King's Kiss

Chronicles of Urn #2

by Beck Michaels

He’s the God of Shadows. She’s the bride stolen from him. Their union was never meant to be.

The darkness is ruled by an entity the world has feared since the dawn of time. Some call him the Netherworld King. Others, the God of Shadows. He nearly conquered the realms, until the Heavens chain him in the black heart of a mountain he swore never to return to.

Princess Alora’s kingdom teeters on the edge of ruin as war and a strange Sleeping Curse spreads through the land. When her hand is promised to a conquering prince to secure a fragile peace, she makes a desperate deal with the trapped god in the mountain overlooking her home.

The God of Shadows offers his aid under two conditions: she must set him free… and become his bride. Though she tries to deceive him, he steals her away at the altar, dragging her into a court of demons, seduction, and a power she was never meant to awaken.

At first, Alora is desperate to escape, until she begins to suspect her godly husband may not only be tied to the curse, but to her past. As she unravels forgotten truths buried in shadow, Alora must resist the pull of a god whose obsession burns hotter than any sun.

But as fate tightens its grip, their bond threatens to unmake the world. Because some love stories are written in blood, and this one might end with a kiss—or death.

Inspired by Sleeping Beauty, King’s Kiss is the second book in Beck Michaels’ dark fairytales series, the Chronicles of Urn—each a dark tale of powerful Kings and the Queens who bring them to their knees...

Genres: Romantasy, Fantasy, Dark Romance, Fantasy Romance, Romance, Dragons, Fae

Hardcover

Published February 17, 2026

About the author

BECK MICHAELS is the author of the YA epic fantasy series The Guardians of the Maiden. She has been working on the Guardians series for over fifteen years, so she’d like to believe her characters exist in some tangible dimension, even if it's only in her imagination.

Beck lives in Indiana with her husband and two children, where she spends her time reading and daydreaming of adventures in faraway lands.

Reviews

[Madeeha Idrees · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s power in a king’s kiss … And in a queen’s.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

If I could give this book a million stars I would. Kings Kiss was absolutely incredible. A little over 26 hours after getting the arc I have finished and I am FERAL for Rune and Alora. 🌶️

Not only was this book incredible in terms of the plot and twits but the spice was *chefs kiss* and it was definitely a few notches higher than anything Beck has given us yet 😍 though it was a delicious slow burn till we got to the inferno. When things got going, they were 🫠

Everything about this book was incredible but I will say Calla was absolutely one of my top favorite characters and I LOVED any scene she was in.

That is all I will say for now to avoid spoiling but make sure to add this book to your TBR if it’s not already!

Hands down the BEST sleeping beauty retelling ever and it gave vibes of hades and Persephone and I never knew I needed these two retellings in one cause it was PERFECTION 🤩

Thank you so much Beck for the gifted EARC

[Tess Marais · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I stay up until 1am to finish this book? Yes, yes I did and it was PHENOMENAL!😮‍💨🔥

Gosh, where do I start with this book review? King’s Kiss was absolutely BRILLIANT, just like Beck’s other books, and I am so honoured to have received an arc copy to read and to be part of Beck’s street team.🥹

I know how long Beck has been working on King’s Kiss and the ups and downs that came with it, but it was so worth the wait.😮‍💨
Beck poured her heart and soul into Rune and Alora’s story and you can see it with every chapter she writes.❤️

King’s Kiss is my newest obsession and Rune and Alora are one of my favourite book couples now.🤭
I really enjoyed allllll of the Sleeping Beauty inspired scenes and characters, and the plot was so unique and perfect. I could not put this book down! It consumed my thoughts and I already want to do a reread.🔥

Alora is incredible. She is beautiful, soft, strong, and fierce all at once. I absolutely loved watching her grow and embrace both her light and darkness.❤️‍🔥
She is definitely my favourite FMC of Beck’s now.🤭

RUNE!😮‍💨 He is the morally grey, touch her and die, “I’ll burn the world down for you”, shadow god MMC who you will fall in love with and become obsessed with.❤️‍🔥
I am so happy that Beck wrote his pov, too, and those were definitely some of my favourite chapters, like chapter 48. (IYKYK)😮‍💨
Watching him and Alora grow together and make each other stronger was so beautiful and their ending was perfect.🥹

If you haven’t dived into the Chronicles of Urn series yet, you are definitely missing out.👀
Both King’s Bride and King’s Kiss are available now on KU, so run to read these phenomenal romantasy books and get ready to meet your new obsession.❤️‍🔥

[TheBookPlatypus · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Even the brightest star will fall to ruin and burn in shadow and flame.”

This book. Over 920 pages. Was a two week long journey for me to consume and devour.
It’s a lot. Big world building. Multi worlds. Politics. Characters.
It’s epic.

“The god who stole her. The liar who adored her. The monster who knelt for her.”

Rune gets a second chance with his love of his life but she doesn’t remember him. She’s a princess never been truly cared about after her mom died and her people are falling under a sleeping curse. She wants to help despite not knowing what caused it.

Rune the God of Shadows answered her song.. 🎶


Dragon Shifter X Demon
* Shadow Daddy
* Stolen Bride
* “Don’t Touch my Wife”.
* Curses and Bargains
* Spicy. X2 🍆 🍆 🔥🔥🔥
* Gods and Wars
* Angst, Betrayals, and Tears
* A HARD earned HEA
* To the stars and beyond… light and dark.


Sometimes you can tell when an author pours her heart and soul into a book. And this was it. This is the book. It needed all 927 pages to create a love story that spans over multiple lifetimes.

“I have walked through wrath and destruction for the melody of your voice,” he said softly. “Should I have a soul, it is branded with your name. I would set the stars aflame for you.”


It’s a dislike to love story about a god getting his lover to fall for him again in this different lifetime. To change the future so he doesn’t lose her again. He’ll do anything to keep her.
Truly a beautiful book. Like I knew it would be. 10/10⭐️

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ 𝒜𝑅𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌✨
📖: King’s Kiss (Book 2 in the Chronicles of Urn)

While not required, I highly encourage reading King’s Bride (Book 1 in the Chronicles of Urn) first for full emotional impact.

A sleeping curse and war threatens to ravage the lands. Princess Alora barters for help from the God of Shadows. When fate brings them together, will their love save or doom them all?

Tropes:
👀Dual POV
🫥Hidden powers
🩶Morally grey shadow god
💍Stolen bride/forced marriage
🐉Dragon shifter
🖤Shadow play
🚫Touch her & 💀
🛏️Sleeping Beauty x Hades & Persephone
🔥Slow burn 🌶️
📗Standalone

Alora is a courageous stolen bride who is tired of being caged and controlled. Rune is a possessive, morally grey dragon shifter Shadow God who will burn the world for her. After meeting him first in King’s Bride, I knew Rune’s story would be an emotional one!

Alora is the darkness to his light and his everything. The author does a phenomenal job exploring Rune’s desperation for Alora and her fears of feeling painfully alone and discarded. I loved seeing Alora slowly discover parts of herself, her past, and her complicated feelings for Rune. Their HEA is hard-earned and filled with epic longing, sizzling passion, and painful secrets that threaten to tear them apart.

King’s Kiss is sweeping dark romantasy fairytale reimagining, blending motifs of Sleeping Beauty and Hades and Persephone. This dark and decadent tale examines the lengths we’ll go for love and how love can overcome the darkness.

Huge thanks to the author for the advanced copy opportunity. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[yueting ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tale of shadows, redemption, divine lore, and sacrifice for love, King's Kiss is a romantasy that truly embodies the word epic. What I loved about King's Bride , and now King's Kiss is the way Beck Michaels tells a complete tale in each book. The story dips and soars and twists with various reveals, ever-increasing dangers, and a fate that is bound to hurt as much as it heals. By the end of the book it truly feels like I've lived a lifetime with these characters and can leave them to their end with a deep satisfaction.

However, this was not quite the book I was expecting for Rune, and there were portions where the plot and story lost me. Instead of dealing with just one land or even one world, the story has an incredibly wide scope; it deals with fate and the heavens and a primal, unholy danger that is world-ending. The incredible stakes of the story made threads of the plot hard to follow, the rules a bit nebulous, and some of the foreshadowing inconsistent. I would have liked for Rune and Alora's story to be just a bit more contained, to be a bit more focused on their personal stakes without tying in the end of the worlds as we know it.

Because where this book really shined for me was in the emotional moments between Rune and Alora. When it lingered on the angst between them, on Rune's desperation, on Alora's despair, on both of their longing and hatred and hope. This book made me feel so giddy when it was just the two of them, gauging each other's truths and drawing out each other's vulnerabilities. Even when I was on unsure footing with the plot, I was willing to read on because Beck weaved delicious, gut-wrenching, breath-hitching moments between these two. Their bond is truly stunning, and that was the book that I wanted to read, the book that I had hoped for Rune.

That being said, there were still occasional parts of the plot that worked for me; there were a few reveals that had me putting down my Kindle and sitting back to just take it all in. But for every sharp, insightful, and impactful twist were two more that didn't quite land for me. Because King's Kiss is a monster of a book—both literally (more on all of Rune's attributes later hehe) and, well, even more literally. While my e-arc did not have pages assigned, based on reading time alone, this book is likely over a thousand pages. I felt like so much of it could have been tightened as the pacing dragged in certain bits; I didn't regain that spark of excitement over what might happen until the halfway mark when some questions started being answered.

While I didn't always understand the story, what I still appreciated were all the allusions to the classic Sleeping Beauty fairytale. Similarly to the first book, Beck does a great job of weaving these connections—on the importance of the spindle, on the sleeping curse that is cast in the story, even the terrifying dragon that guards the princess. I relished every easter egg dropped, and also every fairytale assumption overturned. Just like with Beauty and the Beast in King's Kiss, all of these lined up really nicely.

Overall, this was still a story that drew me in, that made me feel connected to these characters and want desperately for an end that would allow them to be together, which is what is most important to me when reading a romance. The vibes of this book are dark, echoing and legendary. And if you're more a fan of a universe-defying and heaven-sundering plot than I am, I think you'll really enjoy this one.

And lastly, as promised, about Rune's attributes: let's just say he's got two of ... everything.

— thank you so much, beck, for letting me be on your arc team and to receive this e-arc early to review!

﹙ three stars ﹚

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dyslexic Reviewer - Spoil Free Reviews

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Author: @beck_michaels
POV: Duel 3rd person
Gene: Romantasy
Triggers: Torture, explicit scenes, war violance, captivity
Read Time: 15-21 hours
Expected Publishing Date: 2/17/2026

❤️ World Building: The world building was beautifully written. It was detailed, sometimes maybe a little too much for me, but still it was very well done. It did invoke feelings and pictures in my mind of what the atmosphere of the book was.

❤️ The Characters: I loved Alora & Rune, they were both so well written. I enjoyed their love story, and the twists and turns that got us to the (mostly) HEA in the end. The side characters were memorable and you come to love the little glimpses of their lives throughout the story. And you really can’t go wrong with a loveably, if a bit snarky, animal familiar.

❤️ The Story: The story was so good! It took a whole new twist on the Sleeping Beauty retelling. Besides the names and the sleeping, this was a unique story in its own right. It was a sweeping love story that had a past woven into a new timeline, though this is not a reincarnation story.

❤️‍🔥Overall: This was a fantastic read! I highly suggest it. Plus if you go to the author’s website and pre-order the book, you get some swag with it!

🐈‍⬛Panther Fact Inspired by Nexus: Black panthers may have a legendary reputation, but they are actually still regular leopards or jaguars, despite their different appearance. This is because their black coloration is something known as melanism. Melanism affects the production of the pigment melanin and is caused by a dominant mutation in the MC1R gene and a recessive mutation in the ASIP gene. These changes cause the animal’s fur to be much darker than usual. (a-z-animals.com)

I was gifted this book free for my honest opinion, you know the drill 😉

[Kristin O'donoghue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beck Michaels is one of my favorite fantasy authors of all time. When I heard that she was releasing a new book in 2026, it went immediately on my must read list. When I knew that it was going to be focused on a certain dark and dangerous God of Shadows, who we had previously met in the first book of the Chronicles of Urn series, well, then I knew it was going to be at the top of my most anticipated reads for 2026. Having just finished this beautiful dark romantasy, I already can say that this will be one of my top reads of the year!

King’s Kiss is the second book in a series of interconnected standalones, where feral and devoted gods fight for the love of their queens and partners, whose ultimate foreplay is attempting to kill their supernatural husbands. You do not need to read book 1, King’s Bride, in order to absolutely enjoy this story, but I think doing so helps add meaning and texture to the backstory of our main couple and there are so many connections and easter eggs that you feel like you are on a secret scavenger hunt that only Beck knows the true answer to (which I love).

When I read King’s Bride and we first met Rune, the God of Shadows and ruler of the Netherworld, I was a goner. He is dark, dangerous and devoted in a way that left no doubt that he would burn all down for the one he loves. Needless to say, I prayed that he would get his own book because it was clear that there was so much more to this brooding deity that meets the eye. And oh man, was there ever!

In King’s Kiss, we open to find Rune reeling from a brutal defeat against the children of his brother Jokull, the God of Death. He is sent back down to the depths of the demon world and enslaved in chains to bind his dark power and the devastating dragon within. However, Rune is not one to be chained too long and his singular focus is to reclaim the bride that was stolen from him in the form of a sleeping death that tore them apart long ago. But this God has many truths that he has kept hidden and he will soon learn that perhaps the biggest obstacle to the love he seeks is the deception that he continues to hold on to for fear of the rejection that he thinks is inevitable when revealing his truest self.

Through the mysterious machinations of the gods, Rune is given a chance to go back in time and rewrite his choices in hopes that new endings may be possible. Of course, this God never will bow to what fate has in store and is determined to make sure that his queen is restored him no matter the cost. As we follow Rune into the past, we meet Alora, a young princess from Argyle, who has spent most of her life hidden amongst the fae, feeling unwanted and disconnected from her royal family. However, as her kingdom falls prey to a sleeping curse and war with a neighboring fae kingdom looms, Alora knows she can hide no longer. When murderous treachery is revealed she makes a binding deal with the God of Shadows to save her people and protect their land, setting off a chain of events that either will doom them all or be the key to their salvation.

This God of Shadows does not play fair in war or the games of the heart. He is determined to claim Alora in every way and as she is brought further into his world of demons, she finds that there is an answering pull within herself to the darkness that is uniquely his. A long dormant magic that Alora has never known, refuses to stay hidden much longer and its connection to an old and dark force, could mean the very destruction of all she cherishes. Rune is determined to protect Alora, who has consumed him in this lifetime and the next, even if it means sacrificing everyone else. She challenges him at every turn and knows that he is not being honest about the whispers of a past she can feel as if it was once upon a dream.

I absolutely loved this story. The intricacy with which Beck continues to build her world is incredible in its detail and the painful trauma that underpins Alora and Rune’s individual pasts becomes the bedrock for a shared understanding and tireless defiance to carve out their own path. There are powerful themes that underpin the drama of this pair’s journey. In particular, the power of choice against the inevitability of fate. Alora has a lived a life where freedom has never been hers and even at his darkest, Rune respects and protects with his every fiber her agency to choose who she wants to be and what steps she will take to get there.

Alora has become my favorite FMC of Beck’s novels. She has an unwavering loyalty to those she loves and a bravery that defies her circumstances. And, I am not surprised that this broody dragon shifting god has cemented his place at the top of my MMCs list. He all but demands it LOL. Rune’s hardened exterior belies the ages old insecurity that has festered in him since the most painful of rejections set him on his course. Some of the most surprising and touching moments were the quiet and vulnerable insights that we get into why Rune has acted as he does (and trust me the twists are many).

In the growing admiration and passion that Rune and Alora have for one another, Beck shows us how even one’s darkest parts can be loved and accepted by the one who sees us at our most raw and vulnerable. Their romance is one for the ages, but in truly claiming one another, will the cost and sacrifice be too great to allow what they’ve found in each other to survive? I never wanted this story to end and Beck gives us a hefty page count…which in all honest is totally Rune’s style. I thought it was the perfect length to really explore what these characters’ past, present and potential future demanded.

This dark romantasy interweaves lovely nods to the Sleeping Beauty fairytale along with the passionate and tragic love story of Hades and Persephone. This God of Shadows and his powerful queen, bring the fire in all aspects of their marriage and so prepare yourself for spice that is otherworldly and will leave you feeling jealous of Alora two times over (IYKYK). I cannot recommend this one enough and I am already planning for a re-read as I go through Rune withdrawal.

[⚡eli⚡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒃𝒊𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒊𝒏. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒓𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒏."


Thank you Beck Michaels, for eARC. All thoughts are my own and left voluntarily.

Beck Michaels took the classic Sleeping Beauty story and draped it in shadow/light, ruinous obsession, half truths/lies and divine drama. It worked beautifully 😌 King's Kiss is the second standalone book in dark fairytales (prequel) series, the Chronicles of Urn - each a dark tale of powerful Kings and the Queens who bring them to their knees. This story is set in a kingdom trapped in time under a curse, where war is looming and the God of Shadows is given a second chance to save his bride (albeit, stolen one).


@kotimori

Snippet from this moment (longer version in author's blog here)

Do I frighten you, songbird?
Alora blinked at the moniker. “I-I am not afraid…” she replied shakily.
His low chuckle filled her head and she flushed. If she were to lie, she couldn’t be so obvious.
She swallowed. “What is your name?”
I have had many names over the centuries, the dragon said, settling on his haunches. The Lord of Shadows. Prince of Darkness. King of the Netherworld. Bringer of Sin and Damnation. His gaze fixed on hers, red and endless. You, princess, may call me Rune.

***
Rune is still dangerous, devoted and dramatic (I should probably insert some double D joke here, because.. he's a dragon shifter too). Khe khem, where was I. Yes well, he is possessive, protective and he thinks he knows best, which makes him both infuriating and at times - unhinged. A smooth talker. A hero/villain who would literally burn the world, Heaven be damned. There's a certain beauty in such devotion, but it comes with danger, and a steep price.

Alora is not some fragile flower in this story. She's fierce, speaks her mind and is curious. She's alluring, quick to spot when something is not right, and willing to do what she needs to do, in order to save her people. It was rewarding to see her grow into her own persona. Her first impression of Rune, his court, the dreams and the possibilities. The surrendering to the lust and Him. Also, she has Nexus as her companion (read to know who/what is Nexus).


@kotimori

Alora and Rune's relationship is full of secrets, power struggles, and tension, making their journey emotionally immersive. It's darker, deeper and far more unrestrained than King's Bride (the first standalone - the Beauty and the Beast retelling of the God of Death and the bride determined to kill him). There's plenty of heartbreak before healing. Enough irresistible moments, that end in some very sinful deeds (Rune is someone who devours and feasts, if you catch my drift). Lucky Alora *sigh.


@lyyzis_art

In was lengthy story, yet I never felt bored, nor I wanted to skip. The pacing was enjoyable too. Imo, all lingering questions were answered about them + we got to learn more lore/details, that are helpful for Guardians of the Maiden series (book 5 when? *sobs). Overall, I really enjoyed the vibe, plot, main and side characters. The scheming and repercussions. The judgment and the award.

As this is a dark fantasy story, it includes violence, gore, captivity, and torture against Alora (not by Rune). Check TW's here. There are power imbalances, magical influence, and dubcon-adjacent tension, along with explicit spice involving shadow play (but all sexual acts are consensual).


@xsifaaaa

Fairytale retellings|Hades and Persephone vibes|Close proximity|Sacrifice, shadows, and redemption|Forbidden magic and slow burn kisses|Obsessive, devoted villains|Touch her and..|Morally gray devotion|Consuming love|Shadow magic, violence, and consequences|Gods, monsters, and characters who defy fate|Explicit spice

𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒔. 𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆, 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒌𝒚.


King’s Kiss and King’s Bride art by @samairu.

[evenromanceisnerdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been highly anticipating King’s Kiss ever since I finished King’s Bride in 2023, and finally getting book two in the Chronicles of Urn was more than worth the wait!

I am absolutely obsessed with this world and its characters. Returning to Urn felt like stepping back into something dark, dangerous, and completely intoxicating. Beck Michaels has such a gift for immersing readers—she captures your attention from beginning to end and leaves you desperate for more.

Rune and Alora’s story completely consumed me. Their dynamic gave me Hades and Persephone vibes, but with that shadow-drenched dark romantasy twist that feels uniquely Urn. Rune’s devotion to Alora absolutely clenches your heart. The way he loves her—fierce, possessive, unwavering—wrecked me in the best way.

This story is both heartaching and heartwarming. The hurdles they endure will pull at your heartstrings and have you rooting for them through every sacrifice, every moment of longing, every shadowed kiss.

And the spice? So good. The slow burn tension builds beautifully before delivering that signature intensity Beck Michaels does so well.

This may just be my favorite dark, spicy Sleeping Beauty retelling. If you love fairytale retellings and these tropes, you need this on your TBR immediately:

🖤 Dark fantasy romance
✨ Shadow God MMC
🖤 Stolen bride
✨ Arranged marriage
🖤 Fated mates
✨ Slow burn
🖤 Morally gray hero
✨ Obsessive devotion
🖤 Touch her and die
✨ Forbidden love
🖤 Gods & demons
✨ Close proximity
🖤 Hidden powers
✨ Dragon shifter
🖤 Kneels for her
✨ One throne

Thank you so much to Beck Michaels for the opportunity to ARC read this incredible sequel. It was truly an honor to return to Urn early, and I’m already counting down the days until we get the next story in this beautifully dark world 🖤👑

[Sarah Festa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sleeping Beauty Adaptation. Romantasy. Shadow God. Spicy.

I don't even know where to start with this masterpiece...

You all know I adored King's Bride and it was legit one of my fave romantasy's ever, and still is but... this has absolutely joined it in the ranks if not surpassed!

I was really intrigued how we would get to the romance with such a build up of the story of Argyle at the beginning but it really did set the scene for the rest of the book with things constantly referring back to what we knew from the world building.

You could absolutely tell it was inspired by Sleeping Beauty but just by some small yet key elements, it still very much was its own story in it's right.

Rune.. My god Rune... The Shadow Daddy to rule us all. The blend of dark desire and absolute devotion perfection.

Alora the perfect match in balance of light and dark for Rune, not afraid to challenge or submit to him.

I loved all the Harbringers but I think Deimos was my favourite, I am not sure why but he made me smile.

Another fantastic read that has me so excited to see more from the world of Urn.

[Dannica Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Open Door)

I really enjoyed Rune and Alora's story, if i'm going to be honest I don't usually like a lot of world building so some parts of the book weren't for me. I found that some of the world-building were a little longer than I would have liked; however, I have to say that Beck Michaels does a wonderful job at describing a lot of the places and characters, it does give you a clear picture of the kind of scene that she wants you to see in the book.

I did love Rune's need to protect Alora and their moments together were great. I found myself amused at times by them both when it came to their feelings towards each other. This book had a great slow burn going for it and although the book seems like a lot of pages I actually found myself going through it fairly quickly. The beginning especially caught my attention right away. I also enjoyed the Dual POVs as well.

Overall I'm glad I got to read this book! I enjoyed this retelling of Sleeping Beauty, it was a wonderful dark romantasy book.

Thank you to Beck Michaels for my eARC! I enjoyed being part of the ARC team for this book and I cannot wait to read more of her books once they come out!

[kiely · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The world would tell tales of a cursed princess and a dragon. But within the Netherworld, where shadows breathed and spider lilies bloomed, only one truth existed: Every fairy tale ended in light—except this one.”

okay so this is going to be my favorite read of 2026.

this was everything that I could have asked for and more. I loved seeing characters from Beck’s other books and loved how well it gives a background on her other series.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I don’t know how to put it in words without spoiling everything. I was intrigued I was hooked I love the sleeping beauty retelling twist. I love the growth of the characters Alora and Rune. The spice was on point, the world building was done amazingly and I can go on but no spoilers and you need to read this amazing book

[Mich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to read it.

4.5⭐️

King Kiss is a fantasy romance retelling inspired by Sleeping Beauty, with darker tones and elements that evoke the dynamic of Hades and Persephone. One of the highlights of the book is its strong world-building and detailed character development.

The story is extensive and includes long chapters, the pacing felt slower at times; however, this allows the reader to better understand the relationships and the world in which the story unfolds.

Rune and Alora are compelling protagonists. Alora stands out as a determined and protective female lead, while Rune fits perfectly into the “morally gray, protective” archetype. The supporting characters and antagonist also contribute significantly to the overall narrative.

The writing style is immersive and engaging, making it easy to stay intrigued throughout the story.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy:
• Fantasy romance retellings
• Dark romance elements
• Strong world-building
• Intense spice

The book includes sensitive themes and explicit scenes.

[Aleksandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much Beck Michaels for sending me this ARC!

King’s Kiss is a second standalone book in a Dark Fantasy Romance series and a Sleeping Beauty retelling with some Hades and Persephone vibes and omg Beck really outdid herself with this book, I’ve been a fan of hers for a few years now and this is definitely my new favourite book of hers, it’s a masterpiece and I absolutely loved Alora and Rune’s story.

I’m not going to say much about the plot because I believe it’s best to go in blind to fully appreciate the twists, but it was perfectly paced and had me hooked from literally the first page, the way this book starts is so interesting and I literally couldn’t put it down, it’s quite long and yet I found myself wishing it was even longer because I didn’t want to say goodbye to these characters. This is such an incredible and beautiful but heartbreaking story, it’s full of morally grey characters, gods, dragon, eternal love, secrets I loved discovering and some plot twists and revelations that had me with my jaw on the floor. Alora was an amazing FMC, she appeared to be a bit soft and meek in the beginning and she grew so much in this book, she was strong, clever, stabby and willing to do anything for those she cared about, I loved reading her story. Rune was a really complicated MMC, morally grey, full of secrets and cruel at times but it was easy to see what made him that way and my heart was breaking for him through most of the book, the pain he felt and his longing and yearning for Alora was heartbreaking and beautiful and I absolutely loved him, he was the definition of obsessed and fell first and had some amazing ‘my wife’ and ‘touch her and die’ scenes, I loved how feral he was for her. These two didn’t have the easiest relationship and had to overcome a lot starting with the forced marriage (I love that trope!) but they were incredible together and perfect for each other, I loved seeing Alora slowly fall for Rune and them both starting to trust and accept everything about each other, their story was truly beautiful and they definitely became one of my favorite bookish couples, I already can’t wait to reread their story. And let me just say, Beck definitely delivered when it came to spicy scenes, I found myself blushing a few times, it was perfect.

King’s Kiss is an incredible dark romantasy book, I loved it so much and can’t wait for Beck’s next book.

[Charlotte Andrea✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This read was truly dark, delicious and sinful! ❤️‍🔥

Thank you so much Beck Michaels for the eARC and for having me on your team, I’m forever corrupted and ruined in the best way 🫶🏼

“I fear I am cursed to chase you across a thousand lifetimes...”

👑 Sleeping Beauty retelling
💋 Gods and demons
❤️‍🔥 Hidden powers
👑 Stolen bride
💋 Kneels for her
❤️‍🔥 Dragon shifter
👑 Obsessive shadow god MMC
💋 One throne
❤️‍🔥 Shadow play 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
👑 Forbidden love
💋 Touch her and die

“Oh, no, songbird. You already gave me permission, and I intend to hear you sing.”

For everyone that knows me, you all knew I would be obsessed by Rune, and Alora is his perfect match (unfortunately for me that would love to take her seat… IYKYK) 😈 Rune was a delight to get to know in King’s Bride and I was so looking forward to his story. He is so dramatic and of course he delivered with an overload 🤭 Alora surprised me so much and is one of my new favorite FMCs. She is fierce, stubborn, devoted and funny. The spice was truly sinful, but in the best way to compliment the plot and them as a couple.

“Gods, you have an inflated sense of self-importance."
He hid a grin behind a curled hand. "You’ll soon find that’s not all that’s inflated."

Alora blinked between them. “That was dinner? By the Seven, what occurs at breakfast?”

I absolutely love how unique, yet nostalgic the use of the fairytale was. I have no doubt no retelling of it can top this one. Beck always writes so poetic and that really came forward here. The plot and the battles is brutally heartbreaking so buckle up and enjoy the ride with developed characters, surprising plottwists and epic worldbuilding that just have to be experienced. I loved the new little found family and Calla was my favorite of them.

“You were never meant to be a fairytale,” Calla said softly. “You were meant to be a myth.”

I don’t want to spoil too much because the journey of guessing what’s going on was so fun! Safe to say, I’m so excited to see what comes next 👀

This is book 2 in the Chronicles of Urn—a interconnected standalone series of fairytale retellings—each a dark tale of powerful Kings and the Queens who bring them to their knees...

You can read this first, but for full character development of the MMC I recommend reading King’s Bride first—the frosty Beauty and the Beast retelling of the God of Death and the bride determined to kill him 👑👰🏼‍♀️

[Gabrielle (belle.bookcorner) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You ask me if I could love you.
Ra’ayati, before everything that ever was, I already did.”

King’s Kiss was absolutely worth the wait! I’ve been anticipating this one since last year, and finally finishing it felt like being swept into a whirlwind—epic battles, sizzling romance, shocking twists, and those heartwarming found-family vibes all rolled into one!!

I loved how Beck reimagined the Sleeping Beauty tale, weaving in familiar elements while blending in touches of Hades x Persephone. It gave the story a fresh yet nostalgic feel that worked beautifully.
Despite being nearly 800 pages, the pacing is spot-on—every chapter pulls you deeper, and before you know it, hours have flown by.

The characters are what truly make this book shine.
Watching Alora and Rune grow in their second lifetime was so rewarding, and the supporting cast—like the three Harbingers, Alora’s best friend—felt integral rather than secondary. They weren’t just background figures; they actively shaped the big moments and made the world feel alive.

And the romance? Off the charts!!
Rune has this way with words that makes him feel like a secret poet, and his chemistry with Alora is even hotter than the previous book. The tension is fiery but balanced, never overwhelming, and fans of spicy romance will definitely be satisfied!

Overall, King’s Kiss is a stunning addition to the series.
Beck Michaels has once again delivered a heartfelt, immersive story that’s going to linger with me for a long time. I’m gonna have a hard time reading the next book while my mind still stuck in this story…

Beck’s writing continues to be a favorite, and I’ll be eagerly waiting for whatever she creates next.

I received a review copy from the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily!

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: sexual content, violence, blood, war, gore, death, captivity, strong language, torture

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What if I no longer wish to be a princess?"..
"Then find the courage to be something more."

"Love is not a thing that can be forced," she said softly. "But sometimes... it finds us in the darkest of places, when we least expect it. And when it does, we recognize it, even if the world tells us we should not."

"Stop dreading what you are. Don't fear the magic or what it may mean. Command it. Wield it. Become something your enemies should fear instead."

"You were never meant to be a fairytale... You were meant to be a myth."

I loved King's Bride last year so I was excited to get Rune's story! I didn't love it quite as much, but it was still captivating and a brilliant twist on a fairytale. I have never read a Sleeping Beauty retelling, and this one had so many creative twist and layers and nods to the original while spinning it's own tale of gods and monsters, bargains and curses, sacrifice and redemption.

Rune is the god of the underworld and Alora is the bride he thought he killed, only to be given a second chance at their story. But she doesn't know him, her kingdom is besieged by a curse within and an enemy without, and she is troubled by strange powers no one can explain. So she makes a bargain with Rune and becomes his bride in exchange, not knowing their history and that it is destined to repeat unless they can unravel the curse and mysteries of her powers.

This one was DARK but captivating. Alora was a fierce heroine and Rune was a man obsessed. I loved their growth and second chance - not just in their romance but for their characters and kingdom. This was very much a redemption story, examining the costs of both selfishness and sacrifice, and I loved it.

FYI - check trigger warnings as this one was dark and sometimes violent. It was also very spicy, with shadow partners and bondage (though all within a consensual marriage relationship). So it won't be for everyone!

[Hazzel (howtoescapereality) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beck Michaels really said “sleep? never heard of her.” The way she pulls you in from page one and refuses to let go should honestly be studied—because by the end, you’re not just hooked, you’re feral and begging for more.

I’ve been eagerly waiting for King’s Kiss ever since I finished King’s Bride, and finally getting the second book in the Chronicles of Urn was absolutely worth the wait!

This story?? INSANE. It took Sleeping Beauty and said, “Let’s make this darker, hotter, and emotionally unhinged.” The twist on the retelling was everything. It’s this sweeping love story with the past woven into a new timeline (but no, not reincarnation — don’t ask me to explain it without spoiling because I physically can’t).

I was intrigued. I was hooked. I lost sleep. I have no regrets.

The character growth? Top notch, I know Rune since King’s Kiss and his character development on this book was everything. Alora and Rune??? Your Honor, I am OBSESSED. I am feral. FERAL.

The spice? Perfectly seasoned. The world-building? Chef’s kiss. I could go on for hours but I refuse to spoil this masterpiece — just know you need to add it on your TBR or read it immediately.

Hands down the BEST Sleeping Beauty retelling ever. And the vibes?? Lowkey Hades and Persephone energy mixed in there and I didn’t even know I needed that combo until this book served it to me on a silver platter. Absolute perfection.

[PaperImaginings · Rating 4 out of 5]

[📚 REVIEW]
King’s Kiss - 4⭐️

King’s Kiss is here bringing a new shadow daddy to add to our ever growing list of faves and a stabby fmc that sees it through! 🗡️🩸

I’ve been intrigued by Rune from book one and I have to say that the intrigue has been met times two. (IYKYK😉) He’s everything I hope he would be. All consuming, charming, intense, worships, and flawed. He’s so fun to read and get to know. The man is whipped for his wife and I’m here for it.

As for Alora, a stabby fmc is entertaining as she can keep a commanding mmc on his toes. I loved her journey. Alora started out as a girl who is unsure of her place in the world and she has navigated it in a way that turned her into someone who deserves to be called Queen. She perfectly stands across Rune and challenges him.

The teasing between these two is immaculate. The push and pull is a perfect progression into their romance. I just wished we could have seen how Rune fell in love with Alora the first time that it inspired such a devotion.

I like the world building and how rich the Netherworld, the creatures that resides in the courts are, as well as the Gods. The detail on how they were written made the world feel even bigger with high stakes.

All in all, this was a fun fantasy read and a good follow up to King’s Bride.


- paperimaginings

[eclecticbychoicereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

“What are stories if not enthralling tales woven from dreams?”

And this is an enthralling story, woven from nightmares that turn into dreams. One where darkness wins, and we cheer for it. One where the morally grey, corrupted hero wins our hearts through both his wickedness and his devotion, his destruction and his passion, his sins and his yearning.

And she?
“You were never meant to be a fairytale; you were meant to be a myth.”

And yet, this story is a fairytale. A dark, twisted one. It is a myth, too, one that inspires and empowers. It is not for the faint of heart, but for those yearning for freedom, the power to choose, and the power to change. To change oneself, and to change the very foundations of the world.

Beck’s King’s Kiss is a tale of gods, mortals, and immortals alike. It is a sinful tale, with elements of Sleeping Beauty beautifully woven throughout. A tale of choice and forgiveness. Of sin and repentance. A tale of life, death, and everything in between.

Rune and Alora’s story inspires. It crushes you and lifts you up. It awakens your senses and touches the deepest parts of your soul.

The gates of the Netherworld are nearly open. Are you ready to step through?

Thank you, Beck, for having me on your ARC team once again. It’s an honor and a pleasure.

[Aria · Rating 5 out of 5]

King's Kiss by Beck Michaels is an absolute triumph—a dark romantasy masterpiece that consumed me from the first page. This Sleeping Beauty retelling follows Princess Alora, who bargains with the chained Netherworld King to lift her kingdom's curse, only to become his bride and awaken in his seductive court of shadows and demons.
Michaels weaves a spellbinding tale of enemies‑to‑lovers obsession, where the god‑of‑shadows hero is both terrifying and irresistible, and Alora's fierce awakening power steals every scene. The worldbuilding is breathtaking—the Netherworld pulses with forbidden magic, ancient curses, and lush, dangerous beauty that immerses you completely. Every twist deepened the mystery of Alora's past and their unraveling bond, while the romance delivers scorching tension, raw vulnerability, and swoonworthy devotion that left me breathless.
From the visceral stakes to the emotional gut‑punches, this book is romantasy perfection: dark, epic, and unforgettably passionate. If King's Bride captivated you, King's Kiss will shatter your heart and rebuild it stronger. Five blazing stars—my new favorite in the Chronicles of Urn! I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Anshul (stories.buddy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is the chunkiest book I have read in a year, and it was equally intriguing. Every chapter offered something new to get hooked with. The plot was phenomenal, and I kept guessing ‘what comes next’ and I was surprised each and every time. Wow! What a great journey.

Rune was perfect shadowy, dark, main character, who is morally grey when it comes to HER, and is outright dark other times. His character graph was the most adorable thing about him. He grew throughout the book and I really loved that a lot. There was so much happening in and around them, that I got lost in this world and didn’t want to leave. But I had to come back to reality.

Beck Michaels weaves stories that leave an incredible impact, and hats off to her, because she explains everything and I was never questioning why, when, or where. It maintained the flow and depth at every step. She had created the main characters who are head to toe perfect for each other.

Alora was cute, lovely, fierce, dangerous and completely feral for Rune. She is feisty when she needs to.

I really want to rave about it more but then I’ll end up spoiling because you cannot praise it without revealing a bit. So go read the book. FABULOUS.

[Lindsay Attrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rune’s story is one I have been anticipating since Kings Bride and when I finally got to read it?! Omgggg 🙌🏻😍🔥

Kings Kiss is a dark, tension filled Sleeping Beauty reimagining and it has been riding high on the top of my list. Becks writing has always set her on my favorites list but Rune and Alora’s story cements her there! The world building is expansive and stunning, form a forest cottage to barren chiffs and an entire underworld kingdom, with each distinct setting being easy to envision. The plot moves at a good pace, and while this is a chonky book there wasn’t any point from the first page to the last where it slipped or slowed. This book is dual POV with some fluctuating timeline, but at no point was I confused or felt like I missed something!

Alora is my girlll, her arc is easily one of my favorites! Her growth as a character is so fun to watch and by the end she is such a badass FMC I love it! Rune has such a story to tell, and there was definitely more than one occasion where I wanted to reach into the book and smack some sense into him 😅 he is devoted to Alora almost to a fault, and when he goes on the hunt for revenge we see a side of him that we don’t really get to see in MMCs and it is gloriousss!! Their banter is 10/10 and the tension between them could be cut by a knife. And when they finally communicate and meet each other on even ground?! 🔥🔥🔥

Along with the romance we have political warfare on all fronts, adventure, cozy cottage times and tragedy, to name a few. This book has all my stars, and I cannot wait to add the stunning editions to my shelf!

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just want to start this by thanking Beck Michaels for the E-ARC, I’m truly grateful for it. I really wanted to love this book like book 1 but I couldn’t get into the characters easily. The world building was great but in my opinion, it was overly descriptive. Some descriptions were too repetitive so it kinda became redundant. The plot was unique and confusing at times, I can’t go into much detail but I felt towards the end it kinda got lost and contradicted itself with what was said at the beginning. The love story between Rune and Alora was very sweet and captivating. I couldn’t get enough of them! I absolutely adored the harbingers and their loyalty to both Rune and Alora and the lengths they’d go to to protect and avenge them. The spice was spicing in this book, and you’ll be pleasantly shocked and enthralled. Overall this book was 3/5 ⭐️ and 4/5 🌶️. Please check your trigger warnings when getting ready to read this!

[JetteSoars4Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved this story. this story was a long time coming and so worth the wait. i’ve been part of Beck’s first street team when she released the first book in the Chronicles of Urn. book 1 was magical and dark and book 2 blew it out of the water. definitely felt Persephone x Hades vibes with a mixture of Rapunzel retelling. Rune was darkness incarnate and Alora was all sunshine. i loved how the story changed with all the plot twists and redirected multiple times where I definitely couldn’t guess what was coming next. i was obsessed with the side characters and devastated at the death of another. but again what brought me back was the chemistry between Rune and Alora. they were magnetic even when enemies they couldn’t stay away. realizing Rune’s intentions and back story only added to the dynamic in my opinion and left room for so much! groveling, vengeance, revelations, and my favorite- so much banter. the spice was SO HOT and 2 is better than 1. i love a good monster romance twist 🙈 I know Beck isn’t sure on our next God, but I’m excited to know there’s a possibility of the Chronicles of Urn continuing. highly recommend!

✨Tropes✨
⭐️ sleeping beauty x hades x persephone vibes
🌙 touch her and d!e
💫 dragon shifter
⭐️ shadow daddy
🌙 stolen bride/forced marriage
💫 slow burn

[b_reads27 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Chronicles Of Urn series: Rune and Alora. This is an enemies to lovers, morally grey-to-black MMC, captor x captive, power imbalance, shadow daddy villain MMC, slower burn, “he would burn the world down for her”, dragon shifter, evil God of shadows x half human half fae princess, touch her and d!e… painfully, second chance, forced proximity, “my wife”, fated mates, dark romantasy
This book gave me a mix of Sleeping Beauty along with Hades and Persephone retelling. This book was jam packed. Amazing love story, battle scenes, world building, magic system, and spice. King’s Kiss has everything you want and need in a romantasy. It is a longer read but oh so worth it. Rune was the ultimate morally grey anti-hero MMC and Alora is now one of my most favorite FMCs. I couldn’t get enough of this book and never wanted it to end.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

King’s Kiss is a dark romantic fantasy inspired by Sleeping Beauty. Alora is desperate to save her kingdom from war and a Sleeping Curse, and makes a deal with the God of Shadows, Rune, trapped in the mountain. The deal - set him free and become his bride.

What follows is an intricate plot of fate and adventure. We go on quite the journey, physically, spiritually, and emotionally with Alora. Alora and Rune have an intense, emotional relationship - I think the story really shines in the moments we get to see their relationship flourish.

If you love dark fairytale retellings (that include a fair amount of spice), then definitely check out the Chronicles of Urn series!

Thank you to the author for this advanced reading copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Zephyr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

I’m so excited we finally got the follow up to King’s Bride! It was definitely worth the wait.
I was sucked right in from the first page. While I still had lingering hatred for Rune, his pain and heartbreak came through quickly. I felt his devastation and then his immediate hope to get Alora back.
I as so intrigued by the expanding world from the first book and the emotions came through so purely. There were a couple of points where I wanted the story to move along, but it was so worth it to keep going.
AND THE SPICE! I don’t want to spoil anything but it was so, so good.
I’m not a huge fan of Sleeping Beauty retellings, but I really liked this one and will definitely read it again.

[Stacie (Bookswithstacie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never read a book where I've been thinking I need this to end already but I don't want it to end! I needed to know the ending I was being impatient but I held out because I knew Beck Michaels delivers. And Gods she delivered!
I needed to know what happens at every page I was holding my breath.
I've read stories by Beck Michaels before and I knew at some point I'd have a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes and this one is no different.
I LOVE how King's Kiss is written, I LOVE the story, the characters. I LOVE everything about it.
The spice is spicy in this one
Although King's Kiss pulls from Sleeping Beauty, I got Beauty and the Beast vibes too.