Beast of a Broken Court: A Dark Beauty and the Beast Retelling

by Ava Zoe

Cursed by revenge, hunted by darkness, bound by love.

Isabelle’s transformation into a beast was the price she paid for revenge, but it may cost her everything.

As her humanity fades, she finds herself entangled with a skilled archer who sees beyond her monstrous form. But the curse grows stronger with every heartbeat, and the darkness within her threatens to consume them both.

Together, they must face the dark forces hunting her—but the greatest battle may be within herself.

Filled with dark magic, enemies-to-lovers tension, and a heroine fighting her inner demons, Beast of a Broken Court is a powerful fantasy romance. This book is a must-read for fans of A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas and Grimm's Fairytales by the Brothers Grimm. Explore themes of transformation, redemption, and a love that defies all odds in this unforgettable twisted retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

Genres: Beauty and The Beast, Fantasy

251 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 21, 2024

Reviews

[Amanda Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beast of a Broken Court: A Dark, Captivating Retelling is NOT what you expect
This Beauty and the Beast twist will leave you hooked! Belle's journey is intense, emotional, and unexpectedly dark.
Slow-Burn Romance & Fantasy with
Meeting Thorne, the enigmatic archer who challenges Belle's newfound darkness, makes this story for me. Their chemistry is undeniable, but will they find love amidst the danger?
The author masterfully crafts a detailed, magical world with intrigue and danger
The Verdict: 4/5 stars
Perfect for fans of:
- Dark fantasy
- Fairytale retellings
- Strong heroines
- trigger warning for sensitive themes

[Olivia Verona · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

This dark twist on a Beauty and the Beast retelling was SO fun.
Having Isabelle as the cursed character added so much depth to the story and gave the MMC room to develop into who we as readers want him to be.

My favorite things about this book:
•I was kept on my toes multiple times.
•The character development was phenomenal.
•It was such a creative take on a story we are all familiar with but in a new way!

I love the setting this world is in. It’s simplistic. Not a lot of world building. For someone who wants a twisted tale that’s easy to follow, this is a GREAT read.

All this to say, I am so grateful to have been an ARC reader for Ava, and I cannot WAIT to read the rest of this series!

[Stephanie Keijzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐ This was a twisted, dark and spicy retelling of beauty and the beast. I got swept away from the start. The beginning was that strong and dark so check your trigger warning. The book is faced paced and I loved the character development especially Isabelle. From happy princess, to traumatized and abused to a badass revenge Queen.

So about the story. Princess Isabelle is alone one night when there is a knock on the door. There are six terrible man standing outside. Isabelle gets severly abused and traumatized that night by them. Once healed she isn't the same and the one thing on her mind is revenge. On her quest to kill them all she gets cursed and now she most also fight her inner beast.

📚 Romantasy
📚 Badass FMC
📚 Revenge
📚 Cursed
📚 Spicy

[The_neurospicy_bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot rate this book highly enough. Beauty and the Beast was one of my favorite films growing up, I was obsessed with the disney films, the tv mini series and just anything that featured the story in some shape or form. This story has become one of my favorite if not my favorite retelling of the story. It is such a clever twist on the well known tale. It starts with a beautiful poem that really sets the tone of the story and grips you from the start. And if that doesn't grip you, the preface will, it is so filled with suspense and you have questions you need answering by the end of it. The first chapter starts with such beautiful and vivid imagery drawing you in, but then it turns dark quickly, so make sure you read the trigger warnings. You feel such a strong sense of empathy for Belle very early on that you will have moments where the story completely breaks you. And if you think you can't get any more broken...you'd be wrong.
The emotions Belle displays post trauma are so raw and so real, some of which aren't talked about anywhere near enough in real life. When the curse takes hold, the author very clearly depicts the fracturing of Belle's mind. It is done in such a clever way, making you feel her pain and anguish. There are so many mysteries surrounding the curse that keeps you guessing and trying to figure out what it all means. Let's talk about the MMC for a bit, I absolutely love this character as there are so many levels to him and the more he learns and understands about Belle, the more loveable he becomes. The forced proximity is just beautifully done. It takes you on such a rollercoaster of emotions. The way both of the MCs grow throughout is just as heartwarming as the disney tale. The book gets rather spicy at points which adds that extra element to the story and the character progression that makes it genius. The depth of the meanings behind certain things is incredible.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love fairytale retellings, very dark twisted ones- you will love this reverse Beauty & the Beast retelling! 🖤
From the very start of the story, it will have you intrigued- it is so suspenseful & it definitely kept me at the edge of my seat
It was so nice to see Isabelle (the Beast in this story) grow as a character after going through so much! She is one badass fmc! This one is also pretty spicyyy & I loved how Isabelle and the mmc grew together- I loved their development from their first encounter to the end
I also loved the simple world building & how easy this was to read!
I recommend this one to anyone that likes dark twisted fairytales with lots of twists & enemies to lovers, and tensionnnn

[Jessica Marsden · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

[PleaseGoAwayImReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark retelling of Beauty and the Beast, this still wasn’t what I expected.

In a clever twist, it’s not the MMC, Thorne, who is cursed to take a beastly form. Isabelle, the FMC, is put through the wringer in this one. Her assault by a band of morally black hunters really sets the dark, hopeless tone of the story. It brightens when Isabelle is moved to take her revenge, but flickers out once she is cursed for her actions.

The writing is almost hauntingly beautiful. I really felt the wintry cold of the woods and the sheer loneliness that Isabelle experienced as she stumbled through her cursed existence.

[Lorna Hadley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in this series I have read. I do have to say I enjoyed the others more and did find myself skimming a little bit. That being said I did read it all the way through and did enjoy the story.
The imagery - art work is absolutely stunning!
This is a beauty and the beast retelling. If you like the brothers Grimm style with some added spice than this one is for you.
We follow our FMC Isabelle, who is the cursed one and our MMC Thorne who is a villager.
Dark fantasy
Slow burn
Strong FMC
Fairytale retelling
Trigger warnings are a must read

[EternallyPaperbound · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this mesmerising retelling of Beauty and the Beast, the familiar tale takes on new life with a captivating twist: Beauty is the Beast, and the curse she endures manifests as a harrowing dreams that fracture her mind. The author brilliantly weaves an intricate narrative, full of psychological depth and emotional complexity, creating a story that both honors the original fairy tale and transcends it.

One of the most striking aspects of this novel is how the curse is portrayed. Rather than only the traditional external transformation, the Beast’s struggle is internal. Beauty’s fractured mind becomes a powerful metaphor for her curse, forcing her to battle her own thoughts and fears as much as she does the world around her. This depiction feels raw and authentic, lending an emotional weight that makes the reader deeply invested in her journey.

The story is full of unexpected twists and turns, keeping the reader engaged at every moment. It avoids the predictability of typical retellings, instead offering a complex and layered plot that explores themes of identity, self-worth, and healing. The delicate balance between magic and reality is maintained with skill, making the fantastical elements feel grounded in real human experiences.

The MMC stands out as a highlight of the story. He is not simply a love interest but a fully realized character with his own intricate backstory and struggles. His emotional depth and development are handled with great care, and his relationship with the protagonist feels organic and meaningful. Their connection is built on mutual understanding and respect, adding emotional complexity to their evolving dynamic.

Overall, this Beauty and the Beast retelling is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant novel that explores complex themes with grace and sensitivity. The intricate plot, found family element, and the deeply developed characters make it a standout in the genre. Fans of dark, thoughtful retellings will find themselves captivated by this stunning reimagining.

[Chelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Ava Zoe for an ARC of this book! 

I love fairytale retellings and thought and hoped I'd enjoy this one, but unfortunately my rating for it is rather low. 

I just did not like the fact that Isabelle (who is a princess!) gets raped by several men, no one in her court goes after them or finds them (she found them rather easily by herself), she has to avenge herself by killing her own rapists (which I didn't mind and did enjoy), but when it comes down to the last rapist, he turns out to be sorcerer who curses her to be beastly. 

It's like for most of the story her rapist gets away with not only raping her, but also curses her into a beast (adding to her trauma) and then she needs Thorne to do the majority of the curse breaking. Sure she ended up killing the demon sorcerer herself, but it was mostly a man who set everything up.

Personally, I also felt some of the spicy scenes were happening too fast in regards to the pacing of the story. I liked the tension build up of some of the scenes like in the castle, but the scene with the yellow gemstone I felt happened at not the right time in regards to where Isabelle and Thorne were in their relationship. 

Overall, I was not the right audience for this book. 

[Dominique · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this dark romance Beauty and the Beast retelling!
I haven’t read anything like this take on the fairytale.
In this story Isabelle was the beast and under a curse.
This book kept me invested! There were so many twists I was shook!
Her and Thorne’s relationship was a wild ride! With Isabelle’s time jumping or losing time and not being able to trust anyone it takes a while to know if Archer can be trust worthy or if he is the villain.
I loved how Thorne cared for Isabelle even at times he tried to stay away from her.
Isabelle has been through so much and my heart really broke for her! She did have such a tough journey but she did show a lot of growth by the end of the book! Isabelle and Thorne both showed great character development.


Rating ⭐️: 4/5
Spice 🌶️: 3/5

🖤 Dark fairytale retelling
🖤 Curse
🖤 Revenge
🖤 Enemies to lovers
🖤 Slow burn

Make sure to check trigger warnings!

“𝓘𝓽'𝓼 𝓪 𝓴𝓲𝓼𝓼 𝓼𝓱𝓮'𝓼 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓬𝓻𝓪𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓼𝓱𝓮 𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓼𝓽 𝓯𝓮𝓵𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓽 𝓫𝓮𝓽𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓶, 𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓼𝓽 𝓼𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓴 𝓸𝓯 𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓭 𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮.“

"𝒀𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝑰'𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒏, 𝑰𝒔𝒂𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒆. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔. 𝑵𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖."

Thank you to the author for the arc!

[Eloise Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thankyou for choosing me to receive an ARC of your beautifully written book!!

The artwork is beyond words and I'm very lucky to have experienced this. I devoured this book!! I couldn't put it down.

Beast of a Broken Court is a powerful and emotional retelling that stands out in the dark fantasy, romance, fairytale-retelling genre. This book isn't a light read so please check your trigger warnings!!

This book really taps into Belles suffering and does require the reader to be emotionally ready for this.

[Reese · Rating 3 out of 5]

**spoilers in this review**






I read this book as an ARC for an honest review.



So I have read another of Ava Zoe's books before and absolutely loved it. This book was okay. It's certainly not the typical writing style or story line, which is a nice change from what I usually read. However, the writing itself needs some work. There were MULTIPLE plot errors, spelling errors, contradicting lines, and repeating of the same thing. Some examples: missing words, random letters. Several instances that contradicted such as Thorne catching her JUST BEFORE SHE FELL, only to have the very next sentence of him picking her up off the floor. Another scene describing the candle flame flickering and the dim glow, the next sentence he's only just now lighting the candle. Plot holes that just didn't make sense, or weren't fully explained, like a random vision in the woods of her burning down an entire village, but she wasn't? And then just moving on like it never happened. Was that supposed to be like her experiencing the demon's life? Or implanted thoughts? It's never explained and that particular instance doesn't happen again. Other instances of plot issues include referencing their first kiss, but they hadn't yet had the first kiss, going from laying on the floor to laying on the couch, isabelle about to attack Thorne and not controlling her actions as she transforms more into the beast, but the next paragraph they are laying down sleeping. Like what happened to get her to calm down? At the very end of the book, the grandmother apparently knew how to end the curse the entire time, by killing the demon, but she waits like 70 years? Maybe Isabelle needed to be present for it and they didn't know she was alive, but they also didn't know she had anything to do with it, so they literally could have just killed the demon and ended the curse.


Now, despite the frustration of the writing and the double checking if I missed something or rereading parts I was confused how we ended up there, the storyline was good. It was inspiring. I really think the author did a great job portraying trauma, PTSD, and Isabelle's own self-loathing, fear, guilt, shame, and isolation. All of which would align with her type of trauma. The story makes sense in the way that her life is spiraling. She's fearful and mistrusts everyone around her, she feels guilt and shame in her actions, shame in what happened to her and what she did after. She feels like everyone around her is afraid of her, or will only see her for the monster she "is" without giving anyone a chance to help her. Again, that's what many people who have endured trauma do. She is going through life just trying to survive and find a way to end the curse, aka heal. In The end, when she eventually is the one to ultimately kill the demon (maybe that's why she needed to be present to kill her own demon, but again not really explained, especially since the town didn't even know she was still alive and connected to the curse) she realizes that yes, something horrible and traumatic happened to her, but she does not have to let the darkness controll her anymore. She is fearful that who she became while under the curse can happen again, but she recognizes that she does not have to be defined by her past. That is an incredibly powerful and very real message to trauma survivors.


Overall, the writing could use some editing and cleaning up, but the story itself is powerful and representative of real experiences that I'm sure many of us can relate to. I appreciated the author's approach to dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic situation, the real emotions she put into her character, and the difficult healing journey she went through to become someone she recognizes and used to be. So many stories have characters facing incredibly difficult situations, and seemingly getting over it, or getting past it very quickly, with little to no effort. Ava Zoe really made sure the reader understood the struggle, the pain, the desperation, and the self-destructive patterns that come with healing. I feel like that was the main point of the book, and the writing just got mixed up, probably in a lot of rewrites and adjustments.

I appreciated the opportunity the read and review this book.

[Rachel’s Coffee & Rain Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately DNF at 72%. I just couldn’t read anymore, though I tried to push through. The beginning half of this book was actually pretty good. Super interesting concept with the princess being cursed as a beast. Her story is harrowing and hard to read, and I found myself emotional reading her revenge chapters, and the emptiness and rage that consumed her following her trauma. The passage of time was bizarre, and while it had the effect of confusing our minds along with Belle’s, it made the story extremely confusing. But all of that was fine, good even. It’s when her relationship with Thorne came into play and their time in the castle started that it lost me.

This relationship was so weird and toxic. Thorne starts out as a sweet and gentle soul, and their various meetings throughout the years (yes years.. I know, it’s confusing) made him seem empathetic, kind, and someone who would protect her and care for her. But after she saves him from freezing, and he realizes she stole some journals to help break the curse, he is such a dick to her that I had literal whiplash. Their “enemies” phase didn’t make a lick of sense to me. He’s mad she stole some journals, that he told her about in a prior interaction, and even told her they might hold the key to breaking the curse? What was he dangling them in front of her for then? He treats her with such disdain and disgust it made me feel so badly for her. Then he switches again when he realizes she’s the lost princess and he feels guilt for what she’s been shouldering alone. But instead of telling her that, they have an argument and he flips back to dickhead, telling her the curse is her fault and she’s doing nothing to help everyone impacted by it. I know he doesn’t realize her trauma yet, but this guy is such an ass I was sort of hoping he’d leave and we’d get another MMC. But no, they can’t contain their attraction and end up f*cking a while later. She admits her story to him, and now they’re in love. It was… bizarre to say the least. They fill their time trapped by trying to find food and a hunting excursion, and lots of sex, but the whole thing felt so awkward and forced and odd that I just couldn’t continue. I disliked the MMC, which surprised me and bummed me out, the writing was disjointed and frankly didn’t make sense much of time. Disappointing as I liked the beginning and really wanted to see where it would go, but I just can’t. 🥴 2 ⭐️ for the concept.

[Xan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was honored to receive an ARC of the special edition of this book, including exclusive images in the book. I have ARC read for Ava Zoe before, so I was excited to dive into another book of hers.

I want to start out with the fact that the preface was very mysterious. We have no idea what role Abby will play in the story until further on, but it definitely left me curious as to what was happening in the story.

This book also doesn't hold its punches, because you get thrown right into the action. The first few chapters are dark but interesting and kept me guessing as to where the tale was going. Loved the art pages as well. They attribute to the dark atmosphere the book has and simultaneously showing the setting the chapter will have. As a person with aphantasia this gave the story an extra layer.

I have to say that the first spicy scene threw me for a loop. I felt a bit like there wasn't enough established tension or chemistry for that to be the outcome in that situation, but that might've been me. I also felt sometimes that their relationship didn't evolve enough on page for it to go as fast as it did. Maybe I missed a lot of off page action, but that definitely left me hanging a bit. This was also a major reason that the smut didn't click with me I think. This together with a rather stunted flow, kept me at arm's length. I wasn't as engrossed in the story as I would've liked to be.

I must say that when Isabelle became more beastly, the story also ramped up in sense of catching my interest. I think I liked the last 40% better than the 40% that came before. So I would say this story started high, dipped a bit in the middle and came back up at the end. But that's of course my personal experience with the book. Don't let it keep you from picking it up and see for yourself!

Last but not least I want to thank Ava Zoe for letting me ARC read for her again. It was another lovely experience. As always my opinions are my own and I leave this review voluntarily. I hope to see people showing off their special editions on the socials.

[Bevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

CW: violence, r—e, self harm, drugging & attempted r—e, some others

Thank you to the author and Order of the Bookish for the gifted ebook!

This is either going to be right up your alley or nowhere near it, and I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of in between.

Princess Isabelle survived the unimaginable and lost herself in the process. Bent on revenge, she finds herself cursed, transformed into a beast and unable to leave her town. She’s been forgotten, lost in time, until someone finally sees her.

Like I said, you’ll either love it or you won’t. Personally, I fall into the “won’t” category. I don’t dislike it, per se, but I did find myself counting pages to see how much book I had left. But hey, it’s a Beauty and the Beast reimagining, so you know I had to give it a try.

Stylistically, this book falls more on the lyrical side of things. There’s a lot of lovely, descriptive language and it’s used to expound upon a lot of internal feelings and struggles. Unfortunately for me, I don’t favor either of those vibes in my reads. I much prefer straightforward, action-driven stories as they don’t require as much mental steering for me to stay engaged. Again, if flowy and emotional is your jam, there’s plenty of it here.

I did really like the spin on the typical Beauty and the Beast story. The plot was really creative and it was definitely scaled up age-wise. It still retained some of that original simplistic style we see in the Disney version but it didn’t lose the heavier feel that the original fairytales are so known for.

Again, this is going to be hit or miss for a lot of readers, but I think the ones it lands for are going to enjoy it. The combination of third person present POV and the lyrical, sometimes repetitive nature of the story meant I had a difficult time connecting and staying engaged, but I don’t think the writing is at all bad (although if I never see seminal fluid referred to as “milky” again it’ll be too soon). Know your style preferences and you’ll know whether this one might work for you.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am giving this book a 3.5 stars. It could have been better but it wasn't bad. This book is a twist on the story we grew up with "Beauty and the Beast". It starts off with Isabella (Belle) that is the princess and one night there is an evil storm that comes in but with the storm comes demons. There is not a lot of details on the "acts" that these demons do to her. She then kicks everyone out of the castle to revenge what happened to her when she finds the last demon that places the curse for her to become a beast. During the story, it has magical elements that have the girl learning to love and finding someone that loves in return and how to break the curse. I don't want to spoil too much with what happens during this but it does end with a happy ending. I got an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review and unsure if it's because of my copy or not but some parts in the begging call her Belle and then the rest Isabella. I think consistency would have been nice. Also some of the story I had to re-read because I felt like I missed something but I didn't. It was just how the story was written. Some of the chapters a short (like maybe a page or a little over a page). It was a quick easy read for the most part but it didn't have me gripped through the whole story. It was definitely an interesting twist on a classic but I feel there could have been more to the character building especially with the demons and why they came to this place. If you are ok with not knowing how things happened and just going with it, this might be the book for you. If you are like me and need more details, this isn't a bad story to read but isn't on the top of my must read list. Also wanted to add that there is a spot in the book where she is still not trusting but then takes him in her mouth….. I get everyone’s trauma is different. This just kinda hit weird of her trust in what he did to her as well only after very minimal interactions. And there are a couple spicy scenes. Just putting that out there too. And one spicy scene was a good spicy scene.

[Thalitha Lambregts vd Oest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, traumatic, enemies to lovers, slowburning love and she becomes the beast,.. I loved this retelling of Beauty and the Beast!
In this story, we meet Isabelle, the princess who goes through an extremely traumatic event and ends up cursed both fysically and mentally. Our MMC is an hunter/archer. Though they meet several times, fate has to interfere in letting them grow together.

I was lucky enough to be able to read both the first edition and special edition of this book. The first edition was already very pretty but the special edition is gorgeous. Each chapter has its own image that reflects on what's happening in the chapter and we even get a few glimpses of our MC's.

I found the retelling of the fairytale truly unique and will say it has true depth to the trauma. While I was able to read this story without any trouble, I can see that it might be too much for triggered readers. So I would definitely advise to read the trigger warnings!
The writing is mostly in third person, but becomes first person in dreams. Because of the mental state of our FMC, sometimes the story feels like it skipped a few lines, this made it so that I sometimes had to reread the last paragraph just to be sure that I hadn't skipped any info. Other than that, I don't have any remarks. The storyline is clear, the tension and undeniable pull are there and in the end the hunter can't live without his Belle, so he will do anything to save his beast.

Lastly I would like to thank Ava for providing me with this ARC opportunity. I have truly enjoyed this story and an looking forward to read your other books!

[Alexis Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, I would like to express my gratitude for being an ARC reader in exchange for an honest review.

Beast of a Broken Court is a dark retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I was absolutely hooked on the premise with the twist of the FMC being the beastly character. I love fairytale retellings and was excited for this opportunity.

The writing style was beautiful and almost poetic at times. I loved the internal dialogue that represented the struggle associated with trauma and struggles the FMC experienced. I loved the artwork at the beginning of the chapters with added to the moody vibe.

I found the pacing to be confusing at times, which may have been intentional (and therefore genius) on the authors part, as even the FMC has a moment of acknowledging the difficulties with understanding time when the MMC makes a comment about when they first met years prior. So it was if we got to experience the time warp with the FMC as well? It's hard to explain.

I did enjoy the relationship between the two characters but also found that confusing at times too. One minute they are angry and annoyed with one another, the next chapter they are strongly bonded? I also didn't love the first spicey scene. I found it oddly placed in the story and threw me off.

Also with regards to pacing, I felt like the story seemed to have so much build up and mystery, but then concluded fairly quickly and felt almost anticlimactic.

Overall, I did enjoy the story. I loved the concept and artistic writing and chapter pages. However, for me the pacing was confusing, at times was awkward and left me feeling like the end was a little rushed and anticlimactic.

[Adriana Diaz · Rating 2 out of 5]

First I want to say thank you for an ARC of this book!

Overall Story: I was interested in this story as I love Beauty and The Beast and am up to read any retelling, however I was disappointed with this one. The story was very hard to follow. I almost DNF as it felt like chore to read this story. Though the overall message is powerful, the writing could’ve been better.

I found the FMC quite hard to like and would get annoyed with her. I understand that she went through something terrible but there were many moments where she was infuriating. The timeline is very confusing as well, how many years was this?! There is nothing to really clarify. Some areas felt rushed as well and parts where I felt were supposed to be “climax” moments were very anticlimactic.

It was my understanding that this was a slow burn but the story didn’t start to pick up until the last 10 chapters and again the big turning point happened so fat it left me asking “Was that it?”

I believe this could’ve been a good story but this fell flat for me.

Audiobook: The audio was not good quality, there were times where it sounded like the narrator was reading through a plastic container, so muffled.

There would be times it would be clear then muffled again. Other times you could hear a high pitched ringing and sometimes there would be an echo. Lines were repeated as if the narrator lost their place in the book and reread the line.

Very slow paced as well, I usually read at x1.2 but I had this at a x1.5. Too many pauses in places where pauses were not necessary.

[amanda_coffee_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I apologize for the delayed review. I was eager to delve into this book. Similar to Ava Zoe’s previous work, this one did not disappoint.

To be candid, Beauty & the Beast holds a special place in my heart as my favorite cinematic adaptation. I had not previously read a retelling of this classic tale. Much like her previous book, The Little Mermaid, which I thoroughly enjoyed, this retelling was equally captivating.

Initially, I experienced some frustration with the unfolding events, particularly the actions of Isabelle in seeking revenge against those who had wronged her. (I assure you, I will refrain from divulging any spoilers.) The subsequent curse further heightened my apprehension. As Isabelle pursued her revenge, I was reminded of the film “Spit on Her Grave,” a must-watch that, while intense and disturbing, is undeniably captivating.

Thorne exudes a profound sense of compassion and unwavering determination. I found his character utterly endearing and was immensely relieved that he remained steadfast in his hope for Isabelle and his own family. The complex and tense relationship between Thorne and Isabelle is truly remarkable.


I am particularly drawn to the author’s ability to breathe new life into these timeless stories. Her skillful retellings are truly exceptional. While the book contains some triggers related to sexual assault, the level of sensuality is undeniably high.

Thank you, author, for the opportunity to engage with and review your work. I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to explore more of your books

[SC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for an ARC of this book!

I was intrigued in this tale from the start , with Belle being the Beast and wanting to find out how it resolves . I was rooting for her and felt anger for what she was put through and that no one around her felt the need to rectify that, even through a court system ! If it's like that for a princess , think about how it would be for the ordinary citizens of the town!

For the first 100 pages I found myself compulsively reading the book and really enjoying it, but my interest seemed to drop off at some point and I found it a struggle to finish. Perhaps because I am not compatible with the writing style.

The writing style feels very repetitive and overly descriptive throughout. In some scenes I felt there was an over use of some words like "frustration" , " exhaustion " , "fear" etc . I felt similar for the spicy scenes , after the first one , the rest were all very similar to each other and in my opinion it may have been unnecessary to have as many as there were.

I also wouldn't class this as an "Enemies to Lovers" trope . The FMC was in my opinion unnecessarily hostile to the MMC when he was being reasonable and civil . I obviously understand her hesitancy and perhaps her beastly temperament had a part to play , but still , they weren't enemies.

Overall an interesting take on a classic tale , but unfortunately the execution and writing style wasn't for me which is a shame!

[Jordie Slesarenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the very first page of "Beast of a Broken Court," I was enchanted by a beautiful poem that sets the tone perfectly for this dark retelling. It immediately draws you into Isabelle’s world, where love and revenge intertwine in the most gripping way. Ava Zoe’s writing is filled with vivid imagery that brings each scene to life, making the reader feel as if they are walking alongside Isabelle in her journey.

The emotions Isabelle experiences are raw and real, and I found myself deeply connecting with her struggles. Her transformation into a beast is a heartbreaking consequence of her quest for vengeance, and you can feel the weight of her choices in every heartbeat. As she navigates her inner demons, her pain and hope resonate throughout the story, making her journey incredibly relatable.

The chemistry between Isabelle and the skilled archer is electric, with their enemies-to-lovers dynamic adding a layer of tension that kept me on my toes. Their relationship evolves beautifully, showing the power of love to heal even the deepest scars.

This book is not just a retelling; it's a poignant exploration of transformation, redemption, and the strength it takes to confront our own darkness. If you enjoy dark fairytales that tug at your heartstrings, "Beast of a Broken Court" is a must-read!

[Lauren T Dickens Downey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark but unique take on the age old tale of Beauty and the Beast. The writing is well done and flows pulling you into the story, the scenes and the emotions our FMC is going through. Check your triggers this is a darker start and has violence early on, but that’s what builds the story so know before you begin. But if you don’t mind that then the story that moves forward is so worth the read. Isabell’s revenge for an attack on her by hunters causes a curse to be cast on her and now she is the beast and the darkness pull at her to give up the last of her humanity and succumb to her fate. Thorne though sees past the beast to that glimmer of humanity still left. This story is one of revenge, obsession, and a bit of redemption. Its enemies to lovers with a little back and forth between being such.
There were a few minor plot holes but they didn’t take away from the story as a hole. The haunting beauty of the writing style really helped pull you away from that. And for my spice lovers don’t worry this on hits!! It start off a bit of a slow burn but when it arrives it is unapologetically wild and dirty and wonderful!! 😉 over all a fantastic read and I definitely recommend if you are ok with darker romance elements.

Thank you to the author I received an advanced reader copy in exchanged for my Honest review.

[Brittany Sheeder · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨ Book Review: Beast of a Broken Court by Ava Zoe
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️
Available NOW!

Beast of a Broken Court is a dark, gothic retelling of Beauty and the Beast that delivers an intriguing mix of cursed kingdoms, broken love, and self-redemption. The plot itself is strong — layered with betrayal, magic, and emotion — and Isabelle’s growth was easily my favorite part. Watching her shift from vengeance and rage to something more self-aware and resilient gave the story real heart.

While I loved the world’s atmosphere and the overall storyline, the romantic and sexual scenes felt a little off for me — not badly written, just slightly disconnected from the emotional depth of the characters as well as some of the word choices were taking away from the scenes themselves. Ava‘s writing style is very whimsical which at the end of the day I did love however, there were some grammatical errors I feel could’ve been fixed. The lack of a trigger warning page also stood out to me because the topics are very dark within the book.

Still, it’s a beautifully dark read with a compelling heroine, an easy to follow intriguing spin on the original story, and a theme of finding light and love through your own shadows.

[Jordan M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tale as old as time…with a few twists thrown in.

Usually the MMC is thin is Beauty and the Beast retellings because all he has to do is find a way to be nice and poof the spell is broken. But here the MMC is not the one who is cursed, so the MMC can grow and develop as a MMC should throughout the book.

Having the FMC be the cursed character is brilliant. And it isn’t that she’s cursed because she’s mean or selfish as the original story, but she is cursed because she loses herself to the dark spiral that is trauma and the need for revenge.

To anyone who has ever suffered a trauma (or watched someone who has) that spiral of “what if I had done this?” or “what if I had done that?” this story will hit on so many levels and be powerful. It’s easy to understand the monster within us coming out to face something we don’t want to, to protect us, to take over and be a protector, a warrior, a revenge seeker.

The world building is fantastic and beautiful, the sexy scenes are hot and heavy, and the relationship is realistic.

As always with dark tales – please read trigger warnings, take care of yourself first.

But I highly recommend this book! Eagerly awaiting the next book!

[Kylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t read a retelling for a minute but I enjoyed these characters. This story had such a twist that I didn’t see coming. I really liked that the setting in this world was simple and didn’t overtake the story too much but just enough. This book was filled with suspense that it had me question what is next.

I loved the characters. the FMC displayed emotions so well that there are moments where my heart broke for the character. I really love the MMc and how he learns and comes to understand what is happening with the FMC. And the sweet moments he has with the FMC has me swooning and loving it.

While the book does have some spice, I loved the little romantic moments a little more. And not even that but moments where the MMC is leaning and understanding the FMC are precious too.

Overall, this story was a good read! I throughly enjoyed this book and I am so glad I read it. I highly recommend if you’re looking for a beauty and the beast retelling. This one was super enjoyable and the passion between the characters was beautiful.

[Maxine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this would have been a great book if it was longer. It felt rushed in all the wrong places. I really liked the overall story and premise.

However, I would have loved to see more detail throughout. I wanna see how she takes out the people she does - the plotting and action. I want to get more about the actual love story of the book - more conversations between the two characters showing how they fell in love/got closer.

I think if this had another 100 pages or so and this would be fantastic.



Slight spoilers from here down!!!!!
Also just a personal note - there were definitely some parts I thought should have been caught in editing. Especially the beginning. I think it would've added so much to the story if the men had broken in and taken down the guards on duty (that she talks about literally all book) instead of her being alone. Given she's a princess, it doesn't make sense to me. Also it would've had more of an emotional impact when talking about the guards later on!!

[Serrendippiet · Rating 4 out of 5]

"In a kingdom once bright
now shrouded in dread
lies the cursed princess
in the woods she fled
condemned by a demon
forever confined
in the abyss of her grief
her heart realigned"

Beginning with a hauntingly beautiful poem that opens this book perfectly for the dark and twisted Beauty and the Beast re-telling that Beast of a Broken Court is.

As Isabelle tracks down those who have hurt her, she suffers an unjust and tragic consequence which turns her into the beast. Will Isabelle be able to find herself and break the curse or will she be stuck as a beast forever?

With simple yet vivid world-building, this story is easy to follow along with beautiful detailing and imagery throughout the book to enhance the reading experience.
There are some repetitive moments and small plot holes that detracted from the experience but overall, the story is powerful and and representative of real-life experiences many readers unfortunately face.

Please make sure to check the trigger warnings, the beginning of the book has a very traumatic scene.

[Samantha Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beast of a Broken Court is not a soft fairytale—it’s a dark, feral, and filthy ride that sinks its claws in from the very first chapter. The writing blends danger and desire so seamlessly that you’re never sure if you should be afraid, turned on, or both—and that’s exactly the point.

The romance is raw and primal, filled with tension that constantly simmers between tenderness and brutal hunger. When the spice hits, it hits hard—explicit, messy, and unapologetically filthy. This isn’t a fade-to-black story. It’s teeth, claws, and bodies colliding in ways that feel both dangerous and addictive.

The characters are layered in the best way—broken, haunted, and consumed by forces bigger than themselves. That duality—love versus curse, beast versus human, fear versus desire—makes every moment electric. There are times the pacing leans heavy on the darker world-building, but it never strays far from the emotional core: obsession and survival.