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King's Kiss
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...
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...
Hardcover
Published October 28, 2025
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1017 people want to read
About the author
Beck Michaels
7 books894 followersBECK 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.
Beck lives in Indiana with her husband and two children, where she spends her time reading and daydreaming of adventures in faraway lands.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 4, 2026
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
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
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
February 10, 2026
"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.
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.
February 11, 2026
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 ﹚
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 ﹚
February 10, 2026
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 😉
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 😉
February 7, 2026
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
February 10, 2026
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.
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.
February 9, 2026
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 👑👰🏼♀️
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 👑👰🏼♀️
February 13, 2026
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 🖤👑
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 🖤👑
February 10, 2026
“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.
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.
February 12, 2026
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.
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.
February 10, 2026
OH MY GOD if I could rate this more than 5 stars I would! This book was absolutely phenomenal.
This book is definitely now so far my favorite read in 2026 so far. I didn't know how much I would love this since I HATED Rune in the book he was introduced in, so I went into this wondering how I would end up loving him but love him I do! I loved the previous book within this world but I loved this one even more!
The romance in this was perfection I loved the tension the yearning the push and pull, and when they finally just gave in *chef's kiss* The spice was also amazing! Probably some of my favorite in the way it was written.
The plot was amazing it kept my attention I lost a lot of sleep because I couldn't put this book down. This book had me feral for everything it contained. I'm blown away by this book and will be thinking about it for a long time.
I know this book was delayed a few times but it was worth the wait 1000%
I was given the opportunity to be given an ARC and I'm so thankful to be so lucky because it was perfection.
This book is definitely now so far my favorite read in 2026 so far. I didn't know how much I would love this since I HATED Rune in the book he was introduced in, so I went into this wondering how I would end up loving him but love him I do! I loved the previous book within this world but I loved this one even more!
The romance in this was perfection I loved the tension the yearning the push and pull, and when they finally just gave in *chef's kiss* The spice was also amazing! Probably some of my favorite in the way it was written.
The plot was amazing it kept my attention I lost a lot of sleep because I couldn't put this book down. This book had me feral for everything it contained. I'm blown away by this book and will be thinking about it for a long time.
I know this book was delayed a few times but it was worth the wait 1000%
I was given the opportunity to be given an ARC and I'm so thankful to be so lucky because it was perfection.
February 14, 2026
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!
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!
February 13, 2026
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!
February 13, 2026
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.
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.
February 8, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This. Was. Everything 🥹
I will have to come back for this review because … I am speechless right now ❤️❤️❤️🥺
Alora and Rune will forever be one of my favourite couples!!!
This. Was. Everything 🥹
I will have to come back for this review because … I am speechless right now ❤️❤️❤️🥺
Alora and Rune will forever be one of my favourite couples!!!
February 9, 2026
lordy this was a long book, took me a few days to get through What do I have to say. I really enjoyed this book. and the way the story unfolded and how both Rune, and Alors refused to give up even if the gods and fates were against them they shattered those obstacles and rose strong even with a lot of fighting. and heartbreak in between for they are fated to find each other.
February 13, 2026
This book was a dark romantasy retelling of Sleeping Beauty, including the dragons and a spindle, mixed with Hades/Persephone. There's a curse to be broken and a reluctant bride brought to the Netherworld to be saved from both herself and fate. It was full of twists and really expanded on the worldbuilding. Ever since I read King's Bride, book 1 in this series, I have loved Rune. He shone here in all his villain adjacent, snarky and heartbreaking glory. He got his second chance and we got slow burn (on her end) with spicy and angsty tension. His yearning for Alora was perfection. Alora herself was very unexpected. She was soft but clever and tricky. She was so perfect for him. This book was everything I could have wanted for Rune's story and I loved it.
Ps-this is book 2 in an interconnected series. You don't HAVE to read book 1, but I think you should. Also please check the triggers.
Ps-this is book 2 in an interconnected series. You don't HAVE to read book 1, but I think you should. Also please check the triggers.
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