Kingdom of Roses and Flame: Belle and the Dragon King

Fated Fairytales #2

by Veronica Douglas

I’ve been underestimated my entire life.

Too mortal. Too forgettable. Too powerless.

When a dragon captures my mentor, I track it beyond the borders of safety—straight into the grasp of a cursed king who’s more monster than man.

He’s ruthless. Dangerous. And convinced I was sent to destroy him.

I force him into a bargain: my mentor’s freedom for my life. Simple. Except nothing about the king is simple.

A prophecy binds us. His castle breathes secrets. The walls whisper. And every day I spend in his domain, the line between captor and something far more dangerous blurs.

He needs me for reasons he won’t explain, and I can’t tell if he’s keeping me safe—or keeping me close for the kill.

Time is running out. If I don’t break the curse, my kingdom burns. But breaking it means trusting the beast I know I should hate.

Kingdom of Roses and Flame is a standalone Beauty and the Beast retelling in the Fated Fairytales series with an HEA. Each book follows a new couple in a shared world and can be read on its own, though readers of Reign of Cinders and Glass will spot familiar faces. Perfect for fans of Laura Thalassa and Raven Kennedy who love slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, tortured dragon shifter kings, and underestimated heroines who claim their power.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Retellings, Beauty and The Beast, Audiobook

650 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 23, 2026

About the author

Veronica Douglas is a duo of professional archaeologists that love writing and digging together. After spending an inordinate amount of time doing painstaking research for academia, they suddenly discovered a passion for letting their imaginations go wild! A cocktail of magic, romance, and ancient mystery (shaken, not stirred), their books are inspired, in part, by their time in Chicago and their archaeological adventures from around the globe.

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Reviews

[Selene]

Thanks to the author publisher and narrators for my alc. the opinions are my own.

I didn’t realize this is a stand alone that is part of an interconnected series and is book two, however while I didn’t know the full details of what happened with her sister it didn’t effect my enjoyment of the story.

This is a phenomenal beauty and they beast retelling with a fully fleshed out world, high fantasy vibes, a dragon, interesting characters that drive the plot and enough constant action to make you not want to put it down.

Both narrators did a phenomenal job and really added to the story! Highly recommend this one if you love dragon shifters/ and beauty and the beast retellings!

[BookishKB]

🥀🔥 Kingdom of Roses and Flame 🔥🥀

This was a solid Beauty and the Beast retelling. The pacing was a bit inconsistent though. Overall, strong 3 star read.

🖤 What to Expect
• Beauty and the Beast
• Cursed king MMC
• Mortal FMC
• Forced proximity
• Magical castle
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: April 23, 2026
📝 Thank you to Magic Side Press, LLC and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Mel]

Great twisted fairytale, I really enjoyed this dark retelling of beauty and the beast.
This can be read as a stand-alone but to fully understand the curse an bloodvale, I would recommend book too, which is just as good as this one.
Good strong well described characters, good twists you dont see coming till close to the time.
Well written enjoyable storyline, with a great ending.

[Valerie Marie]

For the best reading experience, I’d definitely recommend reading the series in order, starting with Reign of Cinders and Glass. KoRaF delivers a darker, more romantic take on Beauty and the Beast, weaving familiar fairy tale elements into a world filled with curses, beasts, and dangerous magic.
Belle has spent her life overshadowed by her sister, the queen, leaving her feeling invisible in her own world. Valen, on the other hand, is constantly surrounded by others yet remains deeply alone. Their loneliness mirrors each other so well, which makes the bond that grows between them feel natural and rewarding.
When Belle begins searching for a way to break the kingdom’s curse, she finds herself drawn into the Dragon King’s world, and the story takes on a much darker, richer spin than the original fairy tale. Valen was easily one of my favorite parts of the book. He is intense, possessive, and dangerous in a way that completely commands attention.
I also loved seeing Elle again from the first book, while Belle proved herself to be a compelling heroine in her own right. Even without magic, her determination to protect her people from the terrifying beasts never wavers.
The one thing I kept waiting for was a reunion between Valen and Cassius. Honestly, that was one of the moments I had been anticipating most from the start, so not fully getting it made the ending feel a little abrupt for me.
Still, I had such a good time with this story, and I already know I’ll revisit it once the audiobook is released.

[Joy Belle]

This continued where book 1 left off, but now with Belle and Valen. Belle is now the sister of the Queen. She wants to go to another land to find answers for how to deal with the beasts that plague their land. This is Beauty and the Beast retelling so of course there are beasts. The authors were creative with having their own plot and characters, while integrating aspects of my favorite childhood Disney movie! Belle discovers she has magic, although it is different from her sister’s. The magic makes the banter scenes more entertaining. In addition to beasts, there are vampires, a dragon, and a prophecy. I enjoyed this from the start and wish I didn’t have to stop reading to do things like work and sleep. Thank you to the authors for my ARC copy of the book!

[Shia]

So sinfully good! This beauty and the beast inspired tale has everything you want and need in a Romantasy - from the swooniest, melt your 🩲 moments.. to the witty banter and battle against our enemies to lovers couple… this is hands down one of THE BEST retellings I’ve ever read! It well deserves a spot as a trophy on your shelves!

[Jill (Me_Myself_And_Books)]

A Beauty and the Beast retelling but the beast is a Dragon. Belle is the sister of the Queen and wants to travel to find a solution to the beasts that plague their land. When she stumbles into Valen the King of the neighboring territory do sparks start to fly. She's trying to save her kingdom, and her family. While Valen and Belle dance around one another during their time together and Belle's mission to find the answer she needs, neither of them was looking for love or a happily ever after, but they found it, together. Their love and sacrifices help heal the land.

[olivia]

wow okay so, this was a pretty good 2026 read!!

i loved the originality because, despite it being a Beauty and the Beast retelling, it was very unlike most fantasy- so yay!

but honestly, this book did give me all the feels like screaming, crying, yelling... there was a lot of screaming due to sadness and anger for the characters and situations in this book. so yes, I recommend.

Although you can read this book as a standalone, I highly recommend reading Reign of Cinders and Glass first, because it provides background on both MCs, and I feel like I would have wanted to get to know them better if I had started with this one. (plus, i personally liked the first one more- but i loved both!)

so Veronica Douglas' Kingdom of Roses and Flame is about belle- a girl who is desperately trying to help her kingdom. monsters have been running rampant, so she goes on a mission of sorts to see if anyone has solved this problem.
only, things go... very wrong, and she ends up being imprisoned in a place where a monster king rules with his dragon- and they literally command all the beasts.
crazy.. anyway, so that's when the beauty and the beast part of this whole thing really starts- belle trades her mentor's freedom for... her life.
sooo yeah that's the best i could do because, as it's advertised, it is a retelling- with VAMPIRES LOVE IT.

now as for the characters, i love belle a lot and she was so funny, like i love this line that essentially sums up her and the dragon king's interactions-
"i was the pain in the ass? the king desperately needed to do a little self-reflection."
like thats all you need to know about them tbh

now i can't tell if the dragon king is like all the other brooding mmcs or not, to be honest, because i think he is... but there's also other things about him... i think, maybe?

and im just going to put this cute quote here-
"stop offering yourself up for the sake of others. fck them all. you are worth so much more."
well AWWW
OR WAIT THIS CUTE ONE-
"you will be mine.
i thought i already was."
ok sob

(as someone who does skip the spice scenes, but to each their own!!) spice level was probably like... 3.4/5 because there wasn't a ton of actual scenes, but there would be ... inner thoughts... and a couple parts, just so you know before reading.

okay now for the spoiling part of this review, please don't read this until you finish this book!! major major major spoilers.


okay so as someone who prefers closed-door romance and love vs. lust, this book's romance in the first half was like... upsetting to me. Like y'all just argued, the king is lying to you about so many things, you're pissed at him and so am i, and YOU DECIDE TO ADD A KISSING AND KINDA SPICY SCENE RIGHHT THERE?? NOOOO. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE UPSET, BELLE!!
so anyway, that kinda made me upset because what are we doing, Belle.... but i did genuinely enjoy this book and that part got better in the second half for sure.

okay now the whole locke thing...
i was kind of expecting it, but not within the first like 400 pages i think (i read on kindle so idk how that would work tho) but not to the whole extent that HE was the kinda demon??
dang.
makes me feel bad for valen because like bro literally had no friends for 50 years like locke was completely using him... that's rough

now, okay, was i the only one that desperately wanted to see the reunion between valen and cassius???
like WHY DIDN'T WE GET THAT....
AHH.
because like from the beginning of this book, that's what i was looking forward to, so the ending kinda felt rushed.

but i did love belles powers! like ooh okay, not only can you control items, but you can make them come to life?? that's so cool to me because like we know ella has that, but with animals and plants, and belle has that with the non-living things...
like that ending part where locke gets killed by the objects in the house was soo satisfying to me

ok now that beginning part where valen is seeing cassius for the first time with ella? sobs.
"he was laughing. my treacherous brother, laughing."
(i may have messed up the punctuation in that quote)

or THIS PART??

"they'd shot my princess."

ok also, im alright with nicknames and stuff. but when it's like calling them the nickname more than 3 times in one conversation.. it feels a little repetitive. so not all the time, but at some times i did feel like the whole princess thing got like that?

overall i really enjoyed this book and VERONICA, WDYM BY "SEE YOU IN THE NEXT KINGDOM"??? WE NEED ANOTHER. PLEASE. ANOTHER RETELLING LIKE IDC YOU CHOOSE WERE FLEXIBLE..

[Mathea Ford]

I received an ARC copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Setup

This Beauty and the Beast retelling puts a fresh spin on a beloved story. Belle is the sister of Elle, Queen of the Bloodvale—a kingdom that broke a curse and freed the kingdom, which unfortunately opened the door to the Beasts now ravaging the land. Feeling like the unremarkable sister, Belle joins a family friend on a trading journey. A fallen tree diverts their path into the Dragon King's domain, they kill Beasts that attack them, and suddenly the Dragon himself arrives to avenge his creatures.

What follows is one of the best meet-cutes I've read in fantasy romance. Belle reasons with the Dragon, realizes he understands her, and runs for a small cave he can't fit into—only to turn around and find him staring in at her, knowing he could just breathe fire and end her. He doesn't. Instead he takes her companions and flies to his castle. Belle, blistered and exhausted, runs the whole way there and demands he release them. The Dragon King, Valen, tells her he will feed her to the dragon in the morning and locks her in a cage above a chasm filled with the bones of past meals.

He's testing her. She knows it. And she refuses to show weakness.

What I Loved

The Morally Grey Hero is Done Right

Valen is an immortal Dragon King who is genuinely dangerous, genuinely cruel at times, and genuinely intriguing. He's not a softened beast—he's a creature who has lived so long that humanity is almost foreign to him. Watching him become fascinated by Belle feels earned because she's the first person in a very long time who stands up to him without flinching.

Belle is Not Waiting to Be Rescued

She walked to his castle on blistered feet. She negotiated for her companions' freedom. She stands her ground in a cage above a chasm of bones. Belle spends this entire book becoming—discovering her magic, finding her courage, figuring out who she is outside of her sister's shadow. She's not the unremarkable one. She just hadn't found her story yet.

The Push and Pull is Addictive

The tension between Belle and Valen is rich and slow-burning in the best way. She negotiates freedoms from him one by one. He gives them—reluctantly, then willingly. They're both attracted to each other and both fighting it, Belle especially, because she has watched immortals upend her world her whole life and she is NOT going down that road. Every scene between them crackles.

The Magic System Feels Personal

Belle's magic doesn't just exist—it grows. It becomes a living, breathing part of her as the story progresses, and watching her discover and develop it alongside Lord Locke (the Magister, who is a gem of a side character) is one of the quiet pleasures of the book.

The Loneliness is Real on Both Sides

Belle feels alone in a world where her sister is a queen and she is simply the sister. Valen is surrounded by people and utterly isolated. That parallel loneliness is what makes their eventual connection so satisfying. When he finally tells her she is everything? Worth every page.

A Note on Reading Order

I haven't read the book about Elle and how she became queen, which apparently covers some of this world's backstory. I understood everything perfectly fine without it—this book stands on its own. But I'm going back to read it, because I want more of this world.

Final Thoughts

Kingdom of Roses and Flames is a confident, fast-starting fantasy romance with a morally grey hero who earns his redemption, a heroine who earns her power, and a slow burn that genuinely delivers. If you love Beauty and the Beast retellings with teeth, this is for you.

Best for: Fans of morally grey heroes, Beauty and the Beast retellings, fantasy romance with magic, and slow burns that make you yell "FINALLY" when they give in.

[Ashley Williams]

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Level: 🌶️ 6/10

Apparently the way to get me interested in another Beauty and the Beast retelling is to throw in vampires, demons, a Dragon King, and a giant library. Who knew? 😂

Kingdom of Roses and Flame: Belle and the Dragon King was a solid four-star listen for me. As a retelling, it was definitely predictable—and that's saying something coming from me because I'm usually a vibes reader who doesn't figure out the bad guy or the big reveal until it's happening. But honestly? I didn't really mind. I knew where we were going and just enjoyed the ride.

Belle was okay for me as a main character, but I did enjoy watching her grow into her powers and her own strength as the story progressed. The enemies-to-lovers romance with Valen worked much better for me. It's a slow burn, and by the time we got to the spice—which I'd put around a 6/10—it actually felt earned because we'd had that romantic buildup first.

I did get a little annoyed with the I'm withholding important information from you for reasons thing. That's one of those devices that can feel like tension for tension's sake, and there were already DEMONS. We had plenty of problems, people! I don't think the romance needed additional conflict created by characters simply not telling each other things.

Where this book really shined for me was the worldbuilding. The castle was fantastic, I loved the eerie cursed woods at the beginning, and you know I'm always going to be happy when you give me a massive fantasy library. The whole world had this dark, eerie fairytale atmosphere that worked really well with the retelling.

I also liked the vampires-meets-Beauty-and-the-Beast concept. If you're building a Beauty and the Beast story in a world that's already populated by literal vampires, your Beast needs to bring a little something extra to the table. Enter: Dragon King. 🐉

This is actually part of a series, and I haven't read the first book, but I had no trouble jumping into this one. It worked perfectly well for me as a standalone.

As for the audiobook, both the book and narration landed at four stars. Jesse Vilinsky was great! I really enjoyed her performance, including the voices she used for the male characters. James Amherst also gave a good performance, but his voice just wasn't how I imagined Valen sounding. For a Dragon King, I expected a deeper, more resonant and commanding timbre. It wasn't that Amherst narrated badly at all—the casting just didn't quite match the character I had built in my head. I actually found myself wishing Vilinsky had narrated the entire book.

At over 20 hours, this is a hefty audiobook, although as a devoted 2x-speed listener, it didn't feel particularly long to me. 😂 Had I been physically reading it, though, I suspect I might have noticed the length more.

Overall, this was a fun dark fantasy romance that didn't necessarily surprise me, but it didn't need to. I liked the world, the slow-burn romance worked, the spice felt earned, and vampires + demons + dragons + a giant library is a pretty convincing combination. If you like darker fairytale retellings and don't mind knowing roughly where the story is headed, this one is definitely worth checking out.

ARC Disclosure: I received an audiobook ARC through NetGalley from Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.

[Angela Brannon]

I have been eagerly awaiting the sequel to Reign of Cinders and Glass and was not disappointed. This Beauty and the Beast retelling is imaginative and totally engrossing with an absolutely perfect ending.

Belle has always wanted to travel and see what was beyond the confines of the Bloodvale, but was denied that freedom under the rule of the vampires as the border was closed to humans. Now that her sister Ella has restored peace to the Bloodvale with her staggering magic and freed the humans, everyone is free to come and go as they please. While the Cursed Woods is still full of bloodthirsty monsters, Belle is skilled with her bow and will be travelling with a group of traders and armed guards.

Valen, the cursed brother of King Cassius, lives for revenge. He is sure Cassius backstabbed him to take the throne and now is sending spies and assassins to finish the job. When Belle’s group nears his woods, he attacks them in dragon form and kidnaps two of the members of the party. She follows him to the castle where she bargains for the release of Marcel, who is like a father to her. She agrees to stay in his place. How can he say no to keeping the Queen’s sister as a hostage? Even if she is only human and does not have magic like her sister, she is still a valuable pawn in his war.

From this point the narrative takes off and the sparks start to fly. The requisite library is unveiled, but sinister forces are at work in the castle. There are no dancing dishes, instead scarily realistic statues populate the palace with faces frozen in terror. Time is running out for Valen and the curse will soon be too far gone to escape. Can Belle unravel the mystery of who cursed him and what happened to the castle in the past?

As usual, Veronica Douglas brings this world to life with beautifully drawn descriptions and believable characters that I grew to love. Belle and Valen are an absolutely sizzling pair. I adored her spunk and determination to be a thorn in Valen’s side. He is a broody hunk who just doesn’t know what to do with Belle. The supporting characters are just as much fun as the main couple. From the outlandish court vampires to down to the human kitchen staff, all are a delight to read about. The big baddie fights a mean battle, holding on to Valen tooth and nail until the bitter end. The romance is absolutely swoonworthy, and the ending had me smiling, cheering and wiping a few tears. Here’s hoping the author pulls out that Grimm Brothers book and gets working on some more fractured fairy tales.

I read an advance copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Finger Pages]

5 Stars
3 Spicy

If you read Reign of Cinders and Glass, which is book 1 in the series, then book 2 Kingdom of Roses and Flame follows Belle and her storyline. While it's helpful for some of the political and background info to read book 1, it is absolutely not required and Kingdom of Roses and Flame can be a treated as a standalone. While I loved RoC&G, KoR&F was by far my favorite of the two. I have always been drawn to Belle. She has older sister/ sibling syndrome, where she constantly puts others in front of herself. She finds it difficult to carve our her place in the new kingdom when so much of her identity has been taking care of her family and younger sibling. Now that they have all moved on she is struggling with what is next for her and how to leave her mark, especially when she is now overshadowed by her sister the queen.

Belle travels to a nearby kingdom hoping to find a solution to the beasts that ravage their kingdom. her good friend, Marcel is taken and in exchange for her freedom she trades her life to the king. We all know how the famous fairytale goes and I love that Douglas did her own version- with a flare- of popular Disney scenes in a nod back to the movie. For those of us who grew up watching this on VHS it will be nostalgic but in a refreshing and new (sexier) way.

As we move into the thick of the plot, Belle has to contend with many things the Disney princess didn't have to deal with forests monsters, invading armies, vampires, dragons and a king that can't seem to ever tell the truth. I absolutely loved it and the ending I didn't see coming. And side note but please Veronica Douglas give the huntsman his own book! Hoping obviously it will be Snow white!

Tropes
- Beauty and the Beast Retelling
- Hurt/ comfort
- Vampires feeding
- Rival brothers
- Hidden powers
- Cursed Prince
- Prophecy
- Touch her and he will alive you in painful ways

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Magic Side Press to allow me to ARC Read.

[Saige Steele]

I was given an advanced reader copy of Kingdom of Roses and flame through Netgalley.
This book feels like an epic the likes of Fourth Wing. It's long, at over 20 hours and has vampires, shape shifters, a dragon and princesses. This is a standalone book. I listened to this book on audiobook.
Story: This book is an epic retelling of Beauty and the Beast but I felt like saying that probably wasn't necessary. The world was different enough and there were so many new, unique pieces to the story that it was removed enough from the original to be its own fable. However, the author calling our FMC Belle and her father figure Marcel reminded me that this was, in fact, supposed to be a retelling. Our FMC starts off on a quest when she gets captured alongside her father figure and a local huntsman. She bargains for their freedom in exchange for her staying with a king at his palace. This king isn't the beast though, he's a beautiful immortal who wears a mask and rules over hundreds of displaced immortals. There are cursed forests, beasts that hunt the lands, a mysterious dragon, curses and a new magic system, I found the enemies to lovers in this story tedious. I find enemies to lovers can be written really lazily utilising the "He's so mean and I hate him so much, but he's so handsome" trope. This story had it in droves, and I found it tedious and boring. Belle was written as a strong, heroic, woman who was willing to sacrifice and save others. And yet, when it came to a cruel king who treated her poorly and didn't do much to redeem his character, she slowly fell in love anyway, because he was handsome.
Narrators: I found both the narrators used similar techniques when reading for the opposite sex. James Amherst would have a super high inflection when voicing Belle, and Jesse Vilinsky would try to match Amherst's low gravelly voice for the king, or other male characters. Other than that the narration was done well and I didn't mind listening to the story, They both read quite slowly though, particularly Vilinsky.

[Aleksandra]

Thank you so much Veronica Douglas for sending me this ARC!

Kingdom of Roses and Flame is the second book in a Dark Fantasy Romance series (but can be read as a standalone) and omg it was such an amazing story, I loved Belle and Valen so much!

Belle is a sister of the new queen and when their kingdom keeps getting attacked by beasts, she decides to search for a way to stop it. When her companions get kidnapped by a dragon, she finds a hidden kingdom in the cursed woods and exchanges her freedom for theirs, but soon finds out not everything is as it seems, especially the king she hated from their first meeting and soon she can’t deny the growing attraction between them.

I love fairytale retellings and this one had so many fun twists and turns I was unable to put it down. I loved the first book in this series and this one was equally incredible, I enjoyed the fascinating world building, magic, perfectly paced plot, interesting curse and of course the characters and the romance. Belle was an amazing FMC, she was different from Ella in many ways but just as kind and caring, she was really strong and I loved how she was trying to kill Valen in the beginning and how he also enjoyed her attempts, he was the kind of mysterious, morally grey MMC I love in romantasy books. They were true enemies to lovers but I could feel the tension between them from their first meeting and loved seeing them slowly (it’s a real slow burn) give in to their growing feelings, they had so many amazing scenes and I enjoyed their fights and arguments but also their conversations and being vulnerable with each other and later on spicy scenes, they were truly amazing together and perfect for each other, I loved these two so much.

Kingdom of Roses and Flame is a really great dark romantasy book, I loved it and recommend this whole series to everyone.

[Stacy T]

Beauty and the Beast has always been one of my favorite fairy tales, so add vampires, dragons, monsters and magic and I'm obviously going to give it a shot. 😂

Kingdom of Roses and Flame gives us Belle and Valen's story after the events of Reign of Cinders and Glass. It works on its own, but I think reading book one first would make this one so much better since you already have some history with both characters.

Belle is determined to figure out how to protect her kingdom from the creatures attacking it, which leads her straight into Valen's path. And Valen is broody, powerful, possessive, full of secrets and frequently infuriating.

So...exactly my type of MMC. 😂

I really enjoyed how the familiar Beauty and the Beast pieces were tucked into a story that went in its own direction. I especially loved Belle discovering what she was capable of. Her magic was unexpected and made some of the back-and-forth with Valen even more fun.

There was a stretch in the middle that slowed down for me, and these two desperately needed a lesson in COMMUNICATION. But once everything started coming together toward the end, I was completely invested.

My only real disappointment? I had been waiting and WAITING for a certain Valen and Cassius moment. I was ready for all the feelings...and I needed so much more from it. 😭

I received an advanced listener copy of the audiobook, which is performed in dual narration. And this book is CHONKY, so I admit I bumped the playback speed up a little more than I normally do. 😂 The narration was excellent and stayed incredibly clear even at the faster speed. Both narrators made it easy to settle into Belle and Valen's POVs and just keep listening.

Overall, such a fun darker twist on a childhood favorite, with enough new added to make it feel like its own story.

[Ashley(burntedgesandbooks)]

I just wanted to say that I reviewed this book as an ARC book from the author, and thank you and that all thoughts and opinions are my own!

I will never turn away a Beauty and the Beast story. This one blew me away. I absolutely loved it! I have always like Veronica Douglas's books and this is just as good as any of those! I loved everything about this book, library, dragons, adventures, slow burn all of it was just perfect!

It starts out with Belle, who is the older sister of Elle, who is the queen, from Reign of Cinders and Glass. Belle unlike her sister doesn't have the magic that she does and is a huntress who is trying to take care of their beast problem. Wanting to prove herself she agrees to go on a trip to find a way to get rid of the beasts but manages find an even bigger one and his master... the dragon king. He of course keeps her imprisoned, as he tries to figure out the role she is to play in his curse. As Belle tries to unravel the mysterious of the castle and the king himself, she finds out so much more.

I love the banter and the chemistry between both Valen and Belle. They were so good for each other even though they don't think they are. This is a enemies to lovers story that has a very big library involved. How can you say no to a book that had dragons and a very large library!
This book was so much fun that I couldn't put it down! It was the perfect amount of story and other perfect amount of slow burn spice. I love the ending, true to beauty and the beast but with an even better ending.

This book should be added to your TBR list! A Dark fantasy romance with all the right beauty and the beast retellings.

[Jess]

I loved this chunky dark retelling of this twist of Beauty and the Beast. This is book 2 of the series, and though it can be read as a standalone, I feel like reading book 1 first gives fuller depth to the entire storyline (plus book 1 was just as good being a dark Cinderella retelling with twists). Adding vampire like beings into a fairytale is always bound to add a different spin on things: in a good way!

I loved Belle, she felt like the underdog who really came into her own. She thinks she isn’t unique or special, just a woman with sasshole tendencies, a strong will, and an aversion of blood. But really, she has hidden powers that finally start to emerge more as the story progresses that turn her into a strong formidable FMC. She sticks to her beliefs and doesn’t cave to the MMC like a simpering princess.

Valen, our Dragon King, dark, moody, an iron like will, but with a strong sense of duty to protecting his people, starts out with a gruff harden demeanor. He’s powerful but then also trapped in the curse that surrounds him and his kingdom. He’ll do anything to break the curse, even if it means sacrificing this woman who stumbles into his kingdom or his brother who he thinks betrayed him for his original birthright.

This is a very slow burn, enemies to lovers (I mean she tries to off him a few times and keeps him on his toes), with twists and dark magic. I enjoyed the in-depth descriptions of both characters and also just the story in general. Yes, it’s long at 650 pages, but to shorten it wouldn’t have done the story any justice. I feel like anyone who enjoys fairytale re-writes will love this book and series!

[Elizabeth Rickards]

This is a slightly different retelling of the classic beast and beauty story, and it was really good! I like Valen and Belle, a lot. They are sooo cute together and also an off note, The library was amazing, and Veronica Douglas did not disappoint! ‘cause what is a cursed beast and a beauty story without the library?

There is a betrayal I didn’t see coming until more towards the end of this book and it was not who I initially thought! It’s also action packed and towards the end, I was more on the edge of my seat, along with some swooning because the devotion that is shown is definitely swoon worthy.

I was an honored ARC reader, and will probably be reading this book again cause it was really good, definitely a favorite for the fairytale retellings.

Beauty and the Beast has always been my favorite, so I love reading all the different kinds of stories that are out there. “Kingdom of Roses and Flame” captivated me and kept me thinking about what was going to happen, if anyone would betray anyone else, and even had me giggling a couple times. I loved these characters, I love a story with good extras.

I give this story five stars, 10 out of 10 would read again, I also like the way Veronica Douglas writes, the world building, character, development, magic. It’s all there to help make this story a good one.

Trope wise, some of what we have is:
-one horse
-forced proximity
-enemies to lovers
-slow burn
-high stakes
-touch her and die
-she is also protective of him
-HEA

So overall, if a retelling of Beauty and Beast is your cup of tea, please read this!! It was really really good

[Sarah Jordan]

This book is chonky! Now, I love a Beauty and the Beast retelling, throw in vampires and a dragon shifter, and I'm a happy girl! Tell me the author is Veronica Douglas, and it's usually a one-click purchase for me. This book takes place after the events of Book 1 - Reign of Cinders and Glass - which I GUSHED over. So I was on pins and needles waiting for book 2. I just had to know the story of Ella's sister and if she gets her happy ever after. (spoiler - she does!)

What I love about this book is the unique world-building, the dynamic characters, and the roller-coaster of emotions that the author takes us on. The spice doesn't hurt either. :)

However, I will say that there is a good chunk in the middle that dragged a bit, so this wasn't a 5-star for me, but I'd still recommend it as the overall story was captivating and interesting and the last bit was hard to put down. I loved Valen and Belle, his POV's were some of my favorite chapters (it's dual POV, by the way). Their banter was delectable and I loved seeing his softer side. Some of the scenes felt repeated, and there was a huge miscommunication trope threaded throughout - which I normally don't mind but found it drove me a bit more batty this time. So, if you are not a fan of that trope, this may not be the book for you.

But... if you love a growly grumpy alphahole with a gooey cinnamon-roll center, a fierce FMC who is wild and untamed but not quite confident in her role in life... yet, side characters who liven up the book (Gregoire was my fav), and lot of tension and political intrigue - OH! and a big 'ole curse - this is the book for you!

[Allison]

Minus two stars for poor narration.

Thank you to Veronica Douglas and NetGalley for the ALC of the book. All opinions shared are my own.

I found it to be an intriguing twist on the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale. Though it is the second book in the series, I was able to enjoy it without having read the first. I think Douglas did a fantastic job of making her Belle into more of a "strong woman" without losing the touchstones to the source material. Making the MMC more of a metaphorical beast allowed for a much larger cast of characters without having to resort to anthropomorphized furniture while also allowing for Belle to have a physical attraction to the king from their first meeting.

Jesse Vilinsky has become one of my favorite audiobook narrators and she does an excellent job with the chapters from Belle's perspective. Her vocal choices were amazing at immersing me in Belle's world. This was the first time I've listened to James Amherst who read the beast's chapters and I will be avoiding listening to him again. He delivered every line in the same tone and made the beast sound snarky and obnoxious in every chapter, even when he should have been accessible and soft. I also noticed that he has a habit of slightly elongating the last word of each sentence and regularly combined it with upspeak which made his sections incredibly irritating to hear.

I recommend the story for anyone who enjoys a spicy romantasy, but do yourself a favor and buy the book instead of the audio.

[Shanda Laving]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of Kingdom of Roses and Flame in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this Beauty and the Beast retelling. The story had an interesting magical world, a mystery surrounding the curse that kept things moving, and two main characters I genuinely enjoyed spending time with.

I particularly liked the broody dragon lord MMC and the dynamic between him and the FMC. Even before her own powers had awakened, she refused to back down or let him intimidate her, and I loved that strength in her character. Their interactions and developing relationship were some of my favourite parts of the book.

The magic and mystery surrounding the curse were also really enjoyable. I did figure out who the villain was fairly early after they were introduced, so that particular reveal wasn’t a huge surprise for me, but I still enjoyed watching everything unfold and discovering the details behind the curse.

My biggest issue was simply the length. This is a long book, and I definitely felt it in places. I think the story could have been tightened considerably without losing anything important, which would have helped the pacing and made the overall experience even stronger.

That said, I really enjoyed the author’s writing and would happily try another of their books in the future.

Preferably one with a slightly shorter page count.

Overall, an enjoyable romantasy with a broody dragon lord, a strong FMC, plenty of magic and an intriguing curse to unravel.

[Amber]

The Vibe: Kingdom of Roses and Flames is a dark update to the Beauty and the Beast tale. Veronica Douglas leans into high-stakes fantasy, moving well beyond a simple romance into a world filled with vampires, magic, and even a dragon.

Series Note: While this is the second book in the series, it works well as a standalone. You get the benefit of the world-building established in the first book, but there is enough context that new readers can jump right into this story without feeling lost.

What I Loved:
The Creatures & Magic: I loved how the magic was tailored to fit the retelling. Integrating vampires and a dragon into the Beauty and the Beast framework made the story feel fresh and unpredictable. If you love a good dragon, you won't be disappointed by how it fits into this world.

Expansive World-Building: This is a long book, but the length is put to good use. The extra space allows for a deep dive into the magical mechanics and the lore, making the world feel fully realized.
Considerations: Be prepared for a longer read! Because of the length and the level of detail, it’s a commitment, but the payoff for fans of dark, creature-heavy fantasy is definitely there.

Final Verdict: A must-read for fans of dark fantasy retellings who want more than just the standard retelling. The blend of magic, vampires, and dragons makes for an intense expansion of a familiar story.

[Amy]

Little long

Might have some spoilers...


So Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite movies and I like to try reading retellings of the story. This one i thought the plot was good BUT it was just super long to me at over 600 pages. I got a bit bored in the middle and the back and forth between the 2 main characters got old. Belle was always like "oh I can't trust him but I want to" and fighting her feelings for like 200 some pages and Valen was always blaming himself for everything and excused her actions. There were so many trust issues on both sides it got redundant. I pretty much figured out who was the villain but the reveal happened during the last 15% of the book somewhere and the fight scene was ok but it just took so long to get there that I started skimming. And the slow burn I can usually deal with but pretty much nothing happened until 73% which was just a little bit and her inner thoughts still annoyed me then there was maybe 1 more spicy scene after that. In a 600 some page book that's really a bit too slow for me. And there wasn't even any biting on his part so what's the point of him being a vampire anyways. Maybe it's my fault since I thought it'd be spicier. I did like how her magic grew and what she used it for and I liked how Gregoire turned out. I really wish there was more of an epilogue with a better reunion with his brother. I thought the ending fell a bit flat because of that.

[Elly Christmas]

I received this as an ARC from the author in exchange for my honest opinion. My opinion was not influenced in any way.

I enjoyed this book a lot. I am a sucker for fairytales re-told

Belle and Valen were great together; the bickering was funny. She never backed down from a fight with him. He always gave in to her, even when it was not what he wanted. I enjoyed their interactions. I do wish the pace of this story were faster. The book moved slowly for me. I wanted more excitement and fluff. When the mercenaries arrived, I would have enjoyed the dragon having a BBQ, honestly. You don't talk like that to a dragon king. I did enjoy Belle awakening her magic. Those were great scenes.

At the beginning of the book, I realized who the real villain was, and that is mostly my spidey senses to my flippers. I was sure it was that person, and when it was revealed, I was not super shocked. I do wish the ending were different. I would have liked them to both be rulers and help the people. Valen was a contradiction of a king. He was harsh with his punishments, yet he paid his staff generously. He made sure the humans were safe. So for him to give up his throne to follow her dream, it killed me. I think she would have made an amazing queen. It really was a let-down to me.

But I do recommend reading it and enjoying it. It is a good yes, it is over 600 pages, but it is worth it.

[Elena Lavanda]

​If you are looking for a Beauty and the Beast retelling that cranks up the heat, the stakes, and the tension, then Kingdom of Roses and Flame is your next obsessive read. It takes the classic "tale as old as time" and breathes new, fiery life into it.
​
​The heart of this story lies in the electric dynamic between the two leads.
​The MMC is everything a "monster" prince should be—a Dragon Prince burdened by a curse and an overwhelming sense of possessiveness. He is brooding and intensely jealous, but it’s his yearning for the heroine that truly steals the show.
​The FMC is brave, bold, and fiercely independent. Watching her navigate the prince’s court while discovering her own hidden powers is incredibly satisfying. She doesn't just endure his intensity; she matches it with a strong will and a sharp tongue.

​The chemistry is top-tier. The "enemies-to-lovers" energy is fueled by delicious bantering that ranges from witty barbs to tension-filled standoffs. The use of Double POV is a masterstroke here. Getting inside the Prince’s head allows you to experience the depth of his pining and yearning firsthand, making the romantic payoff feel earned. There’s never a dull moment. The world-building is rich, and the plot moves at a gripping pace that keeps you turning pages long into the night.

[Brides]

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ARC audiobook copy of Kingdom of Roses and Flame by Veronica Douglas in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t realise that Kingdom of Roses and Flame was part of an interconnected series and that this is book two. I felt I was at a slight disadvantage for not having read the first one. Kingdom of Roses and Flame is a fast-paced novel with accessible worldbuilding and a clear writing style. The Beauty and the Beast retelling concept was incredibly compelling, and I was interested to see the character development as the story progressed.

What shocked me initially was the length of the full production. 21+ hours for a "stand-alone" in an interconnected series is incredibly long, so I tested the first 5 chapters to see if I wanted to continue or DNF; unfortunately, it was the latter. The problem wasn't the writing style, it was the narrators.

The male narrator felt incredibly disjointed from the female narrator. The narration style he used felt like he was the FMC's father, rather than a possible love interest. The intonation was strange and reminded me of a pantomime.

The 3/5 star rating is not a reflection of the whole novel, but rather the first 5 chapters. Perhaps I would prefer the story if I read it rather than listened to the audiobook.

[Sabrina]

This book is a dark and imaginative Beauty and the Beast retelling that kept me invested from beginning to end. While it can be read as a standalone, I think reading Reign of Cinders and Glass first adds extra depth to the world and characters. Belle was a great heroine, she's strong, determined, and easy to root for as she steps out of her sister's shadow to save her kingdom. Valen, the cursed Dragon King, was everything I want in a morally gray fantasy hero: broody, powerful, and surprisingly vulnerable beneath his hard exterior. Their enemies to lovers romance was a true slow burn, filled with tension, banter, and meaningful character growth. I especially enjoyed the unique blend of dragons, vampires, curses, and magic woven into the familiar fairy tale framework. The world-building was rich, and the twists kept me curious about what would happen next. The pacing dragged slightly in parts, but the emotional moments and character development made it worthwhile. Belle and Valen's relationship felt earned, and I loved watching them slowly learn to trust each other. Overall, this was a fun, romantic, and magical read that I'd happily recommend to fans of fantasy romance and fairy tale retellings! Thanks to Veronica Douglas, Magic Side Press, LLC, and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Nezha]

This was such a unique Beauty and the Beast retelling - I loved Reign of Cinders and Glass so I had high expectations for this one and it definitely delivered!

I loved the banter, Belle and the Dragon King had soo much chemistry between them and the pacing was well done - it was quite a thick book for a fairytale retelling, so I was afraid it would end up dragging - I'm happy to say that at no point did I feel that the story was dragging! It kept me immersed until the last page.

My only critique is that I feel like the reunion between Ella and Belle and the vampire brothers should have gotten more attention. It would have added a lot of emotional depth to the story in my opinion. And I wish the plot twist - the demon's identity - could have been done better but to be honest, I have no idea how, so maybe I'm not one to talk 😆 It's just that I could see the plot twist coming from a mile away and I wish I didn't 😅🙌🏻

All in all, I'd definitely recommend this book to all romantic fantasy and fairytale retelling fans ot there, but don't skip Reign of Cinders and Glass - these may be standalones, but they're very connected and you'll have no context for the setting of this book if you don't read RoCaG first 🤗

[Jennifer Landice]

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for the ALC of this book!!
Wow! What a great Beauty and the Beast retelling! I did not read Reign of Cinders and Glass before listening to this second book in the Fated Fairytales series, but I did not feel like I was missing any pieces needed to understand the story. Although I enjoyed this so much I will very likely go back and read book one!
The story begins with Belle who feels the need to prove herself after her sister is made a queen She embarks on a journey to figure out how to stop the beasts plaguing their lands. She gets herself captured by Prince Valen while trying to save her companions. He agress to release her mentor; on her promise she will stay as his captive.
This retelling took Beauty and the Beast and added vampires, dragons and witches. I mean, what more could a reader ask for! This may be my absolute favorite Beauty and the beast retelling so far! The plot was vivid and detailed and drew me in right away, the characters had depth and felt “real” and the slow-burn romance was full of so much tension!
Sometimes, audiobooks can be a challenge to stay focused on, but this one kept me rapt the entire time. I hope there will be more retellings in this series!!

[YW]

A gorgeous, sexy retelling of Beauty and the Beast that pulls you in from the very first page.
The story wastes no time, throwing you straight into the action with two sisters—one a queen, the other Belle, who is magicless yet determined to save her people from the terrifying “beasts.” Refusing to stand by, Belle sets out on a dangerous journey to uncover a way to stop them.
As the story unfolds, it follows familiar Beauty and the Beast elements, with Belle finding herself imprisoned by a ruthless king. But this tale quickly deepens, weaving in hidden powers, fate’s quiet interference, and layers of deception and mystery.
At its heart is a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance. Both main characters are guarded and full of trust issues, which makes their dynamic all the more compelling. Valen is equal parts frustrating and lovable—he expects absolute obedience to his rules, while Belle constantly challenges him at every turn. Their tension leads to hilarious magical mishaps and plenty of sharp, entertaining banter.
The writing style is engaging and addictive, making this such a fun and immersive read.