Crown of Thorns: A Dark Fairytale Romance

by Jennifer Rebecca

A dark fairytale reimagining with a morally gray prince, dangerous secrets, and a heroine caught in a web of lies from USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Rebecca. Book 2 in the Royals Secrets & Lies series.
I ran.

When I uncovered the truth of who I really was, my world turned upside down. Not by fate or romance, but by the ruthless schemes of a dangerous man hungry for more power. I thought I could escape. I thought I could go back to the quiet life I once had.

But I was never safe.

They found me. He found me.

Now I have to decide. Do I run again, back to my quiet life or do I trust the man who deceived me? What if the only way to survive is to embrace this crown of thorns?

Sometimes Happily Ever Afters just don’t exist.

The Crown meets Twisted Love in a dark romance of power, betrayal, and dangerous obsession.

The Royals Secrets & Lies series must be read in order.

Book 1: King of Lies

Book 2: Crown of Thorns

Book 3: Save the Queen

Genres: Dark Romance

264 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 17, 2025

About the author

Jennifer is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Claire Goodnite series and the Presidential Affair. She is a native of San Diego, California. She credits her love of books and reading to her mother and her knowledge that real heroes do exist to her dad.

Jennifer is a graduate of California State University San Marcos where she studied Criminology and Justice Studies. She is also a member of Alpha Xi Delta.

She currently lives in East Texas with her husband, Sean, and their three children along with an entire menagerie of lovable but sofa eating animals. She can often be found on the soccer or baseball fields, reading, or wondering what the hell her senior citizens have gotten up to now. Jennifer is convinced that if she puts her fitbit on one of the dogs, she might finally make her step goals.

She loves a great romance, an alpha hero, and lots and lots of laughter.

Reviews

[Jewel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fair story maybe I should have read book 1 to beginning of the story/plot. A lot of push and pull by main characters. I didn’t know whether to love or hate the characters.

[Read All About It · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was full danger and intrigue. These people are crazy evil wrapped up in royalty.

Stella is so innocent and naive that everyone just takes advantage of her.

To tell you the truth I’m not even sure I like Rhys that much. He’s overbearing and a manipulator not that there is anything wrong with an alpha male. This is different.

I really wanted to like this story but good grief you need to give this girl a break. The queen needs to go!!

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad I had a copy of this book waiting for my in my kindle to read as soon as I finished book 1 because I simply don’t think I could’ve waited for release day to read what the hell happened to Stella.
The story picks up where book 1 ends and let’s just says we start with a bang. Things move quickly.
Throughout the book, Stella has to figure out who is truly lying to her and what they’re lying to her about. She also has to protect herself because she’s not in danger. From who, she doesn’t know.
I enjoyed the way that Stella’s relationships with those around her grew as she started to trust more.
Enjoyed the book, until we made it to the end because CLIFF HANGER 😭 I need book 3 already.

[Victoria Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book two in the series. I liked that this book had more of the mystery element woven in. I’m real curious about all of these secrets and I’m hopeful that we’ll get more of that in the next book. It ended on somewhat of a cliffhanger although I kinda felt like it was a good spot to end with perfect buildup to continue the story. Also SUPER SPICY, here for that. Love a red flag literal king. Can’t wait to read the next one 💋

[Sarah LaFata · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a bit dry and slow for me. I just don’t get it very well. Rhys essentially kidnapped Stella and is holding her hostage. He claims he loves her but treats her like complete udder shit. He’s always off doing his own thing until he wants to get in a quick screw. He constantly gaslights Stella and disregards her feelings at every turn. I have a hard time believing that he actually gives a shit about her. This book wasn’t to the point I wanted to DNF, but it was just made me feel meh.

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

CROWN OF THORNS by Jennifer Rebecca
Royals Secrets & Lies Book 2 | Dark Fairytale Romance

✨ A darker, sharper continuation of Stella and Rhys’s story where truth cuts deeper, loyalties fracture, and survival becomes its own kind of fairytale.

After the fallout of King of Lies, Stella wakes in a hospital with Rhys by her side and danger still closing in. Running isn’t an option anymore, not when her identity has been exposed, her past rewritten, and the royal world around her is steeped in manipulation. Stella must choose between retreating to safety or stepping into a power she never asked for, wrapped in a crown she never wanted.

What I Loved:
👑 A darker, more suspense-driven tone that deepens the stakes
🔥 A morally gray prince whose motives remain layered and intense
🕸️ Mystery threads woven tighter, revealing lies without giving everything away
💔 A vulnerable FMC navigating fear, truth, and a world built to exploit her
⚔️ Court intrigue, danger, and shifting alliances that keep momentum strong
❤️‍🔥 A possessive, high-tension dynamic between Stella and Rhys
📈 A strong setup for the final book with a well-timed cliffhanger

Tropes & Elements:
👑 Dark Fairytale Reimagining
🔥 Morally Gray MMC
🕸️ Secrets & Lies
⚡ Power Struggle
🛡️ Possessive Love Interest
🖤 Forced Proximity / Forced Protection
💔 Identity Revealed
✨ Royal Intrigue
🚨 Cliffhanger Ending

Vibe: dark, royal, suspenseful, emotionally charged
Spice: high; intense chemistry with darker edges
For fans of: Twisted Love meets royal politics, obsessive MMCs, and fairytales with sharp thorns

💜 A gripping second installment with danger, passion, and secrets that keep unraveling. I’m ready for Save the Queen to bring all these threads to their breaking point.

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[SusanT62 · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this is the middle book (maybe) of a trilogy. It ends on another cliffhanger similar to the first book.

Stella and Rhys are engaged and preparing for their wedding and coronation. Stella has been subjected to several attempts to kill her. While I liked Rhys in the first book, the Rhys in this one grated on my nerves. He refuses to remove the servants he has had sex with and Stella is forced to interact with his other women. He also uses sex to control Stella. Overall, he comes across as slimy, overly possessive (tracker inserted into Stella) and his claims of love for her — I didn’t believe it. Yup, it was sad that I felt that way.

The story continues with Stella trusting the wrong people and frankly, she is much too good for Rhys. I hope she can escape the cage she finds herself in. Unfortunately, we won’t know as there is another book coming.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crown of Thorns is the long awaited second book of the author’s Royal Secrets and Lies series.
We find MFC Stella in the hospital after the events that ended book one, with MMC Rhys by her side when she awakens.
There is still danger surrounding Stella but all she wants is for Rhys to let her return home and not to the one she now shares with him.
The action and adventure picks up again, and the danger that has never left.
Some of Stella’s questions about Rhys are answered yet many remain and he lets her know in no uncertain terms that she belongs to him, and he is never letting her go.
A good story takes shape with nice writing, entertainment, and good characterizations, filled with passion, and plenty of surprises that keep the story fast and engaging all the way to a cliffhanger ending.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shanna D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crown of Thorns (Book 2 of Royal Secrets & Lies) by Jennifer Rebecca. The story picks up right where the first one left off and again we are tossed into a maze of deception, danger, and tons of drama. I really enjoyed this story and loved Stella and Rhys as a couple.

[Jeanne Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read several books written by Jennifer Rebecca; she is becoming one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of her books.

This is the second book in the Royal Secrets & Lies Series; the story continues from the previous book and needs to be read in order.