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A Realm of Revelry
Beast and Thorn
Reshina, Ravenfae Goddess, has relinquished her title of Cursebringer but has kept a select few of her powers. After using them to punish a man stealing from her people, she stumbles into the winter lands of Heartstone Castle. When a thorn from a frosted rosebush spills her blood onto the snow, an old curse she once delivered there awakens, dragging her into the Underrealm and binding her to its king.
Arthur, long since obsessed with Reshina after devouring the book she wrote years ago, roams the surface as a Beast and rules below as a haunted man. He offers her the only way to break the curse—drive a dagger through his heart. Refusing to take his life, she is drawn deeper into his grasp with every attempt to escape. The Beast marks her above the realm, and the man below soothes her wounds, taking her into his care. Caught between hunger and tenderness, Reshina must decide whether to break the curse… or surrender to the dangerous intimacy of the king who knows her far too well.
Beast & Thorn is a tender gothic retelling of Beauty and the Beast, infused with shades of Hades and Persephone.
This is the third interconnected standalone fairytale retelling in A Realm of Revelry Series. You can read these books in any order.
Arthur, long since obsessed with Reshina after devouring the book she wrote years ago, roams the surface as a Beast and rules below as a haunted man. He offers her the only way to break the curse—drive a dagger through his heart. Refusing to take his life, she is drawn deeper into his grasp with every attempt to escape. The Beast marks her above the realm, and the man below soothes her wounds, taking her into his care. Caught between hunger and tenderness, Reshina must decide whether to break the curse… or surrender to the dangerous intimacy of the king who knows her far too well.
Beast & Thorn is a tender gothic retelling of Beauty and the Beast, infused with shades of Hades and Persephone.
This is the third interconnected standalone fairytale retelling in A Realm of Revelry Series. You can read these books in any order.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 3, 2026
About the author
Chelsey Ann Tompkins
8 books148 followersChelsey Ann Tompkins writes romance in a fantasy setting with some good twists and spice along the way. Though she grew up in a small town in the desert, she found her true home near Seattle where she loves to read on the rainiest days with a good cup of coffee. She lives with her husband and two wildly imaginative children.
Find her on Instagram @chelseyanntompkins
Find her on Instagram @chelseyanntompkins
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
May 12, 2026
Have you ever read a book and felt somehow lighter and happier? It’s literally me at the moment 🥹🫶
It was my first book from Chelsey, but after this one i am definitely convinced that I need to read them all.
The story was retelling of Hades and Persephone ir Beauty and the Beast, but better and it just took my heart page by page! The way the romance was entangled- exquisite!
Reshina and Arthur felt natural, like how could they not? And my very own most beloved character in this book - PIFFLE 🥲♥️❤️🩹 Can we have his personal retelling???
That said - I endure you to fall in love with this lighthearted story and just get lost in it🌊❤️
It was my first book from Chelsey, but after this one i am definitely convinced that I need to read them all.
The story was retelling of Hades and Persephone ir Beauty and the Beast, but better and it just took my heart page by page! The way the romance was entangled- exquisite!
Reshina and Arthur felt natural, like how could they not? And my very own most beloved character in this book - PIFFLE 🥲♥️❤️🩹 Can we have his personal retelling???
That said - I endure you to fall in love with this lighthearted story and just get lost in it🌊❤️
June 4, 2026
"Damn this curse."
It's time to step back into A Realm Of Revelry.
I will always be a sucker for a beauty and the beast retelling. Is it the beast, the forced proximity, or is it the huge library?! Maybe it's all three, but this story gave me all three and so much more.
It's time to step back into A Realm Of Revelry.
I will always be a sucker for a beauty and the beast retelling. Is it the beast, the forced proximity, or is it the huge library?! Maybe it's all three, but this story gave me all three and so much more.
June 14, 2026
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Grimm & Co)
“Are you bribing me with a curated library in order to kill you?”
“If it works,” he said with a beastly grin.
I loved Piffle and how he announced his form changes. I was also amused by the conversations between Arthur and the Beast. Loved seeing all the previous characters again!
“Are you bribing me with a curated library in order to kill you?”
“If it works,” he said with a beastly grin.
I loved Piffle and how he announced his form changes. I was also amused by the conversations between Arthur and the Beast. Loved seeing all the previous characters again!
August 26, 2026
“ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʙʀɪʙɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ᴄᴜʀᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ ɪɴ ᴏʀᴅᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴋɪʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ?”
— 𝕽𝖊𝖘𝖍𝖎𝖓𝖆.
💚 She was a winged goddess who fell victim to her own curse
💚 He was a king who inherited a curse
💚 First person dual POV
💚 One sided instaobsession
💚 A changeling companion
💚 Not so romantic biting
💚 Poetry exchange
Ever since I read What Fury Brings by Tricia Levenseller last year, I've told myself that I wouldn't read another captor/captive romance UNLESS the roles were reversed. That's how much of an impact that book had on me 🙂
But then the author promoted Beast & Thorn with a blonde MMC, a winged FMC, and SHE'S the morally grey one. I stared at my walls for a long time and whispered carefully to my thumb, Why not? And I swear, it moved to fill out the ARC form by itself 🤯
Beast & Thorn immediately caught my attention with its writing. It's atmospheric and eerie. Seriously, it made me imagine the setting as if I were watching Snow White and the Huntsman. You've got snow, an isolated village near the woods, and roses that may or may not be cursed hehe. Kudos to the author for the setting 👍
At first, I have to admit, I was afraid this would turn into another story where the heroine melts too easily. But Reshina continuing to try to escape until MORE than halfway through the book. And I was like YASSSSH. So we got:
A heroine who doesn't give up easily.
A heroine who has a life outside of her love interest.
A heroine who fights back and makes us root for her.
"𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙘𝙮, 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙮, 𝙄 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙮. 𝙄𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨. 𝙄’𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙩. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙄’𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙣."
I don't care whether she succeeds or not. I just want her to be active and actually DO something. I'm screaming. This is how you do the captor/captive dynamic well!!
Arthur, too, surprised me. I initially misjudged him. From his introduction, I thought he was going to be your typical brooding MMC who's like "I hate everything and everyone in the entire universe 😔". But no. This man was already obsessed from day one, y'all 😭
“𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣. 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩. 𝙐𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙, 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙘𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚, 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙣𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙖. 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙗𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙛𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚.”
He's such a pathetic marshmallow around Reshina that he repeatedly begs her to kill him because he doesn't want her to be trapped with him. I??? I've lost words 🙂
I finally understand what authors mean when they say "The story is dark, but the romance isn't" bcs while the forced proximity, curses, and world building are dark, the romance between Reshina and Arthur is achingly sweet 👁️👄👁️
“𝘿𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣. 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙜𝙤 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙪𝙥𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙨.”
Arthur radiates sadboy energy so intensely that most of the time, I just felt sorry for him. I wanted to grab his shoulders and scream, "PLEASE STOP THINKING ABOUT DEATH!" 💀 Omfg, this man's suicidal thoughts were more destructive than my coffee addiction.
“𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙧. 𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚.”
𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙜𝙖𝙯𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚, 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙚𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙧. “𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙤𝙩.”
Me : ✨ 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 ✨
Fortunately, their story ends with an HEA, although the climax had me practically screaming at my screen because I genuinely thought the worst was going to happen 🤡 I almost wanted to scroll straight to the epilogue just to make sure everyone was alive, well, and happy.
“𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙠. 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜?”
𝙃𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙢𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙧 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙛𝙡𝙮. “𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙚.”
Take your bad boy all you want, I'll stick with a polite gentleman like Arthur, tysm 🥰
I would've loved a little more development around Arthur's obsession. As much as I love his pathetic yearning, I didn't fully understand why he didn't hate Reshina more, considering who she is. And this is coming from someone who dislikes enemies to lovers 😬 But here? I wouldn't have minded a little more of that conflict.
There were some cameos (?) from characters I assume came from previous books in the series, and they confused me a little because they suddenly showed up without ehhh, much explanation?? Reshina and her children also needed more background I mean who's the father???
Still, even without it, Beast & Thorn is a good story. This book looked at all my expectations and then yeeted them straight out the window.
No grumpy man.
No shadow daddy.
No damsel in distress.
No wet noodle heroine.
Just two cursed people who don't want to hurt each other, slowly finding themselves falling in love ... and one of them is incapable of saying it.
Add Piffle to the chaos as comic relief. Every time he warned Reshina before his transformation, he made me chuckle. I don't even like to talk, but I'll adopt him anytime 🥺 Everyone, please stop cutting him off and paid him with some love and much deserved holiday 😭🙏
"𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙, 𝙄 𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙜𝙤, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨."
Last, where can I get a Piffle, please?
Thank you to the author for the free copy, and I apologize for the late review!
— 𝕽𝖊𝖘𝖍𝖎𝖓𝖆.
💚 She was a winged goddess who fell victim to her own curse
💚 He was a king who inherited a curse
💚 First person dual POV
💚 One sided instaobsession
💚 A changeling companion
💚 Not so romantic biting
💚 Poetry exchange
Ever since I read What Fury Brings by Tricia Levenseller last year, I've told myself that I wouldn't read another captor/captive romance UNLESS the roles were reversed. That's how much of an impact that book had on me 🙂
But then the author promoted Beast & Thorn with a blonde MMC, a winged FMC, and SHE'S the morally grey one. I stared at my walls for a long time and whispered carefully to my thumb, Why not? And I swear, it moved to fill out the ARC form by itself 🤯
Beast & Thorn immediately caught my attention with its writing. It's atmospheric and eerie. Seriously, it made me imagine the setting as if I were watching Snow White and the Huntsman. You've got snow, an isolated village near the woods, and roses that may or may not be cursed hehe. Kudos to the author for the setting 👍
At first, I have to admit, I was afraid this would turn into another story where the heroine melts too easily. But Reshina continuing to try to escape until MORE than halfway through the book. And I was like YASSSSH. So we got:
A heroine who doesn't give up easily.
A heroine who has a life outside of her love interest.
A heroine who fights back and makes us root for her.
"𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙘𝙮, 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙮, 𝙄 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙮. 𝙄𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨. 𝙄’𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙩. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙄’𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙣."
I don't care whether she succeeds or not. I just want her to be active and actually DO something. I'm screaming. This is how you do the captor/captive dynamic well!!
Arthur, too, surprised me. I initially misjudged him. From his introduction, I thought he was going to be your typical brooding MMC who's like "I hate everything and everyone in the entire universe 😔". But no. This man was already obsessed from day one, y'all 😭
“𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣. 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩. 𝙐𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙, 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙘𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚, 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙣𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙖. 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙗𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙛𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚.”
He's such a pathetic marshmallow around Reshina that he repeatedly begs her to kill him because he doesn't want her to be trapped with him. I??? I've lost words 🙂
I finally understand what authors mean when they say "The story is dark, but the romance isn't" bcs while the forced proximity, curses, and world building are dark, the romance between Reshina and Arthur is achingly sweet 👁️👄👁️
“𝘿𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣. 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙜𝙤 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙪𝙥𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙨.”
Arthur radiates sadboy energy so intensely that most of the time, I just felt sorry for him. I wanted to grab his shoulders and scream, "PLEASE STOP THINKING ABOUT DEATH!" 💀 Omfg, this man's suicidal thoughts were more destructive than my coffee addiction.
“𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙧. 𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚.”
𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙜𝙖𝙯𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚, 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙚𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙧. “𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙤𝙩.”
Me : ✨ 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 ✨
Fortunately, their story ends with an HEA, although the climax had me practically screaming at my screen because I genuinely thought the worst was going to happen 🤡 I almost wanted to scroll straight to the epilogue just to make sure everyone was alive, well, and happy.
“𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙠. 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜?”
𝙃𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙢𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙧 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙛𝙡𝙮. “𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙚.”
Take your bad boy all you want, I'll stick with a polite gentleman like Arthur, tysm 🥰
I would've loved a little more development around Arthur's obsession. As much as I love his pathetic yearning, I didn't fully understand why he didn't hate Reshina more, considering who she is. And this is coming from someone who dislikes enemies to lovers 😬 But here? I wouldn't have minded a little more of that conflict.
There were some cameos (?) from characters I assume came from previous books in the series, and they confused me a little because they suddenly showed up without ehhh, much explanation?? Reshina and her children also needed more background I mean who's the father???
Still, even without it, Beast & Thorn is a good story. This book looked at all my expectations and then yeeted them straight out the window.
No grumpy man.
No shadow daddy.
No damsel in distress.
No wet noodle heroine.
Just two cursed people who don't want to hurt each other, slowly finding themselves falling in love ... and one of them is incapable of saying it.
Add Piffle to the chaos as comic relief. Every time he warned Reshina before his transformation, he made me chuckle. I don't even like to talk, but I'll adopt him anytime 🥺 Everyone, please stop cutting him off and paid him with some love and much deserved holiday 😭🙏
"𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙, 𝙄 𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙜𝙤, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨."
Last, where can I get a Piffle, please?
Thank you to the author for the free copy, and I apologize for the late review!
June 3, 2026
I’ve really enjoyed all the A Realm of Revelry books, and this one was no exception! I loved this gothic Beauty and the Beast retelling, and there were even themes of Hades and Persephone sprinkled into this one as well.
This is Book 3 in a series of interconnected standalones. You could absolutely read this one on its own, but I would highly recommend reading all three in order. They’re all super quick reads!
I was so excited to get Reshina’s story, and it did not disappoint! I’ve been so intrigued to learn more about the Ravenfae Goddess since Curse & Spindle. We finally got more details on her curse due to Arthur knowing and being obsessed with her origin story, and I felt like that was a fun take on the he falls first trope.
I loved the banter between Reshina and Arthur, and of course the yearning between these two was fantastic as well. Also, them sharing book annotations was one of my favorite parts of the book.
Piffle is by far my new favorite side character in this series. He was delightful! We also got to see all our favorite characters from the first 2 books again in this one.
Thank you so much to Chelsey Ann Tompkins and Grimm & Co for the gifted ARC. This was another fantastic fairytale retelling! 💚🐦⬛✨
This is Book 3 in a series of interconnected standalones. You could absolutely read this one on its own, but I would highly recommend reading all three in order. They’re all super quick reads!
I was so excited to get Reshina’s story, and it did not disappoint! I’ve been so intrigued to learn more about the Ravenfae Goddess since Curse & Spindle. We finally got more details on her curse due to Arthur knowing and being obsessed with her origin story, and I felt like that was a fun take on the he falls first trope.
I loved the banter between Reshina and Arthur, and of course the yearning between these two was fantastic as well. Also, them sharing book annotations was one of my favorite parts of the book.
Piffle is by far my new favorite side character in this series. He was delightful! We also got to see all our favorite characters from the first 2 books again in this one.
Thank you so much to Chelsey Ann Tompkins and Grimm & Co for the gifted ARC. This was another fantastic fairytale retelling! 💚🐦⬛✨
March 16, 2026
“I’d been a man (woman) obsessed, reading its entirety in one night only to sleep a few hours and pick it up to read again.”
Honestly, that line from the book might be the perfect way to describe my experience with this one. I’ve completely fallen in love with story retellings, and it’s all thanks to Chelsey’s books.
I don’t know what kind of sorcery this is, but I finished it so quickly because I simply couldn’t stop reading. There’s something so unique about the world building that it pulls you in so effortlessly while also stirring those childhood memories of growing up loving tales like Beauty and the Beast.
No matter how many promises of a happily ever after there may be, her writing is so captivating that I still find myself biting the ends of my nails, praying they somehow make it together. And my goodness, the chemistry between these two? Absolutely chef’s kiss.
If anyone ever has a problem with my incredibly high standards for men, they need to have a conversation with Chelsey, and read all her books while they’re at it. I’m pretty sure you’ll forgive me by the end. It’s well known that her MMCs never disappoint, and Arthur is no exception.
That said, I have to admit that this time Piffle completely stole the show for me. He was such a charming character; cheerful, funny, kind, and genuinely lovely. He made the story a hundred times better, to the point that I wish I had my own Piff in my life.
All in all, this book was absolutely worth the wait. I loved it as a standalone, but I loved it even more because of the appearances from other characters that made it feel like a little family reunion. It just makes me so grateful to keep reading Chelsey’s stories and the ones to come.
Honestly, that line from the book might be the perfect way to describe my experience with this one. I’ve completely fallen in love with story retellings, and it’s all thanks to Chelsey’s books.
I don’t know what kind of sorcery this is, but I finished it so quickly because I simply couldn’t stop reading. There’s something so unique about the world building that it pulls you in so effortlessly while also stirring those childhood memories of growing up loving tales like Beauty and the Beast.
No matter how many promises of a happily ever after there may be, her writing is so captivating that I still find myself biting the ends of my nails, praying they somehow make it together. And my goodness, the chemistry between these two? Absolutely chef’s kiss.
If anyone ever has a problem with my incredibly high standards for men, they need to have a conversation with Chelsey, and read all her books while they’re at it. I’m pretty sure you’ll forgive me by the end. It’s well known that her MMCs never disappoint, and Arthur is no exception.
That said, I have to admit that this time Piffle completely stole the show for me. He was such a charming character; cheerful, funny, kind, and genuinely lovely. He made the story a hundred times better, to the point that I wish I had my own Piff in my life.
All in all, this book was absolutely worth the wait. I loved it as a standalone, but I loved it even more because of the appearances from other characters that made it feel like a little family reunion. It just makes me so grateful to keep reading Chelsey’s stories and the ones to come.
March 16, 2026
✨Beast and Thorn✨
Piffle is THE BEST. So hilarious.
I feel like these two quotes encompass this beautiful and heart felt story:
“Previously infatuated, quickly obsessed, I recognized that something more had grown within me. And until I was dead, I’d be tormented with her presence, never resting, always filled with hunger for her.”
“You became my savior. First through the lines of a book. Then in the flesh and blood, spilling onto my lands to save me from a cruel and dire fate...”
The 3rd in Chelsey’s Realm of Revelry interconnected standalone series, Beast & Thorn is a Beauty and the Beast meets Hades x Persephone retelling. It is short, spicy, and so emotional for being so few pages. I truly don’t know how Chelsey did it, but she made me feel SO MUCH in such little time. I laughed and even cried!
When the goddess who was Arthur’s saving grace in his younger years is dragged beneath the ground as their two individual curses collide, Arthur and Reshina must decide whether escape, death, or contentment to live a half life is most worthwhile. Within are multiple curses, some delightful cameos, the bestest changlingfae helper, and a man that IS UTTERLY PERFECT. And Piff desperately needs an award for being the funniest and sweetest little thing around.
Tropes you may find in BAT are forced proximity, she’s cursed to never love, only he can soothe her wounds, beastly cinnamon roll with an obsession, medium spice, wound tending, whimsy, banter, so much yearning, and a HEA.
Chelsey, thank you for allowing me to be an arc reader for you once again! I loved this tale soooo much.
Piffle is THE BEST. So hilarious.
I feel like these two quotes encompass this beautiful and heart felt story:
“Previously infatuated, quickly obsessed, I recognized that something more had grown within me. And until I was dead, I’d be tormented with her presence, never resting, always filled with hunger for her.”
“You became my savior. First through the lines of a book. Then in the flesh and blood, spilling onto my lands to save me from a cruel and dire fate...”
The 3rd in Chelsey’s Realm of Revelry interconnected standalone series, Beast & Thorn is a Beauty and the Beast meets Hades x Persephone retelling. It is short, spicy, and so emotional for being so few pages. I truly don’t know how Chelsey did it, but she made me feel SO MUCH in such little time. I laughed and even cried!
When the goddess who was Arthur’s saving grace in his younger years is dragged beneath the ground as their two individual curses collide, Arthur and Reshina must decide whether escape, death, or contentment to live a half life is most worthwhile. Within are multiple curses, some delightful cameos, the bestest changlingfae helper, and a man that IS UTTERLY PERFECT. And Piff desperately needs an award for being the funniest and sweetest little thing around.
Tropes you may find in BAT are forced proximity, she’s cursed to never love, only he can soothe her wounds, beastly cinnamon roll with an obsession, medium spice, wound tending, whimsy, banter, so much yearning, and a HEA.
Chelsey, thank you for allowing me to be an arc reader for you once again! I loved this tale soooo much.
June 4, 2026
An adorable fairytale retelling!
So this book had me before I even started when it was described as both Beauty and the Beast mixed with Hades and Persephone. Two of my favorites!
It’s very much a loose retelling with some super unique twists. The Beast inherited the curse and doesn’t need redemption, and the one who placed the curse is also this stories version of Belle who needs to break her curse but she has a curse of her own as well. Plus the side character Piff is just adorable!
Thank you to the author for the early copy of this ebook!
So this book had me before I even started when it was described as both Beauty and the Beast mixed with Hades and Persephone. Two of my favorites!
It’s very much a loose retelling with some super unique twists. The Beast inherited the curse and doesn’t need redemption, and the one who placed the curse is also this stories version of Belle who needs to break her curse but she has a curse of her own as well. Plus the side character Piff is just adorable!
Thank you to the author for the early copy of this ebook!
June 22, 2026
Chelsey NEVER disappoints, I love this series and the characters so much. If you love a spicy fairytale this series is for you 😭😭💗
May 19, 2026
This was an enjoyable read. It’s a fairytale retailing of Beauty and the Beast. There’s an epic library. The beast prince is cursed, but so is the FMC and in a fun twist, she’s the one who placed the curse. Oh, and she is also a goddess and has her own curse.
The FMC, Reshina, accidentally gets trapped inside of the beast’s cursed realm and despite many attempts, she is unable to get free. Anyone for some forced proximity romance…wink.
There are some dark creatures. And if you like Lumière from Beauty and the Beast, this book has a fun character that makes his appearance as multiple animated objects.
Overall, it is a pretty fun read. Very easy and as a standalone, it’s a quick one to fit between other books.
Tropes:
Forced Proximity
Curse Breaking
Morally Grey FMC
Obsessive Beast
Happily Ever After
The FMC, Reshina, accidentally gets trapped inside of the beast’s cursed realm and despite many attempts, she is unable to get free. Anyone for some forced proximity romance…wink.
There are some dark creatures. And if you like Lumière from Beauty and the Beast, this book has a fun character that makes his appearance as multiple animated objects.
Overall, it is a pretty fun read. Very easy and as a standalone, it’s a quick one to fit between other books.
Tropes:
Forced Proximity
Curse Breaking
Morally Grey FMC
Obsessive Beast
Happily Ever After
March 12, 2026
Thank you so much to the author for the gifted eARC!
Reshina the Ravenfae goddess finds herself trapped by the very curse she once placed on Heartstone and becomes bound to Arthur, its king. Escape should be simple, but each time she is hunted by the Beast and must return to the Underrealm to evade him. You’d think as the bringer of this curse Arthur would hate her. But no. He’s absolutely obsessed with her and keeps an annotated copy of her book in his nightstand 😍.
These two had me from start to finish, and I absolutely adored them. They’re so obsessed with each other, and the tension is DELICIOUS. And so is the spice 👀. And yes, the Beast is his own character.
But this book would not exist without the love of my life, Piffle. Guys I need him. I’m in love. He’s a Changling fae who yells before he transforms into anything to “warn” people. And he’s so devoted to Arthur and Reshina. And I swear he can do ANYTHING. Piffle deserves the best happily ever after of all time, and I will cry if we don’t see him again in the future.
I just love the Realms of Revelry series. Each one uncovers new details of the world and I’m enjoying learning more each entry. And they all fit so well together into the fabric of this universe. I highly recommend checking the series out if you’re looking for some spicy fairytale retellings.
Reshina the Ravenfae goddess finds herself trapped by the very curse she once placed on Heartstone and becomes bound to Arthur, its king. Escape should be simple, but each time she is hunted by the Beast and must return to the Underrealm to evade him. You’d think as the bringer of this curse Arthur would hate her. But no. He’s absolutely obsessed with her and keeps an annotated copy of her book in his nightstand 😍.
These two had me from start to finish, and I absolutely adored them. They’re so obsessed with each other, and the tension is DELICIOUS. And so is the spice 👀. And yes, the Beast is his own character.
But this book would not exist without the love of my life, Piffle. Guys I need him. I’m in love. He’s a Changling fae who yells before he transforms into anything to “warn” people. And he’s so devoted to Arthur and Reshina. And I swear he can do ANYTHING. Piffle deserves the best happily ever after of all time, and I will cry if we don’t see him again in the future.
I just love the Realms of Revelry series. Each one uncovers new details of the world and I’m enjoying learning more each entry. And they all fit so well together into the fabric of this universe. I highly recommend checking the series out if you’re looking for some spicy fairytale retellings.
June 3, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ I knew this would be a gothic fairytale retelling but it was much darker than I expected! Many similarities to Beauty and the Beast but set in the underworld so like Hades and Persephone. Both Reshina and Arthur are trapped and cursed. He needs her to fall in love with him to break free from the Beast but she is cursed to never love. It got a little repetitive with the number of times she tried to escape the same way and how he kept insisting she end his life to set them both free. I loved Piffle, who basically embodies all the furniture characters from the classic! It got real spicy around 70% in 🥵
I enjoyed the first two books in the Realm of Revelry series and will happily read the next! Thank you Chelsey Ann Tompkins and Grimm & Co for the e-ARC!
I enjoyed the first two books in the Realm of Revelry series and will happily read the next! Thank you Chelsey Ann Tompkins and Grimm & Co for the e-ARC!
March 30, 2026
Love me a good retelling and this one gave beauty and the beast vibes. Reshina was someone I was so unsure of from previous books but her story was freaking amazing.
Arthur was such a man and the way he sacrificed to make sure Reshina was taken care of ugh swoon! These two characters together were freaking perfect and the build up was so dang good.
However I think Piffle was my absolute favorite 🤣. Piffle had me laughing so hard at times with his commentary.
10/10 recommend adding to your TBR.
Arthur was such a man and the way he sacrificed to make sure Reshina was taken care of ugh swoon! These two characters together were freaking perfect and the build up was so dang good.
However I think Piffle was my absolute favorite 🤣. Piffle had me laughing so hard at times with his commentary.
10/10 recommend adding to your TBR.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rating: 3.5 stars
*Please note, I was provided with an ARC version of this book by the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review*
Beauty and the Beast AND Hades and Persephone? It was literally impossible for me to not sign up for this ARC. This third book in the series definitely has a darker feel to it than its predecessors, and the story itself hits differently too. Because of my love of retellings of these particular tales, my expectations were that much higher... so it had a tough job on its hands to impress!
There is a maturity to this tale that stems from the fact our FMC is the mother of two of our precious main characters, Korven and Morella. Her attitude and outlook are certainly more measured and a sense of world-weariness comes off of her in waves. When you do see her happy, it really is like a ray of sunshine, but for the majority of the story, for whatever reason I could only picture her as the Wicked Queen from Snow White (young version), which kind of threw me off a bit. Nonetheless, her character development and whole personality was really well portrayed throughout. I wouldn't say she's likeable in the traditional sense, but her story makes her appealing.
I was surprised to find the MMC was someone we'd met before, and I'll admit it did take me a moment to get his new role comfortable in my mind. But having that history with him gives you just a little bit of context that really helps in grounding his character and come to terms with the darker, more jaded version you are now presented with. His role as the Beast is really well portrayed, and having the insight into the wrestle for control between man and beast is fascinating.
However, while I understood the idea of the curse trapping Reshina in the Underrealm and the idea of how the Beast's curse could be broken, I felt that almost too much of the story revolved around Reshina (who is the Goddess of Curses and so should know better!) blatantly ignoring the stipulations. Ultimately, it felt to me like they were almost too stubborn to acknowldge the curse and content to let it stand before their relationship had developed enough for that to make sense. Similarly, one of the plot points regarding the bite of the Beast appears out of thin air and, while it is a nice little preview of the budding romance, something about it just didn't quite sit right; again, I think it's potentially down to the order of events - the relationship hasn't developed enough at that point to allow you to feel comfortable with an act that feels strangely intimate, even if there is a justifiable reason for it.
Piffle absolutely will steal your heart. He's just so stinkin' sweet! And definitely the warm heart at the centre of the story. He reminds me a lot of Archer from the Fae and Alchemy series; a genuine, happy, lovely soul who serves with unfailing loyalty. His character brings out the brightness in both Arthur and Reshina, and I would love to read more about him!
I can see how it pulls on the the Hades and Persephone myth as well as Beauty and the Beast, but certain moments do just feel 'thrown in' as convenient plot devices. This is the first book of the series that I've felt is probably the 'right' length, but equally there is so much that could have been developed further to really pull the reader into the story headfirst. In particular, the last 10% of the book felt incredibly fast paced compared to the remainder, and as such left me feeling a little disappointed that there wasn't more depth to the conclusion (although I didnlove the epilogue!).
I would love to see what the author could do with a full length novel in development and giving us more depth to these wonderful stories she's created. And I'll certainly be coming back to future books in the series.
*Please note, I was provided with an ARC version of this book by the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review*
Beauty and the Beast AND Hades and Persephone? It was literally impossible for me to not sign up for this ARC. This third book in the series definitely has a darker feel to it than its predecessors, and the story itself hits differently too. Because of my love of retellings of these particular tales, my expectations were that much higher... so it had a tough job on its hands to impress!
There is a maturity to this tale that stems from the fact our FMC is the mother of two of our precious main characters, Korven and Morella. Her attitude and outlook are certainly more measured and a sense of world-weariness comes off of her in waves. When you do see her happy, it really is like a ray of sunshine, but for the majority of the story, for whatever reason I could only picture her as the Wicked Queen from Snow White (young version), which kind of threw me off a bit. Nonetheless, her character development and whole personality was really well portrayed throughout. I wouldn't say she's likeable in the traditional sense, but her story makes her appealing.
I was surprised to find the MMC was someone we'd met before, and I'll admit it did take me a moment to get his new role comfortable in my mind. But having that history with him gives you just a little bit of context that really helps in grounding his character and come to terms with the darker, more jaded version you are now presented with. His role as the Beast is really well portrayed, and having the insight into the wrestle for control between man and beast is fascinating.
However, while I understood the idea of the curse trapping Reshina in the Underrealm and the idea of how the Beast's curse could be broken, I felt that almost too much of the story revolved around Reshina (who is the Goddess of Curses and so should know better!) blatantly ignoring the stipulations. Ultimately, it felt to me like they were almost too stubborn to acknowldge the curse and content to let it stand before their relationship had developed enough for that to make sense. Similarly, one of the plot points regarding the bite of the Beast appears out of thin air and, while it is a nice little preview of the budding romance, something about it just didn't quite sit right; again, I think it's potentially down to the order of events - the relationship hasn't developed enough at that point to allow you to feel comfortable with an act that feels strangely intimate, even if there is a justifiable reason for it.
Piffle absolutely will steal your heart. He's just so stinkin' sweet! And definitely the warm heart at the centre of the story. He reminds me a lot of Archer from the Fae and Alchemy series; a genuine, happy, lovely soul who serves with unfailing loyalty. His character brings out the brightness in both Arthur and Reshina, and I would love to read more about him!
I can see how it pulls on the the Hades and Persephone myth as well as Beauty and the Beast, but certain moments do just feel 'thrown in' as convenient plot devices. This is the first book of the series that I've felt is probably the 'right' length, but equally there is so much that could have been developed further to really pull the reader into the story headfirst. In particular, the last 10% of the book felt incredibly fast paced compared to the remainder, and as such left me feeling a little disappointed that there wasn't more depth to the conclusion (although I didnlove the epilogue!).
I would love to see what the author could do with a full length novel in development and giving us more depth to these wonderful stories she's created. And I'll certainly be coming back to future books in the series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
🥀Beauty and the Beast x Hades and Persephone
🖤Gothic retelling
🥀Cursed goddess
🖤Mindless beast to haunted king
🥀Reverse age gap
🖤Obsessive MMC
🥀Morally grey FMC
🖤Interconnected Standalone
🥀Dual POV
♥️♥️Huge thanks to Chelsey Ann Tompkins for the gifted arc, it's an honor and privilege to me. All opinions are my own♥️♥️
Reshina, a former Cursebringer, is trapped in Underrealm by a curse she delivered decades ago. then Reshina desperately tries to escape the Underrealm and the Beast to free herself and Arthur, who inherited the curse from his late father.
This is the first time I've read a Beauty and the Beast retelling where the Beast is very gentle, sweet and controls his emotions so well—except in certain moments like when Reshina tries to escape, the Beast automatically alerts and chases her. Maybe because Arthur inherited this curse from his father, he's more like surrendering...preferring to live alone and simply wait for his death to break the curse...or maybe because it was her. He had longed for Reshina for years, someone he admired even though he had never met her :''') He couldn't bear to keep Reshina trapped in the Underrealm and often asking her to just kill him so she could easily break the curse and be free from the Underrealm :(( He's such a sweet and gentle to a fierce Reshina🥰 what a perfect man for her! Reshina is the mother of Korven and Morella, but cursed to never love anyone...then how can the curse be broken while Arthur's curse, like other Beast curses, must be released by someone who loves him?👀
I liked the dynamic between the two in trying to break the curse, trying everything even though Reshina has to be injured many times because of it. but that's the fun part👀 because Arthur is always there to take care of her and tend her wounds🥰 The slow buildup between Reshina and Arthur makes the characters so much more relatable and believable.
I think the author delivers the retelling so well. the storyline flows wonderfully, it's dark and intense enough to keep me interested...the world building and characters will suck you into a unique and fun retelling of Beauty and the Beast. My absolute favorite character was Piffle😆 his presence made this story more fun to read!😆 If you love Beauty and the Beast retellings, you definitely shouldn't miss this book!✨
🖤Gothic retelling
🥀Cursed goddess
🖤Mindless beast to haunted king
🥀Reverse age gap
🖤Obsessive MMC
🥀Morally grey FMC
🖤Interconnected Standalone
🥀Dual POV
♥️♥️Huge thanks to Chelsey Ann Tompkins for the gifted arc, it's an honor and privilege to me. All opinions are my own♥️♥️
"If you'll not kill me, Goddess, then marry me."
Reshina, a former Cursebringer, is trapped in Underrealm by a curse she delivered decades ago. then Reshina desperately tries to escape the Underrealm and the Beast to free herself and Arthur, who inherited the curse from his late father.
"Do not return. Leave me behind forever, but do not go without leaving me something sweet upon my lips."
This is the first time I've read a Beauty and the Beast retelling where the Beast is very gentle, sweet and controls his emotions so well—except in certain moments like when Reshina tries to escape, the Beast automatically alerts and chases her. Maybe because Arthur inherited this curse from his father, he's more like surrendering...preferring to live alone and simply wait for his death to break the curse...or maybe because it was her. He had longed for Reshina for years, someone he admired even though he had never met her :''') He couldn't bear to keep Reshina trapped in the Underrealm and often asking her to just kill him so she could easily break the curse and be free from the Underrealm :(( He's such a sweet and gentle to a fierce Reshina🥰 what a perfect man for her! Reshina is the mother of Korven and Morella, but cursed to never love anyone...then how can the curse be broken while Arthur's curse, like other Beast curses, must be released by someone who loves him?👀
He smiled sadly. "You cannot love me. I know. And you cannot tell me how your curse is broken. I know that, too." He laughed without humor. "Perhaps one day, I'll break it without meaning to. I'll kiss your elbow at just the right spot and poof! You'll tell me how much you love me then."
"But you, Goddess. You became my savior. First through the lines of a book. Then in the flesh and blood, spilling onto my lands to save me from a cruel and dire fate. I would take this dagger to my chest a hundredfold if it meant these last months were real. That you were real."
I liked the dynamic between the two in trying to break the curse, trying everything even though Reshina has to be injured many times because of it. but that's the fun part👀 because Arthur is always there to take care of her and tend her wounds🥰 The slow buildup between Reshina and Arthur makes the characters so much more relatable and believable.
"I have enough love for both of us, Reshina. I am yours for however long you'd like me to be."
I think the author delivers the retelling so well. the storyline flows wonderfully, it's dark and intense enough to keep me interested...the world building and characters will suck you into a unique and fun retelling of Beauty and the Beast. My absolute favorite character was Piffle😆 his presence made this story more fun to read!😆 If you love Beauty and the Beast retellings, you definitely shouldn't miss this book!✨
June 19, 2026
ARC Review | Spoiler Alert!
The very first chapter does exactly what an opening chapter should do—it immediately pulls you into the story and makes it difficult to stop reading. From the start, the fairy-tale quality to the writing feels incredibly alluring. As a Beauty and the Beast retelling, it embraces the source material while still feeling fresh enough to stand on its own.
The characters are easily the strongest part of the book. Reshina is such a refreshing FMC because she is completely confident in who she is. She knows her worth, embraces her power as a goddess, and never feels like she has to apologize for it. Her inability to fall in love also creates an immediate source of tension that made me even more invested in seeing how the romance would develop.
Speaking of the romance, it absolutely carries this story. Arthur and Reshina’s banter feels natural and effortless, making their relationship easy to become invested in. Their chemistry builds steadily throughout the novel, and the tension between them is genuinely excellent. Arthur’s restraint around her creates so much anticipation, and every interaction feels tense because of it.
The writing itself is also incredibly addictive. The language flows beautifully, and while the plot is relatively simple, it works in the story’s favor. There is never a point where the narrative feels overly complicated or weighed down by unnecessary details. Instead, it focuses on the simplicity of the story.
While I love the relationship complex, the emotional payoff is where the book truly shines. The romance feels earned because the slow burn is actually allowed to burn; an ode to how well this author understands that romance books don’t need to be fast paced. Every moment of growth between Arthur and Reshina builds toward a payoff that feels satisfying rather than rushed.
That being said, I do think a few elements toward the end could have been handled differently. The marriage plotline felt a bit rushed once it arrived, especially considering how carefully the romance had been developed beforehand. I also wasn’t particularly invested in the side quest involving saving her children. Compared to the central romance and emotional stakes, it felt somewhat forced and distracted from the parts of the story I was most interested in.
Overall, this was an addictive, romantic fantasy with a fantastic slow burn, lovable characters, and some genuinely emotional moments. While a few plot developments felt rushed or unnecessary, the strength of the romance more than made up for it. And that ending? Absolutely adorable. It left me closing the book with a huge smile on my face.
P.S. The Hades and Persephone parallels woven throughout the novel are everything I didn’t know I wanted from this book! They added another layer to the romance without overwhelming the Beauty and the Beast influences and it’s amazing!
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The very first chapter does exactly what an opening chapter should do—it immediately pulls you into the story and makes it difficult to stop reading. From the start, the fairy-tale quality to the writing feels incredibly alluring. As a Beauty and the Beast retelling, it embraces the source material while still feeling fresh enough to stand on its own.
The characters are easily the strongest part of the book. Reshina is such a refreshing FMC because she is completely confident in who she is. She knows her worth, embraces her power as a goddess, and never feels like she has to apologize for it. Her inability to fall in love also creates an immediate source of tension that made me even more invested in seeing how the romance would develop.
Speaking of the romance, it absolutely carries this story. Arthur and Reshina’s banter feels natural and effortless, making their relationship easy to become invested in. Their chemistry builds steadily throughout the novel, and the tension between them is genuinely excellent. Arthur’s restraint around her creates so much anticipation, and every interaction feels tense because of it.
The writing itself is also incredibly addictive. The language flows beautifully, and while the plot is relatively simple, it works in the story’s favor. There is never a point where the narrative feels overly complicated or weighed down by unnecessary details. Instead, it focuses on the simplicity of the story.
While I love the relationship complex, the emotional payoff is where the book truly shines. The romance feels earned because the slow burn is actually allowed to burn; an ode to how well this author understands that romance books don’t need to be fast paced. Every moment of growth between Arthur and Reshina builds toward a payoff that feels satisfying rather than rushed.
That being said, I do think a few elements toward the end could have been handled differently. The marriage plotline felt a bit rushed once it arrived, especially considering how carefully the romance had been developed beforehand. I also wasn’t particularly invested in the side quest involving saving her children. Compared to the central romance and emotional stakes, it felt somewhat forced and distracted from the parts of the story I was most interested in.
Overall, this was an addictive, romantic fantasy with a fantastic slow burn, lovable characters, and some genuinely emotional moments. While a few plot developments felt rushed or unnecessary, the strength of the romance more than made up for it. And that ending? Absolutely adorable. It left me closing the book with a huge smile on my face.
P.S. The Hades and Persephone parallels woven throughout the novel are everything I didn’t know I wanted from this book! They added another layer to the romance without overwhelming the Beauty and the Beast influences and it’s amazing!
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A cursed goddess.
A king who cannot control the Beast within him.
And a love story that began long before they ever met.
Chelsey Ann Tompkins has such a gift for writing romantasy that feels sweeping and emotional, and Beast & Thorn absolutely delivers.
When Ravenfae goddess Reshina falls under the same curse she once delivered to Heartstone, she is dragged into the Underrealm and bound to a cursed king named Arthur. Determined to break the magic binding them together, she sets out to outwit the curse and reclaim her freedom.
But escaping isn’t that simple.
Because when Reshina runs… the Beast hunts her.
But I would be committing a crime if I didn’t talk about Piffle.
A tiny changeling fae who can transform into anything and politely shouts what he’s turning into first so he doesn’t startle anyone.
“POCKET WATCH!”
He’s adorable, loyal, and quietly takes such good care of both Arthur and Reshina. I loved him.
This story also ties beautifully into the wider Realm of Revelry world and brings threads from the earlier books together in such a satisfying way.
Heart-stopping romance.
A fiercely clever goddess.
And a Beast who has loved her for years.
If you love devoted monsters, cunning goddesses, and adorable magical companions, you need Beast & Thorn.
A king who cannot control the Beast within him.
And a love story that began long before they ever met.
Chelsey Ann Tompkins has such a gift for writing romantasy that feels sweeping and emotional, and Beast & Thorn absolutely delivers.
When Ravenfae goddess Reshina falls under the same curse she once delivered to Heartstone, she is dragged into the Underrealm and bound to a cursed king named Arthur. Determined to break the magic binding them together, she sets out to outwit the curse and reclaim her freedom.
But escaping isn’t that simple.
Because when Reshina runs… the Beast hunts her.
But I would be committing a crime if I didn’t talk about Piffle.
A tiny changeling fae who can transform into anything and politely shouts what he’s turning into first so he doesn’t startle anyone.
“POCKET WATCH!”
He’s adorable, loyal, and quietly takes such good care of both Arthur and Reshina. I loved him.
This story also ties beautifully into the wider Realm of Revelry world and brings threads from the earlier books together in such a satisfying way.
Heart-stopping romance.
A fiercely clever goddess.
And a Beast who has loved her for years.
If you love devoted monsters, cunning goddesses, and adorable magical companions, you need Beast & Thorn.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Ravenfae Goddess Reshina has spent most of her life delivering curses from beyond the Veil. She already suffers under one curse, and when she accidentally pricks her finger on a rose outside of Heartstone Castle, she finds herself under another. Now, Reshina is trapped in the Underrealm. Every escape attempt is thwarted by the cursed King Arthur, who becomes a beast he can barely control. Arthur knows his death will free Reshina, and he tells her he will accept death at her hand. She refuses, certain she can find another way to escape. As time passes and Reshina gets to know both the man and the beast, and Arthur gets to know the woman he has read so many stories about, both realize that this curse might not be such a curse after all. But this curse must be broken, and only time will tell if breaking it leads to tragedy or happily ever after.
Fans of Beauty and the Beast, this is THE book for you! There were so many callbacks to the classic childhood movie (including a massive, amazing library), and I had a blast noticing every Easter egg. The Hades/Persephone influence was also strong, which is always a must-read for me. The story had a strong gothic atmosphere that I fell right into and never wanted to leave (unfortunately, I am not the woman who pricked her finger on a rose). There was a lot of tension in this book, and when it broke, PHEW! The spice was hotter than Piffle's tea. Speaking of Piffle, this little guy was a fantastic side character. He made me laugh every time he appeared on the page. Overall, I completely loved this book. It was magical, romantic, atmospheric, and spicy all at once. It can be read as a standalone, but I highly encourage you to read both Curse and Spindle and Straw and Gold first to get the full effect of the Realm of Revelry. I adore this series and can't wait to see what's next!
Follow me @smorebooksplease on Instagram for more bookish fun!
Ravenfae Goddess Reshina has spent most of her life delivering curses from beyond the Veil. She already suffers under one curse, and when she accidentally pricks her finger on a rose outside of Heartstone Castle, she finds herself under another. Now, Reshina is trapped in the Underrealm. Every escape attempt is thwarted by the cursed King Arthur, who becomes a beast he can barely control. Arthur knows his death will free Reshina, and he tells her he will accept death at her hand. She refuses, certain she can find another way to escape. As time passes and Reshina gets to know both the man and the beast, and Arthur gets to know the woman he has read so many stories about, both realize that this curse might not be such a curse after all. But this curse must be broken, and only time will tell if breaking it leads to tragedy or happily ever after.
Fans of Beauty and the Beast, this is THE book for you! There were so many callbacks to the classic childhood movie (including a massive, amazing library), and I had a blast noticing every Easter egg. The Hades/Persephone influence was also strong, which is always a must-read for me. The story had a strong gothic atmosphere that I fell right into and never wanted to leave (unfortunately, I am not the woman who pricked her finger on a rose). There was a lot of tension in this book, and when it broke, PHEW! The spice was hotter than Piffle's tea. Speaking of Piffle, this little guy was a fantastic side character. He made me laugh every time he appeared on the page. Overall, I completely loved this book. It was magical, romantic, atmospheric, and spicy all at once. It can be read as a standalone, but I highly encourage you to read both Curse and Spindle and Straw and Gold first to get the full effect of the Realm of Revelry. I adore this series and can't wait to see what's next!
Follow me @smorebooksplease on Instagram for more bookish fun!
Review of advance copy received from Author
There's not a single one of these novellas I haven't devoured! This one just might have been the best yet, I can't decide!
I love that the'yre all interconnected. I didn't expect to be so invested in Reshina's story, but I loved both of her children's tales and hers turned out to be absolutely exquisite!
The character's personalities, lore, emotions, and their hopes and dreams shone through the pages and completely stole my heart, not returning it until the very last page.
Arthur made the perfect gentle and charming love interest to Reshina's fierce and cunning nature. He treated her so softly (sometimes 🤭), and he was quite the contrast from the Beast - who I loved equally and found to be a brilliant character too!
Their love was devastatingly romantic and so emotional 🥺
I was full of anticipation for how the story would go, and the chase between the Beast and Reshina was thrilling!
The moody almost gothic underground setting beneath a castle feels like it could have been a difficult one to capture but I was so drawn into this dark and delicious tale.
The magic of the world is so wonderful and whimsical, and of course a little dark. I love the curses so much, they're so unique and fascinating!
This story has been so cleverly thought out, with just the right amount of detail at the right moments, making the pacing for the slightly shorter length of this tale just perfect!
This book was beautifully and exceptionally written, and it absolutely took my breath away! It was utterly captivating from start to finish!
Piffle was also a delightfully heartwarming addition, I adored him! He was so funny and sweet 🥹
♥︎ 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒒𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔 ♥︎
'I loved her beyond the limits of skin and bone and sinew. I loved her everlasting, ferally, completely, and that would be my legacy.'
"I would not have left her."
"I am by your side until the day my heart fails and it cannot beat in your name."
"I would take this dagger to my chest a hundredfold if it meant these last months were real. That you were real."
~
Thank you so so much to the author for the e-arc, I am so grateful!
* this is my voluntary review, all thoughts are my own *
🏰🥀📖
I love that the'yre all interconnected. I didn't expect to be so invested in Reshina's story, but I loved both of her children's tales and hers turned out to be absolutely exquisite!
The character's personalities, lore, emotions, and their hopes and dreams shone through the pages and completely stole my heart, not returning it until the very last page.
Arthur made the perfect gentle and charming love interest to Reshina's fierce and cunning nature. He treated her so softly (sometimes 🤭), and he was quite the contrast from the Beast - who I loved equally and found to be a brilliant character too!
Their love was devastatingly romantic and so emotional 🥺
I was full of anticipation for how the story would go, and the chase between the Beast and Reshina was thrilling!
The moody almost gothic underground setting beneath a castle feels like it could have been a difficult one to capture but I was so drawn into this dark and delicious tale.
The magic of the world is so wonderful and whimsical, and of course a little dark. I love the curses so much, they're so unique and fascinating!
This story has been so cleverly thought out, with just the right amount of detail at the right moments, making the pacing for the slightly shorter length of this tale just perfect!
This book was beautifully and exceptionally written, and it absolutely took my breath away! It was utterly captivating from start to finish!
Piffle was also a delightfully heartwarming addition, I adored him! He was so funny and sweet 🥹
♥︎ 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒒𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔 ♥︎
'I loved her beyond the limits of skin and bone and sinew. I loved her everlasting, ferally, completely, and that would be my legacy.'
"I would not have left her."
"I am by your side until the day my heart fails and it cannot beat in your name."
"I would take this dagger to my chest a hundredfold if it meant these last months were real. That you were real."
~
Thank you so so much to the author for the e-arc, I am so grateful!
* this is my voluntary review, all thoughts are my own *
🏰🥀📖
Review of advance copy received from Author
*Thank you Chelsey for this ARC!*
Chelsey said Hades x Persephone, Beauty and the Beast and I didn’t even listen to the rest because those are two of my favorite things 😭 and she absolutely delivered.
This was a mature retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I actually have not read the other books in the series, but I don’t think it’s entirely necessary. I was able to put everything together so I did like that. This book really leans into that darker, slightly gritty fantasy romance vibe with a strong focus on the dynamic between the main characters. And that’s where it really shines. The Goddess and the Beast 😌 The tension was enough to drive me insane 🫠 I was rooting for the Beast the whole time so if that tells you anything about me lolll.
I was happy with the romance development. It felt intentional and layered, not just thrown together for the sake of it. Like we knew where it was going, but it still took a minute. Also, there’s something about a rough around the edges connection softening over time that I personally love. I mean, who wouldn’t want the cinnamon roll Beast/Arthur to fall in love with them? 👀
AND! I love a good side character. Piffle has my whole heart lol. He was funny and charming and just added that delightful extra layer to the story.
That said, I do think it could’ve used a little more depth in certain areas. Some plot points felt a bit rushed or not as fully explored as they could have been, and I found myself wanting just a little more. Maybe more worldbuilding, more detail, more time to sit in certain moments. I think the story may have been intentionally short, but I would’ve easily eaten up another 200 pages.
All in all, I really enjoyed it! If you’re looking for a quick read to get lost in for a few hours with the perfect amount of spice and plot, this is the one 🖤
Chelsey said Hades x Persephone, Beauty and the Beast and I didn’t even listen to the rest because those are two of my favorite things 😭 and she absolutely delivered.
This was a mature retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I actually have not read the other books in the series, but I don’t think it’s entirely necessary. I was able to put everything together so I did like that. This book really leans into that darker, slightly gritty fantasy romance vibe with a strong focus on the dynamic between the main characters. And that’s where it really shines. The Goddess and the Beast 😌 The tension was enough to drive me insane 🫠 I was rooting for the Beast the whole time so if that tells you anything about me lolll.
I was happy with the romance development. It felt intentional and layered, not just thrown together for the sake of it. Like we knew where it was going, but it still took a minute. Also, there’s something about a rough around the edges connection softening over time that I personally love. I mean, who wouldn’t want the cinnamon roll Beast/Arthur to fall in love with them? 👀
AND! I love a good side character. Piffle has my whole heart lol. He was funny and charming and just added that delightful extra layer to the story.
That said, I do think it could’ve used a little more depth in certain areas. Some plot points felt a bit rushed or not as fully explored as they could have been, and I found myself wanting just a little more. Maybe more worldbuilding, more detail, more time to sit in certain moments. I think the story may have been intentionally short, but I would’ve easily eaten up another 200 pages.
All in all, I really enjoyed it! If you’re looking for a quick read to get lost in for a few hours with the perfect amount of spice and plot, this is the one 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beast and Thorn by Chelsea Ann Tompkins is a one-of-a-kind fae x Sleeping Beauty retelling that is both unique and deeply atmospheric. I was swept away by the lush world-building, the dark fairytale vibes, and the creative twists on classic tropes. If you enjoy retellings that truly stand out, this is a must-read.
The story follows Reshina, the Ravenfae Goddess who has relinquished her title of Cursebringer but still wields some of her powers. After punishing a thief and wandering into the winter lands of Heartstone Castle, Reshina’s blood awakens an old curse she once cast, binding her to Arthur, the Underrealm’s king. Arthur, haunted and obsessed with Reshina after reading her book years ago, offers her a grim way out—stab him through the heart to break the curse. But as she refuses and the curse draws them ever closer, Reshina finds herself torn between the Beast’s hunger and the man’s tenderness, facing an impossible choice between breaking the curse and surrendering to a dangerous, intimate connection. The tale is a gothic blend of Beauty and the Beast with a Hades and Persephone twist, and works as a standalone in the A Realm of Revelry Series.
Tropes you’ll love:
-Yearning for each other
-He falls first
-Cursed individuals
-Forced proximity
My absolute favorite character is Piffle, the changeling fae who brings comic relief to the book’s darker moments. His ability to transform into anything just by announcing it is endlessly entertaining—I especially loved the scenes where he creates fabulous dresses for Reshina. Honestly, everyone could use a little Piffle in their lives!
Overall, I thought Best and Thorn was a fantastic, imaginative retelling that blends the best of Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty in a way I’ve never seen before. I only wish Goodreads allowed half-star ratings, because this would be a solid 4.5 stars from me!
The story follows Reshina, the Ravenfae Goddess who has relinquished her title of Cursebringer but still wields some of her powers. After punishing a thief and wandering into the winter lands of Heartstone Castle, Reshina’s blood awakens an old curse she once cast, binding her to Arthur, the Underrealm’s king. Arthur, haunted and obsessed with Reshina after reading her book years ago, offers her a grim way out—stab him through the heart to break the curse. But as she refuses and the curse draws them ever closer, Reshina finds herself torn between the Beast’s hunger and the man’s tenderness, facing an impossible choice between breaking the curse and surrendering to a dangerous, intimate connection. The tale is a gothic blend of Beauty and the Beast with a Hades and Persephone twist, and works as a standalone in the A Realm of Revelry Series.
Tropes you’ll love:
-Yearning for each other
-He falls first
-Cursed individuals
-Forced proximity
My absolute favorite character is Piffle, the changeling fae who brings comic relief to the book’s darker moments. His ability to transform into anything just by announcing it is endlessly entertaining—I especially loved the scenes where he creates fabulous dresses for Reshina. Honestly, everyone could use a little Piffle in their lives!
Overall, I thought Best and Thorn was a fantastic, imaginative retelling that blends the best of Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty in a way I’ve never seen before. I only wish Goodreads allowed half-star ratings, because this would be a solid 4.5 stars from me!
Review of advance copy
Can I start by saying that Cheley Ann Tompkins has the loveliest writing style? It translates especially well to fairytale retellings. It’s lyrical and soft, but there’s something undeniably sultry woven through it as well. Love!!
This was a quick read, but it never felt rushed or choppy. The story flowed smoothly, feeling rich and seamless. It begins with a curse. Arthur has been forced to live the last twelve years living in the Underrealm, with a beast prowling within him. The only way to break the curse is for a maiden to spill her blood on his lands, become his captive, and, you know… fall in love with him.
So when Reshina, the Goddess of Ravenfae and Cursebringer herself, the very one who cast the curse, becomes trapped by it, everything becomes a lot more complicated.
There was something so enticing about this read. Their chemistry was *sigh* so yummy. Arthur was such a unique beast. Don’t get me wrong, he gets angry and beastly, but at his core he’s protective and kind. He loves books and poetry, often scribbling his own thoughts into the margins. He’s romantic and completely obsessed with Reshina. And those chase scenes when she’s trying to escape, only to be caught, and Arthur tends to her wounds with his mouth… yeah, that defiantly worked for me.
Also, a huge shout out our favorite Changelingfae Piffle, who kind of stole the show!! I want a Piffle gown!
This love story was completely captivating, pure, and deliciously intense, all wrapped in this gorgeous gothic aesthetic. Seeing them find a love that neither of them ever thought possible, one strong enough to break even the strongest curses, made for a perfectly magical happily ever after.
Thank you so much to Grim and Co and Chelsey Ann Tompkins for this gifted ecopy!
This was a quick read, but it never felt rushed or choppy. The story flowed smoothly, feeling rich and seamless. It begins with a curse. Arthur has been forced to live the last twelve years living in the Underrealm, with a beast prowling within him. The only way to break the curse is for a maiden to spill her blood on his lands, become his captive, and, you know… fall in love with him.
So when Reshina, the Goddess of Ravenfae and Cursebringer herself, the very one who cast the curse, becomes trapped by it, everything becomes a lot more complicated.
There was something so enticing about this read. Their chemistry was *sigh* so yummy. Arthur was such a unique beast. Don’t get me wrong, he gets angry and beastly, but at his core he’s protective and kind. He loves books and poetry, often scribbling his own thoughts into the margins. He’s romantic and completely obsessed with Reshina. And those chase scenes when she’s trying to escape, only to be caught, and Arthur tends to her wounds with his mouth… yeah, that defiantly worked for me.
Also, a huge shout out our favorite Changelingfae Piffle, who kind of stole the show!! I want a Piffle gown!
This love story was completely captivating, pure, and deliciously intense, all wrapped in this gorgeous gothic aesthetic. Seeing them find a love that neither of them ever thought possible, one strong enough to break even the strongest curses, made for a perfectly magical happily ever after.
Thank you so much to Grim and Co and Chelsey Ann Tompkins for this gifted ecopy!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beast & Thorn was such a fun, charming read. I hadn’t even heard of the A Realm of Revelry series before picking this up, but now? The rest of the series is firmly on my TBR.
This is an interconnected series that can be read in any order, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite formats. That said, this was my first book in the series but not the first overall, so I did feel like the world-building was just a bit light for me. It’s there, just not as detailed as I personally prefer, but I fully take the blame for jumping in mid-series.
The concept alone had me hooked: a Beauty and the Beast retelling with hints of Persephone and Hades. Not a combination you’d expect to work, but it absolutely does. The author weaves the two together seamlessly, and it feels surprisingly natural.
What I really loved is how focused the story is. It centers primarily on just two characters, with one standout little side character, Piffle, who completely stole the show for me.
Reshina and Arthur are both broken in very different ways, and that’s what makes their dynamic so compelling. Neither of them is perfect, but they’re written in a way that makes their flaws feel real and meaningful. Reshina, a goddess, cast a curse years ago and ends up entangled in it herself. The curse can only be broken in one of two ways, one of which involves killing Arthur (don’t worry, you learn that early on). Watching them navigate that tension, along with their growing feelings, was one of the best parts of the book.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable read. If you love broken characters, curses, and fairytale retellings with a unique twist, this is definitely worth picking up.
This is an interconnected series that can be read in any order, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite formats. That said, this was my first book in the series but not the first overall, so I did feel like the world-building was just a bit light for me. It’s there, just not as detailed as I personally prefer, but I fully take the blame for jumping in mid-series.
The concept alone had me hooked: a Beauty and the Beast retelling with hints of Persephone and Hades. Not a combination you’d expect to work, but it absolutely does. The author weaves the two together seamlessly, and it feels surprisingly natural.
What I really loved is how focused the story is. It centers primarily on just two characters, with one standout little side character, Piffle, who completely stole the show for me.
Reshina and Arthur are both broken in very different ways, and that’s what makes their dynamic so compelling. Neither of them is perfect, but they’re written in a way that makes their flaws feel real and meaningful. Reshina, a goddess, cast a curse years ago and ends up entangled in it herself. The curse can only be broken in one of two ways, one of which involves killing Arthur (don’t worry, you learn that early on). Watching them navigate that tension, along with their growing feelings, was one of the best parts of the book.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable read. If you love broken characters, curses, and fairytale retellings with a unique twist, this is definitely worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from Author
𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 – 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮.
There’s just something about a 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 retelling that has me immediately feral… and add fae?? Say less.
I devoured 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘯 in one sitting—like fully “just one more chapter” until suddenly it’s the end and I’m staring at the wall processing my life choices. The atmosphere was lush, a little dark, and had that addictive, magical pull that makes you forget everything else exists.
The dynamic between the characters really carried this for me (I love a broody, cursed situation 👀), and the fae twist added just enough intrigue to keep things feeling fresh while still giving those familiar, comforting vibes of the original tale.
BUT we need to talk about the real star of the show: Piffle 🥹
A changeling fae who can cook, tailor, and be the ultimate confidant?? Immediately obsessed. The way he announces what he’s about to change into is actually the cutest thing ever and I would protect him at all costs. Truly stole every scene he was in.
I 𝘥𝘰 have a few lingering questions—mostly the kind that make me tilt my head and go “wait… but what about—” BUT honestly, it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the ride.
Overall, this was such a fun, bingeable read and if you’re a sucker for:
✨ cursed beasts
✨ fae magic
✨ romantic tension
✨ beauty & the beast vibes
…you’re going to want this on your radar before it releases on June 3.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
There’s just something about a 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 retelling that has me immediately feral… and add fae?? Say less.
I devoured 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘯 in one sitting—like fully “just one more chapter” until suddenly it’s the end and I’m staring at the wall processing my life choices. The atmosphere was lush, a little dark, and had that addictive, magical pull that makes you forget everything else exists.
The dynamic between the characters really carried this for me (I love a broody, cursed situation 👀), and the fae twist added just enough intrigue to keep things feeling fresh while still giving those familiar, comforting vibes of the original tale.
BUT we need to talk about the real star of the show: Piffle 🥹
A changeling fae who can cook, tailor, and be the ultimate confidant?? Immediately obsessed. The way he announces what he’s about to change into is actually the cutest thing ever and I would protect him at all costs. Truly stole every scene he was in.
I 𝘥𝘰 have a few lingering questions—mostly the kind that make me tilt my head and go “wait… but what about—” BUT honestly, it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the ride.
Overall, this was such a fun, bingeable read and if you’re a sucker for:
✨ cursed beasts
✨ fae magic
✨ romantic tension
✨ beauty & the beast vibes
…you’re going to want this on your radar before it releases on June 3.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Review of advance copy received from Author
Another amazing fairytale retelling from Chelsey Ann Tompkins! I really love that we finally get the story of Korven and Morella's mother Reshina. Her story brings with just such loneliness. A goddess cursed never to love. The journey she goes on in this book is just heartwarming. You get to see different sides of her and the changes she goes through once she meets Arthur.
Arthur is just so swoon-worthy. He harbors a secret that he knows of Reshina and his obsession turning into love is just beautiful. I just ATE it up. His care and affection for Reshina is just, I was blown away. And their spicy times???? Oooh I was giggling and kicking my feet, it was so good. I love a feral spicy moment and you definitely get a few in here.
And of course Piffle is the real MVP of this story 🤣. He just goes about his business having faith that everything will work out in the end. He is the friend that everyone needs in their life.
We also get some cameo moments with characters from the first two novellas, which I absolutely loved. A dire situation arises that brings about the most heartbreakingly beautiful scenes ever! I was sobbing, the emotions were high and I just didn't know how everything was going to be okay!!! Just know, Arthur is top tier MMC in this scene.
Just a beautiful love story of two lost characters who fight their way to a happily ever after.
Arthur is just so swoon-worthy. He harbors a secret that he knows of Reshina and his obsession turning into love is just beautiful. I just ATE it up. His care and affection for Reshina is just, I was blown away. And their spicy times???? Oooh I was giggling and kicking my feet, it was so good. I love a feral spicy moment and you definitely get a few in here.
And of course Piffle is the real MVP of this story 🤣. He just goes about his business having faith that everything will work out in the end. He is the friend that everyone needs in their life.
We also get some cameo moments with characters from the first two novellas, which I absolutely loved. A dire situation arises that brings about the most heartbreakingly beautiful scenes ever! I was sobbing, the emotions were high and I just didn't know how everything was going to be okay!!! Just know, Arthur is top tier MMC in this scene.
Just a beautiful love story of two lost characters who fight their way to a happily ever after.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶
💫Cursed MMC and FMC
❤️🔥Beauty and the Beast Retelling
💘Forced Proximity
This is an excellent, faster paced (just under 250 pages) Beauty and the Beast Retelling that hits all the right notes and does so with some originality.
My favorite part is how undeniably selfless, kind and loving this MMC is and how he fights an inner war constantly with his "Beast" side. It's kind of Jekyll and Hyde with the warring sides and I ate that tension up! Restraining himself and the physical manifestations at times of his Beast is wonderfully dramatic and the origins of his curse was quite neat too.
The MVP is Piffle as well! Shout out to this comic relief and lovable friend to Arthur who always stands by his side. I really loved the story and only wish it was longer, to explore more angsty moments, more times of him fighting his Beast nature. Because they were done so well and at times I my heart broke with how Arthur had given up on her or anyone loving him, he'd rather her be free and his life end.
But worry not, because these two do have such chemistry! Her being a Goddess was a different choice, I personally still prefer the FMC to be human traditionally BUT this was an original spin and was pleasantly surprised by it. The last act moved a little fast, and sometimes I wanted more focus on Arthur. But easily reccomend for Beauty and the Beast lovers.
🌶🌶
💫Cursed MMC and FMC
❤️🔥Beauty and the Beast Retelling
💘Forced Proximity
This is an excellent, faster paced (just under 250 pages) Beauty and the Beast Retelling that hits all the right notes and does so with some originality.
My favorite part is how undeniably selfless, kind and loving this MMC is and how he fights an inner war constantly with his "Beast" side. It's kind of Jekyll and Hyde with the warring sides and I ate that tension up! Restraining himself and the physical manifestations at times of his Beast is wonderfully dramatic and the origins of his curse was quite neat too.
The MVP is Piffle as well! Shout out to this comic relief and lovable friend to Arthur who always stands by his side. I really loved the story and only wish it was longer, to explore more angsty moments, more times of him fighting his Beast nature. Because they were done so well and at times I my heart broke with how Arthur had given up on her or anyone loving him, he'd rather her be free and his life end.
But worry not, because these two do have such chemistry! Her being a Goddess was a different choice, I personally still prefer the FMC to be human traditionally BUT this was an original spin and was pleasantly surprised by it. The last act moved a little fast, and sometimes I wanted more focus on Arthur. But easily reccomend for Beauty and the Beast lovers.
May 4, 2026
Thank you so much to Chelsey Ann Tompkins for an ARC of Beast & Thorn!!! I had a fantastic time reading and diving into this magical world! This is book 3 in the series, but they are interconnected standalones. I will absolutely be circling back to read the others since I already have Curse & Spindle 😆.
Beast & Thorn follows Reshina the Ravenfae Goddess who delivers curses while also carrying a curse of her own and Arthur, a King who is carrying a familial curse delivered by Reshina. I particularly enjoyed the complex and intricate nature of curses woven into their story. They aren’t cutesy curses, they are BRUTAL and devastating. We see both Arthur and Reshina struggling not only with their own curses, but also the struggle of watching each other suffer because of them. I really appreciated learning about Reshina’s backstory because of this too.
The slowburn is delicious. The banter and tension-building was amazing! The part where “Run”, comes into play? Steamy!! Of course we also have one of my favorite things: YEARNING.
I also want to mention how much I enjoyed other characters present. Especially, Piffle. The way he was yelling out objects he would use changeling magic around Reshina sent me into orbit, LMAO. I thought I would get used to it over the course of the book but every time, I found myself legitimately laughing!
Beast & Thorn releases on June 3rd!!
Beast & Thorn follows Reshina the Ravenfae Goddess who delivers curses while also carrying a curse of her own and Arthur, a King who is carrying a familial curse delivered by Reshina. I particularly enjoyed the complex and intricate nature of curses woven into their story. They aren’t cutesy curses, they are BRUTAL and devastating. We see both Arthur and Reshina struggling not only with their own curses, but also the struggle of watching each other suffer because of them. I really appreciated learning about Reshina’s backstory because of this too.
The slowburn is delicious. The banter and tension-building was amazing! The part where “Run”, comes into play? Steamy!! Of course we also have one of my favorite things: YEARNING.
I also want to mention how much I enjoyed other characters present. Especially, Piffle. The way he was yelling out objects he would use changeling magic around Reshina sent me into orbit, LMAO. I thought I would get used to it over the course of the book but every time, I found myself legitimately laughing!
Beast & Thorn releases on June 3rd!!
March 20, 2026
I absolutely loved this book!
When I found out we were getting Reshina’s story I was so excited because I needed to learn more about her after getting her kids stories.
Arthur was a sweetheart! It wasn’t his fault he was cursed to begin with. The curse was initially put on his father and then passed to him when it wasn’t broken and his parents died. The funny part is when the person who cursed him is the one who got stuck having to somehow break it. The only problem is she is also cursed and her curse prevents her from breaking his. Will his curse ever be broken or will he be the beast forever?
Reshina didn’t plan on bleeding that day and locking herself into a curse she cast. I loved watching her become the best version of herself in this book. She deserves happiness just as much as anyone else. Will she get it is the question.
I loved Piffle!! That guy was so stinking cute and funny. I loved how he yelled before changing into anything to not scare her. How could you not laugh when the guy literally screams things like notebook or bandage out of the blue before turning into that item.
I also liked how the beast was its only being. It was a fun twist on the story.
Overall I really loved this book and these characters. I read this book as an arc.
When I found out we were getting Reshina’s story I was so excited because I needed to learn more about her after getting her kids stories.
Arthur was a sweetheart! It wasn’t his fault he was cursed to begin with. The curse was initially put on his father and then passed to him when it wasn’t broken and his parents died. The funny part is when the person who cursed him is the one who got stuck having to somehow break it. The only problem is she is also cursed and her curse prevents her from breaking his. Will his curse ever be broken or will he be the beast forever?
Reshina didn’t plan on bleeding that day and locking herself into a curse she cast. I loved watching her become the best version of herself in this book. She deserves happiness just as much as anyone else. Will she get it is the question.
I loved Piffle!! That guy was so stinking cute and funny. I loved how he yelled before changing into anything to not scare her. How could you not laugh when the guy literally screams things like notebook or bandage out of the blue before turning into that item.
I also liked how the beast was its only being. It was a fun twist on the story.
Overall I really loved this book and these characters. I read this book as an arc.
March 28, 2026
I received an eARC directly from the author, and this is my honest review.
- dual POV
- beauty and the beast retelling
- older MCs
- can be fully read within a few hours.
This book was good. I loved the older, goddess MFC with the younger man who had a beast within him. I liked the storyline of the MFC cursing the MMC’s father and she ended up being the one to also get stuck in the curse and break it with MMC. At the beginning, the MFC was incredibly entitled, arrogant, and selfish (she was a goddess, so not surprised). At one point, she even gaslit the MMC. The MMC was hopeless and stubborn regarding how to solve the problem, not listening to the MFC. Additionally, I absolutely loved the side character that had to yell to warn people he was shifting into an item to not surprise or scare them. This was funny and added a comedic component to the storyline.
Despite this book being good, it was not excellent, in my opinion. I loved Straw & Gold, and found that this book didn’t meet the same level of Straw & Gold. At times, I was bored and skipped paragraphs, finding I didn’t miss much. It just didn’t have the same pull, pacing, and intrigue as the previous books in the series. Again, it was not bad and I’m sure a lot of people will love it more than I did.
- dual POV
- beauty and the beast retelling
- older MCs
- can be fully read within a few hours.
This book was good. I loved the older, goddess MFC with the younger man who had a beast within him. I liked the storyline of the MFC cursing the MMC’s father and she ended up being the one to also get stuck in the curse and break it with MMC. At the beginning, the MFC was incredibly entitled, arrogant, and selfish (she was a goddess, so not surprised). At one point, she even gaslit the MMC. The MMC was hopeless and stubborn regarding how to solve the problem, not listening to the MFC. Additionally, I absolutely loved the side character that had to yell to warn people he was shifting into an item to not surprise or scare them. This was funny and added a comedic component to the storyline.
Despite this book being good, it was not excellent, in my opinion. I loved Straw & Gold, and found that this book didn’t meet the same level of Straw & Gold. At times, I was bored and skipped paragraphs, finding I didn’t miss much. It just didn’t have the same pull, pacing, and intrigue as the previous books in the series. Again, it was not bad and I’m sure a lot of people will love it more than I did.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2026
Rounded up from 4.5 stars.
You definitely need to be in the right mood to read this one. If you’re looking for something with intense world building or drawn out plots or anything like that, you won’t find it here. But if you’re looking for a fairytale, filled with obsession and secret desire and just a smidge of mystery, this one is for you.
This is a series of interconnected standalones, with characters from the other books appearing, but you don’t need to read the books in order (unless you want to avoid some spoilers in terms of romance).
If you’re looking for a love story that defies reality, expectation, and is genuinely a fairytale; a female main character who is full of rage and yet just wants to be loved; a male main character who is full of yearning and obsession while also willing to do whatever it takes for her; and an incredible sidekick character who made me laugh more than once, Beast & Thorn is definitely the book for you.
I’d you’re known to cry during sad moments, you might cry in this one. If you’re known to cry at super happy endings, you might cry in this one.
Thank you so much to Chelsey Ann Tompkins for an arc of this book. Can’t wait for the next!
You definitely need to be in the right mood to read this one. If you’re looking for something with intense world building or drawn out plots or anything like that, you won’t find it here. But if you’re looking for a fairytale, filled with obsession and secret desire and just a smidge of mystery, this one is for you.
This is a series of interconnected standalones, with characters from the other books appearing, but you don’t need to read the books in order (unless you want to avoid some spoilers in terms of romance).
If you’re looking for a love story that defies reality, expectation, and is genuinely a fairytale; a female main character who is full of rage and yet just wants to be loved; a male main character who is full of yearning and obsession while also willing to do whatever it takes for her; and an incredible sidekick character who made me laugh more than once, Beast & Thorn is definitely the book for you.
I’d you’re known to cry during sad moments, you might cry in this one. If you’re known to cry at super happy endings, you might cry in this one.
Thank you so much to Chelsey Ann Tompkins for an arc of this book. Can’t wait for the next!
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