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Beautiful and Beastly #1
A Curse of Beasts and Magic
Not yet published
Expected 26 May 26New York Times bestselling author of The Night Huntress series Jeaniene Frost returns with a brand-new series! It’s Beauty and the Beast meets The Witcher in this dark fantastical retelling, except Beauty IS the Beast, and he’s the Warden keeping mythical beings in check in our world and beyond.
Raine Stone was the sole survivor of a horrific creature while camping. Her account of the attack was attributed to shock, but Raine knows all too well that her story is true because now she carries that same Beast inside her!
She’s been restraining its violent urges by letting it 'feed' on the pain and chaos she’s exposed to as an ER nurse, and by playing vigilante against would-be muggers at night. But when Raine uses the Beast’s energy to heal a frail elderly gentleman from a seemingly random attack, she opens herself to a new world of danger—literally.
Remington “Remy” Byrne knows that the wall between a realm of deadly mythic creatures and our own world is very thin; he’s the Warden who guards the gateways between them. He also rules the supernatural creatures living in secret among us. Raine’s Beast makes her an intruder on Remy’s territory, but the elderly gentleman she saved is Remy’s grandfather, and her Beast contains power that could tip the scales in a sinister plot against Remy’s rule—if Raine allies with him.
Will they be friends or foes…or will the dangerous attraction between them turn into something else? And can our world be saved by their explosive alliance?
Raine Stone was the sole survivor of a horrific creature while camping. Her account of the attack was attributed to shock, but Raine knows all too well that her story is true because now she carries that same Beast inside her!
She’s been restraining its violent urges by letting it 'feed' on the pain and chaos she’s exposed to as an ER nurse, and by playing vigilante against would-be muggers at night. But when Raine uses the Beast’s energy to heal a frail elderly gentleman from a seemingly random attack, she opens herself to a new world of danger—literally.
Remington “Remy” Byrne knows that the wall between a realm of deadly mythic creatures and our own world is very thin; he’s the Warden who guards the gateways between them. He also rules the supernatural creatures living in secret among us. Raine’s Beast makes her an intruder on Remy’s territory, but the elderly gentleman she saved is Remy’s grandfather, and her Beast contains power that could tip the scales in a sinister plot against Remy’s rule—if Raine allies with him.
Will they be friends or foes…or will the dangerous attraction between them turn into something else? And can our world be saved by their explosive alliance?
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 26, 2026
14 people are currently reading
9305 people want to read
About the author
Jeaniene Frost
71 books27.2k followersJeaniene Frost is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author. Works include the Night Huntress series, the Night Prince series, the Broken Destiny series, the Night Rebel series, and the Beautiful and Beastly series. To date, foreign rights for her novels have sold to twenty-three different countries. Jeaniene lives in Maryland with her husband Matthew, who long ago accepted that she rarely cooks and always sleeps in on the weekends. Aside from writing, Jeaniene enjoys reading, poetry, watching movies with her husband, exploring old cemeteries, spelunking and traveling – by car. Airplanes, children, and cook books frighten her.
For information on Jeaniene's books, please visit: www.jeanienefrost.com
For information on Jeaniene's books, please visit: www.jeanienefrost.com
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
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January 7, 2026"Beauty and the Beast meets The Wticher in this darkly fantastical retelling," they said.
They continue to waste too many words on pitching retellings to me, eh? As I said in my summary of 2025 Beauty & Beast retellings: Beastslaying is for Beauties.
Sold!
They continue to waste too many words on pitching retellings to me, eh? As I said in my summary of 2025 Beauty & Beast retellings: Beastslaying is for Beauties.
Sold!
January 25, 2026
The way I ATE this up like I had my own personal beast inside me telling me to feed, more, feed! Maybe I have a book beast but I prefer to think Jeanine is just a master at her craft! Excellent pacing, truly unique magic, twists you don’t see , lovable characters, perfect level of spice that adds to the story and a “cliff hanger” that leaves you waiting more without cheapening the story! So excited to continue this story! Thank you Bramble for my arc I truly appreciate it , this review is my honest opinion.
November 6, 2025
4.5 Stars!!!
I really enjoyed this book! I loved the Beauty and the Beast twist, especially with the “Beast” being a girl this time. As a longtime fan of Frost’s Night Huntress series, I was so excited to dive into this one, and it did not disappoint.
This story has everything I love: fantastic world-building, engaging characters, and some truly memorable side characters. The plot moves at a great pace, and the final quarter had me absolutely glued to the pages. There’s also a bit of other woman (OW) drama, which I personally enjoy in my stories, so it was a fun addition for me The spice level is great too--definitely no closed doors here!
Now, onto the one thing I didn’t love:
Overall, I absolutely loved this book! It has Frost’s trademark mix of heat, humor, and great fucking story telling. I can’t wait for the sequel!
I really enjoyed this book! I loved the Beauty and the Beast twist, especially with the “Beast” being a girl this time. As a longtime fan of Frost’s Night Huntress series, I was so excited to dive into this one, and it did not disappoint.
This story has everything I love: fantastic world-building, engaging characters, and some truly memorable side characters. The plot moves at a great pace, and the final quarter had me absolutely glued to the pages. There’s also a bit of other woman (OW) drama, which I personally enjoy in my stories, so it was a fun addition for me The spice level is great too--definitely no closed doors here!
Now, onto the one thing I didn’t love:
Overall, I absolutely loved this book! It has Frost’s trademark mix of heat, humor, and great fucking story telling. I can’t wait for the sequel!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When I saw that Jeaniene Frost was coming out with a new book, I was absolutely ecstatic. I credit the Night Huntress books with fueling my love of reading. That all to say, this book has big feet to fill and I honestly think it succeeded.
The action starts pretty much from page one and there is never a dull moment. To be fair, I did wish it would slow down occasionally to give me and Raine, the main character, time to process. We're thrown into this world together and that means slowly learning new things throughout the book--not quite understanding immediately how this world and the beings within it work. It seems simple enough though and I wasn't ever confused.
The romance is a medium burn with instant attraction, but how does one not fall for Remy immediately? He's strong, rich, compassionate to those under his care, and powerful enough to defend them. Raine is amazing too, a nurse whose always trying to help people, not sad at hurting people to protect others, and willing to get into the thick of things. Both are loyal and definitely falling fast, even though they are trying not to.
This is single-POV with only Raine's POV. Lots of great side characters I wish we spent more time with.
Really this is so fast paced, so much it happened, I think taking the time to slow down would have been nice. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to where the story will go!
The action starts pretty much from page one and there is never a dull moment. To be fair, I did wish it would slow down occasionally to give me and Raine, the main character, time to process. We're thrown into this world together and that means slowly learning new things throughout the book--not quite understanding immediately how this world and the beings within it work. It seems simple enough though and I wasn't ever confused.
The romance is a medium burn with instant attraction, but how does one not fall for Remy immediately? He's strong, rich, compassionate to those under his care, and powerful enough to defend them. Raine is amazing too, a nurse whose always trying to help people, not sad at hurting people to protect others, and willing to get into the thick of things. Both are loyal and definitely falling fast, even though they are trying not to.
This is single-POV with only Raine's POV. Lots of great side characters I wish we spent more time with.
Really this is so fast paced, so much it happened, I think taking the time to slow down would have been nice. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to where the story will go!
February 9, 2026
This ended up being a really enjoyable read for me, even if it wasn’t quite a new favorite. The concept immediately hooked me a heroine literally carrying a monster inside her and a supernatural warden responsible for keeping mythical creatures from crossing into the human world, and the book definitely leans into that darker paranormal-romantasy vibe.
Raine was easy to root for. Her guilt and fear over the Beast she’s hiding make her motivations feel believable, and I liked that she wasn’t written as effortlessly powerful or fearless. A lot of her arc is about control, not just of the magic, but of her anger and trauma, and that emotional struggle worked well for me. She makes questionable decisions sometimes, but they usually made sense for her character rather than just pushing the plot.
The romance with Remy was probably my favorite part. It’s very much tension-driven and built on reluctant trust. He falls into the protective, morally-gray hero category, but the relationship works because he doesn’t immediately soften; they spend a lot of time negotiating power, secrets, and boundaries before anything romantic really lands. When the banter shows up, the book is at its strongest.
The pacing, though, is uneven. The opening pulls you in quickly, then the middle slows down with a lot of explanations and setup for the larger world and politics, and by the time the big conflict hits, it resolves a little faster than I wanted. I also wish the magical system and the larger supernatural society had been explored a bit deeper, there are interesting ideas there, but you can feel it’s setting up future books more than fully standing on its own.
Overall, this is a solid start to a series. It reads more paranormal romance than epic fantasy, with a strong focus on character dynamics and romantic tension over plot complexity. I had fun with it and I’m interested enough in the characters to continue, but I’m hoping the sequel expands the worldbuilding and raises the stakes.
Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this one early!
Raine was easy to root for. Her guilt and fear over the Beast she’s hiding make her motivations feel believable, and I liked that she wasn’t written as effortlessly powerful or fearless. A lot of her arc is about control, not just of the magic, but of her anger and trauma, and that emotional struggle worked well for me. She makes questionable decisions sometimes, but they usually made sense for her character rather than just pushing the plot.
The romance with Remy was probably my favorite part. It’s very much tension-driven and built on reluctant trust. He falls into the protective, morally-gray hero category, but the relationship works because he doesn’t immediately soften; they spend a lot of time negotiating power, secrets, and boundaries before anything romantic really lands. When the banter shows up, the book is at its strongest.
The pacing, though, is uneven. The opening pulls you in quickly, then the middle slows down with a lot of explanations and setup for the larger world and politics, and by the time the big conflict hits, it resolves a little faster than I wanted. I also wish the magical system and the larger supernatural society had been explored a bit deeper, there are interesting ideas there, but you can feel it’s setting up future books more than fully standing on its own.
Overall, this is a solid start to a series. It reads more paranormal romance than epic fantasy, with a strong focus on character dynamics and romantic tension over plot complexity. I had fun with it and I’m interested enough in the characters to continue, but I’m hoping the sequel expands the worldbuilding and raises the stakes.
Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this one early!
January 26, 2026
Review to come.
Want to read
January 7, 2026"Beauty and the Beast (gender-flipped) meets The Witcher"
February 6, 2026
Urban fantasy beauty and the beast retelling but SHE’S the beast. And let’s not forget A Witcher inspired MMC!!!
This was a quick read. Starts with an action packed plot and never slows down.
The setting was refreshing when compared to other fantasy titles I’ve read lately. It takes place in a modern day Baltimore where monsters live in hiding side-by-side their human counterparts.
The romance was an enemies-to-lovers adjacent with delicious forced proximity.
This was a quick read. Starts with an action packed plot and never slows down.
The setting was refreshing when compared to other fantasy titles I’ve read lately. It takes place in a modern day Baltimore where monsters live in hiding side-by-side their human counterparts.
The romance was an enemies-to-lovers adjacent with delicious forced proximity.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
5 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“You’re the warrior who fought [the beast’s] control for nearly a decade. You’re also the nurse who makes it heal instead of kill, and you’re the woman who haunts my dreams…”
A Curse of Beasts and Magic is the first instalment in the adult urban romantasy series, Beautiful and Beastly. Written in first person POV the story follows Raine who, after a brutal attack that took the life of her family, finds herself stuck with a monster within her, one that thrives of pain and chaos. For years she has attempted to control the beast with her job as an ER nurse but when she uses the beast to heal an elderly man who she saved from a mugging she finds herself drawn into a world that exists just along the barrier. Remy is the warden responsible for protecting the barrier between the worlds and Raine poses a unique, but not fully unwelcome, problem. As it becomes clear something is threatening Remy's safeguard of the realms it may be Raine who can help him...but what if this alliance turns into so much more? Is Raine ready to embrace the beast or will she find she bit off more than she can chew?
I love being in a new world with Jeaniene Frost. She takes these amazing fantastic worlds and brings them to earth in ways that we can so easily connect with while still feeling like it's unique and out of this world.
Raine and Remy are the kind of couple I absolutely adore. They hit off so well but not because they jump into bed. They have a partnership built on mutual benefits. I loved seeing them work together. Raine is a character who so easily moves with the flow but can be a bit oblivious. Remy is one who plans ten steps ahead. He is fierce and cruel while Raine is empathetic: though, the beast in her is vicious. What I loved most was how effortless they fell into a relationship. Raine doesn't understand what is fully happening and Remy is just fine letting her believe whatever she wants but he is locking this down!
“I am the monster that protects you now.”
In terms of spice I would place this at 2 spicy peppers out of 5 spicy peppers. There are approximately two spice scenes (plus a cock block) with the first scene appearing around the 59% mark. The spice is romantic and passionate. I liked how much Remy refuses to hide his obsession and he wants Raine just as consumed as he is. This leads to really good spice!
The story itself is mystery and investigation style. I liked how the larger plot elements unfolded with each progression of the main investigation as it made the story flow. I liked how there is a balance with family and friend drama amidst the kidnappings, fights, and sneaking around. It meant we got to see the stories of the characters and how they blended together, especially with Remy's grandfather. There is also a touch of mystery around why things are happening and how it all connects. The romance had me grinning as the characters fell and one had no idea until they hit the bottom. There is a strong build up to the climax (those final moments were WOAH) and there is a bit of a cliffhanger that has me itching for the next book.
Overall I am once again reminded why I love Jeaniene Frost! I cannot wait for more of Remy and Raine's story.
Thank you Bramble for this arc!
“You’re the warrior who fought [the beast’s] control for nearly a decade. You’re also the nurse who makes it heal instead of kill, and you’re the woman who haunts my dreams…”
A Curse of Beasts and Magic is the first instalment in the adult urban romantasy series, Beautiful and Beastly. Written in first person POV the story follows Raine who, after a brutal attack that took the life of her family, finds herself stuck with a monster within her, one that thrives of pain and chaos. For years she has attempted to control the beast with her job as an ER nurse but when she uses the beast to heal an elderly man who she saved from a mugging she finds herself drawn into a world that exists just along the barrier. Remy is the warden responsible for protecting the barrier between the worlds and Raine poses a unique, but not fully unwelcome, problem. As it becomes clear something is threatening Remy's safeguard of the realms it may be Raine who can help him...but what if this alliance turns into so much more? Is Raine ready to embrace the beast or will she find she bit off more than she can chew?
I love being in a new world with Jeaniene Frost. She takes these amazing fantastic worlds and brings them to earth in ways that we can so easily connect with while still feeling like it's unique and out of this world.
Raine and Remy are the kind of couple I absolutely adore. They hit off so well but not because they jump into bed. They have a partnership built on mutual benefits. I loved seeing them work together. Raine is a character who so easily moves with the flow but can be a bit oblivious. Remy is one who plans ten steps ahead. He is fierce and cruel while Raine is empathetic: though, the beast in her is vicious. What I loved most was how effortless they fell into a relationship. Raine doesn't understand what is fully happening and Remy is just fine letting her believe whatever she wants but he is locking this down!
“I am the monster that protects you now.”
In terms of spice I would place this at 2 spicy peppers out of 5 spicy peppers. There are approximately two spice scenes (plus a cock block) with the first scene appearing around the 59% mark. The spice is romantic and passionate. I liked how much Remy refuses to hide his obsession and he wants Raine just as consumed as he is. This leads to really good spice!
The story itself is mystery and investigation style. I liked how the larger plot elements unfolded with each progression of the main investigation as it made the story flow. I liked how there is a balance with family and friend drama amidst the kidnappings, fights, and sneaking around. It meant we got to see the stories of the characters and how they blended together, especially with Remy's grandfather. There is also a touch of mystery around why things are happening and how it all connects. The romance had me grinning as the characters fell and one had no idea until they hit the bottom. There is a strong build up to the climax (those final moments were WOAH) and there is a bit of a cliffhanger that has me itching for the next book.
Overall I am once again reminded why I love Jeaniene Frost! I cannot wait for more of Remy and Raine's story.
Thank you Bramble for this arc!
December 1, 2025
I received an e-ARC from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Review can also be found on *Milky Way of Books*
Beauty and the Beast meets The Witcher in this amazing first book of the new series by my all-time favorite Jeaniene Frost! When I saw the cover reveal and the blurb, I made an offering to the book gods and they answered!
Our story follows Raine an ER nurse who is also possessed by a mysterious beast, which feeds on pain, violence, and negative feelings. Having no idea what this beast is and its origin, Raine fears for those around her and tries to find different ways to 'feed' it.
That changes when a kidnapping and a fight among supernaturals bring her to the attention of Remington “Remy”, Warden of realms, powerful magic user...and swoony all over. As they try to find a way to control the Beast inside Raine, they become entangled in magic politics, more monsters, Remy's family secrets and their growing attraction.
The story will not bore you. There is action, humor, and beautiful descriptions to complement this new world, which is similar to our own, not to mention that there are some scenes in the book that had me giggling. The dress scene is *chef's kiss*. Also, the romance did not feel forced, and both Remy and Raine grew from tentative allies to lovers in an interesting way.
This book may come out in 2026, but for me this is the best one in 2025, along with Ilona Andrews "This Kingdom will not Kill me". Definitely recommended!
Beauty and the Beast meets The Witcher in this amazing first book of the new series by my all-time favorite Jeaniene Frost! When I saw the cover reveal and the blurb, I made an offering to the book gods and they answered!
Our story follows Raine an ER nurse who is also possessed by a mysterious beast, which feeds on pain, violence, and negative feelings. Having no idea what this beast is and its origin, Raine fears for those around her and tries to find different ways to 'feed' it.
That changes when a kidnapping and a fight among supernaturals bring her to the attention of Remington “Remy”, Warden of realms, powerful magic user...and swoony all over. As they try to find a way to control the Beast inside Raine, they become entangled in magic politics, more monsters, Remy's family secrets and their growing attraction.
The story will not bore you. There is action, humor, and beautiful descriptions to complement this new world, which is similar to our own, not to mention that there are some scenes in the book that had me giggling. The dress scene is *chef's kiss*. Also, the romance did not feel forced, and both Remy and Raine grew from tentative allies to lovers in an interesting way.
This book may come out in 2026, but for me this is the best one in 2025, along with Ilona Andrews "This Kingdom will not Kill me". Definitely recommended!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
A Fresh Fantasy Realm with Endless Possibility
Jeanine Frost builds a world that feels vast, dangerous, and full of promise, and she does it with such confidence that you fall straight into the story without ever looking back. The magic system is fresh, the lore is layered, and every new detail pulls you deeper into a realm that feels alive.
The characters spark with energy, each one carrying secrets, scars, and the sense that their paths are only beginning to unfold. The tension between them, the slow reveal of the world’s history, and the steady rise of danger all work together to create a story that feels both intimate and epic.
What impressed me most was the sheer potential of what is to come. You can feel the groundwork being laid for something bigger, something bold, something that will reshape everything these characters think they know. It is the kind of first installment that leaves you hungry for the next chapter and already imagining the possibilities.
Amazing originality, great world-building, and a story that pulls you in from the first page. I cannot wait to see where this series goes next.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Bramble | Tor Publishing Group | Macmillan Publishing Group LLC for this ARC copy of A CURSE OF BEASTS AND MAGIC in exchange for my honest review.
Jeanine Frost builds a world that feels vast, dangerous, and full of promise, and she does it with such confidence that you fall straight into the story without ever looking back. The magic system is fresh, the lore is layered, and every new detail pulls you deeper into a realm that feels alive.
The characters spark with energy, each one carrying secrets, scars, and the sense that their paths are only beginning to unfold. The tension between them, the slow reveal of the world’s history, and the steady rise of danger all work together to create a story that feels both intimate and epic.
What impressed me most was the sheer potential of what is to come. You can feel the groundwork being laid for something bigger, something bold, something that will reshape everything these characters think they know. It is the kind of first installment that leaves you hungry for the next chapter and already imagining the possibilities.
Amazing originality, great world-building, and a story that pulls you in from the first page. I cannot wait to see where this series goes next.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Bramble | Tor Publishing Group | Macmillan Publishing Group LLC for this ARC copy of A CURSE OF BEASTS AND MAGIC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I really enjoyed this one. I'm a big fan of urban fantasies, and this definitely delivered. It reminded me of Ilona Andrews style of writing, but with an interesting twist.
I loved the dichotomy of the Beast inside Raine, and that she countered it by being a nurse. The romance between Raine and Remington was slow, yet spicy. I also really loved the lore and politics we got as well.
The only reason I'm not rating this higher was that I felt like there was a lot of exposition that we missed. I'm assuming this may be a series, so hopefully we'll get more of Raine's history, and more about the Wardens and other Supernatural entities as well. Overall, 4 out of 5 ⭐️
Thanks to the publisher for an Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions are my own.
I loved the dichotomy of the Beast inside Raine, and that she countered it by being a nurse. The romance between Raine and Remington was slow, yet spicy. I also really loved the lore and politics we got as well.
The only reason I'm not rating this higher was that I felt like there was a lot of exposition that we missed. I'm assuming this may be a series, so hopefully we'll get more of Raine's history, and more about the Wardens and other Supernatural entities as well. Overall, 4 out of 5 ⭐️
Thanks to the publisher for an Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I absolutely loved A Curse of Beasts and Magic by Jeaniene Frost. The blend of urban fantasy with portal magic felt fresh and immersive, and I was hooked from the very beginning.
This was my first Jeaniene Frost book, and it definitely won’t be my last. The worldbuilding was incredibly well done, the character development felt intentional and layered, and the romance was perfectly balanced with tension and chemistry.
Even with this being a fairytale retelling, the twists genuinely surprised me, and I loved not being able to predict where the story was headed. I’m already impatiently waiting for the next installment because I need to know what happens next.
This was my first Jeaniene Frost book, and it definitely won’t be my last. The worldbuilding was incredibly well done, the character development felt intentional and layered, and the romance was perfectly balanced with tension and chemistry.
Even with this being a fairytale retelling, the twists genuinely surprised me, and I loved not being able to predict where the story was headed. I’m already impatiently waiting for the next installment because I need to know what happens next.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 rounded down. Good, worth reading, but not as solid a book as I'd hoped. The heroine, Raine, was strong and capable and not entirely unreasonable, but I was underwhelmed by the overwhelming sexual attraction. Remy was too alpha for his own good. The world building was interesting and I look forward to reading more in this world!
Thanks to Jeaniene Frost and Netgalley for an arc to review.
Thanks to Jeaniene Frost and Netgalley for an arc to review.
February 28, 2026
It was so good!
It ticked all my favorite things. I loved beauty as the beast idea. The magical system is intuitive. The weaving together of different elements of fantasy was just right. The FMC is a badass adult. The MMC is morally gray, broody, and intensely hot. It’s the first book of a series but the cliffhanger is manageable.
I’m very much looking forward to the next book!
It ticked all my favorite things. I loved beauty as the beast idea. The magical system is intuitive. The weaving together of different elements of fantasy was just right. The FMC is a badass adult. The MMC is morally gray, broody, and intensely hot. It’s the first book of a series but the cliffhanger is manageable.
I’m very much looking forward to the next book!
October 2, 2025
Yep, you’re gonna want this one immediately!!
February 1, 2026
2.5/5
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February 2, 2026Giveaway entered.
Mildly annoying that it gets auto-added to "my books/to-read" resulting in later discovering it becomes a duplicate or even triplicate.
Mildly annoying that it gets auto-added to "my books/to-read" resulting in later discovering it becomes a duplicate or even triplicate.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews