Beauty in Autumn by Ruby Dixon
In Beauty in Autumn, Ruby Dixon offers a short, steamy, fairy-tale romance inspired by Beauty and the Beast, set in a magical world where a cursed forest demands a bride each year at the Harvest Festival, none of whom ever return. Willow, the latest chosen, seeks out a local wise woman’s counsel; her hope to break the curse hinges on a strange vow to avoid seeing the Beast at all, even as their connection deepens behind veils and blazing nights. This novella blends fantasy romance and adult themes in a brisk tale of enchantment, desire, and daring hope.
From the first chapters, I was swept up in Willow’s cheerful daring and the Beast’s gritty allure, the pace lean but pleasantly engaging for a quick autumn-tinted read; their chemistry is evocative and warm, and the epilogue added a satisfying emotional echo. Some may find it brief and light on worldbuilding given its novella length, yet for fans of fairy-tale retellings with sparks and magic this hits the mark beautifully.
4 out of 5: a cozy, fiery twist on a beloved classic.