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Crowns of the Fae #2
Crown of Briars
He must wed her to break the curse.
She must kill him to save her kingdom.
Every generation, the Earthen Court gives a princess bride to the Wraith King to protect their realm from his deadly shadows. Princess Sybelle has prepared her entire life to be married to the monster who has been terrorizing her people.
And she has a plan to end her people's suffering for good.
With the help of her dragon familiar, who can sniff out powerful enchantments, she intends to uncover the source of the Wraith King's shadow magic. Once he is rendered powerless, she plans to kill him.
But despite his demonic appearance, the Wraith King is not who he appears to be. He is as alluring as he is deadly and, as Sybelle comes to know him, he awakens a fire in her soul she never knew she had.
When she realizes he is trapped by a powerful curse, she wants to do everything in her power to break it.
But to do so would endanger her own life and the lives of her people.
Torn between her duty to her kingdom and breaking the Wraith King's curse, Sybelle must decide where her loyalties to the home she was raised to protect, or to the dark king who has worked his way into her heart?
This book contains adult themes. Readers are encouraged to check the content warning inside before reading.
Crown of Briars is a Beauty and the Beast retelling with a twist, full of dark fae magic, deadly court schemes, and steamy romance. The Crowns of the Fae books can be read in any order as stand-alone novels.
She must kill him to save her kingdom.
Every generation, the Earthen Court gives a princess bride to the Wraith King to protect their realm from his deadly shadows. Princess Sybelle has prepared her entire life to be married to the monster who has been terrorizing her people.
And she has a plan to end her people's suffering for good.
With the help of her dragon familiar, who can sniff out powerful enchantments, she intends to uncover the source of the Wraith King's shadow magic. Once he is rendered powerless, she plans to kill him.
But despite his demonic appearance, the Wraith King is not who he appears to be. He is as alluring as he is deadly and, as Sybelle comes to know him, he awakens a fire in her soul she never knew she had.
When she realizes he is trapped by a powerful curse, she wants to do everything in her power to break it.
But to do so would endanger her own life and the lives of her people.
Torn between her duty to her kingdom and breaking the Wraith King's curse, Sybelle must decide where her loyalties to the home she was raised to protect, or to the dark king who has worked his way into her heart?
This book contains adult themes. Readers are encouraged to check the content warning inside before reading.
Crown of Briars is a Beauty and the Beast retelling with a twist, full of dark fae magic, deadly court schemes, and steamy romance. The Crowns of the Fae books can be read in any order as stand-alone novels.
624 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 4, 2025
31 people are currently reading
640 people want to read
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August 4, 2025
Le me who didn't know it was 624 pages: 🤡🎀
Also me who kinda loved it: 👹🎀
𐙚⋆°.🪞𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
⌞ Tropes ⌝
⤷ Arranged marriage
⤷ Enemies to Lovers
⤷ Beauty and the beast retelling
⤷ Monster romance
⤷ Magical castle/doors
⤷ Sentient library
⤷ Bookish Fmc
⤷ Dragon
⤷ Slowburn but spicy
𐙚⋆°.🪞𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
⌞ Characters ⌝
⤷ ⌞ Varius ⌝
shadowking - his bloodline was cursed by a witch which turned their seelie form into unseelie form
If a beast, then why a pookie!! I honestly loved him from the very start 😋💘 he was like this perfect combination of sweet and grumpy so of course i ate him up literally and figuratively!!
⤷ ⌞ Sybelle ⌝
half human - half fae
can be categorized as badass/clever fmc. she had power of gemstones and a dragon too but ngl it took me some chapters to start loving her idky 😭 oh ik 🤡 it was because of gerard 👎🏻
𐙚⋆°.🪞𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
⌞ Plot ⌝
The worldbuilding was pretty solid I'd say and the plot was great too, there were a lot of plot twists in the end that i was like
*but in a good way*
(tho acc to me there were a few plot holes ?! like Sybelle wrote down the curse then showed it to Varius but he was still like he has to tell her what was required to break the curse 🤨)
𐙚⋆°.🪞𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
⌞ Sexual Tension/Spice ⌝
If you ask me I'll say 3/4 stars are for this only
The revel scene is going to live in my head rent free
She literally needed to touch her diamond dagger to give her the strength- to yk ...
Reminded me of this 😌
and how can we forget he can make his pp barbed (to protect against unwanted advances)
then
she even bit it 👹🎀
also her dresses were so hot, if i was a boy I'd have lowkey shot my load, goodbyeee
𐙚⋆°.🪞𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
⌞ Side characters ⌝
The maids; Ramia and Enzira. They were shown so kind, caring and considerate. Loved loved loved them. um tho ngl i was at one point suspicious of Ramia lol, that's how yk the plot twists slayed heheh
Princess Eira; Sybelle's friend from the winter court. She was just mentioned a few times but enough to make me want to read her book too (which is "crown of poison": snow white's retelling)
Tislora; she was a complex character honestly, but at least at the end of the book i didn't dislike her. I lowkey wanted her to be a traitor 😭 cuz i was lowkey jealous of Varius caring for her 👹 but she was a good woman savannah 😔
Release date of this book :
⤿ 4 August 25
*Thank you to the author, victory editing and netgalley for the eARC*
Also me who kinda loved it: 👹🎀
"You are mine, dannahla. A thousand curses could not tear me away from you."
𐙚⋆°.🪞𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
⌞ Tropes ⌝
⤷ Arranged marriage
⤷ Enemies to Lovers
⤷ Beauty and the beast retelling
⤷ Monster romance
⤷ Magical castle/doors
⤷ Sentient library
⤷ Bookish Fmc
⤷ Dragon
⤷ Slowburn but spicy
𐙚⋆°.🪞𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
⌞ Characters ⌝
⤷ ⌞ Varius ⌝
shadowking - his bloodline was cursed by a witch which turned their seelie form into unseelie form
If a beast, then why a pookie!! I honestly loved him from the very start 😋💘 he was like this perfect combination of sweet and grumpy so of course i ate him up literally and figuratively!!
⤷ ⌞ Sybelle ⌝
half human - half fae
can be categorized as badass/clever fmc. she had power of gemstones and a dragon too but ngl it took me some chapters to start loving her idky 😭 oh ik 🤡 it was because of gerard 👎🏻
𐙚⋆°.🪞𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
⌞ Plot ⌝
"He must wed her to break the curse.
She must kill him to save her kingdom."
The worldbuilding was pretty solid I'd say and the plot was great too, there were a lot of plot twists in the end that i was like
*but in a good way*
(tho acc to me there were a few plot holes ?! like Sybelle wrote down the curse then showed it to Varius but he was still like he has to tell her what was required to break the curse 🤨)
𐙚⋆°.🪞𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
⌞ Sexual Tension/Spice ⌝
If you ask me I'll say 3/4 stars are for this only
The revel scene is going to live in my head rent free
She literally needed to touch her diamond dagger to give her the strength- to yk ...
Reminded me of this 😌
and how can we forget he can make his pp barbed (to protect against unwanted advances)
then
she even bit it 👹🎀
also her dresses were so hot, if i was a boy I'd have lowkey shot my load, goodbyeee
𐙚⋆°.🪞𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
⌞ Side characters ⌝
The maids; Ramia and Enzira. They were shown so kind, caring and considerate. Loved loved loved them. um tho ngl i was at one point suspicious of Ramia lol, that's how yk the plot twists slayed heheh
Princess Eira; Sybelle's friend from the winter court. She was just mentioned a few times but enough to make me want to read her book too (which is "crown of poison": snow white's retelling)
Tislora; she was a complex character honestly, but at least at the end of the book i didn't dislike her. I lowkey wanted her to be a traitor 😭 cuz i was lowkey jealous of Varius caring for her 👹 but she was a good woman savannah 😔
Release date of this book :
⤿ 4 August 25
*Thank you to the author, victory editing and netgalley for the eARC*
July 29, 2025
Thank you to Willow Haven Press and NetGalley for a copy of the e-ARC in exchange for a review. As always, my honest thoughts and opinions are directly below.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This book follows our FMC, named Sybelle, who is a member of the Earthen Court and half-fae. She is being forced to marry the MMC, known as the Wraith King, to save her kingdom. Instead of killing him, however, she battles with her feelings.
Despite her misgivings about her people, born from prejudice she was taught to believe from a very early age, she finds herself falling in love with the king, much to both of their shock. How will the story end?
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
“The curse will live on as my line lives on.”
I'm pretty sure people across the country could hear me yelling when the revelation of who the true enemy was. I had even made a note in my notes app to make sure I said something about it in this review. I should have seen it coming but I didn't so here we are.
I think the biggest thing that was getting to me in this book is that there's one loose end that I felt was not properly tied up. That being Sybelle's magic. It's not really explained in detail at all and her blue shadows aren't looked into either. I'm still scratching my head on that, honestly.
I don't know why that wasn't looked into, as I would have loved to know if I were in Varius's shoes, but that's just me. I was hoping that would be explained at the end of the novel but it just...never was. Totally infuriating.
I'm not saying the book isn't good, by any means, as I do think it's fantastic, but there's just that loose end that's still bothering me. That's why this book wasn't 5 stars for me. I know that's a small issue to fret over but that's just me.
I wasn't expecting it to take so long to get smut either but I'm not complaining about that. That didn't make a difference in the rating at all, I promise. lol I'm just glad we got any at all, honestly, and I'm so surprised they held out as long as they did. I'm proud of them. lmao
Yes, I'd obviously recommend this book. I'd recommend this book for the smut alone. I'm glad the ending was satisfying as well because I needed that, honestly. I needed a happy ending, which we definitely got with this one. I'm going to be looking into reading the rest of this series, for sure!
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This book follows our FMC, named Sybelle, who is a member of the Earthen Court and half-fae. She is being forced to marry the MMC, known as the Wraith King, to save her kingdom. Instead of killing him, however, she battles with her feelings.
Despite her misgivings about her people, born from prejudice she was taught to believe from a very early age, she finds herself falling in love with the king, much to both of their shock. How will the story end?
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
“The curse will live on as my line lives on.”
I'm pretty sure people across the country could hear me yelling when the revelation of who the true enemy was. I had even made a note in my notes app to make sure I said something about it in this review. I should have seen it coming but I didn't so here we are.
I think the biggest thing that was getting to me in this book is that there's one loose end that I felt was not properly tied up. That being Sybelle's magic. It's not really explained in detail at all and her blue shadows aren't looked into either. I'm still scratching my head on that, honestly.
I don't know why that wasn't looked into, as I would have loved to know if I were in Varius's shoes, but that's just me. I was hoping that would be explained at the end of the novel but it just...never was. Totally infuriating.
I'm not saying the book isn't good, by any means, as I do think it's fantastic, but there's just that loose end that's still bothering me. That's why this book wasn't 5 stars for me. I know that's a small issue to fret over but that's just me.
I wasn't expecting it to take so long to get smut either but I'm not complaining about that. That didn't make a difference in the rating at all, I promise. lol I'm just glad we got any at all, honestly, and I'm so surprised they held out as long as they did. I'm proud of them. lmao
Yes, I'd obviously recommend this book. I'd recommend this book for the smut alone. I'm glad the ending was satisfying as well because I needed that, honestly. I needed a happy ending, which we definitely got with this one. I'm going to be looking into reading the rest of this series, for sure!
July 29, 2025
First of all I'd like to thank netgalley and Victory Editing for giving me this wonderful Earc. 🙂🌹
Maybe it's because I haven't read a lot of beauty and the beast retellings because this was a blast for me 🤷🏾♀️🤭.
This story follows to kingdoms, the Earthen court and the shadow court. Every generation the Earthen court must give a human bride to the shadow court as a sacrifice to protect both courts from the wraith king's deadly shadows.
This year Sybelle was the chosen human bride who's mission was to kill the wraith king in order to stop the shadows from killing her people. Since childhood Sybelle has been trained on how to fight and basically manipulated into thinking that there's nothing good in the shadow court.
That changes when she finally learns about the curse put upon by a witch that makes all the faes in the shadow court remain in their unseelie form.
From then on Sybelle 's mission changes from killing the king to finding a way to break the curse before the shadows kill everyone from both courts.
The fmc Sybelle if I'm being honest at one point I just wanted to punch her in the face🤣🤣. She was being to judgy and she'd jump into conclusion instead of hearing what the shadow king was telling her🤷🏾♀️.
I mean I get it you were raised to hate him but at least hear him out 😭. The only person who put her in her place was Tislora....the kingdom sorceress 💁🏾♀️🤣. She made sure to humble Sybelle real quick and I was here for it.
The MMC, King Varius 🤭 he was a bit off Standish at the beginning but I understand he's trying to find a way to break the curse and here comes Sybelle who he has to marry and everytime she opens her mouth it's to say something hurtful about his kingdom 🙄😐.
Did I forget to mention that he's a shadow daddy and he has wings and horns 😭💁🏾♀️🤭. That combination is my weakness when it comes to fantasy mmcs 💁🏾♀️🙇🏾♀️.
The tension between this two wasn't explosive but it was there simmering 🤭. They both knew that their relationship wouldn't go anywhere but they still fell for each other 😭♥️.
This had the micro trope where someone disrespects Sybelle and he's like "don't talk like that about MY WIFE," 🤭✨. The number of times he said that made me giggle EVERY.👏🏾 SINGLE. 👏🏾TIME.👏🏾
This retelling is now my top favourite this coming from a person who's favourite Disney movie is beauty and the beast 🤭✨ followed by tangled because who didn't want long golden hair that could heal 🤷🏾♀️😂.
My favourite quotes:
"You once laughed at the idea of me attacking you,"
"Yes, and what a fool I was. For you alone hold the key to destroying me completely,"
🙇🏾♀️✨ All hail the king.
" If you want to know what my body can do while in the throes of passion, wife, all you have to do is ask,"
🤭🥴
Burn I thought. We will burn together.
"Yes my love," came Varius 's voice in my mind.
"Burn with me,"
🙈.
I also love how the author made the Castle sentient 🙂🌸 and how Sybelle 's familiar is a dragon 👀🤭. It's all in the minor details. The Gaston in this book well you'll have to find out for yourself. 😶🌹.
This book is also a fantasy standalone with arranged marriage and is a part of a series called the Crowns of the Fae. I'll definitely be checking those out. 🙂🌸
Maybe it's because I haven't read a lot of beauty and the beast retellings because this was a blast for me 🤷🏾♀️🤭.
This story follows to kingdoms, the Earthen court and the shadow court. Every generation the Earthen court must give a human bride to the shadow court as a sacrifice to protect both courts from the wraith king's deadly shadows.
This year Sybelle was the chosen human bride who's mission was to kill the wraith king in order to stop the shadows from killing her people. Since childhood Sybelle has been trained on how to fight and basically manipulated into thinking that there's nothing good in the shadow court.
That changes when she finally learns about the curse put upon by a witch that makes all the faes in the shadow court remain in their unseelie form.
From then on Sybelle 's mission changes from killing the king to finding a way to break the curse before the shadows kill everyone from both courts.
The fmc Sybelle if I'm being honest at one point I just wanted to punch her in the face🤣🤣. She was being to judgy and she'd jump into conclusion instead of hearing what the shadow king was telling her🤷🏾♀️.
I mean I get it you were raised to hate him but at least hear him out 😭. The only person who put her in her place was Tislora....the kingdom sorceress 💁🏾♀️🤣. She made sure to humble Sybelle real quick and I was here for it.
The MMC, King Varius 🤭 he was a bit off Standish at the beginning but I understand he's trying to find a way to break the curse and here comes Sybelle who he has to marry and everytime she opens her mouth it's to say something hurtful about his kingdom 🙄😐.
Did I forget to mention that he's a shadow daddy and he has wings and horns 😭💁🏾♀️🤭. That combination is my weakness when it comes to fantasy mmcs 💁🏾♀️🙇🏾♀️.
The tension between this two wasn't explosive but it was there simmering 🤭. They both knew that their relationship wouldn't go anywhere but they still fell for each other 😭♥️.
This had the micro trope where someone disrespects Sybelle and he's like "don't talk like that about MY WIFE," 🤭✨. The number of times he said that made me giggle EVERY.👏🏾 SINGLE. 👏🏾TIME.👏🏾
This retelling is now my top favourite this coming from a person who's favourite Disney movie is beauty and the beast 🤭✨ followed by tangled because who didn't want long golden hair that could heal 🤷🏾♀️😂.
My favourite quotes:
"You once laughed at the idea of me attacking you,"
"Yes, and what a fool I was. For you alone hold the key to destroying me completely,"
🙇🏾♀️✨ All hail the king.
" If you want to know what my body can do while in the throes of passion, wife, all you have to do is ask,"
🤭🥴
Burn I thought. We will burn together.
"Yes my love," came Varius 's voice in my mind.
"Burn with me,"
🙈.
I also love how the author made the Castle sentient 🙂🌸 and how Sybelle 's familiar is a dragon 👀🤭. It's all in the minor details. The Gaston in this book well you'll have to find out for yourself. 😶🌹.
This book is also a fantasy standalone with arranged marriage and is a part of a series called the Crowns of the Fae. I'll definitely be checking those out. 🙂🌸
July 20, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Crown of Briars by R.L. Perez
A dark and steamy Beauty-and-the-Beast retelling featuring cursed royalty, court intrigue, dragon familiars… and one very conflicted princess with a plan.
Princess Sybelle is no stranger to sacrifice—every generation, a bride is sent to marry the fearsome Wraith King, cloaked in magic and shadows. She’s prepared to die… until she decides she’d rather kill him instead. With her dragon familiar by her side, Sybelle enters a deadly magical competition, determined to uncover the secrets that bind her kingdom and the man who’s supposed to be her doom. What she finds is far more dangerous—truth, temptation, and a connection she never saw coming.
What I Loved
Sybelle’s steel-core resolve: This girl walks into her fate with a plan and doesn’t flinch. She’s smart, strategic, and absolutely someone you’d want on your team during a magical coup.
The Wraith King oozes charisma and mystery: Monster? Maybe. But he's layered, sharp-tongued, and unexpectedly vulnerable.
The worldbuilding is beautifully crafted: Think magic that pulses with danger, whispered histories, dragon familiars, and political scheming with deadly consequences.
The romance has tension, stakes, and bite: No insta-love here—just two enemies circling each other with wariness, heat, and unresolved grudges.
What Didn’t Land for Me
The middle slowed a little too much: A few chapters wandered into world mechanics and court logistics just when I wanted more action.
Side characters felt a touch undercooked: With such a rich world, I kept hoping a few secondary players would leap off the page more.
Exposition sometimes dimmed the emotional heat: The romantic arc built nicely, but occasionally got tangled in the info-dump weeds.
4 stars—for a richly imagined fantasy, a heroine with grit and fire, and a romance that burns its way through layers of deception and duty. Crown of Briars delivers magic, political mayhem, and emotional depth in a way that lingers long after the final page.
If you like your fairy tale retellings with thorns, shadows, dragons, and sharp-tongued characters who don’t play by the rules—this one’s for you.
Crown of Briars by R.L. Perez
A dark and steamy Beauty-and-the-Beast retelling featuring cursed royalty, court intrigue, dragon familiars… and one very conflicted princess with a plan.
Princess Sybelle is no stranger to sacrifice—every generation, a bride is sent to marry the fearsome Wraith King, cloaked in magic and shadows. She’s prepared to die… until she decides she’d rather kill him instead. With her dragon familiar by her side, Sybelle enters a deadly magical competition, determined to uncover the secrets that bind her kingdom and the man who’s supposed to be her doom. What she finds is far more dangerous—truth, temptation, and a connection she never saw coming.
What I Loved
Sybelle’s steel-core resolve: This girl walks into her fate with a plan and doesn’t flinch. She’s smart, strategic, and absolutely someone you’d want on your team during a magical coup.
The Wraith King oozes charisma and mystery: Monster? Maybe. But he's layered, sharp-tongued, and unexpectedly vulnerable.
The worldbuilding is beautifully crafted: Think magic that pulses with danger, whispered histories, dragon familiars, and political scheming with deadly consequences.
The romance has tension, stakes, and bite: No insta-love here—just two enemies circling each other with wariness, heat, and unresolved grudges.
What Didn’t Land for Me
The middle slowed a little too much: A few chapters wandered into world mechanics and court logistics just when I wanted more action.
Side characters felt a touch undercooked: With such a rich world, I kept hoping a few secondary players would leap off the page more.
Exposition sometimes dimmed the emotional heat: The romantic arc built nicely, but occasionally got tangled in the info-dump weeds.
4 stars—for a richly imagined fantasy, a heroine with grit and fire, and a romance that burns its way through layers of deception and duty. Crown of Briars delivers magic, political mayhem, and emotional depth in a way that lingers long after the final page.
If you like your fairy tale retellings with thorns, shadows, dragons, and sharp-tongued characters who don’t play by the rules—this one’s for you.
August 5, 2025
4.5⭐
If you're fan of Beauty and the Beast vibes, this book is definitely one to check out. It’s a great retelling with a unique magic system, dark fae, court drama, slow burn romance, and an arranged marriage trope. Highly recommend it. ✨
I had so much fun reading this one. It totally pulled me in, and I couldn’t stop until I hit the last page. I was honestly kind of sad when it ended because I just wanted more!
Standalone story, told from both Sybelle and the Wraith King’s PoVs.
It’s my first book by this author, and I’m very impressed. Already eyeing what to read next from the author. Easily one of my July 2025 📚favorites.
Thank you NetGallley, Willow Haven Press and author for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
If you're fan of Beauty and the Beast vibes, this book is definitely one to check out. It’s a great retelling with a unique magic system, dark fae, court drama, slow burn romance, and an arranged marriage trope. Highly recommend it. ✨
I had so much fun reading this one. It totally pulled me in, and I couldn’t stop until I hit the last page. I was honestly kind of sad when it ended because I just wanted more!
Standalone story, told from both Sybelle and the Wraith King’s PoVs.
It’s my first book by this author, and I’m very impressed. Already eyeing what to read next from the author. Easily one of my July 2025 📚favorites.
Thank you NetGallley, Willow Haven Press and author for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
August 16, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️2.5
Okay, so I went into Crown of Briars with pretty high hopes because Beauty and the Beast retellings are just 🤌 👩🍳 💋 😭 and… this one just didn’t fully do it for me. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to know what would happen, but I wasn’t exactly flipping pages like they were on fire.
The romance fell flat for me, it went from hate to extreme love/passion within just a few pages, and that kind of insta-flip just doesn’t vibe with me. I also didn’t feel the passion between the main characters, which made it hard to get invested in their relationship. On top of that, there wasn’t much character development outside of the two MCs, which left the world feeling a little shallow.
Things that did stand out:
✨ Azure (loved her character, but still not sure how important her role really was — kind of felt like a dragon was just tossed in there)
✨ The magic castle setting (always a win)
✨ The gems-for-magic concept
✨ Enzira and Ramia
✨ Varius
But there were some plot points that made me scratch my head , like how Tislora could go from being basically in love with Varius to just… letting that go?? Felt a little too quick and left holes in the story.
Overall, this one lands at a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me, about equal likes to dislikes. If you’re in the mood for a standalone romantasy inspired by Beauty and the Beast, this one does fit the bill. It just wasn’t a new favorite for me personally.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book, all opinions here are entirely my own 💕
Okay, so I went into Crown of Briars with pretty high hopes because Beauty and the Beast retellings are just 🤌 👩🍳 💋 😭 and… this one just didn’t fully do it for me. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to know what would happen, but I wasn’t exactly flipping pages like they were on fire.
The romance fell flat for me, it went from hate to extreme love/passion within just a few pages, and that kind of insta-flip just doesn’t vibe with me. I also didn’t feel the passion between the main characters, which made it hard to get invested in their relationship. On top of that, there wasn’t much character development outside of the two MCs, which left the world feeling a little shallow.
Things that did stand out:
✨ Azure (loved her character, but still not sure how important her role really was — kind of felt like a dragon was just tossed in there)
✨ The magic castle setting (always a win)
✨ The gems-for-magic concept
✨ Enzira and Ramia
✨ Varius
But there were some plot points that made me scratch my head , like how Tislora could go from being basically in love with Varius to just… letting that go?? Felt a little too quick and left holes in the story.
Overall, this one lands at a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me, about equal likes to dislikes. If you’re in the mood for a standalone romantasy inspired by Beauty and the Beast, this one does fit the bill. It just wasn’t a new favorite for me personally.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book, all opinions here are entirely my own 💕
August 14, 2025
This book had me instantly hooked, and by the end, I found myself wanting to go back and experience it all over again from the very beginning. I can honestly say this is one of the best Beauty and the Beast retellings I’ve ever read.
From the very first chapter, the story drew me in and refused to let go. The pacing was spot-on, maintaining a steady rhythm that never felt slow or rushed. I came into this book with zero expectations, but the moment I realized it was a reimagining of one of my all-time favorite tales, my curiosity was piqued, and it absolutely delivered.
The world-building was lush and richly detailed. At first, the magic system felt a bit unclear, and I struggled to grasp its origins and mechanics. However, as the story progressed, the pieces began to fall into place beautifully. The way the magic shaped individuals and specific groups was cleverly revealed, adding depth and complexity that unfolded naturally without relying on heavy exposition. It became clear that the narrative was intricately crafted, with each chapter carefully placed to build both the plot and the emotional tension.
The chemistry between the main characters was exceptional. The slow burn, the banter, the forced proximity, and the enemies-to-lovers dynamic were all executed with precision and just the right amount of emotional weight. The push and pull between them felt authentic and deeply satisfying. By the time I reached the final portion of the book, I was truly on the edge of my seat, heart racing and completely immersed in their journey.
The main characters were wonderfully layered, full of vulnerability, strength, and growth. Their development was a joy to witness. However, the same depth did not fully extend to the side characters, who occasionally felt underdeveloped or a bit rushed. Similarly, while the central romance was compelling, it could have benefited from a bit more time to build a stronger and more organic connection.
That said, the fantasy elements—particularly the magical lore, histories, and political dynamics—were woven with care and skill. The world felt immersive and believable, even when steeped in the fantastical. At times, it read like a mature young adult novel, blending whimsical world-building with moments of intensity and passion.
As someone who has only briefly explored monster romances, I was delighted by how seamlessly the fantasy elements were integrated into the story. It struck a lovely balance between romance and adventure, between character development and plot progression.
Overall, this was a captivating and enchanting read. If you enjoy romantasy, stories with magical depth, or Beauty and the Beast retellings with a fresh perspective, this one is absolutely worth your time.
From the very first chapter, the story drew me in and refused to let go. The pacing was spot-on, maintaining a steady rhythm that never felt slow or rushed. I came into this book with zero expectations, but the moment I realized it was a reimagining of one of my all-time favorite tales, my curiosity was piqued, and it absolutely delivered.
The world-building was lush and richly detailed. At first, the magic system felt a bit unclear, and I struggled to grasp its origins and mechanics. However, as the story progressed, the pieces began to fall into place beautifully. The way the magic shaped individuals and specific groups was cleverly revealed, adding depth and complexity that unfolded naturally without relying on heavy exposition. It became clear that the narrative was intricately crafted, with each chapter carefully placed to build both the plot and the emotional tension.
The chemistry between the main characters was exceptional. The slow burn, the banter, the forced proximity, and the enemies-to-lovers dynamic were all executed with precision and just the right amount of emotional weight. The push and pull between them felt authentic and deeply satisfying. By the time I reached the final portion of the book, I was truly on the edge of my seat, heart racing and completely immersed in their journey.
The main characters were wonderfully layered, full of vulnerability, strength, and growth. Their development was a joy to witness. However, the same depth did not fully extend to the side characters, who occasionally felt underdeveloped or a bit rushed. Similarly, while the central romance was compelling, it could have benefited from a bit more time to build a stronger and more organic connection.
That said, the fantasy elements—particularly the magical lore, histories, and political dynamics—were woven with care and skill. The world felt immersive and believable, even when steeped in the fantastical. At times, it read like a mature young adult novel, blending whimsical world-building with moments of intensity and passion.
As someone who has only briefly explored monster romances, I was delighted by how seamlessly the fantasy elements were integrated into the story. It struck a lovely balance between romance and adventure, between character development and plot progression.
Overall, this was a captivating and enchanting read. If you enjoy romantasy, stories with magical depth, or Beauty and the Beast retellings with a fresh perspective, this one is absolutely worth your time.
October 22, 2025
Oh my days!! This book was absolutely amazing!!
This is probably one of the best romantasy books that I've read for a while!!
I really loved Sybelle's character!!! She was strong and resilient in what she believed in and in what was best for everyone not just herself! Although there was a couple moments where she was soooo stubborn, like she didn't let Varius explain certain things. I know that she will believe what was ingrained into her but it was sooo wrong and she had the evidence for the truth but still took a while to believe it!! But ignoring those she was an amazing fmc and I really enjoyed her character progression throughout the book she got more lovable!! Also lovee her and her friendships with Azure, Enzira, Ramia & Eira <3
Varius - oh wowwww!! What an incredible mmc!! I was a bit scared going into this on what he would be like as a character but he was sooo good!! I love him sooo much, he has so much love to give Sybelle and deeply cares for her! He has not had an easy life and has had soo many struggles but still doesn't let that stop him from trying to destroy the curse! However there was a couple moments that his anger did get the best of him and again if he had just listened and heard her out they probably would've avoided a couple of arguments and silent treatments 🫠 But overall he definitely got a lot better as the book progressed and I was in love with him by the end <3
Another character that I warmed up to by the end was Tilsora!! I really didn't like her but by the end I loveddd her! She definitely was under appreciated a lot and I did think the worst for a while but then realised how wrong I was!
These two characters together were beautiful I loved them sooo much!! I will definitely go back and read the other books and anymore that come out in the future!!! 💗
Thank you to R.L. Perez & Willow Haven Press! 💗
This is probably one of the best romantasy books that I've read for a while!!
I really loved Sybelle's character!!! She was strong and resilient in what she believed in and in what was best for everyone not just herself! Although there was a couple moments where she was soooo stubborn, like she didn't let Varius explain certain things. I know that she will believe what was ingrained into her but it was sooo wrong and she had the evidence for the truth but still took a while to believe it!! But ignoring those she was an amazing fmc and I really enjoyed her character progression throughout the book she got more lovable!! Also lovee her and her friendships with Azure, Enzira, Ramia & Eira <3
Varius - oh wowwww!! What an incredible mmc!! I was a bit scared going into this on what he would be like as a character but he was sooo good!! I love him sooo much, he has so much love to give Sybelle and deeply cares for her! He has not had an easy life and has had soo many struggles but still doesn't let that stop him from trying to destroy the curse! However there was a couple moments that his anger did get the best of him and again if he had just listened and heard her out they probably would've avoided a couple of arguments and silent treatments 🫠 But overall he definitely got a lot better as the book progressed and I was in love with him by the end <3
Another character that I warmed up to by the end was Tilsora!! I really didn't like her but by the end I loveddd her! She definitely was under appreciated a lot and I did think the worst for a while but then realised how wrong I was!
These two characters together were beautiful I loved them sooo much!! I will definitely go back and read the other books and anymore that come out in the future!!! 💗
Thank you to R.L. Perez & Willow Haven Press! 💗
July 25, 2025
R.L. Perez - Crown of Briars
“To all the readers who were disappointed when the beast transformed into a human. Varius, in all his monstrous glory, was written for you.”
Crown of Briars is a fantastic beauty and the beast retelling, where the monster in fact stays a monster. And in case you wondered, yes his anatomy is slightly different 👀 I’ve read R.L. Perez previously, but I’m always amazed by how captured I am by her books. I pick it up and get so emerged in the story I don’t want to put it down. It’s so well written and captivating I lost grip on time!
Not only is this a monster romance, but it’s also a true enemies to lovers and arrange marriage of convenience. Princess Sybelle is half fae, but has grown up being taught to hate all fae. Varius is unseelie and cursed to adapt more and more monstrous traits every full moon. If he doesn’t marry Sybelle he’ll die of his curse and malicious shadows will destroy his kingdom. She however, has been trained her whole life to kill the terrible wraith king that abducts and kills his brides.
One of my biggest disappointments with enemies to lovers romances, is when they’re not actually enemies. It’s just a stupid misunderstanding og their hate is totally uncalled for. Here the hate and enemies makes to much sense! They’re different races and find each other disgusting at the start. Like Varius can hardly stand Sybelle’s smell at their wedding.
I loved how sweet Varius was towards Sybelle when they got to know each other. He refused to r@pe her for his own benefit and tried to make things more comfortable for her. Yet they had this inherited mistrust of each other that kept making complications. Sybelle was clever but also kind and brave. She tried to adopt customs of The Shadow Court and be a good queen while saving her own kingdom.
I found Sybelle’s magic interesting and loved her friendship with her dragon, Azure and her maids. R.L. Perez crafted an interesting mystery and there were some unexpected betrayals that surprised me.
All in all; the beauty and the beast retelling I’ve been waiting for!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
“To all the readers who were disappointed when the beast transformed into a human. Varius, in all his monstrous glory, was written for you.”
Crown of Briars is a fantastic beauty and the beast retelling, where the monster in fact stays a monster. And in case you wondered, yes his anatomy is slightly different 👀 I’ve read R.L. Perez previously, but I’m always amazed by how captured I am by her books. I pick it up and get so emerged in the story I don’t want to put it down. It’s so well written and captivating I lost grip on time!
Not only is this a monster romance, but it’s also a true enemies to lovers and arrange marriage of convenience. Princess Sybelle is half fae, but has grown up being taught to hate all fae. Varius is unseelie and cursed to adapt more and more monstrous traits every full moon. If he doesn’t marry Sybelle he’ll die of his curse and malicious shadows will destroy his kingdom. She however, has been trained her whole life to kill the terrible wraith king that abducts and kills his brides.
One of my biggest disappointments with enemies to lovers romances, is when they’re not actually enemies. It’s just a stupid misunderstanding og their hate is totally uncalled for. Here the hate and enemies makes to much sense! They’re different races and find each other disgusting at the start. Like Varius can hardly stand Sybelle’s smell at their wedding.
I loved how sweet Varius was towards Sybelle when they got to know each other. He refused to r@pe her for his own benefit and tried to make things more comfortable for her. Yet they had this inherited mistrust of each other that kept making complications. Sybelle was clever but also kind and brave. She tried to adopt customs of The Shadow Court and be a good queen while saving her own kingdom.
I found Sybelle’s magic interesting and loved her friendship with her dragon, Azure and her maids. R.L. Perez crafted an interesting mystery and there were some unexpected betrayals that surprised me.
All in all; the beauty and the beast retelling I’ve been waiting for!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
August 16, 2025
Crown of Briars, a book that is a part of the Crowns of the Fae series, was my first read from the author R.L Perez. I was pleasantly surprised. The Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite stories. I thoroughly enjoyed Perez's spin on the story and the intriguing concepts she added, especially her idea of what the Fae are like in this fairytale world she has built. I find it interesting that rather than the fae being seperated into two different types: unseelie and seelie as you would find in many fantasy books, the fae in Perez's world are both seelie and unseelie as evident by the two forms they are able to transition too.
My only complaint would be that I found the pacing a bit slow until I finished reading the first half of the story. I found the pace really started to pick up once Sybelle arrived in the Shadow Court and had married Varius. Sybelle and Varius have a lot of chemistry. I enjoyed their slow burn romance and would give the spice a rating of level 4. Perez did an excellant job with her main characters' development. I am interested in seeing more of this world Perez has created and look forward to reading the next book in this series. I highly recommend reading Crown of Briars.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers, and to R.L Perez for the opportunity to read this arc copy. All opinions expressed in this review are solely mine.
My only complaint would be that I found the pacing a bit slow until I finished reading the first half of the story. I found the pace really started to pick up once Sybelle arrived in the Shadow Court and had married Varius. Sybelle and Varius have a lot of chemistry. I enjoyed their slow burn romance and would give the spice a rating of level 4. Perez did an excellant job with her main characters' development. I am interested in seeing more of this world Perez has created and look forward to reading the next book in this series. I highly recommend reading Crown of Briars.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers, and to R.L Perez for the opportunity to read this arc copy. All opinions expressed in this review are solely mine.
July 24, 2025
Jaw dropping, sexy, intriguing, rollar coaster of a book! This is beauty and the beast for fantasy loving adults. The magic systems using gem stones was refreshing, the curse placed on the fae was intriguing and the mischievous castle is a favorite!
Highly recommend this story for vibes and a good time. The things you'll find sexy will make you question yourself but just enjoy the ride!
Highly recommend this story for vibes and a good time. The things you'll find sexy will make you question yourself but just enjoy the ride!
July 20, 2025
4⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read Crown of Briars in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This Beauty and the Beast-inspired fantasy blends action, fae magic, dragons, and slow-burn romance 👑🐉💘. Azure, the loyal, mind-talking dragon bonded to the FMC from the start, completely stole the show 💙. The sentient castle was another highlight—it added charm and mystery to the setting 🏰. The romance leans into enemies to lovers and arranged marriage tropes, with some real steam. While the first half moved a little slowly and the world-building wasn't particularly deep, the secrets and court intrigue gave me Bridge Kingdom vibes and kept me hooked. The FMC did come across a bit childish at times, but her bond with Azure and emotional growth helped balance that.
Also, I couldn’t stop picturing the Beast as a red-skinned orc with curly hair and goat horns—and honestly? It worked 😅❤️🔥. He’s got definite shadow daddy energy, brooding and powerful. And sometimes, the real monsters aren’t the ones with claws and wings.
A solid pick for fans of fairytale retellings, fae courts, dragons, and romantic fantasy with bite.
#CrownofBriars #NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read Crown of Briars in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This Beauty and the Beast-inspired fantasy blends action, fae magic, dragons, and slow-burn romance 👑🐉💘. Azure, the loyal, mind-talking dragon bonded to the FMC from the start, completely stole the show 💙. The sentient castle was another highlight—it added charm and mystery to the setting 🏰. The romance leans into enemies to lovers and arranged marriage tropes, with some real steam. While the first half moved a little slowly and the world-building wasn't particularly deep, the secrets and court intrigue gave me Bridge Kingdom vibes and kept me hooked. The FMC did come across a bit childish at times, but her bond with Azure and emotional growth helped balance that.
Also, I couldn’t stop picturing the Beast as a red-skinned orc with curly hair and goat horns—and honestly? It worked 😅❤️🔥. He’s got definite shadow daddy energy, brooding and powerful. And sometimes, the real monsters aren’t the ones with claws and wings.
A solid pick for fans of fairytale retellings, fae courts, dragons, and romantic fantasy with bite.
#CrownofBriars #NetGalley
July 19, 2025
Crown of Briars reads more like a cozy romantasy than a high-stakes fantasy romance. There’s tension, but it’s muted. Stakes, but not urgent. Spice, but not gut-punching angst. It’s less "I’m on the edge of my seat" and more "I’m mildly intrigued while sipping tea." If that’s your field house, you’ll love it.
---
🌿 What Worked:
Crystal Magic System – The FMC could imbue herself with power using gemstones, which was unique and refreshing. It felt studied and intentional, not just tossed in for aesthetics. I only wish it had been explored deeper.
Sentient Castle – Lowkey gave House of Wind energy (Nesta’s story in ACOTAR) and I was here for it.
Side Characters – Tislora, Enzira, and Azura (the dragon) were standout moments in an otherwise flat cast.
Spice – The spicy scenes were actually good. Not overly done, and gave the tension a break when needed.
---
🪨 What Didn’t Work:
Pacing – The first half was full of internal monologues and slow unraveling. I was waiting for the plot to do something. At 36%, I was already bored. At 88%, I still didn’t know why I should care.
Romance Shift – These two went from enemies with real tension to "eff our kingdoms, I choose you" after one fairy ball. And the shift wasn’t believable. Varius in particular felt off — a man obsessed with duty doesn’t just drop it without cause.
World-Building – Thin. Both kingdoms felt like vague concepts rather than lived-in places. Side characters popped in and out without real presence or weight.
Emotional Investment – I couldn’t connect with their stakes. I should’ve cared about protecting their people, but it felt like a plot point, not a passion.
Retelling Disconnect – Honestly, it didn’t need to be marketed as a Beauty and the Beast retelling. It didn’t feel like one. That label raised expectations that weren’t met. If anything, A Curse So Dark and Lonely handled that theme better.
---
Would I recommend it? For cozy romantasy readers who enjoy slow pacing, magic systems with soft lore, and tension-light romances, sure.
This was an ARC read via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
---
🌿 What Worked:
Crystal Magic System – The FMC could imbue herself with power using gemstones, which was unique and refreshing. It felt studied and intentional, not just tossed in for aesthetics. I only wish it had been explored deeper.
Sentient Castle – Lowkey gave House of Wind energy (Nesta’s story in ACOTAR) and I was here for it.
Side Characters – Tislora, Enzira, and Azura (the dragon) were standout moments in an otherwise flat cast.
Spice – The spicy scenes were actually good. Not overly done, and gave the tension a break when needed.
---
🪨 What Didn’t Work:
Pacing – The first half was full of internal monologues and slow unraveling. I was waiting for the plot to do something. At 36%, I was already bored. At 88%, I still didn’t know why I should care.
Romance Shift – These two went from enemies with real tension to "eff our kingdoms, I choose you" after one fairy ball. And the shift wasn’t believable. Varius in particular felt off — a man obsessed with duty doesn’t just drop it without cause.
World-Building – Thin. Both kingdoms felt like vague concepts rather than lived-in places. Side characters popped in and out without real presence or weight.
Emotional Investment – I couldn’t connect with their stakes. I should’ve cared about protecting their people, but it felt like a plot point, not a passion.
Retelling Disconnect – Honestly, it didn’t need to be marketed as a Beauty and the Beast retelling. It didn’t feel like one. That label raised expectations that weren’t met. If anything, A Curse So Dark and Lonely handled that theme better.
---
Would I recommend it? For cozy romantasy readers who enjoy slow pacing, magic systems with soft lore, and tension-light romances, sure.
This was an ARC read via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
July 22, 2025
★★★
Thank you NetGalley and Willow Haven Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Crown of Briars had some intriguing ideas, but overall it didn’t quite work for me. The blurb sounded so promising, but it just didn't live up to the description...or its own title which, now that I think about it, made no sense. There weren’t any briars.
The romance between Sybelle and Varius was incredibly bizarre. There was hatred, fear, and lust, and then they were just intensely in love. Varius saying things like he'd be ready to abandon his kingdom for her so quickly felt more dramatic than earned. Their relationship lacked the kind of buildup that makes these stakes feel meaningful.
Stylistically, the writing leaned more juvenile than I expected. It read like a YA fantasy, but with some mature content added in. That mix didn’t quite land—it felt like it was trying to be an adult romantasy, but without the complexity you'd hope for in the genre.
Sybelle was described as a highly trained assassin, but she didn’t really act like one. She often came across as unskilled or utterly unaware, and made bizarre choices, which made it hard to buy into her character. I didn’t find either main character especially compelling, and the story just didn’t have the emotional or narrative depth I was hoping for. Information was kind of just haphazardly thrown out, still no idea how she got the dragon or why it's "hers," or how she feels about the fact that her mother was bred then murdered after she was born, or so many other things.
That said, there were some fun scenes and interesting ideas sprinkled throughout, and I can see how readers who enjoy fairy tale-inspired romances might still have a good time.
Thank you NetGalley and Willow Haven Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Crown of Briars had some intriguing ideas, but overall it didn’t quite work for me. The blurb sounded so promising, but it just didn't live up to the description...or its own title which, now that I think about it, made no sense. There weren’t any briars.
The romance between Sybelle and Varius was incredibly bizarre. There was hatred, fear, and lust, and then they were just intensely in love. Varius saying things like he'd be ready to abandon his kingdom for her so quickly felt more dramatic than earned. Their relationship lacked the kind of buildup that makes these stakes feel meaningful.
Stylistically, the writing leaned more juvenile than I expected. It read like a YA fantasy, but with some mature content added in. That mix didn’t quite land—it felt like it was trying to be an adult romantasy, but without the complexity you'd hope for in the genre.
Sybelle was described as a highly trained assassin, but she didn’t really act like one. She often came across as unskilled or utterly unaware, and made bizarre choices, which made it hard to buy into her character. I didn’t find either main character especially compelling, and the story just didn’t have the emotional or narrative depth I was hoping for. Information was kind of just haphazardly thrown out, still no idea how she got the dragon or why it's "hers," or how she feels about the fact that her mother was bred then murdered after she was born, or so many other things.
That said, there were some fun scenes and interesting ideas sprinkled throughout, and I can see how readers who enjoy fairy tale-inspired romances might still have a good time.
July 18, 2025
3.5-3.75/5 rounded up.
I remember liking the first book in this series, and the same goes for this second one!
This is a Beauty and the Beast retelling (and I love retellings) that follows the Wraith King as he marries Sybelle (a princess) to try to break his curse.
This is a world of fae, shadow magic, kingdom politics, and twisting magic. All things that I enjoy in a fantasy novel.
The plot twists worked well, the characters had great senses of humor, the side characters were well-developed, and there was a really cool enchanted castle (all you have to say is that there is a cool castle and I am in).
I didn't love the miscommunication that was happening every now and then, it made the characters just seem stupid at times. I think that was a disservice to them.
This did read super fast and I think that is always a good thing. I will definitely be continuing this series, so far, I have been having a great time with it and will recommend it to anyone looking for a new fantasy to get into.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
I remember liking the first book in this series, and the same goes for this second one!
This is a Beauty and the Beast retelling (and I love retellings) that follows the Wraith King as he marries Sybelle (a princess) to try to break his curse.
This is a world of fae, shadow magic, kingdom politics, and twisting magic. All things that I enjoy in a fantasy novel.
The plot twists worked well, the characters had great senses of humor, the side characters were well-developed, and there was a really cool enchanted castle (all you have to say is that there is a cool castle and I am in).
I didn't love the miscommunication that was happening every now and then, it made the characters just seem stupid at times. I think that was a disservice to them.
This did read super fast and I think that is always a good thing. I will definitely be continuing this series, so far, I have been having a great time with it and will recommend it to anyone looking for a new fantasy to get into.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
August 10, 2025
R.L. Perez is a new author for me, and I approached this book with high expectations based on its intriguing synopsis. I was delighted to find that it exceeded my hopes, offering a captivating experience.
Having read numerous retellings of Beauty and the Beast, I can confidently say that this one comes closest to capturing the essence of the original tale. The Beast, known as the Wraith King, embodies the true nature of the character—gruff and monstrous, as befitting a cursed Unseelie Fae.
The slow-burn romance between Sybelle and the Wraith King is utterly addictive, enhanced by the tension of the enemies-to-lovers and arranged marriage tropes that draw you deeper into the story.
"Crown of Briars" truly fulfills all the expectations one might have for a Beauty and the Beast retelling. A special mention goes to the fantastic side characters, Ramia and Enzira, who add depth and charm to the story.
I’m also excited to hear that Perez has written a Snow White retelling, which I do plan to read very soon.
ARC Kindly provided by NetGalley
July 3, 2025
This is marketed as an adult Beauty and the Beast retelling for those who wished the beast remained a beast, and that’s exactly what it is!
Each generation, a human princess of the Earthen Court has been raised to be sent to the Shadow Court to marry the beastly Wraith King, to keep his deadly shadows at bay. Sybelle, a half human/half fae, is sent to marry Varius, the unseelie king, and finds that the stories she’s been told her whole life are not quite true.
I flew through this, it was so easy to read and I didn’t want to put it down. I liked that Sybelle’s magic was quite unique and harnessed the different properties of gemstones, and I loved her relationship with her dragon, Azure. Beauty and the Beast is one of my all time favourite fairytales, so I loved all the similarities to the original with a fae twist. For the vibes, enjoyment factor, and all the growing tension, I’d rate this highly ✨!
Thank you @rlperezbooks for the ARC 💛!!
Each generation, a human princess of the Earthen Court has been raised to be sent to the Shadow Court to marry the beastly Wraith King, to keep his deadly shadows at bay. Sybelle, a half human/half fae, is sent to marry Varius, the unseelie king, and finds that the stories she’s been told her whole life are not quite true.
I flew through this, it was so easy to read and I didn’t want to put it down. I liked that Sybelle’s magic was quite unique and harnessed the different properties of gemstones, and I loved her relationship with her dragon, Azure. Beauty and the Beast is one of my all time favourite fairytales, so I loved all the similarities to the original with a fae twist. For the vibes, enjoyment factor, and all the growing tension, I’d rate this highly ✨!
Thank you @rlperezbooks for the ARC 💛!!
July 14, 2025
This is a spicy Beauty and the Beast retelling, for anyone who prefers their Beast to stay a Beast.
The writing was solid and easy to follow, and I really enjoyed Sybelle’s magic, it felt fresh and unique. And the dragon was a total scene-stealer. Though it did feel a little odd that she was the only one of her kind mentioned... I kinda wanted more lore there.
I liked the story overall, but for me personally, it ran a little long. That’s just a preference thing, not a deal-breaker.
If you like your fairy tales dark, magical, and hot, this one might be for you.
Thank you to the author and Netgally for the ARC, this is my honest opinion!
The writing was solid and easy to follow, and I really enjoyed Sybelle’s magic, it felt fresh and unique. And the dragon was a total scene-stealer. Though it did feel a little odd that she was the only one of her kind mentioned... I kinda wanted more lore there.
I liked the story overall, but for me personally, it ran a little long. That’s just a preference thing, not a deal-breaker.
If you like your fairy tales dark, magical, and hot, this one might be for you.
Thank you to the author and Netgally for the ARC, this is my honest opinion!
July 21, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc! This was such a fun read. I had a feeling I would like this book from the beginning especially since Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney princess movie. She did an amazing job of keeping the baseline of the story but then making it her own. I enjoyed it from beginning to end and I am left with no confusion or questions! Sybelle and Varius was written so well and explained so well that I could picture them. The spice was also the perfect amount and gave just enough. Everything about this book was magical and really enjoyable. I definitely recommend this book!!
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc! This was such a fun read. I had a feeling I would like this book from the beginning especially since Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney princess movie. She did an amazing job of keeping the baseline of the story but then making it her own. I enjoyed it from beginning to end and I am left with no confusion or questions! Sybelle and Varius was written so well and explained so well that I could picture them. The spice was also the perfect amount and gave just enough. Everything about this book was magical and really enjoyable. I definitely recommend this book!!
August 2, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
This beauty and the beast retelling had me hooked from page 1.
Sybille is strong, smart and doesn’t take crap from anyone.
We have an enchanted castle that likes to cause chaos and will send you where it thinks you should go.
A new shadow daddy has been added to my list! The things he does with his shadows is just 🫠
Tropes to look forward to
Arranged marriages
He falls first
Found family
Magic and curses
If you love a fairy tale retelling, shadow daddies, fae, a slow burn with epic banter, add this to your TBR!
This beauty and the beast retelling had me hooked from page 1.
Sybille is strong, smart and doesn’t take crap from anyone.
We have an enchanted castle that likes to cause chaos and will send you where it thinks you should go.
A new shadow daddy has been added to my list! The things he does with his shadows is just 🫠
Tropes to look forward to
Arranged marriages
He falls first
Found family
Magic and curses
If you love a fairy tale retelling, shadow daddies, fae, a slow burn with epic banter, add this to your TBR!
August 25, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️This book is like cursed fae chaos with a dash of “WTF just happened.” Wings bursting out of backs, sassy raven shapeshifters, and one very dramatic curse. Everyone needs therapy, but they settle for drama and blood magic instead.
It’s dark, wild, and honestly? I’m kinda obsessed.
—
I received this copy as an eARC read. Special thanks to R.L Perez.
It’s dark, wild, and honestly? I’m kinda obsessed.
—
I received this copy as an eARC read. Special thanks to R.L Perez.
July 13, 2025
4.5⭐️
3🌶️
Thank you to NetGalley and Willow Haven Press for an e-arc of this book.
Crown of Briar is book 2 in the Crowns of Fae series, but each are set up as stand alones and can be read in any order. I did read book 1, Crown of Slumber, before reading this but you DON’T need to in order to read this story. There isn’t really anything overlapping outside it’s technically the same world, but different courts.
Sybelle was born to fulfill a treaty. Every generation, the Earthen Court sends a human royal bride to marry the Shadow King. Generations of women have gone before her, never to be heard from again. But it’s what must be done to keep the Unseelie shadows from attacking their court. But Sybelle’s father is determined to end the Shadow King once and for all and bred Sybelle to be half fae, despite his complete hatred of everything and everyone fae. He’s trained her from birth for one purpose and one purpose only.
Varius, King of the Unseelie, has tried everything to avoid the inevitable: marry a human bride and keep the shadows at bay. The curse on his land has consumed the life of every king before him leading back generations. There’s a way to end the curse for good, but he’s bound to not reveal any details to his new bride. When Sybelle arrives, she’s not at all what he expected. She’s stubborn, strong willed, and the biggest of all, doesn’t seem afraid of his beastly appearance. She should be in his mind though. While at first, they both are determined to make do with this political marriage, each with their own motives, soon enough, real trust and feelings begin to develop. But centuries of hatred between the two species brings prejudices that are hard to break. And as they both discover, there’s more to this curse than originally thought.
It took me a couple chapters to really get into this and the concept of the description of the Unseelie forms Varius and others have. Being a Beauty and the Beast retelling, it really leans heavy into loving the Beast side. It took a bit for me, but honestly, I ended up loving this installment probably more than the first (still loved Crown of Slumber though!).
The development between Sybelle and Varius is so genuine and grows over time. I also love too how Sybelle really immerses herself into the Unseelie court. She isn’t afraid or bashful of their different traditions. The revel scene was just 🥵🥵
The spice 🌶️ is slow burn but omg, the payoff is SO worth it!! Wow, their scenes are hot hot hot. How Varius completely gives himself to Sybelle and vice versa was so thrilling to read. We have a couple different scenes on top of a lot of banter and tension throughout the book. Just loved it! 🥵😍
Overall, I enjoyed reading this and can’t wait for the next book, which is going to be a Snow White retelling following one of Sybelle’s friends. If you enjoy dark, spicy fairytale retellings, this is a series for you. You still get elements of the fairytale but with a unique twist to them. Fun to read!
3🌶️
Thank you to NetGalley and Willow Haven Press for an e-arc of this book.
Crown of Briar is book 2 in the Crowns of Fae series, but each are set up as stand alones and can be read in any order. I did read book 1, Crown of Slumber, before reading this but you DON’T need to in order to read this story. There isn’t really anything overlapping outside it’s technically the same world, but different courts.
Sybelle was born to fulfill a treaty. Every generation, the Earthen Court sends a human royal bride to marry the Shadow King. Generations of women have gone before her, never to be heard from again. But it’s what must be done to keep the Unseelie shadows from attacking their court. But Sybelle’s father is determined to end the Shadow King once and for all and bred Sybelle to be half fae, despite his complete hatred of everything and everyone fae. He’s trained her from birth for one purpose and one purpose only.
Varius, King of the Unseelie, has tried everything to avoid the inevitable: marry a human bride and keep the shadows at bay. The curse on his land has consumed the life of every king before him leading back generations. There’s a way to end the curse for good, but he’s bound to not reveal any details to his new bride. When Sybelle arrives, she’s not at all what he expected. She’s stubborn, strong willed, and the biggest of all, doesn’t seem afraid of his beastly appearance. She should be in his mind though. While at first, they both are determined to make do with this political marriage, each with their own motives, soon enough, real trust and feelings begin to develop. But centuries of hatred between the two species brings prejudices that are hard to break. And as they both discover, there’s more to this curse than originally thought.
It took me a couple chapters to really get into this and the concept of the description of the Unseelie forms Varius and others have. Being a Beauty and the Beast retelling, it really leans heavy into loving the Beast side. It took a bit for me, but honestly, I ended up loving this installment probably more than the first (still loved Crown of Slumber though!).
The development between Sybelle and Varius is so genuine and grows over time. I also love too how Sybelle really immerses herself into the Unseelie court. She isn’t afraid or bashful of their different traditions. The revel scene was just 🥵🥵
The spice 🌶️ is slow burn but omg, the payoff is SO worth it!! Wow, their scenes are hot hot hot. How Varius completely gives himself to Sybelle and vice versa was so thrilling to read. We have a couple different scenes on top of a lot of banter and tension throughout the book. Just loved it! 🥵😍
Overall, I enjoyed reading this and can’t wait for the next book, which is going to be a Snow White retelling following one of Sybelle’s friends. If you enjoy dark, spicy fairytale retellings, this is a series for you. You still get elements of the fairytale but with a unique twist to them. Fun to read!
July 29, 2025
He must wed her to break the curse. She must kill him to save her people.
Spoilers ahead!!!!
Tropes:
-Arranged Marriage
-Enemies to Lovers
-Forced Proximity
-Fairy Tale Retelling
-Grumpy x Sunshine (kinda)
Sybelle, a half fae half human has been trained all her life to become the wife of the Wraith king, and to kill him to save her people from his lethal shadows slowly creeping over the border. And when the day comes that she is swept away from the Earthen Court, she leaves behind all she has ever known.
Varius, the king of the Shadow Court, is cursed. He takes on a monstrous form every full moon, and as the moons pass, the curse grows in severity, mutilating him further. When the curse is finally too much to bear, he must call upon the Earthen Court to bring him his human bride, as promised in an agreement from long ago, keeping peace between the two courts.
When she arrives, Sybelle is thrust into the world of unseelie fae politics, after messing up her vows in the wedding ceremony, she fears that she is unworthy of ruling the Shadow Court. She is still determined to kill Varius, believing in what she was told: he was the one controlling the shadows. But when Varius opens up to her about the curse, although not completely, her trust to her court wavers slightly.
She agrees to give Varius a vial of her blood routinely, after a lot of persuasion from Tislora, the palace sorceress and Varius’s ex-lover. But after Varius discovers that there is more to Sybelle than meets the eye, their relationship grows stronger.
An unseelie fae revel is announced, and Sybelle is invited by Tislora, and reluctantly attends with her maid and friend, Enzira. But Sybelle didn’t know of the… antics of an unseelie revel, and is shocked by the behaviours of some fae. She cozies up to Varius at the revel, but is interrupted by Warwick, an unseelie soldier. He implies some suggestive actions with Sybelle, as the previous human brides were ‘shared’ amongst the fae at revels. Varius had no such intention, but Sybelle leaves teary eyed at the fact that he didn’t tell her of the previous revels and what happened to the human brides there.
The pair once again drift apart, only to be reunited when Sybelle swears by her fae blood that she is loyal to Varius and the Shadow Court, and no longer the Earthen Court. But when Sybelle’s ex lover marries her sister, and her sister kills her father, they invade the Shadow Court, determined to stop the shadows from advancing further into Earthen territory. Sybelles ex lover, Gerard, explains that he is the son of the witch who cast the curse in the first place, and tells her how to break the curse.
Together with Tislora, they manage to steal the bloodstone from Gerard, which must be fused with the shadowstone and then destroyed in the apex of the lethal shadows to beat the curse. Sybelle goes to the shadow storm, and nearly sacrifices her life for the Shadow Court. All the while Varius is fighting an Earthen army at the palace.
After the curse is broken and the Earthen Army retreats, Sybelle becomes Queen of the Shadow Court and rules alongside Varius.
An enthralling and gripping beauty and the beast retelling, that stole my heart right from the beginning! Would recommend to lovers of fairy tale retellings and fantasy!
Spoilers ahead!!!!
Tropes:
-Arranged Marriage
-Enemies to Lovers
-Forced Proximity
-Fairy Tale Retelling
-Grumpy x Sunshine (kinda)
Sybelle, a half fae half human has been trained all her life to become the wife of the Wraith king, and to kill him to save her people from his lethal shadows slowly creeping over the border. And when the day comes that she is swept away from the Earthen Court, she leaves behind all she has ever known.
Varius, the king of the Shadow Court, is cursed. He takes on a monstrous form every full moon, and as the moons pass, the curse grows in severity, mutilating him further. When the curse is finally too much to bear, he must call upon the Earthen Court to bring him his human bride, as promised in an agreement from long ago, keeping peace between the two courts.
When she arrives, Sybelle is thrust into the world of unseelie fae politics, after messing up her vows in the wedding ceremony, she fears that she is unworthy of ruling the Shadow Court. She is still determined to kill Varius, believing in what she was told: he was the one controlling the shadows. But when Varius opens up to her about the curse, although not completely, her trust to her court wavers slightly.
She agrees to give Varius a vial of her blood routinely, after a lot of persuasion from Tislora, the palace sorceress and Varius’s ex-lover. But after Varius discovers that there is more to Sybelle than meets the eye, their relationship grows stronger.
An unseelie fae revel is announced, and Sybelle is invited by Tislora, and reluctantly attends with her maid and friend, Enzira. But Sybelle didn’t know of the… antics of an unseelie revel, and is shocked by the behaviours of some fae. She cozies up to Varius at the revel, but is interrupted by Warwick, an unseelie soldier. He implies some suggestive actions with Sybelle, as the previous human brides were ‘shared’ amongst the fae at revels. Varius had no such intention, but Sybelle leaves teary eyed at the fact that he didn’t tell her of the previous revels and what happened to the human brides there.
The pair once again drift apart, only to be reunited when Sybelle swears by her fae blood that she is loyal to Varius and the Shadow Court, and no longer the Earthen Court. But when Sybelle’s ex lover marries her sister, and her sister kills her father, they invade the Shadow Court, determined to stop the shadows from advancing further into Earthen territory. Sybelles ex lover, Gerard, explains that he is the son of the witch who cast the curse in the first place, and tells her how to break the curse.
Together with Tislora, they manage to steal the bloodstone from Gerard, which must be fused with the shadowstone and then destroyed in the apex of the lethal shadows to beat the curse. Sybelle goes to the shadow storm, and nearly sacrifices her life for the Shadow Court. All the while Varius is fighting an Earthen army at the palace.
After the curse is broken and the Earthen Army retreats, Sybelle becomes Queen of the Shadow Court and rules alongside Varius.
An enthralling and gripping beauty and the beast retelling, that stole my heart right from the beginning! Would recommend to lovers of fairy tale retellings and fantasy!
July 12, 2025
I received an ARC copy from the author and though I wasn’t required to post a review I wanted to offer my honest, voluntary impression of the book upon finishing it.
This is a retelling of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale but with twists and steamy scenes not found in the original story!
An alliance has been struck many centuries ago between two kingdoms to keep poisonous shadows at bay but there is deception, and betrayal at work within both kingdoms. There are parts of the alliance neither side remembers until the latest Earthen Princess is sent to marry the Wraith King and though she has an agenda all her own to end the alliance, she finds what she has always believed not to be true. She finds herself drawn to this king and through her friendship with her maid who becomes her friend she is determined to research this curse upon the land and end it. However, it may require more than she originally thought!
This was an exciting tale that will capture your imagination. As she and her husband work out their differences and start to learn to trust each other, what she discovers with her Fae magic unlocks the full terms of the curse and leaves her with a choice to make. As it turns out there are multiple things, not just one, that have to take place before the curse can be banished!
I think you’ll be drawn into this story just as I was and will not want to put it down until you finish it! People close to both turn out not to be whom they seem and have agendas of their own to contend with.
I heartily endorse and recommend this story for all who love paranormal romance and adventure! It certainly provides both in abundance!
This is a retelling of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale but with twists and steamy scenes not found in the original story!
An alliance has been struck many centuries ago between two kingdoms to keep poisonous shadows at bay but there is deception, and betrayal at work within both kingdoms. There are parts of the alliance neither side remembers until the latest Earthen Princess is sent to marry the Wraith King and though she has an agenda all her own to end the alliance, she finds what she has always believed not to be true. She finds herself drawn to this king and through her friendship with her maid who becomes her friend she is determined to research this curse upon the land and end it. However, it may require more than she originally thought!
This was an exciting tale that will capture your imagination. As she and her husband work out their differences and start to learn to trust each other, what she discovers with her Fae magic unlocks the full terms of the curse and leaves her with a choice to make. As it turns out there are multiple things, not just one, that have to take place before the curse can be banished!
I think you’ll be drawn into this story just as I was and will not want to put it down until you finish it! People close to both turn out not to be whom they seem and have agendas of their own to contend with.
I heartily endorse and recommend this story for all who love paranormal romance and adventure! It certainly provides both in abundance!
July 19, 2025
“I will always come for you, dannahla.” 🥀
Watch out book boyfriends there’s a new Shadow Daddy on the block and he’s beastly and glorious!
Princess Sybelle has trained her whole life to marry the fearsome Wraith King in order to save her people. However, as she discovers the truth behind his curse and the man beneath the monstrous exterior, her mission becomes complicated. Now torn between her duty to her kingdom and her growing love for the cursed king, Sybelle must make a heartbreaking choice that could change everything.
To say I devoured this book would be an understatement! THIS right here is how you do a retelling! With original takes on shadow and fae magic, characters that know how to be both powerful and vulnerable, a world you just want to dive into and a true villain you will never see coming. While it has elements of the original fable; the beauty, the beast, a curse, a rose, Crown of Briars is it’s own beautifully unique tale. Sybelle is the perfect amounts of sassy, curious and determined. The dynamic between her and Varius was incredible. The spice was delectably spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️. And I loved that this book didn’t only focus on the romantic relationships but the friendships too. The banter between Sybelle and her best friend Az was not only witty but offered some comic relief to more serious points of the storyline. I cannot wait to read the next standalone in this series. If you love slow burn, dark fae vibes with a touch of spice and characters you actually want to be friends with, this book is for you!
Thank you to R.L. Perez, Willow Haven Press and NetGalley for the eARC of this book!
Watch out book boyfriends there’s a new Shadow Daddy on the block and he’s beastly and glorious!
Princess Sybelle has trained her whole life to marry the fearsome Wraith King in order to save her people. However, as she discovers the truth behind his curse and the man beneath the monstrous exterior, her mission becomes complicated. Now torn between her duty to her kingdom and her growing love for the cursed king, Sybelle must make a heartbreaking choice that could change everything.
To say I devoured this book would be an understatement! THIS right here is how you do a retelling! With original takes on shadow and fae magic, characters that know how to be both powerful and vulnerable, a world you just want to dive into and a true villain you will never see coming. While it has elements of the original fable; the beauty, the beast, a curse, a rose, Crown of Briars is it’s own beautifully unique tale. Sybelle is the perfect amounts of sassy, curious and determined. The dynamic between her and Varius was incredible. The spice was delectably spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️. And I loved that this book didn’t only focus on the romantic relationships but the friendships too. The banter between Sybelle and her best friend Az was not only witty but offered some comic relief to more serious points of the storyline. I cannot wait to read the next standalone in this series. If you love slow burn, dark fae vibes with a touch of spice and characters you actually want to be friends with, this book is for you!
Thank you to R.L. Perez, Willow Haven Press and NetGalley for the eARC of this book!
August 3, 2025
The previous book in this series of interconnected tales has been on my wishlist for ages. So, when I saw this book on Netgalley I just HAD to request a copy. I was quite excited when I got one!
This book was everything I had hoped it would be and maybe a little more. The writing is perfect! Easy to read, but still nicely flowing and a great mix of descriptions and emotions. Although it's not a thin book I absolutely flew through it. That's of course also because the story was really gripping. The author does an amazing job combining the most important elements of the original fairytale with a new and fresh world and story.
What I loved most about this book is the romance between the characters and how that progresses. It never feels rushed, but it also never feels like we're waiting and waiting and nothing happens. It helps that especially the heroine is headstrong and fierce and therefore at times quite confrontational. She's not afraid of calling people out, but she's also not afraid to feel sorry and say sorry when she's called out herself because she messed up.
I also really liked the magic in this book. Although it's actually not even that simple, it never felt like it was impossible to grasp what was happening. I also liked how everything was built up nicely. No discovery comes out of nowhere. Of course, magic does come with a few well timed revelations, but those revelations are hinted towards and the discovery of the magic has been talked about before.
I regret not picking up the previous books in the series and will for sure do so as soon as my wallet allows it!
This book was everything I had hoped it would be and maybe a little more. The writing is perfect! Easy to read, but still nicely flowing and a great mix of descriptions and emotions. Although it's not a thin book I absolutely flew through it. That's of course also because the story was really gripping. The author does an amazing job combining the most important elements of the original fairytale with a new and fresh world and story.
What I loved most about this book is the romance between the characters and how that progresses. It never feels rushed, but it also never feels like we're waiting and waiting and nothing happens. It helps that especially the heroine is headstrong and fierce and therefore at times quite confrontational. She's not afraid of calling people out, but she's also not afraid to feel sorry and say sorry when she's called out herself because she messed up.
I also really liked the magic in this book. Although it's actually not even that simple, it never felt like it was impossible to grasp what was happening. I also liked how everything was built up nicely. No discovery comes out of nowhere. Of course, magic does come with a few well timed revelations, but those revelations are hinted towards and the discovery of the magic has been talked about before.
I regret not picking up the previous books in the series and will for sure do so as soon as my wallet allows it!
July 15, 2025
YES. This is what I’m talking about. R.L. Perez does it again. I don’t even question it anymore — if her name’s on the cover, I’m reading it, inhaling it, and immediately mourning the fact that I’ll have to wait for her next book.
Crown of Briars gave me exactly what I wanted: dark fairy tale vibes, a fierce heroine with sharp edges and a soft heart she’s desperately trying to hide, and a broody cursed king who’s equal parts terrifying and tragically hot. Sybelle is sent to marry him as a pawn in her kingdom’s political games, but she’s got her own plan — kill the monster, break the curse, and save herself. Naturally, nothing goes as planned because this is Perez, and we love a good slow-burn enemies-to-lovers mess.
The world-building? Chef’s kiss. The magic is dark, the fae are terrifying, and the castle practically breathes shadows and secrets. The tension? Absolutely suffocating — in the best way possible. And don’t even get me started on the banter. These two are feral and I adored every second of their back-and-forth.
This is Perez’s wheelhouse: morally gray characters, impossible choices, and romance that burns hot enough to melt through all that angsty ice. I devoured this book, I highlighted half of it, and now I’m just sitting here wondering how I’m supposed to move on with my life until she writes me another one.
5 stars. Would sell my soul to the Wraith King for more.
Crown of Briars gave me exactly what I wanted: dark fairy tale vibes, a fierce heroine with sharp edges and a soft heart she’s desperately trying to hide, and a broody cursed king who’s equal parts terrifying and tragically hot. Sybelle is sent to marry him as a pawn in her kingdom’s political games, but she’s got her own plan — kill the monster, break the curse, and save herself. Naturally, nothing goes as planned because this is Perez, and we love a good slow-burn enemies-to-lovers mess.
The world-building? Chef’s kiss. The magic is dark, the fae are terrifying, and the castle practically breathes shadows and secrets. The tension? Absolutely suffocating — in the best way possible. And don’t even get me started on the banter. These two are feral and I adored every second of their back-and-forth.
This is Perez’s wheelhouse: morally gray characters, impossible choices, and romance that burns hot enough to melt through all that angsty ice. I devoured this book, I highlighted half of it, and now I’m just sitting here wondering how I’m supposed to move on with my life until she writes me another one.
5 stars. Would sell my soul to the Wraith King for more.
August 1, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and RL Perez for the early copy!
This Beauty and the Beast–inspired tale absolutely delivers—and in many ways, outshines the first book in the series. Crown of Briars stays rooted in the spirit of the original fairytale, with its enchanted castle, cursed prince, and themes of love blooming beyond appearances. But it also builds something wholly its own.
Sybelle is a standout FMC: headstrong and unbothered by the weight of others’ judgments. Like Belle, she’s independent and clever. I loved that she laughs in the face of prejudice. That energy made the story feel refreshing, even when it played with familiar tropes.
The romance strikes a solid balance—sweet, spicy, and just enough tension to keep the pages turning. And while a few moments dipped into cliché or cringe territory, the plot’s twists more than made up for it. I especially appreciated how Azure was woven into the story—even if I’m still not 100% sure where this sits in the timeline. Is this pre- or post-Aurelia’s reign in Valora? A little clarity there would’ve helped.
Overall, Crown of Briars is a compelling addition to the series—rooted in classic fairytale charm, but with a bold new voice. I’d definitely recommend it to fans of fantasy romance and fairytales alike.
This Beauty and the Beast–inspired tale absolutely delivers—and in many ways, outshines the first book in the series. Crown of Briars stays rooted in the spirit of the original fairytale, with its enchanted castle, cursed prince, and themes of love blooming beyond appearances. But it also builds something wholly its own.
Sybelle is a standout FMC: headstrong and unbothered by the weight of others’ judgments. Like Belle, she’s independent and clever. I loved that she laughs in the face of prejudice. That energy made the story feel refreshing, even when it played with familiar tropes.
The romance strikes a solid balance—sweet, spicy, and just enough tension to keep the pages turning. And while a few moments dipped into cliché or cringe territory, the plot’s twists more than made up for it. I especially appreciated how Azure was woven into the story—even if I’m still not 100% sure where this sits in the timeline. Is this pre- or post-Aurelia’s reign in Valora? A little clarity there would’ve helped.
Overall, Crown of Briars is a compelling addition to the series—rooted in classic fairytale charm, but with a bold new voice. I’d definitely recommend it to fans of fantasy romance and fairytales alike.
September 6, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️–🌶️🌶️
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, arranged marriage, he-falls-first (to name a few).
This is a fantasy Beauty and the Beast retelling (my absolute favourite!) and it was sooo good. I’m usually a bit skeptical with retellings, but this author nailed it—I honestly couldn’t put the book down or stop thinking about what would happen next.
The story follows Sybelle, raised with the sole purpose of fulfilling a contract marriage between two kingdoms. She’s headstrong, fiery, and has a deep passion for gemstones. One of my favourite parts of her character is her bond with gemstones and how she goes scavenging for them with her best friend—a dragon (seriously, how cool is that?).
Then there’s the Wraith King. At first, he sounds terrifying, but he actually turns out to be the best ruler the Shadow Court has had in years. The tension between him and Sybelle is chef’s kiss—so well done. I adored them both, and honestly? I kind of wish I could be like Sybelle… minus the whole curse situation.
✨ “You are mine, dannahla. A thousand curses could not tear me away from you.” ✨
🌶️–🌶️🌶️
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, arranged marriage, he-falls-first (to name a few).
This is a fantasy Beauty and the Beast retelling (my absolute favourite!) and it was sooo good. I’m usually a bit skeptical with retellings, but this author nailed it—I honestly couldn’t put the book down or stop thinking about what would happen next.
The story follows Sybelle, raised with the sole purpose of fulfilling a contract marriage between two kingdoms. She’s headstrong, fiery, and has a deep passion for gemstones. One of my favourite parts of her character is her bond with gemstones and how she goes scavenging for them with her best friend—a dragon (seriously, how cool is that?).
Then there’s the Wraith King. At first, he sounds terrifying, but he actually turns out to be the best ruler the Shadow Court has had in years. The tension between him and Sybelle is chef’s kiss—so well done. I adored them both, and honestly? I kind of wish I could be like Sybelle… minus the whole curse situation.
✨ “You are mine, dannahla. A thousand curses could not tear me away from you.” ✨
July 16, 2025
✨✨✨Beauty and the Beast retelling with Fae and Spice! 🌶️ 🥵 🌶️ ✨✨✨
🥀 I really enjoyed Crown of Briars!!! This book was so FUN and ENJOYABLE!!! 🥀
When I first requested this one I thought it was a standalone novel, but then I saw it shows on Goodreads as the 2nd in the series. However, luckily they can be read in any order or as standalones!
This is definitely for the girls who wanted the beast to stay a beast. 🤭 I love how this story was done so much. Cursed fae, enemies to lovers, a dragon, gemstones, magic, and etc. I loved Sybelle and Varius’s characters and the chemistry between the characters is so good!
Crown of Briars is the perfect spicy Beauty and the Beast retelling! I need to read the other book (Sleeping Beauty) ASAP and I saw there’s a third one (Snow White) coming next year!! Eee 😱
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released August 4, 2025.
🥀 I really enjoyed Crown of Briars!!! This book was so FUN and ENJOYABLE!!! 🥀
When I first requested this one I thought it was a standalone novel, but then I saw it shows on Goodreads as the 2nd in the series. However, luckily they can be read in any order or as standalones!
This is definitely for the girls who wanted the beast to stay a beast. 🤭 I love how this story was done so much. Cursed fae, enemies to lovers, a dragon, gemstones, magic, and etc. I loved Sybelle and Varius’s characters and the chemistry between the characters is so good!
Crown of Briars is the perfect spicy Beauty and the Beast retelling! I need to read the other book (Sleeping Beauty) ASAP and I saw there’s a third one (Snow White) coming next year!! Eee 😱
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released August 4, 2025.
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