Cursed by Moonlight

Fanged Fairytales #1

by Kes Winter

Beauty and the Beast meets Twilight in this spicy wolf shifter dark romance…

I thought it was a one night stand.
But he’s an alpha wolf shifter.
And I’m his fated mate.

When the wickedly handsome, tattooed stranger saved me from getting stranded, I thought he was a good guy.

I thought it would be one night of passion in this foggy, misty stretch of forest far from home. A night where I didn’t have to be the good girl. The responsible daughter.

Turns out Dominik Riven is a wolf shifter. Powerful. Dangerous. Obsessed with me.
And he's holding my father prisoner.
So I do what any desperate girl would do.
I trade myself to the alpha wolf.
But Dominik says outsiders aren't allowed into his wealthy, secretive wolf pack. He says there's only one way around it.
I have to pretend to be his fated mate. His fiancée.
That means sleeping in his bed every night. Pretending to be lovers with my enemy.
Except that he touches me like he can’t keep his hands off me. Looks at me like I really am his.

The only thing worse than getting in a fake relationship with the man who took me captive…
Is that I might be falling for him for real.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

This is a spicy shifter romance and dark fairytale retelling perfect for fans of morally grey, jealous/possessive heroes, enemies to lovers, and modern mashups of Beauty and the Beast with a side of Twilight (Team Jacob style).

Expect dark, lush, moody vibes; banter and crackling tension; and emotional slow burn that explodes into high spice.

★ Fated mates
★ Fake dating
★ Enemies to lovers
★ One bed
★ Beauty & the Beast retelling
★ First person
★ Dual POV
★ Standalone

Genres: Fantasy, Dark Romance

518 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 29, 2025

About the author

Kes Winter loves creating steamy, emotional, high-tension love stories featuring obsessive heroes and strong heroines. She runs on coffee, sugar, and an overactive imagination.

In the rare moments she’s not writing, she’s usually staying up until the middle of the night reading a book or hiding from the California sun like a vampire.

Keep up with my latest releases and get fun behind-the-scenes glimpses and goodies by joining my newsletter! It's always on the last page of my books or on my website: keswinter dot com.

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Werewolf Beauty and the Beast

This is a more literal retelling of Beauty and the Beast. The FMC's dad is an inventor who invents something that could potentially create problems for the wolf-shifter population. As a result, he's taken prisoner by a wolf-shifter pack until they decide what to do with him. Willow agrees to take her dad's place, etc., etc. We all know how Beauty and the Beast goes. There's a curse, there's a sexy cursed beastman, there's a Gaston, there's an inventor dad.

I actually really liked this book, and I physically couldn't put it down. I don't remember the last time I read such a page-turner. That being said, this is maybe the first book I've ever read where I really thought...maybe these two people shouldn't be together. The back-and-forth relationship drama was sooo painful for a while. I'm sure my slow-burn girlies would absolutely love it, but for me it was a little torturous. Especially because there were sooo many other plot lines that could have been the focus instead of the relationship drama. It still all came together in the end, though, and I thought we left the couple in a good spot and with a satisfying HEA.

[Stefanie Verhelst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beauty and the Beast meets Twilight vibes all the way!

This story was well written, it captures all the topics I love in a story: intriguing characters, lively world building, sparkling chemistry, desperation and hope.

I would call the book a relaxing page turner that you’ll read with a smile on your face. ☺️

The ending was so beautiful! 🤩.

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

[Shawna Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

As far as fairy tale retellings go, this one hit all the high points. It had characters I fell in love with, a beautiful immersive setting, and a well-built magical world. I definitely recommend this if you're a fan of fairy tales of adults!.

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

[Maeghan Irish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC! I love fairytale retellings and this book hit the mark.

A modern day version of Beauty and the Beast.

Dominik is a wolf shifter that was cursed as a teen to find his mate and have her fall in love with him.

Willow is a lonely young woman out looking for her father who has gone missing and her car breaks down in a town of wolf shifters.

Cue the retelling of the fairytale. We all know how the story ends but it was a fun read with a lot of spice! The book gave off major Twilight vibes with the addition of vampires and the location of the story!

[Sammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me HOOKED the whole way through!! Loved the banter between Willow and Dom. So frustrated with them throughout most of the book, saying “just talk to each other!!” Definitely recommend reading this book! Super sexy and so fun to read! Cannot wait for more this author has to write!! ❤️‍🔥🌙

[Brooklyn L. Wolves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book it was beautifully written and the character development throughout was done beautifully.

[kymagirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cursed alpha. A fake mate. A bond too real to break.

Willow thinks it’s just a one-night stand with a hot, tattooed stranger. Then she finds out he’s Dominik Volkov, head of a powerful wolf shifter pack, and he’s keeping her father locked away. To get him back, she agrees to pose as Dominik’s fated mate. One bed. One lie. One rule: don’t fall for the enemy.

Dominik plays the possessive alpha for the pack, but what starts as cold control starts to crack. Willow challenges him in ways he’s never faced, and the tension between them refuses to stay fake. Every shared look burns hotter, every secret pulls them deeper. The line between pretending and feeling blurs fast.

When danger hits close, Willow and Dominik are forced to confront everything they’ve been running from. The past doesn’t stay buried, and power always comes with a cost. But love, real, raw, and chosen, might just be what saves them both. Even if it means facing the worst of themselves to protect each other.

Willow grows from guarded and bruised to strong and sure of her place in a world she never believed she belonged to. Dominik shifts from possessive and closed-off to protective, emotionally open, and willing to risk everything. Together, they become something powerful, two broken people learning to build something whole. Their bond starts in survival but ends in choice.

A steamy, fated mates, fake dating, enemies to lovers, grumpy sunshine, forced proximity, beauty and the beast retelling filled with slow-burn tension and emotional weight. It explores identity, power, survival, love, trust, trauma, and belonging. It’s about facing the past, choosing connection over fear, and finding home in the one who sees your darkness and stays.

The Elevator Pitch: A dark and steamy wolf shifter romance where a fake mate bond sparks real obsession, danger, and burning desire. A cursed alpha meets his match in a fiercely independent heroine who challenges his control and unravels his heart. Packed with tension, heat, and emotional depth, this one leaves claw marks in all the right places.

[Dru · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶🌶🌶🌶
🔥🔥🔥🔥

This is very much a classic retelling of Beauty & the Beast, just with a modern twist featuring shifters.

Willow thought her encounter with a handsome stranger was just a one-night stand, but he turns out to be Dominik, a powerful wolf shifter and alpha of his pack, holding her father prisoner. To save him, Willow agrees to pose as Dominik’s fated mate, publicly pretending to be in love while living under the watchful eyes of his pack. Behind closed doors, Dominik seduces her and treats her like a queen, but Willow fears how long she can resist him.

Willow is a fantastic FMC. She really sells being thrown into this new, complicated reality. Dominik fits the grumpy Beast role perfectly, struggling against a curse that will turn him more beast than man if he can’t find true love.

I liked how Willow held her ground, especially in the face of Dominik’s betrayal. He was far from kind, even though she was his fated mate, and he refused to let her go. He was angry, suspicious of her intentions, and didn’t fully believe in her innocence, yet he would go to any lengths for her. Even if she didn’t realize it, he made sure she could never truly leave him. That push-and-pull dynamic between them was intense and really drew me in.

While there’s a political subplot in the background, most of the story focuses on Dominik trying to win Willow over and convince her to stay. The balance between the romance and the broader world-building was handled really well. Overall, it’s a strong, modern shifter take on a classic story that stays true to the heart of Beauty & the Beast while adding fresh, engaging twists.

⟣Tropes⟢
✅ Touch her and 💀
✅ 🩶 Morally Grey MMC 🩶
✅ Obsessive/JP MMC
✅ Dirty Talk
✅ Fated Mates
✅ Betrayal
✅ Groveling
✅ Age Gap
✅ Grumpy/sunshine
✅ Beauty & the Beast retelling
✅ Small Town
✅ Dual POV’s (first person)
✅ Captor/Captive
✅ Enemies-to-Lovers
✅ No OW/OM drama
✅ FMC not Virgin
✅ Found Family
✅ He falls first *hard
✅ Fake Arrangement
✅ Shifters
✅ 🔥 Medium Burn 🔥
✅ One Bed
✅ MINE
✅ HEA

***I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.***

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

She's a princess who deserves a knight in shining armor. Not a tattooed, scarred wolf shifter with a lump of coal in place of a heart. But her chance for that fairytale romance went up in smoke the second we met. And I know I'm a selfish prick, because I can't bring myself to feel even a little bit sorry about it.

4.5 stars

I love Beauty and the Beast retellings (especially with a shifter romance spin), so I knew immediately I wanted to take a chance on this new story by Kes! The beginning of this book was absolute perfection for me; the tension and attraction between Dominick and Willow bled through the pages and hooked me right from the start. The connection and pull between them was so simple and undeniable, but Dom seemed to sabotage their relationship at every chance he got. The middle was a little repetitive in how Dom continued to pull back from their attraction and deflect, while the ending seemed a little rushed in how quickly the villain appeared and was slain. However, the overall story and romance was beautiful and enchanting, and I am excited for the next book🖤

Tropes: fated mates, Beauty-and-the-Beast retelling, jaded morally grey hero, sunshine heroine, age-gap, forced proximity, he falls first & hard, opposites attract, fake relationship, hate-to-love-you, hidden secrets, found family, STEAMY🔥

*ARC provided by the author, and I voluntarily reviewed it*

[Desi Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book ticked so many of my favorite boxes.
*Wolf shifter romance
*Fated mates
*He falls first
*Touch her and die
*Vampires and werewolves= mortal enemies
*Fairytale retelling (Beaty and the Beast)

Beyond those tropes, I loved the way Kes presents wolves and their fated mates. Women are held as sacred, to be protected and cared for, not as possessions. I have read so many shifter romances and it is hard to walk a balance of “I’d do anything for her,” and corny. But this book pulls it off beautifully.

The MMC Dominick has a sad past but rises from it as fierce and protective of his race. He wants to bring them into a future existence, so everything he does is towards progress. He doesn’t believe anyone could love him, but how could you not?

I also enjoyed the FMC. She was a little slow to figure out some things, but she isn’t bitter or annoying through the whole book, and calls herself out for being “oblivious.”

I was so pleased with this shifter book, would recommend it and am looking forward to reading the next shifter-retelling by Kes Winters.
Thank you for this arc, review is voluntary and not paid.

[Nickole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. We meet wolf shifter Dominik as a teenager who crossed a demon. Said demon put a curse on him that will only break when someone would love the beast. Fast forward to present day and we meet Willow. Shes driving off to thr middle of nowhere to the last known location of her father. As she approaches the town her car stops on the road only to be approached by the sexiest man she has ever seen. Dom doesn't believe his eyes....the woman he has been dreaming of is in front of him. When he takes her back tp the compound he tries to come up with an excuse to keep her there. Willow is shocked to see Dom is thr man she has set up a mtg with and for the fact she was just he's a wolf shifter and her father is prisoner. Willow asks to keep her in her father's place and Dom agrees. Dom has Willow where she wants her and he will stop at nothing to keep her. Willow has other plans but developing feelings for Dom was not in those plans.

[Annie Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute shifter romance! I enjoyed the beauty and the beast touches. I liked that she thought the 'beast' was hot from the start because most of us girlies thought so too (iykyk).

Normal tropes without being boring. Excuse me while I get out my soapbox.... for those people who put down books as being 'repetitive' or 'the same as book whatever'.... you can shut up right now. Have you noticed how repetitive TV shows are??! I went into this wanting an angry love between a girl and a possessive grumpy hot guy. A book where they struggle a bit but end up together. That's exactly what I got in this book. I freaking loved it. Winter delivered a great story and you should absolutely pick this up.

Thank you BookSirens for the ARC! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[MrsBookaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Cursed by Moonlight by Kes Winter

I absolutely loved this book! From the very first chapter, Cursed by Moonlight pulled me in with its mix of magic, mystery, and just the right amount of sass. The worldbuilding was vivid without ever feeling heavy, and the characters had such great chemistry — I was hooked on their banter and tension from the start.

Kes Winter has this wonderful way of blending humor and heart. Even when things got dark or emotional, there were these little moments of wit that made me smile. I flew through the story and didn’t want it to end — it’s one of those reads that makes you wish you could step right into the world and hang out with the characters.

Overall, Cursed by Moonlight was pure fun — magical, a bit mischievous, and totally addictive. Highly recommend if you love fantasy with charm, attitude, and a dash of romance!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[R Rais · Rating 4 out of 5]

All's good.
I enjoy my first read from the author.
Dom's dirty mouth definitly huge turn on. The segs was steamy. The chemistry was good and with the fated mate thing going on, it was fastly known. Didnt make the courting and seduction any less though, which i love.
The plot line... For him to break the curse on time, was light although took lots of bumpy ride for the conflict was back and forward.
Bring out the question. Dom can smell Willow's arousal, and moods, yes? So why the author wrote Dom cant smell Willow lies or not but near the end, the author wrote that Dom can smell her telling the truth? Bit a hole in the plot there. But since Dom thinking Willow lying is part of the plot line, this hole should never exist.

Overall, i enjoy reading it.

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

[Raquel Garces · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great story.

A Beauty and the Beast retelling with wolf shifters and a brief cameos of vampires but set in modern day with a billionaire CEO and Alpha of a pack and the daughter of an inventor trying to create a collar to control the wolves.

It did have some moments that dragged or seemed like unnecessary filler but it flowed well overall. The inventor father being named Maurice was an obvious call back to the Disney classic, but unlike Belle's loving father, Willow's father was more invested in his inventions than his daughters safety.

The tension and relationship built up nicely between Dom and Willow and when the tension snapped, it was hot with a capital H.

I hope to get the next book in the series gifted as an ARC as this one.

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge thanks for the ARC, because holy cow, this book consumed me from the very first page! If you're looking for a story that grabs you and doesn't let go, you've found it.

It's a hot, fast-burn love story, sure, but the author wraps it all up in this instantly gripping, mafia-esque Beauty and the Beast style world that is genuinely fresh but still holds elements of the classic tale. Seeing the growth and grit of both main characters through their individual POVs? Chef's kiss.

If you like your wolf shifters paired with a generous helping of dark pasts, trauma to overcome, and a guaranteed, amazing happy ending after battling some serious bad guys, then drop everything and pre-order this. You won't regret it!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. From the banter between the FMC and the MMC. I couldn't get enough of the two of them. The FMC gets herself into a bind and pretends to be to MMC's wife or Luna to help her father. I liked this idea for this book. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a fun book that doesn't take themselves too seriously. This book will have you in your feels for sure. You don't want to miss it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I ate this up! A contemporary re-telling of Beauty & the Beast with a wolf shifter who has a dirty mouth?! Yes please. I really enjoyed this - short chapters which for me means I just keep reading - a strong FMC - the plot was plotting and I did not see a couple of twists coming. An all round good time!

Thanks to BookSirens and Kes Winter for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Di T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beauty and the beast was my favourite book growing up & (my fav Disney film as an adult). This puts a steamy twist to the story definitely not fit for Disney🌶️🪭. Hooked from 1st page I couldn’t read this book quick enough, read in a day. It’s the first book I’ve read by this author and will definitely be checking for more.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Colleen]

DNF/PAUSE FOR NOW 62%

The miscommunication is sooo unnecessary, he knows they’re fated mates but he doesn’t trust her so he goes so hot and cold and it’s soooo annoying!!

There’s like no spoiler reviews just arc ones ffs and my anxiety is crippling today so I’m pausing this for now until I’m in a better mood and can just read on without the stress. Idek if it’s that angsty or I’m just a weirdo who needs to know what happens before I read it so I can enjoy it more.

[Kate Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, unique, and captivating! Loved how the magic was different enough to not feel overused. I loved how the system of fated mates work in this world. The way the elements of Beauty and the Beast were incorporated was masterfully done.

While it tie up enough loose ends to be a satisfying ending, I am beyond curious on where the author will go with the future books. I am invested in all the characters and need to know!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Melissa Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg, this was so so good. A beauty and the beast reimagining but with beast as a wolf shifter? Seriously, say less.

The book had me hooked from the start and read it in one sitting. The banter, the characters, the heartstring pull moments and the spice?! So so good.

I loved it every minute of reading this even though I wanted to throttled Dom and Willow sometimes.

Thanks you Kes for the gifted ARC!

[Bec A · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great book! First I've read from this author and glad to say, what a find! Great adaptation of B&B in a shifter context. I'm not usually a fan of male only shifter stories but this one worked well.

He falls hard and fast (obviously- mate bond....duh!) but she's not far behind! Both fight it for a good portion but in the end, love prevails.

Great read.

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

[Gail Brittingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a different twist on beauty and the beast, it was charming and had intriguing moments. I loved this different version of a lovely story , it is definitely not your child’s version and I really enjoyed the main character’s. If you love fairy tales with a twist, you’ll love reading this book as much as I did!

[Michelle Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loosely based on beauty and the beast, Willow and Dominik are blind to the other falling in love and guarding their own hearts.
Willow is a spirited young woman who has never known love. She is gullible even when all the signs say the opposite.
Dominik is an Alpha, protecting his pack and unable to see why anyone would love him, if only he could tell Willow the truth it might all fall into place.

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

[Amanda the_bookish_introvert07 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cursed by Moonlight is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, and let me tell you, it's done with perfection. I adore the dynamic between Dominik and Willow. The give and take, the push and pull, and that ending? Perfection. If you love wolf shifter romances, you will love this one.

[shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in one sitting lol. It’s a beauty and the beast retelling. The writing itself was amazing to read. It flowed super well and I just didn’t want to put it down

[Lorraine Whiteley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erotic, sexy and oh so yummy! You won't put it down and when you, it's to find another book from this author. Seriously delectable! I received an ARC and leave this review voluntarily.

[Cheyenne Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gave great beauty and the beast vibes. The story telling is great and the characters are enjoyable.

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

[Jackie Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good shifter remake of beauty and the beast. The book keeps you engaged in certain aspects The characters were written well and definitely gave you the opposites attract vibe.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.