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Beautiful and Beastly #1
A Curse of Beasts and Magic
Not yet published
Expected 26 May 26
New 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, except Beauty IS the Beast, and he’s the Warden keeping mythical beings in check in our world and beyond.
Raine Stone is living a nightmare. Ever since she survived the attack that killed her family, she's been hiding a terrible secret--and a Beast inside her.
It feeds on violence and chaos, but she restrains its urges by playing vigilante on the city streets. Until one night, Raine uses the Beast’s energy to heal an elderly gentleman from a seemingly random attack and discovers a new world of danger—literally.
Remington “Remy” Byrne knows the wall between a realm of deadly mythic creatures and our own world is very fragile. After all, he’s the Warden who guards the gateways between them. Raine’s Beast contains power that could tip the scales in a sinister plot against Remy’s rule—if she allies with him.
Will they be friends or foes…or will their dangerous attraction turn into something else? And can our world be saved by their explosive alliance?
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Raine Stone is living a nightmare. Ever since she survived the attack that killed her family, she's been hiding a terrible secret--and a Beast inside her.
It feeds on violence and chaos, but she restrains its urges by playing vigilante on the city streets. Until one night, Raine uses the Beast’s energy to heal an elderly gentleman from a seemingly random attack and discovers a new world of danger—literally.
Remington “Remy” Byrne knows the wall between a realm of deadly mythic creatures and our own world is very fragile. After all, he’s the Warden who guards the gateways between them. Raine’s Beast contains power that could tip the scales in a sinister plot against Remy’s rule—if she allies with him.
Will they be friends or foes…or will their dangerous attraction turn into something else? And can our world be saved by their explosive alliance?
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
361 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 26, 2026
About the author
Jeaniene Frost
70 books27.3k 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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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!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.0 ★— And it’s Beauty’s turn to be the Beast!
I’ve read my fair share of Beauty and the Beast retellings and inspired stories, so with the book's blurb and cover, I went into this with pretty mixed expectations, feeling a little worn out by just how oversaturated adaptations of this fairytale have become. I was happy to be proven wrong, because while there are references to the fairytale, this is much more of a traditional urban/paranormal fantasy-style story than anything else.
Raine Stone is a nurse who’s dealing with a mysterious affliction that causes her to "beast out," leading to her being a danger to those around her and to her living a pretty isolated existence.
She learns of a whole other supernatural world she was previously oblivious to through Remy Byrne, who is the ridiculously handsome, ridiculously wealthy, and ridiculously powerful love interest of this book. Truly, do not read this book if you want a male character that’s of a more unique variety, because Remy is the epitome of a power fantasy dialed up to the upteenth degree. He reminded me a lot of Mad Rogan from Ilona Andrews’ Hidden Legacy series, so if that is a man you enjoy, you will probably have fun here.
As this is a very fast-paced and easy read, with a wry sense of humor, it hit a lot of what I like in my urban fantasy!
But I will say that the book suffered from some issues for me. I felt like the romance was moving at a breakneck speed, and with this being the first in what will presumably be a series of books, I really wished the author could have paced herself and maybe introduced more tension and just more time before the MMC and FMC gave into their feelings. This is definitely preference-based, as I think people who like a fast burn or want a romance with immediate payoff will be happy with this, but for the slow burn enjoyers and the people who are used to urban fantasy where the couple's bond takes a few books to progress and build up, this might feel a bit too fast-paced.
My expectations for a slower burn were partly rooted in this book setting up an intriguing fake dating dynamic that I thought had so much potential, and that I wish the book could have stuck with longer before letting Raine and Remy get as close as they do here.
But even among all my critiques, my love for this genre and my interest in how this’ll continue won over. I am super interested in how this cliffhanger ending will be resolved in the sequel, and am ready for more Raine and Remy!
🎧Audiobook Notes
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo
⭐ Listener Rating: 5/5
The narrator did a masterful job of inhabiting all the different characters in the story, and I thought that the male voices, especially that of Remy, were superbly done! The fast-paced tone of the book also really lent itself to listening.
______________
Thank you to Tor Books for the ARC and to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
I’ve read my fair share of Beauty and the Beast retellings and inspired stories, so with the book's blurb and cover, I went into this with pretty mixed expectations, feeling a little worn out by just how oversaturated adaptations of this fairytale have become. I was happy to be proven wrong, because while there are references to the fairytale, this is much more of a traditional urban/paranormal fantasy-style story than anything else.
Raine Stone is a nurse who’s dealing with a mysterious affliction that causes her to "beast out," leading to her being a danger to those around her and to her living a pretty isolated existence.
She learns of a whole other supernatural world she was previously oblivious to through Remy Byrne, who is the ridiculously handsome, ridiculously wealthy, and ridiculously powerful love interest of this book. Truly, do not read this book if you want a male character that’s of a more unique variety, because Remy is the epitome of a power fantasy dialed up to the upteenth degree. He reminded me a lot of Mad Rogan from Ilona Andrews’ Hidden Legacy series, so if that is a man you enjoy, you will probably have fun here.
As this is a very fast-paced and easy read, with a wry sense of humor, it hit a lot of what I like in my urban fantasy!
But I will say that the book suffered from some issues for me. I felt like the romance was moving at a breakneck speed, and with this being the first in what will presumably be a series of books, I really wished the author could have paced herself and maybe introduced more tension and just more time before the MMC and FMC gave into their feelings. This is definitely preference-based, as I think people who like a fast burn or want a romance with immediate payoff will be happy with this, but for the slow burn enjoyers and the people who are used to urban fantasy where the couple's bond takes a few books to progress and build up, this might feel a bit too fast-paced.
My expectations for a slower burn were partly rooted in this book setting up an intriguing fake dating dynamic that I thought had so much potential, and that I wish the book could have stuck with longer before letting Raine and Remy get as close as they do here.
But even among all my critiques, my love for this genre and my interest in how this’ll continue won over. I am super interested in how this cliffhanger ending will be resolved in the sequel, and am ready for more Raine and Remy!
🎧Audiobook Notes
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo
⭐ Listener Rating: 5/5
The narrator did a masterful job of inhabiting all the different characters in the story, and I thought that the male voices, especially that of Remy, were superbly done! The fast-paced tone of the book also really lent itself to listening.
______________
Thank you to Tor Books for the ARC and to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
May 12, 2026
A girl with a beast trapped inside her fake dates a magical billionaire*.
Cheesy but like, in the best way.
My cheeks hurt from all the smiling I did while reading!
I love when a reimagining is reminiscent enough to recognize the source material but completely fresh and new. This definitely checks those boxes.
I think this would be a fantastic book for romantasy readers who are looking to explore a more fantasy first book. The world is rich + complex but still easy to digest. It feels slightly skewed towards the fantasy plot while still being heavy on the romance! A great bridge book imho!
*So he’s not actually a billionaire bc he gives away and reinvests all his company’s profits back into his employees and his community 😭 LOVE THAT
Whats to love…
- urban fantasy
- complex world
- blush inducing romance + banter
- strong found family
- mother + daughter relationships (of the found variety)
What might not work for some…
- this is a bit on the nose at times when it comes to the typical lines and dynamics seen often in romantasy. It’s fresh enough in other areas to not feel like other books but those who are looking for a bit more complexity in their romance dynamics might find this one misses the mark a little.
- That said I ate this UP. Sometimes you need a little cheese in your life!
Audio Narration: 5/5
Style: Single Narration (also single POV)
Narrator: Tavia Gilbert
Length: 11 hours 28 mins
DAMN. I’m adding Tavia Gilbert to my favorite narrators lists ASAP. She absolutely killed it. Pacing, pausing, inflection were perfection. Her voice variation was fantastic and her male voices?! HOT. I’d listen to her narrate a male pov over a number of male options! Definitely a must on audio!
4.25⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Macmillan Audio & Bramble for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
Cheesy but like, in the best way.
My cheeks hurt from all the smiling I did while reading!
I love when a reimagining is reminiscent enough to recognize the source material but completely fresh and new. This definitely checks those boxes.
I think this would be a fantastic book for romantasy readers who are looking to explore a more fantasy first book. The world is rich + complex but still easy to digest. It feels slightly skewed towards the fantasy plot while still being heavy on the romance! A great bridge book imho!
*So he’s not actually a billionaire bc he gives away and reinvests all his company’s profits back into his employees and his community 😭 LOVE THAT
Whats to love…
- urban fantasy
- complex world
- blush inducing romance + banter
- strong found family
- mother + daughter relationships (of the found variety)
What might not work for some…
- this is a bit on the nose at times when it comes to the typical lines and dynamics seen often in romantasy. It’s fresh enough in other areas to not feel like other books but those who are looking for a bit more complexity in their romance dynamics might find this one misses the mark a little.
- That said I ate this UP. Sometimes you need a little cheese in your life!
Audio Narration: 5/5
Style: Single Narration (also single POV)
Narrator: Tavia Gilbert
Length: 11 hours 28 mins
DAMN. I’m adding Tavia Gilbert to my favorite narrators lists ASAP. She absolutely killed it. Pacing, pausing, inflection were perfection. Her voice variation was fantastic and her male voices?! HOT. I’d listen to her narrate a male pov over a number of male options! Definitely a must on audio!
4.25⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Macmillan Audio & Bramble for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
April 29, 2026
For anyone who carries a little bit of suppressed rage and inner beast, this story is for you.
✨ A Curse of Beasts and Magic delivers a jolt of adrenaline from page one. This is urban fantasy with teeth. Creatures lurk everywhere, and “aura” isn’t just a vibe, it’s a tangible magical trail that adds a fun twist to the worldbuilding.
👏 The writing leans witty and self-aware, with just enough bite to keep things sharp. Raine makes for a compelling lead. She’s funny without trying too hard, weighed down by guilt and trauma, and constantly wrestling for control over the monster inside her. That tension gives her arc real momentum.
🍯 Scene-stealer award goes to Brenden, the sweet, slightly chaotic grandpa with dementia. Equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking, he brings a surprising emotional depth that lingers.
💛 And then there’s Remy. Confident, capable, and just a little too used to getting his way. He steps in whether Raine wants him to or not, armed with power, resources, and libraries to spare! 📚 Cue Belle with books moment!
💫 The pacing moves fast and rarely lets up, hopping across settings while layering action, magic, (romance scenes that I skipped) and character growth. By the time everything clicks into place, the payoff feels earned and satisfying.
A fun, sharp, and emotionally charged ride that balances humor with darker edges. 4.5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance reader copy.
✨ A Curse of Beasts and Magic delivers a jolt of adrenaline from page one. This is urban fantasy with teeth. Creatures lurk everywhere, and “aura” isn’t just a vibe, it’s a tangible magical trail that adds a fun twist to the worldbuilding.
👏 The writing leans witty and self-aware, with just enough bite to keep things sharp. Raine makes for a compelling lead. She’s funny without trying too hard, weighed down by guilt and trauma, and constantly wrestling for control over the monster inside her. That tension gives her arc real momentum.
🍯 Scene-stealer award goes to Brenden, the sweet, slightly chaotic grandpa with dementia. Equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking, he brings a surprising emotional depth that lingers.
💛 And then there’s Remy. Confident, capable, and just a little too used to getting his way. He steps in whether Raine wants him to or not, armed with power, resources, and libraries to spare! 📚 Cue Belle with books moment!
💫 The pacing moves fast and rarely lets up, hopping across settings while layering action, magic, (romance scenes that I skipped) and character growth. By the time everything clicks into place, the payoff feels earned and satisfying.
A fun, sharp, and emotionally charged ride that balances humor with darker edges. 4.5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance reader copy.
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.
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!
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!
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
You can find this review of A Curse of Beasts and Magic on my blog, Heart's Content!
The biggest, most grateful, shoutout to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a complimentary ALC in exchange for an honest review!
I’m going to split the review into two. The large portion of the review is going to be focused on the book—plot, world-building, pace etc—and the concluding portion is going to cover the nature of the audiobook—how well it was narrated, character voices and their accents etc. Please bear with me, this is only my second audiobook review.
You may scroll to the bottom if you’re curious about the narrator’s performance, or stick to the first half if you’re interested in reading the book.
(Unnecessary Anecdote and Unsolicited Advice Column Commences)
Audiobooks have appeared in my life only quite recently. I’ve never felt I had the ability to sustain listening to a story as focused and comfortably as when I read. I’ve found my attention generally drifts and sadly gave up on it. If you’re like me, I want to assure you, you’ll get there! I started with listening to books that I’ve already read and loved before, so listening to it came easier because it removed the pressure of having to focus. However, in time, my mind learned to enjoy listening without getting distracted and today I stand upon this hill of victory, having listened to a book I hadn’t already read before and enjoyed it immensely without a single problem!
(Unnecessary Anecdote and Unsolicited Advice Column Concludes)
I love, love, loved the theme of this book so much! If you love the movie Venom, you should read this book. While yes, I admit it’s not the same, there are some things about it that will remind you of Venom! Love Venom. LOVE Venom! Can you tell I love Venom? Circling back, this book brings such a new and unique concept to the table and I utterly enjoyed the journey the author takes us on in this addictive, action-filled, humorous and emotional tale filled with grit, pain and magic!
The first aspect in any book a reader interacts with is always the writing; it’s what pulls you in, keeps you coming back for more and causes you to build emotional bonds with a book, a series or even just a single character. So much so, that these words on a page become an obsession; they take over your world, run in the back of your mind constantly and help you grow, introspect and cause you to feel a wide range of emotions that will likely stay with you for the rest of your life. In case you happen to follow me, you would know my life was taken over by This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews and I slipped invariably into the most brutal slump of my blogging career because I couldn’t find a book that captured my interest as thoroughly after that.
Enter A Curse of Beasts and Magic. *confetti*
My bubble of pain and strife was gloriously destroyed by Frost’s writing. Gosh, I’m so grateful to have been so wonderfully drawn in by the storytelling, the emotions and situation of her protagonist in ACoBaM.
There was just something so immediately entrancing about ACoBaM that lures you straight into the world and the author does a fantastic job building her world from the very moment the book starts. It was a concept that was so simple, but explaining it and expanding on it is what adds the complexities and layers to the story. I enjoyed that the author took her time to reveal the rules and ways of the mystic world and I think it helped me, as a reader, settle into the story easier and with lesser pressure of having to assimilate several things at once. I wonder if some of the beings in this story are purely from Frost’s mind or if they exist in some cultures in similar forms and are inspirations the author has drawn from a little and then made her own. Either way, I enjoyed not feeling like I’ve seen or read this exact scene, scenario or set-up before and got to truly enjoy a book without knowing or being able to guess where the author is leading us. While, yes, of course everyone is influenced by something and that inspiration is often the seed that they nurture and grow into something that is usually very different from what the original is. But sometimes, when the result doesn’t differ from the original, I struggle to read the exact theme, scene and/or plot arc again. ACoBaM was a breath of fresh air in this regard and I’m so grateful I had the chance to read it!
The characters in ACoBaM are as much a pillar of strength and support for the book as any of the other important elements and I enjoyed every single chapter that explored and revealed their personalities, unique roles in the story and the main characters’ lives. I would say the book has just the right amount of characters that arrived at perfectly spaced intervals with very clear divisions of who they are and what their presence means for the story. With regard to the FMC and the MMC, I think they are best experienced and understood by each reader on their own and in their own time. I personally enjoyed the way who they were—the aspects that the readers cannot know simply because of the nature of how new the world is to us—is revealed in time and only after those traits are first witnessed on scene.
The best part of ACoBam is that it takes its time to build, establish and reinforce steadily, the nature of its world, characters, set-up and stakes. This means that the plot builds slowly underneath all of this, without making a single peep, until we’re at the end of the book and we realise the author has just began to weave what could just be an extremely interesting, thrilling and addictive story. I personally cannot wait to see how far and how much more this story is going to expand and where and how far Frost is going to take us in this journey.
The pace in ACoBaM was extremely even—dare I say, fast—and practically flew by me. Before I realized, I was at the 80% mark, upset that it was almost over, because I wasn’t ready for this book that had smashed the slump that was dragging me to the depths of book-reader hell, to smithereens. But alas, all things must end, no matter how good they are. *falls back in dramatic denial*
I do believe if you’ve come this far into my review, you would’ve likely guessed my rating for this book. Five stars, in case you’d like to roll your eyes and say, “Yeah, I can tell, get to the audiobook part already!” while throwing popcorn at your screen.
Now, to the part that everyone is clearly in toe trembling anticipation for: my review for the audiobook itself!
The narrator has done such a fantastic job in my opinion, in capturing the voices of the characters. I generally love female narrators, and when there’s an additional accent added to the character’s dialogue or a personality quick or a change in tone influenced by a situation, I’m usually left squealing in delight and I believe Tavia Gilbert has truly delivered an experience worthy of Frost‘s writing.
From my observation, what can be a little disorienting is if/when narrators accidentally flip narrative voices, or forget to keep following the same style with one character’s voice throughout the whole story. It makes the listener lose a little bit of the thread on who’s saying what and I personally get a bit caught up in that moment when I don’t have a physical copy to check against. However, Gilbert was fantastic at the consistent representation of the characters, never forgetting to instil their emotions into their dialogues and voices, disregarding how many characters needed to be narrated for in a multiple-character scene moment.
All in all, this book was the perfect story to get lost into and despite only being an amateur listener, the audiobook held my attention from start to finish!
The biggest, most grateful, shoutout to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a complimentary ALC in exchange for an honest review!
I’m going to split the review into two. The large portion of the review is going to be focused on the book—plot, world-building, pace etc—and the concluding portion is going to cover the nature of the audiobook—how well it was narrated, character voices and their accents etc. Please bear with me, this is only my second audiobook review.
You may scroll to the bottom if you’re curious about the narrator’s performance, or stick to the first half if you’re interested in reading the book.
(Unnecessary Anecdote and Unsolicited Advice Column Commences)
Audiobooks have appeared in my life only quite recently. I’ve never felt I had the ability to sustain listening to a story as focused and comfortably as when I read. I’ve found my attention generally drifts and sadly gave up on it. If you’re like me, I want to assure you, you’ll get there! I started with listening to books that I’ve already read and loved before, so listening to it came easier because it removed the pressure of having to focus. However, in time, my mind learned to enjoy listening without getting distracted and today I stand upon this hill of victory, having listened to a book I hadn’t already read before and enjoyed it immensely without a single problem!
(Unnecessary Anecdote and Unsolicited Advice Column Concludes)
I love, love, loved the theme of this book so much! If you love the movie Venom, you should read this book. While yes, I admit it’s not the same, there are some things about it that will remind you of Venom! Love Venom. LOVE Venom! Can you tell I love Venom? Circling back, this book brings such a new and unique concept to the table and I utterly enjoyed the journey the author takes us on in this addictive, action-filled, humorous and emotional tale filled with grit, pain and magic!
The first aspect in any book a reader interacts with is always the writing; it’s what pulls you in, keeps you coming back for more and causes you to build emotional bonds with a book, a series or even just a single character. So much so, that these words on a page become an obsession; they take over your world, run in the back of your mind constantly and help you grow, introspect and cause you to feel a wide range of emotions that will likely stay with you for the rest of your life. In case you happen to follow me, you would know my life was taken over by This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews and I slipped invariably into the most brutal slump of my blogging career because I couldn’t find a book that captured my interest as thoroughly after that.
Enter A Curse of Beasts and Magic. *confetti*
My bubble of pain and strife was gloriously destroyed by Frost’s writing. Gosh, I’m so grateful to have been so wonderfully drawn in by the storytelling, the emotions and situation of her protagonist in ACoBaM.
There was just something so immediately entrancing about ACoBaM that lures you straight into the world and the author does a fantastic job building her world from the very moment the book starts. It was a concept that was so simple, but explaining it and expanding on it is what adds the complexities and layers to the story. I enjoyed that the author took her time to reveal the rules and ways of the mystic world and I think it helped me, as a reader, settle into the story easier and with lesser pressure of having to assimilate several things at once. I wonder if some of the beings in this story are purely from Frost’s mind or if they exist in some cultures in similar forms and are inspirations the author has drawn from a little and then made her own. Either way, I enjoyed not feeling like I’ve seen or read this exact scene, scenario or set-up before and got to truly enjoy a book without knowing or being able to guess where the author is leading us. While, yes, of course everyone is influenced by something and that inspiration is often the seed that they nurture and grow into something that is usually very different from what the original is. But sometimes, when the result doesn’t differ from the original, I struggle to read the exact theme, scene and/or plot arc again. ACoBaM was a breath of fresh air in this regard and I’m so grateful I had the chance to read it!
The characters in ACoBaM are as much a pillar of strength and support for the book as any of the other important elements and I enjoyed every single chapter that explored and revealed their personalities, unique roles in the story and the main characters’ lives. I would say the book has just the right amount of characters that arrived at perfectly spaced intervals with very clear divisions of who they are and what their presence means for the story. With regard to the FMC and the MMC, I think they are best experienced and understood by each reader on their own and in their own time. I personally enjoyed the way who they were—the aspects that the readers cannot know simply because of the nature of how new the world is to us—is revealed in time and only after those traits are first witnessed on scene.
The best part of ACoBam is that it takes its time to build, establish and reinforce steadily, the nature of its world, characters, set-up and stakes. This means that the plot builds slowly underneath all of this, without making a single peep, until we’re at the end of the book and we realise the author has just began to weave what could just be an extremely interesting, thrilling and addictive story. I personally cannot wait to see how far and how much more this story is going to expand and where and how far Frost is going to take us in this journey.
The pace in ACoBaM was extremely even—dare I say, fast—and practically flew by me. Before I realized, I was at the 80% mark, upset that it was almost over, because I wasn’t ready for this book that had smashed the slump that was dragging me to the depths of book-reader hell, to smithereens. But alas, all things must end, no matter how good they are. *falls back in dramatic denial*
I do believe if you’ve come this far into my review, you would’ve likely guessed my rating for this book. Five stars, in case you’d like to roll your eyes and say, “Yeah, I can tell, get to the audiobook part already!” while throwing popcorn at your screen.
Now, to the part that everyone is clearly in toe trembling anticipation for: my review for the audiobook itself!
The narrator has done such a fantastic job in my opinion, in capturing the voices of the characters. I generally love female narrators, and when there’s an additional accent added to the character’s dialogue or a personality quick or a change in tone influenced by a situation, I’m usually left squealing in delight and I believe Tavia Gilbert has truly delivered an experience worthy of Frost‘s writing.
From my observation, what can be a little disorienting is if/when narrators accidentally flip narrative voices, or forget to keep following the same style with one character’s voice throughout the whole story. It makes the listener lose a little bit of the thread on who’s saying what and I personally get a bit caught up in that moment when I don’t have a physical copy to check against. However, Gilbert was fantastic at the consistent representation of the characters, never forgetting to instil their emotions into their dialogues and voices, disregarding how many characters needed to be narrated for in a multiple-character scene moment.
All in all, this book was the perfect story to get lost into and despite only being an amateur listener, the audiobook held my attention from start to finish!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It’s safe to say that the Night Huntress series is one of my all time favorites, so when I saw Jeaniene Frost is starting a new series?? Instant YES!!!
I don’t even care that this one isn’t about vampires. It’s her writing. I love it and I trust it.
And OMG… THIS is how you do a retelling. (the beauty is the beast)
As the blurb says, our FMC, Raine, survived a horrific attack years ago that killed her family, but she didn’t walk away untouched. She’s been living with a Beast inside her ever since, trying to control it and keep it from hurting innocent people.
By day, she’s a nurse. By night… she lets the Beast feed just enough to stay contained.
Everything changes when she saves an elderly man from an attack, using the Beast’s power and then healing him. That moment opens the door to everything. Danger, secrets, supernatural politics… and answers she’s been searching for, even the ones she might not have wanted.
Enter Remy.
The man is powerful, protective and very much in control of the territory Raine been living on for the past few months. He’s the Warden, the one who keeps supernatural creatures in check, and of course… their first interactions are not exactly smooth.
But once they strike an alliance? Ohhh things escalate.
The tension, the chemistry, the build-up… YES. And when it delivers, it DELIVERS.
On top of that, we get assassination attempts, kidnappings, power struggles… this book kept me hooked from start to finish.
I listened to the audiobook and… yep... I finished it in one go. Started listening, blinked and suddenly it was 5 am. I'm writing this review at 5:30 am.
My only complaint? I wish we had double POV because I need to know what Remy thinks about everything. And ofc, I need book 2. Like yesterday!!! Especially after that ending… I already know the next installment is going to be pure chaos.
⭐ 5 star for obvious reasons :D
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
I don’t even care that this one isn’t about vampires. It’s her writing. I love it and I trust it.
And OMG… THIS is how you do a retelling. (the beauty is the beast)
As the blurb says, our FMC, Raine, survived a horrific attack years ago that killed her family, but she didn’t walk away untouched. She’s been living with a Beast inside her ever since, trying to control it and keep it from hurting innocent people.
By day, she’s a nurse. By night… she lets the Beast feed just enough to stay contained.
Everything changes when she saves an elderly man from an attack, using the Beast’s power and then healing him. That moment opens the door to everything. Danger, secrets, supernatural politics… and answers she’s been searching for, even the ones she might not have wanted.
Enter Remy.
The man is powerful, protective and very much in control of the territory Raine been living on for the past few months. He’s the Warden, the one who keeps supernatural creatures in check, and of course… their first interactions are not exactly smooth.
But once they strike an alliance? Ohhh things escalate.
The tension, the chemistry, the build-up… YES. And when it delivers, it DELIVERS.
On top of that, we get assassination attempts, kidnappings, power struggles… this book kept me hooked from start to finish.
I listened to the audiobook and… yep... I finished it in one go. Started listening, blinked and suddenly it was 5 am. I'm writing this review at 5:30 am.
My only complaint? I wish we had double POV because I need to know what Remy thinks about everything. And ofc, I need book 2. Like yesterday!!! Especially after that ending… I already know the next installment is going to be pure chaos.
⭐ 5 star for obvious reasons :D
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
May 22, 2026
This was the definition of a good time.
Hot & fun. Didn’t take itself too seriously. Plot was plotting (with some legit surprises!), dialogue was great, spice was 🥵. Quintessential vibe read.
I LOVE a paranormal audiobook when I know I have a busy-ish day and will be slightly multitasking on my listening. There’s no world you need to watch get built, just a few rules to understand and you’re off to the races.
Also, this premise of beauty but make her the beast? Loved it. It was giving me all the best of like, werewolf or other animal transformation / Frankenstein-esque stories. I also loved the fake dating setup. Those two tropes alone never fail to hit for me, and this was no exception.
🎧 I ended up doing this one entirely on audiobook and Tavia Gilbert was fantastic. Loved all of her mail voices and she nailed all the dramatic moments. Kept me engaged the entire time.
Highly recommend for an easy, fun read!
Thank you Bramble & Macmillan Audio for the ARC/ALC!
Hot & fun. Didn’t take itself too seriously. Plot was plotting (with some legit surprises!), dialogue was great, spice was 🥵. Quintessential vibe read.
I LOVE a paranormal audiobook when I know I have a busy-ish day and will be slightly multitasking on my listening. There’s no world you need to watch get built, just a few rules to understand and you’re off to the races.
Also, this premise of beauty but make her the beast? Loved it. It was giving me all the best of like, werewolf or other animal transformation / Frankenstein-esque stories. I also loved the fake dating setup. Those two tropes alone never fail to hit for me, and this was no exception.
🎧 I ended up doing this one entirely on audiobook and Tavia Gilbert was fantastic. Loved all of her mail voices and she nailed all the dramatic moments. Kept me engaged the entire time.
Highly recommend for an easy, fun read!
Thank you Bramble & Macmillan Audio for the ARC/ALC!
May 15, 2026
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC!
I really wanted to love this one, especially because I’ve enjoyed this author’s other series so much, but unfortunately it just didn’t land for me.
There’s a lot of potential in the premise—a hidden beast, a fractured world of mythic creatures, a reluctant alliance—but the execution felt messy and hard to follow. I struggled to understand what the actual plot was meant to be at times, and the magic system needed far more clarity and structure to really ground the story.
The romance also didn’t work for me. I never felt a genuine connection between the FMC and MMC, so the relationship fell flat instead of feeling intense or believable. Even the more spicy moments didn’t really land and felt underwhelming rather than impactful.
Overall, this ended up being a disappointing read for me. I wanted depth, tension, and emotional payoff, but instead I felt confused and disconnected from both the story and the characters.
I really wanted to love this one, especially because I’ve enjoyed this author’s other series so much, but unfortunately it just didn’t land for me.
There’s a lot of potential in the premise—a hidden beast, a fractured world of mythic creatures, a reluctant alliance—but the execution felt messy and hard to follow. I struggled to understand what the actual plot was meant to be at times, and the magic system needed far more clarity and structure to really ground the story.
The romance also didn’t work for me. I never felt a genuine connection between the FMC and MMC, so the relationship fell flat instead of feeling intense or believable. Even the more spicy moments didn’t really land and felt underwhelming rather than impactful.
Overall, this ended up being a disappointing read for me. I wanted depth, tension, and emotional payoff, but instead I felt confused and disconnected from both the story and the characters.
May 19, 2026
This was a fun and fast paced urban fantasy/paranormal romance read.
I enjoyed the twist on the standard Beauty and the Beast retelling, as Raine, the “beauty” FMC and trauma nurse, turns out to be the Beast. I appreciated the rawness and vulnerability of her character, as she struggles with her trauma, her guilt, and her (literal) inner monster, while being selfless in trying to protect those around her and rid the world of some of the darkness. Raines' unique method for "feeding" the beast inside of her was also refreshing and really improved my interest for the storyline overall.
Remington (Remy) is the broody MMC and the warden of the hidden supernatural world, helping to keep the dangerous creatures at bay and navigating politics with other species and realms. I felt like I needed more from Remy, he often felt guarded, secretive and hard to read, so I hope we get that in book two. Remy’s grandfather, Brendan, was an absolute delight and I felt like his character really highlighted some of the challenges and emotional responses that can come with dementia.
The author sets up a strong fake dating situation early in the book, which had me excited for Raine and Remy’s character growth. However, their relationship moves very quickly, which in a few instances, had me wishing it would have been more of a slow burn, so that the tension, banter, and trust could develop more naturally. I also wished that the overall world building and magic system would have been explored more in depth, as there were a few times when I found myself not as invested as I feel I could have been if I had learned more about a character or plot point. Regardless, none of this stopped me from enjoying the book, the characters, and wanting to read the next book. I’d love it if we got dual POV between Raine and Remy in the next book!
The audiobook is a must listen, as Tavia Gilbert did a fantastic job bringing all the characters to life, while balancing the fast-moving pace of the plot with inflection and emotion.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley and Jeaniene Frost for the ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I enjoyed the twist on the standard Beauty and the Beast retelling, as Raine, the “beauty” FMC and trauma nurse, turns out to be the Beast. I appreciated the rawness and vulnerability of her character, as she struggles with her trauma, her guilt, and her (literal) inner monster, while being selfless in trying to protect those around her and rid the world of some of the darkness. Raines' unique method for "feeding" the beast inside of her was also refreshing and really improved my interest for the storyline overall.
Remington (Remy) is the broody MMC and the warden of the hidden supernatural world, helping to keep the dangerous creatures at bay and navigating politics with other species and realms. I felt like I needed more from Remy, he often felt guarded, secretive and hard to read, so I hope we get that in book two. Remy’s grandfather, Brendan, was an absolute delight and I felt like his character really highlighted some of the challenges and emotional responses that can come with dementia.
The author sets up a strong fake dating situation early in the book, which had me excited for Raine and Remy’s character growth. However, their relationship moves very quickly, which in a few instances, had me wishing it would have been more of a slow burn, so that the tension, banter, and trust could develop more naturally. I also wished that the overall world building and magic system would have been explored more in depth, as there were a few times when I found myself not as invested as I feel I could have been if I had learned more about a character or plot point. Regardless, none of this stopped me from enjoying the book, the characters, and wanting to read the next book. I’d love it if we got dual POV between Raine and Remy in the next book!
The audiobook is a must listen, as Tavia Gilbert did a fantastic job bringing all the characters to life, while balancing the fast-moving pace of the plot with inflection and emotion.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley and Jeaniene Frost for the ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 19, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Back in the mid-2000s, I went through a HUGE paranormal/urban fantasy phase, and the Night Huntress series was one of my all-time favorites. So when I was invited to listen to Jeaniene Frost’s latest book, I couldn’t hit play fast enough.
A Curse of Beasts and Magic is the beginning of a new series and introduces us to Raine and Remy, who are poised to become the next Cat and Bones. This reimagining of Beauty and the Beast starts out as classic urban fantasy but gradually shifts into full fantasy territory. I loved the world-building and the introduction to all the different realms and creatures, and it never felt like an info dump. We discover the world alongside Raine, the Belle of the story, who has been hosting a Beast for the past twelve years. When she meets Remy, the warden of one of the Northeast territories, they must join forces to uncover who’s behind the attempts to dethrone him.
I absolutely loved the story and how fast-paced it was, although I would’ve preferred the romance to develop a bit more slowly instead of feeling so insta-lovey. After that cliffhanger, I can’t wait to see where the next book goes.
The narration adds greatly to the book’s bingeable quality. Tavia Gilbert masterfully voices all the characters, and her male voices are some of the best you’ll find in the audiobook world.
A super entertaining read that reminded me why I used to love the genre, and hopefully the beginning of many stories featuring what might become another one of my favorite urban fantasy couples.
Back in the mid-2000s, I went through a HUGE paranormal/urban fantasy phase, and the Night Huntress series was one of my all-time favorites. So when I was invited to listen to Jeaniene Frost’s latest book, I couldn’t hit play fast enough.
A Curse of Beasts and Magic is the beginning of a new series and introduces us to Raine and Remy, who are poised to become the next Cat and Bones. This reimagining of Beauty and the Beast starts out as classic urban fantasy but gradually shifts into full fantasy territory. I loved the world-building and the introduction to all the different realms and creatures, and it never felt like an info dump. We discover the world alongside Raine, the Belle of the story, who has been hosting a Beast for the past twelve years. When she meets Remy, the warden of one of the Northeast territories, they must join forces to uncover who’s behind the attempts to dethrone him.
I absolutely loved the story and how fast-paced it was, although I would’ve preferred the romance to develop a bit more slowly instead of feeling so insta-lovey. After that cliffhanger, I can’t wait to see where the next book goes.
The narration adds greatly to the book’s bingeable quality. Tavia Gilbert masterfully voices all the characters, and her male voices are some of the best you’ll find in the audiobook world.
A super entertaining read that reminded me why I used to love the genre, and hopefully the beginning of many stories featuring what might become another one of my favorite urban fantasy couples.
May 19, 2026
Thank you MacMillan Audio for the alc.
I really really wanted to love this!
She has a beast inside her and we start off with her hunting down bad guys to save people. Like that is such a baddie fmc. 👌🔥
But somewhere along the ride, she ends up being this insufferable character I didn't like. She just falls for Remington like that.
I also thought their romance was blah. Like the chemistry wasn't there. It felt manufactured.
Idk....the plot felt messy and lost. Characters were thrown into conflict randomly.
By the end, I was listening to this at 3x speed just to finish it.
The narrator was great though! It was one of the only reasons I managed to push to the end.
I really really wanted to love this!
She has a beast inside her and we start off with her hunting down bad guys to save people. Like that is such a baddie fmc. 👌🔥
But somewhere along the ride, she ends up being this insufferable character I didn't like. She just falls for Remington like that.
I also thought their romance was blah. Like the chemistry wasn't there. It felt manufactured.
Idk....the plot felt messy and lost. Characters were thrown into conflict randomly.
By the end, I was listening to this at 3x speed just to finish it.
The narrator was great though! It was one of the only reasons I managed to push to the end.
January 26, 2026
Review to come.
May 13, 2026
3.5 Stars
I enjoyed it but I feel like I was missing just a little something to the overall voice and vibe, something I KNOW Jeaniene Frost can do because I love many of her other books. A tantalizing spark. However, maybe it was the audiobook that put me off. I’ve never done one of Frost’s books on audio and I didn’t love the delivery of the MMC here or even the overall delivery of characters… so, I need to switch to physical books going forward.
Otherwise, it’s snappy and fun, but also melodramatic and emotionally fraught. Bit of banter and antagonists to lovers action and several other fun tropes to play with. Raine and Remington have a decent romantic dynamic but I think it was missing a step between annoyance and attraction. It’s hard to pinpoint though. I need more from Remy (?).
For all the magic and creatures and even a realm jump, this urban fantasy is very contained. There’s still a lot to build on and explore. Which, along with the great secondary characters, intrigues me enough to need more. I’ll definitely jump on book 2.
* I received a free audiobook via netgalley
I enjoyed it but I feel like I was missing just a little something to the overall voice and vibe, something I KNOW Jeaniene Frost can do because I love many of her other books. A tantalizing spark. However, maybe it was the audiobook that put me off. I’ve never done one of Frost’s books on audio and I didn’t love the delivery of the MMC here or even the overall delivery of characters… so, I need to switch to physical books going forward.
Otherwise, it’s snappy and fun, but also melodramatic and emotionally fraught. Bit of banter and antagonists to lovers action and several other fun tropes to play with. Raine and Remington have a decent romantic dynamic but I think it was missing a step between annoyance and attraction. It’s hard to pinpoint though. I need more from Remy (?).
For all the magic and creatures and even a realm jump, this urban fantasy is very contained. There’s still a lot to build on and explore. Which, along with the great secondary characters, intrigues me enough to need more. I’ll definitely jump on book 2.
* I received a free audiobook via netgalley
Want to Read
January 7, 2026"Beauty and the Beast (gender-flipped) meets The Witcher"
April 21, 2026
Who knew I was part beast, because I devoured this with a ferocity I didn’t know I had in me. My husband literally had to shame me into pausing my audiobook and engaging with the living. I then desperately sought out an advanced reader copy so I could keep going, albeit covertly. This is not normal for me.
I truly was not expecting to love this as much as I did, but WOW. I feel like I didn’t even fully understand the plot when I started, and somehow that didn’t matter in the slightest. Honestly, I’m starting to question my reading comprehension skills and/or memory, because I was constantly surprised and delighted by everything happening on the page.
I wasn’t expecting fake dating, but I was tickled fucking pink when that particular plot device appeared. I also wasn’t expecting our FMC to be a total badass. Also tickled pink.
And I definitely thought this was going to be straightforward urban fantasy, but there are entire other worlds to explore, complete with giant snail taxis and other fantastical things.
Possible love triangle in the sequel, who knows, Jeaniene can do no wrong, and I am fully seated for this series. Already anxiously concerned that we don’t even have a “TBD Book Two” placeholder on Goodreads yet. I don’t need a title. I don’t need a cover. I don’t even need a vague release window. I just need the faintest whisper, the merest hint, that book two will eventually at some point be birthed into existence. And yes, I fully understand how deranged it is for me to be worrying about book two when book one hasn’t even been published yet, but I blame the beast.
Tavia Gilbert, our narrator, deserves all the best things in life for the myriad of accents she pulled out for this one. As previously established, I could not stop listening.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listener copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
I truly was not expecting to love this as much as I did, but WOW. I feel like I didn’t even fully understand the plot when I started, and somehow that didn’t matter in the slightest. Honestly, I’m starting to question my reading comprehension skills and/or memory, because I was constantly surprised and delighted by everything happening on the page.
I wasn’t expecting fake dating, but I was tickled fucking pink when that particular plot device appeared. I also wasn’t expecting our FMC to be a total badass. Also tickled pink.
And I definitely thought this was going to be straightforward urban fantasy, but there are entire other worlds to explore, complete with giant snail taxis and other fantastical things.
Possible love triangle in the sequel, who knows, Jeaniene can do no wrong, and I am fully seated for this series. Already anxiously concerned that we don’t even have a “TBD Book Two” placeholder on Goodreads yet. I don’t need a title. I don’t need a cover. I don’t even need a vague release window. I just need the faintest whisper, the merest hint, that book two will eventually at some point be birthed into existence. And yes, I fully understand how deranged it is for me to be worrying about book two when book one hasn’t even been published yet, but I blame the beast.
Tavia Gilbert, our narrator, deserves all the best things in life for the myriad of accents she pulled out for this one. As previously established, I could not stop listening.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listener copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
May 15, 2026
This is an interesting take and reimagining on Beauty and the Beast where the FMC is the beauty...and literally the beast. When Raine was a little girl she was the sole survivor of an attack on a camp ground that basically took her family. Now she works as an ER nurse to help feed her beast and try to keep it some what under control...if you could call it that.
Remington, aka Remy, is our MMC. He is the Warden and he guard the gateway between the realm that keeps deadly mythical creatures from the human world. He has also been searching for the beast.
I found the world building interesting. It has been quite some time since I have read a Jeaniene Frost book and I found that reading this first book from a new series from her makes me want to go back and reacquaint myself with her writing some more. Raine is a baddie. She is a nurse, she is strong and finds her way to make it work. She really is a resilient character and it was nice change of pace. I loved Remy as well he kinda like a batman type character. Billionaire, not really superhero but make sure his area stays safe from the supernatural creatures. I loved the banter between Remy and Raine. We do have forced proximity, fake dating, and that enemies to lovers trope that I think everyone will generally have a good time with.
Tavia Gilbert did a great job with the audio. She has a vast variety of voices she uses in this audio that keeps it interesting and really brings personality to the audio. It made it easy to listen tot eh audio and bring each individual character to life. I will say the pacing of the book is fast and I feel like her narration is pretty fast as well. I had the audio on what is my normal speed and sometimes it felt faster than usual. But it was still easy for me to understand and enjoy.
I can't wait for the next book!
Thank you to Macmillan audio for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Remington, aka Remy, is our MMC. He is the Warden and he guard the gateway between the realm that keeps deadly mythical creatures from the human world. He has also been searching for the beast.
I found the world building interesting. It has been quite some time since I have read a Jeaniene Frost book and I found that reading this first book from a new series from her makes me want to go back and reacquaint myself with her writing some more. Raine is a baddie. She is a nurse, she is strong and finds her way to make it work. She really is a resilient character and it was nice change of pace. I loved Remy as well he kinda like a batman type character. Billionaire, not really superhero but make sure his area stays safe from the supernatural creatures. I loved the banter between Remy and Raine. We do have forced proximity, fake dating, and that enemies to lovers trope that I think everyone will generally have a good time with.
Tavia Gilbert did a great job with the audio. She has a vast variety of voices she uses in this audio that keeps it interesting and really brings personality to the audio. It made it easy to listen tot eh audio and bring each individual character to life. I will say the pacing of the book is fast and I feel like her narration is pretty fast as well. I had the audio on what is my normal speed and sometimes it felt faster than usual. But it was still easy for me to understand and enjoy.
I can't wait for the next book!
Thank you to Macmillan audio for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read
April 16, 2026Firstly, thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC
This one completely stole my heart. The moment I spotted it on NetGalley, I had a feeling it would be my kind of read… and wow, it absolutely delivered.
From page one, I was hooked. We follow Raine, an ER nurse with a haunting past—after surviving a brutal beast attack that took her mother and grandmother, she’s been living with something dark inside her ever since. And not just metaphorically. She literally feeds this beast by hunting dark souls, guided by the auras she can read. Tell me that isn’t already such a killer premise?
Things really take off when she intervenes in an abduction and ends up crossing paths with Remington “Remy” Remington—the warden of a hidden supernatural world. Yes, that kind of world. Secret creatures, magic, power structures… all the good stuff. And when a fake engagement enters the chat?? I was DONE. I will always show up for that trope.
Raine’s journey into this new world was everything I wanted—tense, immersive, and full of moral gray areas. Watching her navigate whether her inner beast is a weapon or a weakness kept me glued to the story. And Remy? The chemistry??? It felt so natural and compelling, especially with the added tension of how much he can actually protect someone as powerful (and dangerous) as Raine?
The audiobook experience was incredible—I devoured it. The narration pulled me even deeper into the story, and I genuinely didn’t want to stop listening. It gave me subtle Beauty and the Beast vibes, but flipped in such a fresh, unexpected way.
✨ Fast-paced
✨ Addictive characters
✨ A magic system that’s easy to grasp but still intriguing
✨ Twists I did not see coming
✨ And THAT cliffhanger 😭
This is 100% a reread (and relisten) for me. If you love supernatural romance with bite, tension, and a touch of darkness—you need this on your radar.
This one completely stole my heart. The moment I spotted it on NetGalley, I had a feeling it would be my kind of read… and wow, it absolutely delivered.
From page one, I was hooked. We follow Raine, an ER nurse with a haunting past—after surviving a brutal beast attack that took her mother and grandmother, she’s been living with something dark inside her ever since. And not just metaphorically. She literally feeds this beast by hunting dark souls, guided by the auras she can read. Tell me that isn’t already such a killer premise?
Things really take off when she intervenes in an abduction and ends up crossing paths with Remington “Remy” Remington—the warden of a hidden supernatural world. Yes, that kind of world. Secret creatures, magic, power structures… all the good stuff. And when a fake engagement enters the chat?? I was DONE. I will always show up for that trope.
Raine’s journey into this new world was everything I wanted—tense, immersive, and full of moral gray areas. Watching her navigate whether her inner beast is a weapon or a weakness kept me glued to the story. And Remy? The chemistry??? It felt so natural and compelling, especially with the added tension of how much he can actually protect someone as powerful (and dangerous) as Raine?
The audiobook experience was incredible—I devoured it. The narration pulled me even deeper into the story, and I genuinely didn’t want to stop listening. It gave me subtle Beauty and the Beast vibes, but flipped in such a fresh, unexpected way.
✨ Fast-paced
✨ Addictive characters
✨ A magic system that’s easy to grasp but still intriguing
✨ Twists I did not see coming
✨ And THAT cliffhanger 😭
This is 100% a reread (and relisten) for me. If you love supernatural romance with bite, tension, and a touch of darkness—you need this on your radar.
May 9, 2026
Um, well, this was fantastic! I’m going to be completely honest and thought this would be another generic romantasy based on the cover art alone. I’m so glad I gave it a chance because what the heck was that and why do I have to wait for the next book?
Frost does not slowly easy you into the story, you are immediately immersed in the harrowing life of Raine Stone. That would usually make a quick dnf for me, but the action is non stop so I kept reading. Raine has a beast inside of her that feeds off negativity, but really wants blood. She’s kept the beast controlled for 11 years, but sometimes it still takes over. The beasts takes over when she’s feeding, she saves an elderly gentleman because of it, and meets Remy, a Warden who guards the gates between our world and the fantastical realm. Raine accidentally invaded on his territory and is forced to ally with him.
Remy is a broody MMC, but gosh darn it he’s as addictive as the plot (which I gobbled up in two days). The magic system and the way the world works in this book are fun and unique - because what do you mean dragons walk among us? And the spice is spicy and actually well written. Overall, I’m obsessed with this story and need to know what happens next!
The narrator was fantastic. Her voice was in a lower register so the male characters didn’t seem “off.” She read with a ton of emotion, but didn’t overdo it.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC!
Frost does not slowly easy you into the story, you are immediately immersed in the harrowing life of Raine Stone. That would usually make a quick dnf for me, but the action is non stop so I kept reading. Raine has a beast inside of her that feeds off negativity, but really wants blood. She’s kept the beast controlled for 11 years, but sometimes it still takes over. The beasts takes over when she’s feeding, she saves an elderly gentleman because of it, and meets Remy, a Warden who guards the gates between our world and the fantastical realm. Raine accidentally invaded on his territory and is forced to ally with him.
Remy is a broody MMC, but gosh darn it he’s as addictive as the plot (which I gobbled up in two days). The magic system and the way the world works in this book are fun and unique - because what do you mean dragons walk among us? And the spice is spicy and actually well written. Overall, I’m obsessed with this story and need to know what happens next!
The narrator was fantastic. Her voice was in a lower register so the male characters didn’t seem “off.” She read with a ton of emotion, but didn’t overdo it.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC!
May 23, 2026
This was so good! Like soooo good!
I finished it today… is it too early for a reread?
I listened to this one on audiobook and now I really want to read the physical book as well.
Our FMC thinks she is the only one of her kind on this earth. She has lived her life in shame, and not understanding that there are more people in the supernatural world. Which makes sense since she started out as human! I can definitely understand her struggles, but I appreciate it even more that she begins to blossom and come into her own as the story progresses. Sure she said that she wasn’t scared of anything, and that other things should be scared of her however, she was not confident in herself as a person.
I enjoyed our MMC. He’s that perfect mix of morally gray, spicy, and strong touch her and die vibes. He also has had a lot going on in his life, but he was aware of the supernatural world for most of it. I appreciate, but he will do anything to protect his family and his territory. I also like that from early on, he said “I am the monster that protects you now“ honestly, there was so many “worth the moments from him that I don’t want to ruin it for the next reader.
I found this world fascinating. I liked the new magical structure and glimpse into a world and have not seen before. This is paranormal/portal fantasy and I am totally with it. I like how they introduced different magical species along with new magics.
The book didn’t even out yet and I’m ready for the next one. The hook at the end has hooked me congratulations lol
I finished it today… is it too early for a reread?
I listened to this one on audiobook and now I really want to read the physical book as well.
Our FMC thinks she is the only one of her kind on this earth. She has lived her life in shame, and not understanding that there are more people in the supernatural world. Which makes sense since she started out as human! I can definitely understand her struggles, but I appreciate it even more that she begins to blossom and come into her own as the story progresses. Sure she said that she wasn’t scared of anything, and that other things should be scared of her however, she was not confident in herself as a person.
I enjoyed our MMC. He’s that perfect mix of morally gray, spicy, and strong touch her and die vibes. He also has had a lot going on in his life, but he was aware of the supernatural world for most of it. I appreciate, but he will do anything to protect his family and his territory. I also like that from early on, he said “I am the monster that protects you now“ honestly, there was so many “worth the moments from him that I don’t want to ruin it for the next reader.
I found this world fascinating. I liked the new magical structure and glimpse into a world and have not seen before. This is paranormal/portal fantasy and I am totally with it. I like how they introduced different magical species along with new magics.
The book didn’t even out yet and I’m ready for the next one. The hook at the end has hooked me congratulations lol
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First and foremost, can we all appreciate that in this Beauty & the Beast retelling, the Beauty IS the beast?! I really enjoyed the take on the beast and how it was some strange affliction - almost possession - of the FMC. I loved the almost Dexter vibes where she did good in her work and was a sort of vigilante on the side in order to satisfy the murderous side of herself. This also did a good job of blurring the line between fantasy and paranormal. I am more of a fantasy setting girl myself but ACOBAM was surprisingly fun in this setting, and it helped to make this a more unique retelling.
The audiobook is single narration style, performed by Tavia Gilbert and they do a very good job. This book doesn't have a crazy amount of characters so I think it was well suited for a single narrator and I think Tavia did a great job with it. She has a very nice voice and was clear/easy to understand. She did well making the characters easy to distinguish during conversations, and add good tone and emotion to story.
This book is fast-paced and very easy to accidentally binge in one sitting (speaking from experience). It also ended in such a way that I am really interested and eager to continue on.
Thank you for this ALC opportunity! My thoughts are entirely my own.
The audiobook is single narration style, performed by Tavia Gilbert and they do a very good job. This book doesn't have a crazy amount of characters so I think it was well suited for a single narrator and I think Tavia did a great job with it. She has a very nice voice and was clear/easy to understand. She did well making the characters easy to distinguish during conversations, and add good tone and emotion to story.
This book is fast-paced and very easy to accidentally binge in one sitting (speaking from experience). It also ended in such a way that I am really interested and eager to continue on.
Thank you for this ALC opportunity! My thoughts are entirely my own.
April 28, 2026
The Witcher meets Beauty and the Beast had me instantly download this to listen. And Beauty IS the beast?? Instant yes.
Raine tries to do good with her inner beast and only satisfy its all consuming hunger by taking out the villains nearby. Ever cautious, she is less than eager to agree to Remingon's requests that she join him in saving his territory.
The bones of the book are excellent but the execution of it with Tavia Gilbert's voice didn't work for me. I truly think I would have enjoyed this more with a different narrator. Tavia would be excellent with historical fiction or nonfiction. I just couldn't wrap my head around her more mature tone with a fantasy. I will likely try rereading this physically and picking up the second accordingly.
Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the alc. All thoughts are my own.
Raine tries to do good with her inner beast and only satisfy its all consuming hunger by taking out the villains nearby. Ever cautious, she is less than eager to agree to Remingon's requests that she join him in saving his territory.
The bones of the book are excellent but the execution of it with Tavia Gilbert's voice didn't work for me. I truly think I would have enjoyed this more with a different narrator. Tavia would be excellent with historical fiction or nonfiction. I just couldn't wrap my head around her more mature tone with a fantasy. I will likely try rereading this physically and picking up the second accordingly.
Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the alc. All thoughts are my own.
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.
April 16, 2026
I really loved this dark beauty and the beast retelling! Having the FMC be the one who has the beast inside of her was such a fun change to the story and I flew through this audio! Tavia Gilbert did an amazing job narrating this audiobook! I loved the chemistry between Raine and Remy and I can’t wait to see more of them in book two! The ending left me with so many questions and I will be anxiously waiting for the next book! I definitely recommend checking this book out!
Want to Read
April 21, 2026this cover is gorgeous.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
May 3, 2026
I had so much fun with this. And how it ended???
March 2, 2026
This is an excellent combination of everything I love about classic urban fantasy and romantasy. A strong and sacrificing heroine and a slightly morally gray man banter while saving the world.
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