The Beast's Labyrinth

The Fairmyth Chronicles #3

by Abigail Manning

Beauty and the Beast meets The Minotaur and the Labyrinth

Theabelle Aynna does her best to be a silent servant to the great divine one of puzzles, but finds it hard to keep a low profile when his son insists on seeking her attention. Ceyden is convinced they’ll make a good match, with him loving her beauty and her needing his financial support, but Thea isn’t willing to trade her freedom for luxury. Convinced Thea just needs some persuading, Ceyden stages a little trouble for her family, leaving Thea with the options of marriage or the worst sentence any criminal could face...
Deep under the surface of Olympia lies the greatest prison of all time, the labyrinth. With no one ever having escaped it alive and rumors of a vicious beast serving as the executioner within, even the most powerful divine ones fear being sentenced to the prison. When forced to decide between the shackles of a soulless marriage or a dark maze, Thea chooses to descend into the darkness. As a last resort to save his desired bride, Ceyden steals the one item that might help Thea find freedom... a strange rose his father keeps under lock and key.
As she descends into the beast’s labyrinth, she might find more than just a monster within. With the strange rose in hand and the clothes on her back, can Thea escape the maze? Or will something inside urge her to stay...?

The Fairmyth Chronicles is a collection of clean interconnecting fantasy romance novels that can be read in any order. For more updates on The Fairmyth Chronicles and my other series, sign up for my free newsletter atabigailmanningauthor.com

This story was originally published on Kindle Vella.

Genres: Beauty and The Beast, Fantasy, Romance, Retellings, Fairy Tales

364 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 21, 2024

Reviews

[Celestria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I cant get over the fact that he tries to chop her head off and then pretty much the next day she's like "i got butterflies in my stomach when I gazed into his eyes 😍🥰"
GIRL WHAT 😂
Otherwise this was entertaining and had an interesting twist I liked

[Sarah Beran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beauty and the Beast and The Minotaur…like all the rest of the Fairmyth Chronicles, these two stories pair together absolutely perfectly.

This story has danger, intrigue, high stakes, and romance, as well as Manning’s signature ability to throw in a plot twist just when you think you have the story figured out. Thea is a brave, selfless, heroine with just the right amount of spunk to break through the beast’s hardened exterior, and I loved the progression of the relationship. The villains are kind you love to hate, and I was so excited to see a couple of cameos from previous favorites!

The Beast’s Labyrinth is a retelling you definitely don’t want to miss!

[Naomi Vickruck · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Beast's Labyrinth

Abigail Manning doesn't just create fantasy. She embodies it, she models it, she IS it.

Another tale by Manning proving that she is indeed the queen of mythological fairy tales. Her unique spin on stories that we grew up loving is truly captivating. She first captured my attention with her one-of-a-kind nursery rhyme stories and here I am with her mythology inspired fairy tales.

The story begins in a way that you wouldn't expect, despite it being a Beauty and the Beast focused tale. We're introduced to the princess and the villian right from the start and it sets the tone wonderfully for the rest of the book. There is a battle of good versus evil and obviously, one can't resist cheering for the good side!

Thea is a lovely character with a lot of positive development throughout the story. She is witty, resourceful, and sees the best in everyone. Yes, even a beast.
What intrigued me the most was being able to see through the eyes of the beast, otherwise known as Zared. His backstory, while tragic, is such a compelling part of the story.

Overall I would say this is a must read and a book you won't regret picking up. It's creative, intriguing, and unpredictable in all of the best ways!

[AsheFaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Content Warnings: Blood, death/execution, starvation, selfish/unloving father, slight misogynistic comments

Yes I did devour this book in like 3 days! I’m in a Greek Myth mood because of Epic the musical and this book definitely helped quench some of it.

I absolutely loved the mash up of the 2 stories, the Minotaur and the Labyrinth and Beauty and the Beast. I thought they worked really well together. I loved the nods to each story individually as well. It was written really well, I only griped about one chapter that had a sudden POV change in the middle, I would rather have multiple chapters even if they’re short. But it was definitely easier to figure out the switch between POVs. Also the twist was really good. I wasn’t surprised by it, but I thought it was really interesting.

I loved all the characters! My heart really felt for the beast the moment I read the prologue. His father is absolutely awful and proved that he never actually cared about his family. Normally I don’t care much about the FMCs, but I really saw myself in Theabelle. Just wanting to sacrifice everything for those you love. I loved their relationship together, snarky but still super sweet. On another note, I kind of hope Ceyden gets a redemption story. While I know he’s not the greatest character, I just kinda of felt bad for him and hope that he finally finds someone who will change him too.

I absolutely love this story and I really can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪,” 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙖 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙, 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨. “𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙣. 𝘿𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙞𝙩?”
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙, 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨. “𝙄... 𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙄 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”

I’m a SUCKER for anything and everything Beauty and the Beast… and this retelling was NO EXCEPTION!! After her father is falsely accused of trying to poison this truly awful man, Thea takes his place (of course she does. She MUST!) While her entire family is *freaking out*™️ I’m over here squealing with JOY. It was not smooth sailing of course. And obviously… she leaves. Listen… we all know what we signed up for, but the cherry on top was the scene with King Hayden and Queen Priscilla… IYKYK 😍

Obviously, this story is the perfect wink towards the OG while also completely standing on its own. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it at least 5 times… Abigail Manning is a mastermind when it comes to fairytale retellings. She simply DOES. NOT. MISS! Read this series. Read all her books. You can find most of them on KU… but not this one. It’s worth the purchase and/or the subscription to her Patreon!!!

Why are you still reading this when you could be downloading an Abigail Manning novel??? GO! GO! GO!!!! ♥️♥️♥️

[Tara Rodeback · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick delight

Overall pretty good. Cringey - as in predictable - dialogue between the protagonist and the two men wanting to marry her. Fun to have a short appearance of characters from the first book in this world. Clean throughout and unique weaving of the two fairytale/myths. Overall I liked and would give 3.5 stars.

[Stephanie Mccall · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to get back to the Fairmyth Chronicles, thanks to an ever-massive TBR pile. Once I came back though, I remembered everything I loved about this series. Abigail Manning remains a master of the fairy tale/Greek mythology mashup, and The Beast's Labyrinth showcases her gift once again.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite movies to this day, and Belle the witty, determined bookworm is my soul sister. Abigail took those underpinnings and, without losing the magic of the tale, turned Disney's twinkling into engaging young adult and adult sparkle. Theabelle, or Thea, has the same mix of determination and vulnerability I love in Belle. She clearly loves books and learning, although this isn't dealt with as much in The Beast's Labyrinth. Thea comes off as more mature and developed, though. She has higher stakes to contend with. Her world is much darker than the one in the Disney movie or original fairytale. And because of that, Thea shines as a young lady who learns to balance action, tenacity, and humility in real time.

The beast, too, gets the "sharper" mythological treatment here. Kudos to Abigail for crafting his appearance as that of a literal minotaur, and for making the labyrinth as much a prison as a home for him (again, this is hinted at in other retellings, but the labyrinth brings the concept to life. Thus, the beast's isolation and pain feel attached to higher stakes, too). I also loved how here, the beast grew and changed because of his love for Thea. But even then, the two of them still argue. They still banter. The beast still struggles to relate to Thea, or to life in general, on any "human" level. His growth happens in real time, and when it does it's not about, "Oh, look, he has table manners and 'social skills' now." It's about, "Thea cared enough to sacrifice for others, to stand up for herself, and because of that, the beast remembered what those motives look like."

The secondary characters caught my attention too, in ways they don't often in a story like this. Meaning, with a fairytale or mythological retelling, the lead couple usually carries the story and that's fine. It's expected, although you need strong secondary characters, too. I'm surprised at how well I remember these secondary people, though. First off, I love the fact that Abigail gave Thea a father and sisters in her retelling, instead of going the only child or orphan route. I'd have loved to see more of her family's personalities, but what exists works great. And, even though they're in a desperate situation, I never felt like the Annyn family were victims. Instead, I felt their devotion and determination to help each other, even to the point of recklessness (a realistic flaw for Thea I don't often see with similar characters).

Second, I of course disliked Ceyden intensely. However, Abigail surprised me in that one, he wasn't the major villain in the story and two, he sometimes seemed as much a victim--though a despicable one--as anyone else, when one considers the "master plan." Again, it's a clever twist on the usual story, and again, it sharpens the conflict and themes so they work for adults, too.

Abigail's plot itself looks simpler than the other Fairmyth books. At least, that's what I thought at first. As always though, there are layers under the simplicity. I absolutely love the way Abigail made the labyrinth and rose work together, and how both are semi-sentient characters in themselves. I also love how it's not easy to tell whether these characters, particularly the labyrinth, are allies or adversaries at first. This was a clever way to encapsulate the traditional theme of Beauty and the Beast that, nothing is what it seems and people may not be who they say they are, for good or ill. Finally, I so enjoyed watching Thea and the beast work on the "puzzle" of the rose. It hearkens back to Belle as a learned character, plus how book smart and street smart Thea is. It's also a refreshingly original way to build our lead couple up to a love relationship.

Additionally, Abigail pulled off a couple great twists in The Beast's Labyrinth. One I kind of expected, but even though the "bone structure" was there, where it went surprised me. A second made me wonder just how dangerous our lead couple's journey would get, and gave me the bonus of some great cameos (I loved seeing Priscilla and Hayden again). Another made me say out loud, "Okay, this just got weird," and I mean that in the best possible way. That second twist lends some unexpected depth to the last third of the story, and sets up our lead couple to be the catalyst of some major changes in Fairmyth.

I dropped a star for a couple mild to moderate issues. The big one for me was that although so many good elements exist here, I felt like a couple could've used a bit more "sharpening." That is, the dialogue or word choice does read a bit "young" at times, or too simplistic. This is a YA book, so I won't knock Abigail too hard, but I didn't see this issue as much in the other Fairmyth books and wondered where it was coming from.

I also felt that the beast in particular could use more character development. I mean, until almost 2/3 through, we don't even get his real name. And although his motives for "beastly" behavior are more than understandable, he seems to sum them up as, "I'm ugly, of course I'm a jerk." Yeah, he grows past that and it's great. But he doesn't confront anything deeper until late in the book, nor does he seem to have much of an "inner life" for Thea to explore. Maybe more time in his POV would've helped, or a bit less focus on the men trying to steal the rose.

Those notes aside, and again, they're rather minor, this was another lovely trip to Fairmyth. I plan on visiting again soon, and if you haven't caught up on the series, I urge you to do so ASAP. You'll find plenty of tiered, velvety layers to enjoy under the "mask" of a retelling.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reader’s Notes:

– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone

– this is told mainly from Thea & the beast’s points of view, with a few random chapters from other characters to explain what else was happening

– it is mentioned/shown that a character is infatuated with Thea & she is not interested

– it is mentioned that a character kills others (they are an executioner), but details are minimal (saying the axe is bloodstained – once or twice -, ending a chapter with swinging the axe at a criminal, & mentioning that characters were killed/no longer around)

– it is mentioned that a side character is obsessed with the labyrinth & could care less about their children beyond what they can do/be used for by the character

Review:

I love the Fairmyth Chronicles so much and this was such a great addition! I loved that there were so many twists and turns involved in this story & that there were some I couldn’t guess ahead of time! I loved seeing the beast’s point of view both before and after meeting Thea and seeing how he changed. I loved that Thea helped him to see that there was more to life than hiding away like he always had. I loved that Thea had such a mind to think of a way to provide for her family & protect herself from unwanted advances at the same time. Also, I really enjoyed getting to see Priscilla & Hayden (from The Soulless Slipper) again and the hand they played in some of the events of the story.

I am so excited that we’ll be getting at least one more story set in this world & I can’t wait to read it!

Summary:

Theabelle just wants to provide for her family, but her employer’s son believes that because of it and her beauty that she’d want to be his for life & live in luxury. No matter what Thea does or says to Ceyden, he doesn’t understand why Thea doesn’t want to accept his proposal. So when he stages trouble for her family, Thea is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Her only options are to accept his proposal or be sentenced to the labyrinth, the worst possible outcome a criminal can find. And she’s not about to give up her freedom of choice for a different kind of cage…

The beast has been the labyrinth’s executioner & caretaker for years. He’s seen his share of criminals and heard many pleas of innocence, but it’s been a long while since he’s found a woman sentenced here. And he’s never seen someone smuggle in anything, let alone a simple rose. No matter what he does, the beast can’t find it in himself to execute Thea. Both because she is unlike the other criminals & because the rose seems to be different. And only Thea could have the answers between the two of them…

[Kayt · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s no secret that I love Abigail Manning’s writing, hence why I was thrilled to receive an early copy of this book. Her entire Fairmyth Chronicles series is original and spellbinding, combining Greek myths and well known fairytales in a way no other author could dream of doing! Yet The Beast’s Labyrinth takes things one step further, in that the beast here had nothing to do with his own curse and was instead an innocent child caught in the crossfire of his father’s evil plan.

This book is full of mystery and keeps the reader gripped from beginning to end. You will fall in love with spunky Theabelle who would rather starve in the labyrinth than marry a pompous divine one, and her sweet sisters and father are a delight to get to know! The caste system is pronounced here, with mortals being seen as lesser beings than even minor Divine Ones, yet the real monsters are those who are above the surface not the “beast” trapped within the walls of the labyrinth!

Abigail gave plenty of nods to the original Beauty and the Beast fairytale in this masterful retelling and truly made the tale of the labyrinth her own. Readers will delight in discovering the mysteries of the maze (including one that made me drop my phone in shock when I first read it) and will find themselves full of admiration for Zared who, though flawed as all humans are, is kind and sweet despite the way he’s been forced to live his life as a prisoner and executioner.

Although this novel can be read as a standalone, those who have read the rest of the Fairmyth Chronicles will be pleased to encounter two crossover characters from previous books, and the happily ever after – which includes a merciless justice for the unmerciful will bring tears to readers’ eyes. The Beast’s Labyrinth is worthy of being read many times over and is, as usual, enchanting, entertaining, horrifying, spellbinding and incredible. I can’t wait to see what happens next in this epic series!

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so much! I could not put this down and definitely did not stay up late at night to read this! 😉(don’t check the time I posted this post at 🤫) This was such a creative retelling of the Beauty and the Beast, and with the combination of The Minotaur, it was a very compelling book I could not put down. Our main character, Thea, has so much grit and integrity that endears you to her immediately. Our MMC, Zared has excellent character growth, from acting beastly to maturing in behavior. His love for Thea is sacrificial and true, not at all selfish or possessive. Ceyden, on the other hand, makes you want to throw something at him or just banish him to the depths of Tartarus. A perfect mirror of the rage-inducing Gaston. Multiple times I was astonished by his behavior—and not in a good way. I wished we had more “screentime” for Ceyden at the end of the book to come to a more complete resolution to the ending of his “relationship” with Thea. I felt like it was rushed at the end a little and Ceyden would not give up so easily on losing her. Even worse of a character is Lord Malik. Gosh—he’s so bad. He is more of a deviant, power-hungry, world-domination, type of evil. (But I shall not elaborate so I don’t spoil it for y’all) I love how Miss Manning can come up with some detestable characters and some absolutely lovely characters! Adds to the drama and makes you extra invested in the story. If you’re looking for a compelling Beauty and the Beast + The Minotaur retelling, sweet romance, detestable villains, stubborn and honorable FMC, redemption arcs, high stakes, a magical labyrinth, and magical world-building based on Greek mythology, you’ve found your next read!

[Bethany Aich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, wow, wow. This may have just surpassed Hush A Bye Lady as my favourite Abigail Manning book (though I love so many of them!). I smiled at the snark, highlighted some quotes, and enjoyed Thea’s strong character immensely. In the latter part of the book, it took everything in me not to skip to the end so I knew what happened. I was so tense and am super glad there wasn’t a hidden camera to have capture my facial expressions, as I’m sure they were something. There were definitely some twists I did NOT see coming, and I was blown out of the water by how amazing this book was. Well done, Abigail.

Violence: the beast is an executioner. While you don’t see anything on scene, you are aware that he beheads people. There are a couple of fights and some knife violence. In spite of that, I would not consider this a violent book and see it as perfectly YA appropriate.

Romance: In fact, I say let all the YA girls read this. Thea stands up for herself, and for her virtue, in the face of terrible circumstances that could seemingly be made easier if she just caved in to the desires of a man. I think that is an amazing message. Combined with this being a CLEAN retelling, I say give it to any young girl you can. (There is a kiss or two but they are clean. Brief mentions of blood being heated, but it wasn’t really in a steamy way. I’m notoriously picky about what I would heartily recommend to children/youths/unmarried persons and this is one of them.)

I did receive an early copy of this book, but all thoughts and opinions here are my own.

[Rosalyn Nightshade · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Beast's Labyrinth is an amazing retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I loved how it combined elements from the Minotaur and the Labyrinth and from Beauty and the Beast and I really enjoyed seeing Hayden and Priscilla again and I loved re-visiting Underworth. I really was not expecting Daida and I can't wait to see more of her if she gets her own story. Malik was definitely someone I hated with every fibre of my being. I cannot believe what he did to his own children because of his own selfish desires. Abigail really gives an antagonist that everyone can hate. Ceyden was a great representation of Gaston from Beauty and the Beast and I enjoyed seeing more of his motives and desires. He really did seem to learn his lesson in the end and I wonder if he'll have his own story. I'm glad that Thea's sisters in this story actually loved her and cared about her happiness rather than Beauty's sisters in the original Beauty and the Beast story. The plot of this story was so amazing and unlike any Beauty and the Beast retelling I've ever read (it might even be my favourite Beauty and the Beast retelling). I love how it incorporated all the elements from Beauty and the Beast while also twisting them into something so different and original. I can't wait for Abigail to write more books in the Fairmyth Chronicles!

[Martha Braebuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Wow! Wow! I absolutely loved this book! Thea's selfless character and the beast's gentleness. I was amazed at how kind and gentle Thea was despite everything she had gone through, and yet she's also so sweetly stubborn. I loved how Thea was able to see past the beast's exterior to the human he was beneath. Abigail Manning's Fairmyth chronicles really touch on real-life topics - in this case it's about valuing the beauty on the inside instead of seeing the ugliness on the outside. I loved how Thea overcame all the obstacles standing in her way and the book was so touching and well-thought-out that it was impossible to put down! I don't know how Abigail Manning does it, but each book that she writes just gets better and better. I cannot wait to find out what the next book in the Fairmyth chronicles will be and I CANNOT wait for Baa Baa Black Market to come out. I'm placing very high expectations on it! Well done Abigail!

[Whitney Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!!

This story just left me with so much joy!! I loved how the author wove together two unique tales into one amazing read! I loved Thea the moment I met her. She is one not to give up, even when all odds seem against her. Her sweet family showed where she got such courage. I also loved how she looked beyond the surface. Zared had everything against him to truly end up miserable and bitter, yet his heart was tender and willing to grow. It was fun to see how he changed after meeting Thea. The best part of this story is the secret of the Rose and the beautiful twist in the end that you will just have to read to know!! Pick this one up today if you love beauty and the best retellings because you won't want to miss it!!!

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am fascinated by the choice to do a Beauty and the Beast/Greek mythology mashup and NOT choose the myth of Psyche and Cupid to use as the inspiration. I am also fascinated by the book's cover which makes the book look NSFW but then Zared is literally wearing clothes the whole time (that he stole off dead people's bodies LOL)

I think I just don't vibe with Abigail Manning as an author. I thought the tone was very juvenile, even for the wizened characters like the king and queen. The characterization felt very inconsistent, especially Ceyden. I absolutely hated the marriage at the end of the book because all of Zared and Thea's interactions happen in like two weeks. There were good moments in the book, but my overall impression of the book was eh.

[K. G. Farber · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Be careful exploring places you can't get out of... Not every key goes to a door, remember?"

I am always on the lookout for anything Greek Myth related, so I was really excited to try this book! As a bonus, it's also a Beauty and the Beast retelling, which can be one of the best stories when told well. And I think this one did a good job! The way the author blended these retellings was so unique, and the plot twist was honestly shocking. The conclusion was also quite satisfying.

Content
Romance: Clean/Light
Violence: Medium
Language: None
Faith: No
Notes: Murder, chasing, injuries, physical attacks

[A Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Manning has done it again with another fairy tale myth mashup!
I love this world she has created and am so excited whenever a book comes out in this series!
Myth fans you will not be disappointed!
Beauty and the Beast fans you definitely enjoy this tale.
Thank you again Abigail for allowing me to be a part of the ARC team for this wonderful story!
I'm looking forward to anything else this world.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beauty and the Beast meets the Minotaur and this story will definitely make you want to be its guest! The references are so in cinched and these stories just fit so well with each other! Beauty and the Beast is one of my absolute favorite fairytales and I just could not get enough of it in this retelling! I can't wait to see what other Greek mythology and fairytale retellings the author will come up with next!

[Justa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be the best of the Fairmyth Chronicles yet. The story turned into a page turner as I really wanted to know what happened next. The thoughts of having to find your way around the tunnels of a labyrinth knowing that somewhere was a beast who's job is to end your life, keeps you engaged in this story. The reason for Thea even being there, why the beast roams there, the roses everywhere, the ring, the twists, the "whoa" factors.... Definitely one worth the read. Clean language, no spice, would rate it around PG13 as there is some insinuated violence, but nothing gory nor descriptive, unless you don't care for skeletons hanging around. Would let my teenagers read this with no concerns.

[Sylvia M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐

Genre: romantasy; fairytale and mythology retelling (Beauty and the beast meets the Minotaur) 🌹🔑

Spice: ✨ non-existent ✨ only a few kisses that melted my (not so) icy heart 💋

Tropes:
- Found family (like literally)
- frenemies to lovers
- forced proximity
- tending wounds scenes

The most relatable quote:

“Watch me choose a beast over a brat.” (anytime, babe)

[Ami Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an exciting clean retelling of both the Greek myth of the Minotaur and the fairytale Beauty and the Beast! There was lots of tension from all of the problems that kept cropping up and challenges to overcome, and there was such sweet romance with only a few kisses! I loved the way the main characters grew throughout the story and I loved learning more about the world that they inhabit!

[Megan Kaiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew I would love these two worlds meshed and Abigail did NOT disappoint! I’m so excited to read the other ones like this. The heroine sacrifices herself but due to the evil Lord into the labyrinth that holds the beast who’s an executioner of all the criminals who enter the labyrinth. He doesn’t know she could save him. Just fantastic 🥰🥰🥰🥰 chefs kiss. Need to own. 🤌🏻

[Shayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was definitely the best of the Fairmyth series so far. The mash ups of myths and fairy tales has been very original and entertaining, and this one is my favorite. I love retellings of Persephone and Hades, but I have an extra special place in my heart for Beauty and the beast retellings. This one felt very original and intriguing with the labyrinth/minotaur aspect. I enjoyed it a lot.

[Chantel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An innocent beast and an innocent prisoner. 

Both condemned by the same unjust man. 

Will their tentative friendship and unexpected love be enough to free them from the labyrinth that has trapped them?

This story gives a different kind of reason for the Beast's curse and Thea isn't afraid because she knows what a real beast is like-- and it isn't the man cursed to be a beast who who was left as a child in the magical labyrinth used as a prison for only the worst criminals. But then, she is not a criminal, and chose death over cohersion.

Both of these characters are strong and resilient and yet so good hearted and fiery at the same time. The plot twists and the creative storytelling kept me so invested. Loved this story and these characters. 🥰

[Lorin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved reading this wonderful book! I loved the characters and the plot! I absolutely loved this retelling of The Minotaur and Beauty and the Beast! I had a hard time putting this really wonderful book down! I am looking forward to reading the next book in this really wonderful series!

[Brittany Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beasts labyrinth

Definitely a beauty and the beast retelling with a few great twists. I loved Thea and Zared. the labyrinth and rose, oddly, were characters that worked just right. Definitely a fun story.

[Eevee The Corgi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beast is not animal but has fluff so still 5⭐.

[Lindsay Rankin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book!

I enjoyed reading this book! The mashup of Beauty and the Beast and the Minotaur and labyrinth was very intriguing, and I thought it was well written!

[Amber Hume · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute and cozy

Cute and cozy beauty and the beast retelling with Olympian weaving of the Maniatar and the Labyrinth components.

It’s a bit insta-love. No smut, YA.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mash-up and premise was really good. The writing was fairly immature and the conversations were weak.