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Blood and Thorns
A deliciously dark and twisted romance reimagining of Beauty and the Beast.
He claimed her to settle a debt... but now he'll never let her go.
Crushed beneath the weight of her father’s gambling debts, Arabella Grey longs for a life free from fear, and the constant dread of the next knock on the door. But when her father’s reckless choices land him in this masked man's debt, Arabella faces an impossible decision: let her father die, or offer herself in his place.
Sebastian Devereaux's known notoriously as the Beast. A legend within the underground fight scene turned ruthless drug lord, his empire's built on blood, brutality, and fear. So when whispers of a tampered product threatens everything he's built, Sebastian will stop at nothing to find the traitor.
He just never expected to find her instead.
Now, with betrayal closing in and his past catching up, Sebastian must decide what matters more, keeping control of his empire… or risking everything for the one woman who could bring it all crashing down.
He claimed her to settle a debt... but now he'll never let her go.
Crushed beneath the weight of her father’s gambling debts, Arabella Grey longs for a life free from fear, and the constant dread of the next knock on the door. But when her father’s reckless choices land him in this masked man's debt, Arabella faces an impossible decision: let her father die, or offer herself in his place.
Sebastian Devereaux's known notoriously as the Beast. A legend within the underground fight scene turned ruthless drug lord, his empire's built on blood, brutality, and fear. So when whispers of a tampered product threatens everything he's built, Sebastian will stop at nothing to find the traitor.
He just never expected to find her instead.
Now, with betrayal closing in and his past catching up, Sebastian must decide what matters more, keeping control of his empire… or risking everything for the one woman who could bring it all crashing down.
450 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2025
436 people are currently reading
2792 people want to read
About the author
Taylor Aston White
23 books377 followersTaylor Aston White writes deliciously dark fantasy & romance, where tension burns, secrets break, and love always wins. Based in the UK with her childhood sweetheart and their two children, she's the author of several bestselling series and loves to explore mythology and European faerie tales to create her own, modern twists.
Follow her on Instagram - @taylorastonwhite, and join her newsletter on www.taylorastonwhite.com
Be sure to follow Taylor on BookBub for the latest on sales https://bit.ly/3rNVVlm
Follow her on Instagram - @taylorastonwhite, and join her newsletter on www.taylorastonwhite.com
Be sure to follow Taylor on BookBub for the latest on sales https://bit.ly/3rNVVlm
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
December 19, 2025
3,5⭐
مكسله أكتب ريفيو 🙂🏃♀️
بطل كان زفت فهمنا مريض نفسي و عنده ماضي محزن لكن لسانك زفت أمسكو لنفسك ياخي زق.. نرفزني كان ودي أضربه بوكس كل ما يفتح فمه
بطلة كانت شخصيتها حلوة قوية و شجاعة لكن مرات تجنني بغابئها لكن عامة مقبولة
في العادة روايات لي زي كذا أمنحهم نجمة وحدة لأنو بطل ما أرضاني أبدا
لكن بلوت تويست انقذه نوع ما شدتني كانت مليانة ساسبنس و كانت اعادة سرد ل جميلة و الوحش وقصة ذي قريبة من قلبي جداااا
مكسله أكتب ريفيو 🙂🏃♀️
بطل كان زفت فهمنا مريض نفسي و عنده ماضي محزن لكن لسانك زفت أمسكو لنفسك ياخي زق.. نرفزني كان ودي أضربه بوكس كل ما يفتح فمه
بطلة كانت شخصيتها حلوة قوية و شجاعة لكن مرات تجنني بغابئها لكن عامة مقبولة
في العادة روايات لي زي كذا أمنحهم نجمة وحدة لأنو بطل ما أرضاني أبدا
لكن بلوت تويست انقذه نوع ما شدتني كانت مليانة ساسبنس و كانت اعادة سرد ل جميلة و الوحش وقصة ذي قريبة من قلبي جداااا
August 30, 2025
I liked parts of this book but I think it definitely should have been shorter. By the middle of the book the pacing had slowed to a glacial pace and I was starting to check out.
August 9, 2025
4⭐️ 4🌶
ARC review
A dark, addictive Beauty and the Beast reimagining... but make him a ruthless mafia boss 🤭. When Ara takes her father’s place to pay his debt, she steps into the dangerous world of Sebastian “The Beast” Devereaux, the man who owns half the city and rules it with an iron fist… and a dangerously controlled temper 🫣
And btw, half his face is hidden behind a skeletal mask (tell me that’s not insanely hot! 🥵),
The moment he put that choker with his emblem around her neck so everyone would know she belonged to him? I was gone ❤️🔥.
I couldn’t put this book down. Yes, it got a little repetitive with Ara constantly getting into trouble and Bas having to save her, but his morally gray nature, ruthless power, and deliciously possessive “touch her and die” vibe more than made up for it. Bonus points for when the mmc speaks French 😍.
Ara could be naïve, especially when forgiving her father, and I wish she’d grown more as a character. But she was still the calm to Sebastian’s chaos, making for the perfect love story ❤️.
And it also had a real, compelling plot behind it that kept me hooked from start to finish. And it was spicy, of course!!! 🌶🔥
LOVED every Beauty and the Beast reference 🥀🖤
Tropes:
Beauty & the Beast
Reimagining
– Masked MMC
– Size Difference
– Forced Proximity
– Obsession
– Mafia
– Primal
– Age Gap
– Touch Her & Die
– Eyes on Me
– Knife/Blood Play
ARC review
A dark, addictive Beauty and the Beast reimagining... but make him a ruthless mafia boss 🤭. When Ara takes her father’s place to pay his debt, she steps into the dangerous world of Sebastian “The Beast” Devereaux, the man who owns half the city and rules it with an iron fist… and a dangerously controlled temper 🫣
And btw, half his face is hidden behind a skeletal mask (tell me that’s not insanely hot! 🥵),
The moment he put that choker with his emblem around her neck so everyone would know she belonged to him? I was gone ❤️🔥.
I couldn’t put this book down. Yes, it got a little repetitive with Ara constantly getting into trouble and Bas having to save her, but his morally gray nature, ruthless power, and deliciously possessive “touch her and die” vibe more than made up for it. Bonus points for when the mmc speaks French 😍.
Ara could be naïve, especially when forgiving her father, and I wish she’d grown more as a character. But she was still the calm to Sebastian’s chaos, making for the perfect love story ❤️.
And it also had a real, compelling plot behind it that kept me hooked from start to finish. And it was spicy, of course!!! 🌶🔥
LOVED every Beauty and the Beast reference 🥀🖤
Tropes:
Beauty & the Beast
Reimagining
– Masked MMC
– Size Difference
– Forced Proximity
– Obsession
– Mafia
– Primal
– Age Gap
– Touch Her & Die
– Eyes on Me
– Knife/Blood Play
August 10, 2025
After anticipating this ARC for literally EVER I feel severely let down. There was no deep connection formed between Sebastian and Arabella whatsoever. Like literally the only connection they had centered around sex and I feel like it was heavily forced the whole time even though it was consensual. The only time that they interact is at night time bc he literally ignores her the whole day which is annoying since he’s supposed to be obsessed with her. I would have loved to see a deep connection build between them especially since he literally lusts after her at first glance, but then he treats her like a dog on a leash the rest of the time (and not in a kinky sexy way). This book got really annoying and boring after the same things happened over and over. I really wish this book was for me, but sadly it wasn’t.
September 1, 2025
suddenly i’m volunteering to offer myself up to this masked man in order to settle my family’s debt 🙋🏻♀️
thank you so much taylor for giving me the opportunity to arc read !! i’m still reeling in wtf i read and i literally never want to leave these characters 🥹
this is a dark mafia romance, beauty and the beast reimagining, masked drug lord mmc + innocent fmc, forced proximity, in debt, touch her and die, obsession, primal, size difference, duo pov 🖤
arabella is a sweet and hardworking character. she’s trying her hardest to keep up with her father’s debts, but they just keep piling up. when he took a huge load of money from one of the most ruthless and coldest man in their society, shit just goes off the rails. arabella had no choice but to offer herself to the beast in order to fulfill her father’s greed. the beast immediately agrees but this longing feeling of intrigue and possession creeps up on him. he is the biggest drug lord and there’s a reason people call him the beast. his empire is built on bloodshed and violence. so when he finds out that someone is messing with his products, he stops at nothing to capture the traitor. but when he learns that the woman he is completely obsessed with could be in danger, he has to choose between saving his empire or letting the only person who ever made him feel something go
learning about arabella and sebastian’s relationship is something that i will forever hold in my heart 🥹 their dynamic is one that i always enjoy reading about. i absolutely love how arabella was fighting those feelings but at the same time she realizes that she’s free from her father’s grasps. she can practically figure out who she truly is and what she wants to do with her life now that she’s free. but that doesn’t mean she’s free from the big bad beast 👀 lol no. sebastian will never let her go. this man becomes so obsessed as the days go on. he literally fell the moment he met her but just needed that push to actually realize it. this masked man is hot and filthy and all around bad 😍
i can not wait for more from this series !! this will quite actually live on my mind rent free omg
🌶️🌶️🌶️
thank you so much taylor for giving me the opportunity to arc read !! i’m still reeling in wtf i read and i literally never want to leave these characters 🥹
this is a dark mafia romance, beauty and the beast reimagining, masked drug lord mmc + innocent fmc, forced proximity, in debt, touch her and die, obsession, primal, size difference, duo pov 🖤
arabella is a sweet and hardworking character. she’s trying her hardest to keep up with her father’s debts, but they just keep piling up. when he took a huge load of money from one of the most ruthless and coldest man in their society, shit just goes off the rails. arabella had no choice but to offer herself to the beast in order to fulfill her father’s greed. the beast immediately agrees but this longing feeling of intrigue and possession creeps up on him. he is the biggest drug lord and there’s a reason people call him the beast. his empire is built on bloodshed and violence. so when he finds out that someone is messing with his products, he stops at nothing to capture the traitor. but when he learns that the woman he is completely obsessed with could be in danger, he has to choose between saving his empire or letting the only person who ever made him feel something go
learning about arabella and sebastian’s relationship is something that i will forever hold in my heart 🥹 their dynamic is one that i always enjoy reading about. i absolutely love how arabella was fighting those feelings but at the same time she realizes that she’s free from her father’s grasps. she can practically figure out who she truly is and what she wants to do with her life now that she’s free. but that doesn’t mean she’s free from the big bad beast 👀 lol no. sebastian will never let her go. this man becomes so obsessed as the days go on. he literally fell the moment he met her but just needed that push to actually realize it. this masked man is hot and filthy and all around bad 😍
i can not wait for more from this series !! this will quite actually live on my mind rent free omg
🌶️🌶️🌶️
August 9, 2025
I am ALWAYS a sucker for a Beauty and the Beast retelling, and this delivered. I absolutely recommend this for fans of Emily McIntire for the twists, the plot, and the spice.
What I loved :
• The Sebastian, Lang, and Caden trio. I enjoyed seeing their bond.
• The ending scene was so well written that it played out like a movie in my head.
• The subtle play into the “Beauty and the Beast” story with characters such as Chip and Mrs. Potter.
• The bookish epilogue. Every readers DREAM.
• I feel like saying I loved the MMC’s traumatic past is wrong, but I will say I enjoyed how it played into the plot as we as readers were able to see growth and a resolution to the demons.
What I loved a little less :
• I feel like the jump from shy FMC to k!nky sub was drastic. I wish I saw more of a relationship bloom before the bow chicka bow wow started but those scenes were still HAWT.
• I was hoping we got a scene with Arabella reading that mafia romance book she picked out to Seb. I think that would have been a chance for more of a relationship to be seen between the two of them while still being funny.
Overall - I really enjoyed this read and am so thankful to have been gifted an ARC to read and review (I feel like a cool kid). I know several friends of mine who are going to be excited to pick this one up on Sept. 1st!
P.S. I so so so hope that book 2 (which is a Rapunzel retelling are you kidding?!) features either Lang of Caden. I want to see more of their story and inner monologue (and HEA’s).
What I loved :
• The Sebastian, Lang, and Caden trio. I enjoyed seeing their bond.
• The ending scene was so well written that it played out like a movie in my head.
• The subtle play into the “Beauty and the Beast” story with characters such as Chip and Mrs. Potter.
• The bookish epilogue. Every readers DREAM.
• I feel like saying I loved the MMC’s traumatic past is wrong, but I will say I enjoyed how it played into the plot as we as readers were able to see growth and a resolution to the demons.
What I loved a little less :
• I feel like the jump from shy FMC to k!nky sub was drastic. I wish I saw more of a relationship bloom before the bow chicka bow wow started but those scenes were still HAWT.
• I was hoping we got a scene with Arabella reading that mafia romance book she picked out to Seb. I think that would have been a chance for more of a relationship to be seen between the two of them while still being funny.
Overall - I really enjoyed this read and am so thankful to have been gifted an ARC to read and review (I feel like a cool kid). I know several friends of mine who are going to be excited to pick this one up on Sept. 1st!
P.S. I so so so hope that book 2 (which is a Rapunzel retelling are you kidding?!) features either Lang of Caden. I want to see more of their story and inner monologue (and HEA’s).
November 4, 2025
After a string of gut-wrenching romantasy reads, Blood & Thorns was exactly the dark, addictive palate cleanser I needed. It’s a gritty Beauty and the Beast reimagining that’s easy to fall into. It was fast-paced, atmospheric, and deliciously twisted without heavy worldbuilding to untangle first.
Arabella Grey is a heroine you root for: bookish, bruised, and quietly defiant. Caught under her father’s debts, she ends up in the hands of Sebastian Devereaux, the infamous masked Beast of the underground. He’s brutal, controlled, and absolutely unhinged beneath the surface and the kind of MMC who makes you question your morals and then ruin your sleep schedule.
The tension between them is pure chaos and chemistry — sharp edges softened by small mercies. Their dynamic is everything you want in a dark romance.
Tropes:
💀Debt repayment
💀Forced proximity
💀Touch her and 💀
💀Beauty and the Beast retelling
💀Morally grey MMC
💀Possessive antihero
💀“Run, little rabbit” energy
💀Found comfort in the dark.
Taylor Aston White balances brutality and vulnerability beautifully. Sebastian’s rage and yearning clash with Arabella’s inner strength in a way that feels almost poetic. Her voice brings levity “Oh my God. What am I saying? Strange kink to have. Fuck. Me. Sideways. Stop!”, grounding the story even as it dives into darker themes.
And the spice? 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ High heat. Think explicit, intense, and primal power play, control, and a whole lot of filthy French. Yet even through the heat, there’s emotional depth and a thread of redemption that keeps it from being just smut for shock’s sake.
Favourite highlights:
💬 “Sometimes you need a monster to take out other monsters.”
💬 “Beautiful, the peace I find in your presence is worth being the villain of your story.”
💬 “He may be the Beast. But he was mine.”
It’s dark, depraved, and surprisingly tender - a perfect pick if you love your romances dangerous, obsessive, and beautifully broken.
Arabella Grey is a heroine you root for: bookish, bruised, and quietly defiant. Caught under her father’s debts, she ends up in the hands of Sebastian Devereaux, the infamous masked Beast of the underground. He’s brutal, controlled, and absolutely unhinged beneath the surface and the kind of MMC who makes you question your morals and then ruin your sleep schedule.
The tension between them is pure chaos and chemistry — sharp edges softened by small mercies. Their dynamic is everything you want in a dark romance.
Tropes:
💀Debt repayment
💀Forced proximity
💀Touch her and 💀
💀Beauty and the Beast retelling
💀Morally grey MMC
💀Possessive antihero
💀“Run, little rabbit” energy
💀Found comfort in the dark.
Taylor Aston White balances brutality and vulnerability beautifully. Sebastian’s rage and yearning clash with Arabella’s inner strength in a way that feels almost poetic. Her voice brings levity “Oh my God. What am I saying? Strange kink to have. Fuck. Me. Sideways. Stop!”, grounding the story even as it dives into darker themes.
And the spice? 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ High heat. Think explicit, intense, and primal power play, control, and a whole lot of filthy French. Yet even through the heat, there’s emotional depth and a thread of redemption that keeps it from being just smut for shock’s sake.
Favourite highlights:
💬 “Sometimes you need a monster to take out other monsters.”
💬 “Beautiful, the peace I find in your presence is worth being the villain of your story.”
💬 “He may be the Beast. But he was mine.”
It’s dark, depraved, and surprisingly tender - a perfect pick if you love your romances dangerous, obsessive, and beautifully broken.
August 10, 2025
Absolutely amazing. Taylor Aston White managed to create a magical universe without even needing actual magic. I loved this Beauty and the Beast retelling. Sebastian and Arabella were just… insane in the best way possible. Their chemistry? Off the charts. Their dynamic? OMG. I’m honestly speechless. I genuinely loved every single second of this read.
And it wasn’t just the main couple, every side character was fascinating. Taylor brought together all the iconic Disney characters and built a fantastic plot full of twists and turns. I’m literally buzzing knowing the next book will be a Rapunzel retelling. The characters’ personalities are so close to their animated counterparts, which made everything feel even more fun.
I’ve read a lot of dark retellings, but I think this one comes the closest to capturing that Disney vibe while still being dark and spicy—if you know what I mean 🤭. I’m beyond grateful for the ARC of this incredible book, and I’ll be counting down the seconds until the sequel (and the rest of the series). Fingers crossed there’s a Sleeping Beauty one, it’s my favorite fairytale and I just know Taylor would do an amazing job making it dark.
And it wasn’t just the main couple, every side character was fascinating. Taylor brought together all the iconic Disney characters and built a fantastic plot full of twists and turns. I’m literally buzzing knowing the next book will be a Rapunzel retelling. The characters’ personalities are so close to their animated counterparts, which made everything feel even more fun.
I’ve read a lot of dark retellings, but I think this one comes the closest to capturing that Disney vibe while still being dark and spicy—if you know what I mean 🤭. I’m beyond grateful for the ARC of this incredible book, and I’ll be counting down the seconds until the sequel (and the rest of the series). Fingers crossed there’s a Sleeping Beauty one, it’s my favorite fairytale and I just know Taylor would do an amazing job making it dark.
August 17, 2025
This is on the darker side of my preferences, with some themes that I’d normally say nope to. But, although the MMC is a proper “bad guy”, I loved him.
This is a dark re-telling of Beauty and the Beast, and it’s perfection.
Sebastian is a dr*g lord, and a man you don’t want to cross - or in Arabella’s dad’s case, owe a substantial amount of money to.
Arabella puts herself forward to pay off her dad’s debts (with no protest from her douchebag father) and whilst she’s a “prisoner” in the ‘Beast’s’ house, she slowly realises he not as bad as he puts himself up to be.
Sebastian (aka The Beast) has been trained from birth to be who he is, and through significant trauma (and torture) he finds his release through violence - until he takes Ara (aka Belle) and starts to get the feels for her - awakening a side of himself he didn’t know existed.
They fight for each other and realise they’re both the right shade of darkness to make each other happy.
I will be seeking out any other current and future books Taylor Aston White writes.
This is a dark re-telling of Beauty and the Beast, and it’s perfection.
Sebastian is a dr*g lord, and a man you don’t want to cross - or in Arabella’s dad’s case, owe a substantial amount of money to.
Arabella puts herself forward to pay off her dad’s debts (with no protest from her douchebag father) and whilst she’s a “prisoner” in the ‘Beast’s’ house, she slowly realises he not as bad as he puts himself up to be.
Sebastian (aka The Beast) has been trained from birth to be who he is, and through significant trauma (and torture) he finds his release through violence - until he takes Ara (aka Belle) and starts to get the feels for her - awakening a side of himself he didn’t know existed.
They fight for each other and realise they’re both the right shade of darkness to make each other happy.
I will be seeking out any other current and future books Taylor Aston White writes.
September 5, 2025
4 ⭐
this book was interesting, well written and with great characters. I wish we had more books for the two MMC because I would read a lot more!
plot wise is not the most original, but the writing style definitely made up for it because it was amazing. Fast paced but also complex and captivating.
The characters were the best thing, while I like the dynamic of this book, I loved how the author was able to give them personality and being able to develop them throughout the story
this book was interesting, well written and with great characters. I wish we had more books for the two MMC because I would read a lot more!
plot wise is not the most original, but the writing style definitely made up for it because it was amazing. Fast paced but also complex and captivating.
The characters were the best thing, while I like the dynamic of this book, I loved how the author was able to give them personality and being able to develop them throughout the story
September 1, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Blood and Thorns by Taylor Ashton White is a dark and twisted Beauty and the Beast retelling that completely hooked me from page one.
The Beast in this story isn’t just a brooding recluse—he’s a drug lord. And when the heroine’s father gambles away everything, she takes his place to pay off his debts, walking straight into the monster’s lair.
This book was utterly delicious. The writing flowed so smoothly, I found myself flying through the pages and losing track of time. I loved how the author wove in both the gritty, dangerous world of crime and the vulnerable, emotional layers of two broken people finding each other in the darkness. The FMC’s trauma made her resilience shine even brighter, and her connection with the Beast felt raw, jagged, and unforgettable.
It does come with some heavy content, and the graphic imagery isn’t for the faint of heart, so definitely check the trigger warnings before diving in. But if you love dark romance with a fairytale twist, this one will grip you and refuse to let go.
I can’t wait to pick up more from Taylor Ashton White.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Blood and Thorns by Taylor Ashton White is a dark and twisted Beauty and the Beast retelling that completely hooked me from page one.
The Beast in this story isn’t just a brooding recluse—he’s a drug lord. And when the heroine’s father gambles away everything, she takes his place to pay off his debts, walking straight into the monster’s lair.
This book was utterly delicious. The writing flowed so smoothly, I found myself flying through the pages and losing track of time. I loved how the author wove in both the gritty, dangerous world of crime and the vulnerable, emotional layers of two broken people finding each other in the darkness. The FMC’s trauma made her resilience shine even brighter, and her connection with the Beast felt raw, jagged, and unforgettable.
It does come with some heavy content, and the graphic imagery isn’t for the faint of heart, so definitely check the trigger warnings before diving in. But if you love dark romance with a fairytale twist, this one will grip you and refuse to let go.
I can’t wait to pick up more from Taylor Ashton White.
August 12, 2025
4.25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3.5 🌶🌶🌶
*ARC Review*
Tropes
✅️Mafia
✅️Beauty & The Beast
✅️Contemporary Dark Romance
✅️Forced Proximity
✅️"Touch her and die"
✅️Dual POV
✅️Masked MMC
Triggers
☑️Loss of Loved One
☑️Death
☑️Torture
☑️Kidnapping
☑️Disembowelment
☑️PTSD
☑️Attempted Sexual Assault
☑️Drugs
☑️Castration
☑️Spiders
Kinks
✴️Blood Play
✴️Paint Play
✴️Knife Play
✴️Choking
✴️Collars
✴️Dub-Con
✴️Dom/Sub
✴️Spanking
✴️Light Degradation/Praise
✴️Primal Play
"For everyone who wants to be chased and then fucked by the big bad Beast..."
I have never been so called out by an introduction. 😅
Blood & Thorns brings to life everything the adult me ever wanted from Beauty and the Beast.
Honestly, the character art is what initially caught my interest. I took one look at Sebastian and was like DAMN, that is exactly how Beast should have looked. Everything from his mask, scars, and tattoos really brought the Beast to life.❤️🔥
Never would have thought to mix a classic tale with Mafia Romance, but it works because I was immediately swept away with Sebastian and Arabella's story.
There is a clever play on names here. I love how Sebastian calls Arabella 'belle' (French for beautiful). Sweet baby Jesus, was it sexy when Sebastian would whisper loving French words to Ara. 🖤
"The word 'no' doesn't get me hard...But what does get me fucking excited is your submission. So continue to fight me, mon belle petit lapine. Keep telling me no, because it'll be that much sweeter when I finally have you begging for my cock." -Sebastian
“Belle, tu es ma lumière dans l'obscurité. Tu seras toujours la mienne.”-Sebastian
Gabriel was giving off hard Gaston vibes. The dude could not take no for an answer. His relentlessness to get Ara back definitely made the story more interesting, though. Lots of betrayal, and at times, it made you second guess who you could trust.
I honestly can't wait to read the next couples story. 🖤
3.5 🌶🌶🌶
*ARC Review*
Tropes
✅️Mafia
✅️Beauty & The Beast
✅️Contemporary Dark Romance
✅️Forced Proximity
✅️"Touch her and die"
✅️Dual POV
✅️Masked MMC
Triggers
☑️Loss of Loved One
☑️Death
☑️Torture
☑️Kidnapping
☑️Disembowelment
☑️PTSD
☑️Attempted Sexual Assault
☑️Drugs
☑️Castration
☑️Spiders
Kinks
✴️Blood Play
✴️Paint Play
✴️Knife Play
✴️Choking
✴️Collars
✴️Dub-Con
✴️Dom/Sub
✴️Spanking
✴️Light Degradation/Praise
✴️Primal Play
"For everyone who wants to be chased and then fucked by the big bad Beast..."
I have never been so called out by an introduction. 😅
Blood & Thorns brings to life everything the adult me ever wanted from Beauty and the Beast.
Honestly, the character art is what initially caught my interest. I took one look at Sebastian and was like DAMN, that is exactly how Beast should have looked. Everything from his mask, scars, and tattoos really brought the Beast to life.❤️🔥
Never would have thought to mix a classic tale with Mafia Romance, but it works because I was immediately swept away with Sebastian and Arabella's story.
There is a clever play on names here. I love how Sebastian calls Arabella 'belle' (French for beautiful). Sweet baby Jesus, was it sexy when Sebastian would whisper loving French words to Ara. 🖤
"The word 'no' doesn't get me hard...But what does get me fucking excited is your submission. So continue to fight me, mon belle petit lapine. Keep telling me no, because it'll be that much sweeter when I finally have you begging for my cock." -Sebastian
“Belle, tu es ma lumière dans l'obscurité. Tu seras toujours la mienne.”-Sebastian
Gabriel was giving off hard Gaston vibes. The dude could not take no for an answer. His relentlessness to get Ara back definitely made the story more interesting, though. Lots of betrayal, and at times, it made you second guess who you could trust.
I honestly can't wait to read the next couples story. 🖤
August 31, 2025
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
A beauty and the beast retelling but make it mafia… because that’s exactly what Blood & Thorns by Taylor Aston White is all about! It ties in all of your favorite aspects of beauty and the beast and makes the darker and more twisted in a mafiaesque plot where Arabella our FMC has taken her fathers place as The Beasts aka Sebastian’s prisoner after her father has racked up a considerable gambling debt. Sebastian is feared across the underworld and now someone has taken his money and careless thrown it away, so Sebastian only has one course of action… and that is send a message that those who have his money either return it or pay. And the few who don’t return it will hunted down and made to pay. Starting with Mr. Morris, Arabella’s father. A man who is as much a villain in this story as any true villain could be. And when Mr. Morris doesn’t have the money to pay he offers his daughter up in exchange. Typically it’s not a deal Sebastian would take, he doesn’t believe in hurting women and children, but there’s something about Arabella that he’s found himself obsessed with so he finds himself taking the deal, at least until he gets bored. Except Sebastian and Arabella, start to realize as time goes on that maybe darkness can only survive with light and the light needs a little darkness to truly ever shine. Everything is stacked against these two though, and true love in a world so dark may just be a dream for either one of them. I enjoyed this read very much, the characters were fascinating and their growth was impeccably written. I truly can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next, so if you’re looking for a book that’s full of Beauty and The Beast Easter eggs, dark romance, plenty of spice, so many twists and turns, and happily ever after that’s well deserved than I highly recommend grabbing a copy of Blood & Thorns today!
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
A beauty and the beast retelling but make it mafia… because that’s exactly what Blood & Thorns by Taylor Aston White is all about! It ties in all of your favorite aspects of beauty and the beast and makes the darker and more twisted in a mafiaesque plot where Arabella our FMC has taken her fathers place as The Beasts aka Sebastian’s prisoner after her father has racked up a considerable gambling debt. Sebastian is feared across the underworld and now someone has taken his money and careless thrown it away, so Sebastian only has one course of action… and that is send a message that those who have his money either return it or pay. And the few who don’t return it will hunted down and made to pay. Starting with Mr. Morris, Arabella’s father. A man who is as much a villain in this story as any true villain could be. And when Mr. Morris doesn’t have the money to pay he offers his daughter up in exchange. Typically it’s not a deal Sebastian would take, he doesn’t believe in hurting women and children, but there’s something about Arabella that he’s found himself obsessed with so he finds himself taking the deal, at least until he gets bored. Except Sebastian and Arabella, start to realize as time goes on that maybe darkness can only survive with light and the light needs a little darkness to truly ever shine. Everything is stacked against these two though, and true love in a world so dark may just be a dream for either one of them. I enjoyed this read very much, the characters were fascinating and their growth was impeccably written. I truly can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next, so if you’re looking for a book that’s full of Beauty and The Beast Easter eggs, dark romance, plenty of spice, so many twists and turns, and happily ever after that’s well deserved than I highly recommend grabbing a copy of Blood & Thorns today!
September 25, 2025
I love beauty and the beast retelling/reimagining books. I think Sebastian is a great dark reimagine of Beast. And one of the best morally grey characters I’ve read.
I really liked the twist that the author gave to each of the characters and how Arabella (our belle) gets to be a captive of Sebastian (our beast). We see how hard and cruel Sebastian can be but how he also has that possessive, soft spot for Arabella. And how he deals with the demons of his past that come to haunt him. Arabella is our defiant girl that deals with problems that aren’t her own, but feels responsible for them. I liked how their relationship developed and how they got closer and closer. The spice was hot like dark hot coffee,just how I like it.
We get a lot of the backstory from Sebastian and the reasons why he is the way that he is, but not trying to justify him. I found it surprising that some characters were really testing him and I was like “how dare you?” He is the big bad beast I was expecting and I love him. My sweet and defiant girl Arabella kept finding herself in difficult situations. She really deserved more than what life had put her through, and I am happy she found her happiness with Sebastian. She is just loyal to the core.
I also liked the incorporation of diversity in this book and some mental health rep. Mainly within Sebastian’s inner circle. Caden and Langdon are my other 2 favorite characters. I hope I get to read more about them in a future book.
We do get a happy ending but not every character gets one. I expected the violence but not one of the ☠️. Some characters deserved that like a thousand times over
If you love a beauty and the beast reimagine with a dark twist and a masked Beast MMC in a mafia setting that makes you want to get down on your knees for him then this book is for you.
Thank you Twisted Tales PR and the author for the advanced copy. This is my honest opinion.
I really liked the twist that the author gave to each of the characters and how Arabella (our belle) gets to be a captive of Sebastian (our beast). We see how hard and cruel Sebastian can be but how he also has that possessive, soft spot for Arabella. And how he deals with the demons of his past that come to haunt him. Arabella is our defiant girl that deals with problems that aren’t her own, but feels responsible for them. I liked how their relationship developed and how they got closer and closer. The spice was hot like dark hot coffee,just how I like it.
We get a lot of the backstory from Sebastian and the reasons why he is the way that he is, but not trying to justify him. I found it surprising that some characters were really testing him and I was like “how dare you?” He is the big bad beast I was expecting and I love him. My sweet and defiant girl Arabella kept finding herself in difficult situations. She really deserved more than what life had put her through, and I am happy she found her happiness with Sebastian. She is just loyal to the core.
I also liked the incorporation of diversity in this book and some mental health rep. Mainly within Sebastian’s inner circle. Caden and Langdon are my other 2 favorite characters. I hope I get to read more about them in a future book.
We do get a happy ending but not every character gets one. I expected the violence but not one of the ☠️. Some characters deserved that like a thousand times over
If you love a beauty and the beast reimagine with a dark twist and a masked Beast MMC in a mafia setting that makes you want to get down on your knees for him then this book is for you.
Thank you Twisted Tales PR and the author for the advanced copy. This is my honest opinion.
August 26, 2025
✨𝒜𝑅𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌✨
📖: Blood & Thorns (Twisted Ever After, Book 1)
🥀: Releasing September 1, 2925
“𝘖𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦.”
Arabella Grey doesn’t have much to her name and dreams of a life where she’s not on the run with her troubled father and his gambling debts.
Sebastian Devereaux built his empire on fear and bloodshēd. When his business is threatened, he seeks to root out any and all roadblocks. Everything changes when he meets sweet Arabella, who may be his undoing.
Tropes:
🥀BATB Reimagining
👀Dual POV
🎭Masked MMC
📏Size Difference
🫂Forced Proximity
💰Mafia dark romance
🚫Touch Her & 💀
🫦”Eyes on Me”
🔪Kn!fe/BIood Play
🌶️: open door
Arabella is loyal to her father to a fault (who is definitely in the running for “worst dad of the year”). She may be soft and sweet, but she’s got a fierce heart and refuses to cower to her captor.
Sebastian, the masked, tattooed crime boss and underground fighter is used to having his way. But with his belle, he finds himself at war with his desires, vacillating between the need to break her and his obsession to possess her.
While she’s the calm to his storm, he cannot afford any weaknesses. Can this Belle and Beast from different worlds and who live vastly different lives find the love they never had?
With inspired nods to Beauty and the Beast, Blood & Thorns immediately draws the reader into this dark and tantalizing reimagining!
Huge thanks to the author and @twistedtalespr for the review copy opportunity. This is my honest and voluntary review.
📖: Blood & Thorns (Twisted Ever After, Book 1)
🥀: Releasing September 1, 2925
“𝘖𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦.”
Arabella Grey doesn’t have much to her name and dreams of a life where she’s not on the run with her troubled father and his gambling debts.
Sebastian Devereaux built his empire on fear and bloodshēd. When his business is threatened, he seeks to root out any and all roadblocks. Everything changes when he meets sweet Arabella, who may be his undoing.
Tropes:
🥀BATB Reimagining
👀Dual POV
🎭Masked MMC
📏Size Difference
🫂Forced Proximity
💰Mafia dark romance
🚫Touch Her & 💀
🫦”Eyes on Me”
🔪Kn!fe/BIood Play
🌶️: open door
Arabella is loyal to her father to a fault (who is definitely in the running for “worst dad of the year”). She may be soft and sweet, but she’s got a fierce heart and refuses to cower to her captor.
Sebastian, the masked, tattooed crime boss and underground fighter is used to having his way. But with his belle, he finds himself at war with his desires, vacillating between the need to break her and his obsession to possess her.
While she’s the calm to his storm, he cannot afford any weaknesses. Can this Belle and Beast from different worlds and who live vastly different lives find the love they never had?
With inspired nods to Beauty and the Beast, Blood & Thorns immediately draws the reader into this dark and tantalizing reimagining!
Huge thanks to the author and @twistedtalespr for the review copy opportunity. This is my honest and voluntary review.
September 3, 2025
Let me start by saying that I’m usually very cautious when it comes to retellings or books inspired by well-known stories. For me, it’s always hit or miss – nothing in between. Luckily, with Blood & Thorns I can confidently say this one belongs to the well-written side.
From the very first moment I saw the art for Blood & Thorns, I knew I had to read it. And I was definitely not disappointed! Sebastian had my attention from the start (a masked man—who wouldn’t be intrigued?), and I fell just as hard for the side characters—especially Lang. I need his book!
Compared to some dark romances, this one is a lighter read. There are dark elements, betrayals, and mafia vibes, but nothing that felt overwhelmingly triggering—which, of course, isn’t a bad thing. Not everything has to be pitch black!
Some twists I could predict quite easily, and at times the pacing felt a bit slower. Those are the only reasons why it’s not a full 5 stars from me—but that might just be personal preference.
The author added lots of little details that made the story fun to read, and I’m definitely picking up the next book in the Twisted Ever After series!
From the very first moment I saw the art for Blood & Thorns, I knew I had to read it. And I was definitely not disappointed! Sebastian had my attention from the start (a masked man—who wouldn’t be intrigued?), and I fell just as hard for the side characters—especially Lang. I need his book!
Compared to some dark romances, this one is a lighter read. There are dark elements, betrayals, and mafia vibes, but nothing that felt overwhelmingly triggering—which, of course, isn’t a bad thing. Not everything has to be pitch black!
Some twists I could predict quite easily, and at times the pacing felt a bit slower. Those are the only reasons why it’s not a full 5 stars from me—but that might just be personal preference.
The author added lots of little details that made the story fun to read, and I’m definitely picking up the next book in the Twisted Ever After series!
September 3, 2025
This was SUCH a good dark romance! It was spicy, gritty, the MMC is a psychopath but the FMC calms his demons. PLEASE check TW!
At times Ara would drive me insane, I get being loyal to family but my god at some point you’ve gotta realize they aren’t loyal back! I do wish we got to see her live out her passion, whether it was writing or something else.
Sebastian was perfect, is he insane? Absolutely. But he’s possessive, protective, LOVES his found family, and made people respect him as he deserved.
This is one of the few dark romances where the MMCs bark matches his bite, and I loved it. Yes he’s soft (ish) for the FMC but for the most part everyone needed to bend to his will.
I adored the side characters, I hope Caden and Langdon get books because I love them. Even the uncle by the end was on the good side list (but barely!).
If you like a DARK romance, spice, found family, a bookish and sweet FMC, and an MMC who will actually burn the world down for her, then you’ll want to pick this one up.
Thank you Twisted Tales PR for the arc!
At times Ara would drive me insane, I get being loyal to family but my god at some point you’ve gotta realize they aren’t loyal back! I do wish we got to see her live out her passion, whether it was writing or something else.
Sebastian was perfect, is he insane? Absolutely. But he’s possessive, protective, LOVES his found family, and made people respect him as he deserved.
This is one of the few dark romances where the MMCs bark matches his bite, and I loved it. Yes he’s soft (ish) for the FMC but for the most part everyone needed to bend to his will.
I adored the side characters, I hope Caden and Langdon get books because I love them. Even the uncle by the end was on the good side list (but barely!).
If you like a DARK romance, spice, found family, a bookish and sweet FMC, and an MMC who will actually burn the world down for her, then you’ll want to pick this one up.
Thank you Twisted Tales PR for the arc!
August 9, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I absolutely loved this. This was a perfect dark, moody, and twisty beauty and the beast retelling. All my favorite characters (from the known Disney story) were there and you knew who they were because they had the same first letter in their name. I knew what to expect from the story, but yet there were SO MANY twisties. I remember being 90% done and petrified it was going to end on a cliff hanger and I would get no resolution. Some twisties I thought were resolved, but weren't actually until the epilogue. I can't say enough good things about this story. All the characters had depth, development, and growth. I can't wait for the next retelling from this author. Rapunzel will be awesome!!
Thank you Taylor Aston White and Twisted Tales PR for the eARC of this story!
– Beauty & the Beast Reimagining
– Masked MMC
– Size Difference
– Forced Proximity
– Obsession
– Mafia
– Primal
– Age Gap
– Touch Her & Die
– Eyes on Me
– Knife/Blood Play
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I absolutely loved this. This was a perfect dark, moody, and twisty beauty and the beast retelling. All my favorite characters (from the known Disney story) were there and you knew who they were because they had the same first letter in their name. I knew what to expect from the story, but yet there were SO MANY twisties. I remember being 90% done and petrified it was going to end on a cliff hanger and I would get no resolution. Some twisties I thought were resolved, but weren't actually until the epilogue. I can't say enough good things about this story. All the characters had depth, development, and growth. I can't wait for the next retelling from this author. Rapunzel will be awesome!!
Thank you Taylor Aston White and Twisted Tales PR for the eARC of this story!
– Beauty & the Beast Reimagining
– Masked MMC
– Size Difference
– Forced Proximity
– Obsession
– Mafia
– Primal
– Age Gap
– Touch Her & Die
– Eyes on Me
– Knife/Blood Play
August 15, 2025
A new dark fairytale retelling series is here! I’d you love Emily McIntire books, you’ll love this book and the series that I hope is following so much! This is the dark, spicy, beauty and the beast retelling that I didn’t know I needed in my life but am so glad to have read.
The story gets a little repetitive, and at some point you’ll wish the story would stop repeating itself so you can move on, which ultimately caused me to drop my rating. We get it: he’ll always be there to save her no matter what she does.
This one is spicyyyy. Highly recommend taking a look at the content warnings before diving into this one. I’d compare it to Lights Out in this sense.
This was fun and I’m definitely going to keep an eye out for future books by this author.
Thank you to Twisted Tales PR for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story gets a little repetitive, and at some point you’ll wish the story would stop repeating itself so you can move on, which ultimately caused me to drop my rating. We get it: he’ll always be there to save her no matter what she does.
This one is spicyyyy. Highly recommend taking a look at the content warnings before diving into this one. I’d compare it to Lights Out in this sense.
This was fun and I’m definitely going to keep an eye out for future books by this author.
Thank you to Twisted Tales PR for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2025
3.75⭐️
this was a really good retelling of beauty and the beast, but it could of been 100 pages shorter..
Arabella our FMC, she’s struggling to make ends meet helping her dad pay off his gambling addiction. Her a bartender where she’s barely making tips, her dad is taking the borrowed money from our MMC Sebastian, the mafia lord, he pays a visit to collect the debt her dad needs to repay…
i thought it was a really smart way of having Sebastian kidnap her dad for the original movie plot,
the writing in my opinion felt rushed and was kinda all over the place, the first 200 pages is just character development and then the last 200 pages just felt like she just didn’t realise how big she wanted this book to be, so just threw it all together, but overall the story was so good definitely recommend if u want to relive your childhood with the best Disney movie
this was a really good retelling of beauty and the beast, but it could of been 100 pages shorter..
Arabella our FMC, she’s struggling to make ends meet helping her dad pay off his gambling addiction. Her a bartender where she’s barely making tips, her dad is taking the borrowed money from our MMC Sebastian, the mafia lord, he pays a visit to collect the debt her dad needs to repay…
i thought it was a really smart way of having Sebastian kidnap her dad for the original movie plot,
the writing in my opinion felt rushed and was kinda all over the place, the first 200 pages is just character development and then the last 200 pages just felt like she just didn’t realise how big she wanted this book to be, so just threw it all together, but overall the story was so good definitely recommend if u want to relive your childhood with the best Disney movie
Read
November 30, 2025Este libro al principio me estaba gustando mucho pero a medida que avanzaba me iba decepcionando cada vez mas. La relación de Arabella y Sebastian desde el principio se sintió forzada y eso nunca cambio porque no hubo una relación romántica ni tierna entre ellos, los únicos momentos que compartían estando juntos era cuando tenían sexo y los momentos donde decían "por fin se viene su conexión" terminaban demasiado rápido. Además Sebastian cuando le conto a ella lo que le pasó de niño y el porque de sus cicatrices y problemas para dormir se sintió como si estuviera contando la historia de otra persona.... y "supuestamente" tenía sentimientos por ella (obsesión solamente) nunca lo demostró con NADA. Fue todo muy vacío de principio a fin 🧍🏻♀️.
August 8, 2025
Beauty and the Beast but make it mafia. This book was full of suspense, action, and spice! The last half of the book was my favorite. You really get to see Sebastian, Lang, and Caden’s brotherhood! I love that Ara becomes apart of their circle! The betrayals were jaw dropping! I couldn’t guess what the next move was going to be! I did wonder how the romance would evolve but Ara and Sebastian relationship turned out beautifully in the ending. (Small spoiler but the library gift scene in the epilogue was absolutely perfect and I loved it so much) Overall I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the next in the series!
August 4, 2025
Another 5⭐️ read from Taylor Aston White! I absolutely loved the Beauty and the Beast meets mafia vibes, but there were also a few other little surprises in there too! The characters all had so much depth, and I really enjoyed getting to know them. Ara and Sebastian had sizzling chemistry, and the spice was definitely 🔥! I feel like so many times, mafia romance books really focus on the romance part, but I loved that we got a deep dive into the dark and gritty portion of Sebastian's life as well. Overall, I loved this book and can't wait to continue on in this universe!
Some of my favorite tropes:
Found family
Twists, turns and betrayal
Forced proximity
Masked MMC
Praise
Trauma/healing
Hurt/comfort
Some of my favorite tropes:
Found family
Twists, turns and betrayal
Forced proximity
Masked MMC
Praise
Trauma/healing
Hurt/comfort
August 28, 2025
You had me at Beauty and the Beast retelling! 😍 I absolutely loved Sebastian and Arabella—their chemistry and tension were everything, and I couldn’t put this book down.
The side characters were just as captivating. Langdon and Caden especially stood out to me, and I’d love to see them get their own stories so we can learn even more about them.
This is definitely not a whimsical fairytale—it’s a dark, twisty mafia romance with all the intensity, danger, and passion you could hope for. Taylor Aston White does such a fantastic job of weaving romance into a gritty, high-stakes world.
Thank you Twisted Tales for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The side characters were just as captivating. Langdon and Caden especially stood out to me, and I’d love to see them get their own stories so we can learn even more about them.
This is definitely not a whimsical fairytale—it’s a dark, twisty mafia romance with all the intensity, danger, and passion you could hope for. Taylor Aston White does such a fantastic job of weaving romance into a gritty, high-stakes world.
Thank you Twisted Tales for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
September 3, 2025
4.5⭐️ 2🌶️
I am now absolutely obsessed with Taylor Aston White. I wasn’t totally sure what to expect. I’ve read many beauty and the beast retellings, but this was by far the most entertaining.
Even with so much crossover to the original story, it’s still so unique. I actually loved finding the similarities in the names and peaks of other characters (insert the dark versions of Flynn Rider and Captain Hook).
All in all, this story is the perfect balance of dark, twisty, and beautiful wrapped up into one big HEA. 10/10 recommend
I am now absolutely obsessed with Taylor Aston White. I wasn’t totally sure what to expect. I’ve read many beauty and the beast retellings, but this was by far the most entertaining.
Even with so much crossover to the original story, it’s still so unique. I actually loved finding the similarities in the names and peaks of other characters (insert the dark versions of Flynn Rider and Captain Hook).
All in all, this story is the perfect balance of dark, twisty, and beautiful wrapped up into one big HEA. 10/10 recommend
September 18, 2025
Deliciously dark is the best way to describe this book. It loosely follows Beauty and the Beast, but the author did a really good job showcasing the original story's essence. Arabella and Sebastian both have to fight their demons in this book. They realize that they calm each other's minds in more way than one.
There are lots of steamy and emotional scenes. There's a great friend group in this book as well that really help show Sebastian's non-beast side. He's a tormented man who loves hard. Ara deals with her own tormentor and trauma that deals with her manipulative father. She is also a spitfire that I really enjoyed.
There are lots of steamy and emotional scenes. There's a great friend group in this book as well that really help show Sebastian's non-beast side. He's a tormented man who loves hard. Ara deals with her own tormentor and trauma that deals with her manipulative father. She is also a spitfire that I really enjoyed.
August 11, 2025
Sebastian and Arabella’s story was a ride of emotions. If you like an OTT possessive and obsessed man Sebastian is it for you. I love me an obsessed man who has the touch her and die vibes. Arabella went through so much just to try and help her dad out for him to literally be such a shit parent to her. I loved how the story ended.
September 14, 2025
Blood and Thorns
I’m obsessed with Sebastian and Arabella. This is a Beauty and the Beast retelling. I had a lot of fun reading it and I liked how dark it was without giving me the ick. Sebastian is dark and scary but always gets to Arabella in time.
Open Door Romance
I’m obsessed with Sebastian and Arabella. This is a Beauty and the Beast retelling. I had a lot of fun reading it and I liked how dark it was without giving me the ick. Sebastian is dark and scary but always gets to Arabella in time.
Open Door Romance
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