King of the Unsightly

by Belle Briar

A banished fae king. Two powerful relics in the form of cheap, jeweled keys, and a coven that will stop at nothing to obtain their magic.

What the hell is twenty-three-year-old Adeline in the middle of?

She believed her foggy past held no importance and would stay buried . . . but it’s unraveling before her eyes and coming back to haunt her. Shrouds of darkness stir awake and lurk out of the shadows, conjured by a devilishly handsome fae named Kaschel under circumstances she wishes she could scorch from her memories.

Yeah, it’s witching hour for poor, broke Adeline, and she isn’t sure who or what is real anymore.

Not the crazy witch lady who kicks down her door. Not the petty, shadow-flinging fae king who threatens her life and dares to strike a deal. It’s definitely not the weird little creatures she keeps running into.

Ah, maybe it’s the murder of crows gathering around her like harbingers of death and making her life a living nightmare.

To add fuel to the fire, she’s unwillingly thrust into an ancient feud between the supernatural. One her mother created and now, Adeline will have to weasel her way out of it or end it once and for all.

King of the Unsightly is the first book in the Tempting Trickery series. A fantasy romance full of snark, treachery, witty banter, a mysterious past, and an enemies-to-lovers sizzling, slow-burn.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Enemies To Lovers

316 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 24, 2024

Reviews

[Jacky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love fae stories, so this book is right up my alley!

“Do you want to continue groping me, or shall I stab myself a couple of times to satisfy your curiosity?"

King of the Unsightly is a fast-paced novel. The sharp straight to the point sarcastic humor in this book in combination with the energetic and full of fire FMC made this a real page turner.

The fact about this book I loved the most is the fact that the fae in this book are not the sexy steamy gentle kind of fae, but the real cruel, dark and sexy steamy kind of fae. Lets be honest we want Sexy and Steamy if we talk about fae! The banter form the main characters is everything!

I enjoyed this book so much, and the ending makes me want to scream because I just what will happen next! Belle did an amazing job with this debut novel and I cant wait to see what the future will bring. I hope one thing, that the next book will be a little longer, because I want more!!

Tropes:
-Hate at first kipnapping
-A snarky MC
-A broody but sassy Fae King
-Forced proximity
-Dark Past
-Humor
-Witty Banter
-Betrayal
-Revenge
-Only one Cave

[Shann ✨ · Rating 1 out of 5]

UPDATE: after chatting with a friend about this book recently & reflecting. I do feel I need to update my rating. Remembering what an experience this was I have to knock .5 off & it is now a 1.5 star.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book & am so appreciative. The plot was very interesting, & I really enjoyed the character, especially the fmc. The characters are probably my favorite part of this read!! This is a very fast paced book, which normally I don’t mind. But the pacing did feel a little off at times, & I did catch myself having to reread sections as to not get confused. I really like how the book ended though! Just not sure it was for me, so please pick it up & give it a try.



*SPOILER* the mmc repeatedly calling the fmc “little flea” as the pet name did pull me out of the story quite a few times though.

[Jordan Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for this book and I quite enjoyed the characters and the story line. It’s a really fast paced book and throws you in the deep end immediately which some people might love so if that’s for you then please give this a read! In my personal opinion I’m not too keen on being throw in so I was very confused hence my rating but don’t let my rating throw you off this book because overall it was an intriguing and good read☺️

[Lorrie (Clockworkbookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

2024 Reads #652/250
3.75⭐️

Read for the Sights of Sweden Challenge 2024-2025
September 20, 2024 - January 10, 2025

Online Availability:
📖 Kindle Unlimited Subscription/$

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc review

I really enjoyed this book so much the main characters especially the main mmc was soo intriguing for me and I had to continue reading to the end

The endingggg whyyy I need the next one as soon as possible

Everyone please read this book when it comes out

[Lorian Ain'Dal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've got the book as ARC read. And I am very glad I did.

The novel IS fast paced, but I did not mind, because the right-on-point humor caught me and the main female character was sympathetic and fun - full of energy and fire.

I usually love gloomy, dark-filled, cruel, even sadistic reads, but lighter book, which still hold right amount of darkness is something I need to not fall into the endless pit of void.

I hope to read much more from Belle Briar, the "King of the Unsightly" was fresh and likable.

I have maybe strange comparison... but I felt Hellboy: Golden Army mood. The mood of old hidden world, not available for passerby humans. Great debut - and I know it can be only better.

[Kelz | kelzandherkindle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recieved this book as an ARC from the author.

It has all the fun things I love about the fantasy genre; fae, a magical realm, betrayals, enemies to lovers and a kick ass FMC. I only wish it wasn't as fast paced in some parts, so I could process things better, it all happened so fast. Interested to see how the story unfolds.

[Ebony Gillan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so incredibly grateful to have received King of the Unsightly as an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

King of the Unsightly is the first book in the Tempting Trickery series. Let me just say now I absolutely cannot wait to read the rest of the series. MFC Adeline finds herself being tossed over the side of a cliff and is absorbed into a world where things that she thought only existed in fairy tales. Adeline learns about her mothers past and this is a big drive for her to continue this adventure, despite her mum being a big factor in Adeline being chased in the first place. Adeline meets a banished fae king whose only interest is to retrieve a magical key from her. He doesn’t care for much else.

I read this book soo fast! It was full of action and was the perfect fantasy read for this spooky month. I found it to be very fast paced. There isn’t too much world building and instead the characters seem to be the main focus. I don’t mind this at all as I was still kept very interested due to Adeline being so sassy. I liked her character a lot. Adeline was such a strong character, and despite everything she went through in her life so far, she still remained strong. I really admired her for this.

I will try to keep the spoilers low, but proceed with caution!

I really enjoyed the relationship between Adeline and Kaschel. I felt it was honest and raw. Despite the betrayal aspects of it, I felt Adeline was really stuck in a hard place. I could feel her confusion and honestly I really felt so bad for her. I really enjoyed their banter together, it gave dry humour but absolutely had me giggling. They will be sooo good together. I couldn’t get on board with the little flea as a nickname, but I will move on from it because the chemistry between Adeline and Kaschel is so real.

I enjoyed Adeline having her ‘pet’ and what became of him - I was so shocked when this part of the story unravelled. I thought Gren was going to be so loyal, he appeared so genuine.


Tropes
Betrayals
Enemies to Lovers
Fae/ Magical Realm
Strong and Fiery FMC
Witty Banter
Slow Burn
Forced Proximity

The way this book ended had me wishing and hoping that the next book was already available because OMG I need to know what happens next. I feel the next book will give us a chance in terms of being able to explain a lot more what happened.

[Ravyen♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝑺𝒐, 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒔, 𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒔, 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝑳𝒆𝒈𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒔- 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒓, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒑𝒊𝒙𝒊𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔?

Infinity. If I could erase my mind to read it for the first time again, I would! King of the Unsightly has all the banter, a snarky af FMC (Adeline) that I completely loved and vibed with from the beginning, an animal companion (🐦‍⬛) and SUCH a broody MMC 😍

𝑰𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓, 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒖𝒑 𝒎𝒚 𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒖𝒔𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒂 𝒈𝒂𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕?

I was completely in the whole "wtf is going on" 😂 I wanted answers just as bad as Addy and I could of strangled a few people with her. I hope in the next book, we get more of a look as the side characters. Especially Rysa and Levisus, I really loved them🖤

𝑨 𝒈𝒐𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒌𝒆 ... 𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒎 𝒔𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒍𝒚 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝑰 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒅.

I feel a lot of development coming in the next book because while the world was introduced in a way that was super easy to grasp, not a lot was explained. There were so many different creatures! And the Grigs? I need to know what that's all about! This set the rest of the series up soooo well. Literally anything could happen at this point and I'm DYING waiting a whole year for the next book😭

“𝑰’𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝑰 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒎𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰’𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒕.”

Okay, so Kaschal. Our faery 🧚🏻‍♂️😂 He's broody, sarcastic, and we love him. Addy & him are 🤌🏻 The banter and sarcastic back and forth between them had me howling, even in the life or death situations. They're so good together and the end with them? 🥹🥹🥹 Mr. "I keep my promises" 🤭🖤

𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒂 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. 𝑹𝒂𝒈𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒓𝒚.

The ending is a HUGE cliffhanger! My jaw was dropped, unhinged like that Banshee's and I still haven't recovered. It has taken me 2 hours to figure out how to form words for my review. I just can't. My HEART 😭🫠 I need to talk theories because there were little breadcrumbs throughout this whole book and I'm HERE FOR IT👀 I'm rambling at this point, but I need yall to read this. Preorder it, wait until release day, just- it's an obsession at this point, okay?🤷🏻‍♀️❤️‍🔥

[Ashlee - ash•in•pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

👑 Review (Arc) 👑
King of the Unsightly
By : Belle Briar
Release : Oct 24th
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

“If you long to be by my side that badly, you just had to say so, little flea..”

Fae, unseelie, mischievous pixies, shadow daddies and courts—with just the right hint of spice. This story was full of unexpected twists and turns that kept me on my toes. The banter and sarcasm had me literally laughing out loud, making it impossible not to connect with the FMC.

Adeline remembers only fragments of her past—mostly the darkest parts. Her bad luck seems endless, and soon witches and strange creatures show up, demanding she hand over her key. As far as she knew, the key was nothing more than a sentimental keepsake from her mother. But it quickly becomes clear that everyone else knows more about her family—and her—than she does. In her confusion, she strikes up an odd friendship with a crow that she’s pretty sure talks to her. At this point, she’s already questioning her sanity, so why not lean into it? Yet the deeper she dives, the more she realizes nothing is as it seems.

Naturally, she gets kidnapped and dragged into a new realm, where she finds herself in the company of Kaschel—a cold, brooding fae king (or something close to it). His emotional walls are as impenetrable as the shadows he commands, and he has zero patience for Adeline’s smart mouth. With relentless challenges, shifting loyalties, and betrayal lurking at every turn, she must make impossible choices. Will she uncover the truth about her mother and the magic running through her veins?

Only the next book holds the answers, and I can’t wait to find out!

[Booksnliftsdiary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4⭐️/5

“I have many enemies who wish to see me falter. Showing weakness was a luxuryI could not afford. Flaws got you killed. So, concealing injuries is mere child’s play.”

Adeline’s life goes from zero to chaos when a banished fae king and two mysterious relics pull her into a world of spells, shadows, and secrets. At the center of it all is Kaschel, a swoon-worthy fae who’s equal parts danger and charm. With witches, crows, and hidden family secrets everywhere, Adeline must decide who she can trust—and if she’s ready to face her tangled past.

Adeline never expected her messy life to turn into a dangerous fairy tale, but when the fae king’s lost relics drag her into a realm of dark magic and ancient rivalries, she’s thrown into a storm of danger and desire. Hunted by strange creatures and haunted by crows, Adeline faces witches at her door and a fae king offering a risky deal. As secrets from her mother’s past emerge, she realizes her own hidden history could save—or destroy—them all. But as the line between love and betrayal blurs, will she trust her heart to guide her?

If you’re craving a mix of romance, fantasy, and high-stakes magic, King of the Unsightly is a must-read! It’s a fun, twisty ride for any romantasy fan!

A big thanks to Belle Briar for sending me a digital ARC of this book!

Release date: 10/24/2024.

[Menka Suresh · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

I was lucky to receive an ARC of the book for an honest review.

Reading this book was overall a positive experience for me. I really enjoyed the FMCs humour, especially in intense moments. Her banter with the MC was also fun to read.
The world is also very interesting, and intriguing, I would love to see it become more developed in the second book. This book does have magic, but it's not explained since the FMC doesn't know how to use her powers, so I hope the magic system is explained in the upcoming books.

This book is extremely fast paced, which is something I normally enjoy in books, but things moved a little too quickly in this book. There would be entire scene changes with no warning, and it kind of gave me whiplash because it happened so often. These rapid scene changes often had me confused, and I couldn't really process what was happening or put things together. I think this story needed a little time between scene changes to give the reader a bit of a breather and understand the plot and world building elements.

I was going to give this book 3-3.5 stars but the ending surprised me, so I bumped it up a bit higher.

All in all, I would still give this book a chance because it was interesting. I will also be reading the second book when it comes out :)

[Leia Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The King of the Unsightly pulled me in right away with the riveting tale of enemies to lovers theme which happens to be one of my favorites. Right away you are thrust into a world where danger lurks around every corner, and the stakes are high. At the heart of the story is a feisty heroine who defies expectations at every turn. From the first page, the tension cracks when she meets Mr. Unsightly himself and the dynamic between them is electric, fueled by their intense rivalry and undeniable attraction. What sets this book apart is its razor-sharp wit, showcased through clever dialogue that keeps you on your toes. Each exchange is laden with tension and humor, adding depth to the characters and the story. But it's not just the witty banter that drives this story forward…👀King of the Unsightly is packed with heart-pounding action that will leave you breathless. I just couldn’t stop reading! You can’t help but root for Addy every step of the way. And as the line between enemy and lover blurs, the emotional stakes skyrocket, making for a captivating and unforgettable read. This is a must-read for fans of enemies to lovers romances, offering a thrilling blend of danger, romance, and wit that will leave readers eager for more. I can’t wait for book two!🥺💕

[Hannah Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

💀ARC Review💀

I. NEED. MORE.
Just when things started getting especially intriguing, CLIFFHANGER 😭
Addy is a hot mess and I couldn’t have related to her more! Repressed/stolen memories have her learning who she truly is as she’s forced to embark on a journey of the dangerous variety with a brooding fae male. Which brings us to Kaschel…
I adore Jareth the Goblin King from Labyrinth and Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher, and Kaschel embodied both of them and more 🖤
The snark and sassiness were 🙌🏼🔥

This was overall a very nicely done debut novel and I can’t wait to see what Belle Briar has in store with this series!

*Expect boiling tension but no explicit spice



I received an advance reader copy of this book and my review is given voluntarily.

[Rachel Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolute MUST READ. If you love reading dark fantasy books with an enemies to lovers trope this book is for you! I simply could not put it down and that’s saying something because I had finished fourth wing and needed something to hold myself over after. This book is clever! The characters are incredibly complex and you will fall in love with each one. From the beginning of the novel where things seem to be going awry to the end which leaves you hanging on the edge of your seat, this book will transport you to a world like no other! Give it a chance! You won’t be sorry you did!

[Isa Emerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pretty fast paced which I do appreciate in fantasy. It does end on a cliffhanger but fortunately I was content with how things ended for now, no hate here. I’m looking forward to the future releases because I have more questions than answers and this was plenty entertaining.

I had too much fun with Kaschel’ and Addie’s banter and the steam was steaming too. Honestly Addie really tried to humble that fae at every given opportunity. They are my new favourite brand of soap opera.

[Katleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fast paced, easy reading Fae/witch/other creatures story.

I loved how Addy just has no filter whatsoever and how Kaschel reacts to this.

The beginning of the story had me confused and feeling like I was missing information a lot. But after a few chapters, it clicked that we are in a first person view and we are supposed to be as clueless as our main character (why won't someone just tell her what the f* is going on)

[Thalia Lindauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg I don't even know where to start. First of all this book was incredible and had me hooked from beginning to end. I am a huge fan of fae lore, and so this book was right up my ally. And Gren and Kaschel are now my new obsessions. I can't wait for the next book. If you love books with a human- fae romance and lots of fae trickery this book is definitely a must read. Fans of the Cruel prince books need to get their hands on this book immediately.

[Nupur · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book with so many things that goes on. From writing style to dialogues and narratives, everything was amazing. Loved how beautifully the characters were written and how perfect their banter was, the humor and so much more. Magic systems have become my favourite thing and how wonderfully they are built up.

Can't wait for the next book.

[Annalise Parr · Rating 4 out of 5]

You call her a flea but you LOooOove her!!!! I really enjoy having an FMC actively have mental breakdowns and not just handling a changing world/new worlds like she was born to it. Also I need someone to start explaining things to this poor girl, hasn’t she been through enough? I have to bone to pick with a certain crow… many bones in fact, ITS A FIGHT ON SIGHT!!!!

[hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfection… Achieved!!!

I absolutely LOVED this book!! The slow burn is everything I needed! The magic is so detailed and interesting. THE. BANTER!!!!! It gave me everything I needed. Addy is so sarcastic and uses humor as a coping mechanism which just adds to her character and the story. I cannot wait for the next book!!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review: They are forced together on a dark and deadly adventure that has so many twist I was shocked more than once. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Kaschel and Addy. The banter, romcom, and sunshine v grumpy vibes made it such an enjoyable read. And that ending! I’m ready for book 2 now!

[Miss Q · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poor exposition. Didn't care enough to continue.

DNF'D this after 100 pages. I just couldn't get into the writing style. I struggled to find a reason to stay invested. I don't mind jumping right into action, but there has to a better way to deliver the context.

[britts_reads11 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me on the edge of my seat. I wasn’t expecting the story to go the way it did and the cliff hanger ending 😫. I’m now ready for the next book

[CB]

Not Interested - 🧽

[Kenzey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5⭐️

TYSM for the ARC!! I don’t gravitate towards fantasy all that much so this was a bit different than my typical reads but it was oh so good!! The attitude on both of the main characters is what I live for. I love love love Addy and Kaschel and can’t wait for book two

[Rachael Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. This book is pretty fast paced and throws you right in to the story. There are times I was a little confused and had to reread to understand what was happening. I do wonder if this was on purpose as that’s how the FMC was feeling too. I feel like there’s still a lot to be resolved in the next book. Very minimal romance/spice (a couple kisses) but I am interested to see what happens next!

[Enixya Strix · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! I'm in love with the story, even if slow burn is not my cup of tea. I think how some things happened in it, slow burn really fits to the story.

I loved the characters, I really liked Addy had/has a so messed up life. Also loved her Shirt options, I think they were funny. Also her "friendship" with Kaschel was annoyingly too good, loved how they teased and messed with each others.

I liked also how the story started a bit slower, then it fully hooked me up. There were many wow scenes in the story which inspired me as an artist. 🤭 Also loved how Addy sounded like she raging inside at the end!

My original language isn't english, but still was easy to read. Probably I will reread it in the future. 🖤

I recommend this book to everyone who like fantasy, chaos situations mixed with a bit of romance, was such a fun read! 🖤✨