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Fairy Tales of Gallia #2
Enchanting Thorns
A Kiss to Wake a Fae Prince, A Curse to Destroy the Realms
Brie has always been able to sense malicious auras, and when shadowy thorns consume the forest, she’s horrified to learn that no one else can see the danger threatening her home. Desperate for answers, Brie is summoned by an Enchanter, who reveals she is the only one to save the human world by breaking the spell of a sleeping fae prince–with a kiss.
Roran dreaded the day he would fall under his curse, knowing he would be bound in marriage to whoever woke him. However, nothing prepares him for a human stranger to kiss him awake, and to make matters worse, his entire kingdom is still trapped under the sleeping enchantment. Now bound to Brie, they must embark on a journey to track down the witch responsible for the curse.
Together, they face perilous dangers and unexpectedly find themselves drawn to each other through mysterious dreams. But if they don’t learn to trust one another, the curse will unravel their worlds like a waking nightmare.
Enchanting Thorns is a new adult Sleeping Beauty retelling and book two of the Fairy Tales of Gallia series. Although this story is set hundreds of years before book one, each book is a standalone novel within the same world. Perfect for readers who enjoy no-spice romance, slow burn, magic, and a cupful of angst. Happily ever after, guaranteed.
Brie has always been able to sense malicious auras, and when shadowy thorns consume the forest, she’s horrified to learn that no one else can see the danger threatening her home. Desperate for answers, Brie is summoned by an Enchanter, who reveals she is the only one to save the human world by breaking the spell of a sleeping fae prince–with a kiss.
Roran dreaded the day he would fall under his curse, knowing he would be bound in marriage to whoever woke him. However, nothing prepares him for a human stranger to kiss him awake, and to make matters worse, his entire kingdom is still trapped under the sleeping enchantment. Now bound to Brie, they must embark on a journey to track down the witch responsible for the curse.
Together, they face perilous dangers and unexpectedly find themselves drawn to each other through mysterious dreams. But if they don’t learn to trust one another, the curse will unravel their worlds like a waking nightmare.
Enchanting Thorns is a new adult Sleeping Beauty retelling and book two of the Fairy Tales of Gallia series. Although this story is set hundreds of years before book one, each book is a standalone novel within the same world. Perfect for readers who enjoy no-spice romance, slow burn, magic, and a cupful of angst. Happily ever after, guaranteed.
275 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 28, 2025
15 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Evercott
10 books22 followersAshley Evercott was born and raised where it’s mostly sunny and there’s always traffic on the 91. From a young age, she has dreamed of far-off worlds and star-crossed lovers. She is proud to pen these stories to life and combine fantasy and swoony romance. When she is not writing, she consumes as many romance books as possible and hangs out with her cat and supportive husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 10, 2025
Content
Romance: clean
Violence: minor/ non descriptive, supernatural enemies
Language: clean
This review may contain minor spoilers. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book was fine story wise. It was an interesting take on the sleeping beauty tale. I felt like the book reached its peak at about 60% and the following parts could have been condensed. I also am not a fan of lying to a partner "for their own good" or because "it won't work between us." I thought the world building was good and I liked the ending. I didn't like how often the gods were mentioned but part of the plot depended on that element.
Romance: clean
Violence: minor/ non descriptive, supernatural enemies
Language: clean
This review may contain minor spoilers. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book was fine story wise. It was an interesting take on the sleeping beauty tale. I felt like the book reached its peak at about 60% and the following parts could have been condensed. I also am not a fan of lying to a partner "for their own good" or because "it won't work between us." I thought the world building was good and I liked the ending. I didn't like how often the gods were mentioned but part of the plot depended on that element.
March 29, 2025
Enchanting Thorns is the second book in the Fairy Tale of Gallia series, but the first one that I’ve read and you can definitely read it as a standalone.
It was full of danger and adventure, sweet and clean romance and some really funny moments despite the threats our two main characters are facing.
This was a very unique twist on Sleeping Beauty. It was so fun to find elements of the original, but it honestly made so much more sense than the original fairy tale and the love story doesn’t end with the wake up kiss but begins there.
So when Brie - since it’s a gender swapped retelling - awakes the Prince with a kiss and thinks her job is done, the real fun begins. Because there are really high stakes and a lot of banter - our dear Prince Roran is a liiittle bit judgemental and has a few prejudices against humans…
Being “Veil Woven” to a human was definitely not what Fae Prince Roran expected or hoped for, but since there is a horrible curse to break and except him and Brie everyone is asleep, he begrudgingly accepts that they have to stick together for some time.
It was so sweet how they learned to accept, trust and ultimately admire and love each other. They were both well developed characters you will easily learn to love and they both grow through their involuntary trip. I absolutely enjoyed their love story as I did the action scenes which were gripping and very well written. There is magic (obviously, since we're dealing with fae and curses) and some magical creatures (won’t name them if you like to be surprised) and it is a Fantasy book I highly recommend if you like the mentioned elements.
As I said I haven’t read the first book Enchanting Fate - yet, I definitely want to catch up now! - but I was familiar with the world/beliefs that were represented through A Charming Hope (which I absolutely loved, btw!). This is not a Christian Retelling, but I talked to the author a while back and she explained her thoughts and what each “god” stands for. I personally do prefer a clear Christian message with only one God, but since I understood the part each god played/represented I had no problem reading this. It has a clear distinction between good and evil and highlights Christian values like sacrifices and being selfless. Just something you might want to be aware of if you’re a Christian and sensitive if other belief systems are presented.
* Thank you to the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own.
It was full of danger and adventure, sweet and clean romance and some really funny moments despite the threats our two main characters are facing.
This was a very unique twist on Sleeping Beauty. It was so fun to find elements of the original, but it honestly made so much more sense than the original fairy tale and the love story doesn’t end with the wake up kiss but begins there.
So when Brie - since it’s a gender swapped retelling - awakes the Prince with a kiss and thinks her job is done, the real fun begins. Because there are really high stakes and a lot of banter - our dear Prince Roran is a liiittle bit judgemental and has a few prejudices against humans…
Being “Veil Woven” to a human was definitely not what Fae Prince Roran expected or hoped for, but since there is a horrible curse to break and except him and Brie everyone is asleep, he begrudgingly accepts that they have to stick together for some time.
It was so sweet how they learned to accept, trust and ultimately admire and love each other. They were both well developed characters you will easily learn to love and they both grow through their involuntary trip. I absolutely enjoyed their love story as I did the action scenes which were gripping and very well written. There is magic (obviously, since we're dealing with fae and curses) and some magical creatures (won’t name them if you like to be surprised) and it is a Fantasy book I highly recommend if you like the mentioned elements.
As I said I haven’t read the first book Enchanting Fate - yet, I definitely want to catch up now! - but I was familiar with the world/beliefs that were represented through A Charming Hope (which I absolutely loved, btw!). This is not a Christian Retelling, but I talked to the author a while back and she explained her thoughts and what each “god” stands for. I personally do prefer a clear Christian message with only one God, but since I understood the part each god played/represented I had no problem reading this. It has a clear distinction between good and evil and highlights Christian values like sacrifices and being selfless. Just something you might want to be aware of if you’re a Christian and sensitive if other belief systems are presented.
* Thank you to the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own.
March 24, 2025
4 stars
Thank you to the author for a digital copy to review. All thoughts are my own.
Ashley Evercott is known for her morally-led fairytale retellings with good character development, and Enchanting Thorns set out to do just that. Both Brie and Roran meet unexpectedly sealed with a kiss, and whilst initial reactions to each other didn't go well, they quickly form an alliance to help save the day for both their lands, and fall in love along the way. This is the writing I have come to expect from this author, and she delivered once more.
I was happy that Evercott has characters who kissed a bit more this time around. Whilst the romance slowly built alongside their journey to break the sleeping curse over Faeland in this Sleeping Beauty retelling, I liked the moments where they went from two different entities with nothing alike, to find beauty, inspiration, and awe in the other. The confessions were sweet and believable. I'm not a huge fan of third acts and in this case, the lie Brie gave to Roran to try and save herself and her people, but I respected why she made the decision and thankfully it was cut very short.
Whilst the storyline felt whole, I will say that I think this isn't marketed correctly. I found the characters acted much younger than their age and had there not been as much kissing, it could pass as a middle-grade or lower YA read. This isn't a terrible thing, as the story was still enjoyable, and I felt like I was reading something akin to a quest like Shrek. The world-building was cinematic enough to fit why I kept thinking of these types of movies I watched when younger. However, classing this read as a new adult is a little bit of a disservice as I felt I could easily read this to my niece and she'd find it an enjoyable read. Evercott has a firm stance on delivering no-spice and cuss-free fantasy romance tales, and as a reader of adult open door fantasy and romantasy, perhaps my viewpoint of this being really chaste and sweet will be different from other readers who solely read away from open door romantic plotlines. While I have raised this point, I will say once more that it's only a small detail, but it did bring me out of the world a couple of times, so I thought it an important note to share.
As it stands, this was a delightful continuation of the Fairy Tales of Gallia series and made me smile quite a few times as I read this wholesome story.
Thank you to the author for a digital copy to review. All thoughts are my own.
Ashley Evercott is known for her morally-led fairytale retellings with good character development, and Enchanting Thorns set out to do just that. Both Brie and Roran meet unexpectedly sealed with a kiss, and whilst initial reactions to each other didn't go well, they quickly form an alliance to help save the day for both their lands, and fall in love along the way. This is the writing I have come to expect from this author, and she delivered once more.
I was happy that Evercott has characters who kissed a bit more this time around. Whilst the romance slowly built alongside their journey to break the sleeping curse over Faeland in this Sleeping Beauty retelling, I liked the moments where they went from two different entities with nothing alike, to find beauty, inspiration, and awe in the other. The confessions were sweet and believable. I'm not a huge fan of third acts and in this case, the lie Brie gave to Roran to try and save herself and her people, but I respected why she made the decision and thankfully it was cut very short.
Whilst the storyline felt whole, I will say that I think this isn't marketed correctly. I found the characters acted much younger than their age and had there not been as much kissing, it could pass as a middle-grade or lower YA read. This isn't a terrible thing, as the story was still enjoyable, and I felt like I was reading something akin to a quest like Shrek. The world-building was cinematic enough to fit why I kept thinking of these types of movies I watched when younger. However, classing this read as a new adult is a little bit of a disservice as I felt I could easily read this to my niece and she'd find it an enjoyable read. Evercott has a firm stance on delivering no-spice and cuss-free fantasy romance tales, and as a reader of adult open door fantasy and romantasy, perhaps my viewpoint of this being really chaste and sweet will be different from other readers who solely read away from open door romantic plotlines. While I have raised this point, I will say once more that it's only a small detail, but it did bring me out of the world a couple of times, so I thought it an important note to share.
As it stands, this was a delightful continuation of the Fairy Tales of Gallia series and made me smile quite a few times as I read this wholesome story.
March 21, 2025
Brie is the middle child with eleven brothers and sisters and all she wants is to be seen. She has a blessed gift that allows her to sense magic and she’d love nothing more than to set off on adventures. But she’s needed to look after her younger siblings, so even when she tries to warn her family that danger is lurking nearby, she’s punished. But when a divine messenger appears, she follows his orders before evil can take over the realms.
Roran is the younger brother of the fae king who has spent his entire life waiting for his curse to be enacted and to be awoken by a kiss. He just never expected it to be a human who would do so. With the entire fae realm asleep from the curse, Roran and Brie must travel to find the source of the evil that is threatening their lands.
But along the way, they each discover more about themselves than they knew — and maybe a bit about love.
“Because the greatest sacrifices and pains we bear are for the people we cherish most.”
This was such an amazing story. Once again, Evercott turns the expected story on its head, but she also brings us a delightful tale of adventure and action, not just a romance. Don’t get me wrong, the romance between Brie and Roran is rich and poignant, but it’s interwoven among one of hope and justice and belonging.
Evercott writes such delightful immersive stories with the perfect amount of swoon and connection. You know these characters, their hopes and fears, but even more, you can see them amid her rich descriptions and incredible sense of time and place.
This world focuses strongly on the battles between good and evil. There are three gods, who have designated messengers among the realms and magic is directed by them. While the world is not distinctly Christian, you can see Christian themes throughout these elements.
Can’t wait for more!
5 Roses
Swoony kisses (including one where she must kiss him awake, but it’s handled well)
Battles, some mention of blood and such, but nothing overtly graphic
A few in-world swears.
(I received an ARC of this book. All views are my own.)
Roran is the younger brother of the fae king who has spent his entire life waiting for his curse to be enacted and to be awoken by a kiss. He just never expected it to be a human who would do so. With the entire fae realm asleep from the curse, Roran and Brie must travel to find the source of the evil that is threatening their lands.
But along the way, they each discover more about themselves than they knew — and maybe a bit about love.
“Because the greatest sacrifices and pains we bear are for the people we cherish most.”
This was such an amazing story. Once again, Evercott turns the expected story on its head, but she also brings us a delightful tale of adventure and action, not just a romance. Don’t get me wrong, the romance between Brie and Roran is rich and poignant, but it’s interwoven among one of hope and justice and belonging.
Evercott writes such delightful immersive stories with the perfect amount of swoon and connection. You know these characters, their hopes and fears, but even more, you can see them amid her rich descriptions and incredible sense of time and place.
This world focuses strongly on the battles between good and evil. There are three gods, who have designated messengers among the realms and magic is directed by them. While the world is not distinctly Christian, you can see Christian themes throughout these elements.
Can’t wait for more!
5 Roses
Swoony kisses (including one where she must kiss him awake, but it’s handled well)
Battles, some mention of blood and such, but nothing overtly graphic
A few in-world swears.
(I received an ARC of this book. All views are my own.)
March 24, 2025
A village girl, from a large poor family, dreams of doing something meaningful and heroic . She has mild special gifts, is brave and is good with a catapult. Yet her strict father prefers to keep her indoors to look after the other children and do household chores. When she is the only one who sees the threat from the forest, she gets the chance to do something: kiss the fae prince awake to lift the curse. Roran,the somewhat spoiled fae prince, protected all his life because of the impending curse, does not know how to react when he is kissed awake by a human. He had really hoped that Morwen, a pretty fae girl would be the one. It also turns out that the curse has not been lifted at all, and against their will the two have to work together. The first step is to look for the witch who cast the curse. When they set out together, they encounter the necessary (magical) obstacles. They get to know each other, grow closer and fall in love. Not entirely to Rorans reassurance, because a human in the fae world, is that acceptable? In the end he chooses Brie, despite the wishes of his brother King Othellen.
The story is based on a fairy tale and reads like one. It is written in an accessible, easy-to-read writing style. The beginning is particularly exciting, there is a good build-up. At one point I find the pace a bit long-winded, but that also increases.
While I was reading, more and more things seemed familiar to me. Digging into my memory, and yes, I have read a book by this writer before with some of the same characters. Read two years earlier, confusingly enough also called part 2, that story is based on Rumpelstiltskin and turns out to be about the son of Roran and Brie. I found this story a bit harder in content; more emotions, sadness and violence.
I did enjoy learning more about Morwen, and find her an under-exposed character that I would like to know more about. I am also more curious about king Othellen.
I received a free book and wrote this review voluntarily
The story is based on a fairy tale and reads like one. It is written in an accessible, easy-to-read writing style. The beginning is particularly exciting, there is a good build-up. At one point I find the pace a bit long-winded, but that also increases.
While I was reading, more and more things seemed familiar to me. Digging into my memory, and yes, I have read a book by this writer before with some of the same characters. Read two years earlier, confusingly enough also called part 2, that story is based on Rumpelstiltskin and turns out to be about the son of Roran and Brie. I found this story a bit harder in content; more emotions, sadness and violence.
I did enjoy learning more about Morwen, and find her an under-exposed character that I would like to know more about. I am also more curious about king Othellen.
I received a free book and wrote this review voluntarily
March 26, 2025
♥️Review♥️
This was my first read by Evercott so I was super curious going into Enchanting Thorns. I wasn’t sure how everything would play out but I knew that the story looked romantic and intriguing. I am so glad I took the risk and asked for a ARC. Enchanting Thorns is indeed romantic but it is also fun, a little dangerous, and the bantering is off the charts.
This is one of those stories where the couple is stuck together with nobody else in sight (one of my favorite tropes). Brie and Roran are such a cute couple! Their distaste for each other was borderline flirting and many of their interactions cracked me up. I loved seeing them work past old prejudices and expectations together. As the story went on, Roran and Brie’s scenes became very sweet.
The storyline in Enchanting Thorns involved a lot of traveling (roadtrip adventures are another type of story I love). I loved getting to see the world building and can’t wait for future stories. It’s just so magical! The ending left an opening for more in the future. There were some interesting moments involving the villains but I won’t tell any more. You will just have to read it for yourself 😉
Thank you so much to Evercott for an ARC of Enchanting Thorns. All opinions are my own.
No-spice level: lighter kissing
Language: Clean
Faith elements: None. To all my Christian girlies: This story does have a system not too unlike Greek mythology in that it has gods of old.
♥️Tropes♥️
Forced Proximity
Roadtrips
Dislike-to-lovers
He’s Sleeping Beauty
Fae lands
Banter and Flirting
#nospiceromantasy #nospicebooks #nospicereads #nospicefantasy #nospiceromance #romantasy #swoonyreads #swoonybooks #fantasyromance #swoonyfantasyromance #sleepingbeauty
This was my first read by Evercott so I was super curious going into Enchanting Thorns. I wasn’t sure how everything would play out but I knew that the story looked romantic and intriguing. I am so glad I took the risk and asked for a ARC. Enchanting Thorns is indeed romantic but it is also fun, a little dangerous, and the bantering is off the charts.
This is one of those stories where the couple is stuck together with nobody else in sight (one of my favorite tropes). Brie and Roran are such a cute couple! Their distaste for each other was borderline flirting and many of their interactions cracked me up. I loved seeing them work past old prejudices and expectations together. As the story went on, Roran and Brie’s scenes became very sweet.
The storyline in Enchanting Thorns involved a lot of traveling (roadtrip adventures are another type of story I love). I loved getting to see the world building and can’t wait for future stories. It’s just so magical! The ending left an opening for more in the future. There were some interesting moments involving the villains but I won’t tell any more. You will just have to read it for yourself 😉
Thank you so much to Evercott for an ARC of Enchanting Thorns. All opinions are my own.
No-spice level: lighter kissing
Language: Clean
Faith elements: None. To all my Christian girlies: This story does have a system not too unlike Greek mythology in that it has gods of old.
♥️Tropes♥️
Forced Proximity
Roadtrips
Dislike-to-lovers
He’s Sleeping Beauty
Fae lands
Banter and Flirting
#nospiceromantasy #nospicebooks #nospicereads #nospicefantasy #nospiceromance #romantasy #swoonyreads #swoonybooks #fantasyromance #swoonyfantasyromance #sleepingbeauty
March 28, 2025
Enchanting Thorns: A Sleeping Beauty Retelling
Fairy Tales of Gallia #2
By Ashley Evercott
All Brie wants to do is prove herself to her family. Yeah, that doesn't happen, instead she discovers dangerous dark thorns consuming her world. But as the only human being to see the deadly darkness encroaching on her family's farm, she has zero credibility in her family's eyes. Then she learns that a curse is bleeding through from the fae world into hers. To save those she loves, she must break the curse.
Kiss the prince, break the curse, sounds easy, right? Yeah, not so much. All it does is wake Roran, a grumpy prince, who is put out that a human woke him. And now he is stuck with her, and she's trapped in the fae realm. Somehow the prince woke up, but the rest of the fae are still trapped in the curse and the portal between the realms is closed.
These two, Brie and Roran must break the curse and maybe learn to work together. After a less than perfect first meeting that found these two more likely to argue than work on finding a cure for the curse. This is an original take on Sleeping Beauty. A fun and imaginative story that won't be mistaken for the original Disney movie. Join Brie and Roran as they step into the unknown to save their realms and those most dear to them.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.
Fairy Tales of Gallia #2
By Ashley Evercott
All Brie wants to do is prove herself to her family. Yeah, that doesn't happen, instead she discovers dangerous dark thorns consuming her world. But as the only human being to see the deadly darkness encroaching on her family's farm, she has zero credibility in her family's eyes. Then she learns that a curse is bleeding through from the fae world into hers. To save those she loves, she must break the curse.
Kiss the prince, break the curse, sounds easy, right? Yeah, not so much. All it does is wake Roran, a grumpy prince, who is put out that a human woke him. And now he is stuck with her, and she's trapped in the fae realm. Somehow the prince woke up, but the rest of the fae are still trapped in the curse and the portal between the realms is closed.
These two, Brie and Roran must break the curse and maybe learn to work together. After a less than perfect first meeting that found these two more likely to argue than work on finding a cure for the curse. This is an original take on Sleeping Beauty. A fun and imaginative story that won't be mistaken for the original Disney movie. Join Brie and Roran as they step into the unknown to save their realms and those most dear to them.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.
March 12, 2025
This is definitely a twist on Sleeping Beauty. I enjoyed the plot similarities and differences, especially some things toward the end, but I won’t spoiler that for you.
There was humour that made me smile frequently and I highlighted a couple of quotes that I loved, this being one of them: Steeling herself, she determined to shift her focus to something bigger than her inconsequential emotions. She had a realm to save and couldn’t afford to let her grief distract her.
Favourite character: I loved the side character, Morwen, actually, and wish I could see more of her in another book.
Romance: too much kissing for my preferences, though it was clean and there was nothing even resembling fade-to-black. There was also a bit too much emphasis on feelings. “I know what I feel is real.” I just don’t care for this since feelings do change and we need to not make decisions with so much input from them. This is, however, fantasy, and a fairy tale to boot, not real life.
Violence: there is quite a bit here and there in the fight against darkness, though nothing really gory.
I received an early copy of this book, but was not required to review.
There was humour that made me smile frequently and I highlighted a couple of quotes that I loved, this being one of them: Steeling herself, she determined to shift her focus to something bigger than her inconsequential emotions. She had a realm to save and couldn’t afford to let her grief distract her.
Favourite character: I loved the side character, Morwen, actually, and wish I could see more of her in another book.
Romance: too much kissing for my preferences, though it was clean and there was nothing even resembling fade-to-black. There was also a bit too much emphasis on feelings. “I know what I feel is real.” I just don’t care for this since feelings do change and we need to not make decisions with so much input from them. This is, however, fantasy, and a fairy tale to boot, not real life.
Violence: there is quite a bit here and there in the fight against darkness, though nothing really gory.
I received an early copy of this book, but was not required to review.
March 22, 2025
Disclaimer: I was very kindly given this eARC by the author in exchange for my honest review. This review may contain spoilers.
March 27, 2025
I really enjoyed this retelling of Sleeping Beauty, with the roles being switched. Instead of a princess falling prey to the sleeping curse it is a prince, and our young heroine is the one to wake him with a kiss. Though they dislike one another at first, they must learn to work together to save both the fae and the human world before it’s too late.
The author did a good job with the world-building and character development. I liked how the fae prince and the human girl had to travel across a sleeping country to figure out how to break the curse. Battling monsters and dragons along the way, and the twist near the end, all of it made for an intriguing story.
CW: talk of curses, use of magic, kisses only romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The author did a good job with the world-building and character development. I liked how the fae prince and the human girl had to travel across a sleeping country to figure out how to break the curse. Battling monsters and dragons along the way, and the twist near the end, all of it made for an intriguing story.
CW: talk of curses, use of magic, kisses only romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 30, 2025
"A Kiss to Wake a Fae Prince, A Curse to Destroy the Realms"
Enchanting Thorns by Ashley Evercott is the magical story of Brie who is supposedly the one to save the human world by kissing a sleeping prince awake. It is a Sleeping Beauty retelling and a story I just loved reading. The roles are switched, meaning for once the prince is not the hero in this delightful tale.
Brie is a wonderful person; she is funny but also strong. And Roran is grumpy, so this is the perfect grumpy sunshine novel. They have a great chemistry. The writing style is engaging and I loved the world-building.
Enchanting Thorns is a lovely, funny fairytale retelling, with two very likable characters, a great plot and story-line, and a story which I enjoyed reading a lot. I can’t wait to read more novels by Ashley Evercott.
Enchanting Thorns by Ashley Evercott is the magical story of Brie who is supposedly the one to save the human world by kissing a sleeping prince awake. It is a Sleeping Beauty retelling and a story I just loved reading. The roles are switched, meaning for once the prince is not the hero in this delightful tale.
Brie is a wonderful person; she is funny but also strong. And Roran is grumpy, so this is the perfect grumpy sunshine novel. They have a great chemistry. The writing style is engaging and I loved the world-building.
Enchanting Thorns is a lovely, funny fairytale retelling, with two very likable characters, a great plot and story-line, and a story which I enjoyed reading a lot. I can’t wait to read more novels by Ashley Evercott.
March 11, 2025
Fun Sleeping Beauty reimagining with a sweet fae/human romance. He has an inferior fae complex, and she is a large family middle child. 🤩 I loved the combo. The large family representation was right on. I wish more books had that. Also, I realize that this is a common theme in romance, but what Ashley Evercott hit out of the park with this story was the two characters recognizing and forgiving each others' shortcomings and building each other up. ❤ The only thing I have to complain about is that I am team Grandson from The Princess Bride, and this book had too much kissing in my opinion. 😆
I recommend for ages 19 and up for romance.
I recommend for ages 19 and up for romance.
March 23, 2025
I really enjoyed this gender swapped version of sleeping beauty. Brie is a really bright FMC that is fun but also so strong and realistic. She doesn't back down but is also resourceful and capable. Roran is the grumpy to her sunshine and really grows a lot in this book. You can see him figuring out that he might need to grow up a bit as the story progresses, which is nice.
The adventure they need to go on is fun and harrowing but still not overwhelming that you don't have a chance to develop the romance, which is super sweet. In the end it felt kind of cozy and I really liked that.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The adventure they need to go on is fun and harrowing but still not overwhelming that you don't have a chance to develop the romance, which is super sweet. In the end it felt kind of cozy and I really liked that.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 25, 2025
Enchanting Thorns by Ashley Evercott
⛈ Bound together main characters
⛈ Perilous danger
⛈ A kiss to wake a prince
⛈ A curse on both their worlds
⛈ Swoony romance, kisses (no spice)
Genre: Fantasy romance
This is a gender bent retelling of Sleeping Beauty with plenty of magic and romance. I did enjoy the second half of the book more than the first. There was a bit too much kissing for my taste but I do plan on continuing reading books from this author. Would recommend! Oh, and the fae are a very colorful race here so the prince really is red.
Book 2 of Fairy Tales of Gallia, I read as a standalone with no problems
⭐⭐⭐⭐
ARC (will be published March 28), all opinions are my own
⛈ Bound together main characters
⛈ Perilous danger
⛈ A kiss to wake a prince
⛈ A curse on both their worlds
⛈ Swoony romance, kisses (no spice)
Genre: Fantasy romance
This is a gender bent retelling of Sleeping Beauty with plenty of magic and romance. I did enjoy the second half of the book more than the first. There was a bit too much kissing for my taste but I do plan on continuing reading books from this author. Would recommend! Oh, and the fae are a very colorful race here so the prince really is red.
Book 2 of Fairy Tales of Gallia, I read as a standalone with no problems
⭐⭐⭐⭐
ARC (will be published March 28), all opinions are my own
March 15, 2025
This was such a delightful retelling of sleeping beauty with creative twist and an overarching theme of good fighting against evil. The emotional development of the characters was sweet but simple. And the whole story brought to mind the G K Chesterton quote saying that “fairy tales are true, not because they tell us dragons exist but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 27, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! Great twist on a classic to have the rolls reversed in this story. I wasn’t sure if I’d like the Fae version but it was fun and unique. Ashley Evercott did a great job in world building, as well as developing her characters. I love a good no-spice, adventurous book and would recommend to others!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 28, 2025
I have never imagined a Sleeping Beauty tale where the man is the one under a sleeping curse. I was thoroughly delighted with the story and I loved the personality of the prince, Roran. The writing is simply amusing, sharp, and energetic. I found myself thinking how much I want Roran and Brie to kiss already, even though she did kiss him for that whole curse thing. Highly recommend this.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 31, 2025
This was a strong sequel in the Fairy Tales of Gallia series, it had that element of Sleeping Beauty and worked as a retelling to it's advantage. The characters were everything that I wanted this type of book, and enjoyed how well the e romance worked in this universe. Ashley Evercott wrote this perfectly and was glad I got to read this.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 10, 2025
Cursed by his Aunt to fall asleep and wait for a kiss to awaken him, Roran feels defeated.This is a cross between Sleeping Beauty and a small hint of Rumpeltstiltskin.
You’ll encounter Faes and humans and the intersecting lives that follow.
This is my first read of this author and I very much enjoyed it!
Full of twists and a sweet love story.
Will evil win?
You’ll encounter Faes and humans and the intersecting lives that follow.
This is my first read of this author and I very much enjoyed it!
Full of twists and a sweet love story.
Will evil win?
March 10, 2025
This was a wonderful fairytale retelling! The story was woven throughout with references to Sleeping Beauty without shoving into your face. I appreciated the way love was portrayed: as a team where the main characters saw each other clearly—faults and all—and chose to forgive, support, and encourage each other to grow beyond their previous limits.
March 27, 2025
I absolutely loved this book!! The gender swapped Sleeping Beauty retelling was so fun! I loved seeing Brie's and Roran's relationship grow and help them each become stronger people because of it! This story was clean, sweet, romantic, and an HEA!! I highly recommend reading it!!! :).
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 27, 2025
Richly written fantasy with terrifc characters, lots of charm, and of course, magic. It is a remade version of Sleeping Beauty after all! When you want an engrossing read and feel like trying an updated fairy tale, you should try this one!
I received this book as an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received this book as an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 28, 2025
I loved the flip on the script of the original Sleeping Beauty. I won’t go into more detail because to do so would give away too much. I think it’s important to not be spoiled. I couldn’t put this down. Read it!!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 4, 2026
Sleeping handsome
Cursed as a baby, Prince Roran has been kept in the castle all his life so he could be safe. But the court of the Fae king is a hotbed of schemes and his brother can't keep him safe. When the curse is triggered it affe ts the whole Fae kingdom and out into human lands.
Can a human girl break the curse?
Cursed as a baby, Prince Roran has been kept in the castle all his life so he could be safe. But the court of the Fae king is a hotbed of schemes and his brother can't keep him safe. When the curse is triggered it affe ts the whole Fae kingdom and out into human lands.
Can a human girl break the curse?
January 20, 2026
Loved it. Great story, and storytelling. The MMC is a fae (younger) prince and starts off being rather arrogant and superior towards the FMC who is human. I loved how her character reverses his opinion while totally just being herself. Courageous, kind albeit a bit impetuous.
Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys clean romantasy.
Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys clean romantasy.
March 13, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! It had great character development and world building. I loved the similarities to Sleeping Beauty with the author’s own unique twists. I will definitely be looking more into the series and from the author. Thank you so much for the arc!
March 15, 2025
I really enjoyed this twist on sleeping beauty! The gender reversal is well-played, with a broody male MC and rebellious and strong female MC. The plot is extremely engaging; I didn't want to put it down. I am anxious for the continuation of the series!
March 26, 2025
I loved the whole gender swap in this reimagined retelling of Sleeping Beauty 😍 the main characters are amazingly relatable, Bri is a forgotten middle child. The adventure is tantalizing. The skills exhibited in the writing of this book, flawless! It is such a fun fantasy.
March 29, 2025
This was quite the adventure! I loved how the two worlds of our realm and the Fae realm were shown in this story! The mix worked so well, and the conflict that resulted made this story come to life. I also loved the character growth that happened with both main characters, and the happy ending with a hint of the possibility of more to come.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 20, 2026
Such a great story!
I'm not usually a fan of enemies to lovers trope but this one wasn't too bad. The switch up on sleeping beauty was cute. The curse was scary and I enjoyed all of it.
I'm not usually a fan of enemies to lovers trope but this one wasn't too bad. The switch up on sleeping beauty was cute. The curse was scary and I enjoyed all of it.
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