Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Cursed Brides

Feathered Beauty: A Swan Lake Retelling

Rate this book
She ran from an arranged marriageonly to find herself being forced into another. In the enemy kingdom, nonetheless.

Augusta Caredelle is a war orphan with a strange curse, on the run from an arranged marriage when she stumbles into the enemy kingdom responsible for her father’s death.

Mistaken for a citizen, she is captured by the king’s men and thrust into a bridal competition for the crown prince.

Her only hope of survival is to fail the trials, because if her true identity is exposed, it will mean execution.

But everything changes when she sees him—the last person she ever expected to find in the enemy’s royal palace.

The man who once held her heart.
The one who promised he would return.
The one she loved even in his absence.

Only… he isn’t who she thought he was.

Betrayal cuts deeper than any blade, and Augusta no longer craves escape. She wants answers. She wants revenge. She wants to torment him, the way his lies torment her.

And when she discovers that the crown prince’s growing interest in her drives him mad with jealousy, she seizes that weapon with both hands.

Once, he was her promise.
Now, he is her enemy.
But some hearts don’t know how to stop burning.



A no-spice retelling of Swan Lake

Swearing 1
Intimacy 2

🥀 Love at first sight > betrayal > hate > reluctant alliance > love
🥀 Stoic/brooding/jealous MMC who YEARNS
🥀 Cursed FMC running from an arranged marriage
🥀 Royal Bridal Selection in the enemy kingdom
🥀 She's forced to partake in the princess competition
🥀 Tests and trials
🥀 Forbidden love
🥀 Angst, hand brushing, and pathetic yearning
🥀 Touch her and die
🥀 Caretaking/tending wounds
🥀 Only one bed
🥀 Animal companions
🥀 Found family


Trigger may contain death of animals or humans, murder, and mentions of blood.




Feathered Beauty is one of the eight novels in the Cursed Brides series, a standalone multi-author collection of no-spice fairytale retellings. Each book in this enchanting series tells the tale of a cursed maiden, who is forced to participate in a royal bridal competition, and of course, finds love. Can be enjoyed in any order!

516 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 14, 2025

15 people are currently reading
102 people want to read

About the author

Karen Daliath

8 books86 followers
Karen Daliath is a Christian young adult who loves her Creator more than anything. She loved reading since she could remember whether they were stories or interesting news articles. Though growing up, fiction conquered her full attention, and she has now barely time for non-fiction.

Unlike most authors and her own sister, Karen wasn’t a fan of writing until the Covid-19 pandemic. She started her writing journey on Wattpad with fanfictions in 2020 and then made her debut on Amazon in 2022. Now, writing is the second-best, most beautiful part of Karen’s life she can’t live without.

Karen writes closed-door romances, both contemporary and fairytale, through which she hopes to share the love of her Christ. She lives with her younger sister (Katelyn Daliath, author of RED ROSE OF ORDELIA) and her parents. When she is not writing, she is lost in a book to escape reality, singing, having bookish talks with her sister, or helping her mom around the house with cooking and cleaning.

More of her beloved book babies are coming in the future, so make sure you follow Karen on Instagram @kjdaliathauthor

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
38 (63%)
4 stars
18 (30%)
3 stars
4 (6%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
Profile Image for Celine  Woo.
5 reviews
October 22, 2025
Book Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

WOW!! What a journey this has been!

I just finished the last page and I can’t stop thinking about this book! A huge thank you to the author for the ARC opportunity—this story was such an experience, and I’m so grateful to have been part of it. ❤️

From the very first page, I was hooked, and I feel like I’ve just experienced something truly special. Watching Augusta grow from someone who is uncomfortable with human interaction and lacks confidence to becoming a strong, smart, and truly empowered person was a journey I was all in for. I honestly felt like a proud sister cheering her on the whole time!

The characters were absolutely fantastic.
Each one felt so unique and well-developed, and I loved how their personalities all came together. But let’s talk about Augusta’s ability to communicate with animals—I mean, instantly falling in love with that aspect.

Now, the romance—oh my goodness. ❤️😍
The slow burn, the tension, the swoon. At first, I wasn’t sure who the actual love interest would be, and let me tell you, the back-and-forth between them, filled with love, hate, and confusion about their feelings, had me on edge the entire time. The confessions (or hate confessions, lol) were everything I wanted, and the plot twist? My heart cannot handle it! The way their emotions evolved felt so real and kept me turning the pages faster than I could process. The twists were so well done, I never saw them coming.

And the villain—WOW. Didn’t see that one coming at all! The villain doesn’t even make an appearance until around 75% of the book, but when they do…everything clicks into place in such an unexpected and satisfying way. I was seriously impressed with how the author tied it all together. Bravo!

The magic system in this book was perfect—not too complex, yet it made every action and moment feel exciting and full of wonder. I loved the way it was woven into the plot, adding so much depth without feeling overwhelming.

Now, I’m sitting here with my heart racing, already craving the next book.
Please please please write it soon!!! 🥺🥺🥺

If you haven’t picked this one up yet, do yourself a favor and get on it—you won’t regret it.
Profile Image for Fifi’s Bookshelf.
385 reviews130 followers
December 8, 2025
AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING! Phenomenal world building, some of the best romance I’ve ever read (like actually GOOD swoony romance) and perfectly sets up a future fairytale spinoff series. I was not expecting to like it THIS much but this completely blew me away! Stayed up past 3 AM to read this because I just couldn’t put it down. The ending was intense and I genuinely had zero clue how they were going to get out of this! A standout read for sure. I am very impressed!
Profile Image for Mildly Mad Hatter.
355 reviews15 followers
Read
December 7, 2025
DNF @ pg 158
She started out sweet and kind but then turned petty, dark, and very self centered. I like it until then and was hoping it would be good but the girl just ruined it for me.
Profile Image for Kez Marie.
1,236 reviews76 followers
November 23, 2025
This was a fabulous romantasy adventure and fairytale. I loved Augusta's growth, her compassion and empathy, and her determination.
It was full of tension and swoons, and the romantic conflict was intense, especially the dynamic between Augusta and the prince brothers.
I loved the twist on the swan lake retelling, and the backstory and curses involved.
Aspen was a fun character, I liked seeing his jealousy, flirting and passion, as well as his protectiveness. His garden and the reason for the flowers was such a sweet touch.
I loved the bond between Lucas and Augusta and the found family elements, and Augusta's bonds with her animal companions.
This had a great balance of plot, mystery, romance and intrigue, and unexpected twists and villains.
I enjoyed the ending and how it sets the scene for future stories.
Profile Image for Abby.
212 reviews6 followers
November 26, 2025
That dedication was a whole entire vibe! Now this is a story all about how Augusta’s life got flipped, turned upside down. And I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there. I’ll tell you how she became princess of Caredelle. (Sorry for the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reference lol). First, she became an orphan, then a shady business deal went sideways, two strangers appear with family trinkets, this ultimately leads Augusta to participate in a forced bridal competition filled with tests, all the while an enchantress had nothing better to do than curse her and several other people, which ends with a sacrifice that I did not see coming! The plot twists were mind blowing! The world building was spectacular. The characters were beyond well written and the pacing was perfect! 10/10 highly recommend this brilliant Swan Lake retelling.
Profile Image for Ryleigh JS King.
10 reviews4 followers
October 30, 2025
THIS BOOK! As far as fairytale retellings go, this one was something else.
I loved literally everything about it.

It was so much more than just the bridal competition I was expecting. In such a good way!

The characters were so well-written that they came to life (I wish they were real, lol). I not only loved the MCs but also all of the side characters and the animal sidekicks (They need a whole review for themselves). They made me smile and laugh countless times. As a girl who grew up wishing she could talk to animals, I envied Augusta on that throughout the whole book.

I hated the villain/antagonist (s) with a burning passion. If I could've stepped into those pages, there would've been trouble for them lol. But, seriously, they were so purely evil/cruel it was honestly refreshing.

Don't even get me started on the plot twists! I was caught off guard so many times, I lost count. It was an exciting read that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.

This book made me laugh, smile, blush, and come close to tears a couple of times (which is hard, btw). I cannot express just how much I loved it.

If this book intrigues you or part of you is even considering getting it, DO IT. Do not hesitate. It is so worth it. It is everything it claims to be and more. If you pick this book up, be prepared not to be able to put it down.
Warning: You WILL fall in love with the characters and the world from page 1.

I would like to thank the amazing author, Karen Daliath, for allowing me to be part of her ARC team for this book. I LOVED every second of it! Also, I will be waiting for the next book very impatiently. (No spoilers, but you know what I'm talking about).

Profile Image for Chantel.
195 reviews18 followers
November 26, 2025
This no-spice retelling of Swan Lake was an entire journey for me! At first, I had mixed feelings about where the plot was taking me, and a few moments felt a bit more guided than natural—but once the story found its rhythm, the momentum was fantastic. When the intensity picked up, I was turning pages as fast as I could.

There’s a brooding, quietly jealous hero who has absolutely no problem showing how he feels, and a lot of problems actually saying it, and a cursed heroine fleeing an arranged marriage who ends up tangled in a royal bridal selection in an enemy kingdom. She is determined, mostly to annoy the man she thinks betrayed her, and has little idea what she's getting into. But both characters make you want to root for them, and that's a huge win for me. Their dynamic is full of tender angst and those small, charged moments that make forbidden love so addictive. The ending was almost heart-rending, and I am so glad it turned out how it did.

I especially enjoyed the layers of hidden identities, lost family, and slowly unraveled secrets. By the time the curse-breaking arc took center stage, I was completely invested in both the emotional payoff and the warm, found-family threads woven through the story.

I am sad about how things ended with the brother, and truly hoped there'd be a little time of peace and reconciliation. But perhaps that's yet to come...somehow, in the books ahead.
Profile Image for Lara.
134 reviews21 followers
November 16, 2025
THIS IS
**DELICIOUS**
ROMANCE
Start to finish.
You won’t regret a minute of time spent in this story AND It’s a fairytale retelling. I absolutely loved Aspen and Augusta
and their love story. It started out sweet perfection , morphed into desperation and longing, and deepened into something far more mature and lasting. AND WE GET TO SEE THE WHOLE THING!
I was so worried about how this was all gonna work out but we got there and I loved every minute of the torment. I encourage you to join me in the suffering 🫠
🚫🤬🚫🌶️ steamy but non descriptive kissing.
Profile Image for DayDreamer8912.
327 reviews11 followers
November 14, 2025
4.5/5
Genre: Fantasy/Fairytale retelling
🚨TW: dark magic, betrayal, being cursed, murder, violence, mentions of controlling people for selfish reasons
Favourite Moments
🪻 When they first met.
🪻Her talking to her friends which are animals.
🪻 Moments with Lucas and Micah.
🪻 Them bickering and flirting with each other.
🪻 Her birthday party.
🪻 Aspen and Lucas protecting her.
🪻 They both risk their lives for each other.
🪻 They both opened up to each other.
🪻 Working together to take down Rowenna (can’t spoil it)
(lots more)

Swoony Moments
🪻 He protects and do whatever to keep her safe
🪻 He falls first.
🪻 He is always there for her to comfort her.
🪻 No matter how much she pushes him away he never give up on her.
🪻 He work together with her to save the kingdom.

Synopsis:
Augusta who was cursed ever since birth was running away from an arranged marriage that she was forced into after her father passed away a few months ago because the duke claimed that her father owes him. However, when she ran off, she was kidnapped by men under the king’s orders which she found out later it was from her enemy’s kingdom that was responsible for her father’s death.
Now, she is stuck with other eligible maidens to join the Royal Brides Competition and to her horror she saw the person that she met a few months ago,

The man who once held her heart.
The one who promised he would return.
The one she loved even in his absence.

Only…he isn’t who she thought he was. She was hurt deeply and felt betrayed which made her decided not to escape instead to torment him which is making him jealous.
Will he able to win her heart back again? Will she give him a second chance? Read Feathered Beauty to find out!!

Review:
These two are just so cute together. Though she felt betrayed by him but he had a reason to. He was shocked to see her in his kingdom joining the Royal Brides Competition. He tried to explained to her but she didn’t give him the chance too. Haha… love their bickering and flirting with each other it is so funny. The moment with her and the animals are just so sweet and at times so cute too when she bickers with her horse and also the monkey. All of them really protected her from the evil mage, Rowenna who cursed her ever since she was a baby.

The way the lookout for each other and risk their lives for each other and their love one is so admirable. No matter how much she pushed him, he didn’t give up of his love for her. He is a hopeless romantic too (can’t spoil it you will need to read it to find out). They opened up to each other and they show each other their vulnerable side.

Love the people around them too like his best friend, Lucas treated her like a little sister of his and even pretend to be her distant cousin just to protect her because she is in the enemies’ territory and not to forget the moments of being with his little brother, Micah who is just so adorable while his older twin, the crown prince, I have hate and love him at the same time. Leila, her handmaiden also has been really good to her ever since she step in the castle. Lots of twist and turns that you will never think it would happen and it’s filled with action pack too. This book made me smile, cry, laugh, at times frustrated (you will find out why when you read it), and also the feeling of wanting to be in their group hahaha…

P.S Lucas is such a scene stealer haha… hope Karen will also write his story. And would love to have the ability to talk to animals too.

I was gifted complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own Thanks to @kjdaliathauthor for the ARC.

This is the 2nd book of Cursed Brides series written by 8 amazing authors. It is a Wild Swan retelling. Can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series.

You can purchase this book on Amazon and it’s available on KU.


Profile Image for b.shahbaz_writer.
49 reviews
December 23, 2025
ARC REVIEW⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.75/5)

WOW, THIS BOOK! It’s an absolute game-changer in the world of fairytale retellings. I was totally blown away!

What I thought would be just a bridal competition evolved into something so much more captivating—I can’t even put it into words!

The characters—oh my goodness! They were so vividly written that I felt like they could jump right off the page (seriously, I wish they were real, lol). I adored the main characters, but the side characters and the adorable animal sidekicks absolutely stole my heart. They brought so many smiles and laughs, and as someone who grew up dreaming of chatting with animals, I couldn’t help but envy Augusta throughout the entire story!

And the villains? Wow, I detested them with a fiery passion! If I could have leapt into the story, let me tell you, there would have been some serious trouble for them! They were written so purely evil and cruel that it almost felt refreshing to have such intense baddies.

And can we talk about the plot twists? I was caught off guard so many times that I lost track! This book is an exhilarating ride that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

I laughed, smiled, blushed, and even teared up a couple of times (which is saying something!). I can’t even begin to describe how much I loved every moment of this journey.

If this book sparks even a flicker of interest in you, just DO IT—do not hesitate to get your hands on it. It’s more than worth it and truly delivers on everything it promises and then some. Once you pick it up, be ready to lose track of time!

Just a heads-up: You WILL fall head over heels for the characters and the enchanting world the moment you start reading.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the brilliant author, Karen Daliath, for letting me be part of her ARC team for this incredible book.

I loved every thrilling second of it! And trust me, I will be eagerly awaiting the next installment (no spoilers, but you know what I mean)!
Profile Image for Rosalyn Nightshade.
156 reviews10 followers
November 9, 2025
Woah. I was not expecting this. I literally have no words. This book left me completely speechless. *Takes a few moments to compose myself*😤.

Augusta is such a lovely, sweet heroine. I love her compassion despite her curse. Even after everything that she went through, her first instinct was to always react with kindness. I loved seeing her character growth: from a young, naive girl who believed all humans were cruel and untrustworthy with only animals as her friends to a mature, strong, and determined character who understood the world comes in different shades of grey and found love in spite of everything.

I loved Aspen so much. He was such a great character and I honestly didn't even blame him for deceiving Augusta. I feel so sorry for him, after everything that happened to his family. He definitely didn't deserve any of it. I loved his and Augusta's romance so much. It was definitely slow burn but it was there all the time, smoldering in the background.

Lucas was definitely my favourite character in this book and I hope that we get a book about him. I love his sibling/cousin bond with Augusta and his lighthearted nature. He is a great friend for Aspen and I loved how protective he was of Augusta.

There were so many plot twists that caught me by surprise. I'm now extremely upset with Karen Daliath for that ending. But, overall, this was a great book and I can't wait for future installments!

P.S. Daliath did mention that this book was related to Dueling the Suitors, which I read several months ago and can't really recall anything that links. Looks like I'll have to go back and read it! Although the two books are set in the same world, you definitely don't have to one to understand the other. After all, Dueling the Suitors takes place way after this book in the future.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the author. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
1 review
November 11, 2025
I received an advance copy to this book from Karen Daliath in exchange for an honest review.

Augusta Caredelle was born with a curse—every time she showed an act of compassion she grew a set of feathers. With the struggle to sustain her life as a war orphan someone comes to her aid. In their absence things take a turn for the worst and Augusta finds herself seeking sanctuary behind enemy lines and is caught in the middle of bridal competition.

One word to describe this book is awestruck. Feathered Beauty was one of two books that introduced me to the romantasy genre and it was a perfect introduction. Karen’s characters in this novel are so lovable and will truly tug at your heartstrings as they did mine. I loved and appreciated the subtle nods to fairytales and the Christian faith sprinkled throughout the novel. I truly enjoyed FMC’s character development, it was subtle and beautiful—her misbelief was so valid and I loved how it was something she had to figure out herself with the patience of those around her. The cover of the book is beautiful as well and I love the easter egg it contains if you really look for it. The plot twists were incredible and I loved the banter between FMC and MMC. The whole time MMC was on the page I was audibly squealing. However, when it came to the lore, it was a little overwhelming and hard to grasp in certain areas since there were also vital scenes happening at the same time. I understand it was written with high stakes in mind and as an author I appreciated it, but as a reader I found it a bit overwhelming. Overall, this book was amazing and I’m definitely going to reread it in the near future. Thank you Karen Daliath for this opportunity to be a part of your ARC team, it was truly a joy and privilege.
Profile Image for Riella Cristobal .
428 reviews9 followers
November 14, 2025
Oh my word! This romantasy was full of magic and adventure. I was on the edge of my seat while reading and after finishing it, I can’t wait to see more in this world.
I felt for Augusta. She was going through so much! Her life was in upheaval after her father’s death and having to run from her home. She had such a tender heart and that led to so many of her emotional responses being so strong! She felt so deeply. I was rooting for her as she entered the trials. I loved seeing the competition element and how it revealed characters throughout the book. For Augusta especially, it provided her opportunity to learn about her past and her own capabilities. I felt like throughout the book, we really get to know her and understand how she thinks. Augusta not only found her own strength, but her future. I loved seeing her romance too! It grew from initial sparks to a trust built through time and effort in the face of difficulties and tragedy.
There were so many characters that I honestly could not figure out! I loved Augusta’s animal family and how they cared for one another. Lucas was hilarious! I loved how he immediately started looking out for Augusta. Aspen and Slander were so interesting as characters and I was right alongside Augusta trying to understand what was going on!
The story was full of twists and turns. I was shocked by some of the revelations, especially around Augusta’s curse. I loved seeing the magic of the world and can’t wait to see the continuation of characters’ stories! This is a no-spice romantasy, with only kisses and some fantasy violence.
I received an ARC.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Rain.
174 reviews
October 19, 2025
I was thrilled to have received an ARC copy of the Cursed Brides. I had a hard time putting it down once I started, it kept drawing me back to finish the adventure.

This story follows Augusta, our beloved main character that has been cursed to change into a swan since she was three. She has the ability to communicate with animals and is the princess of Swan Lake, her treasured home away from home.

When the world feels like it’s crashing down, Augusta meets Aspen, who was sent by her father to give her some of his belongings, and Lucas, Aspens’ best friend. These two give Augusta hope and comfort while she is grieving the loss of her father. But they can’t stay long, they have other duties to get back to.

When Augusta tries to escape her fate of an arranged marriage, she is stumbles upon an enemy land and is forced into another situation. One that involves competing to be the crown princes’ bride. What she didn’t expect was to find the two who gave her comfort during her time of need to be part of the enemy kingdom.

I enjoyed watching Augusta growth in character, the development of how the story goes, the hilarious nature of different characters. I really hope that Lucas has his own story one day, I treasured the moments when he was part of the story.

I truly adored this Swan Lake retelling. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy, romance, and adventure. Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of this wonderful ARC opportunity. My opinions are all my own.
Profile Image for LeeEllen Belcher (Caw).
91 reviews14 followers
October 22, 2025
This fairytale retelling was an amazing story that any no spice fantasy romance reader would love! There were curses, secret identities, traitors, animal companions, hidden truths, a royal bridal competition, and a forbidden slow burn love. The story flowed well with immersive world building. The characters were wonderful with strong developments and relationships. There were many twists that shocked me, and I cried almost nonstop the last few chapters (as well as some in between).
When Augusta's father dies she inherits his debt, and a betrothal. Augusta runs away, only to find herself in the enemy kingdom and being kidnapped to compete in the royal bridal competition. Scared, alone, in enemy territory, and afraid that someone will discover her curse, she's shocked and feels betrayed to see Aspen, the man who has stolen her heart, sitting with the royal family. She wants answers, revenge, and to torture him with jealousy. There's more twists and grief that accompany the tests than she could ever imagine. But her heart won't stop betraying the rage her mind feels.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy with no expectation of a review.
All opinions are my own.
5 reviews
October 23, 2025
I absolutely loved this book. The characters were relatable, and likable. The found family side of the story was just as well done as the romance. And the romance itself combined second-chance and enemies to lovers perfectly.
There were some huge plot twists in here that I didn’t see coming, which I always enjoy in a book.
This was a very emotional read, I cried (which I don’t do that often while reading) but there were also many parts that made me smile. And I am really shipping the couple, they were so cute 🥰

I can’t wait for the spin-off series!!! (kind of hoping it will be a retelling of one of my favorite fairy tales, but I will just have to wait to find out)

Tidbits:
- swan lake retelling
- almost lovers > enemies > slowly trusts again > lovers
- found family
- protective MMC

Full review https://www.instagram.com/p/DQKMQKgjs...
Profile Image for Camvi (Huellas Lectoras).
26 reviews2 followers
October 26, 2025
It took me a second to realize there have always been two fairytales involving Swans... But, you know what? This book was gold. I have written the following phrase in multiple reviews because I find value in a story, where the heroine, shows strenght through compasion and kindness. In a world with problems concerning violence, these kind of messages are crucial. Hope is always at our reach.

TOTALLY read this book if you love:

🌷Enemies-to-lovers
🌷Love at first sight (actually developed throughtout the retelling)
🌷Cornflowers
🌷Cousins as partners in crime
🌷Clean romance
🌷Bits of action and fun magic
🌷Love letters (how I devoured them!)

Thanks for the arc! Also, I must say it was lovely to see how well thought the love language of gifting was portrayed here. Btw Lucas and Augusta best characters.
Profile Image for Emilee.
15 reviews5 followers
November 12, 2025
Thank you Karen Daliath for the ARC! This is in the book series Cursed Brides.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was a good retelling. It was an interesting take on Swan Lake. I liked Augusta and she had great character growth.

The author always does a great job at world building. I can always picture the worlds Karen builds. This time was no different.

Aspen was so swoony. He knew just what to say. 😍 Lucas was definitely an interesting character. The bridal competition aspect really had my attention and I wish the story had been a little bit more focused on that part.

While I did really like this book, I felt it had a slow start and I felt like a couple of the story lines were unnecessary.

Overall I would recommend this book.
14 reviews
November 13, 2025
This an Arc review. Thank you so much for letting me read this book! It is truly an amazing story!

All the unexpected twists and turns in this book are enough make your head spin to the point you feel like you’re the one in the Blackthorn Forest. (If you want to know read the book).

This book has a heartfelt love story, redemption of one of the “villains”(if you want to call him that.), but also tragedy in the end as it ends in a cliffhanger that leaves you eagerly awaiting the release of the next book in order to find out what in the world happens to some… side characters.
(I’m trying to give a good review without spoilers. So I repeat, if you want to know what I’m talking about read the book!)
720 reviews
November 17, 2025
I don't often read books this long (516 pages) but it was well worth it - and really hard to put down! This is no simple fairy tale rewrite, the characters are complex with many hidden layers and many things are not as they first seem. Augusta's curse is cruel, punishing her for any act of compassion by gradually turning her into a mindless swan - each new growth of feathers is a reminder she is on the way to losing her humanity. The competition for the prince is more than it seems - bigger things are at play and go back many years. I received an ARC but this review is my own. I can't wait to read the next book as while this story is complete, one of the other characters is left on a cliffhanger leading into the next story.
Profile Image for Ashlyn Sanders.
111 reviews3 followers
October 21, 2025
I don't know where to begin. This book was full of twists and turns that continued to scramble in ways that I wouldn't even begin to expect. I was lost in the pages of this fantastic book, constantly asking what would happen next. This is by far my favorite swan lake retelling, and one of my favorite retellings of all time. I truly adore this book in every aspect imaginable. The characters were dynamic and unique, each contributing in their own arcs. Similarly, the plot continued to move throughout the book, constantly keeping me enthralled in the magic. And the ending!! Oh my goodness I can't wait to see what happens after the last page.
Thank you for the arc!
Profile Image for Nic.
197 reviews1 follower
November 6, 2025
This was a loose retelling of Swan Lake. The fairytale aspects that were woven into the story was cleverly done. I like how there were a few other fairytales that were woven into this as well.

My favorite parts of this book were the romance and tension. The interactions between the two main characters were absolutely incredible. Aspen is amazing in every way, shape, and form.

The bridal competition trials were unique and clever.

I received a voluntary ARC for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

No Spice (kissing is as far as it gets)
No Explicit Language
PG Violence/Gore
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I really liked it. It was a good fantasy book!
Profile Image for Evelyn Williams.
23 reviews
November 15, 2025
JAW ON THE FLOOR

I’m sorry but that was literally incredible! I fell so honored to be one of the first people to read this book. I started and finished it today on its release date and get to write one of the first ratings. The yearning and pining from aspen had my heart on the floor. The connection between Augusta and her animal family was so sweet and I was not ready to grieve so significantly for the spunky and lovable side characters. I wish I could read this over and over again for the first time ever. Aspen has now become one of my top favorite MMCs of all time

Karen…thank you absolutely amazing 🩷🩷🩷
Profile Image for Hannah Smith.
21 reviews
November 7, 2025
Loveddd this book!!! It was action packed and fast paced. I love Aspen! 🥹💗 Augusta was so stubborn ahhh which I’m not surprised having read one of Karen’s other books. 😂 Lucas is the best! The cave scene had to be my favorite! And even when I thought all hope was lost at the end it managed to have a happy ending. My only critique is that maybe things happened a little too quickly and I was confused by the ending 👀 I enjoyed reading it though! I love that this book is set in the same world as Dueling the Suitors!!! Huge thank you to Karen for selecting me as an ARC reader! 🫶
Profile Image for Morgan (youarethelibrarian).
1,016 reviews17 followers
November 7, 2025
4.5 stars.

This was such a good slow burn. Augusta loses her father to war, then accidentally ends up in the enemy kingdom. She’s forced into that kingdom’s bridal competition, and a member of that royal family is someone she never expected.

Augusta is also cursed to gain swan feathers whenever she is compassionate, and the one who cursed her was a total surprise!

I love the family and character dynamics, and many of them make sacrifices for one another.

* I received an eARC from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for M. Ashley.
Author 2 books2 followers
November 11, 2025
***ARC Review***
I absolutely loved Feathered Beauty!!! It was such an unique spin on a fairytale and all of the characters felt original and well written. I loved that the fmc, Augusta, could talk to animals and how that impacted and influenced the story throughout. I loved all the unexpected plot twists. They definitely made an amazing book that much better. The romance between Augusta and Aspen was so well done and a really good mix of second chance and enemies to lovers.
This is a must read if you at all like fairytale retellings!
42 reviews
November 12, 2025
First off, I never would have thought of combining Swan Lake with a bride competition, but it does actually work. So, kudos to the author for coming up with something so original.
Next, I would say that this is on the darker side of fairytale retellings. Not a bad thing, but if you're wanting light and fluffy, this is not that book.
This is a clean read. The editing could do with some work. I received an ARC from the author. I was not required to write a review but chose to do so and the opinions stated are my own.
Profile Image for Jen.
176 reviews6 followers
November 14, 2025
I loved this retelling of Swan Lake. It was fantastic!! So creative and different from other Swan Lake retellings. This book was a rollercoaster! But in the best way! I was laughing and had a few tears. So many twist and turns that keep me up late at night. The banter 😍😍😍 Oh my word, Augusta and Aspen had fantastic banter. So much snark and chemistry. As well, so much tension. The romance was kisses only. I need a book with Lucas as the main character! He was hands down the best side character and my favorite. Loved this book and looking to the series that this book serves as a prequel too.

I volunteered to read an ARC copy of the book and all thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Noa.
3 reviews1 follower
December 7, 2025
Advance Reader Copy

I loved this book, it made me feel every emotion under the sun, I was so invested I couldn't put it down. I giggled and kicked my feet, I cried, I felt exasperated, I celebrated the wins and

The reason why it's not five stars is because even though it's almost 500 pages, the ending felt a bit rushed, there were some loose ends and despite the FMC being a solid character she took a background position towards the end. I also felt like there were some characters with a lot of potential that were not exploited correctly and felt like
Profile Image for Fredrika.
39 reviews
October 30, 2025
Such a wonderful retelling of swan lake! I absolutely loved the characters and the plot. The main character had such beautiful development, the romance was perfect, and the villain was great. It was all so well written and I could just not wait too see would happen on the next page! If you enjoy retellings with a true fairytale feeling to it, I can't recommend this story enough.
I was very happy to receive and ARC, and are reviewing by own choice
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.