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Prince #2
Prince of Thorns & Nightmares
For fans of Disney Twisted Tales and Serena Valentino's Villains comes the next book of the Disney Prince Young Adult series. Prince Phillip tells his side of Disney's Sleeping Beauty where once upon a dream was just the beginning... Prince Phillip's known from a young age that his destiny has already been decided for him by his father, King Hubert. His job is to smile and wave for the crowd and ride off into the sunset with his predetermined fiancé, Princess Aurora, after her curse is lifted on her sixteenth birthday. But just days before Aurora's birthday party, Phillip experiences a strange burst of magic, and three fairies tell him that he is part of a prophecy set to defeat Maleficent, the Mistress of All Evil. Suddenly Phillip feels as if he has a choice—maybe magic can be the freedom he has been looking for. Although, having magic and working with fairies to retrieve powerful ancient artifacts would be much more enjoyable if he didn't have to deal with her every night, a girl named Briar Rose who appears in his dreams on the other side of a mystical thorn maze. Phillip doesn't know how he can be so annoyed by a person he can't even see but having to hear the mysterious maiden's laughs and jabs at him every time he goes to sleep is worse than any nightmare. But Phillip is starting to realize that Briar Rose isn't so different from himself, and maybe they can change both of their fates one dream at a time.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2023
179 people are currently reading
8870 people want to read
About the author
Linsey Miller
15 books1,095 followersOnce upon a time, Linsey Miller studied biology in Arkansas. These days, she holds an MFA in fiction and is the author of Lambda-nominated What We Devour. Her other works include the Mask of Shadows duology, Belle Révolte, The Game, the first three books in the Disney Princes series, and the upcoming YA fantasy That Devil, Ambition (spring 2025 from HarperCollins). She can be found in Texas writing about science and magic anywhere there is coffee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 363 reviews
October 4, 2024
4.75 out of 5 stars.
I will always love Disney's Sleeping Beauty, therefore I rounded up this book to 5 stars.
Was this book too perfect and flawless for me to give it 5 stars? No. But I'm so glad and beyond happy that the author decided to write this book, and make it from Phillip's perspective, and also add a bit minor, but good changes here and there.
*****************************************
Prince Phillip was the first crush I ever had on a fictional character, and I love that this book is going to be from his point of view.
I will always love Disney's Sleeping Beauty, therefore I rounded up this book to 5 stars.
Was this book too perfect and flawless for me to give it 5 stars? No. But I'm so glad and beyond happy that the author decided to write this book, and make it from Phillip's perspective, and also add a bit minor, but good changes here and there.
*****************************************
Prince Phillip was the first crush I ever had on a fictional character, and I love that this book is going to be from his point of view.
March 26, 2024
She was distressingly real and beautiful and oh so near for the first time, and he was afraid to break whatever magic had gifted them this.
Disney has been making a lot of mistakes lately, I think we can all agree on that. Fortunately, however, these books are not included. I don't know who came up with the idea to create a whole series based on the Princes' points of view, but they deserve the biggest raise. I have been obsessed with Disney's Princesses ever since I was a child and it only got worse as I grew into adulthood. (I actually make my own money now that I love to spend on them regularly, much to the distress of my bank account.) This series is the perfect gift for my inner child. To begin with, Prince of Thorns & Nightmares is obviously the story of Sleeping Beauty but from Prince Phillip's point of view. This book is perfect from start to finish, but I would say that my favorite part is that it parallels the movie to the smallest of details. There were moments when I thought it strayed from the original, but was soon proven wrong, which only made me love it even more. It also expands the world and its lore in a way the movie couldn't, which I also loved. What's more, there's even some light LGBTQIA+ representation, and while it's mostly in the background, it is treated as something common and accepted (as it should be!)
Moreover, I obviously love this version of Prince Phillip so much more than the movie version. The story goes into heavy detail about his background and character (duh, he's the protagonist), which makes me sympathize with him. He had a difficult childhood given that he was forced into vigorous training by his father in order to protect Princess Aurora, his future wife, from her curse. He had never had control over his life, leading him to grow resentful of his father and the wife he didn't ask for. To top it all off, his dreams have never been his to control either. He has been dreaming of a girl, Briar Rose, for just as long, leaving him without a rest even in his sleep. Well, until it didn't bother him anymore. 😉
Additionally, I love Aurora/Briar Rose's character more in this version as well. The hints of sass she shows in the movie are more prominent in the book. There are also more details of her story such as the frustration of growing up so sheltered and isolated from the rest of the world for her own protection, even though she didn't know why. This is slightly different from the movie, where she seemed simply a little curious and a little wistful to explore the world outside of her forest rather than outright angry that she couldn't. She is strong-willed, smart, and self-assured, unafraid of speaking her mind, even to a boy she has known only in her dreams. She's not just some helpless young princess in desperate need of a prince to save her anymore. She uses the dreams they share to save herself as much as their kingdoms.
Finally, the romance between Aurora and Phillip is so adorable. The number of times I squealed and kicked my little feet up in the air at their cuteness should have had me locked up in a padded room with a straight jacket. The things they say to each other, and the things that Phillip thinks when he thinks of Aurora are so sweet and heartwarming. Besides, instead of the usual love-at-first-sight trope that most fairytales have, this one is more hater-to-lovers with a lot of banter and light competition, all of which are right up my alley. Their love came gradually because of their, which is hinted at in the movie, but obviously has a lot more development in this book. Most importantly though, Aurora has more autonomy in this story, especially while she is cursed. The dreams they share give her the chance to consent to Prince Phillip kissing her to break the curse, which, in my opinion, is an intelligent and significant addition to the story, one I hoped would be added even before I started reading the book.
Disney has been making a lot of mistakes lately, I think we can all agree on that. Fortunately, however, these books are not included. I don't know who came up with the idea to create a whole series based on the Princes' points of view, but they deserve the biggest raise. I have been obsessed with Disney's Princesses ever since I was a child and it only got worse as I grew into adulthood. (I actually make my own money now that I love to spend on them regularly, much to the distress of my bank account.) This series is the perfect gift for my inner child. To begin with, Prince of Thorns & Nightmares is obviously the story of Sleeping Beauty but from Prince Phillip's point of view. This book is perfect from start to finish, but I would say that my favorite part is that it parallels the movie to the smallest of details. There were moments when I thought it strayed from the original, but was soon proven wrong, which only made me love it even more. It also expands the world and its lore in a way the movie couldn't, which I also loved. What's more, there's even some light LGBTQIA+ representation, and while it's mostly in the background, it is treated as something common and accepted (as it should be!)
Moreover, I obviously love this version of Prince Phillip so much more than the movie version. The story goes into heavy detail about his background and character (duh, he's the protagonist), which makes me sympathize with him. He had a difficult childhood given that he was forced into vigorous training by his father in order to protect Princess Aurora, his future wife, from her curse. He had never had control over his life, leading him to grow resentful of his father and the wife he didn't ask for. To top it all off, his dreams have never been his to control either. He has been dreaming of a girl, Briar Rose, for just as long, leaving him without a rest even in his sleep. Well, until it didn't bother him anymore. 😉
Additionally, I love Aurora/Briar Rose's character more in this version as well. The hints of sass she shows in the movie are more prominent in the book. There are also more details of her story such as the frustration of growing up so sheltered and isolated from the rest of the world for her own protection, even though she didn't know why. This is slightly different from the movie, where she seemed simply a little curious and a little wistful to explore the world outside of her forest rather than outright angry that she couldn't. She is strong-willed, smart, and self-assured, unafraid of speaking her mind, even to a boy she has known only in her dreams. She's not just some helpless young princess in desperate need of a prince to save her anymore. She uses the dreams they share to save herself as much as their kingdoms.
Finally, the romance between Aurora and Phillip is so adorable. The number of times I squealed and kicked my little feet up in the air at their cuteness should have had me locked up in a padded room with a straight jacket. The things they say to each other, and the things that Phillip thinks when he thinks of Aurora are so sweet and heartwarming. Besides, instead of the usual love-at-first-sight trope that most fairytales have, this one is more hater-to-lovers with a lot of banter and light competition, all of which are right up my alley. Their love came gradually because of their, which is hinted at in the movie, but obviously has a lot more development in this book. Most importantly though, Aurora has more autonomy in this story, especially while she is cursed. The dreams they share give her the chance to consent to Prince Phillip kissing her to break the curse, which, in my opinion, is an intelligent and significant addition to the story, one I hoped would be added even before I started reading the book.
Want to read
January 22, 2024pre-read: excuse me, look at this cover!
October 22, 2023
my favorite disney movie except almost the entire cast is lesbians and phillip is the token straight boy that they mess with. perfection
January 6, 2024
Okaii, I have zero clue what's going on here, but this Disney Princes series either needs to get a different writer or have an editor that has a backbone, because these retellings are starting to become ridiculous. This writer has literally removed everything that was magical about the movie and wrote this instead!
The little mermaid book was slow, but the plot at least fit the setting it was supposed to be in.
This story was absolutely infuriating to read. Not only was it boring as shit, and Aurora and Phillip don't meet until almost page 300, I couldn't even believe how vapid and unessesary all of the extra story lines were.
Let's get to the biggest problem in this book..... This story is supposed to take place in 14th Century.....France. so please explain to me why this book has so many western ideologies about girl bosses (yeah a girl in the 14th century would never have been able to be a Knight, cuz that's not historically accurate at all), so many of the choices made in this story were totally laughable.
The relationship in this book between Aurora and Phillip didn't have that magical spark or charm like the movie. Everything has to be deconstructed like any bloody 21st century story needs to be now 🤮 fuck I'm so over it.
It's a fairy tale so it's supposed to have larger than life characters (heroic princes who have no fear, scary monsters, damsels in distress, and being able to suspend your disbelief is what makes these stories beautiful.
But this author turned it into a 21st century commentary about a male character who whines about his life, and has almost no back bone throughout the story because he is always unsure of himself. I'm actually really disappointed cuz she really neutered Phillip's character and instead wrote a wet noodle.
And don't even get me started that she portrayed King Hubert as a mean father who abused his son.....excuse me wtf!? Where the fuck did you get that from? We just making shit up now and changing a character's fundamental personality and completely deviating from the source material now? Cuz that's 500% what was going on here alot of the time.
Oh and Joanna serves no purpose btw. She's just in the book because Disney has these arbitrary quotas now where you need to have a "strong female character". You could have easily removed her, and the sorry would have been no different.
I could go on, but frankly I'm tired, and I don't want to think of this anymore.
The only reason I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 is because it did follow the movie plot at times and it was nice to play those scenes in my head again.....but otherwise this was a train wreck.
The little mermaid book was slow, but the plot at least fit the setting it was supposed to be in.
This story was absolutely infuriating to read. Not only was it boring as shit, and Aurora and Phillip don't meet until almost page 300, I couldn't even believe how vapid and unessesary all of the extra story lines were.
Let's get to the biggest problem in this book..... This story is supposed to take place in 14th Century.....France. so please explain to me why this book has so many western ideologies about girl bosses (yeah a girl in the 14th century would never have been able to be a Knight, cuz that's not historically accurate at all), so many of the choices made in this story were totally laughable.
The relationship in this book between Aurora and Phillip didn't have that magical spark or charm like the movie. Everything has to be deconstructed like any bloody 21st century story needs to be now 🤮 fuck I'm so over it.
It's a fairy tale so it's supposed to have larger than life characters (heroic princes who have no fear, scary monsters, damsels in distress, and being able to suspend your disbelief is what makes these stories beautiful.
But this author turned it into a 21st century commentary about a male character who whines about his life, and has almost no back bone throughout the story because he is always unsure of himself. I'm actually really disappointed cuz she really neutered Phillip's character and instead wrote a wet noodle.
And don't even get me started that she portrayed King Hubert as a mean father who abused his son.....excuse me wtf!? Where the fuck did you get that from? We just making shit up now and changing a character's fundamental personality and completely deviating from the source material now? Cuz that's 500% what was going on here alot of the time.
Oh and Joanna serves no purpose btw. She's just in the book because Disney has these arbitrary quotas now where you need to have a "strong female character". You could have easily removed her, and the sorry would have been no different.
I could go on, but frankly I'm tired, and I don't want to think of this anymore.
The only reason I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 is because it did follow the movie plot at times and it was nice to play those scenes in my head again.....but otherwise this was a train wreck.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2024
I love the story of Sleeping Beauty(disney version). And I am getting into reading stuff from the male point of view, and I enjoyed this book whole heartedly.
Internally i wish it was a little but different and a little closer to the tale of Aurora and Phillip in the movie, but over all, a good read.
Internally i wish it was a little but different and a little closer to the tale of Aurora and Phillip in the movie, but over all, a good read.
January 10, 2026
4.5/4.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Baby Phillip wanting to get Aurora a bear was soo cute and then after she was cursed “I’ll still get you a bear,” he whispered to her. “Sounds like you’ll need it.”🥹🩷 Him thinking beauty and song weren’t really the kind of gifts that would matter to her. so in love with this feminist little five-year-old. Baby Phillip was too cute🩷, and the fact that they actually met in a dream was such a good way to incorporate depth into their relationship. Him finding Aurora annoying at the start felt way more real, too—more like how things would really go instead of the usual "instant love" thing. And also hilarious🤭
The Eris plot twist? I was shook. Honestly, that doesn’t happen often, but this one took me completely by surprise. I also loved the depth they gave Phillip, showing how pressured he was by being shackled as Aurora’s protector for the rest of his life. It made his character way more interesting. And the fact that he was the only one who cared that Aurora had true love before he knew it was him? ✨🩷So sweet.🩷✨
They managed to keep everything I adore about the Disney version while adding in these fresh layers. Samson and Phillip’s friendship? EVERYTHING. Plus, Aurora actually got to be part of her own story for more than just 16 minutes. Huge improvement there.🫡⭐️💅🏼
That itsy bitsy little thing about consent? Totally handled in a tasteful way that didn’t mess with the original story. Not everything needs to be so PC, right? And Aurora being all sassy? 🥲🌷Too precious.
Honestly, I’m thinking about giving this a solid 5 stars. And, let’s not forget—Phillip gave her a “bear.” Heart eyes 🐻💖.
Edit: You know, after careful consideration15 min of me smiling like an idiot after closing the book, this is actually 5 stars🩷🧸
Baby Phillip wanting to get Aurora a bear was soo cute and then after she was cursed “I’ll still get you a bear,” he whispered to her. “Sounds like you’ll need it.”🥹🩷 Him thinking beauty and song weren’t really the kind of gifts that would matter to her. so in love with this feminist little five-year-old. Baby Phillip was too cute🩷, and the fact that they actually met in a dream was such a good way to incorporate depth into their relationship. Him finding Aurora annoying at the start felt way more real, too—more like how things would really go instead of the usual "instant love" thing. And also hilarious🤭
The Eris plot twist? I was shook. Honestly, that doesn’t happen often, but this one took me completely by surprise. I also loved the depth they gave Phillip, showing how pressured he was by being shackled as Aurora’s protector for the rest of his life. It made his character way more interesting. And the fact that he was the only one who cared that Aurora had true love before he knew it was him? ✨🩷So sweet.🩷✨
They managed to keep everything I adore about the Disney version while adding in these fresh layers. Samson and Phillip’s friendship? EVERYTHING. Plus, Aurora actually got to be part of her own story for more than just 16 minutes. Huge improvement there.🫡⭐️💅🏼
That itsy bitsy little thing about consent? Totally handled in a tasteful way that didn’t mess with the original story. Not everything needs to be so PC, right? And Aurora being all sassy? 🥲🌷Too precious.
Honestly, I’m thinking about giving this a solid 5 stars. And, let’s not forget—Phillip gave her a “bear.” Heart eyes 🐻💖.
Edit: You know, after careful consideration
November 14, 2023
Disney's Sleeping Beauty 1959 is my favorite animated movie of all time. I love the aesthetic of the film, the music, the character design, the scary lighting on Maleficent. It's art.
That's why I dislike the two Maleficent movies. They just stray very far from the gothic inspired costumes, the weightless hair movements the cubic trees and the comical horses.
Because the cover here is so much in line with the prettiness of the movie (while adding a painterly flair), I was optimistic.
And to give credit where credit is due: the author tried her absolute best to stay true to the original. She incorporated dialogue from the movie and all her ideas were rooted in things that were seen or discussed in the movie. I would argue that this novel really was grown from Sleeping Beauty 1959 with much of the intent left intact.
Prince of Thorns and Nightmares adds quite a few pleasant surprises, as well. Phillip's lesbian knight/companion/bodyguard Johanna the Brave was one of those. I also enjoyed how the text questioned the actions of characters, and adds context to the less logical parts of the plot.
Unfortunately, this fanfic fails to be able to stand on its own. It is a tie-in, so that's partly the point, but mostly, the reason is that the author stretched herself too thin between accurately portraying what the movie showed but also writing her absolutely wild story of deception, magic and abusive parent-child relationships.
"Abusive parent-child relationships in Sleeping Beauty?" you may ask, and yeah. I expected villainy from Maleficent but King Hubert surprised me.
A lot of plotting was clearly done around the Sword & Shield in the movie, and for the most part, the ideas were quite solid. I enjoyed them, anyway. But the execution, that is, the writing in each separate scene, often lacked drive and conviction and just ambled from one point to the next.
That alone would not have deterred me, because my brain cinema definetely added Eyvind Earle's spectacular backgrounds to the fray.
BUT the novel, in one major departure from the original, just had to add big dialogues between Briar Rose & Phillip.
I know that one of the larger criticisms of the movie is the fact that Aurora has very little and quite unimportant dialogue. I believe she is the one Disney Princwss who says less than Dumbo, or something like that. She barely meets the Prince, then falls asleep. That's it.
As I see it, Aurora is a young woman who grew up talking to animals and three helicopter fairies. Obviously she'd be shy meeting strangers (we never see her talking to her parents, either!), even though that is hardly her real personality.
I think the one thing this novel missed about her is that she treats her "Aunties" with a humorous, borderline-mocking, affection. One of my favorite scenes in the movie is when the Fairies throw her out to go look for berries and she cocks an eyebrow at them and says "Oh?", which to me read as "laughing at their antics".
This scene has left an impression on me, just like the moment the newly awakened Princess gives King Hubert a kiss on his bald head to stop his fit of childish rage. That is not a cowed girl, that is a diplomat in the making.
She very much seems to "handle" her elders. It's true, she can't leave the cottage or her fate of being a princess, which is a crushing realisation for her, but before that, she fully expects to overrule the three Fairies with her charm to get them to meet Phillip. Curious, for a girl who is supposedly devoid of any agency. Wouldn't she have tried to keep her chance meeting a secret, then?
Anyway, I digress. The deep, soul-searching navel-gazings of Aurora and Phillip were likely the last thing I ever wanted to read, and their couple-therapy inspired apologies and personal appeals to each other were truly dystopic to behold.
What once looked pretty had now become a group effort in talking about their own problems without taking frustrations out on the other. Which, while educational for the grade school readers, is extremely not a theme of Sleeping Beauty.
Prince Phillip thinking and talking was inevitable in a novel strictly from his perspectove, but his interactions with the Princess were unbearable in their divergence from the movie personalities.
My view on Phillip: he is a tall, handsome oaf. A simple horse guy. The outdoorsy type. A prince, yes, but one who is willing to throw his life away and marry a peasant girl because she's just THAT SPECIAL. In short, he is a submissive foil to Aurora's expectations and demands in a relationship, as illustrated by her magical animals pantomiming her ideal man character. She summons her perfect partner and he arrives. She falls asleep and he comes to wake her up. He is perfect for her not because they had a very important talk but because she essentially ordered him via catalogue, while he had no preconceptions of the perfect woman: he just saw her singing and bam. Love!
You did not ask, but in my headcanon, Aurora is the kind of princess who would totally add two or three more princes to her harem and Phillip would have zero issues with that lol Then she rules both kingdoms while her Prince Consort goes riding through the woods. Everyone is happy.
That's why I dislike the two Maleficent movies. They just stray very far from the gothic inspired costumes, the weightless hair movements the cubic trees and the comical horses.
Because the cover here is so much in line with the prettiness of the movie (while adding a painterly flair), I was optimistic.
And to give credit where credit is due: the author tried her absolute best to stay true to the original. She incorporated dialogue from the movie and all her ideas were rooted in things that were seen or discussed in the movie. I would argue that this novel really was grown from Sleeping Beauty 1959 with much of the intent left intact.
Prince of Thorns and Nightmares adds quite a few pleasant surprises, as well. Phillip's lesbian knight/companion/bodyguard Johanna the Brave was one of those. I also enjoyed how the text questioned the actions of characters, and adds context to the less logical parts of the plot.
Unfortunately, this fanfic fails to be able to stand on its own. It is a tie-in, so that's partly the point, but mostly, the reason is that the author stretched herself too thin between accurately portraying what the movie showed but also writing her absolutely wild story of deception, magic and abusive parent-child relationships.
"Abusive parent-child relationships in Sleeping Beauty?" you may ask, and yeah. I expected villainy from Maleficent but King Hubert surprised me.
A lot of plotting was clearly done around the Sword & Shield in the movie, and for the most part, the ideas were quite solid. I enjoyed them, anyway. But the execution, that is, the writing in each separate scene, often lacked drive and conviction and just ambled from one point to the next.
That alone would not have deterred me, because my brain cinema definetely added Eyvind Earle's spectacular backgrounds to the fray.
BUT the novel, in one major departure from the original, just had to add big dialogues between Briar Rose & Phillip.
I know that one of the larger criticisms of the movie is the fact that Aurora has very little and quite unimportant dialogue. I believe she is the one Disney Princwss who says less than Dumbo, or something like that. She barely meets the Prince, then falls asleep. That's it.
As I see it, Aurora is a young woman who grew up talking to animals and three helicopter fairies. Obviously she'd be shy meeting strangers (we never see her talking to her parents, either!), even though that is hardly her real personality.
I think the one thing this novel missed about her is that she treats her "Aunties" with a humorous, borderline-mocking, affection. One of my favorite scenes in the movie is when the Fairies throw her out to go look for berries and she cocks an eyebrow at them and says "Oh?", which to me read as "laughing at their antics".
This scene has left an impression on me, just like the moment the newly awakened Princess gives King Hubert a kiss on his bald head to stop his fit of childish rage. That is not a cowed girl, that is a diplomat in the making.
She very much seems to "handle" her elders. It's true, she can't leave the cottage or her fate of being a princess, which is a crushing realisation for her, but before that, she fully expects to overrule the three Fairies with her charm to get them to meet Phillip. Curious, for a girl who is supposedly devoid of any agency. Wouldn't she have tried to keep her chance meeting a secret, then?
Anyway, I digress. The deep, soul-searching navel-gazings of Aurora and Phillip were likely the last thing I ever wanted to read, and their couple-therapy inspired apologies and personal appeals to each other were truly dystopic to behold.
What once looked pretty had now become a group effort in talking about their own problems without taking frustrations out on the other. Which, while educational for the grade school readers, is extremely not a theme of Sleeping Beauty.
Prince Phillip thinking and talking was inevitable in a novel strictly from his perspectove, but his interactions with the Princess were unbearable in their divergence from the movie personalities.
My view on Phillip: he is a tall, handsome oaf. A simple horse guy. The outdoorsy type. A prince, yes, but one who is willing to throw his life away and marry a peasant girl because she's just THAT SPECIAL. In short, he is a submissive foil to Aurora's expectations and demands in a relationship, as illustrated by her magical animals pantomiming her ideal man character. She summons her perfect partner and he arrives. She falls asleep and he comes to wake her up. He is perfect for her not because they had a very important talk but because she essentially ordered him via catalogue, while he had no preconceptions of the perfect woman: he just saw her singing and bam. Love!
You did not ask, but in my headcanon, Aurora is the kind of princess who would totally add two or three more princes to her harem and Phillip would have zero issues with that lol Then she rules both kingdoms while her Prince Consort goes riding through the woods. Everyone is happy.
January 17, 2024
"How would you tell our story?"
"Curses and dragons and fights are all well and good, but our story started far earlier than that. It all began with a dream I had as a child..."
➳ 3.5✶
TW: confinement, emotional abuse, fire/fire injury, injury/injury detail, violence.
I'm absolutely living for how cute this series is so far.
Growing up, I'm not sure if I ever watched Sleeping Beauty more than once (I confess that it bored me quite a bit lol) so I went into this one with neutral expectations. Prince of Song & Sea was one of my favorite books of last year, but it was also following my favorite Disney movie.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. And how much Linsey Miller was capable of making me care about Phillip. To me, she both honored the original story while managing to create something new and engaging to both fans of the film and maybe people that didn't care so much.
The banter was actually funny and I loved the emotional depth that was given to a previously very cardboard character. However, my favorite aspect was the agency and life the story gave to Briar Rose/Aurora, without fundamentally changing her character. Not only was she given a strong voice and the ability to consent, but the author also kept her as a soft, kind-hearted individual that loves singing and dancing with animals.
Since most of this book follows Prince Phillip training to use his magic and his dreams, the plot and pacing could feel quite stagnant at times, making an otherwise short book feel much longer. Though there is enough humor to keep the reader interested, it did feel redundant at times. This, paired with getting irritated at Phillip's character flaws (I understood them, I sympathized, I was still irritated at times lol), could make the reading experience a bit tedious.
Overall, though, this was such a fun book. I stand by the fact that (so far) the Princes series is one of the best decision Disney has made in regards to novel adaptations of their films. Linsey Miller has truly done a fantastic job. I highly recommend both already published books to anyone that's a fan of Disney, whether obsessively or just because you love the nostalgia.
Also... as someone that is a firm believer that Cinderella III: A Twist in Time is a stellar film (partially due to Prince Charming being a fantastic character) I cannot wait for A Prince of Glass and Midnight.
"Curses and dragons and fights are all well and good, but our story started far earlier than that. It all began with a dream I had as a child..."
➳ 3.5✶
TW: confinement, emotional abuse, fire/fire injury, injury/injury detail, violence.
I'm absolutely living for how cute this series is so far.
Growing up, I'm not sure if I ever watched Sleeping Beauty more than once (I confess that it bored me quite a bit lol) so I went into this one with neutral expectations. Prince of Song & Sea was one of my favorite books of last year, but it was also following my favorite Disney movie.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. And how much Linsey Miller was capable of making me care about Phillip. To me, she both honored the original story while managing to create something new and engaging to both fans of the film and maybe people that didn't care so much.
The banter was actually funny and I loved the emotional depth that was given to a previously very cardboard character. However, my favorite aspect was the agency and life the story gave to Briar Rose/Aurora, without fundamentally changing her character. Not only was she given a strong voice and the ability to consent, but the author also kept her as a soft, kind-hearted individual that loves singing and dancing with animals.
Since most of this book follows Prince Phillip training to use his magic and his dreams, the plot and pacing could feel quite stagnant at times, making an otherwise short book feel much longer. Though there is enough humor to keep the reader interested, it did feel redundant at times. This, paired with getting irritated at Phillip's character flaws (I understood them, I sympathized, I was still irritated at times lol), could make the reading experience a bit tedious.
Overall, though, this was such a fun book. I stand by the fact that (so far) the Princes series is one of the best decision Disney has made in regards to novel adaptations of their films. Linsey Miller has truly done a fantastic job. I highly recommend both already published books to anyone that's a fan of Disney, whether obsessively or just because you love the nostalgia.
Also... as someone that is a firm believer that Cinderella III: A Twist in Time is a stellar film (partially due to Prince Charming being a fantastic character) I cannot wait for A Prince of Glass and Midnight.
September 24, 2023
This was a very interesting take on Sleeping Beauty from Phillip's point of view!
I loved Prince of Song and Sea so of course I had to pick this one up! Prince of Thorns and Nightmares gave such a unique perspective to Prince Phillip in Sleeping Beauty! To be completely honest I really didn't like his character very much until about 60% in. Then he kind of grew on me. Aurora was great and really dove into the mind of an isolated teenager yearning for adventure and life. She clings to hope of finding out the reason behind her dream meetings with the Prince which I thought really played out well for her character.
I loved Prince of Song and Sea so of course I had to pick this one up! Prince of Thorns and Nightmares gave such a unique perspective to Prince Phillip in Sleeping Beauty! To be completely honest I really didn't like his character very much until about 60% in. Then he kind of grew on me. Aurora was great and really dove into the mind of an isolated teenager yearning for adventure and life. She clings to hope of finding out the reason behind her dream meetings with the Prince which I thought really played out well for her character.
Want to read
March 11, 2023why all the princes gotta be so fiiiineee?!
January 20, 2024
I've been looking forward to this book ever since finishing Eric's story. I've grown up with the Disney classics and Phillip has always been my favorite Disney prince, mostly because he's the one who gets to fight a dragon and lives to tell the tale. It was only when I grew older that I started to question a lot of stuff in the Sleeping Beauty movie. I was therefore quite curious what the author would do with all those issues.
I have to admit that it took me quite a few chapters to really get into this book. Phillip was not the prince I remembered him to be (he grew into him eventually!), there was a lot of magic involved all of a sudden and I was really wondering where Aurora was gonna be in this story, since one of the issues in the original tale is that there is barely any Sleeping Beauty in that film. However, I pushed through and then the book started doing what I had hoped it would do.
All of a sudden the love between Phillip and Aurora is not just insta-love. It's quite impressive how the author basically took one line out of their duet and turned it into an entire backstory that even makes a lot of sense. And I really loved how Phillip and Aurora interacted with each other in their dreams. The banter was amazing, the moment they really started talking and seeing each other was lovely and their real life meeting all of a sudden became insanely cute.
The book also did an amazing job explaining why Phillip could just throw the sword and kill Maleficent. Basically all the magic in this book and Phillip's side quest, the reason he got his own book, is about the sword and the shield. And, the author also made sure that everyone would still be on the right path to meet with the story we've seen in the movie. And although we already know those parts, I'm glad the author described them in just as much detail.
I hope Snow White's prince will also get his own tale! I'm already looking forward to whatever comes next at least!
I have to admit that it took me quite a few chapters to really get into this book. Phillip was not the prince I remembered him to be (he grew into him eventually!), there was a lot of magic involved all of a sudden and I was really wondering where Aurora was gonna be in this story, since one of the issues in the original tale is that there is barely any Sleeping Beauty in that film. However, I pushed through and then the book started doing what I had hoped it would do.
All of a sudden the love between Phillip and Aurora is not just insta-love. It's quite impressive how the author basically took one line out of their duet and turned it into an entire backstory that even makes a lot of sense. And I really loved how Phillip and Aurora interacted with each other in their dreams. The banter was amazing, the moment they really started talking and seeing each other was lovely and their real life meeting all of a sudden became insanely cute.
The book also did an amazing job explaining why Phillip could just throw the sword and kill Maleficent. Basically all the magic in this book and Phillip's side quest, the reason he got his own book, is about the sword and the shield. And, the author also made sure that everyone would still be on the right path to meet with the story we've seen in the movie. And although we already know those parts, I'm glad the author described them in just as much detail.
I hope Snow White's prince will also get his own tale! I'm already looking forward to whatever comes next at least!
July 25, 2023
Oh this was just perfect. Sleeping Beauty is my favorite Disney movie and this was a perfect homage to it, while still adding new content that fits. Some scenes are taken directly from the movie, so I could absolutely see and hear it in my mind. Getting the perspective of Prince Phillip, the reluctant hero, who feels he has no control over his destiny was great. Plus I loved how Briar Rose and Phillip got a real backstory and believable love story. And Samson will forever be my favorite equine companion.
This was a quick, utterly delightful read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a requested copy to review. All opinions are my own.
This was a quick, utterly delightful read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a requested copy to review. All opinions are my own.
November 28, 2025
1.8 🌟
Spice: ❌️
Spice: ❌️
January 31, 2024
I was honestly surprised I liked this as much as I did. I knew I would like it, because I'm a sucker for any fairytale retelling, but this exceeded my expectations. There was a twist in here I didn't see coming, and overall I fell in love with the character of Philip in this book. I could relate to him in a lot of ways and I felt like his problems were written realistically. Besides all that the romance was adorable and had a nice balance of realness and fairytale to it.
November 1, 2023
3.5 stars. I love the concepts behind this book/series (I love the idea of the princes getting their stories told!), but I feel like the characterization of the characters is too far from the movie versions. Examples: Briar Rose snorts (I cannot imagine the movie Briar Rose snorting), and they use modern slang and phrases. That’s why I don’t love this book, I just sorta like it.
May 30, 2024
"Chin up. Stop throwing yourself off the board and learn to play the game. Figure out what rules you can bend."
This is the cutest. I loved it! :D
This is the cutest. I loved it! :D
June 1, 2024
Meh.
More of a 2.5 star rating.
I enjoyed it but it wasn’t anything that exciting 😂
More of a 2.5 star rating.
I enjoyed it but it wasn’t anything that exciting 😂
August 8, 2024
I loved the romance between Phillip and Briar Rose/Aurora and their characterisation. But the plot coulve been more compelling and was kind of a let down. Overall enjoyable read.
June 14, 2023
Words cannot begin to describe how excited I have been about this novel. This particular book is what started this entire journey, just due to how badly I wanted to read it. I was INCREDIBLY blessed to win an ARC for it, and will treasure this copy forever. “Prince of Thorns & Nightmares” is the second novel in the fabulous Prince Series by @linsey.miller and @disneybooks (and immaculate cover art by @bea.gifted). These books are a retelling of the classic movies from the perspectives of the daring Prince’s, with many more adventures behind the scenes.
PoT&N ushers us into the world of a young and hopeful Prince Phillip of Artwyne, betrothed to the newborn Princess Aurora of Ald Tor. But joy turns to turmoil when Aurora falls victim to a curse, causing Phillip's world to spin out of control. Henceforth, he is molded into a mere bodyguard for the princess, his dreams of carving out his future as a famed knight shattered. As Aurora's ominous 16th birthday looms, optimism becomes a scarce commodity.
Phillip, in an attempt to escape his prescribed fate, embarks on a journey with his squire and confidante, Johanna, assuming the humble disguise of a nameless knight. A common bandit encounter turns mystical, launching them on a quest to master magic and defeat Maleficent. Time is of the essence as Phillip's task to procure the Sword of Truth and Shield of Virtue becomes the determining factor for the survival of their kingdoms.
Complicating matters further, Phillip is haunted by dreams of a mysterious woman, disrupting both his slumber and waking hours. The pesky Briar Rose becomes the perfect outlet for his mounting frustrations. As vexing as she may be, Briar Rose might just hold the key to Phillip reclaiming his life's reins. That is, unless Maleficent stops him first.
Miller has once again demonstrated an exceptional strength for understanding these iconic heroes, crafting believable narratives that truly captivate. Watching through the 1959 classic, you can see hints of these underdeveloped characters that Miller was able to highlight. Even more, former plot holes and dated ideas are fixed within the 426 page novel.
Much like in "Song & Sea", this narrative diverges from the one you grew up with, offering an enthralling and intricate alternative. The romance between Aurora and Phillip is far from the effortless, love-at-first-sight tale we're accustomed to, instead evolving into a tantalizing slow burn that even managed to make me blush.
I wholeheartedly endorse this book to all Sleeping Beauty enthusiasts, particularly those eager to view Phillip and his companions in an entirely fresh perspective. Featuring a tantalizing enemies-to-lovers theme, astounding plot twists, and a narrative that could have only been conjured in "Once Upon A Dream," it's a must-read. PoT&N will be out 10/3/2023, so go preorder or wherever books are sold!
PoT&N ushers us into the world of a young and hopeful Prince Phillip of Artwyne, betrothed to the newborn Princess Aurora of Ald Tor. But joy turns to turmoil when Aurora falls victim to a curse, causing Phillip's world to spin out of control. Henceforth, he is molded into a mere bodyguard for the princess, his dreams of carving out his future as a famed knight shattered. As Aurora's ominous 16th birthday looms, optimism becomes a scarce commodity.
Phillip, in an attempt to escape his prescribed fate, embarks on a journey with his squire and confidante, Johanna, assuming the humble disguise of a nameless knight. A common bandit encounter turns mystical, launching them on a quest to master magic and defeat Maleficent. Time is of the essence as Phillip's task to procure the Sword of Truth and Shield of Virtue becomes the determining factor for the survival of their kingdoms.
Complicating matters further, Phillip is haunted by dreams of a mysterious woman, disrupting both his slumber and waking hours. The pesky Briar Rose becomes the perfect outlet for his mounting frustrations. As vexing as she may be, Briar Rose might just hold the key to Phillip reclaiming his life's reins. That is, unless Maleficent stops him first.
Miller has once again demonstrated an exceptional strength for understanding these iconic heroes, crafting believable narratives that truly captivate. Watching through the 1959 classic, you can see hints of these underdeveloped characters that Miller was able to highlight. Even more, former plot holes and dated ideas are fixed within the 426 page novel.
Much like in "Song & Sea", this narrative diverges from the one you grew up with, offering an enthralling and intricate alternative. The romance between Aurora and Phillip is far from the effortless, love-at-first-sight tale we're accustomed to, instead evolving into a tantalizing slow burn that even managed to make me blush.
I wholeheartedly endorse this book to all Sleeping Beauty enthusiasts, particularly those eager to view Phillip and his companions in an entirely fresh perspective. Featuring a tantalizing enemies-to-lovers theme, astounding plot twists, and a narrative that could have only been conjured in "Once Upon A Dream," it's a must-read. PoT&N will be out 10/3/2023, so go preorder or wherever books are sold!
November 9, 2023
This book was amazing it added so much to the original story and it is my favorite classic
Disney Princess movie everything made more sense. I loved the characters so much especially Phillip and Briar Rose they both were developed much better their love story was more natural. I loved how Phillip's character was expanded on with how he felt about never meeting his father's expectations and how both him and Briar Rose were only extensions of their parents I really love how the change of this comes along. I loved how Phillip comes into himself fully by the end. I loved how Briar Rose is more than just a princess to be saved she is a girl that is lonely and wants to explore many places. I loved how well they knew each other before falling in love it was a gradual process. The story is amazing it starts like the animated film but diverges after the prologue with a better developed Phillip and Briar Rose and there are many great things added to the story that made for a very good read.
Disney Princess movie everything made more sense. I loved the characters so much especially Phillip and Briar Rose they both were developed much better their love story was more natural. I loved how Phillip's character was expanded on with how he felt about never meeting his father's expectations and how both him and Briar Rose were only extensions of their parents I really love how the change of this comes along. I loved how Phillip comes into himself fully by the end. I loved how Briar Rose is more than just a princess to be saved she is a girl that is lonely and wants to explore many places. I loved how well they knew each other before falling in love it was a gradual process. The story is amazing it starts like the animated film but diverges after the prologue with a better developed Phillip and Briar Rose and there are many great things added to the story that made for a very good read.
May 19, 2025
Rating 2 Stars
Should have been a DNF. Characters acting like whiny teenagers, especially Phillip (when only one of them was), very slow pacing and redundant repetition of how Philip was tired of being the prince who had to marry the cursed Princess Aurora and protect her from Maleficent. I felt like I was being beaten over the head with how “unfair”it was. I ultimately was so fed up I stopped at chapter 10 and skimmed all the way to the last few chapters, which lead to thankfully a better ending because yeah Aurora was only 16 so would have been defintely gross for her to marry Philip who was definitely at least 20 so they should wait to marry.
Not sure if I want to continue on with this Disney prince series but still a little curious on who will be next.
Should have been a DNF. Characters acting like whiny teenagers, especially Phillip (when only one of them was), very slow pacing and redundant repetition of how Philip was tired of being the prince who had to marry the cursed Princess Aurora and protect her from Maleficent. I felt like I was being beaten over the head with how “unfair”it was. I ultimately was so fed up I stopped at chapter 10 and skimmed all the way to the last few chapters, which lead to thankfully a better ending because yeah Aurora was only 16 so would have been defintely gross for her to marry Philip who was definitely at least 20 so they should wait to marry.
Not sure if I want to continue on with this Disney prince series but still a little curious on who will be next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2025
La verdad no pensé que llegaría a leer un libro relacionado con Disney.
Pero cuando vi que había UNO sobre mi PELÍCULA FAVORITA y desde LA PERSPECTIVA DEL PRÍNCIPE inmediatamente tenía que leerlo.
Este libro es precioso porque podemos saber detalladamente un poco más sobre Aurora y Felipe, que en verdad si se conocían de "Érase una vez en un sueño" como se fueron enamorando a través de estos sueños.
Cuando se conocieron en persona, la picardía y el reconocimiento de saber que era real.
Amé completamente este libro 🫶🏻
Pero cuando vi que había UNO sobre mi PELÍCULA FAVORITA y desde LA PERSPECTIVA DEL PRÍNCIPE inmediatamente tenía que leerlo.
Este libro es precioso porque podemos saber detalladamente un poco más sobre Aurora y Felipe, que en verdad si se conocían de "Érase una vez en un sueño" como se fueron enamorando a través de estos sueños.
Cuando se conocieron en persona, la picardía y el reconocimiento de saber que era real.
Amé completamente este libro 🫶🏻
November 10, 2023
Prince of Thorns and Nightmares provides a gripping and thought-provoking perspective on the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty, delving into the mind of Prince Phillip with a fresh and captivating narrative. The story offers a fascinating glimpse into Phillip's life and emotions, allowing readers to empathize with the character on a deeper level. What sets this reinterpretation apart is its exploration of consent, a topic often overlooked in the original fairy tale. The narrative skillfully navigates this sensitive subject, adding layers of complexity to the characters and their relationships. The author's ability to weave together a familiar story with nuanced themes makes Prince of Thorns and Nightmares a compelling read, offering a refreshing and relevant take on a timeless tale.
October 15, 2024
Took me a while to get into, but once I did, I flew through it.
I loved the play on the song Once Upon a Dream . It actually made more sense in the book than in the movie... So well done.
And now I wanna go watch the movie again.
Well played, Disney. Well played.
I loved the play on the song Once Upon a Dream . It actually made more sense in the book than in the movie... So well done.
And now I wanna go watch the movie again.
Well played, Disney. Well played.
July 25, 2025
plot was good and weird and (kind of) true to the movie but they also gave phillip the world’s biggest inferiority complex. it’s a disney ya book and it read like one but at least it made up for aurora’s 18 minutes of screen time in her own movie by giving her a personality
January 18, 2024
Que libro más bueno!!! Sorprendida que el primero sea tan “meh” en comparación
November 27, 2024
Prince of Thorns & Nightmares is a YA, fantasy novel that attempts to add background to Prince Phillip and add new context to the events of Disney's "Sleeping Beauty"
Things you'll find:
*A selfish, careless, rude prince*
*Three new fairies*
*Why is the bodyguard even here?*
*The Disney Novel Curse (characters don't match their on-screen counterparts)*
*Sigh* THIS book. I read the prior installment to this series "Prince of Song and Sea" last January and, while I wasn't thrilled by it, it was an okay start to the Disney Prince series. I figured maybe the series would progress a little as more titles came along so I decided to try this second book about Prince Phillip.
This Prince Phillip is the worst type of man. He's selfish. He's snarky. He's self-depreciating. He's rude. He knows he has issues, and knows he needs to fix them for his own sake and the sake of everyone around him that he treats poorly, but refuses to take any accountability for what he does or do anything to rectify the internal conflict that's eating him alive. Instead he chooses to sulk all the time and give up before he even begins. I understand writing flawed characters with the intention of making them more relatable or more endearing, HOWEVER in order for this to be effective, the reasons for your character being a jerk need to be airtight. Phillip is awful to be around because he has daddy issues and feels like it's unfair that he has to marry Aurora and be her knight in shining armor. The father/son conflict here never truly resolves in a healthy, constructive way on page. We're more or less told Phillip begins to stand up for himself, and then King Hubert just shrugs like "whelp okay then" and lets him do what he wants to do.
And when presented with a life or death decision for not only Aurora, but the ENTIRE KINGDOM and many lives, Phillip's initial response is "yeah well I want to have my last few days as a bachelor to myself and to do what I want so that's too bad"(paraphrase). There's no coming back after that, he's a terrible, selfish person!
Not to mention he's horrible to Briar Rose/Aurora in his dreams every night when they meet. He always instigates every argument with her, and seemingly because she's just inquisitive and sweet. An actual quote from the book is "If she hadn't mentioned it, he probably would've done it, but he disliked that she suggested it first". So you're just not going to do something because she suggested it and you don't like her? Childish. And we're supposed to forget all of the snarky, mean comments once we catch up in the storyline to the events in "Sleeping Beauty" and the author decides to use actual dialogue from the film so now Phillip's suddenly gone through all this character development (with no conflict or confrontation with his demons) and is decent? No.
Another direct quote:
"Only you would think people being interested in your life is like pressing a pillow over your face. You said practically the same thing to your father after the tournament before you threw your life away. You're so scared to love anyone and disappoint them like you do your father that you don't even love yourself, no matter how self-centered you pretend to be. It's cowardice."
This is an internal conflict that I think could've been dealt with in a way that poised Phillip to be a somewhat insecure, but dutiful and loyal son, who struggles with his identity and with the idea of forming independent thoughts and dreams for the future in the midst of having his life decided for him and playing out in front of him like a pre-written novel. Instead, we get a grown man throwing a tantrum for 250 out of the 432 pages, very reminiscent of real-life men who desperately need therapy, but refuse to go and help themselves because they think they know better and are content with treating everyone around them horribly.
I've never in my life wanted Maleficent to win and imprison him so badly.
Since Phillip is our protagonist, and he's terrible, the rest of the book really couldn't be redeemed. Like other reviewers mention, this book's modern language and banter doesn't fit the setting of a 14th-century fairytale nor the 1950s script. There was an attempt to give Briar Rose/Aurora some personality, but that personality seemed to be that of a 16-year-old on a Netflix sitcom so that was jarring. The new fairies were not horrible additions and Johanna the bodyguard was...present, but for what reason I couldn't tell you (except to make the reader wonder if Phillip is secretly in love with her because he cares WAY more about her and keeping her safe then he does at any point in this novel for Briar Rose/Aurora). King Hubert doesn't seem to care whether his only son and heir lives or dies, so long as he's a good knight at the end of it. This book is just not a great follow-up in this series.
Overall, this one isn't for the Disney girls and if it's not for the Disney girls, I'm not entirely sure who it's for. But reading about selfish men in Disney Prince bodies was not on my 2024 Book Bingo card.
Things you'll find:
*A selfish, careless, rude prince*
*Three new fairies*
*Why is the bodyguard even here?*
*The Disney Novel Curse (characters don't match their on-screen counterparts)*
*Sigh* THIS book. I read the prior installment to this series "Prince of Song and Sea" last January and, while I wasn't thrilled by it, it was an okay start to the Disney Prince series. I figured maybe the series would progress a little as more titles came along so I decided to try this second book about Prince Phillip.
This Prince Phillip is the worst type of man. He's selfish. He's snarky. He's self-depreciating. He's rude. He knows he has issues, and knows he needs to fix them for his own sake and the sake of everyone around him that he treats poorly, but refuses to take any accountability for what he does or do anything to rectify the internal conflict that's eating him alive. Instead he chooses to sulk all the time and give up before he even begins. I understand writing flawed characters with the intention of making them more relatable or more endearing, HOWEVER in order for this to be effective, the reasons for your character being a jerk need to be airtight. Phillip is awful to be around because he has daddy issues and feels like it's unfair that he has to marry Aurora and be her knight in shining armor. The father/son conflict here never truly resolves in a healthy, constructive way on page. We're more or less told Phillip begins to stand up for himself, and then King Hubert just shrugs like "whelp okay then" and lets him do what he wants to do.
And when presented with a life or death decision for not only Aurora, but the ENTIRE KINGDOM and many lives, Phillip's initial response is "yeah well I want to have my last few days as a bachelor to myself and to do what I want so that's too bad"(paraphrase). There's no coming back after that, he's a terrible, selfish person!
Not to mention he's horrible to Briar Rose/Aurora in his dreams every night when they meet. He always instigates every argument with her, and seemingly because she's just inquisitive and sweet. An actual quote from the book is "If she hadn't mentioned it, he probably would've done it, but he disliked that she suggested it first". So you're just not going to do something because she suggested it and you don't like her? Childish. And we're supposed to forget all of the snarky, mean comments once we catch up in the storyline to the events in "Sleeping Beauty" and the author decides to use actual dialogue from the film so now Phillip's suddenly gone through all this character development (with no conflict or confrontation with his demons) and is decent? No.
Another direct quote:
"Only you would think people being interested in your life is like pressing a pillow over your face. You said practically the same thing to your father after the tournament before you threw your life away. You're so scared to love anyone and disappoint them like you do your father that you don't even love yourself, no matter how self-centered you pretend to be. It's cowardice."
This is an internal conflict that I think could've been dealt with in a way that poised Phillip to be a somewhat insecure, but dutiful and loyal son, who struggles with his identity and with the idea of forming independent thoughts and dreams for the future in the midst of having his life decided for him and playing out in front of him like a pre-written novel. Instead, we get a grown man throwing a tantrum for 250 out of the 432 pages, very reminiscent of real-life men who desperately need therapy, but refuse to go and help themselves because they think they know better and are content with treating everyone around them horribly.
I've never in my life wanted Maleficent to win and imprison him so badly.
Since Phillip is our protagonist, and he's terrible, the rest of the book really couldn't be redeemed. Like other reviewers mention, this book's modern language and banter doesn't fit the setting of a 14th-century fairytale nor the 1950s script. There was an attempt to give Briar Rose/Aurora some personality, but that personality seemed to be that of a 16-year-old on a Netflix sitcom so that was jarring. The new fairies were not horrible additions and Johanna the bodyguard was...present, but for what reason I couldn't tell you (except to make the reader wonder if Phillip is secretly in love with her because he cares WAY more about her and keeping her safe then he does at any point in this novel for Briar Rose/Aurora). King Hubert doesn't seem to care whether his only son and heir lives or dies, so long as he's a good knight at the end of it. This book is just not a great follow-up in this series.
Overall, this one isn't for the Disney girls and if it's not for the Disney girls, I'm not entirely sure who it's for. But reading about selfish men in Disney Prince bodies was not on my 2024 Book Bingo card.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2025
As a little girl I had a crush on prince Phillip 😍
Seems like I still do 🙈
Some things never change, I guess 🤷♀️
Oh yeah, and I love this book! It was a pleasure to read his story 🥰
Seems like I still do 🙈
Some things never change, I guess 🤷♀️
Oh yeah, and I love this book! It was a pleasure to read his story 🥰
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