sebastian. Belle finds the door to be opened and decides to hide there. Sebastian is the owner of a chocolate company his family has all passed away as well as his wife so now he locks himself in his castle and build walls around his own heart vowing to “never fall in love again.” now he’s stuck having to run the company alone tired of working he wants to find a way for someone else to take over. The only way to do that is to have a heir that will be able to run the company. Deciding he needs a kid he sends out ads to find someone who will be able to have his kid. When the plan doesn’t work he realizes that the girl he has been keeping a watch on and allowing her to stay in his house for some reason is in his home stealing food and acting like she lives there. So he decides to make a contract with her. Belle still worried about her sister Fiona still out there with the people who trafficked her agrees to have his baby. Making a baby with a guy she has no feelings for easy right?
‼️SPOILER ALERT‼️
ngl i thought of dabi the whole time reading this as soon as they mentioned how he was in a fire and had scars the whole book i was thinking of dabi😭
the dirty talk in this book!! was delicious as fuck i ate that shit up fr!! as soon as i saw beauty and the beast i knew i needed this book. i was not disappointed at all. i actually cried when i got the ARC. not him ripping out her birth control i actually cringed thinking about that scene like i had to rub my own arm it was yikes!! also the tracker in her arm like i guess it was good for finding her so it made sense unlike how they do that in fanfiction and then do nothing with it i mean at least she liked it in the end but dude could have asked her if he could put one in or something first. i love that maxwell and fiona found love as well🥹
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2023
Belle’s story started out as a nightmare of slavery and unspeakable abuse. She escaped her captors and fell into the arms of a beast who became both the villain and the hero of her story.
Sebastian was both physically and emotionally scarred by his past relationship with his family and by a terrible accident that took is beloved wife. Years later, he found himself in need of a surrogate to gestate his heir when Belle fell into his dark world of solitude. Belle was very likable, sweet, brave, loyal, easy to love. However, Sebastian swore years ago to never love again and kept himself emotionally distant and, well, behaved like a beast. As with the original fairytale, it was the little things that got his heart to change.
The author did a great job highlighting all the best moments of the original fairytale in this retelling with her signature twist. When darkness was on the menu, it got real. The spicy bits were ghost pepper hot. It also helped that Belle’s beast was former military when all heck broke loose and he had to rescue her from the bad guys. And, just as in the original, love conquered all and they got to live happily ever after.
This retelling of Beauty and the Beast was a lot of fun to read. I highly recommend it to fans of dark romance and fairytales.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sebastian was both physically and emotionally scarred by his past relationship with his family and by a terrible accident that took is beloved wife. Years later, he found himself in need of a surrogate to gestate his heir when Belle fell into his dark world of solitude. Belle was very likable, sweet, brave, loyal, easy to love. However, Sebastian swore years ago to never love again and kept himself emotionally distant and, well, behaved like a beast. As with the original fairytale, it was the little things that got his heart to change.
The author did a great job highlighting all the best moments of the original fairytale in this retelling with her signature twist. When darkness was on the menu, it got real. The spicy bits were ghost pepper hot. It also helped that Belle’s beast was former military when all heck broke loose and he had to rescue her from the bad guys. And, just as in the original, love conquered all and they got to live happily ever after.
This retelling of Beauty and the Beast was a lot of fun to read. I highly recommend it to fans of dark romance and fairytales.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 29, 2023
A Beautiful Retelling
I loved this book. While it has dark moments, it is overwhelmingly a story of fortitude, tenacity, survival, overcoming serious adversity, and finally, growth. In that growth the MCs allow themselves to acknowledge that their past need not define their future, and if they’re willing to reach for it, love prevails.
I am sure that survivors of this type of abuse will likely have constructive criticism about Belle’s lack of PTSD, and it will be justified, but putting reality aside, this is a beautiful story of the triumph of love.
As to the title, because he is the last surviving member of the family, Sebastian is stuck being CEO of the family’s business. His plan is to get a woman pregnant so once his heir is born, the board can find a new CEO until the new heir is old enough to take over. Not very noble of him, but Sebastian has his reasons. Just when he’s starting to despair that his plan will remain fallow, he finds Belle on his property. Obviously in dire straits herself, he offers her a deal she can’t refuse.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved this book. While it has dark moments, it is overwhelmingly a story of fortitude, tenacity, survival, overcoming serious adversity, and finally, growth. In that growth the MCs allow themselves to acknowledge that their past need not define their future, and if they’re willing to reach for it, love prevails.
I am sure that survivors of this type of abuse will likely have constructive criticism about Belle’s lack of PTSD, and it will be justified, but putting reality aside, this is a beautiful story of the triumph of love.
As to the title, because he is the last surviving member of the family, Sebastian is stuck being CEO of the family’s business. His plan is to get a woman pregnant so once his heir is born, the board can find a new CEO until the new heir is old enough to take over. Not very noble of him, but Sebastian has his reasons. Just when he’s starting to despair that his plan will remain fallow, he finds Belle on his property. Obviously in dire straits herself, he offers her a deal she can’t refuse.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 18, 2023
Before you read this deliciously dark retelling of Beauty and the Beast be sure to check the trigger warnings because there are certain triggers in this book.
This is a deliciously dark and twisted retelling that introduces us to Belle, a twenty-year-old American trying to escape her captors who have forced her into years of slavery. She comes across Sebastian's castle in Switzerland, Sebastian, a widower has vowed never to fall in love again, but when Bell arrives at his castle he sees her as a means to an end, Belle needs money in order to start her life afresh and Sebastian needs an heir!
Their relationship may not have started well but as the story progressed you couldn't help but root for them. The storyline is good as are the interactions between the characters! This book was spicy, and flows well, if you like dark romances, fairy tale retellings, or age-gap romances I would recommend you download this one as well as the extended epilogue that is offered at the end of the book for free it wraps up their story beautifully.
This is a deliciously dark and twisted retelling that introduces us to Belle, a twenty-year-old American trying to escape her captors who have forced her into years of slavery. She comes across Sebastian's castle in Switzerland, Sebastian, a widower has vowed never to fall in love again, but when Bell arrives at his castle he sees her as a means to an end, Belle needs money in order to start her life afresh and Sebastian needs an heir!
Their relationship may not have started well but as the story progressed you couldn't help but root for them. The storyline is good as are the interactions between the characters! This book was spicy, and flows well, if you like dark romances, fairy tale retellings, or age-gap romances I would recommend you download this one as well as the extended epilogue that is offered at the end of the book for free it wraps up their story beautifully.
May 14, 2023
Exploited by traffickers for years, Belle (h20) escapes and secrets herself in unused rooms of a Swiss castle owned by a scarred reclusive billionaire, Sebastian (H42). He seeks to escape running the family’s chococlate empire and comes up with a plan to produce an heir to obtain his freedom. Sebastian offers Belle money if she agrees to have his child, money she desperately needs to help find her sister who’s still with the traffickers. Both Belle and Sebastian have traumatic, scarred pasts that make their relationship difficult, but not impossible. Belle is a strong woman to have endured the trauma she’s experienced and to be able to take on a relationship with Sebastian given his ultra-controlling and alpha nature, which at times makes him seem heartless, he’s really not and is quite tender, protective, and caring. There’s a lot to unpack in this BATB inspired story but it definitely is a dark romance emotionally and sexually, with some BDSM, rough sex, breeding kink, and more.
April 14, 2024
I love dark books. Totally. But this just didn’t make sense. Belle was pushed into sex trafficking. She escapes and somehow lands in Sebastian’s castle. And the minute he looks at her, he wants to fuck her? And he just so happens to need a baby?
He gets her to sign a contract where he blatantly tells her that she’s his “cum dumpster.” How is that any different from the other people who fucked her? They used her too. But Belle just suddenly gets turned on by this dude? I get what the author was going for. And it would have been a total hit if it was executed well.
It was all way too predictable.
The way he falls in love with her- maybe more on that. I felt like it was a huge jump. In the beginning, he’s still totally hung up on his dead wife. And in the end, he loves belle? The plot didn’t make a lot of sense tbh.
The 2 stars- Definitely the smut. It was very well written and VERY hot.
He gets her to sign a contract where he blatantly tells her that she’s his “cum dumpster.” How is that any different from the other people who fucked her? They used her too. But Belle just suddenly gets turned on by this dude? I get what the author was going for. And it would have been a total hit if it was executed well.
It was all way too predictable.
The way he falls in love with her- maybe more on that. I felt like it was a huge jump. In the beginning, he’s still totally hung up on his dead wife. And in the end, he loves belle? The plot didn’t make a lot of sense tbh.
The 2 stars- Definitely the smut. It was very well written and VERY hot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2023
The book was just flat. The scenes that were supposed to be spicy were bland and lacking. Mostly in quality writing. The concept of the book was good, laid a good background for some true spice, but the style of writing and the heroine train of thoughts were just… nope. The talk that was supposed to be sexy and kinda taboo was just bland. Deadpanned delivery. Scenes that should be well written into the story were just mentioned, briefly and without a second thought. No mystery whatsoever about the characters - oh no! he has scars all over his body! Shit got explained in the next chapter from his pov. Seriously, this book needs a rewrite.
Heroine who was trafficed for 4 years is yearning for a brutal encounters? And just because she feels like with him is "different" but the same? I just don't get her.
For a moment it got better by the end, but that's it.
Heroine who was trafficed for 4 years is yearning for a brutal encounters? And just because she feels like with him is "different" but the same? I just don't get her.
For a moment it got better by the end, but that's it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot - 3/5
Characters - 3/5
Spice - 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Mercilessly Bred is a standalone, Beauty and the Beast retelling starring our traumatised beauty, Belle, who has just escaped human trafficking and our beast, Sebastian, who needs an heir to quit his job essentially.
Is this realistic? Absolutely not. Belle does not in any way, shape or form resemble a woman who’s being trafficked for the past 3 years and appears to promptly forget her trauma within the first few chapters. Likewise, the book is riddled with minor plot holes or moments that aren’t explained (see, why was Fiona there at the end).
Despite that, I enjoyed this as a spicy retelling. Sebastian spends much of the book pining for his ex-wife, Charlotte, who died in a fire and has depth not often seen in MMC characters. His perspectives made me like him more and more and the spice was delicious.
Plot - 3/5
Characters - 3/5
Spice - 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Mercilessly Bred is a standalone, Beauty and the Beast retelling starring our traumatised beauty, Belle, who has just escaped human trafficking and our beast, Sebastian, who needs an heir to quit his job essentially.
Is this realistic? Absolutely not. Belle does not in any way, shape or form resemble a woman who’s being trafficked for the past 3 years and appears to promptly forget her trauma within the first few chapters. Likewise, the book is riddled with minor plot holes or moments that aren’t explained (see, why was Fiona there at the end).
Despite that, I enjoyed this as a spicy retelling. Sebastian spends much of the book pining for his ex-wife, Charlotte, who died in a fire and has depth not often seen in MMC characters. His perspectives made me like him more and more and the spice was delicious.
September 21, 2025
I’ve read a lot of Beauty and the Beast retellings, mostly dark, and I love Natalie Knight's books—I think I may have read most of her books. Mercilessly Bred somehow slipped through the cracks with me, and I recently discovered it while looking for a b¡rth ç0ntrol t4mpering trope. And yes, it does have it!
Natalie Knight’s version has Belle in a shmex trafficking situation. She is sold to Sebastian only to be bred to bear his child. Sebastian is not a nice guy to Belle for most of the story. His intent is not to fall in love with her but only to use her, but over time, the more time he spends with her, the more things change. And things change for Belle too, as she discovers more about Sebastian’s past and what made him who is.
I like this dark version of Beauty and the Beast, and as expected in a Natalie Knight book, the spicy scenes were fantastic and plentiful.
Natalie Knight’s version has Belle in a shmex trafficking situation. She is sold to Sebastian only to be bred to bear his child. Sebastian is not a nice guy to Belle for most of the story. His intent is not to fall in love with her but only to use her, but over time, the more time he spends with her, the more things change. And things change for Belle too, as she discovers more about Sebastian’s past and what made him who is.
I like this dark version of Beauty and the Beast, and as expected in a Natalie Knight book, the spicy scenes were fantastic and plentiful.
Read
October 17, 2023this book dealt with very sensitive and triggering issues.
major TW of SA and human trafficking
the “healing” (or lack thereof) of trauma was completely unrealistic - Belle went through hell as part of a human trafficking ring for over 3 years and escapes from a man who “buys” her. She then enters a transactional sexual relationship with Sebastian (the beast) who treats her like shit and frankly acts JUST like the guys she escapes from, yet shes somehow immediately on board with sexual intimacy and straight up bdsm after being sexually traumatized for years. ??????? how does that make sense?? She basically has some unexplained attraction to Sebastian which allows her to not suffer any trauma or ptsd from the vile things he says about using her like bffr
major TW of SA and human trafficking
the “healing” (or lack thereof) of trauma was completely unrealistic - Belle went through hell as part of a human trafficking ring for over 3 years and escapes from a man who “buys” her. She then enters a transactional sexual relationship with Sebastian (the beast) who treats her like shit and frankly acts JUST like the guys she escapes from, yet shes somehow immediately on board with sexual intimacy and straight up bdsm after being sexually traumatized for years. ??????? how does that make sense?? She basically has some unexplained attraction to Sebastian which allows her to not suffer any trauma or ptsd from the vile things he says about using her like bffr
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2023
I was excited to read this book after seeing it mentioned in several online book club groups.
Beauty and the Beast is my all time favorite fairy tale. I think I set my hopes a little high. I thought the storyline was really good and I liked both main characters. I think the writing lacked a little depth and detail for me. Belle was waaaaaaaay too nonchalant about everything she had been through, and Sebastian's complete 180 was a little unbelievable.
The epilogue and bonus extra epilogue were the best parts of the book, and if the whole book had been written like those, it would have been so much better!
Overall, though, it was an enjoyable read.
Beauty and the Beast is my all time favorite fairy tale. I think I set my hopes a little high. I thought the storyline was really good and I liked both main characters. I think the writing lacked a little depth and detail for me. Belle was waaaaaaaay too nonchalant about everything she had been through, and Sebastian's complete 180 was a little unbelievable.
The epilogue and bonus extra epilogue were the best parts of the book, and if the whole book had been written like those, it would have been so much better!
Overall, though, it was an enjoyable read.
May 15, 2023
Making her great escape, with nothing but the clothing on her back, makes her way to safety and freedom. He is minding his own business, hiding away in his castle, trying to find a way for him to be free of the contract his family signed, that keeps him working.
He finds her in his castle. Eating his food. Eating his chocolate. Sleeping in his guest room. But the more he watches her, the more he obsesses over her.
Wow. Just wow. After reading this book, I wished to read more like it. It just has that certain something that I loved.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
He finds her in his castle. Eating his food. Eating his chocolate. Sleeping in his guest room. But the more he watches her, the more he obsesses over her.
Wow. Just wow. After reading this book, I wished to read more like it. It just has that certain something that I loved.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 16, 2023
This started so well and then very quickly fell apart. We are supposed to believe that Belle was held captive for four years, being sold and used in sex trafficking, and then one day, she meets Sebastian. It's like nothing ever happened, no trauma, no PTSD, not barely a mention of the kidnapping until the book is over. The H is a cruel jerk, and the h is weak. And it was unreasonably long for how bad it was; if you are going to have a big book, make it good.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - excellent, would recommend, will reread
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - great
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - good
⭐️⭐️ - ok, forgettable, had issues with plot and/or characters
⭐️ - dnf, would not recommend, terrible
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - excellent, would recommend, will reread
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - great
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - good
⭐️⭐️ - ok, forgettable, had issues with plot and/or characters
⭐️ - dnf, would not recommend, terrible
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