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Fallen Beauty
Not yet published
Expected 3 Nov 26A HAUNTING, WINTERY TALE OF ART, OBSESSION, AND THE PRICE OF LOVE.
Eighteen-year-old Thorelea Winyard has been a prisoner her entire life, forced to paint dead animals pushed into her cell. She dreams of the world outside her tower and everything she’s been denied. When one of her subjects comes back to life, Thorelea is thrust into a royal court where she can have anything she desires—aside from her freedom.
Here, she learns that the king and queen have ruled for centuries; their immortality is gifted through the power of their court painter, who dutifully updates their magical portraits. It is also here that she meets the sole other mortal of the court: Prince Kelter. Desperate to become immortal so he can join the ranks of the battalion waging war against a neighboring kingdom, he offers her a deal. Thorelea will paint the portrait Prince Kelter has been denied by his parents, and he will help her escape from the ruthless royal court.
They meet each night in secret. As they grow closer, they must face the monstrous realities of Thorelea’s powers. Will she be forced to choose between her heart and her freedom?
Eighteen-year-old Thorelea Winyard has been a prisoner her entire life, forced to paint dead animals pushed into her cell. She dreams of the world outside her tower and everything she’s been denied. When one of her subjects comes back to life, Thorelea is thrust into a royal court where she can have anything she desires—aside from her freedom.
Here, she learns that the king and queen have ruled for centuries; their immortality is gifted through the power of their court painter, who dutifully updates their magical portraits. It is also here that she meets the sole other mortal of the court: Prince Kelter. Desperate to become immortal so he can join the ranks of the battalion waging war against a neighboring kingdom, he offers her a deal. Thorelea will paint the portrait Prince Kelter has been denied by his parents, and he will help her escape from the ruthless royal court.
They meet each night in secret. As they grow closer, they must face the monstrous realities of Thorelea’s powers. Will she be forced to choose between her heart and her freedom?
416 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication November 3, 2026
About the author
Astrid Scholte
6 books1,868 followersAstrid Scholte is the internationally bestselling and award-winning author of fantasy novels including Four Dead Queens , The Vanishing Deep and the League of Liars duology. Fallen Beauty is out Nov 3rd 2026! When she's not writing, she works in film and animation production on such movies as James Cameron’s Avatar, Lilo & Stitch and Wicked. She lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband, two cats and an ever-growing mountain of Disney merchandise.
You can find Astrid posting about books, cats and Disney on X, TikTok and Instagram @AstridScholte
You can find Astrid posting about books, cats and Disney on X, TikTok and Instagram @AstridScholte
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Update: the books have been printed!!!
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My next YA Fantasy, Fallen Beauty, combines my love of fairytales, gothic castles, midnight rendezvous, brooding boys. dangerous magic, courtly intrigue and forbidden romance. It also features another one of my passions: oil painting!
The glorious cover for FALLEN BEAUTY has been revealed! How beautiful is it???
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My next YA Fantasy, Fallen Beauty, combines my love of fairytales, gothic castles, midnight rendezvous, brooding boys. dangerous magic, courtly intrigue and forbidden romance. It also features another one of my passions: oil painting!
The glorious cover for FALLEN BEAUTY has been revealed! How beautiful is it???
June 24, 2026
This story grabbed me from the very beginning and didn’t let me go until the end!
💙 Thank you AstridScholte and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.
What to expect:
🎨 Dual pov
🎨 Prisoner FMC, locked in a tower
🎨 Prince MMC
🎨 Magic but only one living person has power (one gift), not the whole society
🎨 War with sa cursed army (like zombies but they can talk to you)
🎨 yearning and slowwww burn
🎨 lies, deceitfulness, royal intrigue
🎨 DARK gruesome “games” the King & Queen play with people to choose their new Royal Court members
🎨 slow discovery of how the FMCs power works and her important role in the war/realm
🌶️- 0.5 peppers out of 5- VERY mild, 1 scene but not very descriptive
A girl is locked in a room and once a week a dead animal is thrust before her. She has one task- she must paint the animal as though it is alive before the death chill claims it. She does this for years when one day an animal she paints comes back to life.
This part of the blurb completely caught my attention, but honestly this is just the first 2% of the story. Truly, the journey that Astrid took my heart on - curiosity, sadness, anger, confusion, horror, disgust, hope and love- was amazing.
If you like dark, gothic fairy tales or are a fan or Erin A Craig or T. Kingfisher, this is definitely for you.
📆 Pub: November 3, 2026
Preorder Now: Ebook, Audiobook or Hardcover
💙 Thank you AstridScholte and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.
What to expect:
🎨 Dual pov
🎨 Prisoner FMC, locked in a tower
🎨 Prince MMC
🎨 Magic but only one living person has power (one gift), not the whole society
🎨 War with sa cursed army (like zombies but they can talk to you)
🎨 yearning and slowwww burn
🎨 lies, deceitfulness, royal intrigue
🎨 DARK gruesome “games” the King & Queen play with people to choose their new Royal Court members
🎨 slow discovery of how the FMCs power works and her important role in the war/realm
🌶️- 0.5 peppers out of 5- VERY mild, 1 scene but not very descriptive
A girl is locked in a room and once a week a dead animal is thrust before her. She has one task- she must paint the animal as though it is alive before the death chill claims it. She does this for years when one day an animal she paints comes back to life.
This part of the blurb completely caught my attention, but honestly this is just the first 2% of the story. Truly, the journey that Astrid took my heart on - curiosity, sadness, anger, confusion, horror, disgust, hope and love- was amazing.
If you like dark, gothic fairy tales or are a fan or Erin A Craig or T. Kingfisher, this is definitely for you.
📆 Pub: November 3, 2026
Preorder Now: Ebook, Audiobook or Hardcover
Want to Read
December 30, 2025I'm sorry Rapunzel meets Dorian Gray???? Is this secretly a trap made specifically for me???????
February 10, 2026
Rapunzel meets The Picture of Dorian Gray??? So good. It’s been over a year since I’ve read a YA book (though this one is closer to New Adult). I really loved this. It pulled me in immediately and was written really well. It wasn’t overly complicated, but the world felt nostalgic which I loved. Honestly this could have been a series but I’m glad it was a standalone. It was the perfect length, and the perfect amount of storytelling without it feeling like it dragged.
June 14, 2026
Thank you for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I wanted to read this because I absolutely loved Four Dead Queens— it was an easy five star and I was so blown away by how much I loved it. I also read the author’s second book and enjoyed it but to a lesser degree. I was really excited to read a book that’s fairytale x Dorian Gray (Dorian Gray being one of my fav books).
TLDR; The writing itself is good. I do like the author’s style. Overall she’s an engaging writer. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t connect with the story or characters.
The tone is very melodramatic and angsty which I suppose it to be expected of YA but it’s also a bit too extreme verging on cartoonish villains and heroes.
Chapters 1-3, the setup is a bit confusing. We have Thorelea, who is locked in a tower all her life and forced to paint after her mom is snatched, and Kelter, an angry Prince with floppy hair and a beard who resents being admired and wants to fight the Fallen. Clearly, Thorelea, like the reader, has no idea what is going on. She is brand new to this world and experiencing it as an outsider. Kelter is well versed in the world but his pov is clearly intentionally vague for mystery.
At first I was a bit frustrated because the opening 10% relies heavily on the protagonist’s state of confusion. However, reader doesn’t have to be confused for too long because Kelter explains the magic at the start of chapter 5 (13%).
I enjoy morally gray characters but the two main characters were a bit inconsistent in order to set up an enemies to lovers trope. Kelter is jaded and won’t be swindled into opening his heart for anyone because the girl he loved played a prank on him and beheaded herself in his bed. Kelter is a bit whiny and is always growling. Literally, his speech tags are typically “he growled.” Meanwhile, Thorelea has never met people besides her mother and suddenly goes from living a very sheltered life not talking to anyone for 6 years to witty banter with the prince and challenging him on things. Her character is too strong willed for someone who wasn’t socialised and lived in total isolation. I think there was opportunity to explore what growing up in isolation might actually do to a character but instead Thorelea is a bit of a cookie cutter heroine. She’s beautiful, fiesty and doesn’t like to be told what to do.
I love the idea of the magic system with her being able to grant immortality through paintings. I can see people who love fairytales and YA fantasy really enjoying this book. It’s a quick read but I think I might be aging out of YA and I’m yearning for more complex characters and nuanced villains.
TLDR; The writing itself is good. I do like the author’s style. Overall she’s an engaging writer. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t connect with the story or characters.
The tone is very melodramatic and angsty which I suppose it to be expected of YA but it’s also a bit too extreme verging on cartoonish villains and heroes.
Chapters 1-3, the setup is a bit confusing. We have Thorelea, who is locked in a tower all her life and forced to paint after her mom is snatched, and Kelter, an angry Prince with floppy hair and a beard who resents being admired and wants to fight the Fallen. Clearly, Thorelea, like the reader, has no idea what is going on. She is brand new to this world and experiencing it as an outsider. Kelter is well versed in the world but his pov is clearly intentionally vague for mystery.
At first I was a bit frustrated because the opening 10% relies heavily on the protagonist’s state of confusion. However, reader doesn’t have to be confused for too long because Kelter explains the magic at the start of chapter 5 (13%).
I enjoy morally gray characters but the two main characters were a bit inconsistent in order to set up an enemies to lovers trope. Kelter is jaded and won’t be swindled into opening his heart for anyone because the girl he loved played a prank on him and beheaded herself in his bed. Kelter is a bit whiny and is always growling. Literally, his speech tags are typically “he growled.” Meanwhile, Thorelea has never met people besides her mother and suddenly goes from living a very sheltered life not talking to anyone for 6 years to witty banter with the prince and challenging him on things. Her character is too strong willed for someone who wasn’t socialised and lived in total isolation. I think there was opportunity to explore what growing up in isolation might actually do to a character but instead Thorelea is a bit of a cookie cutter heroine. She’s beautiful, fiesty and doesn’t like to be told what to do.
I love the idea of the magic system with her being able to grant immortality through paintings. I can see people who love fairytales and YA fantasy really enjoying this book. It’s a quick read but I think I might be aging out of YA and I’m yearning for more complex characters and nuanced villains.
June 30, 2026
This book rescued me from my book slump. It gives Grimm's Fairy Tales mixed with The Picture of Dorian Gray vibes and a dash of Rapunzel vibes. Gothic and dark with an evil Queen and King. We get a HEA that is much deserved after what the MCs go through. This story will suck you right in!!
Castle Lagonia holds many secrets drenched in blood and death. Ruled by an evil Queen and King. At war with The Fallen for the past 200 years due to a curse. A court painter who has lost everything and is kept as a prisoner. A prince who just wants to save his people. The tale of the Hallowed Twins is told and secrets begin to reveal themselves. Dreams tell her to come home. Honor and desire tell him to help her. They journey across cursed lands, boiling rivers, through active volcanoes and fight undead creatures to stop the blight upon the land and people. What they discover is beyond what they could have imagined. Along the way a bond is born and vengeance is taken.
Thank you to the author, @wednesdaybooks and @netgalley for the gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Castle Lagonia holds many secrets drenched in blood and death. Ruled by an evil Queen and King. At war with The Fallen for the past 200 years due to a curse. A court painter who has lost everything and is kept as a prisoner. A prince who just wants to save his people. The tale of the Hallowed Twins is told and secrets begin to reveal themselves. Dreams tell her to come home. Honor and desire tell him to help her. They journey across cursed lands, boiling rivers, through active volcanoes and fight undead creatures to stop the blight upon the land and people. What they discover is beyond what they could have imagined. Along the way a bond is born and vengeance is taken.
Thank you to the author, @wednesdaybooks and @netgalley for the gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
˙⋆✮ “𝑵𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰'𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕, 𝒊𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒓." ˙⋆✮
y’all, when I say this book had me in a chokehold, I mean it had me in a CHOKEHOLD. I could not put it down! this was such a unique, twisted, dark but captivating fairytale & I loved Kelter & Thorelea so much. the characters, the plot, the true enemies to lovers, slow-burn romance had me literally glued to my seat the entire time!
this is a standalone, & that was refreshing after so many series’s in a row lol. not that I don’t absolutely love a good series, but sometimes it’s also nice to have everything tied up in one novel, & the way this author weaves a story is so compelling — it flowed so well & was so fast-paced that I was addicted from the very beginning. I highly recommend this one!
✧ true enemies to lovers
✧ ya gothic fairytale retelling
✧ slow burn
✧ forced proximity
✧ she’s the court painter
✧ her subjects become immortal
✧ he’s the prince
✧ only one horse
✧ he falls first
✧ duet pov
4.5⭐️ rounded up to a 5⭐️
✧.* thank you to Wednesday Books for the advanced copy!
y’all, when I say this book had me in a chokehold, I mean it had me in a CHOKEHOLD. I could not put it down! this was such a unique, twisted, dark but captivating fairytale & I loved Kelter & Thorelea so much. the characters, the plot, the true enemies to lovers, slow-burn romance had me literally glued to my seat the entire time!
this is a standalone, & that was refreshing after so many series’s in a row lol. not that I don’t absolutely love a good series, but sometimes it’s also nice to have everything tied up in one novel, & the way this author weaves a story is so compelling — it flowed so well & was so fast-paced that I was addicted from the very beginning. I highly recommend this one!
✧ true enemies to lovers
✧ ya gothic fairytale retelling
✧ slow burn
✧ forced proximity
✧ she’s the court painter
✧ her subjects become immortal
✧ he’s the prince
✧ only one horse
✧ he falls first
✧ duet pov
4.5⭐️ rounded up to a 5⭐️
✧.* thank you to Wednesday Books for the advanced copy!
June 8, 2026
Thorelea is a prisoner who paints. However, she has the power to give immortality to her paintings’ objects. Prince Kelter wants her to paint him so he can win the war. They make an agreement to help each other, and from there starts their story.
I liked the book, found the story exciting and the powers original. This was fast paced, easy to follow and made you want to know what happened next.
Some things irked me though. First, I felt like Thorelea’s reaction when first meeting the prince did not correspond to the personality she had at the beginning. It felt as if her reaction was what it was to create a certain ennemies to lovers trope, but it did not work. Second, it felt like the book was separated in two distinct sections, but going from one to the other was written so quickly that it felt like the characters were not acting like themselves. Third, the main relationship felt kind of rushed so it was more difficult to truly believe it.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book.
I liked the book, found the story exciting and the powers original. This was fast paced, easy to follow and made you want to know what happened next.
Some things irked me though. First, I felt like Thorelea’s reaction when first meeting the prince did not correspond to the personality she had at the beginning. It felt as if her reaction was what it was to create a certain ennemies to lovers trope, but it did not work. Second, it felt like the book was separated in two distinct sections, but going from one to the other was written so quickly that it felt like the characters were not acting like themselves. Third, the main relationship felt kind of rushed so it was more difficult to truly believe it.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book.
May 12, 2026
{Review of ARC received from Netgalley}
This book was an absolute journey from start to finish, accomplishing what it needed without overstaying its welcome. An absolute perfect example of what a standalone should be.
I loved the chilling atmosphere and the high stakes it presented as our main character began to learn and piece together secrets about the kingdom in which she lives. It truly had me guessing and piecing together information from beginning to end.
The relationship between our main character and Prince Kelter was sweet to experience as they grew to love and trust each other more and more as the story progressed. While I would not categorize it as enemies to lovers, there is some tension as we learn more about there prince's ultimate desires and goals.
The action was expertly paced and kept me on my toes as well, with not one page being wasted. Everything felt intentional and kept the story moving along.
This book was an absolute journey from start to finish, accomplishing what it needed without overstaying its welcome. An absolute perfect example of what a standalone should be.
I loved the chilling atmosphere and the high stakes it presented as our main character began to learn and piece together secrets about the kingdom in which she lives. It truly had me guessing and piecing together information from beginning to end.
The relationship between our main character and Prince Kelter was sweet to experience as they grew to love and trust each other more and more as the story progressed. While I would not categorize it as enemies to lovers, there is some tension as we learn more about there prince's ultimate desires and goals.
The action was expertly paced and kept me on my toes as well, with not one page being wasted. Everything felt intentional and kept the story moving along.
Did Not Finish
June 25, 2026DNF at page 54
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the publisher for a gifted eARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was immediately intrigued by this one when I heard it was like Barbie’s Rapunzel meets The Picture of Dorian Gray. It absolutely delivered on both counts, and I really liked the world, the characters, and the magic that the author brought to life in this story.
Thorelea was such a fantastic character. She was relatable, kind, strong, and I was rooting for her the whole time. I loved seeing her discover her strength and her power, and when she stood up for herself I was so proud of her. Her desire to be viewed as more than her magic was so relatable, and I loved her relationship with Kelter.
Kelter was also a fantastic character. His love for his country and his desire to help were well developed, and seeing his world crumble as he discovered the truth was hard to read at times. His emotions came through really well, and I liked his growth.
The romance was definitely a subtle subplot in this one, but I was living for the little glances and touches. The development was so well done, and I felt like it moved at a great pace to match the rest of the story.
The writing style was easy to follow along with. The dual POVs of both Thorelea and Kelter were done well, and I liked being inside the heads of both characters.
I was immediately intrigued by this one when I heard it was like Barbie’s Rapunzel meets The Picture of Dorian Gray. It absolutely delivered on both counts, and I really liked the world, the characters, and the magic that the author brought to life in this story.
Thorelea was such a fantastic character. She was relatable, kind, strong, and I was rooting for her the whole time. I loved seeing her discover her strength and her power, and when she stood up for herself I was so proud of her. Her desire to be viewed as more than her magic was so relatable, and I loved her relationship with Kelter.
Kelter was also a fantastic character. His love for his country and his desire to help were well developed, and seeing his world crumble as he discovered the truth was hard to read at times. His emotions came through really well, and I liked his growth.
The romance was definitely a subtle subplot in this one, but I was living for the little glances and touches. The development was so well done, and I felt like it moved at a great pace to match the rest of the story.
The writing style was easy to follow along with. The dual POVs of both Thorelea and Kelter were done well, and I liked being inside the heads of both characters.
March 22, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
Very unique fantasy story inspired by my favorite Disney princess Rapunzel! I’ve never read a magic system quite like this and definitely kept the story fresh and engaging. My problem mostly was it dragged a bit and the ending was not explained well enough for me. Almost a bit of a cop out ending. Overall though I did enjoy and I love that it’s a standalone. Would definitely recommend when this gets published in November.
Win a ARC in a Goodreads giveaway
Very unique fantasy story inspired by my favorite Disney princess Rapunzel! I’ve never read a magic system quite like this and definitely kept the story fresh and engaging. My problem mostly was it dragged a bit and the ending was not explained well enough for me. Almost a bit of a cop out ending. Overall though I did enjoy and I love that it’s a standalone. Would definitely recommend when this gets published in November.
Win a ARC in a Goodreads giveaway
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.25 stars
i dont know how she did it, but the best character in this book was that goddamn rabbit. seriously. she made it sound so fucking adorable to the point where i genuinely considered buying one for the sake of having a fluffy ball of fur.
unfortunately, the rest of the book does not reflect the quality of powder the rabbit
i fear this is a bit of a rant... worded to just straight up words
PLOT: You know when a book is so predictable that the events become an expectation? That you're like yeah... it's going to be fine. Because there's no way for it to have any other ending.
If so, then you will relate very heavily to me when I say this book was truly the definition of simple. And I get it! Sometimes simple is best. But when I could figure out the general gist of this book twenty pages in...
I think the primary issue of this book was how everything felt so forced. There was nothing connecting events together, instead seeming like just another convenient moment to push the characters together. I mean, the deal they struck??? the fuck???
AND THIS BOOK HAD SO MUCH POTENTIAL. Thorelea's existence in the tower is an interesting concept, yet there's nothing really about the shit she sees when she comes out. We get a scene or two about snow, but what about the concept of the sea? Fancy rugs? Those stupid coverlets that make no fucking sense? Nothing about how foreign it must have felt to leave her tower.
The world building was... well I can't even say world. Castle? And two square feet of city? For fuck's sake... I still don't know where the people in this kingdom live. I deadass thought for the longest time it was just a castle with servants. Like a city state... but a castle??? But no! Apparently there's streets??? And houses??? I'm so fucking confused.
Kelton and Thorelea had less chemistry than USA and USSR in the Cold War. Speaking of wars! The book burnings COULD'VE been expanded on as the singular OUNCE of deeper critical thinking expressed by the MCs but again, we gloss over one of what I think is the most important aspect of this fucking thing. But yeah. Fahrenheit 451 who?
And back to war! Why the fuck does Kelton have a squire??? We're going from... general. to lieutenant. to squire. WHAT'S NEXT??? The knights of the rectangular counter???
CHARACTERS:
THORELEA: She has no personality. The way she acts doesn't match up with the way she thinks. She's so fucking naive that she would definitely get into a white van for candy. Which, I guess makes sense, considering how she's been in a tower. But, she also demonstrates the ability to be wary. So, exactly what's happening here? Does she only save her suspicion for Kelton? Not for the very very not suspicious concept of people deciding to be her friend after they discover she's the court painter? No survival instincts whatsoever. She's so lucky that everyone else is either batshit crazy or so stupid that they'd probably call her smart.
KELTON: He was so fucking boring. His entire life revolved around that portrait. Oh no! The poor prince who hates the court for not caring about shit yet hasn't asked a single question can't go to war??? Defending the people that we don't meet until never by fighting. You'd think that he'd try to find a cure, but nooooo! He just HAS to go to war and join the... twenty people??? fighting against the millions of zombies. Round of fucking applause for him!
THE GENERAL DUDE: Can't remember the names because they all feel like slightly more coherent keyboard slashes. I can't believe they trusted this fucker. Still don't get why, but go girl??? I guess asking "why should we trust a guy that literally dedicated his life to the monarchs without ever thinking about the common people" was too difficult. And the worst part is !!!
TEMBLIN or tremblin something b-in: He might just be the only person with a singular inkling of self preservation. Haha never mind... he still ended up kissing everyone's feet and accepting suicidal missions for someone he met maybe five seconds ago???
SPEAKING OF PACING... WHY DID ALL OF THIS HAPPEN IN LESS THAN A MONTH??? Was it a week? Two weeks at most.
KING AND QUEEN: They felt like miniature bobbleheads. So enthusiastic, so stupid. !!!!!!!! !! I have never seen so many exclamation marks on a singular page.
ok this was very bleh. ugh. provided the entertainment value of waiting for my food at the cheesecake factory.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
i dont know how she did it, but the best character in this book was that goddamn rabbit. seriously. she made it sound so fucking adorable to the point where i genuinely considered buying one for the sake of having a fluffy ball of fur.
unfortunately, the rest of the book does not reflect the quality of powder the rabbit
i fear this is a bit of a rant... worded to just straight up words
PLOT: You know when a book is so predictable that the events become an expectation? That you're like yeah... it's going to be fine. Because there's no way for it to have any other ending.
If so, then you will relate very heavily to me when I say this book was truly the definition of simple. And I get it! Sometimes simple is best. But when I could figure out the general gist of this book twenty pages in...
I think the primary issue of this book was how everything felt so forced. There was nothing connecting events together, instead seeming like just another convenient moment to push the characters together. I mean, the deal they struck??? the fuck???
AND THIS BOOK HAD SO MUCH POTENTIAL. Thorelea's existence in the tower is an interesting concept, yet there's nothing really about the shit she sees when she comes out. We get a scene or two about snow, but what about the concept of the sea? Fancy rugs? Those stupid coverlets that make no fucking sense? Nothing about how foreign it must have felt to leave her tower.
The world building was... well I can't even say world. Castle? And two square feet of city? For fuck's sake... I still don't know where the people in this kingdom live. I deadass thought for the longest time it was just a castle with servants. Like a city state... but a castle??? But no! Apparently there's streets??? And houses??? I'm so fucking confused.
Kelton and Thorelea had less chemistry than USA and USSR in the Cold War. Speaking of wars! The book burnings COULD'VE been expanded on as the singular OUNCE of deeper critical thinking expressed by the MCs but again, we gloss over one of what I think is the most important aspect of this fucking thing. But yeah. Fahrenheit 451 who?
And back to war! Why the fuck does Kelton have a squire??? We're going from... general. to lieutenant. to squire. WHAT'S NEXT??? The knights of the rectangular counter???
CHARACTERS:
THORELEA: She has no personality. The way she acts doesn't match up with the way she thinks. She's so fucking naive that she would definitely get into a white van for candy. Which, I guess makes sense, considering how she's been in a tower. But, she also demonstrates the ability to be wary. So, exactly what's happening here? Does she only save her suspicion for Kelton? Not for the very very not suspicious concept of people deciding to be her friend after they discover she's the court painter? No survival instincts whatsoever. She's so lucky that everyone else is either batshit crazy or so stupid that they'd probably call her smart.
KELTON: He was so fucking boring. His entire life revolved around that portrait. Oh no! The poor prince who hates the court for not caring about shit yet hasn't asked a single question can't go to war??? Defending the people that we don't meet until never by fighting. You'd think that he'd try to find a cure, but nooooo! He just HAS to go to war and join the... twenty people??? fighting against the millions of zombies. Round of fucking applause for him!
THE GENERAL DUDE: Can't remember the names because they all feel like slightly more coherent keyboard slashes. I can't believe they trusted this fucker. Still don't get why, but go girl??? I guess asking "why should we trust a guy that literally dedicated his life to the monarchs without ever thinking about the common people" was too difficult. And the worst part is !!!
TEMBLIN or tremblin something b-in: He might just be the only person with a singular inkling of self preservation. Haha never mind... he still ended up kissing everyone's feet and accepting suicidal missions for someone he met maybe five seconds ago???
SPEAKING OF PACING... WHY DID ALL OF THIS HAPPEN IN LESS THAN A MONTH??? Was it a week? Two weeks at most.
KING AND QUEEN: They felt like miniature bobbleheads. So enthusiastic, so stupid. !!!!!!!! !! I have never seen so many exclamation marks on a singular page.
ok this was very bleh. ugh. provided the entertainment value of waiting for my food at the cheesecake factory.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Astrid Scholte for providing an ARC copy of Fallen Beauty in exchange for an honest review.
This was a lush, dark little fairytale of a book, and honestly, I ate up the concept immediately. Fallen Beauty has that gothic, wintery, slightly unhinged magic that makes a fantasy feel like it should be read by candlelight while wearing a fluffy murder robe, heeled slippers and jewels. We have a girl trapped in a tower, magical portraits, immortality, court secrets, a dangerous prince, and art that is beyond art. It's a whole ethical nightmare. The world sucked me right in.
What worked best for me was the atmosphere. The whole book has this eerie, romantic, painted-in-shadow quality that made the world feel beautiful but also deeply wrong in the best way. Thorelea’s power is fascinating, and I loved the way the story tied art, beauty, control, and survival together. It gave me fairytale retelling energy without feeling like it was simply copy-pasting something familiar and putting a new dress on it.
That said, this was a four-star read for me because there were a few places where I wanted more depth. Some of the emotional beats and character dynamics had so much potential, but they did not always hit as hard as I wanted them to. I also found myself wanting a little more time with the darker edges of the world and the consequences of the magic. The setup was so strong that occasionally I was like, “Wait, come back, I wanted to emotionally spiral about that for three more pages.”
What worked for me:
- The concept felt fresh, gothic, and immediately compelling.
- The magical portrait element was so good and gave the book a really strong visual identity.
- The atmosphere was dark, wintery, romantic, and very easy to sink into.
- Thorelea’s power felt unique and tied beautifully to the themes of art, freedom, and control.
What didn’t fully work for me:
- Some emotional moments felt like they could have gone deeper.
- I wanted more development in a few of the relationships and character motivations.
- The world had so much potential that I occasionally wanted more detail and texture.
- A few scenes moved faster than I wanted, especially when the stakes were high.
- Basically this book could have easily been longer and kept me locked in.
Tropes and vibes:
Gothic fantasy
Dark fairytale
Forbidden-ish romance
Beauty with a body count energy
Who should read it:
Read this if you like dark fairytales, gothic fantasy, magical art, morally questionable royal courts, and romance that feels like it’s happening under the worst possible circumstances. Fallen Beauty is atmospheric, creative, and beautifully eerie, with a concept that immediately pulled me in. I wanted a little more depth in certain places, but I still really enjoyed the ride and would absolutely read more from Astrid Scholte. Four stars for the vibes, the portraits, and the deeply relatable fantasy problem of wanting freedom but accidentally getting tangled up with a prince.
This was a lush, dark little fairytale of a book, and honestly, I ate up the concept immediately. Fallen Beauty has that gothic, wintery, slightly unhinged magic that makes a fantasy feel like it should be read by candlelight while wearing a fluffy murder robe, heeled slippers and jewels. We have a girl trapped in a tower, magical portraits, immortality, court secrets, a dangerous prince, and art that is beyond art. It's a whole ethical nightmare. The world sucked me right in.
What worked best for me was the atmosphere. The whole book has this eerie, romantic, painted-in-shadow quality that made the world feel beautiful but also deeply wrong in the best way. Thorelea’s power is fascinating, and I loved the way the story tied art, beauty, control, and survival together. It gave me fairytale retelling energy without feeling like it was simply copy-pasting something familiar and putting a new dress on it.
That said, this was a four-star read for me because there were a few places where I wanted more depth. Some of the emotional beats and character dynamics had so much potential, but they did not always hit as hard as I wanted them to. I also found myself wanting a little more time with the darker edges of the world and the consequences of the magic. The setup was so strong that occasionally I was like, “Wait, come back, I wanted to emotionally spiral about that for three more pages.”
What worked for me:
- The concept felt fresh, gothic, and immediately compelling.
- The magical portrait element was so good and gave the book a really strong visual identity.
- The atmosphere was dark, wintery, romantic, and very easy to sink into.
- Thorelea’s power felt unique and tied beautifully to the themes of art, freedom, and control.
What didn’t fully work for me:
- Some emotional moments felt like they could have gone deeper.
- I wanted more development in a few of the relationships and character motivations.
- The world had so much potential that I occasionally wanted more detail and texture.
- A few scenes moved faster than I wanted, especially when the stakes were high.
- Basically this book could have easily been longer and kept me locked in.
Tropes and vibes:
Gothic fantasy
Dark fairytale
Forbidden-ish romance
Beauty with a body count energy
Who should read it:
Read this if you like dark fairytales, gothic fantasy, magical art, morally questionable royal courts, and romance that feels like it’s happening under the worst possible circumstances. Fallen Beauty is atmospheric, creative, and beautifully eerie, with a concept that immediately pulled me in. I wanted a little more depth in certain places, but I still really enjoyed the ride and would absolutely read more from Astrid Scholte. Four stars for the vibes, the portraits, and the deeply relatable fantasy problem of wanting freedom but accidentally getting tangled up with a prince.
Read
May 28, 2026Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley, and Astrid Scholte for the ARC!
Book summary:
Fallen Beauty is about a Rapunzel-coded MC, Thorelea, who’s living in a tower along with her mother. Thorelea has the magic to paint people and render them immortal, a power sought by the king and queen.
After her mother’s death, Thorelea becomes the next court painter and must navigate first love, new friendships, and undead enemies encroaching open her nation’s borders.
My review:
Although I loved the beginning, I didn’t end up enjoying this very much. Part of that is because I’m not too acquainted with Dorian Gray, which probably caused me to miss some references.
The writing was fast and easy to read, and anyone’s who’s read YA for any number of years will find this book comforting, if not a little formulaic. It hits the right notes, but for me, quite a few things misfired.
I couldn’t overlook the story’s confusing internal logic. Kelter, the prince, must sneak in and out of his own palace to train with his own battalion—but he’s the prince. The king and queen swear they cherish Thorelea and her mother, yet kept them in abject conditions (Thorelea was nearly starved when she came out).
The Red Reaping is meant to be some sort of twisted alliance ball, where others countries receive immortality in exchange for goods, but if your allies die... then how will you get the cows or the warriors or the chickens?
The political motives—the king and queen wanting to be immortal, Kelter wanting to fight the Fallen—needed more. Are the king and queen just your basic despots? What’s happening there? Oh, and some dude broke into Thorelea’s room to do you-know-what without her consent, just because... he wanted to be immortal and the queen offered him it if he forced Thorelea into having a court painter baby. Hm? If Thorelea needs to paint her abuser, how’s that gonna work?
And then there’s Thorelea’s isolation since birth, which would have a major psychological impact. There was a study done once about a young girl raised in isolation. Reintegrating into society was naturally not easy—missed cues, inability to read others, etc—and I think it would’ve been nice to see that here. Our girl gets out of a torture cell and is spunky out of the box, but I can’t imagine someone like that managing to say more than one sentence or make a single friend.
The world-building needs more. The countries are vague, the central myth is relayed through dreams, and we’re not quite sure how Thorelea’s magic works or its limitations.
I wasn’t convinced by the romance. It’s not just that Kelter and Thorelea only knew each other for a few days (a common complaint), it’s that their relationship went from 0-100 without buildup. Their attraction didn’t feel organic to me.
I think this book will find its crowd in the romantasy era, and it’s very easy to read, which I value.
Book summary:
Fallen Beauty is about a Rapunzel-coded MC, Thorelea, who’s living in a tower along with her mother. Thorelea has the magic to paint people and render them immortal, a power sought by the king and queen.
After her mother’s death, Thorelea becomes the next court painter and must navigate first love, new friendships, and undead enemies encroaching open her nation’s borders.
My review:
Although I loved the beginning, I didn’t end up enjoying this very much. Part of that is because I’m not too acquainted with Dorian Gray, which probably caused me to miss some references.
The writing was fast and easy to read, and anyone’s who’s read YA for any number of years will find this book comforting, if not a little formulaic. It hits the right notes, but for me, quite a few things misfired.
I couldn’t overlook the story’s confusing internal logic. Kelter, the prince, must sneak in and out of his own palace to train with his own battalion—but he’s the prince. The king and queen swear they cherish Thorelea and her mother, yet kept them in abject conditions (Thorelea was nearly starved when she came out).
The Red Reaping is meant to be some sort of twisted alliance ball, where others countries receive immortality in exchange for goods, but if your allies die... then how will you get the cows or the warriors or the chickens?
The political motives—the king and queen wanting to be immortal, Kelter wanting to fight the Fallen—needed more. Are the king and queen just your basic despots? What’s happening there? Oh, and some dude broke into Thorelea’s room to do you-know-what without her consent, just because... he wanted to be immortal and the queen offered him it if he forced Thorelea into having a court painter baby. Hm? If Thorelea needs to paint her abuser, how’s that gonna work?
And then there’s Thorelea’s isolation since birth, which would have a major psychological impact. There was a study done once about a young girl raised in isolation. Reintegrating into society was naturally not easy—missed cues, inability to read others, etc—and I think it would’ve been nice to see that here. Our girl gets out of a torture cell and is spunky out of the box, but I can’t imagine someone like that managing to say more than one sentence or make a single friend.
The world-building needs more. The countries are vague, the central myth is relayed through dreams, and we’re not quite sure how Thorelea’s magic works or its limitations.
I wasn’t convinced by the romance. It’s not just that Kelter and Thorelea only knew each other for a few days (a common complaint), it’s that their relationship went from 0-100 without buildup. Their attraction didn’t feel organic to me.
I think this book will find its crowd in the romantasy era, and it’s very easy to read, which I value.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fallen Beauty by Astrid Scholte
This book gave me Rapunzel meets The Picture of Dorian Gray energy, and I was hooked immediately. As someone who loves both of those stories, it honestly felt like it was made for me. I’ve been leaning more toward adult fantasy lately, but this sits nicely in that new adult/YA crossover space, and I really enjoyed that balance.
The writing is super easy to get into. It’s not overly complicated, but it pulls you in straight away and feels very fairytale-like in the best way. It has that darker, slightly gothic Disney vibe I always fall for.
Thorelea was such a strong main character. She’s kind, resilient, and you really feel everything she goes through. I loved following her journey as she slowly comes into her power, but more importantly, starts to see herself as more than just what she can do. That kind of self-realisation arc always gets me.
Kelter also really surprised me in a good way. His motives felt grounded and real, especially his loyalty to his country and how much he wants to prove himself. Watching that slowly unravel as he learns the truth added a lot of emotional weight to his storyline, and I liked that he had his own growth alongside Thorelea.
The magic system was one of my favourite parts. It felt fresh and unique, and I honestly haven’t read anything quite like it before. It kept me really engaged and added a lot to the atmosphere of the story.
The romance is more subtle, but I actually think that worked in its favour. It’s very much built on small moments—glances, light touches, late-night meetings. It’s soft but full of yearning, and it never takes over the story. It just blends into it in a really natural way.
Pacing-wise, it did drag a little in places, but it didn’t really take away from my enjoyment. I still found myself staying up later than I should have reading it because I needed to know what was going to happen. The buildup is strong, and the payoff works well.
The ending, while I enjoyed it overall, did feel a bit rushed and not fully explained in the way I expected. I just wanted a little more clarity there. That said, I really like that this is a standalone. It could have easily been stretched into a series, but it works as a complete story, and I appreciated that sense of closure at the end.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. It’s a dark, fairytale-inspired fantasy with an interesting magic system, strong character arcs, and a subtle but satisfying romance. It feels complete, atmospheric, and a little bit haunting in a good way.
And honestly, I’d love to see the author write more in this kind of genre because this absolutely worked for me.
This book gave me Rapunzel meets The Picture of Dorian Gray energy, and I was hooked immediately. As someone who loves both of those stories, it honestly felt like it was made for me. I’ve been leaning more toward adult fantasy lately, but this sits nicely in that new adult/YA crossover space, and I really enjoyed that balance.
The writing is super easy to get into. It’s not overly complicated, but it pulls you in straight away and feels very fairytale-like in the best way. It has that darker, slightly gothic Disney vibe I always fall for.
Thorelea was such a strong main character. She’s kind, resilient, and you really feel everything she goes through. I loved following her journey as she slowly comes into her power, but more importantly, starts to see herself as more than just what she can do. That kind of self-realisation arc always gets me.
Kelter also really surprised me in a good way. His motives felt grounded and real, especially his loyalty to his country and how much he wants to prove himself. Watching that slowly unravel as he learns the truth added a lot of emotional weight to his storyline, and I liked that he had his own growth alongside Thorelea.
The magic system was one of my favourite parts. It felt fresh and unique, and I honestly haven’t read anything quite like it before. It kept me really engaged and added a lot to the atmosphere of the story.
The romance is more subtle, but I actually think that worked in its favour. It’s very much built on small moments—glances, light touches, late-night meetings. It’s soft but full of yearning, and it never takes over the story. It just blends into it in a really natural way.
Pacing-wise, it did drag a little in places, but it didn’t really take away from my enjoyment. I still found myself staying up later than I should have reading it because I needed to know what was going to happen. The buildup is strong, and the payoff works well.
The ending, while I enjoyed it overall, did feel a bit rushed and not fully explained in the way I expected. I just wanted a little more clarity there. That said, I really like that this is a standalone. It could have easily been stretched into a series, but it works as a complete story, and I appreciated that sense of closure at the end.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. It’s a dark, fairytale-inspired fantasy with an interesting magic system, strong character arcs, and a subtle but satisfying romance. It feels complete, atmospheric, and a little bit haunting in a good way.
And honestly, I’d love to see the author write more in this kind of genre because this absolutely worked for me.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
💃🏻📚❄️ 4.5 Stars ❄️📚💅🏻
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC! 💙✨
Okay but Rapunzel meets The Picture of Dorian Gray with immortal royalty, secret midnight meetings, magical paintings, and a snowy gothic atmosphere? This book was basically designed in a laboratory to target me personally. 😭🖤
Fallen Beauty is one of those books that grabs you immediately and refuses to let go. From the moment I met Thorelea, trapped in a tower and forced to paint dead animals, I needed to know what was going on. The mystery surrounding her powers, the royal family, and the strange immortality magic kept me turning pages way past my bedtime. 💀🎨✨
The magic system was easily one of my favorite parts. The idea that paintings can grant immortality is such a unique concept, and Astrid Scholte does a fantastic job exploring both the beauty and horror that comes with that kind of power. Nothing about it felt simple. Every answer seemed to create even more questions. 👑🖼️⚡
And then there's Prince Kelter. 👀
Listen.
I am a simple woman.
Give me a grumpy prince carrying enough emotional baggage to sink a ship and I will immediately become invested. 💅🏻🖤
The romance was exactly the kind of slow-burn tension I love. These two genuinely start at odds with each other, and watching their relationship evolve felt earned. The secret nighttime meetings, the growing trust, the forced proximity, the "I absolutely should not be falling for this person" energy... inject it directly into my veins. 😭🔥
I also loved that this is a standalone. In an era where every fantasy seems determined to become a six-book commitment, it was refreshing to get a complete story with a satisfying arc all in one gorgeous package. 📚✨
Things I loved:
❄️ Atmospheric wintery gothic vibes
🎨 A truly unique magic system
👑 Grumpy prince energy
🖤 Slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance
🏰 Court intrigue and dark secrets
✨ Standalone fantasy!
The only reason this wasn't a full five stars for me is that some of the YA angst occasionally leaned a little dramatic, and I would have loved even more exploration of certain side characters and worldbuilding elements. But honestly? I was having too much fun to care very much. 😂
If you love:
🖤 Gothic fantasy
🎨 Magical art
👑 Morally complicated royalty
❄️ Winter settings
💕 Slow-burn romance
✨ Fairytale retellings with a dark twist
Then absolutely pick this one up.
Beautiful, haunting, romantic, and just the right amount of twisted, Fallen Beauty felt like stepping into a dark fairytale painted in frost and starlight. ✨❄️🖤🎨📚
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC! 💙✨
Okay but Rapunzel meets The Picture of Dorian Gray with immortal royalty, secret midnight meetings, magical paintings, and a snowy gothic atmosphere? This book was basically designed in a laboratory to target me personally. 😭🖤
Fallen Beauty is one of those books that grabs you immediately and refuses to let go. From the moment I met Thorelea, trapped in a tower and forced to paint dead animals, I needed to know what was going on. The mystery surrounding her powers, the royal family, and the strange immortality magic kept me turning pages way past my bedtime. 💀🎨✨
The magic system was easily one of my favorite parts. The idea that paintings can grant immortality is such a unique concept, and Astrid Scholte does a fantastic job exploring both the beauty and horror that comes with that kind of power. Nothing about it felt simple. Every answer seemed to create even more questions. 👑🖼️⚡
And then there's Prince Kelter. 👀
Listen.
I am a simple woman.
Give me a grumpy prince carrying enough emotional baggage to sink a ship and I will immediately become invested. 💅🏻🖤
The romance was exactly the kind of slow-burn tension I love. These two genuinely start at odds with each other, and watching their relationship evolve felt earned. The secret nighttime meetings, the growing trust, the forced proximity, the "I absolutely should not be falling for this person" energy... inject it directly into my veins. 😭🔥
I also loved that this is a standalone. In an era where every fantasy seems determined to become a six-book commitment, it was refreshing to get a complete story with a satisfying arc all in one gorgeous package. 📚✨
Things I loved:
❄️ Atmospheric wintery gothic vibes
🎨 A truly unique magic system
👑 Grumpy prince energy
🖤 Slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance
🏰 Court intrigue and dark secrets
✨ Standalone fantasy!
The only reason this wasn't a full five stars for me is that some of the YA angst occasionally leaned a little dramatic, and I would have loved even more exploration of certain side characters and worldbuilding elements. But honestly? I was having too much fun to care very much. 😂
If you love:
🖤 Gothic fantasy
🎨 Magical art
👑 Morally complicated royalty
❄️ Winter settings
💕 Slow-burn romance
✨ Fairytale retellings with a dark twist
Then absolutely pick this one up.
Beautiful, haunting, romantic, and just the right amount of twisted, Fallen Beauty felt like stepping into a dark fairytale painted in frost and starlight. ✨❄️🖤🎨📚
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fallen Beauty • Astrid Scholte
One phrase: magical portraits and royal rot 🎨❄️
This book had me from the moment I read “girl locked in a tower forced to paint dead animals back to life.”
Like excuse me?
Immediately yes.
Fallen Beauty is a haunting, wintry YA fantasy about art, obsession, power, and the terrifying cost of wanting freedom in a world determined to keep you caged.
Thorelea has spent her entire life imprisoned in a tower, given one task. Paint the dead animals pushed into her cell before the death chill claims them completely. For years, that is all she knows, until one of the animals she paints comes back to life.
And then everything changes.
She is brought into a ruthless royal court where the king and queen have lived for centuries, their immortality preserved through magical portraits painted by the court artist. It is beautiful, twisted, and deeply unsettling in the best way.
What surprised me most was how much emotional ground this story covered. Curiosity, sadness, anger, confusion, horror, disgust, hope, love, all of it. Astrid Scholte takes this eerie premise and turns it into something much bigger than I expected.
I loved the slow discovery of Thorelea’s power and how important it becomes to the court, the war, and the realm itself. There are lies, royal intrigue, dark games, a cursed army, and so much tension surrounding who can be trusted.
And Prince Kelter?
A mortal prince desperate for immortality, willing to make a secret bargain with the one girl who might be able to give it to him. Their slow burn and yearning had such a quiet ache to it, especially as they met in secret and started to see the monstrous reality of what Thorelea’s gift could actually mean.
This is not a spicy romantasy. It is more atmospheric, dark, emotional, and fairytale haunting, with a very mild romance thread woven through the danger.
✨ Tropes and vibes:
🎨 magical portraits
❄️ wintery fantasy
🏰 prisoner in a tower
👑 prince MMC
🖤 royal intrigue
🕯 dark court games
💀 cursed army
🔥 slow burn yearning
🩸 art and immortality
👀 lies and secrets
🌙 dual POV
🥀 haunting fairytale vibes
📚 Read this if you like:
YA fantasy, dark fairytale retellings, magical art, cursed courts, slow burn yearning, royal secrets, and stories where beauty and horror sit a little too close together.
This was haunting, imaginative, emotional, and full of the kind of eerie magic that lingers.
#FallenBeauty #AstridScholte #YAFantasy #FantasyRomance #BookReview @wednesdaybooks
One phrase: magical portraits and royal rot 🎨❄️
This book had me from the moment I read “girl locked in a tower forced to paint dead animals back to life.”
Like excuse me?
Immediately yes.
Fallen Beauty is a haunting, wintry YA fantasy about art, obsession, power, and the terrifying cost of wanting freedom in a world determined to keep you caged.
Thorelea has spent her entire life imprisoned in a tower, given one task. Paint the dead animals pushed into her cell before the death chill claims them completely. For years, that is all she knows, until one of the animals she paints comes back to life.
And then everything changes.
She is brought into a ruthless royal court where the king and queen have lived for centuries, their immortality preserved through magical portraits painted by the court artist. It is beautiful, twisted, and deeply unsettling in the best way.
What surprised me most was how much emotional ground this story covered. Curiosity, sadness, anger, confusion, horror, disgust, hope, love, all of it. Astrid Scholte takes this eerie premise and turns it into something much bigger than I expected.
I loved the slow discovery of Thorelea’s power and how important it becomes to the court, the war, and the realm itself. There are lies, royal intrigue, dark games, a cursed army, and so much tension surrounding who can be trusted.
And Prince Kelter?
A mortal prince desperate for immortality, willing to make a secret bargain with the one girl who might be able to give it to him. Their slow burn and yearning had such a quiet ache to it, especially as they met in secret and started to see the monstrous reality of what Thorelea’s gift could actually mean.
This is not a spicy romantasy. It is more atmospheric, dark, emotional, and fairytale haunting, with a very mild romance thread woven through the danger.
✨ Tropes and vibes:
🎨 magical portraits
❄️ wintery fantasy
🏰 prisoner in a tower
👑 prince MMC
🖤 royal intrigue
🕯 dark court games
💀 cursed army
🔥 slow burn yearning
🩸 art and immortality
👀 lies and secrets
🌙 dual POV
🥀 haunting fairytale vibes
📚 Read this if you like:
YA fantasy, dark fairytale retellings, magical art, cursed courts, slow burn yearning, royal secrets, and stories where beauty and horror sit a little too close together.
This was haunting, imaginative, emotional, and full of the kind of eerie magic that lingers.
#FallenBeauty #AstridScholte #YAFantasy #FantasyRomance #BookReview @wednesdaybooks
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'm usually a bit guarded about new romantasy books but I have read from this author before and I quite like it, and the premise was Rapunzel meets Dorian Gray so i decided, how bad can it be? As it turns out, it was leagues better than I expected and moved me so much that I can't not give it a full 5 stars. Miss Astrid Scholte, I'm sorry for doubting you this was fantastic
In any aspect I can think of, this book is executed fantastically. This is one of the rare moments where I think the pace is stable and fitting to the story, doesn't feel too slow and not too fast, just the right amount of character-focused moments while also pushing the plot forward perfectly. It wasn't trying to drag or hasten the plot too much, and I appreciate how the author doesn't rely on characters' dumb decisions to move the plot along and instead let some recklessness happened due to the situation that demanded it. I don't know if I worded that right, but it reads so nicely that I breeze through this book in less than 2 days.
I also loveeee love love the way the characters are written because every one of them have their distinct voices and flaws that are tailored to them and serviced the story just right, and how the antagonists are eventually revealed befitting the slow build-up towards it. I especially love how Thorolea's character is written because despite being locked up in the tower for her whole life, she isn't entirely naive and gullible. She has quite the backbone and stubbornness, has wit and common sense, while the manifestation of her isolation is her inability to navigate court politics well, physical weakness, and the recklessness that is born from not wanting to be caged anymore. The romance between her and Kelter was also really sweet and the build-up for them is just right. I like that he was the one who fell first for Thorolea because she defied his expectations and how lively she is.
The premise about this being Rapunzel meets Dorian Gray was also not a fluke guys Thorolea really is Rapunzel while the Dorian Gray aspects manifested in her ability to make someone immortal if she painted their portraits. The whole undead aspect as the main plot driving the story was also done so well and the story resolved really nicely either, not too rushed and not too slow.
While I don't think this might be everyone's cup of tea, I highly implore people to at least give this a chance if the premise interested them because it's very promising 🤞🏼
In any aspect I can think of, this book is executed fantastically. This is one of the rare moments where I think the pace is stable and fitting to the story, doesn't feel too slow and not too fast, just the right amount of character-focused moments while also pushing the plot forward perfectly. It wasn't trying to drag or hasten the plot too much, and I appreciate how the author doesn't rely on characters' dumb decisions to move the plot along and instead let some recklessness happened due to the situation that demanded it. I don't know if I worded that right, but it reads so nicely that I breeze through this book in less than 2 days.
I also loveeee love love the way the characters are written because every one of them have their distinct voices and flaws that are tailored to them and serviced the story just right, and how the antagonists are eventually revealed befitting the slow build-up towards it. I especially love how Thorolea's character is written because despite being locked up in the tower for her whole life, she isn't entirely naive and gullible. She has quite the backbone and stubbornness, has wit and common sense, while the manifestation of her isolation is her inability to navigate court politics well, physical weakness, and the recklessness that is born from not wanting to be caged anymore. The romance between her and Kelter was also really sweet and the build-up for them is just right. I like that he was the one who fell first for Thorolea because she defied his expectations and how lively she is.
The premise about this being Rapunzel meets Dorian Gray was also not a fluke guys Thorolea really is Rapunzel while the Dorian Gray aspects manifested in her ability to make someone immortal if she painted their portraits. The whole undead aspect as the main plot driving the story was also done so well and the story resolved really nicely either, not too rushed and not too slow.
While I don't think this might be everyone's cup of tea, I highly implore people to at least give this a chance if the premise interested them because it's very promising 🤞🏼
July 1, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Astrid Scholte for an advanced reader copy of “Fallen Beauty”. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I LOVED this book. “Fallen Beauty” sunk its teeth into me and absolutely never let go!
I don’t even know where to begin because I enjoyed this book so thoroughly.
It is captivating from the very beginning, and when I realized this was a Rapunzel reimagining, I was even more enamored. It was such a creative take on the beloved fairytale, and I loved the gothic and dark way that Astrid Scholte created this unique story off of the basis of the traditional Rapunzel story.
(On the Rapunzel thought train, I thought I loved Flynn Ryder from Tangled, but Prince Kelter is an even darker, sexier, and so swoon-worthy main male character— I loved the way she wrote him. Especially because he wasn’t Thorelea’s savior— he supported her but gave her the space to be strong and save herself, while he was also being forced to evolve very quickly.)
I really loved Thorelea’s story, too. It’s of course very sad and tormented, but she is incredibly strong and resilient, and I love seeing her evolution and experiencing her strength.
She rarely ever knows the truth, and that’s been the case for her entire life, but she doesn’t waver in her resolve to learn the truth and live differently than her mother ever did.
Despite being surrounded by death— from being forced to paint dead animals from a very young age and having no idea why, to being forced to witness repeated gruesome human death— she never stops believing in something better, and she never stops gives up, even when things seem absolutely hopeless.
I can’t say too much about what I love about this book (I loved ALL of this book), because I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I will truly remember this book for a very, very long time. This is one of those books that sticks with you, because it’s so creative, unique, and thought-provoking. It’s also a standalone book, which is incredible, because everything is answered and resolved in this one book without waiting for a sequel.
I will recommend this book to anyone that likes dark and creative fairytale reimaginings, a little magic, gothic and moody vibes, and steamy, addictive chemistry with off-screen romance.
Basically, I’ll recommend “Fallen Beauty” to everyone I know. ♥️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I LOVED this book. “Fallen Beauty” sunk its teeth into me and absolutely never let go!
I don’t even know where to begin because I enjoyed this book so thoroughly.
It is captivating from the very beginning, and when I realized this was a Rapunzel reimagining, I was even more enamored. It was such a creative take on the beloved fairytale, and I loved the gothic and dark way that Astrid Scholte created this unique story off of the basis of the traditional Rapunzel story.
(On the Rapunzel thought train, I thought I loved Flynn Ryder from Tangled, but Prince Kelter is an even darker, sexier, and so swoon-worthy main male character— I loved the way she wrote him. Especially because he wasn’t Thorelea’s savior— he supported her but gave her the space to be strong and save herself, while he was also being forced to evolve very quickly.)
I really loved Thorelea’s story, too. It’s of course very sad and tormented, but she is incredibly strong and resilient, and I love seeing her evolution and experiencing her strength.
She rarely ever knows the truth, and that’s been the case for her entire life, but she doesn’t waver in her resolve to learn the truth and live differently than her mother ever did.
Despite being surrounded by death— from being forced to paint dead animals from a very young age and having no idea why, to being forced to witness repeated gruesome human death— she never stops believing in something better, and she never stops gives up, even when things seem absolutely hopeless.
I can’t say too much about what I love about this book (I loved ALL of this book), because I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I will truly remember this book for a very, very long time. This is one of those books that sticks with you, because it’s so creative, unique, and thought-provoking. It’s also a standalone book, which is incredible, because everything is answered and resolved in this one book without waiting for a sequel.
I will recommend this book to anyone that likes dark and creative fairytale reimaginings, a little magic, gothic and moody vibes, and steamy, addictive chemistry with off-screen romance.
Basically, I’ll recommend “Fallen Beauty” to everyone I know. ♥️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4⭐️
There’s something really unsettling about a girl who has never seen the world being the one responsible for preserving it. It’s one of those concepts that sounds simple at first and then gets a little unsettling the more you think about it.
Thorelea has spent her entire life locked in a tower, painting dead animals that are pushed into her cell—until one of them comes back to life. From there, the story opens up into a royal court that feels just as suffocating as her prison, just dressed in silk and power instead of stone walls. The idea that immortality is tied to painted portraits is easily the most interesting part of this book, and it gives the entire story a slightly eerie, almost fragile feeling—like everything could fall apart if one brushstroke goes wrong.
What stood out to me most was how controlled everything felt. The king and queen have ruled for centuries, and there’s this constant underlying tension knowing their power isn’t natural. It makes every interaction feel like there’s something being hidden just beneath the surface.
The romance builds slowly in quiet moments—late-night meetings, small exchanges, the kind of connection that feels more private than dramatic. It never fully takes over the story, which worked for me, because the real focus is Thorelea figuring out what her life actually means when she’s finally given choices.
That said, the pacing toward the end does move pretty quickly compared to how much time is spent building the world early on. Some of the emotional decisions felt like they could have used just a little more space to land.
Overall, I finished this in a day which means I did like it. Irregardless of the critiques this was one that I comfortably spent hours in one sitting reading. this leans more atmospheric than action-heavy. If you like darker fairytale vibes, morally complicated power systems, and stories that feel a little haunting, this one is worth picking up.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
There’s something really unsettling about a girl who has never seen the world being the one responsible for preserving it. It’s one of those concepts that sounds simple at first and then gets a little unsettling the more you think about it.
Thorelea has spent her entire life locked in a tower, painting dead animals that are pushed into her cell—until one of them comes back to life. From there, the story opens up into a royal court that feels just as suffocating as her prison, just dressed in silk and power instead of stone walls. The idea that immortality is tied to painted portraits is easily the most interesting part of this book, and it gives the entire story a slightly eerie, almost fragile feeling—like everything could fall apart if one brushstroke goes wrong.
What stood out to me most was how controlled everything felt. The king and queen have ruled for centuries, and there’s this constant underlying tension knowing their power isn’t natural. It makes every interaction feel like there’s something being hidden just beneath the surface.
The romance builds slowly in quiet moments—late-night meetings, small exchanges, the kind of connection that feels more private than dramatic. It never fully takes over the story, which worked for me, because the real focus is Thorelea figuring out what her life actually means when she’s finally given choices.
That said, the pacing toward the end does move pretty quickly compared to how much time is spent building the world early on. Some of the emotional decisions felt like they could have used just a little more space to land.
Overall, I finished this in a day which means I did like it. Irregardless of the critiques this was one that I comfortably spent hours in one sitting reading. this leans more atmospheric than action-heavy. If you like darker fairytale vibes, morally complicated power systems, and stories that feel a little haunting, this one is worth picking up.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⊹ ࣪ ✐⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ⊹ ࣪ ˖
My rating: ★★★★☆
Thank you to Wednesday Books, Netgalley and Astrid Scholte for the eARC.
There is just always something about a gothic fairytale-inspired story that always gets me, and Fallen Beauty completely drew me in. Like other reviewers mentioned, this gave very strong Rapunzel meets The Picture of Dorian Gray vibes, but with its own eerie, dark atmosphere that made it very unique. I always appreciate a good standalone book and absolutely devoured this in one sitting.
My favorite aspect of this book was how many different twists there were. There were multiple times my jaw literally dropped because I was literally not expecting something. Maybe I'm easily surprised but these little twists and turns kept me flipping the pages to find out what happened next. The magic system was interestingly different to me, the idea of portraits being tied to immortality felt a little creepy but in the best way.
Thorelea was unfortunately painfully naive at many times, but honestly it made sense considering she had literally been isolated in a tower her entire life. There were moments where I couldn't believe how easily she trusted other people and I think that helped me lean into her as a character more. Watching her slowly realize how manipulative and dangerous the King and Queen were actually became one of the more compelling parts to the story. I wanted to see her grow up and I wanted to see her get revenge for her mother and the way that everyone around her tried to use her (literally).
Overall, I really enjoyed Thorelea and Kelter's story, it was dark and dramatic and everything I needed during a long week. I think that the tension between them was built up well but was just a tad bit over the top towards the end in terms of how self-sacrificing they were. Nonetheless, this was a satisfying standalone read and would go back to it if I were in the right mood.
Bonus: Powder was the sleeper favorite character!
My rating: ★★★★☆
Thank you to Wednesday Books, Netgalley and Astrid Scholte for the eARC.
There is just always something about a gothic fairytale-inspired story that always gets me, and Fallen Beauty completely drew me in. Like other reviewers mentioned, this gave very strong Rapunzel meets The Picture of Dorian Gray vibes, but with its own eerie, dark atmosphere that made it very unique. I always appreciate a good standalone book and absolutely devoured this in one sitting.
My favorite aspect of this book was how many different twists there were. There were multiple times my jaw literally dropped because I was literally not expecting something. Maybe I'm easily surprised but these little twists and turns kept me flipping the pages to find out what happened next. The magic system was interestingly different to me, the idea of portraits being tied to immortality felt a little creepy but in the best way.
Thorelea was unfortunately painfully naive at many times, but honestly it made sense considering she had literally been isolated in a tower her entire life. There were moments where I couldn't believe how easily she trusted other people and I think that helped me lean into her as a character more. Watching her slowly realize how manipulative and dangerous the King and Queen were actually became one of the more compelling parts to the story. I wanted to see her grow up and I wanted to see her get revenge for her mother and the way that everyone around her tried to use her (literally).
Overall, I really enjoyed Thorelea and Kelter's story, it was dark and dramatic and everything I needed during a long week. I think that the tension between them was built up well but was just a tad bit over the top towards the end in terms of how self-sacrificing they were. Nonetheless, this was a satisfying standalone read and would go back to it if I were in the right mood.
Bonus: Powder was the sleeper favorite character!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fallen Beauty was a hauntingly beautiful fairytale retelling and gothic classic of Rapunzel vibes. It was dark, it’s appealing, and has a unique magic system that stands out where our main FMC, Thorelea is an artist whose magical paintings can bring subjects to life eternally.
The atmosphere felt so moody, wintery, showing you what art and obsession is like and was overall enchanting.
The premise of this story felt so unique with magical paintings coming back to life but also dark because Lagonia is not all what it seems where secrets are being kept around the walls with the King and Queen, and this curse of Hetchnik spreading across the nations. They need to defeat the Fallen before it’s too late.
The paintings felt so realistic and unnerving in this story keeping it vivid in your brain, but also wanting to hug Thorelea at the same time because this poor girl can feel a wall between herself and the truth. Something sinister runs through the dark castle making it hard to trust those around her feeding her information that doesn’t make sense. She needed to find out the truth why she is the only one with this magical power.
The Red Reaping was something that felt like a purge and gore as blood runs down the cobble stones during this “special event”.
I did enjoy the tension between Prince Kelter and Thorelea where they meet each night in secret for a reason as they made a deal together in exchange for her freedom, but I wasn’t much of a fan of their back & forth and bickering moments but it does get better later on in the book.
This story definitely felt like a page turner because I was so intrigued and curious of what was going to happen next in each chapter keeping you invested! It felt like a vibe book for sure and enjoyed the premise of this story 🖤
Thank you so much to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and Astrid for the eARC! So happy I read this one! 🖤
The atmosphere felt so moody, wintery, showing you what art and obsession is like and was overall enchanting.
The premise of this story felt so unique with magical paintings coming back to life but also dark because Lagonia is not all what it seems where secrets are being kept around the walls with the King and Queen, and this curse of Hetchnik spreading across the nations. They need to defeat the Fallen before it’s too late.
The paintings felt so realistic and unnerving in this story keeping it vivid in your brain, but also wanting to hug Thorelea at the same time because this poor girl can feel a wall between herself and the truth. Something sinister runs through the dark castle making it hard to trust those around her feeding her information that doesn’t make sense. She needed to find out the truth why she is the only one with this magical power.
The Red Reaping was something that felt like a purge and gore as blood runs down the cobble stones during this “special event”.
I did enjoy the tension between Prince Kelter and Thorelea where they meet each night in secret for a reason as they made a deal together in exchange for her freedom, but I wasn’t much of a fan of their back & forth and bickering moments but it does get better later on in the book.
This story definitely felt like a page turner because I was so intrigued and curious of what was going to happen next in each chapter keeping you invested! It felt like a vibe book for sure and enjoyed the premise of this story 🖤
Thank you so much to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and Astrid for the eARC! So happy I read this one! 🖤
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC Review:
4/5 stars
Fallen Beauty has gothic fairytale vibes right from the very beginning. Thorelea has been trapped in a tower for her entire life, forced to paint portraits of dead animals. When one of the animals comes back to life after its portrait is complete, she's taken from the tower to the main castle and introduced to the king and queen to be the new court painter. Sounds simple enough to finally be free from her tower. Of course, nothing is ever as simple as it seems.
This story features dual POVs from Thorelea and Prince Kelter. I enjoyed both POVs and getting to see what both characters were thinking. The pacing in this story was excellent. There really wasn't a dull moment where I was bored. I found myself turning pages well past bedtime to find out what was going to happen next. All the characters were interesting and seemed fully fleshed out.
The romance wasn't instalove, but it definitely felt rushed toward the end - especially since the entirety of the story took place over about 3 weeks time. I enjoyed watching Thorelea and Kelter fall for each other, the stolen glances and silent yearning made me smile constantly. But the intimate scene after what was essentially their second kiss seemed unnecessary and very fast.
There is a lot of violence in this book, but I never felt like it was gory or too descriptive. The story's resolution was satisfying and seemed true to the characters. I enjoyed the book and would definitely read more from this author in the future.
Spice Level: 1/5 🌶️ - There is an open door/on page sex scene over multiple pages. It's not descriptive, but it is obvious what is happening. The scene focuses more on feelings than the act itself.
I received a free ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
4/5 stars
Fallen Beauty has gothic fairytale vibes right from the very beginning. Thorelea has been trapped in a tower for her entire life, forced to paint portraits of dead animals. When one of the animals comes back to life after its portrait is complete, she's taken from the tower to the main castle and introduced to the king and queen to be the new court painter. Sounds simple enough to finally be free from her tower. Of course, nothing is ever as simple as it seems.
This story features dual POVs from Thorelea and Prince Kelter. I enjoyed both POVs and getting to see what both characters were thinking. The pacing in this story was excellent. There really wasn't a dull moment where I was bored. I found myself turning pages well past bedtime to find out what was going to happen next. All the characters were interesting and seemed fully fleshed out.
The romance wasn't instalove, but it definitely felt rushed toward the end - especially since the entirety of the story took place over about 3 weeks time. I enjoyed watching Thorelea and Kelter fall for each other, the stolen glances and silent yearning made me smile constantly. But the intimate scene after what was essentially their second kiss seemed unnecessary and very fast.
There is a lot of violence in this book, but I never felt like it was gory or too descriptive. The story's resolution was satisfying and seemed true to the characters. I enjoyed the book and would definitely read more from this author in the future.
Spice Level: 1/5 🌶️ - There is an open door/on page sex scene over multiple pages. It's not descriptive, but it is obvious what is happening. The scene focuses more on feelings than the act itself.
I received a free ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fallen Beauty is a clever, fairytale-tinged novel that blends the moral vanity of The Picture of Dorian Gray with the whimsy of classic fairytales — and for the most part, it works. The story follows a court painter as its heroine, a fresh and inventive angle on the Dorian Gray premise. Rather than a single vain subject, the entire royal court lives in Dorian-esque excess, with only the prince daring to want something different. It’s a genuinely clever conceit.
That said, the book works best when you approach it as a fairytale rather than a fantasy novel. Read through a fantasy lens, the cracks show quickly — the heroine has been locked in a tower her entire life, yet somehow knows what the sea looks like while never having seen snow. Her sharp emotional intelligence and social fluency, despite a lifetime of near-total isolation, strain believability similarly. Fairytale logic asks you to suspend disbelief, and if you can do that, these inconsistencies become easier to overlook.
The romance, unfortunately, is the weakest link. The hate-to-love trope is well-worn territory, and here it never quite ignites — the chemistry between the leads feels more told than felt. The ending compounds this with a resolution that veers into happily-ever-after territory a little too smoothly, complete with a touch of deus ex machina that undercuts the tension built throughout.
Fallen Beauty is best recommended to fairytale fans and fantasy readers willing to prioritize atmosphere and concept over airtight logic. Its premise is its strongest asset, and when the story leans into that, it shines. Just don’t expect it to reinvent the wheel.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
That said, the book works best when you approach it as a fairytale rather than a fantasy novel. Read through a fantasy lens, the cracks show quickly — the heroine has been locked in a tower her entire life, yet somehow knows what the sea looks like while never having seen snow. Her sharp emotional intelligence and social fluency, despite a lifetime of near-total isolation, strain believability similarly. Fairytale logic asks you to suspend disbelief, and if you can do that, these inconsistencies become easier to overlook.
The romance, unfortunately, is the weakest link. The hate-to-love trope is well-worn territory, and here it never quite ignites — the chemistry between the leads feels more told than felt. The ending compounds this with a resolution that veers into happily-ever-after territory a little too smoothly, complete with a touch of deus ex machina that undercuts the tension built throughout.
Fallen Beauty is best recommended to fairytale fans and fantasy readers willing to prioritize atmosphere and concept over airtight logic. Its premise is its strongest asset, and when the story leans into that, it shines. Just don’t expect it to reinvent the wheel.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating: 4.25⭐️
Rapunzel meets The Picture of Dorian Gray? A MILLION TIMES YES PLEASE.
This premise had me in a chokehold from the start. The atmosphere was gothic, eerie, and slightly sinister. It set the tone immediately and dragged me deeper into this beautifully unsettling world.
The story revolves around Thorelea, a girl locked in a tower her entire life, forced to paint dead animals without knowing why. And then you find out about her gift (something that could either be a blessing or a curse) and suddenly everything clicks into place in the most disturbing, fascinating way. The magic system definitely gives Dorian Gray vibes, but there’s a twist to it that kept me completely locked in.
The dual POVs between Thorelea and Kelter were honestly very well done. I was so seated for their secret little rendezvous. They have good chemistry, though I’ll admit I wanted just a bit more heart-fluttering chaos. Both of them feel driven, desperate, a little spiraling in their own ways, and that intensity makes their dynamic really compelling to read.
The pacing was just a teeny bit slow in places. The ending was a little rushed, I needed more clarity because it felt slightly hazy, which is frustrating because the build-up was so strong.
Overall, if you love twisted, dark fairytales with a gothic edge, morally complicated magic, then you should definitely pick up this book.
════════════════════════
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Rapunzel meets The Picture of Dorian Gray? A MILLION TIMES YES PLEASE.
This premise had me in a chokehold from the start. The atmosphere was gothic, eerie, and slightly sinister. It set the tone immediately and dragged me deeper into this beautifully unsettling world.
The story revolves around Thorelea, a girl locked in a tower her entire life, forced to paint dead animals without knowing why. And then you find out about her gift (something that could either be a blessing or a curse) and suddenly everything clicks into place in the most disturbing, fascinating way. The magic system definitely gives Dorian Gray vibes, but there’s a twist to it that kept me completely locked in.
The dual POVs between Thorelea and Kelter were honestly very well done. I was so seated for their secret little rendezvous. They have good chemistry, though I’ll admit I wanted just a bit more heart-fluttering chaos. Both of them feel driven, desperate, a little spiraling in their own ways, and that intensity makes their dynamic really compelling to read.
The pacing was just a teeny bit slow in places. The ending was a little rushed, I needed more clarity because it felt slightly hazy, which is frustrating because the build-up was so strong.
Overall, if you love twisted, dark fairytales with a gothic edge, morally complicated magic, then you should definitely pick up this book.
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Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
July 7, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Fallen Beauty. This book is read from a dual POV from Thorelea and Prince Kelter.
Thorelea is raised by her mom in a locked tower, where Thorelea is taught to paint. Eventually she is separated from her mom and is brought dead animals to paint. Eventually, Thorelea paints a white rabbit and the rabbit returns to life. Thorelea has a gift of painting so realistically that she is able to bring the dead back to life and grant them immortality. This gift is coveted by the king and queen of Ladonia and give Thorelea everything within their castle walls in return for her painting their portraits and those of the high court.
Prince Kelter has been wanting to get to the forefront of the war between Lagonia and the Fallen which has plagued his kingdom for 200 years. When he meets Thorelea at his first Red Reaping, he knows she must paint his portrait so that he too can become immortal to defeat the Fallen.
The relationships that are forged throughout this novel are full of deceit, lies and the truth. The more Thorelea and Princess Kelter learn, the less they seem to know.
Can Thorelea and Prince Kelter save the kingdom of Lagonia from the Fallen? Or does Lagonia need to be rescued from something else?
This book was hard to put down because I wanted to read to see what happened next. There were some twists and turns I didn’t see coming- which was a pleasant surprise. I really enjoyed this book and will definitely recommend it!
Thorelea is raised by her mom in a locked tower, where Thorelea is taught to paint. Eventually she is separated from her mom and is brought dead animals to paint. Eventually, Thorelea paints a white rabbit and the rabbit returns to life. Thorelea has a gift of painting so realistically that she is able to bring the dead back to life and grant them immortality. This gift is coveted by the king and queen of Ladonia and give Thorelea everything within their castle walls in return for her painting their portraits and those of the high court.
Prince Kelter has been wanting to get to the forefront of the war between Lagonia and the Fallen which has plagued his kingdom for 200 years. When he meets Thorelea at his first Red Reaping, he knows she must paint his portrait so that he too can become immortal to defeat the Fallen.
The relationships that are forged throughout this novel are full of deceit, lies and the truth. The more Thorelea and Princess Kelter learn, the less they seem to know.
Can Thorelea and Prince Kelter save the kingdom of Lagonia from the Fallen? Or does Lagonia need to be rescued from something else?
This book was hard to put down because I wanted to read to see what happened next. There were some twists and turns I didn’t see coming- which was a pleasant surprise. I really enjoyed this book and will definitely recommend it!
May 24, 2026
The premise of this book is AMAZING. the thoughts behind it, incredible. I wanted to love it so much because I was that excited by the idea and the blurb sounded fantastic. Unfortunately the book didn’t live up to the expectations set by the synopsis. I think the book could be brilliant with more editing and a little reworking.
The characters are a little underdeveloped and wishy washy- Thorelea in one moment was naive and unsure (expected since she live in a tower her whole life) and suddenly she was on this journey and completely not overwhelmed by all the sounds and noise and excitement everywhere. Kelter is supposed to be a broody prince but he’s just kinda shallowly annoying. The only characters consistent enough are the King and Queen - I enjoy that they are equally and cruel and unhinged together.
The pacing is also a little “meh” for me. We hear nothing of this “story” prophecy about the child of death and life until about 40% and then this sheltered, naive, girl who is and the prince who is hot and cold and emotionally all over the place. The time in the tower, the time on the red rites, then the battle/war that’s been raging for centuries is suddenly ended in a blink.
I understand and appreciate the appeals of a standalone but I feel like this could have been developed into a great duology.
The characters are a little underdeveloped and wishy washy- Thorelea in one moment was naive and unsure (expected since she live in a tower her whole life) and suddenly she was on this journey and completely not overwhelmed by all the sounds and noise and excitement everywhere. Kelter is supposed to be a broody prince but he’s just kinda shallowly annoying. The only characters consistent enough are the King and Queen - I enjoy that they are equally and cruel and unhinged together.
The pacing is also a little “meh” for me. We hear nothing of this “story” prophecy about the child of death and life until about 40% and then this sheltered, naive, girl who is and the prince who is hot and cold and emotionally all over the place. The time in the tower, the time on the red rites, then the battle/war that’s been raging for centuries is suddenly ended in a blink.
I understand and appreciate the appeals of a standalone but I feel like this could have been developed into a great duology.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fallen Beauty by Astrid Scholte is a dark, fairytale-inspired fantasy that leans heavily into atmosphere, and that’s easily its biggest strength. The story follows Thorelea, a girl imprisoned in a tower and forced to paint dead animals—until her art begins bringing them back to life, pulling her into a royal court where immortality is tied to magical portraits. The world-building is vivid and gothic, with strong “Rapunzel meets The Picture of Dorian Gray” vibes and the magic system tied to art feels unique and visually striking.
The characters and romance add to that moody tone, especially Thorelea’s dynamic with Prince Kelter. Their secret meetings and bargain create a soft, forbidden romance that fits well with the darker setting. The book is very readable and immersive, even if it’s not overly complex plot-wise. The pacing is fairly steady, with more emphasis on atmosphere, relationships, and court intrigue than constant action, which works for the kind of story it’s trying to tell.
Rating: 4 stars. It’s a lush, haunting fantasy with a unique magic system and strong fairytale aesthetic—more about mood and romance than fast-paced plot, but very easy to get pulled into.
I received a free ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The characters and romance add to that moody tone, especially Thorelea’s dynamic with Prince Kelter. Their secret meetings and bargain create a soft, forbidden romance that fits well with the darker setting. The book is very readable and immersive, even if it’s not overly complex plot-wise. The pacing is fairly steady, with more emphasis on atmosphere, relationships, and court intrigue than constant action, which works for the kind of story it’s trying to tell.
Rating: 4 stars. It’s a lush, haunting fantasy with a unique magic system and strong fairytale aesthetic—more about mood and romance than fast-paced plot, but very easy to get pulled into.
I received a free ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Eighteen-year-old Thorelea Winyard has been a prisoner her entire life, forced to paint dead animals pushed into her cell. She dreams of the world outside her tower and everything she’s been denied. When one of her subjects comes back to life, Thorelea is thrust into a royal court where she can have anything she desires—aside from her freedom."
Thus begins the story of Thorelea's entrance into the world and out of her locked tower room. She misses her mother, who was basically removed from her care six years prior and she only wants to see her. Thorelea finds that nothing is as she imagined it. Most things she has never seen, like the stars in the sky and more people than she can handle. However, darkness is in her future and this royal court is at the heart of great evil.
I loved the storyline. It was so creative and all was slowly unveiled through the eyes of Thorelea and Prince Kelter. These two had been fed lies most of their lives, different ones, but all damaging. I will admit that the wicked violence that takes place might be a bit much for some, but the undoing of it, quite remarkable.
I did enjoy reading this book. I would like to thank Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this early read.
Thus begins the story of Thorelea's entrance into the world and out of her locked tower room. She misses her mother, who was basically removed from her care six years prior and she only wants to see her. Thorelea finds that nothing is as she imagined it. Most things she has never seen, like the stars in the sky and more people than she can handle. However, darkness is in her future and this royal court is at the heart of great evil.
I loved the storyline. It was so creative and all was slowly unveiled through the eyes of Thorelea and Prince Kelter. These two had been fed lies most of their lives, different ones, but all damaging. I will admit that the wicked violence that takes place might be a bit much for some, but the undoing of it, quite remarkable.
I did enjoy reading this book. I would like to thank Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this early read.
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