Gilded Locks: A Wicked Why Choose Retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Villains of Kassel #2

by Lydia Michaels

A Dark Reverse Harem Romance

She broke into the wrong house.
Now, three brutal men will make her pay—with her body, her secrets, and her soul.

When runaway heiress Marigold Calder crashes into the forbidden Isles of Kassel during a blizzard, she's desperate for shelter. The isolated mountain lodge seems like salvation, until she realizes it belongs to The Bears, three massive Russian brothers who own the most exclusive—and dangerous—private men's club in Kassel.

HUNTER – The violent one who takes what he wants🔥
STONE – The cold mastermind who'll break her with a single look🔥
ASH – The deceptively gentle one who's anything but safe🔥

In Kassel, trespassing has a price. And once they catch her sleeping in their bed, eating their food, and wearing their clothes, these territorial predators decide she’s theirs.

Trapped by the storm and their obsession, Marigold discovers a dark connection between their families that turns their hospitality into a hunt for revenge. Now, they won’t just keep her, they’ll ruin her.

A scorching hot, morally grey, billionaire reverse harem featuring possessive anti-heroes, forced proximity, primal dominance, explosive chemistry, and a heroine who refuses to break. This standalone dark romance contains mature themes and explicit scenes that will leave you breathless.

Step into their den... if you dare.

Reverse Harem/Why Choose • Dark Romance • Forced Proximity • Snowbound • Captive Romance • Morally Grey Heroes • Touch Her and Die • Possessive/Obsessive • Enemies to Lovers • Found Family • Russian Heroes • Private Club • Billionaire Romance • Secret Identity • Revenge Plot • High Heat 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Genres: Dark Romance, Why Choose, Forced Proximity, Romance, Romantasy, Dark

402 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 4, 2025

About the author

Lydia Michaels is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than forty novels. She writes heart-clenching, unpredictable romance with dark elements and high heat. Her work is character-driven and bursting with broken heroes and badass females. With a sweet spot for overbearing, territorial types, her deeply emotional books are spicy, emotionally satisfying, and guaranteed to leave readers with many book hangovers.

Lydia is the consecutive winner of the 2018 & 2019 Author of the Year Award from Happenings Media and the recipient of the 2014 Best Author Award from the Courier Times. She has been featured by USA Today, Romantic Times Magazine, the Women in Publishing Summit, and more.

Michaels has been a recognized presence in the author community since starting her career in 2007. She is the CEO of LMC Consulting and a certified author coach specializing in characterization and plot development. She takes great joy in hosting author events celebrating diversity within the book industry. She has bridged connections among many authors since founding renowned events such as the East Coast Author Convention and the Annual Behind the Keys Author Retreat. However, the gem of her work is, by far, her extensive backlist (see LydiaMichaelsBooks.com).

She is happily married to her childhood sweetheart. Her favorite things include cooking Italian cuisine, hosting extravagant dinner parties, sipping martinis, listening to her husband play piano, and escaping to her coastal home on the Jersey Shore. She’s an LGBTQ ally, a BLM supporter, and a firm believer that the patriarchy must burn (women’s rights are human rights).

You can follow Lydia on Instagram, TikTok, & Facebook!
Instagram: @lydia_michaels_books
Facebook: @LydiaMichaels
TikTok: @LydiaMichaels

Reviews

[Michellelovesreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book In the villains of Kassel series and I loved it so much.

Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Amber | aambuurreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

OKAY… what can I even say about three big Russian brothers who all want one woman? Lydia Michaels once again delivers an incredible story! The imagery was so vivid I could practically see myself as Mary, our modern-day Goldilocks, stepping right into the bear den. Each brother was uniquely tempting, taking control in his own irresistible way. My hopelessly romantic brain kept rooting for her to pick just one (LOL), but honestly, I adored them all and their fierce, single minded devotion to Mary. The fairy tale parallels were perfectly woven in, familiar yet fresh. So buckle up for this sexy, steamy retelling. It’ll have you squirming in your seat and begging for more!

[judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very darker than dark storyline. It deals with torture, rape, sexual consent on the darker side of the spectrum, it deals with forced mental health treatment of electrical shock therapy or was it punishment. But it is also a very powerful love story between 3 men and their woman. It shows that women are very strong and powerful by choosing to be more than they have suffered at the hands of a very violent ruthless man. Jordan wants to control women at any cost and does fear any consequences of his actions until he feels the rath of the Volkov trio. Stone , Ash and Hunter Volkov run an exclusive membership for those that have very specific interests but it is done with strict consent of all those involved on their private island.
Marigold and Katya suffer differently from Jordan’s abuse but they both choose to be more than a victim. They are survivors and thrive past their abuse. He is punished by the three bears for his transgressions. There is so much depth to this storyline and the characters that is hard to explain it all. It is very well written . I like the reference to childhood fairytales of Goldilocks and the three bears with the bed scene. It made me chuckle. I could not put this book down once I started reading it. The ending was a pure masterpiece. I would give it more than 5 stars if possible

I received this book free via BookFunnel and the author for an honest review.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goldilocks and the Three Bears, hardly - but these characters sure do weave a tale - the men Hunter, Ash and Stone have rules, its up to Marigold whether she wants to follow them, being taken care of by all, to be shared - but totally loved by the men, who want to become the most important aspect of her life.

Marigold hasn't had an easy life - her step-brother, Jordan, is not a nice man - taking what he wants, from whoever the flavor of the moment is - he's made an enemy of his step-sister, no-one believes anything she has to say. She flees from where she has been 'staying'; a dangerous water crossing, on a dilapidated boat - she lands on a island, it's winter, she is freezing - but she sees a light in the distance, she makes her way to the -> WOW a mansion, she finds her way inside - things progress just like the nursery rhyme states, but the bears are not to be trivialized. The way the author has described them, yum! They are really insatiable. My imagination was definitely working overtime.

Marigold's brother is a evil man - and he's made enemies he doesn't even know - but the brothers will exact revenge, especially after what they find out about Marigold's past - it's so justified - everything, satisfying.

Marigold deserves her happiness with the 'Bears' - this story you need to read - there is so much more to the book - the well rounded characters, and the chemistry, different with each man.

[Cathy Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spicy 🌶️ spicy 🌶️ spicy 🌶️ spicy 🌶️!! Goldilocks like I’ve never read it before and I loved it! Reverse harem trope great! This was the first novel I’ve read by Lydia but it definitely won’t be the last!

[Kamila Mykhailiuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I absolutely loved this book. Amazing characters and wonderful plot. Very beautifully written and easy to read.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gilded Locks is the second book in the Villains of Kassel series and a great addition it is.
It is a dark romance, a retelling of Goldilocks and the three bears with a few amusing references to the original book certain to bring a smile to your face, especially when she is trying out the beds. This is essentially a love story between 3 men and their woman. We have the Volkov men, Stone, Ash and Hunter they run an exclusive club for those with very specific interests but all members must give their absolute consent to participate, and this club is on an exclusive island. Marigold is fleeing an abusive and terrible situation and has a fake identity and invitation to an exclusive club on a beautiful island, she is in a boat, with someone else’s, clothes, shoes, invitation in her coat pocket and hits the most violent and dangerous storm, she loses everything overboard and almost drowns until she finally lands onshore, she is freezing, wet and bleeding when she staggers up the beach and finds an amazing house! She finds it open, manages to light a fire, put some oversized clothes on, eat a snack and finds a warm bed to sleep in, where she is found fast asleep by the Volkov trio, has she escaped her horror situation for one even worse?
A captivating, entertaining storyline with characters that you will love and love to hate and love again, you will at times be on the edge of your seat and be fanning yourself in the very hot steamy scenes, another brilliantly written story by Ms Michaels!
Once I started this book I couldn’t put it down until the very last page!
I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book via BookFunnel and I am writing this review voluntarily

[Vee Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Lydia Michaels for the ARC! My opinions are my own!

Running from a sad and terrifying past heiress Marigold Calder crashes her boat upon the shore of the island of Kassel. She is freezing and seeking food and shelter from the storm when she enters the castle of Hunter, Stone, and Ash. These three brothers are intimidating to say the least. They are three Russian “Bears” who own this castle, which happens to be an exclusive men’s club. What are they going to do with their little trespasser, read and find out.

Whoo is this book steamy. This book was so interesting it had me hooked! The past Marigold had was so scary and sad with all of the trauma she endured and I love how powerful it made her when it could have broken her! I love the plot as it made me have strong emotions and the depth of the characters was well written. The steamy aspects were mixed in and kept me interested. The brothers were so different and had different character traits, backstories, and flaws, it made the story so dynamic and realistic. The pacing was perfect and there were no slow spots!

I highly recommend this book. Great read.

[Heather Deaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

So intense! You can really feel all the emotions Marigold goes through in this dark version of Goldilocks as she struggles to figure out her future - desperation, fear, curiosity, shame, excitement, power, and of course, passion. It's so fun to see how Lydia will write these old tales with modern twists (and lots of spice!). Who would've thought 3 bears are just a classic reverse harem? Not me, but I'm here for it! So glad she went there. Whew, need a cold drink now. Enjoy!

I received an advanced copy of the book and am leaving an honest review.

My rating system:
5=will read again
4=recommend to everyone
3=recommend to anyone liking that particular writing style/trope
2=do not recommend
1=DNF

[Danielle ♡ Cirque des Morts · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨️ARC REVIEW✨️

This is a retelling of Goldilocks and the three bears, it's dark, its twisted and I LOVE this version so much more!

Marigold has escaped her old life and is on the run, she has stumbled straight into the bears den...
Hunter is violent and takes what he wants.
Stone is cold, a mastermind who could break her with one look.
Ash is the deceptively gentle one, but is far from safe...
Now the question is, what is safer, the bears den or the life she ran from?

I love, love, LOVED this retelling! it was captivating, keep you on the edge!
The story was great, the MCs even better! Pull up your winter socks and get snowed in with this 5 ⭐️ read!

[Allicia M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story 4.5 ⭐️
Spice 4.5 🌶️

Gilded Locks is a fun reimagining of Goldilocks and the Three Bears where Marigold is Goldilocks and the 3 MMCs (Hunter, Stone, and Ash) are the 3 bears.

Marigold washes up on shore outside of the MMCs place and seeks refuge from the storm that brought her there. They offer to let her stay and offer her protection in exchange for her doing whatever they want from her. The men do make it clear that if she doesn’t do what they want, they will send her back. It doesn’t take long though before Marigold is a willing participant, especially when they protect her.

[Destiney Ellerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW.

Literally no words.

Take care when reading and read the TW's beforehand. I don't know whether I would truly classify this as a dark romance as it isn't really dark although there are dark elements. These men are the definition of touch her and d** and they will burn the world down for her to rebuild in the ashes. I loved everything about this book.

Also who doesn't love some SIMP Russian men who are complete bad asses? Swoon.

Lydia you did it again with this one. I really hope this series comes out with some beautiful special editions in print because I will immediately buy them.

*Received as an ARC for my honest review*

[Julee McKFly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Lydia Michaels for the opportunity to read this book early. This is a very modern, red hot spicy twist on goldilocks and the three bears. The spice was intense and the plot and characters were well developed over the book. I enjoyed every minute of reading this book and flew through the second half, staying up well into the night. Looking forward to more from this series!

[Teresa R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surrender
Marigold has escaped to this frozen wasteland to find what she thinks is salvation in a fortress. But the men who live here aren’t safe and when they find out who she is they will demand everything from her, including her surrender. And she’ll give it to them and much more!

[Fiona Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my golly gosh……this book absolutely stunned me in a good way. What an absolutely fabulously hot and very adult take on Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Totally worthy of a read, but definitely not for the feint hearted.
An ARC reader

[Michelle The Outgoing Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very dark retelling of Goldilocks.

In this case, we get three men - Stone, Ash, and Hunter - who could be more dangerous than what she escaped.

Why choose when you can pick from them.

Check your triggers because there are some themes that may upset.

* Book received as an ARC.

[Sheila McGinley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A girl on the run meets three very possessive and dangerous men. What follows is a very dark and a bit twisted love story. Let's just say everyone gets exactly what they need.

[Disneynerd719 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put this down. Read in one sitting. This was first Lydia Michael's book and she has gone to one my my top ten authors.
From the moment we met the guys, I feel in love with them. But Hunter was my favorite. To see him grow was beautiful.
Lydia sure does know how to start the fire. 10/10 will definitely recommend.

[Bent Letters · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 Stars

[Lynnea Quintana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, just wow! From page one to the last page I wanted to know more. Hunter, Stone and Ash all in their own ways tugged at my heart and ugh! I didn’t want it to end but literally couldn’t put it down either. Definitely a 10 out of 10!

[Nicole Marie Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m obsessed with these retellings by Lydia Michaels! They are so unique and so hot!! I couldn’t put it down! Hush darling was amazing and Gilded Locks was equally so! I can’t wait to be back in this world with the third book!

[la sa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, before I start dragging: the book is well written. Like, actually. The sentences make sense, the dialogue flows, the pacing is there. And the cover? Pretty. Thank you for not putting a half-naked man or a kissing couple on it. I don’t want romance-novel Photoshop on my shelf. I want something, that actually looks pretty on my shelf. This one was cute, I bought it, I didn’t read the back because I’m dumb and I thought I was gonna be different . I thought it was going to be cozy. Surprise! It was not cozy. Or maybe it was a little bit

1. The setup

Girl is stranded on a cold, icy island. Winter. She almost freezes to death. She finds an open house/villa, calls out, no one answers, so she does what any alive person would do: she goes inside. Survival 101 — dry clothes, food, fire, bed. She was fleeing an abusive life, so she has no one to call anyway. There’s no phone , and she has nowhere to go. So far, I’m with her.

2. Enter the three dudes

Then the house turns out to belong to three huge men. Of course they’re huge. Of course she’s tiny. Of course it’s giving “Goldilocks retelling but make it horny.” I clocked that immediately.

They’re also sex-club owners who do BDSM/kink parties… in their OWN house. Which personally lost me. Why are strangers raw-ing it up on the furniture you sit on? Build a second house. A barn. A dungeon (to be fair they have one but still ) . Something. Because if I found out some random man’s cum was on my couch even if it was cleaned — I would set the couch on fire. Immediate arson . Imagine your friend doing that. You wouldn’t keep itl.

3. The “choice” that’s not a choice

So they find her there and instead of being like “wow you almost froze to death, are you okay,” they basically go: either you become our plaything or we hand you to the authorities, who will send you back to your abusive situation. Charming. Storm outside, nowhere to go, whole story set in this house — so yeah, she “chooses” to stay. That’s not consent. That’s you cornering a traumatized woman.

And then they’re like, “We’ll always stop if you say no.” Okay but you forced the original yes, babe.

4. The vibes (aka why I was annoyed)

She’s already a sexual abuse survivor. Then the sex in the book starts very quickly. Her body responds (because bodies do that), but mentally she’s confused and not fully on board. That gives very rapey vibes. And what’s wild is: the book clearly wants to talk about rape, trauma, women’s fear — like you can feel the author trying — but it never fully goes there. It brushes over the manipulative parts and then makes the guys the saviors of other abused women. Like, “We’d never let a man hurt a woman!” sir… you literally forced this one into submission. Be serious.

This is where I get “annoying” as a reader, because I can’t just go “teehee dark romance” when the plot is: traumatized woman gets traumatized again and we call it love.

5. The relationship (if we can call it that)

I’d say about 70% of this “relationship” is sex. Which, fine, people read for that. But for me it wasn’t really a story. Girli is chill. She does grow a little — you can feel her finding herself, getting stronger, gaining some sense of control. That part was nice, in a weird way. So yeah, development happens. She opens up, they open up (emotionally, not just physically), and they all kind of learn to “trust.” So technically, there’s growth.

But it’s also like — a lot happens, and somehow nothing happens. It’s deep in theme but shallow in execution. I guess that’s why they choose e the cozy cover : it’s dark, but it stays in its little snow-globe world. The vibes are contained.

By the end, they’re in love…I guess?. And I was just sitting there like, “Oh… okay. I guess that’s love now.” Maybe I’m the annoying one. Maybe I think too hard. But it felt like the emotional connection never fully matched the intensity of what actually happened. Like, yes, they talk and open up — but trauma-bonding and romance aren’t the same thing, besties

6. The anatomy of dark romance (my favorite rant)

Dark romance female authors are so funny because the men always have huge penises and the women are so small it’s like… how? The penis is the man, the man is the penis — they are one being. And the penis is always OUT. Even when it’s not out, it’s basically out. Meanwhile the woman is so tiny their hand can “wrap around her waist.” Girl, are you a LEGO? A Barbie? Because I can wrap my hand around my wrist. If I could do that to your waist I’d be concerned.

I know, I know — “don’t take it literally.” I’m trying. I’m breathing.


Final thoughts

So: well written, pretty cover, clear style. But also: trapped woman + coerced consent + three giant sex-club men + no real reckoning with the coercion. I get why people like it — it’s spicy, it’s closed-setting, it’s “3 men obsessed with her” (imagine having to stand even one but we are in dark Roman I get it— but I couldn’t get over the consent logic.

And yes, I paid money for it because the cover lied to me, so I will be complaining.

[Shabby -BookBistroBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intoxicating. Hedonistic. And dare I say moist!! Lydia has spun the tornado of sexy reverse harem trope and it shall sweep you away in its powerful vortex for sure
A castaway, deserted island, alone on a stormy night, refuge in a palace.
What could go wrong, right?
“EVERYTHING!!”
The girl Mary, aka Marigold Calder, is running from a behavioral institute, a disguised asylum prison where she's been trapped by her stepbrother and father. A classic case of “From the frying pan, into the fire” situation. Her honeypot sweet scent brings the “Three Burly Bears” sniffing and growling. The ominous palace on this deserted, private island belongs to Ash, stone & Hunter volkov. They're a band of merry brothers indulging in all kinds of perverse pleasures far from the madding crowds.
Her shelter, food and clothing comes with stipulations though.
Nothing is for free, you see

"A woman. Young. Beautiful in a way that made dangerous men stupid and smart men reckless. "

She isn't that clever as she thought she was too because these brothers are in high tech surveillance and security so they catch up to her lies with modern gizmo-magic in a jiffy.
The scenes are obviously very spicy, very sizzling. I mean a nubike young girl, three prime males with boiling tostestorone in their veins. The little heads take over and they wanna play with this toy.

“You’ll do exactly what we tell you to do. When we tell you to do it. No questions. No arguments. No escape.”

The Little Fox - Lisichka is truely and firmly trapped in the predator's den. And now she has to play by their rules.
They say submit, she has to kneel
They say open up, she has to lay back and take it
They say you're the bait, she has to lure the villain in

“ The lodge was more than a house of hedonism. It was a psychological dungeon built to manipulate and twist people so far from their comfort zones that they lost touch with reality.”

Story is a classic retelling so broadly the guidelines were already in place. Lydia spins her magic and darkens the canvas. Her well scripted prose is highly engaging. I was invested from get go. Heart thumping passions ignite like a giant fireplace and pretty soon she notched up the roaring fire to the nth degree. Lydia has great command on her language and grammar, which is a hallmark of a skilled writer.
And dark romance being my genre jam, I fell in love with the book.
“4.5 stars for Lisichka and YeYo Tri Medvedya”
Follow me on:
Email🌻 Bookbub 🌻 Twitter🌻 Instagram🌻 Blog🌻 Facebook🌻 Amazon 🌻

[Dominique (The Diary of a Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gilded Locks is a dark reverse harem retelling that leans fully into discomfort.

This snowbound Goldilocks-inspired story is well written, immersive, and deliberately unsettling. The dynamic between Marigold and the three men who claim her is built on control and coercion long before it resembles romance, and the book repeatedly plays with the idea of consent as a technicality rather than a meaningful choice.

The early and middle portions are difficult to read emotionally, particularly for a reader sensitive to dubious consent and blackmail. While the story eventually shifts toward giving Marigold more autonomy and agency, the romance feels like a late arrival rather than the foundation.

High heat, heavy repetition, and spice over plot structure dominate much of the book. That said, it's undeniably consuming and easy to read in one sitting, even when it frustrates.

This is not soft dark romance. It's divisive, provocative, and best suited for readers who are comfortable sitting in morally black territory and engaging with darker themes critically.

PLEASE READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS...

Thank you to author Lydia Michaels for providing me with an eARC of Gilded Locks to read and review.

Read my full review on my blog The Diary of a Reader

[MN Book Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was deliciously dark, but also, these men were so protective of her!

Running for her life, Marigold found herself almost frozen to death when she found an island that seemed to have an abandoned house on it. Turns out the house has plenty of occupants, including three grumpy men. Stone finds her first and lets her in. Ash shows her compassion. Hunter makes her scared for her life. In exchange for their hospitality, Marigold is asked to give her body over to them. That is, until they discover Marigold hasn’t been fully honest about her last name and who she’s related to. Now, to convince the guys she wants nothing to do with her half-brother and that he���s the reason she ran. But when it’s all settled, will she stay or will she go?

Marigold and her guys get their happy ending in this standalone book in a series.

This book was definitely spicier than the first! I was a bit sad that Captain Hook and Wendy didn’t make an appearance, but they may have been mentioned briefly, but not by name. I do wonder how old Marigold was when she made it to the island. It seemed like she was maybe older than the guy’s sister, but she may be the same age. I loved that the guys were given time to show their true selves to Marigold, but also showed that they always work better together.

[Ria Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisted, captivating & deliciously hot

Goldilocks and the Three Bears was never like this when I grew up! GUILDED LOCKS, Villains of Kassel #2, is Lydia Michaels' dark retelling and it was magnificent. A reverse harem, billionaire, anti-heroes, tough her and die romance, which was thoroughly twisted, captivating, and deliciously hot.

One woman. Three men. Marigold Calder has runaway from her life, only to find herself on the Isle of Kassel and into the world of Hunter, Stone, and Ash Volkov. Three morally grey brothers who put a price on those who trespass on their land. Each man decidedly different: Hunter is filled with violence, Stone is a cold mastermind, and Ash gives the appearance of being the safe, gentle one. All three obsessed and determined to make Marigold theirs.

GUILDED LOCKS is a story of passion, dominance, revenge, and had me spellbound. It is definitely not for the faint of heart. I can't wait to see what Lydia comes up with next.

Read and Reviewed for Reading Is Our Satisfaction

✨✨✨✨✨ FIVE STARS

[AJ's Book ReMarks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lydia Michaels brings readers the second book in her version of the Grimm Brothers' fairy tales, a wicked why-choose reverse harem romance inspired by Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Marigold Caldor, 24, of Witmore, is running away from her family. Her half-brother, Jordan, convinces their father to involuntarily commit her to a private mental institution, from where she escapes during a horrible storm, only to be washed up on the shores of The Isle of Kassel, where she makes her way to a castle in the Arctic, where she enters without permission and makes herself comfortable. The (da) bears are three dominant predators: the Volkov brothers, Ash, Hunter, and Stone. Breaking and entering, trespassing, and lying all have consequences; she is on for the punishment of a lifetime. Can she survive even after realizing the family connection and what her brother did to their sister, Katya? Will she flourish? Find out this and more when you read this spicy, distorted tale!

"I can survive anything that doesn't kill me." "I cannot breathe without you."

[Mandy Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I even say about three big Russian brothers who all want one woman? Only that Lydia Michaels has delivered an absolutely unforgettable dark romance!
​Runaway heiress Marigold Calder crashed right into a bear trap on the forbidden Isles of Kassel. This is a scorching-hot, morally grey twist on Goldilocks, where trespassing has a price. Once they find her, the three massive, territorial brothers—the violent Hunter, the icy mastermind Stone, and the deceptively gentle Ash—decide she's their new obsession.
​The fairy tale parallels are brilliant, woven into a hunt for revenge that is both terrifying and irresistible. My hopeless romantic heart rooted for "Mary," even as I adored the anti-heroes' fierce, single-minded devotion.
​If you crave possessive anti-heroes, primal dominance, and explosive chemistry, this standalone dark romance will have you breathless.

[Tanya Rae ~ TaSTy WordGasms · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars
I could hardly wait to start this book! Gilded Locks is book 2 in the Villains of Kassel series. If you haven’t read Hush Darling, a Peter Pan retelling, you need to! Only because that book was SO GOOD! You can read each of the books as a complete standalone.

Gilded Locks is a dark romance and there are a lot of CW’s/TW’s. So check them out if you have any issues. This is a Goldilocks and the 3 bears retelling and a why choose romance, one of my favorite tropes!

This is Stone, Hunter, Ash Volkov and Marigold aka Mary’s story.

This was another very good and interesting story. Jack and the Beanstalk's retelling is next!!! I for one can’t wait for the next story in the lineup! What I love about Lydia Michaels books are that I know I will have a very good book to read, she doesn't disappoint!

[Naughty Nightie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love your romances dark and filled with triggers, this book is for you. Marigold (Mary) is on the run from her family and stumbles upon the Island of Kassel in the middle of a big storm. Where the three Russian brothers, Hunter, Stone, and Ash, reside. She thinks she is alone, but she is being watched. What will happen when the three brothers show themselves, and what will they do when they find out who Mary really is?
I recieved an arc for my voluntary honest review for NN Book Blog. If you love a dark reverse harem, then you will love this book. Lydia keeps you turning the pages with all the twists and turns that you dont see coming. Please note this book may not be for everyone; therefore, please read the author's trigger warnings before reading or purchasing.