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Grimm Bargains #3
One Shattered Crown
Set in a steamy, neon-lit, high-tech world of magic, money, and explosive desire, this sultry, dark fairytale retelling offers a dystopian romantasy twist on Cinderella.
ELLA
It’s the wedding of the year—a lavish union of two powerhouses. But I’m only here for vengeance against the woman who stole my position as sole heir to my late father’s company, TimeGem Moments, and shipped me off to boarding school. I’ve only made more enemies since. Tonight is my chance to reclaim control. Tonight, TimeGem’s diamond-powered servers are this girl’s best friend. Unless he ruins everything. Justice Beathach, the groom’s unbearably hot brother, with hands built for war and a mouth that spells destruction. He’s lethal, unyielding, and now has me in his crosshairs . . .
JUSTICE
Ella Rendale almost killed my brother once. Now, at his own wedding, she’s almost done it again. I don’t care if he’s forgiven her or if she’s been wronged. I care about one thing: the locked flash drive she leaves behind, spelling my destruction. She can run, she can hide, but when I find her, she’ll give me what I want. But someone else wants her even more than I do—they want her dead. When our enemies close in, I’m forced to protect her, turning the fire between us into an uncontrollable weapon. Now, she’s not just my quarry—she’s my obsession. And I’ll kill anyone who even thinks of taking her from me . . .
ELLA
It’s the wedding of the year—a lavish union of two powerhouses. But I’m only here for vengeance against the woman who stole my position as sole heir to my late father’s company, TimeGem Moments, and shipped me off to boarding school. I’ve only made more enemies since. Tonight is my chance to reclaim control. Tonight, TimeGem’s diamond-powered servers are this girl’s best friend. Unless he ruins everything. Justice Beathach, the groom’s unbearably hot brother, with hands built for war and a mouth that spells destruction. He’s lethal, unyielding, and now has me in his crosshairs . . .
JUSTICE
Ella Rendale almost killed my brother once. Now, at his own wedding, she’s almost done it again. I don’t care if he’s forgiven her or if she’s been wronged. I care about one thing: the locked flash drive she leaves behind, spelling my destruction. She can run, she can hide, but when I find her, she’ll give me what I want. But someone else wants her even more than I do—they want her dead. When our enemies close in, I’m forced to protect her, turning the fire between us into an uncontrollable weapon. Now, she’s not just my quarry—she’s my obsession. And I’ll kill anyone who even thinks of taking her from me . . .
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 28, 2026
About the author
Rebecca Zanetti
131 books10.5k followersNew York Times, USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti has published more than seventy novels and novellas, which have been translated into several languages, with millions of copies sold world-wide. Her books have received Publisher’s Weekly and Kirkus starred reviews, favorable Washington Post and New York Times Book Reviews, and been included in Amazon best books of the year.
Rebecca has ridden in a locked Chevy trunk, has asked the unfortunate delivery guy to release her from a set of handcuffs, and has discovered the best silver mine shafts in which to bury a body…all in the name of research. Honest.
Rebecca has ridden in a locked Chevy trunk, has asked the unfortunate delivery guy to release her from a set of handcuffs, and has discovered the best silver mine shafts in which to bury a body…all in the name of research. Honest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 478 reviews
July 29, 2026
When the description of One Shattered Crown promised a dystopian romantasy twist on Cinderella, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. As it turns out, this is less glass slippers and pumpkin carriages and more Succession with magic, corporate warfare, shoot-outs, and a whole lot of spice.
One Shattered Crown is the third book in Rebecca Zanetti’s Grimm Bargains series, following One Cursed Rose, inspired by Beauty and the Beast, and One Dark Kiss, inspired by Snow White. While the world-building might have felt more established had I read the first two books, I was still able to follow this story just fine on its own.
The story follows Ella Rendale and Justice Beathach, both members of powerful families with the kind of dysfunctional relationship dynamics you might expect from people in organized crime rings. Ella’s stepmother has taken control of the company Ella was supposed to inherit from her late father, and this Cinderella is anything but docile and obedient. She’s brilliant, angry, technologically gifted, and fueled by vengeance.
Justice, meanwhile, is no Prince Charming. He may have the looks, but he isn’t particularly pleased with Ella, considering she once nearly killed his brother.
Despite their glaring differences—and the fact that they should probably stay as far away from each other as possible—an undeniable, if somewhat perplexing, chemistry is building between them. At his brother’s wedding, Justice can’t help but gravitate toward Ella. She is equally drawn to him despite the fact that he belongs to a rival family and is determined to interfere with her plans. Unlike the sweeter versions of this fairy tale, however, these two aren’t hastily falling in love. They’re falling into lust.
From there, magic, technology, retribution, obsession, and mutual attraction collide. Ella is determined to hack her way back into the inheritance she believes is rightfully hers, while Justice is hellbent on stopping her increasingly evil-genius-level schemes. When a more powerful enemy threatens them both, however, the direction of their efforts begins to change. A common enemy creates a common goal—and leaves plenty of room for something else to develop between these two dark and intriguing characters.
This is the kind of book for readers who enjoy fast-paced, plot-driven stories filled with corporate power struggles, shoot-outs, dangerous families, a possessive male lead, and a heroine fueled by revenge. If you’re expecting a fractured fairy tale whose characters closely resemble the Cinderella and Prince Charming of more traditional retellings, you may be disappointed. This is much darker and grittier: part dystopian romantasy, part dark romance, and part magical mafia-style action story.
I have to admit that this particular combination isn’t really my kind of book. The story rarely stops to breathe between the action, open-door spice, dangerous schemes, and characters racing to protect or take over their respective empires. I would have preferred more room for the characters and their relationship to develop outside of that constant intensity.
At the same time, what didn’t work particularly well for me may be exactly what another reader is looking for. If you like your romance dark, your heroes possessive, your heroines morally questionable, and your fairy tales almost unrecognizable beneath layers of technology, magic, sex, and corporate espionage, One Shattered Crown delivers exactly that experience.
One undeniable strength for me was the audiobook. Emma Wilder and Lance Greenfield are clearly seasoned professionals, and their performances bring additional intensity to both the action and romance. Their narration fits a story populated by larger-than-life personalities who rarely do anything halfway.
One Shattered Crown may borrow Cinderella’s crown, but nobody in this story is waiting around for a fairy godmother to fix their problems. These characters would much rather hack the kingdom, overthrow the competition, and take the crown for themselves.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for providing an advanced listener copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
One Shattered Crown is the third book in Rebecca Zanetti’s Grimm Bargains series, following One Cursed Rose, inspired by Beauty and the Beast, and One Dark Kiss, inspired by Snow White. While the world-building might have felt more established had I read the first two books, I was still able to follow this story just fine on its own.
The story follows Ella Rendale and Justice Beathach, both members of powerful families with the kind of dysfunctional relationship dynamics you might expect from people in organized crime rings. Ella’s stepmother has taken control of the company Ella was supposed to inherit from her late father, and this Cinderella is anything but docile and obedient. She’s brilliant, angry, technologically gifted, and fueled by vengeance.
Justice, meanwhile, is no Prince Charming. He may have the looks, but he isn’t particularly pleased with Ella, considering she once nearly killed his brother.
Despite their glaring differences—and the fact that they should probably stay as far away from each other as possible—an undeniable, if somewhat perplexing, chemistry is building between them. At his brother’s wedding, Justice can’t help but gravitate toward Ella. She is equally drawn to him despite the fact that he belongs to a rival family and is determined to interfere with her plans. Unlike the sweeter versions of this fairy tale, however, these two aren’t hastily falling in love. They’re falling into lust.
From there, magic, technology, retribution, obsession, and mutual attraction collide. Ella is determined to hack her way back into the inheritance she believes is rightfully hers, while Justice is hellbent on stopping her increasingly evil-genius-level schemes. When a more powerful enemy threatens them both, however, the direction of their efforts begins to change. A common enemy creates a common goal—and leaves plenty of room for something else to develop between these two dark and intriguing characters.
This is the kind of book for readers who enjoy fast-paced, plot-driven stories filled with corporate power struggles, shoot-outs, dangerous families, a possessive male lead, and a heroine fueled by revenge. If you’re expecting a fractured fairy tale whose characters closely resemble the Cinderella and Prince Charming of more traditional retellings, you may be disappointed. This is much darker and grittier: part dystopian romantasy, part dark romance, and part magical mafia-style action story.
I have to admit that this particular combination isn’t really my kind of book. The story rarely stops to breathe between the action, open-door spice, dangerous schemes, and characters racing to protect or take over their respective empires. I would have preferred more room for the characters and their relationship to develop outside of that constant intensity.
At the same time, what didn’t work particularly well for me may be exactly what another reader is looking for. If you like your romance dark, your heroes possessive, your heroines morally questionable, and your fairy tales almost unrecognizable beneath layers of technology, magic, sex, and corporate espionage, One Shattered Crown delivers exactly that experience.
One undeniable strength for me was the audiobook. Emma Wilder and Lance Greenfield are clearly seasoned professionals, and their performances bring additional intensity to both the action and romance. Their narration fits a story populated by larger-than-life personalities who rarely do anything halfway.
One Shattered Crown may borrow Cinderella’s crown, but nobody in this story is waiting around for a fairy godmother to fix their problems. These characters would much rather hack the kingdom, overthrow the competition, and take the crown for themselves.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for providing an advanced listener copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
˗ˏˋ 5 stars ⟡ ݁₊ .
i loved this book sm! it was so fun and addicting! literally binged it in a few hours. also it's a cinderella retelling!! do what you will with this info!
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• ella rendale
i loved how she's a girl boss and literally gave no fucks. loved how everytime justice tells her to do smth, she does the exact opposite like a big fuck you. and she crashed his car into a tree lol. also the fact that she's really good at coding??
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• justice beathach
cant say much about him because i don't want to spoil anything in this book and the previous books.. but like honestly loved how he started getting so protective of ella and is always there for her. his banter with ella was soo good!
also ella's godmothers?? absolutely hilarious! i loved whenever they showed up on page!
also the cameos of the other characters from one cursed rose and one dark kiss?? absolutely ate them up like no tomorrow, love the lil found family!
⤷ thank you to netgalley, kensington and rebecca zanetti for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶
mhm exactly as i thought, soo good! im literally obsessed with this series, rtc!!!
︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶
₊˚⊹♡ pre-read ♡⊹˚₊ ↴
i need a really good book after my last one cuz that was soo depressing (loved the book tho) anyways i'm excited to read this one! LOVED book 1, one cursed rose, and book 2, one dark kiss, so much!! also i just know that the cinderella retelling is gonna eat so hard!!!!
i loved this book sm! it was so fun and addicting! literally binged it in a few hours. also it's a cinderella retelling!! do what you will with this info!
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• ella rendale
i loved how she's a girl boss and literally gave no fucks. loved how everytime justice tells her to do smth, she does the exact opposite like a big fuck you. and she crashed his car into a tree lol. also the fact that she's really good at coding??
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• justice beathach
cant say much about him because i don't want to spoil anything in this book and the previous books.. but like honestly loved how he started getting so protective of ella and is always there for her. his banter with ella was soo good!
also ella's godmothers?? absolutely hilarious! i loved whenever they showed up on page!
also the cameos of the other characters from one cursed rose and one dark kiss?? absolutely ate them up like no tomorrow, love the lil found family!
⤷ thank you to netgalley, kensington and rebecca zanetti for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶
mhm exactly as i thought, soo good! im literally obsessed with this series, rtc!!!
︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶
₊˚⊹♡ pre-read ♡⊹˚₊ ↴
i need a really good book after my last one cuz that was soo depressing (loved the book tho) anyways i'm excited to read this one! LOVED book 1, one cursed rose, and book 2, one dark kiss, so much!! also i just know that the cinderella retelling is gonna eat so hard!!!!
July 10, 2026
Whew! This one had A LOT going on! An urban sci-fi fantasy retelling of Cinderella that has mafia families, social media empires, gem magic, hacking, corporate espionage, and a whole lot of spicy tension- this one ia little bit of everything for everyone.
The world is well drawn out and you can easily see the relationships between the families that came in the previous books in this series. I came in blind at the third one, and I can say it’s not really a hindrance. Ella is fighting to get her family’s business back into her hands from her stepmother and it’s turning out to be the fight of her life. Justice is the brother of her best friend’s husband, who Ella accidentally almost killed, and Justice is looking for just that. Or is he? Something about Ella is drawing him in whether he wants to or not.
This one was a crazy ride but you are looking for a something that keeps you guessing on every page, this is it!
Thank you to the author and Hambright PR for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
The world is well drawn out and you can easily see the relationships between the families that came in the previous books in this series. I came in blind at the third one, and I can say it’s not really a hindrance. Ella is fighting to get her family’s business back into her hands from her stepmother and it’s turning out to be the fight of her life. Justice is the brother of her best friend’s husband, who Ella accidentally almost killed, and Justice is looking for just that. Or is he? Something about Ella is drawing him in whether he wants to or not.
This one was a crazy ride but you are looking for a something that keeps you guessing on every page, this is it!
Thank you to the author and Hambright PR for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
August 4, 2026
This one was marketed as dystopian, and I wouldn’t quite call it that. Yes, there was some advanced tech and threat of disease, but it was more about the drama between the families who own the tech companies. Think mafia.
I wouldn’t quite call have liked more world building, but perhaps that comes in the previous books of this series. I didn’t fully comprehend the tech to stone to virus concept, but got the gist.
I absolutely abhorred how Justice treated Ella. I understand that some people have power trips in sexual encounters, but this went beyond for me. She asked him to stop certain aspects of their encounters (though we know she secretly liked it) and he didn’t. It was uncomfortable to read about the way they treated each other.
And I actually wanted her to choose Wesley so badly! He seemed so sweet and truly loved her.
And let’s talk about the badass godmother(s). They were the highlight for me.
This also had quite the twist that I didn’t see coming!
Overall, this was not my favorite book but I appreciated the imagination of the stones/tech. A big thanks to Hambright PR and NetGalley for the ARC
I wouldn’t quite call have liked more world building, but perhaps that comes in the previous books of this series. I didn’t fully comprehend the tech to stone to virus concept, but got the gist.
I absolutely abhorred how Justice treated Ella. I understand that some people have power trips in sexual encounters, but this went beyond for me. She asked him to stop certain aspects of their encounters (though we know she secretly liked it) and he didn’t. It was uncomfortable to read about the way they treated each other.
And I actually wanted her to choose Wesley so badly! He seemed so sweet and truly loved her.
And let’s talk about the badass godmother(s). They were the highlight for me.
This also had quite the twist that I didn’t see coming!
Overall, this was not my favorite book but I appreciated the imagination of the stones/tech. A big thanks to Hambright PR and NetGalley for the ARC
August 6, 2026
'Freedom isn’t just about survival. It’s the challenge, and if I can beat Justice Beathach at his own game? That’s worth every risk.' (Ch 19)
Dark Fairytale Retelling | Dark Fantasy Mafia Romance | Steamy Romantic Suspense | Enemies-to-Lovers | Mafia Enforcer x Social Media Giant Expropriated Heiress | Crystal Magic | Touch Her and ☠️ | Morally Black
Can be read as a standalone, I have not read the other books in the series. This is a loose fantasy techy twist on Cinderella.
'It’s like she’s figured out how to hack me, and a part of me wonders if she has. If she can hack into crystals and cause chaos that can infect people, why not in a direct line to men? Her voice cuts through my usual pain with an erotic slide of heat.' (Ch 2)
The suspense/thrill and slow burn were exhilarating. Justice and Ella, dark and light, are intense, explosive, fire incarnate together! It's a forceful chase and game of cat and mouse with side traps in the waiting. Action and death-threats at every turn, ending in an unforseen twist.
'....nothing prepared me for the man sitting across from me now. He’s lethal in a way no code could predict. The kind of danger you don’t see until it’s already in your bloodstream.' (Ch 5)
If you like dangerous, possessive, controlling, commanding, and rough MMCs, then this is the book for you!
eARC courtesy of NetGalley | Hambright PR | Kensington Books
Dark Fairytale Retelling | Dark Fantasy Mafia Romance | Steamy Romantic Suspense | Enemies-to-Lovers | Mafia Enforcer x Social Media Giant Expropriated Heiress | Crystal Magic | Touch Her and ☠️ | Morally Black
Can be read as a standalone, I have not read the other books in the series. This is a loose fantasy techy twist on Cinderella.
'It’s like she’s figured out how to hack me, and a part of me wonders if she has. If she can hack into crystals and cause chaos that can infect people, why not in a direct line to men? Her voice cuts through my usual pain with an erotic slide of heat.' (Ch 2)
The suspense/thrill and slow burn were exhilarating. Justice and Ella, dark and light, are intense, explosive, fire incarnate together! It's a forceful chase and game of cat and mouse with side traps in the waiting. Action and death-threats at every turn, ending in an unforseen twist.
'....nothing prepared me for the man sitting across from me now. He’s lethal in a way no code could predict. The kind of danger you don’t see until it’s already in your bloodstream.' (Ch 5)
If you like dangerous, possessive, controlling, commanding, and rough MMCs, then this is the book for you!
eARC courtesy of NetGalley | Hambright PR | Kensington Books
July 31, 2026
Just finished reading an advanced copy of a book that was just released on July 28th called, One Shattered Crown. This is about Ella, she's a hacker and she wants revenge against her stepmother who stole her rightful position within her father's company. She's willing to do whatever it takes to get her revenge and the company back that her father left her. Justice is after Ella because she's tried to kill his brother, twice. So he kidnaps her, but little does he know she is someone who refuses to be held against her will, she is super smart and can always figure out a way to escape. But when someone starts going after her trying to kill her, Justice starts protecting Ella because even though she started out as his enemy, she might just be the only one who can help him.
This was a twist on Cinderella but as a dark romance, with technology and magic. This is book three of this series and this was a Mafia story with a dystopian world, magic, a slowburn, banter, spice, mystery, suspense, enemies to lovers, a protective morally gray MMC and a strong badass FMC. The game of cat-and-mouse between these two was really entertaining and well written! I felt like I flew through this book, it easily kept my attention and was a fun story! 🧡📚
Thank you to Rebecca Zanetti, Kensington, and HambrightPR for this ARC of One Shattered Crown, in exchange for an honest review.
This was a twist on Cinderella but as a dark romance, with technology and magic. This is book three of this series and this was a Mafia story with a dystopian world, magic, a slowburn, banter, spice, mystery, suspense, enemies to lovers, a protective morally gray MMC and a strong badass FMC. The game of cat-and-mouse between these two was really entertaining and well written! I felt like I flew through this book, it easily kept my attention and was a fun story! 🧡📚
Thank you to Rebecca Zanetti, Kensington, and HambrightPR for this ARC of One Shattered Crown, in exchange for an honest review.
August 25, 2026
Was pleasantly surprised when it was a Cinderella tale! Super suspenseful
![Profile Image for Samantha✨ [reads everythinggggg].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1773675787i/154238456._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
July 23, 2026
I received One Shattered Crown by Rebecca Zanetti as an ARC from Kensington Publishing Corp., and I’d like to thank the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this thrilling, adorable, techy, dystopian dark romance!
First, I want to say that I loved the pacing of this book. I was never bored, and everything felt meticulously planned. It kept me engaged from beginning to end.
The lore and the cat-and-mouse game between the FMC and MMC were awesome! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. He made for a great dark romance MMC, and nothing about his character put me off. The slow-burn romance is definitely real here!
Additionally, the FMC being the best at what she does? Let’s go, girl power! I was rooting for her the entire time. I also really enjoyed the sci-fi elements, as that’s not something I’ve experienced in a dark romance before.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Even though I haven’t read the first two books in the series, I’ll definitely be going back to pick them up now.
First, I want to say that I loved the pacing of this book. I was never bored, and everything felt meticulously planned. It kept me engaged from beginning to end.
The lore and the cat-and-mouse game between the FMC and MMC were awesome! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. He made for a great dark romance MMC, and nothing about his character put me off. The slow-burn romance is definitely real here!
Additionally, the FMC being the best at what she does? Let’s go, girl power! I was rooting for her the entire time. I also really enjoyed the sci-fi elements, as that’s not something I’ve experienced in a dark romance before.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Even though I haven’t read the first two books in the series, I’ll definitely be going back to pick them up now.
July 18, 2026
I ate this book UP! I didn’t realize it was part of a trilogy, I’m definitely going to read the other two books! It was my first mafia-esque romance and I loved the darker fairytale retelling!
I loved Ella’s character! She was smart and cunning but didn’t think much of herself, and her man made sure she knew she was EVERYTHING to him. I love how quick and hard they fell for each other.
Justiceeeeee, yummy, broody Justice! I love how she wrote him. He’s definitely someone I would be afraid of crossing paths. He oozes death, destruction, and definitely has an air of “don’t eff with me” about him. He’s definitely an MMC I won’t forget.
I highly recommend this fun, fast, futuristic dystopian with an air of magic to it!
I loved Ella’s character! She was smart and cunning but didn’t think much of herself, and her man made sure she knew she was EVERYTHING to him. I love how quick and hard they fell for each other.
Justiceeeeee, yummy, broody Justice! I love how she wrote him. He’s definitely someone I would be afraid of crossing paths. He oozes death, destruction, and definitely has an air of “don’t eff with me” about him. He’s definitely an MMC I won’t forget.
I highly recommend this fun, fast, futuristic dystopian with an air of magic to it!
Read
July 26, 2026⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m usually not a big retelling reader, but Rebecca Zanetti’s Grimm Bargains series continues to work for me, and this installment was no exception.
What I love about this series is that Zanetti doesn’t simply retell a fairy tale scene for scene. Instead, she takes inspiration from the original Grimm stories and weaves those elements into her own dark, magical dystopian world. This book is based on Cinderella, and readers familiar with the Grimm version—not just the Disney adaptation—will catch so many clever nods and references throughout the story. The Citrine heels? Yes please… (if you know you know)
Even though this is Book 3, it can absolutely be read as a standalone. You won’t feel lost if you start here. That said, reading the series in order has been a lot of fun because each book reveals more about the fantasy world Zanetti has built.
Fair warning: this is a dark dystopian mafia romance with a healthy amount of spice. If light BDSM dynamics or dominant heroes aren’t your thing, definitely check the content warnings before diving in.
The reason this wasn’t quite a 5-star read for me was the repetition. Some of the action felt a bit cyclical, and there were moments where I felt like I was stuck in a Groundhog Day loop. A few of the spicy scenes also felt more gratuitous than necessary and didn’t always move the story forward.
I ended up doing an immersion read, pairing a complimentary physical copy from Kensington Publishing with the audiobook ALC from RB Media via NetGalley. Emma Wilder and Lance Greenfield both did a solid job with the narration. Did they elevate the material? Not particularly, but they delivered enjoyable performances, and I appreciated having both formats to experience the story.
Overall, I definitely recommend this one—just make sure you know what subgenres you’re stepping into so you can enjoy the ride for what it is.
I’m usually not a big retelling reader, but Rebecca Zanetti’s Grimm Bargains series continues to work for me, and this installment was no exception.
What I love about this series is that Zanetti doesn’t simply retell a fairy tale scene for scene. Instead, she takes inspiration from the original Grimm stories and weaves those elements into her own dark, magical dystopian world. This book is based on Cinderella, and readers familiar with the Grimm version—not just the Disney adaptation—will catch so many clever nods and references throughout the story. The Citrine heels? Yes please… (if you know you know)
Even though this is Book 3, it can absolutely be read as a standalone. You won’t feel lost if you start here. That said, reading the series in order has been a lot of fun because each book reveals more about the fantasy world Zanetti has built.
Fair warning: this is a dark dystopian mafia romance with a healthy amount of spice. If light BDSM dynamics or dominant heroes aren’t your thing, definitely check the content warnings before diving in.
The reason this wasn’t quite a 5-star read for me was the repetition. Some of the action felt a bit cyclical, and there were moments where I felt like I was stuck in a Groundhog Day loop. A few of the spicy scenes also felt more gratuitous than necessary and didn’t always move the story forward.
I ended up doing an immersion read, pairing a complimentary physical copy from Kensington Publishing with the audiobook ALC from RB Media via NetGalley. Emma Wilder and Lance Greenfield both did a solid job with the narration. Did they elevate the material? Not particularly, but they delivered enjoyable performances, and I appreciated having both formats to experience the story.
Overall, I definitely recommend this one—just make sure you know what subgenres you’re stepping into so you can enjoy the ride for what it is.
July 29, 2026
Thank you to the author and Kensington Books for the gifted e-copy.
“She glares at me. I smile. God, she’s cute.”
Vibes: powers meet high tech action movie
I loved this book so much! FMC is a badass hacker. MMC has all the red flags and is only soft for her. He washes her hair! The godmother gang was amazing and spunky with glitter and grenades.
Tropes:
Social Media
Feminine Rage
Cat & Mouse
Twist on Cinderella
Enemies to Lovers
Touch Her & Perish
“She glares at me. I smile. God, she’s cute.”
Vibes: powers meet high tech action movie
I loved this book so much! FMC is a badass hacker. MMC has all the red flags and is only soft for her. He washes her hair! The godmother gang was amazing and spunky with glitter and grenades.
Tropes:
Social Media
Feminine Rage
Cat & Mouse
Twist on Cinderella
Enemies to Lovers
Touch Her & Perish
July 12, 2026
One Shattered Crown, a dark fairytale, Cinderella retelling, with mafia and supernatural elements
I loved the subtle nods to Cinderella in the story, just enough to make the connection without being overdone. Ella is a wild one, and her modus operandi: running away. Whether that be from captors, or just life she doesn't want to deal with, she refuses to be cooped up or held against her will by any means. Justice, initially trying to protect his brother, and get help for himself, thinks kidnapping Ella might be his best chance. Unfortunately for him, Ella is impossible to keep captive for long. And, unfortunately for Ella, Justice runs faster than her, and always manages to catch up.
This story is chock full of action, and not just the cat and mouse game that Ella and Justus play. Someone is making a move on the 4 families, but nobody knows who this "5th" player is. Ella seems to have enemies coming from all angles, including her own stepmother. Without a chance to really dig into who is hacking the various social media companies, Ella is as clueless as everyone else to who the culprit may be.
I love the slow-burn between Ella and Justus, with angsty encounters, and a very wet crescendo when they can no longer deny their burning desires. I love that Ella is the best hacker in this world, and she sure uses that knowledge to get her out of a seemingly impossible escape situation.
And my favorite characters have to be the "fairy godmothers!!" They are just hilarious, and don't shy away from a fire fight. I just love their "profession" too! I also love the addition of Leo, the rescued dog who needed Ella as much as she needed him.
Thank you so much to Kensington, the author, and Netgalley for a copy of this book!
Some fav quotes:
"I hate the smell of his cologne. Expensive, complex, a little sharp. Like black pepper and sin."
"She thinks I want her dead. I should. Except I don’t. I want to trap her at my house in the woods and have her sing. Talk. Joke. Hum. Any sound out of her magical mouth."
"When God gives a man this face and this body, anyone would heat up. Maybe it isn’t God. Justice carries the flavor of the devil."
"She's seventy-three, rocking a neon pink tracksuit that sparkles from ankle to chin."
"She doesn’t understand. Of course she doesn’t. The man touched her. He doesn’t get to breathe after that."
"The sound she makes will accompany me to the grave."
"That grin should be outlawed."
"And in the middle of it all, absurd and glittering under the weak light, a tactical knife with a sparkly pink handle. Razor sharp, polished, deadly. Somebody took the time to bedazzle murder."
I loved the subtle nods to Cinderella in the story, just enough to make the connection without being overdone. Ella is a wild one, and her modus operandi: running away. Whether that be from captors, or just life she doesn't want to deal with, she refuses to be cooped up or held against her will by any means. Justice, initially trying to protect his brother, and get help for himself, thinks kidnapping Ella might be his best chance. Unfortunately for him, Ella is impossible to keep captive for long. And, unfortunately for Ella, Justice runs faster than her, and always manages to catch up.
This story is chock full of action, and not just the cat and mouse game that Ella and Justus play. Someone is making a move on the 4 families, but nobody knows who this "5th" player is. Ella seems to have enemies coming from all angles, including her own stepmother. Without a chance to really dig into who is hacking the various social media companies, Ella is as clueless as everyone else to who the culprit may be.
I love the slow-burn between Ella and Justus, with angsty encounters, and a very wet crescendo when they can no longer deny their burning desires. I love that Ella is the best hacker in this world, and she sure uses that knowledge to get her out of a seemingly impossible escape situation.
And my favorite characters have to be the "fairy godmothers!!" They are just hilarious, and don't shy away from a fire fight. I just love their "profession" too! I also love the addition of Leo, the rescued dog who needed Ella as much as she needed him.
Thank you so much to Kensington, the author, and Netgalley for a copy of this book!
Some fav quotes:
"I hate the smell of his cologne. Expensive, complex, a little sharp. Like black pepper and sin."
"She thinks I want her dead. I should. Except I don’t. I want to trap her at my house in the woods and have her sing. Talk. Joke. Hum. Any sound out of her magical mouth."
"When God gives a man this face and this body, anyone would heat up. Maybe it isn’t God. Justice carries the flavor of the devil."
"She's seventy-three, rocking a neon pink tracksuit that sparkles from ankle to chin."
"She doesn’t understand. Of course she doesn’t. The man touched her. He doesn’t get to breathe after that."
"The sound she makes will accompany me to the grave."
"That grin should be outlawed."
"And in the middle of it all, absurd and glittering under the weak light, a tactical knife with a sparkly pink handle. Razor sharp, polished, deadly. Somebody took the time to bedazzle murder."
August 9, 2026
📚 ARC Review
Release date 7/28/26
This is a dark romance with a hint of fantasy. Dark and broody MMC, Justice. We like them dark and broody, don’t we? Our FMC Ella challenges him in the best ways and definitely kept him on their toes. There were definitely touch her and 💀 vibes. The last bits of the book really brought everything together and there were twists that took me by surprise.
This is book 3 in an interconnected standalone series and is a dark Cinderella retelling.
Thanks to Hambright PR for the eARC.
Release date 7/28/26
This is a dark romance with a hint of fantasy. Dark and broody MMC, Justice. We like them dark and broody, don’t we? Our FMC Ella challenges him in the best ways and definitely kept him on their toes. There were definitely touch her and 💀 vibes. The last bits of the book really brought everything together and there were twists that took me by surprise.
This is book 3 in an interconnected standalone series and is a dark Cinderella retelling.
Thanks to Hambright PR for the eARC.
July 31, 2026
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.
Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Narration:🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨✨
First Impressions
One Shattered Crown is the most recent addition to the Grimm Bargains series. This was a long awaited story for me as the connection between our hero and heroine was built in previous books so to see them finally get together was beyond satisfying and this is where I do recommend reading these books in order if you can. I think what intrigued me most was seeing how Zanetti unravels the Cinderella retelling. There is such chemistry from beginning to end on this one here. And seeing the way in which they overcome the villain (s) was thrilling.
The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Justice Beathach
The Heroine: Ella Rendale
What I Loved
I think the first thing that comes to mind with this book was JUSTICE!!! What a hero, he is sexy enough that he will curl your toes. Just from the beginning, he sets the tone just right for the story. He is full on alpha and I never get bored with how this author writes her heroe's. And he matches so well with Ella. Ella is a unique mix of a heroine. And I still fell hard for her even if she has some flaws. Ella has a mix of strength, stubborness and yet relatable in her own way. Her stubborness does put her in danger and she has to learn some painful lessons. Justice is just right for her though. He is strong enough to be able to handle her stubborn nature and stand up to her when he needs to. But the poor thing and all those spankings LOL What made the biggest impression for me is how the author handled her own twist of Cinderella. Its more of a loose retelling but seeing the reveal in the end was PERFECTION!!! It has some twists you don't see at first and I appreciated that from this author.
What I Struggled With
There was only one thing that kept this from being a 6 star read. The heroine was a bit too stubborn at times and could get TSTL in some ways and I wasn't a fan of how she treated the hero in some respects. Even though she has her own strengths....she still had vulnerabilities and I do wish that she had been more honest even with herself over those weaknesses that made her human.
Narration
FABULOUS!!! I just love how these narrators handle this series, they just make the characters really come alive in the best of ways. And they build the yearning and tension just right.
Overall View
One Shattered Crown is a story that digs deeper into the Cinderella retelling while adding in a darker twist to the original tale ......its thrilling, explosive and sensual and will captivate your heart!
Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Dark Romance
Character Types: Morally Grey Hero, Sassy Heroine, Mafia
Themes: He Falls First, BDSM-Lite
Tropes: Retelling
Book Perspective
Duo POV
Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Both
If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Greer Rivers
Giana Darling
Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes
Steam/Spice Explanations
Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Narrators:
Lance Crawford
Emma Wilder
July 29, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.75 stars)
One Shattered Crown was definitely outside my normal reading comfort zone, and I’m really glad I picked it up! I was immediately drawn in by the promise of a Cinderella-inspired story paired with morally gray characters, and Rebecca Zanetti delivered a unique blend of dark romance, billionaire power, mafia intrigue, and fantasy.
Even though this is the third book in the Grimm Bargains series, I had no trouble following the story as a standalone. In fact, it left me curious enough that I want to go back and read the first two books.
The world-building was incredibly clever. The rival social media empires, crystal-powered magic, and high-tech setting created a fresh backdrop that kept the story feeling original. There were a few moments where I found myself skimming some of the denser world-building details, but the suspense, action, and twists quickly pulled me right back in and kept the pages turning.
My favorite part was spotting all of the Cinderella-inspired elements woven throughout the story. I’d describe this as more Cinderella-inspired than a true retelling, and I loved the creative nods to the fairy tale—especially the godmother and the lost shoe.
Justice was a compelling hero with his bold, protective, take-charge personality, and the chemistry between him and Ella was undeniable. My biggest hesitation, though, was that their romance felt very insta-love and was driven primarily by physical attraction. I kept waiting for a quieter, more emotional moment that would help me fully believe the depth of their connection beyond the chemistry, but that moment never quite came for me.
Overall, this was a fun, fast-paced read that introduced me to a world I’m excited to explore further. If you enjoy dark romance with morally gray characters, fantasy elements, and a fresh spin on classic fairy tales, this one is worth checking out.
Thank you to Hambright PR, Kensington Publishing, and Rebecca Zanetti for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
One Shattered Crown was definitely outside my normal reading comfort zone, and I’m really glad I picked it up! I was immediately drawn in by the promise of a Cinderella-inspired story paired with morally gray characters, and Rebecca Zanetti delivered a unique blend of dark romance, billionaire power, mafia intrigue, and fantasy.
Even though this is the third book in the Grimm Bargains series, I had no trouble following the story as a standalone. In fact, it left me curious enough that I want to go back and read the first two books.
The world-building was incredibly clever. The rival social media empires, crystal-powered magic, and high-tech setting created a fresh backdrop that kept the story feeling original. There were a few moments where I found myself skimming some of the denser world-building details, but the suspense, action, and twists quickly pulled me right back in and kept the pages turning.
My favorite part was spotting all of the Cinderella-inspired elements woven throughout the story. I’d describe this as more Cinderella-inspired than a true retelling, and I loved the creative nods to the fairy tale—especially the godmother and the lost shoe.
Justice was a compelling hero with his bold, protective, take-charge personality, and the chemistry between him and Ella was undeniable. My biggest hesitation, though, was that their romance felt very insta-love and was driven primarily by physical attraction. I kept waiting for a quieter, more emotional moment that would help me fully believe the depth of their connection beyond the chemistry, but that moment never quite came for me.
Overall, this was a fun, fast-paced read that introduced me to a world I’m excited to explore further. If you enjoy dark romance with morally gray characters, fantasy elements, and a fresh spin on classic fairy tales, this one is worth checking out.
Thank you to Hambright PR, Kensington Publishing, and Rebecca Zanetti for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 13, 2026
Thanks so much to RBMedia and NetGalley for approving me to listen to this ALC!
I wasn't expecting to be approved for this audiobook, so I definitely went in completely blind. I'd seen it floating around on Goodreads and Instagram, but I hadn't realized there were two books before this one.
That being said, I was still able to follow along easily and never felt like I was missing anything. I was quickly sucked into the story and found myself mad at myself for not reading the other books first. This was such a creative twist on Cinderella!
Ella Rendale should have inherited TimeGem Moments—a media company powered by crystals that brings in millions of dollars—when her father passed away. Instead, her stepmother is keeping it from her and has already put a hit out on her. Ella also has two stepsisters who aren't exactly sisterly toward her.
Ella is determined to take control of what's rightfully hers. She's fearless, determined, and more than used to having her life on the line.
Then there's Justice Beathach: murderous, sexy, and the brother of the man Ella tried to kill. Their paths cross, and from there… there's SO much spice, and it is HAWT. Like, blushing, kicking-my-feet, giggling-into-my-pillow kind of hot. 🤭🔥
This audiobook was phenomenal. I was completely entranced from start to finish. I highly recommend giving this one a shot!
I wasn't expecting to be approved for this audiobook, so I definitely went in completely blind. I'd seen it floating around on Goodreads and Instagram, but I hadn't realized there were two books before this one.
That being said, I was still able to follow along easily and never felt like I was missing anything. I was quickly sucked into the story and found myself mad at myself for not reading the other books first. This was such a creative twist on Cinderella!
Ella Rendale should have inherited TimeGem Moments—a media company powered by crystals that brings in millions of dollars—when her father passed away. Instead, her stepmother is keeping it from her and has already put a hit out on her. Ella also has two stepsisters who aren't exactly sisterly toward her.
Ella is determined to take control of what's rightfully hers. She's fearless, determined, and more than used to having her life on the line.
Then there's Justice Beathach: murderous, sexy, and the brother of the man Ella tried to kill. Their paths cross, and from there… there's SO much spice, and it is HAWT. Like, blushing, kicking-my-feet, giggling-into-my-pillow kind of hot. 🤭🔥
This audiobook was phenomenal. I was completely entranced from start to finish. I highly recommend giving this one a shot!
August 30, 2026
⭐ ARC REVIEW | One Shattered Crown by Rebecca Zanetti ⭐
4.25/5 ⭐️
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC! 🖤
A dystopian dark mafia romance that genuinely feels like being on a rollercoaster. 🎢 There is SO MUCH happening, and somehow the story just keeps getting crazier.
I absolutely loved the chemistry between Ella and Justice. Ella is a total badass -seriously, she’s like an eel you simply cannot catch. 😂 Every time you think someone finally has her cornered… nope.
And Justice? Grumpy as HELL, dangerous, and very clear about one thing: he knows exactly what he wants… HER.🫠🔥
I also really enjoyed seeing and interacting with characters from the previous books. It made the world feel even more connected.
My only wish is that the story had slowed down a little. The pacing is incredibly fast, and I would have loved MORE moments between Ella and Justice — more conversations, more tension, more chemistry, just more of them. 🖤
And that ending?! I genuinely DID NOT see it coming. I love when a book manages to completely surprise me, and this one definitely did. The outcome caught me completely off guard, and that made the ending even more satisfying.
Chaotic. Dark. Fast-paced. Addictive. And completely unpredictable. 👑🖤
4.25/5 ⭐️
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC! 🖤
A dystopian dark mafia romance that genuinely feels like being on a rollercoaster. 🎢 There is SO MUCH happening, and somehow the story just keeps getting crazier.
I absolutely loved the chemistry between Ella and Justice. Ella is a total badass -seriously, she’s like an eel you simply cannot catch. 😂 Every time you think someone finally has her cornered… nope.
And Justice? Grumpy as HELL, dangerous, and very clear about one thing: he knows exactly what he wants… HER.🫠🔥
I also really enjoyed seeing and interacting with characters from the previous books. It made the world feel even more connected.
My only wish is that the story had slowed down a little. The pacing is incredibly fast, and I would have loved MORE moments between Ella and Justice — more conversations, more tension, more chemistry, just more of them. 🖤
And that ending?! I genuinely DID NOT see it coming. I love when a book manages to completely surprise me, and this one definitely did. The outcome caught me completely off guard, and that made the ending even more satisfying.
Chaotic. Dark. Fast-paced. Addictive. And completely unpredictable. 👑🖤
July 29, 2026
4 stars
I listened to this book on audio and Emma Wilder and Lance Greenfield did a great job bringing these characters to life. 5 stars for narration
I didn't realize when I started this book that it was part of a series. It can be read as a standalone but I was a bit confused by the crystals and how it powers social media. Everything else made sense but I just wish Rebecca Zanetti gave some background information in regards to that part.
There are some Cinderella aspects in this book; from the shoe left behind, god mothers, and evil step mother and step sisters. But that's where the similarities end.
The FMC is a stubborn and highly intelligent/resourceful coder/hacker. She is a family member of one of the four big mafia/social media family. After her dad died, the company went to the stepmom and she has been fighting to reclaim her spot over the company.
The MMC is very much a touch her and die mentality but is a cinnamon roll to her. The yearning and chemistry is there but it is pretty much instalove. The banter between them is excellent.
Thank you NetGalley, Rebecca Zanetti, and RB Media for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
I listened to this book on audio and Emma Wilder and Lance Greenfield did a great job bringing these characters to life. 5 stars for narration
I didn't realize when I started this book that it was part of a series. It can be read as a standalone but I was a bit confused by the crystals and how it powers social media. Everything else made sense but I just wish Rebecca Zanetti gave some background information in regards to that part.
There are some Cinderella aspects in this book; from the shoe left behind, god mothers, and evil step mother and step sisters. But that's where the similarities end.
The FMC is a stubborn and highly intelligent/resourceful coder/hacker. She is a family member of one of the four big mafia/social media family. After her dad died, the company went to the stepmom and she has been fighting to reclaim her spot over the company.
The MMC is very much a touch her and die mentality but is a cinnamon roll to her. The yearning and chemistry is there but it is pretty much instalove. The banter between them is excellent.
Thank you NetGalley, Rebecca Zanetti, and RB Media for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
July 30, 2026
This book jumps right in, introducing you to Ella and Justice. And let me tell you, something about Justice is just *chefs kiss*
Since this is the third book, I felt a little out of the loop as Ella played a big role in the previous two books it seems. I also found the fantasy portion of this book a little confusing and did not quite get anything other than that little tidbit.
There’s never a dull moment and Ella is a huge ass brat who continues to be put in her place by Justice.
Finally the end felt a little messy and it was hard for me to keep up but overall I did enjoy this book
Since this is the third book, I felt a little out of the loop as Ella played a big role in the previous two books it seems. I also found the fantasy portion of this book a little confusing and did not quite get anything other than that little tidbit.
There’s never a dull moment and Ella is a huge ass brat who continues to be put in her place by Justice.
Finally the end felt a little messy and it was hard for me to keep up but overall I did enjoy this book
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
One Shattered Crown is the third book in a series called Grimm Bargains and I highly recommend that you read the first two books in this series to get a full picture of the background story. However if you decide to jump straight to this one once it has been released don't worry it will be fine (I've only read this one🙈).
It was a good book that sometimes felt like I was reading an action movie with a good amount of romance in it (🙌🙌).
I usually don't read books in this genre dystopian romantasy but when a friend of mine told me she signed up for it and that it was a fairy tale retelling I just had to try it out. Thanks for the buddy read Camilla ♥️.
For me this was a fast paced read with good bantern, a good story, some spice scenes and I liked the chemistry between the main characters. There was also a group of older ladies that I just have to mention that I liked because those ladies was wild and kinda funny so I hope I will meet them again in another book 😉.
I would recommend this book to those of you who might enjoy the following tropes listed down below:
💎 Dystopian Romantasy
👠 Cinderella Retelling
🧲 Forced Proximity
🔥 Burning Sexual Tension
🖤 Morally Gray Love Interest
😡 Enemies to Lovers
💀 Touch her and ☠️
It was a good book that sometimes felt like I was reading an action movie with a good amount of romance in it (🙌🙌).
I usually don't read books in this genre dystopian romantasy but when a friend of mine told me she signed up for it and that it was a fairy tale retelling I just had to try it out. Thanks for the buddy read Camilla ♥️.
For me this was a fast paced read with good bantern, a good story, some spice scenes and I liked the chemistry between the main characters. There was also a group of older ladies that I just have to mention that I liked because those ladies was wild and kinda funny so I hope I will meet them again in another book 😉.
I would recommend this book to those of you who might enjoy the following tropes listed down below:
💎 Dystopian Romantasy
👠 Cinderella Retelling
🧲 Forced Proximity
🔥 Burning Sexual Tension
🖤 Morally Gray Love Interest
😡 Enemies to Lovers
💀 Touch her and ☠️
Did Not Finish
August 5, 2026DNF @10% I was excited about this one because it seems so unique. Cinderella inspired mafia in a high-tech dystopian setting but a few chapters in and I can tell its not for me.
Full transparency I recieved a copy from Hambright PR.
Full transparency I recieved a copy from Hambright PR.
September 14, 2026
I liked Justice the best of the 3 mmcs in this series, but this fmc was the worst. She's such a hypocrite and if being a brat means making the stupidest decisions, then cutting off your nose to spite your face, no thanks I don't want it.
September 2, 2026
Just read the same book 3 times
July 29, 2026
The writing in this is good, but I struggled to connect with the characters. It starts off with such a bang that would have landed better for me personally if I had already been familiar with this world and these characters. It is absolutely set up as an interconnected standalone, but I personally would have enjoyed it more reading it after the other books.
The side characters really stole the show for me. They were charming in their own regard.
This book wasn’t personally my favorite, but I think if you like mafia and retellings then you’ll enjoy this!
The side characters really stole the show for me. They were charming in their own regard.
This book wasn’t personally my favorite, but I think if you like mafia and retellings then you’ll enjoy this!
July 7, 2026
I had so much fun with this trilogy. Rebecca Zanetti has officially earned auto-buy status for me.
I loved the way she blended a futuristic dystopian world with dark fairy tale retellings. It felt fresh, unique, and completely pulled me in. Every book added another layer to the world, and by the end I wasn’t ready to leave it.
And can we talk about these men for a second? Rebecca Zanetti writes the kind of dark, dangerous, possessive MMCs that I eat up every single time. Justice was absolutely no exception.
Ella and Justice’s story was the perfect way to wrap up the series. There was action, tension, twists, romance, and just enough obsession to keep me glued to the pages. I was invested from beginning to end.
If you love dark romance, fairy tale retellings, morally gray men, and dystopian worlds that feel completely different from everything else out there, I can’t recommend this trilogy enough.
Audiobook updates yes I already did a reread with the audiobook and I love it even more fantastic audiobook
I loved the way she blended a futuristic dystopian world with dark fairy tale retellings. It felt fresh, unique, and completely pulled me in. Every book added another layer to the world, and by the end I wasn’t ready to leave it.
And can we talk about these men for a second? Rebecca Zanetti writes the kind of dark, dangerous, possessive MMCs that I eat up every single time. Justice was absolutely no exception.
Ella and Justice’s story was the perfect way to wrap up the series. There was action, tension, twists, romance, and just enough obsession to keep me glued to the pages. I was invested from beginning to end.
If you love dark romance, fairy tale retellings, morally gray men, and dystopian worlds that feel completely different from everything else out there, I can’t recommend this trilogy enough.
Audiobook updates yes I already did a reread with the audiobook and I love it even more fantastic audiobook
April 13, 2026
Justice Beathach is a deadly enforcer for the Irish Mafia and brother to the head one of the biggest media outlets.
Currently, he’s standing by the window like a predator in a designer tux.
Ella Rendale has been trying to get her company back from her evil step mother. She’s a computer expert and a total firecracker.
My own personal landmine in lipstick and heels.
The owners of the four social media giants are not there via coincidence. We all come from long lines of crystal-bound bloodlines.
This is a futuristic retelling of Cinderella complete with step sisters. This one kept me guessing and on my toes. There are some authors that knock it out of the park no matter what they write and this is one of them.
Currently, he’s standing by the window like a predator in a designer tux.
Ella Rendale has been trying to get her company back from her evil step mother. She’s a computer expert and a total firecracker.
My own personal landmine in lipstick and heels.
The owners of the four social media giants are not there via coincidence. We all come from long lines of crystal-bound bloodlines.
This is a futuristic retelling of Cinderella complete with step sisters. This one kept me guessing and on my toes. There are some authors that knock it out of the park no matter what they write and this is one of them.
June 14, 2026
(ARC Review) as much as i love the “touch her and die” and “who did this to you?” tropes, i also have a soft spot for the fluffy, tender moments and this book delivers both. it’s equal parts hot and sweet, and honestly, it’s peak swoony material 🥰📚✨ this is my favorite from the whole grimm bargains series. I love justice he’s just so ughhhh 🥰🥰🥰
September 9, 2026
ARC provided via NetGalley 3.75 ⭐️ | 4 🌶️
One Shattered Crown was exactly the kind of fun and addictive read I needed right now! Full of action, mystery, mafia danger, strange gemstones, advanced technology and a very intense romance, this final book in the Grimm Bargains series kept me entertained from beginning to end.
This time we follow Ella and Justice, and while they may seem very different at first, I loved discovering how similar they actually are. Ella is a brilliant programmer & hacker who has spent most of her life hiding, always watching for danger and never allowing herself to stay anywhere for too long. Justice, meanwhile, is Thorn’s brother, right-hand man and enforcer. He is dominant, protective and very much used to being in control, both in and outside the bedroom 😅.
And underneath it all, they are both survivors who learned very early that showing emotion could make them vulnerable. Their attraction is intense from the beginning and the physical side of their relationship develops much faster than their feelings. This is definitely more instalust with an emotional slow burn, while Ella’s constant running from Justice frustrated me a lot, I could understand why she did it. For someone who has survived by never staying anywhere long enough to be caught, allowing another person to become her safe place might be the most frightening thing of all.
And once those emotional walls finally started coming down, I really enjoyed them together. Their relationship is very much all or nothing, neither of these characters is made for halfway, and I loved watching the physical connection gradually become something much deeper. Their spicy scenes are definitely spicy, but it was the vulnerability underneath them that ultimately made the romance work for me.
I only wish we had been given more of their individual backstories, especially Justice’s. While I became attached to both of them, there were moments when their personalities felt like strong archetypes instead of fully explored characters.
The Cinderella inspiration was also a lot of fun. Ella fighting to reclaim TimeGem from her stepmother who took it from her gave the familiar story a modern mafia/sci-fi twist, and I particularly loved her Godmother and her friends, a group of armed women in their seventies ready to join a rescue mission was absolutely not something I knew I needed 😂. I also adored the dog Ella rescues and the way he slowly becomes part of Ella and Justice’s little family.
The plot moves quickly, with plenty of action surrounding the mysterious gemstones, the virus affecting the families and the unknown player working against them. I wouldn’t say the mystery was incredibly complex, but it was entertaining and well put together enough to keep me wanting answers.
The worldbuilding remains too light, though and without the gemstones, unusual abilities and advanced technology, this could almost read as a contemporary mafia romance rather than sci-fi or urban fantasy. I also wish we had learned much more about the gemstones themselves and what they can actually do, especially as this is the final book in the series.
One of my favorite surprises was seeing characters from the previous books return and actually play a role in the story. As One Dark Kiss remains my favorite of the series, having Alexei involved again made me ridiculously happy!
Overall, One Shattered Crown was an entertaining conclusion to the Grimm Bargains series, though I would have loved seeing more worldbuilding and answers about those gems! Action-packed, steamy, sometimes completely over the top, but also surprisingly sweet once Ella and Justice finally allowed themselves to stop running from what they felt.
It may not have been the deepest or most complex read, but I had a really good time with it, and that was exactly what I needed 🖤
My Ratings: overall 3.75 ⭐️
Emotional Impact: 3.5
Character Connection: 3.5
Worldbuilding: 2.5
Plot: 4
Writing: 3.75
Romance: 4
Spice: 4🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
One Shattered Crown was exactly the kind of fun and addictive read I needed right now! Full of action, mystery, mafia danger, strange gemstones, advanced technology and a very intense romance, this final book in the Grimm Bargains series kept me entertained from beginning to end.
This time we follow Ella and Justice, and while they may seem very different at first, I loved discovering how similar they actually are. Ella is a brilliant programmer & hacker who has spent most of her life hiding, always watching for danger and never allowing herself to stay anywhere for too long. Justice, meanwhile, is Thorn’s brother, right-hand man and enforcer. He is dominant, protective and very much used to being in control, both in and outside the bedroom 😅.
And underneath it all, they are both survivors who learned very early that showing emotion could make them vulnerable. Their attraction is intense from the beginning and the physical side of their relationship develops much faster than their feelings. This is definitely more instalust with an emotional slow burn, while Ella’s constant running from Justice frustrated me a lot, I could understand why she did it. For someone who has survived by never staying anywhere long enough to be caught, allowing another person to become her safe place might be the most frightening thing of all.
And once those emotional walls finally started coming down, I really enjoyed them together. Their relationship is very much all or nothing, neither of these characters is made for halfway, and I loved watching the physical connection gradually become something much deeper. Their spicy scenes are definitely spicy, but it was the vulnerability underneath them that ultimately made the romance work for me.
I only wish we had been given more of their individual backstories, especially Justice’s. While I became attached to both of them, there were moments when their personalities felt like strong archetypes instead of fully explored characters.
The Cinderella inspiration was also a lot of fun. Ella fighting to reclaim TimeGem from her stepmother who took it from her gave the familiar story a modern mafia/sci-fi twist, and I particularly loved her Godmother and her friends, a group of armed women in their seventies ready to join a rescue mission was absolutely not something I knew I needed 😂. I also adored the dog Ella rescues and the way he slowly becomes part of Ella and Justice’s little family.
The plot moves quickly, with plenty of action surrounding the mysterious gemstones, the virus affecting the families and the unknown player working against them. I wouldn’t say the mystery was incredibly complex, but it was entertaining and well put together enough to keep me wanting answers.
The worldbuilding remains too light, though and without the gemstones, unusual abilities and advanced technology, this could almost read as a contemporary mafia romance rather than sci-fi or urban fantasy. I also wish we had learned much more about the gemstones themselves and what they can actually do, especially as this is the final book in the series.
One of my favorite surprises was seeing characters from the previous books return and actually play a role in the story. As One Dark Kiss remains my favorite of the series, having Alexei involved again made me ridiculously happy!
Overall, One Shattered Crown was an entertaining conclusion to the Grimm Bargains series, though I would have loved seeing more worldbuilding and answers about those gems! Action-packed, steamy, sometimes completely over the top, but also surprisingly sweet once Ella and Justice finally allowed themselves to stop running from what they felt.
It may not have been the deepest or most complex read, but I had a really good time with it, and that was exactly what I needed 🖤
My Ratings: overall 3.75 ⭐️
Emotional Impact: 3.5
Character Connection: 3.5
Worldbuilding: 2.5
Plot: 4
Writing: 3.75
Romance: 4
Spice: 4🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 30, 2026
4.5 stars
This is such a fun read! Full of action, snark and a sexy and intense enemies-to-lovers romance, it’s a fast-moving, wild ride from start to finish and it is such a great time.
This is the third and final book in the Grimm Bargains trilogy. It’s a loose take on Cinderella, complete with an evil stepmother, nasty stepsisters and fabulous ‘fairy’ godmothers. Characters from the previous books appear, and I enjoyed seeing them again, but you could read this one as a standalone. Being mildly paranormal, there is a bit to wrap your head around, but to be honest the world building was a bit lacking in the first book of this series and I finished it feeling very confused. The last two books have been easier to read.
The series features characters who are the heads of powerful families and who each rule their own social media company. Their servers are powered by crystals which they each have an affinity with, exchanging power with them to keep the servers charged. It’s a volatile and highly dangerous world as they battle to keep their dynasties.
Ella was due to inherit her late father’s company, but instead her evil stepmother claimed the company and has done all she can to cut her off. A talented hacker, Ella is fighting hard to take back what is rightfully hers. Justice is the brother of Thorn (hero of the first book). Ever since Ella’s actions almost got his brother killed, Justice wants her out of the picture. But he needs her and her tech skills.
Ella has no intention of helping a man who clearly wants her dead, and so we get this delicious cat-and-mouse setup where Ella runs, Justice finds her, and they bicker and fight until Ella runs again. It’s fun, and there are usually guns, car chases and/or explosions involved (often ending in kinky punishments for Ella), but each time they come back together, their attraction becomes even harder to resist.
The sexual tension between these two is insane, and when they act on it, it’s steamy, intense, and a little bit kinky. Justice is a man who knows what he wants, and he wants Ella in all the ways. I sometimes felt that Justice pushed a bit too far, and there was entirely too much spanking, but Ella was ok with it, so I was too. Though their relationship is more lust than romance for much of the book, I was fully on board with their explosive chemistry and growing connection.
While fighting, getting steamy and escaping death, Justice and Ella are trying to work out who is trying to kill them, while also investigating a mysterious attack on their companies, solving a virus that can infect their crystals, and all while Ella is still trying to reclaim her birthright. And it’s fast-paced from start to finish.
It’s a non-stop rollercoaster of action and excitement, with lots of violence, sex, bedazzled old ladies and grumpy, protective alpha males. The romance is sexy, but an emotional slow burn, and I loved watching these two finally come together. This book is a really entertaining ride.
4.5 stars.
An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is such a fun read! Full of action, snark and a sexy and intense enemies-to-lovers romance, it’s a fast-moving, wild ride from start to finish and it is such a great time.
This is the third and final book in the Grimm Bargains trilogy. It’s a loose take on Cinderella, complete with an evil stepmother, nasty stepsisters and fabulous ‘fairy’ godmothers. Characters from the previous books appear, and I enjoyed seeing them again, but you could read this one as a standalone. Being mildly paranormal, there is a bit to wrap your head around, but to be honest the world building was a bit lacking in the first book of this series and I finished it feeling very confused. The last two books have been easier to read.
The series features characters who are the heads of powerful families and who each rule their own social media company. Their servers are powered by crystals which they each have an affinity with, exchanging power with them to keep the servers charged. It’s a volatile and highly dangerous world as they battle to keep their dynasties.
Ella was due to inherit her late father’s company, but instead her evil stepmother claimed the company and has done all she can to cut her off. A talented hacker, Ella is fighting hard to take back what is rightfully hers. Justice is the brother of Thorn (hero of the first book). Ever since Ella’s actions almost got his brother killed, Justice wants her out of the picture. But he needs her and her tech skills.
Ella has no intention of helping a man who clearly wants her dead, and so we get this delicious cat-and-mouse setup where Ella runs, Justice finds her, and they bicker and fight until Ella runs again. It’s fun, and there are usually guns, car chases and/or explosions involved (often ending in kinky punishments for Ella), but each time they come back together, their attraction becomes even harder to resist.
She thinks I want her dead. I should. Except I don’t. I want to trap her at my house in the woods and have her sing. Talk. Joke. Hum. Any sound out of her magical mouth.
The sexual tension between these two is insane, and when they act on it, it’s steamy, intense, and a little bit kinky. Justice is a man who knows what he wants, and he wants Ella in all the ways. I sometimes felt that Justice pushed a bit too far, and there was entirely too much spanking, but Ella was ok with it, so I was too. Though their relationship is more lust than romance for much of the book, I was fully on board with their explosive chemistry and growing connection.
Never in my life have I been the hero, not even of my own story, and I see no reason to start now. Heroes sacrifice. They let go for the greater good.
Fuck that.
I’m keeping her.
While fighting, getting steamy and escaping death, Justice and Ella are trying to work out who is trying to kill them, while also investigating a mysterious attack on their companies, solving a virus that can infect their crystals, and all while Ella is still trying to reclaim her birthright. And it’s fast-paced from start to finish.
It’s a non-stop rollercoaster of action and excitement, with lots of violence, sex, bedazzled old ladies and grumpy, protective alpha males. The romance is sexy, but an emotional slow burn, and I loved watching these two finally come together. This book is a really entertaining ride.
4.5 stars.
An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2026
When I first saw the blurb for this book, I was immediately intrigued by its description. A dystopian, dark retelling of Cinderella for fans of Harley Laroux? Count me in! I usually really enjoy Cinderella retellings (the original fairytale itself holds a special place in my heart) but unfortunately, despite my excitement, One Shattered Crown ultimately fell a little short for me.
Firstly, the things that worked for me. I really liked how unique the magic system was. Each notable family in the book seemed to have an affinity for different gems, which they could use to power their social media apps. That was such a cool concept! I also appreciated that Zanetti put her own spin on the story rather than sticking strictly to the Cinderella storyline. I saw parts of the twist coming, but it still caught me a bit off guard by the end haha. I love it when authors take creative liberties with their work, so this made me very happy.
Apart from that, though, I had a hard time getting through the story. I wasn't able to connect particularly well with the writing, and there were times when I found myself tempted to skim through sections. I also felt like the pacing could've been tightened up a bit, 400 pages definitely felt a little too long for the story being told. It felt like the same general plot progression happened three times (Ella gets kidnapped by Justice, Ella escapes and runs into danger, Justice comes in to save and abduct her again) before the stakes were finally raised and things started getting interesting, and by then, we were already around 90% through the book.
I also struggled to connect with the characters. They all felt rather flat and one-dimensional, and while I loved the idea of Ella being a smart computer nerd as a STEM girlie myself, I really wished there had been more to her personality than being a "little ball of sass who loves computers."
The romance was also very much insta-lust, which isn't usually my favourite approach to romance. It can certainly work when done well, but unfortunately, it didn't quite work for me here. There wasn't enough emotional depth underpinning their relationship, so the sudden transition from lust to love felt a little too abrupt. It felt like the characters barely new each other beyond surface level stuff.
I'd initially wondered whether perhaps the relationship between the main couple had been established in the earlier books in the Grimm Bargain series. However, since this was marketed as an interconnected standalone, I do think it's important for most of the emotional foundation of the romance to be built within the book where the main character is the focus. While there may be some justification for their connection from events in the earlier book, as a reader who hadn't read the previous books coming into this, I personally couldn't quite get behind it.
Ultimately, One Shattered Crown wasn't quite the book for me. That said, I can definitely see how it could be an enjoyable read for the right audience, especially for readers looking for a mafia Cinderella retelling with some spice.
Thank you Hambright PR and Rebecca Zanetti for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Firstly, the things that worked for me. I really liked how unique the magic system was. Each notable family in the book seemed to have an affinity for different gems, which they could use to power their social media apps. That was such a cool concept! I also appreciated that Zanetti put her own spin on the story rather than sticking strictly to the Cinderella storyline. I saw parts of the twist coming, but it still caught me a bit off guard by the end haha. I love it when authors take creative liberties with their work, so this made me very happy.
Apart from that, though, I had a hard time getting through the story. I wasn't able to connect particularly well with the writing, and there were times when I found myself tempted to skim through sections. I also felt like the pacing could've been tightened up a bit, 400 pages definitely felt a little too long for the story being told. It felt like the same general plot progression happened three times (Ella gets kidnapped by Justice, Ella escapes and runs into danger, Justice comes in to save and abduct her again) before the stakes were finally raised and things started getting interesting, and by then, we were already around 90% through the book.
I also struggled to connect with the characters. They all felt rather flat and one-dimensional, and while I loved the idea of Ella being a smart computer nerd as a STEM girlie myself, I really wished there had been more to her personality than being a "little ball of sass who loves computers."
The romance was also very much insta-lust, which isn't usually my favourite approach to romance. It can certainly work when done well, but unfortunately, it didn't quite work for me here. There wasn't enough emotional depth underpinning their relationship, so the sudden transition from lust to love felt a little too abrupt. It felt like the characters barely new each other beyond surface level stuff.
I'd initially wondered whether perhaps the relationship between the main couple had been established in the earlier books in the Grimm Bargain series. However, since this was marketed as an interconnected standalone, I do think it's important for most of the emotional foundation of the romance to be built within the book where the main character is the focus. While there may be some justification for their connection from events in the earlier book, as a reader who hadn't read the previous books coming into this, I personally couldn't quite get behind it.
Ultimately, One Shattered Crown wasn't quite the book for me. That said, I can definitely see how it could be an enjoyable read for the right audience, especially for readers looking for a mafia Cinderella retelling with some spice.
Thank you Hambright PR and Rebecca Zanetti for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
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