Bride of the Briar Beast: A Twisted Beauty and the Beast Retelling

by Brandon Rohrbaugh

Bride of the Briar Beast is a dark romantasy fairy tale retelling of Beauty and the Beast, with enemies to lovers tension, a cursed castle, and a horned beast who does not ask twice.

I was supposed to hunt a stag. I fired an ash-tipped arrow instead, and the Briarwood answered.
Hunger Season had Thornford starving, and my little sister, Mira, was running out of time. When the Briar Beast came to collect an old debt, Baron Halver did what men like him always do. He offered me as tribute to save himself, and called it mercy.

Briarhold sits behind living thorns and story-law. The Horned Lord, Eryx, hides behind a bone mask and speaks in rules. A ghost voice named Corin follows me through the halls, warning me the curse does not want a guest. It wants a bride anchor, someone to keep the magic locked in place.

I signed a blood contract to protect Mira. The bargain chained me to a monster I hated on sight. Forced proximity turned hate into obsession, and obsession into desire I could not explain. The curse tightened, enemies closed in, and I started to wonder if the Beast was the danger, or if I was.

A dark romantasy for readers who

Enemies to lovers Love to hate tension Cursed castle romance Monster romance, horned beast hero Gothic fantasy romance atmosphere A Court of Thorns and Roses From Blood and Ash A Ruin of Roses Wicked Ever After begins here.

Genres: Amazon, Retellings

533 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 27, 2025

About the author

Brandon Rohrbaugh writes across fantasy, Romance, horror, and children’s books. He’s a dad of four, passionate about stories that challenge fear and spark adventure. Whether you dive into the bold world of A Dance of Thorns & Petals, explore a creepy phobia article, or follow his writing journey, Brandon creates worlds you’ll remember.

Reviews

[Doris Plank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a crazy spin on "Beauty and the Beast".
Fascinating story, impossibly stubborn "bride", resigned MMC and two villains, one not even alive! A unique dark version, but very satisfying!
I got an ARC to read and want to thank the author. This is my voluntary review and my opinion.

[ReviewsByNic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bride of the Briar Beast by Brandon Rohrbaugh
5 out of 5 stars
ARC- OUT NOW

Thank you Brandon for this copy of the book. All parts of this review are of my own honest opinion 💚

I usually find the retelling of different stories or myths to be a little strange or too close to what we know, but Brandon did such an amazing job with this. There is a clear connection to what we know as our Beauty and the Beast, but this book itself is its own story. You don't just constantly think of Belle and the Beast, you see Sylvi and the Horned Lord as their own story. A story that is so deeply beautiful and enchanting. I loved how they both were so strong and would do what they could to save others and to ensure the curse didn’t spread. I also loved how the story just wasn't centered solely around romance. Yes, it was there, but the focus was the tests and strength. It added a deeper element that makes the book stand out.

I am so glad I was able to read this book. It was absolutely beautiful and will be in my top 10 for 2026. If you haven’t already, please consider reading this book. If you end up loving it, there will be a few more books to the story 🥰

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love a good fairy tale retelling when the woman is not a damsel in distress, but a fighter. I do believe that Corin was my favorite character. Her witty comebacks and her straightforward attitude made me want to keep reading for the next thing she had to say. The beast also made me feel for him. I enjoyed that he looked to Sylvi as a partner and not something weak. She was a strong character both mentally and physically throughout the story!

[Adena Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is easily the darkest and most creative reimaging of the Beauty and the Beast tale that I have been allowed to read. This goes on the same shelf as Riley Hunt's "Born of Blood and Thorns"; both are equally grim and bloodbound. If you are in the mood for sparks of inspiration fighting through deep darkness, you will want to read this.

I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Juliana Veale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

An interesting exploration of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale. I found it interesting, although it felt very stylized at times. More explanations behind the characters stories and more explanation in the epilogue would have been welcomed

[Starry Freya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairytale/Dark/Romance/Curse/Suspense

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Tears: -

A great, if slow, story that had me cheering at the end. The epilogue was a great creepy ending.

[Christina Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent retelling

Written in a very interesting style, almost like a poem. I enjoyed it immensely. If you are looking for something a bit different, this is for you.