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Wayfarer Fae #1
Curse of the Thorn King
Killing a fae king is hard. Doing so politely is even harder.
Briannis Iavi – well-bred lady and accidental assassin – is so close to securing the life of her dreams. All she needs to do is complete one last challenge: make her way into fae territory, sneak into the enchanted halls of Rosethorn Keep, and kill the king of Faerie.
But her plan goes disastrously wrong, and Briannis finds herself a captive at her target’s mercy instead.
Cursed to a life of loneliness and slow decay, the monstrous fae king seems hell-bent on revenge – and if he can’t hurt the human rulers who sent her, he’ll amuse himself with her instead. Unable to escape his sentient castle or to disobey his commands, Briannis has no choice but to fall back on her sharpest weapon: her wits.
Tricking fae is a dangerous game, however. And miles away from the respectable life she thought she knew, even her knives and poisons may not be enough to protect her heart …
Bridgerton meets The Cruel Prince in this steamy Beauty and the Beast retelling. Featuring a tormented hero, an almost-proper heroine, and a castle that’s just trying to help, Curse of the Thorn King is the first in a series of standalone fantasy romances with an overarching plot. Intended for a mature audience.
Briannis Iavi – well-bred lady and accidental assassin – is so close to securing the life of her dreams. All she needs to do is complete one last challenge: make her way into fae territory, sneak into the enchanted halls of Rosethorn Keep, and kill the king of Faerie.
But her plan goes disastrously wrong, and Briannis finds herself a captive at her target’s mercy instead.
Cursed to a life of loneliness and slow decay, the monstrous fae king seems hell-bent on revenge – and if he can’t hurt the human rulers who sent her, he’ll amuse himself with her instead. Unable to escape his sentient castle or to disobey his commands, Briannis has no choice but to fall back on her sharpest weapon: her wits.
Tricking fae is a dangerous game, however. And miles away from the respectable life she thought she knew, even her knives and poisons may not be enough to protect her heart …
Bridgerton meets The Cruel Prince in this steamy Beauty and the Beast retelling. Featuring a tormented hero, an almost-proper heroine, and a castle that’s just trying to help, Curse of the Thorn King is the first in a series of standalone fantasy romances with an overarching plot. Intended for a mature audience.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 15, 2023
360 people are currently reading
4928 people want to read
About the author
Lisette Marshall
27 books1,624 followersLisette Marshall is a fantasy romance author, language nerd and cartography enthusiast. Having grown up on a steady diet of epic fantasy, regency romance and cosy mysteries, she now writes steamy, swoony stories with a generous sprinkle of murder.
Lisette lives in the Netherlands (yes, below sea level) with her boyfriend and the few house plants that miraculously survive her highly irregular watering regime. When she’s not reading or writing, she can usually be found drawing fantasy maps, baking and eating too many chocolate cookies, or geeking out over Ancient Greek.
To get in touch, visit www.lisettemarshall.com, or follow @authorlisettemarshall on Instagram, where she spends way too much time looking at pretty book pictures.
Lisette lives in the Netherlands (yes, below sea level) with her boyfriend and the few house plants that miraculously survive her highly irregular watering regime. When she’s not reading or writing, she can usually be found drawing fantasy maps, baking and eating too many chocolate cookies, or geeking out over Ancient Greek.
To get in touch, visit www.lisettemarshall.com, or follow @authorlisettemarshall on Instagram, where she spends way too much time looking at pretty book pictures.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews
sampled-and-declined
February 8, 2024Not another Fae B&B retelling, have mercy! But at least the protagonist has a nice name, Briannis kind of rolls off the tongue . . .
Still, Fae thrown in with my favourite tale is going to be a no for me, dawg. Hard pass!
Still, Fae thrown in with my favourite tale is going to be a no for me, dawg. Hard pass!
August 3, 2023
ms marshall has done it again. very well written. really set quite the scene, painted such a beautiful world i could see so vividly. she really loves a gem filled room! there’s a lot of dialogue and banter. good slow burn and build up. the only thing i didnt love about this book was the conflict in the end. didn’t make much sense to me and was started to getting annoying but that didn’t end up over shadowing my overall experience of the book - it was just such a fun time! if you liked a court of blood and bindings you will definitely love this one - a lot of similarities but with its own individuality which i very much appreciated.
2/5 spice
thanks very much to the author for the ARC! wow guys look at me reading an arc i got in a very timely manner lol - thats how you know i really liked it!!
2/5 spice
thanks very much to the author for the ARC! wow guys look at me reading an arc i got in a very timely manner lol - thats how you know i really liked it!!
August 2, 2023
My favorite character is the murder roses.
August 3, 2023
'You may want to leave, he added, barely even moving his lips. His voice was low and raspy, little more than a growl; the words came out with laboured breaths. 'Before I no longer let
you'
HONEYYY CHILD!! When I tell you this book had me WEAK in the knees?!?! It’s because Lisette thoroughly understands the slow burn steam formula - and she delivers it so masterfully in this swoon worthy fantasy romance story. CHEF KISS.
🌹 Tropes & Themes 🌹
✔️ Beauty & The Beast Vibes, but make it corpsy with fae. No, no, I get it - JUST TRUST ME, ITS GOOD.
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Assassin and surgerically smart FMC
✔️ Fae Prince who is cursed, alone, and broody
✔️ Interesting Magic System
✔️ Roses with a mind of their own… 🗡️
✔️ steamy moments 🔥
Briannis has but one major task, then she will have everything she’s ever wanted. She’s gotta find a way to slay the fae king locked up in his family’s enchanted and colossal castle. Everything is going well until it isn’t, and she finds herself trapped in the castle with Moridyr. Moridyr, the last fae king and cursed with half his body looking like a corpse.
Forced Proximity is a huge factor of this book - and it was delicious. The castle is enchanted and the roses, bramble and thorny vines cover it completely so she cannot escape. If something happens to Moridyr, the fae realm will cease to exist so the castle must protect him.
I already loved Lisette’s other series that used color in the magic system. Well this one uses FLOWERS!!! And it was so fascinating!! I loved hearing about what each one did.
The pacing was excellent and I was invested the entire read. The banter and chemistry between the two was off the charts. Honestly, I knew going in I’d be feral over this book. And I was RIGHT!! It’s so good. This is for sure going down as an auto recommendation for ANYONE who loves fantasy romance books!!
Thank you so much for this ARC!!
you'
HONEYYY CHILD!! When I tell you this book had me WEAK in the knees?!?! It’s because Lisette thoroughly understands the slow burn steam formula - and she delivers it so masterfully in this swoon worthy fantasy romance story. CHEF KISS.
🌹 Tropes & Themes 🌹
✔️ Beauty & The Beast Vibes, but make it corpsy with fae. No, no, I get it - JUST TRUST ME, ITS GOOD.
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Assassin and surgerically smart FMC
✔️ Fae Prince who is cursed, alone, and broody
✔️ Interesting Magic System
✔️ Roses with a mind of their own… 🗡️
✔️ steamy moments 🔥
Briannis has but one major task, then she will have everything she’s ever wanted. She’s gotta find a way to slay the fae king locked up in his family’s enchanted and colossal castle. Everything is going well until it isn’t, and she finds herself trapped in the castle with Moridyr. Moridyr, the last fae king and cursed with half his body looking like a corpse.
Forced Proximity is a huge factor of this book - and it was delicious. The castle is enchanted and the roses, bramble and thorny vines cover it completely so she cannot escape. If something happens to Moridyr, the fae realm will cease to exist so the castle must protect him.
I already loved Lisette’s other series that used color in the magic system. Well this one uses FLOWERS!!! And it was so fascinating!! I loved hearing about what each one did.
The pacing was excellent and I was invested the entire read. The banter and chemistry between the two was off the charts. Honestly, I knew going in I’d be feral over this book. And I was RIGHT!! It’s so good. This is for sure going down as an auto recommendation for ANYONE who loves fantasy romance books!!
Thank you so much for this ARC!!
August 15, 2023
4 stars!
A Beauty and the Beast retelling with a fae king, a reluctant assassin heroine, and an enemies-to-lovers, close proximity romance that sucked me in from start to finish!
This is the first book in the Wayfarer Fae series. It’s got similarities to Marshall’s Fae Isles series world, and I’m not sure if this is set within that world (perhaps in the past?), or if it’s completely different, but I was happy to just dive in and explore the world of human and fae, and it's very clever nature-based magic.
Briannis is a human woman who has reluctantly taken on the role of assassin, and she is forced into one last job in order to reclaim her life back – she needs to kill the Fae King. Reclusive and secretive, the king lives in Rosethorn Keep, an enchanted castle on a remote clifftop, and she makes the trek only to end up trapped inside the castle’s defence systems, locked in with the very fae that she was sent there to kill.
Moridyr is the last of his line, and is in the devastating position of ruling over a dying land. Tied to the future of faery, he is dying right alongside it, and his body is half-alive, half-dead, giving him a grotesque half corpse-like appearance. He’s been alone in his castle for over a decade and he is lonely and desperate for contact, so he accepts his would-be assassin into his home, attempting to make the best of the situation so that he can finally have companionship.
Not a lot of authors could make you fall for a half-dead, corpsy fae, but Marshall totally did it! Moridyr is a strong and proud fae with a witty sense of humour, and a fabulous sarcastic streak, but he’s got this irresistible vulnerability about him. He’s been alone for so long, and the way he welcomes Briannis into his life, caring for her and craving her touch, made my heart ache.
Briannis was raised to be polite and proper, and she’s initially horrified by her situation. But with encouragement from Moridyr, and as she comes to accept the position she’s in, she loosens up and begins to find her true self. She helps Moridyr, they talk, she is playful with him, and she even gets a bit touchy-feely. They become friends, and with the chemistry burning strong and the two of them slowly falling for each other, it eventually leads to hot and steamy sexy time.
But Moridyr has secrets, and with his precarious position as king of a dying land, and greater political shenanigans going on, there is a lot more to the story. There are some reveals along the way, and there’s drama that they have to work through, but overall, this is a really beautifully written love story with a well-developed world, and characters that I absolutely loved.
There are story threads left unfinished, and so much more than needs to happen in this world, and I’m excited to carry on with the series when Lies of the Ink Mage is released in 2024.
Loved this one – 4 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
A Beauty and the Beast retelling with a fae king, a reluctant assassin heroine, and an enemies-to-lovers, close proximity romance that sucked me in from start to finish!
This is the first book in the Wayfarer Fae series. It’s got similarities to Marshall’s Fae Isles series world, and I’m not sure if this is set within that world (perhaps in the past?), or if it’s completely different, but I was happy to just dive in and explore the world of human and fae, and it's very clever nature-based magic.
Briannis is a human woman who has reluctantly taken on the role of assassin, and she is forced into one last job in order to reclaim her life back – she needs to kill the Fae King. Reclusive and secretive, the king lives in Rosethorn Keep, an enchanted castle on a remote clifftop, and she makes the trek only to end up trapped inside the castle’s defence systems, locked in with the very fae that she was sent there to kill.
Moridyr is the last of his line, and is in the devastating position of ruling over a dying land. Tied to the future of faery, he is dying right alongside it, and his body is half-alive, half-dead, giving him a grotesque half corpse-like appearance. He’s been alone in his castle for over a decade and he is lonely and desperate for contact, so he accepts his would-be assassin into his home, attempting to make the best of the situation so that he can finally have companionship.
Not a lot of authors could make you fall for a half-dead, corpsy fae, but Marshall totally did it! Moridyr is a strong and proud fae with a witty sense of humour, and a fabulous sarcastic streak, but he’s got this irresistible vulnerability about him. He’s been alone for so long, and the way he welcomes Briannis into his life, caring for her and craving her touch, made my heart ache.
“Anything else, Your Majesty?”
Everything. He wanted everything else.
Touch me, he almost said, the command burning on his tongue, hold me, want me, look at me again as if you don’t see a corpse in my place.
Briannis was raised to be polite and proper, and she’s initially horrified by her situation. But with encouragement from Moridyr, and as she comes to accept the position she’s in, she loosens up and begins to find her true self. She helps Moridyr, they talk, she is playful with him, and she even gets a bit touchy-feely. They become friends, and with the chemistry burning strong and the two of them slowly falling for each other, it eventually leads to hot and steamy sexy time.
But Moridyr has secrets, and with his precarious position as king of a dying land, and greater political shenanigans going on, there is a lot more to the story. There are some reveals along the way, and there’s drama that they have to work through, but overall, this is a really beautifully written love story with a well-developed world, and characters that I absolutely loved.
There are story threads left unfinished, and so much more than needs to happen in this world, and I’m excited to carry on with the series when Lies of the Ink Mage is released in 2024.
Loved this one – 4 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2023
Yeah.. so..
My opinion on the book definitely changed during the last three to four chapters. I really liked it, it had the perfect tropes, my favorite setting, my favorite fairy tale retelling. But the end was so frustrating and I was left with so many questions that I knocked it down from 4 stars to 2.5. It had a lot more potential if certain things were handled differently by the characters in the last chapters.
Also she is 27 years old (if I remember correctly), supposedly obsessed with the human anatomy from a healers perspective and yet we are supposed to believe she has never even touched herself because she was raised to be a *lady*? Seriously? Thats some bullshit right there.
If, once the roses fell away, they would have started scheming together and being a pair of awesome rogue assassins about to take the city down, and deciding to do that through healthy talking I would have given this book 4,5 stars even.
But it was handled poorly and the ball made zero sense and felt like mockery to me honestly. Like wtf is going on?? I think the writer wanted their 'talk' to seem romantic but it just-.. it was frustrating to read.
I am not going to continue the series
My opinion on the book definitely changed during the last three to four chapters. I really liked it, it had the perfect tropes, my favorite setting, my favorite fairy tale retelling. But the end was so frustrating and I was left with so many questions that I knocked it down from 4 stars to 2.5. It had a lot more potential if certain things were handled differently by the characters in the last chapters.
Also she is 27 years old (if I remember correctly), supposedly obsessed with the human anatomy from a healers perspective and yet we are supposed to believe she has never even touched herself because she was raised to be a *lady*? Seriously? Thats some bullshit right there.
If, once the roses fell away, they would have started scheming together and being a pair of awesome rogue assassins about to take the city down, and deciding to do that through healthy talking I would have given this book 4,5 stars even.
But it was handled poorly and the ball made zero sense and felt like mockery to me honestly. Like wtf is going on?? I think the writer wanted their 'talk' to seem romantic but it just-.. it was frustrating to read.
I am not going to continue the series
August 5, 2023
Briannis and Moridyr - these names alone are full of magic, aren't they?
I love so many things about this book but especially how the magic works.
It is different to the Fae Isles (if you're not already read them - do it!) but devastatingly perfect.
I don't always like retellings but Lisette managed to create a whole new world with a few allknown secrets from old fairytales - truly beautiful.
Thank you again for trusting me with an ARC, I appreciate it 🖤
I love so many things about this book but especially how the magic works.
It is different to the Fae Isles (if you're not already read them - do it!) but devastatingly perfect.
I don't always like retellings but Lisette managed to create a whole new world with a few allknown secrets from old fairytales - truly beautiful.
Thank you again for trusting me with an ARC, I appreciate it 🖤
August 15, 2023
✨’Would it truly be that bad?' he muttered, and for the first time since she'd awoken, there was a hint of humanity in his quiet words, a crack in that jaundiced shield. Warm breath brushed past her scalp. His arms didn't let go.
'If you ended up here with no way to leave?'
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Fantasy Romance 📖
🥀Oh, these moment with our MMC reach deep for me and make me love him all the more! Curse Of The Thorn King is @authorlisettemarshall’s new and utterly enchanting Beauty and the Beast retelling, and I absolutely loved it! This steamy, forced proximity, enemies to lovers story is the first installment in the new Wayfarer Fae series and I fell hard for these characters!
✨I thoroughly enjoyed the unique flower magic systems, the assassin plot, all of fun additions of Lady Lockwell's Handbook of Etiquette, and how that factored into the story. The flirtatious and stabby banter between the two main characters had me grinning like a complete fool as the romance developed….all while experiencing the moments that made my heart ache and even break for our MC’s as the plot unfolded.
🥀As I read Curse of the Thorn King I was consumed by that quintessential balance of angst, tension, steam, COMPLETE frustration (in the best way) emotional turmoil, and swoon worthy moments that my heart has come to associate with the magic of Lisette Marshall’s writing. This authors always makes me feel allll the feels ✨✨It is no surprise that I intimately drawn to these characters and their story.
✨I highly recommend Curse Of The Thorn King to fantasy, fantasy romance, and romantasy readers.
🥀My most sincere and genuine thanks to Lisette Marshall for having me on your ARC team. It is always a dream for my heart to read your stories and I can’t wait to see where this series goes!✨🫶🏽
'If you ended up here with no way to leave?'
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Fantasy Romance 📖
🥀Oh, these moment with our MMC reach deep for me and make me love him all the more! Curse Of The Thorn King is @authorlisettemarshall’s new and utterly enchanting Beauty and the Beast retelling, and I absolutely loved it! This steamy, forced proximity, enemies to lovers story is the first installment in the new Wayfarer Fae series and I fell hard for these characters!
✨I thoroughly enjoyed the unique flower magic systems, the assassin plot, all of fun additions of Lady Lockwell's Handbook of Etiquette, and how that factored into the story. The flirtatious and stabby banter between the two main characters had me grinning like a complete fool as the romance developed….all while experiencing the moments that made my heart ache and even break for our MC’s as the plot unfolded.
🥀As I read Curse of the Thorn King I was consumed by that quintessential balance of angst, tension, steam, COMPLETE frustration (in the best way) emotional turmoil, and swoon worthy moments that my heart has come to associate with the magic of Lisette Marshall’s writing. This authors always makes me feel allll the feels ✨✨It is no surprise that I intimately drawn to these characters and their story.
✨I highly recommend Curse Of The Thorn King to fantasy, fantasy romance, and romantasy readers.
🥀My most sincere and genuine thanks to Lisette Marshall for having me on your ARC team. It is always a dream for my heart to read your stories and I can’t wait to see where this series goes!✨🫶🏽
August 16, 2023
I really enjoyed this unique take on a Beauty and the Beast retelling! I love Lisette's writing style and this really delivered in the banter and chemistry!
If you love:
🔪 I came to k!ll you
🥵 Enemies to lovers
☠️ Accidental career assassin
🫣 Propriety be damned
🌍 The world isn't what you thought
💀 Touch her/him
🥀 Curses (duh)
Briannis has accidentally made a name for herself as an assassin in ladies' society circles, but when she's caught and given a choice of one last target or imprisonment, she doesn't expect to start to care about the Fae King she's been sent to ☠️
Moridyr has been sequestered alone in his castle for over a decade, with not another soul to see, speak to... Or touch.
This story felt like a really unique take on a BATB retelling, and I loved the take I loved the twists and the way the story played out, their actions felt true to how they had been described, with no one suddenly changing their whole personality for love, or lust.
The romance plot for these two wraps up in the book, but I am really intrigued for the rest of the series as there was so much left open for future books, hopefully we hear more about a certain soap smuggler soon!
If you love:
🔪 I came to k!ll you
🥵 Enemies to lovers
☠️ Accidental career assassin
🫣 Propriety be damned
🌍 The world isn't what you thought
💀 Touch her/him
🥀 Curses (duh)
Briannis has accidentally made a name for herself as an assassin in ladies' society circles, but when she's caught and given a choice of one last target or imprisonment, she doesn't expect to start to care about the Fae King she's been sent to ☠️
Moridyr has been sequestered alone in his castle for over a decade, with not another soul to see, speak to... Or touch.
This story felt like a really unique take on a BATB retelling, and I loved the take I loved the twists and the way the story played out, their actions felt true to how they had been described, with no one suddenly changing their whole personality for love, or lust.
The romance plot for these two wraps up in the book, but I am really intrigued for the rest of the series as there was so much left open for future books, hopefully we hear more about a certain soap smuggler soon!
August 3, 2023
I am so delightfully surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! Briannis is sent to assassinate a trapped fae king in order to be released from prison and given a life as a proper lady, something she’s always wanted since her father died. After failing to kill the fae king, she is trapped within the castle and realizes she must work with said king so she may return to her home and no longer be considered an unbecoming woman. As they grow closer, Briannis realizes that being a proper lady may be more of a cursed living than a happy ending. I loved the characters, the plot pacing was perfect, and I was completely invested. Moridyr is such a refreshing, interesting love interest and I may have fallen for him myself. I didn’t want to put this book down at any point, such a fun read!
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
October 9, 2023
Marshall’s Curse of the Thorn King is more a hommage to the Disney version of Beauty and the Beast than it is a retelling of the classic fairytale; including talking inanimate objects, enchanted roses, and *that* yellow ballgown. But because this is Lisette Marshall, expect the Princess to be more HBO than Disney+.
Bravo and Cheers.
Bravo and Cheers.
August 18, 2023
SO MUCH FUN! Despite being a novella, this story feels full and fleshed out, with a witty FMC, the gingery locked half dead beast of my dreams, and lots and lots of magical flowers. Oh, and a thorny castle humming with unsolicited advice, ready to dispense lavender salve and knives at a moment's request. Lisette Marshall's writing here is just next level - and her wordplay is BEST when it comes to regency style fantasy. This is Bridgerton meets Beauty & the Best blended with her signature style of sprinkling in unique magical systems, delicious witty banter, & layers of emotional complexity. She really gives her FMCs and MMCs real ass emotionally complex dilemmas and it's really interesting and fun to read in a fantasy world setting. To accomplish all that in a novella length standalone?? IMPRESSIVE. I was most impressed by the writing, SERIOUSLY NEVEL ( * I accidentally typed nevel instead of next level and have now decided to make it into a word - which, coincidentally, is exactly the type of twisty magic Lisette Marshall happens to do with fairy tale retellings, words and worlds but it's much more exciting than my *nevel*)
Anyways, read this if you need a palette cleanser while you're looking at your 20 opened book tabs all hovering at 14%... *shifts nervously*
Anyways, read this if you need a palette cleanser while you're looking at your 20 opened book tabs all hovering at 14%... *shifts nervously*
August 16, 2023
This was a delicious lil fantasy romance 🥰
It’s a beauty and the beast retelling, and I thought it did a good job of sticking to the source while also being unique. Which is great, since there are plenty of romantasy retellings of beauty and the beast.
Our FMC is pretty set in her ways, which are incredibly stiff and based on (what I associate with) Regency England and ladies being “proper.” I’m not highly educated in this, so that might be wrong, but for sure Bridgerton vibes! She’s also a killer and seems to be pretty good at it, so, that’s fun!
MMC is the beast, or in this case, a half-dead fae king. A little cliche? Sure, but it works and I loved it. He was grumpy but secretly a softy and that NEVER doesn’t work for me. The details about his curse are also kind of interesting in a way that left more questions than answers, which makes me excited for book 2!
The plot is very much character driven, focusing on the circumstances that resulted in these two being trapped in the castle. And by the way, enchanted castle? Yes please. I was thoroughly invested in these two, their romance, and their respective issues. And it all worked out rather nicely! I felt satisfied by the conclusion, while still being excited for book 2.
There are explicit spicy scenes, I’d give it 2.5 peppers. Very nicely done! And a little tongue-in-cheek call out moment for readers of spicy books that I appreciated! No cliffhanger!
I received an ARC for review, all thoughts are my own!
It’s a beauty and the beast retelling, and I thought it did a good job of sticking to the source while also being unique. Which is great, since there are plenty of romantasy retellings of beauty and the beast.
Our FMC is pretty set in her ways, which are incredibly stiff and based on (what I associate with) Regency England and ladies being “proper.” I’m not highly educated in this, so that might be wrong, but for sure Bridgerton vibes! She’s also a killer and seems to be pretty good at it, so, that’s fun!
MMC is the beast, or in this case, a half-dead fae king. A little cliche? Sure, but it works and I loved it. He was grumpy but secretly a softy and that NEVER doesn’t work for me. The details about his curse are also kind of interesting in a way that left more questions than answers, which makes me excited for book 2!
The plot is very much character driven, focusing on the circumstances that resulted in these two being trapped in the castle. And by the way, enchanted castle? Yes please. I was thoroughly invested in these two, their romance, and their respective issues. And it all worked out rather nicely! I felt satisfied by the conclusion, while still being excited for book 2.
There are explicit spicy scenes, I’d give it 2.5 peppers. Very nicely done! And a little tongue-in-cheek call out moment for readers of spicy books that I appreciated! No cliffhanger!
I received an ARC for review, all thoughts are my own!
August 5, 2023
Another masterpiece by Lisette Marshall. The writing drew me in immediately and I didn't want to put it down. Lovable characters, especially when when you get to know them on a deeper level.
This retelling of Beauty and the Beast is cozy, emotional and full of banter. A clever story as usual with an unique magical system using flowers. This fantasy romance includes a cursed king, a magical Keep and smut.
Closer to the end I was afraid that it was a standalone but thankfully it's not. There are some unresolved matters that needs to be dealt with.
Thank you for gifting me this ARC 🌹
This retelling of Beauty and the Beast is cozy, emotional and full of banter. A clever story as usual with an unique magical system using flowers. This fantasy romance includes a cursed king, a magical Keep and smut.
Closer to the end I was afraid that it was a standalone but thankfully it's not. There are some unresolved matters that needs to be dealt with.
Thank you for gifting me this ARC 🌹
August 22, 2023
This was good, but not superb like other Lisette's Marshall books. ( and I've read them all xD)
Is more banter than spice, and you'll have to wait past the 50,60% to see some actual steamy scenes.
As usual, the spicy scenes from Lisette are OTT so the wait is worth it ;) .
Regarding the banter, it was good but a little excessive in some pages and the background story from the heroine's town took too much importance imo.
But overall it was good . I will be reading the second standalone book because although this was a 3 star there is smth in L Marshall's writing that just makes me smile :)
Is more banter than spice, and you'll have to wait past the 50,60% to see some actual steamy scenes.
As usual, the spicy scenes from Lisette are OTT so the wait is worth it ;) .
Regarding the banter, it was good but a little excessive in some pages and the background story from the heroine's town took too much importance imo.
But overall it was good . I will be reading the second standalone book because although this was a 3 star there is smth in L Marshall's writing that just makes me smile :)
August 22, 2023
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
November 16, 2023
THIS WAS SO SO GOOD.
February 27, 2024
4.5
Very novella-esque so everything was a lot faster paced such as the romance but really enjoyable!
Very novella-esque so everything was a lot faster paced such as the romance but really enjoyable!
August 4, 2023
4⭐️3🌶️
This beauty and the beast retelling sees Briannis (a clever and lady-like) assassin seek to kill the fae king, who has been cursed in more ways than one. This book gives off Bridgerton x The Cruel Prince vibes.
There were many aspects of the story that I really enjoyed. The plot was intriguing (give me all the beauty & beast reimaginings 😂) and I really enjoyed how the ending wrapped up with a HEA (for now? 🤷🏻♀️) but also left an interesting opening for book 2.
The forced proximity and banter were fun, with a slow burn feel before a few 🌶️ scenes. The characters were interesting, I enjoyed the clever and witty side of the FMC, however some parts of the MMC fell just short for me (your girl is fussy 😂).
Overall, an enjoyable read and I look forward to seeing where book 2 will take us!
This beauty and the beast retelling sees Briannis (a clever and lady-like) assassin seek to kill the fae king, who has been cursed in more ways than one. This book gives off Bridgerton x The Cruel Prince vibes.
There were many aspects of the story that I really enjoyed. The plot was intriguing (give me all the beauty & beast reimaginings 😂) and I really enjoyed how the ending wrapped up with a HEA (for now? 🤷🏻♀️) but also left an interesting opening for book 2.
The forced proximity and banter were fun, with a slow burn feel before a few 🌶️ scenes. The characters were interesting, I enjoyed the clever and witty side of the FMC, however some parts of the MMC fell just short for me (your girl is fussy 😂).
Overall, an enjoyable read and I look forward to seeing where book 2 will take us!
September 3, 2023
Actual Rating: 3.5⭐
What I really like the most about this book is the world building with a sentient castle and a sassy Mirror. I also love the magic system with different flowers which has different meanings and powers.
As for the characters, I really like a stabby heroine so Briannis is not hard to like. I also like the bantering and bickering she had with the broody fae king – Moridyr. They don’t trust one another as humans and fae are at odds but soon Briannis know who is the real villain of the story.
However, the pacing is slightly too fast making the main characters attraction to one another progresses slightly too fast for my liking.
I wish the book was longer then it would give the main characters more room to explore their feelings toward one another.
Overall, this is a good start and has the potential to be a great series. There are hints about who is gonna be the main character for the next one and I’m looking forward to know more.
Thank you to Papermyth and the author for giving me an e-ARC of the book and for having me on this book tour. I’m leaving this review voluntarily!
What I really like the most about this book is the world building with a sentient castle and a sassy Mirror. I also love the magic system with different flowers which has different meanings and powers.
As for the characters, I really like a stabby heroine so Briannis is not hard to like. I also like the bantering and bickering she had with the broody fae king – Moridyr. They don’t trust one another as humans and fae are at odds but soon Briannis know who is the real villain of the story.
However, the pacing is slightly too fast making the main characters attraction to one another progresses slightly too fast for my liking.
I wish the book was longer then it would give the main characters more room to explore their feelings toward one another.
Overall, this is a good start and has the potential to be a great series. There are hints about who is gonna be the main character for the next one and I’m looking forward to know more.
Thank you to Papermyth and the author for giving me an e-ARC of the book and for having me on this book tour. I’m leaving this review voluntarily!
August 16, 2023
I do not know where my original review went so I’m reposting
5 ⭐️ / 2.5-3 🌶️
Includes:
- Beauty and the Beast vibes, but with a Fae twist
- Enemies to lovers
- Slow burn
- Forced proximity
- Standalone HEA
There are now two books I love that have opening sentences that reference bars of soap.
@authorlisettemarshall ‘s books never disappoint me and this standalone is no exception. I absolutely love her writing style, the unique magic systems she uses, as well as her ability to convey such vivid details regarding things like clothing and places. It really helps someone like me (who isn't a good visualizer) immerse myself in the story.
It also MUST be said that Lisette has really mastered the art of writing the slow burn for me. With fun characters and banter, she sprinkles in little breadcrumbs here and there that help with the romance build up and, baby, I'm hot on those breadcrumbs' trails just EATING them up.
TLDR; Put this on your TBR.
5 ⭐️ / 2.5-3 🌶️
Includes:
- Beauty and the Beast vibes, but with a Fae twist
- Enemies to lovers
- Slow burn
- Forced proximity
- Standalone HEA
There are now two books I love that have opening sentences that reference bars of soap.
@authorlisettemarshall ‘s books never disappoint me and this standalone is no exception. I absolutely love her writing style, the unique magic systems she uses, as well as her ability to convey such vivid details regarding things like clothing and places. It really helps someone like me (who isn't a good visualizer) immerse myself in the story.
It also MUST be said that Lisette has really mastered the art of writing the slow burn for me. With fun characters and banter, she sprinkles in little breadcrumbs here and there that help with the romance build up and, baby, I'm hot on those breadcrumbs' trails just EATING them up.
TLDR; Put this on your TBR.
January 15, 2024
3.75-4 ⭐
Quite the story - loved the unique aspects and the intensity that came with the curse. The first half was riveting. Thought the second half somewhat lagged. Loved Briannis - smart, brave, patient - star of the story. Faerie King seemed much more low key - but hey he was dealing with his curse. I think the description of the curse will stay with me for while.
Quite the story - loved the unique aspects and the intensity that came with the curse. The first half was riveting. Thought the second half somewhat lagged. Loved Briannis - smart, brave, patient - star of the story. Faerie King seemed much more low key - but hey he was dealing with his curse. I think the description of the curse will stay with me for while.
Want to read
August 2, 2023I AM SORRY?? BRIDGERTON MEET THE CRUEL PRINCE????? ARE YOU SERIOUS?? I NEEDED THIS YESTERDAY
November 11, 2025
Faerie King Moridyr is a near-immortal who will break your heart. He’s hopelessly drawn to Briannis, the human woman sent to murder him and doom his people.
Slow-burn, eventual heat (open door). BATB/Briar Rose retelling.
Curse of the Thorn King can be read as a stand-alone, but an appreciative reader will want to know more. Who is Moridyr’s nephew? Can the people and magic of faerie be saved? Will the power-hungry Princeps see justice? The second book in this series, Lies of the Ink Mage, was promised for 2024 but has not yet been published.
Slow-burn, eventual heat (open door). BATB/Briar Rose retelling.
Curse of the Thorn King can be read as a stand-alone, but an appreciative reader will want to know more. Who is Moridyr’s nephew? Can the people and magic of faerie be saved? Will the power-hungry Princeps see justice? The second book in this series, Lies of the Ink Mage, was promised for 2024 but has not yet been published.
October 14, 2023
i really tried to tough it out and finish this book but i couldn’t do it i’m sorry it’s so bad. get this crying skeleton man out of my face
June 19, 2024
Just awful
August 1, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed Curse of the Thorn King! I had no doubt I would, having read and loved Heart of Silk and Shadows. I haven’t read the Court of Blood and Bindings series outside that yet, but plan to once I get over my crushed heart from the prequel! Lisette writes very charming couples that you can’t help but love as you get to know them. She makes me truly feel for these characters and root for them.
Curse of the Thorn King is the story of Briannis and Moridyr. She’s a sort of accidental professional assassin that wants nothing more than to be a proper lady in polite society. Moridyr is the fae king who is withering to death. His magic weakened and his life tied to the dying land, means he is already half dead. Literally. Half his body is rotted. Luckily, Briannis grew up with a surgeon for a father and isn’t grossed out by such things. She’s more intrigued than anything.
Still, she was hired to kill him by Princep Cyril, who rules the city she’s from. After being caught as an assassin and facing the gallows, he promises her freedom and money and a place in society in exchanging for killing the fae king. This is a beauty and the beast spin, so of course, she fails and he takes her prisoner. The roses around his keep are magical, and form a barrier preventing either of them from leaving or anyone coming in when they sense a threat to him. Moridyr has been alone for decades, with no one to talk to and being completely starved for human touch.
He plays the fae villain well in the beginning, especially with all her false ideas of what the fae are. However, it quickly begins to crack under the desperation for human touch. When one of her attempts to kill him backfires, the two begin truly growing closer. Briannis is still intent on returning to the city eventually, wanting that proper, respectable life her father had so wanted for her. But all her ideas about propriety, her father’s wishes, and happiness are challenging by the charming Moridyr.
The magic in this world is flower based, which is very cool. I loved when it explored which flowers do what and how they can be used for protection, defense, healing, or other actions. That fact that the fae based magic was kept secret from the humans and was somehow transformed in their eyes into the language of flowers every young lady learns, was especially funny.
Moridyr won me over the moment Briannis touched him and he lost himself to feeling another’s touch after so long. It was heartbreaking. I wanted to hug him and make him feel better, even with the half dead side of him to consider. I suddenly understood how Briannis could look past it! Briannis I clicked with once she explained to Moridyr why she is so intent on respectability and societies rules. I felt for her then and how she was modeled and shaped away from who she truly was into someone who could fit into society. Watching that be undone and her finding herself once more, thanks to Moridyr, was wonderful. Just as wonderful as seeing him learning how to need someone again.
Seeing Moridyr willing to risk so much to save her, after so long refusing to leave his castle to keep his families line and dynasty, and hence faerie itself, safe, really spoke to how deep his feelings for Briannis run. She had a lot of complicated emotions to work through after finding out what he’d been keeping from her, but I can’t blame her for wanting to sort out her emotions. Still, the scene where they resolve things was fantastic. The merging of her old and new lives, the aspirations she had and the fantasy she now lives, was a great juxtaposition and really highlighted her arc.
I definitely recommend this story to any who enjoy fantasy romance and enemies to lovers. It’s a standalone but will be part of a larger series, and I’m already intrigued for the other installments of it. I do hope Moridyr’s nephew pops up there! I nearly died laughing when we discovered his matchmaking and Briannis’s thoughts on it. So he sounds like he would be fun! I hope we’ll get to see how Moridyr and Briannis are doing later on. The two of them are adorable together!
I received an ARC of this book.
Curse of the Thorn King is the story of Briannis and Moridyr. She’s a sort of accidental professional assassin that wants nothing more than to be a proper lady in polite society. Moridyr is the fae king who is withering to death. His magic weakened and his life tied to the dying land, means he is already half dead. Literally. Half his body is rotted. Luckily, Briannis grew up with a surgeon for a father and isn’t grossed out by such things. She’s more intrigued than anything.
Still, she was hired to kill him by Princep Cyril, who rules the city she’s from. After being caught as an assassin and facing the gallows, he promises her freedom and money and a place in society in exchanging for killing the fae king. This is a beauty and the beast spin, so of course, she fails and he takes her prisoner. The roses around his keep are magical, and form a barrier preventing either of them from leaving or anyone coming in when they sense a threat to him. Moridyr has been alone for decades, with no one to talk to and being completely starved for human touch.
He plays the fae villain well in the beginning, especially with all her false ideas of what the fae are. However, it quickly begins to crack under the desperation for human touch. When one of her attempts to kill him backfires, the two begin truly growing closer. Briannis is still intent on returning to the city eventually, wanting that proper, respectable life her father had so wanted for her. But all her ideas about propriety, her father’s wishes, and happiness are challenging by the charming Moridyr.
The magic in this world is flower based, which is very cool. I loved when it explored which flowers do what and how they can be used for protection, defense, healing, or other actions. That fact that the fae based magic was kept secret from the humans and was somehow transformed in their eyes into the language of flowers every young lady learns, was especially funny.
Moridyr won me over the moment Briannis touched him and he lost himself to feeling another’s touch after so long. It was heartbreaking. I wanted to hug him and make him feel better, even with the half dead side of him to consider. I suddenly understood how Briannis could look past it! Briannis I clicked with once she explained to Moridyr why she is so intent on respectability and societies rules. I felt for her then and how she was modeled and shaped away from who she truly was into someone who could fit into society. Watching that be undone and her finding herself once more, thanks to Moridyr, was wonderful. Just as wonderful as seeing him learning how to need someone again.
Seeing Moridyr willing to risk so much to save her, after so long refusing to leave his castle to keep his families line and dynasty, and hence faerie itself, safe, really spoke to how deep his feelings for Briannis run. She had a lot of complicated emotions to work through after finding out what he’d been keeping from her, but I can’t blame her for wanting to sort out her emotions. Still, the scene where they resolve things was fantastic. The merging of her old and new lives, the aspirations she had and the fantasy she now lives, was a great juxtaposition and really highlighted her arc.
I definitely recommend this story to any who enjoy fantasy romance and enemies to lovers. It’s a standalone but will be part of a larger series, and I’m already intrigued for the other installments of it. I do hope Moridyr’s nephew pops up there! I nearly died laughing when we discovered his matchmaking and Briannis’s thoughts on it. So he sounds like he would be fun! I hope we’ll get to see how Moridyr and Briannis are doing later on. The two of them are adorable together!
I received an ARC of this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2023
For me, this was an okay Beauty and the Beast retelling. I thought the power dynamic was interesting between the love interests. She is compelled to do whatever he says and I liked how the MMC decided to use or not use it. I enjoyed how the author used the language of flowers throughout the book. I also love sentient objects, so the snarky mirror was a hit. However, I thought the motivation of the FMC felt hollow, and most of her decisions didn't make sense. The dialogue lacked the kind of snarky banter I enjoy in hate-to-love romances. I thought the rules of etiquette at the chapter beginnings were basic, unnecessary, and redundant because the rules are already discussed in the FMC's narrative. On a good note, I did like that the ending was HEA but wasn't tied up in a perfect pretty bow.
!!!SPOILERS!!!
Below are my annotations as I was reading the book.
Why would an experienced notorious assassin not do research before attempting to kill the Fae king? Why is she going in blind? And why was her plan to just walk in, sneak up behind him, and stab him?
Magical sassy speaking mirror - love it
Why are the castle defences activated when she's already in?! Why would the castle want to keep her locked in with the king it's supposed to be trying to protect? She's an assassin who's tried to kill him multiple times, but the castle doesn't want her to leave???
Why are the rules of etiquette at the chapter beginnings. Anyone who has read Brigerton-esque historical romances (as this book is marketed) is already going to be familiar with them. And the FMC is discussing them in her narrative anyway. It's redundant.
"Briannis held herself to high standards of civility...she had to wrestle down a rare urge to swear out loud." You are an assassin, but you draw the line at swearing aloud?
So not only is she an assassin, but also a surgeon? And she volunteers to help the king with his magical ailment she has no knowledge of? And the first thing she tries actually helps? Yeah, okay.
She was arrested in her city for being a notorious assassin and she wants to return there? Don't you think they'll just arrest you again?
FMC's goal feels hollow. She wants "a house and live a comfortable lady's life", but I need to sympathise with her struggle with poverty more if I'm going to root for her.
As the FMC is trying to decide if she wants to stay or go back to the city, the thing she thinks right before she makes her final decision is, "but right here she had pretty dresses and ballrooms and a castle to do her chores for her. How could even the richest noblewoman's life in mortal lands compare?" Yea those are both great, if shallow, but the deciding factor should have been your love!
"Weeks grew into half a month and then a full month." Weeks cannot grow into half a month. Half a month is the minimum of 'weeks'.
"unable to keep them in despite her attempts" is incorrect grammar.
"23th of Oak Month" should be '23rd'.
I really like that she embroidered the flowers for disappointment, selfishness, and slighted love on her dress when she felt betrayed by him. That's the kind of petty, passive aggressiveness I enjoy!
!!!SPOILERS!!!
Below are my annotations as I was reading the book.
Why would an experienced notorious assassin not do research before attempting to kill the Fae king? Why is she going in blind? And why was her plan to just walk in, sneak up behind him, and stab him?
Magical sassy speaking mirror - love it
Why are the castle defences activated when she's already in?! Why would the castle want to keep her locked in with the king it's supposed to be trying to protect? She's an assassin who's tried to kill him multiple times, but the castle doesn't want her to leave???
Why are the rules of etiquette at the chapter beginnings. Anyone who has read Brigerton-esque historical romances (as this book is marketed) is already going to be familiar with them. And the FMC is discussing them in her narrative anyway. It's redundant.
"Briannis held herself to high standards of civility...she had to wrestle down a rare urge to swear out loud." You are an assassin, but you draw the line at swearing aloud?
So not only is she an assassin, but also a surgeon? And she volunteers to help the king with his magical ailment she has no knowledge of? And the first thing she tries actually helps? Yeah, okay.
She was arrested in her city for being a notorious assassin and she wants to return there? Don't you think they'll just arrest you again?
FMC's goal feels hollow. She wants "a house and live a comfortable lady's life", but I need to sympathise with her struggle with poverty more if I'm going to root for her.
As the FMC is trying to decide if she wants to stay or go back to the city, the thing she thinks right before she makes her final decision is, "but right here she had pretty dresses and ballrooms and a castle to do her chores for her. How could even the richest noblewoman's life in mortal lands compare?" Yea those are both great, if shallow, but the deciding factor should have been your love!
"Weeks grew into half a month and then a full month." Weeks cannot grow into half a month. Half a month is the minimum of 'weeks'.
"unable to keep them in despite her attempts" is incorrect grammar.
"23th of Oak Month" should be '23rd'.
I really like that she embroidered the flowers for disappointment, selfishness, and slighted love on her dress when she felt betrayed by him. That's the kind of petty, passive aggressiveness I enjoy!
August 15, 2023
Thank you so much to the author Lisette Marshall for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
The Curse of the Thorn King is the beginning of a new series by Lisette Marshall, the Wayfarer Fae series.
This one is a wonderful, full of banter, sometimes very sweet and romantic and spicy retelling of the Beauty and the Beast.
The characters are amazing, full of charm and not at all your typical kind of beauty and beast.
At the beginning of the story, we encountered Briannis, a very proper young lady that for some reason is spreading a coat of soap all over herself, while thinking that that particular soap would be her weapon. I mean, what??? I was intrigued, to say the least. Her peculiarities were so compelling and very relatable at times. We all suffer, I think, when doing or being what others think we should do or be and not what we want to do or be the most.
The Beast, Moridyr, the King of Faerie, is very fierce and ruthless towards our female main character but you can see in more than once he's not cruel or really evil at all. Moridyr more tender side starts to show up as the book progresses. His people long history is very intriguing.
I found so refreshing Briannis strength and the easy way she is able to kill so efficiently. And even though they both have several opportunities to kill each other, they don't accomplish it and they start to getting to know one another and things starts to shift.
The Fae magic system is absolutely amazing. It's so very well developed and I would love to see how it was in all its splendor, when the King was younger. Even though the source of magic is dying and their King with it, I would certainly keep reading just for the banter of the two main characters alone. Their chemistry so plain in the page.
The flowers, their language and the mixed with human medicine their most interesting part of all the plot. I definitely want to know more about all of them and this world.
Overall, Curse of the Thorn King is a fantastic retelling of Beauty and the Beast, very compelling and personally, super addictive writing style, with a fascinating magic system and world, and such a relatable cast of characters that will let you wanting for more once you reach the end.
The Curse of the Thorn King is the beginning of a new series by Lisette Marshall, the Wayfarer Fae series.
This one is a wonderful, full of banter, sometimes very sweet and romantic and spicy retelling of the Beauty and the Beast.
The characters are amazing, full of charm and not at all your typical kind of beauty and beast.
At the beginning of the story, we encountered Briannis, a very proper young lady that for some reason is spreading a coat of soap all over herself, while thinking that that particular soap would be her weapon. I mean, what??? I was intrigued, to say the least. Her peculiarities were so compelling and very relatable at times. We all suffer, I think, when doing or being what others think we should do or be and not what we want to do or be the most.
The Beast, Moridyr, the King of Faerie, is very fierce and ruthless towards our female main character but you can see in more than once he's not cruel or really evil at all. Moridyr more tender side starts to show up as the book progresses. His people long history is very intriguing.
I found so refreshing Briannis strength and the easy way she is able to kill so efficiently. And even though they both have several opportunities to kill each other, they don't accomplish it and they start to getting to know one another and things starts to shift.
The Fae magic system is absolutely amazing. It's so very well developed and I would love to see how it was in all its splendor, when the King was younger. Even though the source of magic is dying and their King with it, I would certainly keep reading just for the banter of the two main characters alone. Their chemistry so plain in the page.
The flowers, their language and the mixed with human medicine their most interesting part of all the plot. I definitely want to know more about all of them and this world.
Overall, Curse of the Thorn King is a fantastic retelling of Beauty and the Beast, very compelling and personally, super addictive writing style, with a fascinating magic system and world, and such a relatable cast of characters that will let you wanting for more once you reach the end.
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