What Claws Beneath the Crown: A Dark Fairytale Retelling

by Jen Drapp

After the Great War, the realm teeters on the brink of chaos, plagued by unrest and fragile alliances. The Unseelie Court has long been dormant and nearly forgotten. Until now.

Princess Zara of Masseda would do anything to avoid becoming queen. Reckless and selfish, she longs to be free from the crushing weight of her crown. But when her stepmother forces her into an arranged marriage to Prince Leer of Lanray, Zara has no choice but to accept her fate. Unable to shift like most Fae, Zara is seen as a liability, especially by Leer's brooding and arrogant squire, Alfrie.

Haunted by his tragic past, Alfrie owes his life to Prince Leer. Supporting the prince’s engagement to Princess Zara is just another one of his duties and he expects Zara to be just like every other royal—spoiled and blissfully unaware of the world beyond their sheltered lives at court. And when they meet, Zara’s clumsy magic and childish behavior prove him right.

But after a brutal attack on Masseda by the Unseelie court, Alfrie is tasked with teaching Zara to hone her shifting abilities to prepare for an imminent battle, igniting a forbidden spark between them. In the midst of buried secrets and the looming threat of war, they discover their shared enemy may be closer than they imagined, and Zara’s greatest threat might be the one man she can’t resist.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy

371 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 17, 2026

About the author

I'm Jen! I write fantasy and romance for readers who love banter that banters and yearn for yearning. I’m a member of Writing Away Refuge and Book Club for Writers. When I'm not writing, I work as a Nursing Professor. I'm addicted to Rockstar energy drinks and Netflix, and spend my free time reading, running, and travelling with my family.

Follow me on socials!

www.jencdrapp.com
www.facebook.com/authorjendrapp
www.instagram.com/jencdrapp
www.tiktok.com/jencdrapp

"Enjoy the read!"--JD

Reviews

[Audrey Case · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review!
Spoiler free review!
I am honored to have been selected to review What Claws Beneath the Crown by @Jen Drapp . This is set for release February 17th, 2026.
I loved this story so much! I cant wait for this to be released! It will definitely be going on my shelf as a book trophy! This is an inspired by Snow White story and the theme is there. I loved there's some twists and turns you dont see coming but also some that you do. The Step Mother i know i shouldn't like , but she did have some good lines that had me cackling. The MMC's Alfrie and Leer i was really torn between for most of the book but I think the story clears that up. Our FMC is an unruly princess in a peaceful kingdom. She is anything but a traditional princess in her relam. Book 2 is going to be epic and I am already ready to see how we go from here!

[Ceacea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Jennifer Drapp for this eARC.
Genre: Romantic Fantasy
⭐️ 3.5/5
🌶 2/5
🧠 4/10
Cliffhanger: 3/10
Noteworthy: Book 1 of an incomplete series. Dual first-person POV. Expected publication date is 2/17/2026.

The Seelie and Unseelie kingdoms have ended a war resulting in the Seelie coming out on top and the Unseelie fading away into obscurity. Princess Zara wants no part of an arranged marriage needed to stabilize the kingdom but duty can only be put off for so long. This book sets the stage for the series walking us through Zara coming to terms with it while at the same time fighting a pesky attraction to her betrothed's best friend who is an instant thorn in her side.

I can't go into a lot of details without spoiling the story but what I can tell you is that things are not always as they seem. If you like trying to puzzle out a story as you go along you will love this one. My biggest issue was the characters not picking up on clues quicker. But as you read you start to understand there are reasons that may be happening.The FMC was not smart and honestly I don't think she cared to be. She was also incredibly self centered because 'Princess'. She gets a bit better by the end and the silver lining is she has plenty of room for growth and I expect we will see that in the next book.

This was a quick read and was fun at times as I do love a good twisty turny story. It was also a little spicier than I expected but at the same time it's a slow burn for the main couple.

[౨ৎ rae ‧₊˚. [semi ia] · Rating 4 out of 5]

•°~Thank you so much to the author & NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book ~°•


~` 4 ✨ `~

★★★★☆

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

~•° 🧚 | ⚔️ | 🐅 °•~


~°•| Someone, please help me. I CAN'T any longer. Why? Why would, you do this to me, Miss Author??? 😭


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| 🗡️| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
C•h•a•r•a•c•t•e•r•s:

•° Z A R A °•
girl, in the beninging (yes, I did that on purpose), you were so stupid. Like argh, you don't want to be with Alfrie, but then you're jealous when he hugs someone? what the flip? 🙃 Sigh, Zara is a strong girly, I knew that while reading the book. When she cares about someone, she will do A LOT to save them, even though she sees herself as a spoiled princess. Okay, maybe she is. Just a little bit. Towards the ending, she went through so much, poor girl. I hope she get's her happy end.

But uhm...or you say: "My hunny Bunny Prince Leer" one more time.... 🔪

🖤

★~ E M L Y N ~★
where can I find a best friend like her? Why are book besties always so 💋?! She is so supportive and funny and cute and I just want to kidnap her and put her in my pocket. Along with Alix. You two were..uhm..not very secretive about your relationship. I'm not complaining though. 🤭


🫂

🛡️— A L I X — 🛡️

"I swear, I'm dealing with children."

Well, well, well. Loyal bodyguard. Protective brother like. Into my cart 🛒. No, jokes aside, Alix is so sweet. He cares so much about Zara and Emlyn (for one maybe a bit more than the other 😉), he even survived Zara's bratty attitude. And trust me, she can be REALLY bratty. Alix can testify to that. He is definitely my favorite character. After Alfrie.

✨


🥼 ° A L F R I E ° 🥼

"I am hers. Completely. Even if she will never be mine."

Oh, Alfrie. 🤧 He went through the most in this book. Form loosing his family, to getting punished countless times by freaking 👏 King 👏 Hardin 👏 and to loving someone who is in denial of loving him back. People can really be monsters. All he wanted was to be loved. 🥺

Ok no, all he wanted was some peace and quiet, but whatever.

What I didn't really like...

"She bites her lip, and how I long to be that lip."

Uhm....Alfrie? Are you okay?

Anyway, if you're looking for blond haired, green eyed traumatized men, here ya go. (I like dark haired men more, but we'll ignore that as well.)


💕

I saved the best for last. 💀


🤮 ^ L E E R ^ 🤮

Eww. Yuck. Disgusting. Anything else you know to express disgust. This guy is nuh uh. Like what??? I didn't like him at all. Like, Zara are you blind? how can you like this man. He isn't even that handsome. I hate him. I mean, he's name is Leer. LEER.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | 🗡️| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What-I-didn't-like:

so the beginning was kind of, slow and not very interesting. That's why it was a bit hard to get into the story. That's all. 😊

HOLY CLIFFHANGER by the way. 😁

[Chezza's life · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Arc review*
4.75

Oooooooo i enjoyed this one, i loved the tension, the story/plot, love interests. It was all there.

The plot twists within plot twists were not what i exoected. Loved it
Beautifully written too, easy to read and flowed well.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and the author for another fab read

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review.

This was everything I needed to get me out of a book slump. A loose retelling of Snow White that gives you the comfort of familiarity while keeping you intrigued with some fun twists. Two fae kingdoms uniting against the unseelie fae, arranged marriage, secrets, court intrigue, sheltered princess, trainer/trainee….I didn’t want to put it down from the 70% mark. Looking forward to book 2.

[Meli · Rating 5 out of 5]

listen, did I pick this book completely off vibes? yes. the title, the cover, the description. perfection 🤌🏻.

I have to thank Netgalley for providing the venue for acquiring this ARC and for introducing me to Jen Drapp... go follow her on insta.

anyways, let's get to the book review. This story was completely in my genre, I love a good romantic fantasy and have read a ton of them... I have NEVER read one like this. punch me in the face with a plot twist in the last chapter and leave me with my mouth hanging open at the end. HOW DARE YOU, JENNIFER! I highly recommend this read so you too can be as indignant as I am that the sequel is not available yet 🤣

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoiler free ARC Review!
Thank you NetGalley and Jen Drapp for this eARC. I really appreciate the opportunity to have been able to read this book before it comes out on February 17th.
I thoroughly enjoyed this Snow White retelling. The world building was really well done and I really enjoyed the 2 MMCs (Prince Leer and Alfrie) . Princess Zara is a FMC that goes through a lot of growth throughout this book and by the end of it you can’t help but want to root for her.
This was a quick and fun romantasy read. I was very invested in the story right from the start and could not put it down. I am really looking forward to seeing where the story goes in book 2. If you love a good fairytale retelling you absolutely must pick up this book on February 17th.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

What Claws Beneath the Crown by Jen Drapp is a wonderful mix of a Snow White retelling and fae lore, sprinkled with a good amount of spice. The story follows Zara, a sheltered, selfish, irresponsible, and seemingly magic-less princess who is forced into an arranged marriage. We meet Prince Leer, her betrothed, whom she quickly is enamored by; and Alfrie, Leer’s friend and squire, who initially is irritated by Zara, but a reluctant friendship builds that eventually turns into forbidden feelings. After an attack by an enemy court, Alfrie is charged with teaching the princess to shift, and in true fairytale fashion the story really begins when the safety ends.

This was a really fun read. I especially loved the character dynamics and the fairy-tale tone of the prose. I really enjoyed the interweaving concepts of the classic Grimm tale, like the lacing of Zara’s corset too tight as well as fae lore, like shifting and Seelie vs Unseelie courts. The main characters were all very memorable, and I enjoyed the character development of side characters as well. There are well rounded friendships and conflicts between the characters. The writing flowed easily, and I found myself settling into the world quickly.

There were parts I struggled with. As a reader, I would have like to be trusted a tad more. I found the story to be very predictable, and not in the sense of knowing what happens in the classic tale. I found the foreshadowing was overused because it was the same throughout most scenes. It made the story seem self-aware.

Overall What Claws Beneath the Crown is a fun reimagining of a classic tale and folklore that I’d definitely recommend to fans of romantic fantasy.

Thank you to Jen Drapp and NetGalley for the eARC.

[Brenda Stokvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Jen Drapp for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!
4,25 ⭐

What Claws Beneath the Crown is a dark Snow White retelling. Princess Zara likes nothing more than to neglect her duties. She is selfish and immature and she lacks the ability to shift like other Fae. Her father and stepmother arrange a marriage to Prince Leer. He immediately sweeps her of her feet and wants to take her to his Kingdom of Lanray, after threats from Unseelie Fae. Zara convinces her father she first needs some training in fighting and shifting before she goes to Lanray. Prince Leer's squire Alfrie is an expert shifter who is tasked to teach her. Soon there is more between them than hate and annoyance.
This book was very entertaining, although a bit predictable. Most of the twist and turns I saw coming. That doesn't take away from the fact I really had a great time slowly seeing my theories come to life!
Zara as our main character was very unlikeable. She is flawed, and frankly quite childish. That does leave her plenty of room to grow, so to see her evolve and connect the dots was amazing. Alfrie is definitely not wrong in his first assessment of Zara being a spoiled brat. Alfrie's history was gutwrenching and his remark about humans having poor memory (read the book to find out what this means!) nearly brought me to tears.
The relationship between Zara and Alfrie is tense at first and heartbreaking in the end. I really need the next book asap, because I want to feel hope for them!

[ChipmunksandDandelion (Cinnamon&Pine) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A spoiled princess, a Prince Charming and a rotten realm…


Zara is a spoiled nineteen-year-old princess, who still cannot shift and prefers parties over responsibility. While she rebels, her mirror-obsessed stepmother arranges her marriage to the charming Prince Leer. Beneath the polished court of Masseda, unseelie attacks and quiet betrayals hint that something is deeply wrong.

The Snow White motifs are clear but well integrated. Both main characters are young and often naive, one sheltered and impulsive, the other burdened by survivor’s guilt. There is obvious room for growth, which carried much of my interest.

Scent check. Leer is cedar and freshly fallen rain. Zara reads as citrus and lavender. Alfrie remains without a discernible scent.

The twist was not entirely surprising but handled in an engaging way, and the love triangle is resolved within this book. A solid 3.5 to 4 stars, rounding up for potential. I will pick up the sequel and hope certain endearing characters finally grow a spine.

[Marjorie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for giving me access to thisn advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

What Claws Beneath the Crown by Jen Drapp offers a darker take on a Snow White–inspired romantasy, blending familiar fairy-tale elements with shifters and a more morally complicated tone.
The story follows a sheltered, spoiled princess who begins the book lacking both direction and confidence in her own abilities, while being quite self-absorbed and inclined towards reprehensible behaviours. Her arc focuses on self-discovery—learning who she is beyond the crown and what she may be capable of when forced to stand on her own. While her growth is gradual, it forms the emotional backbone of the novel.
Romance plays a meaningful role, though it’s often tangled with manipulation and uncertainty rather than idealized affection. Mysteries surrounding legacy, power, and hidden truths drive much of the plot, giving the story a sense of tension and forward momentum. The inclusion of shifters adds an interesting layer to the world and reinforces the darker twist on the classic tale.
As the opening book in a series, What Claws Beneath the Crown focuses on setting up characters, conflicts, and themes rather than delivering full resolution. Readers who enjoy fairy-tale retellings with a slower-burn character arc, romantic tension, and shadowed motivations may find this an intriguing place to begin.

[Lizze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Jen Drapp for allowing me to review this book as an eArc!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I became very invested in the story. I like that the MCs are not what you would expect, especially the MMC. They each deal with their own problems and insecurities which make you root for them most of the time, sometimes the FMC was just frustrating but her character grows throughout the book. There is a fairytale aspect of Snow White but I didn't find it overtly noticeable throughout the novel until closer to the end of the book.


There are plot twists in this book that left me reeling (but in a good way) and not everything is as it appears. There is spice in this book but with the main MCs it is a very slow burn (it does build throughout). I am excited to see where this story will go and anxiously await book 2! I would recommend this book to those that love enemies to lovers, slow burn romantasy.

[Kelsey Chadwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took a bit for me to get into. The beginning is pretty slow, but when the plot starts plotting? I couldn’t put it down. There’s romance, forbidden attraction 👀, spice, secrets, betrayal and some of my theories were right but 90% of the big “ah ha!” Moments, I DEFINITELY didn’t see coming! The FMC kind of drove me nuts in the first half of the book but her character development was so good. Multiple twists that I fully saw coming and some I didn’t see AT ALL. I honestly can’t wait to read the second book, because there has to be a second or I’ll riot. This book comes out February 17th and will be a favorite this year for sure!

🖤Thank you NetGalley and Jen Drapp for the opportunity to read and review this book early!🖤

[Lauren Shenton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough for the author of this to send me an ARC copy and I am SO GLAD she did! It gave me allllll the feels, my emotions were like a roller coaster. I was gripped from the start, it was straight in with the story, enough world building that I could imagine it but not too much where it goes on and on and I get bored. Everytime I thought I knew where it was going I’d end up questioning myself and changing my mind. I flew through this book and HIGHLY recommend. I can’t wait to read more of Jen’s books and hopefully we get a book 2 for this because I can’t wait to see what happens next!!

Jen, if you read your reviews, you have a real talent x

[Amber Althoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

If only I could give this book more than 5 stars. I am a sucker for fairy tale retellings that have their own plot with just hints of the older tale woven in. Jen Drapp nailed the retelling with her own original plot in such a cohesive way. You’ve got a spoiled fae princess, an evil stepmother, a gorgeous prince who might have a dark secret, his trusted friend who has his own side story. I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait to see what book 2 brings!

[Bookaholic MK · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will be honest, there were times I enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and easy, and, more than that, I believe it will turn out to be an interesting book for the majority of fantasy readers nowadays. However, for me personally it lacked everything. The romance within the love triangle was nonexistent, no matter with whom. I felt like it was supposed to resemble Red Queen, but it simply lacked credibility. All the plot twists I found easily predictable from the first chapters. The whole dynamic was off to me. It was an easy read, but honestly not much more than that.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley and the author, Jennifer Drapp, for the ARC of this book, What Claws Beneath the Crown.

2.5 ⭐
I'm not quite sure how I feel about this book. It was pretty predictable as to who was who and the deception that was going to occur. I know the blurb was that Zara was a spoiled brat, but good gods I did not like her. And I also didn't feel too much emotion through the romance. I know that's how it's supposed to be (see the predictable twist at the ending) but I still wanted something more. I think I would have rated it higher if I felt that emotion in the romance. It left off on a big cliff hanger, but I don't think I cared enough about the book to continue the series.

[Freja Holmstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

Spoiler-Free ARC Review

Thank you to NetGalley and Jen Drapp for the ARC of What Claws Beneath The Crown 💛

I was immediately intrigued by this being a Fae-world fairytale retelling. The story follows Princess Zara (FMC) as she prepares for an arranged marriage to Prince Leer of another Court (MMC1). It’s told in dual POV between Zara and Alfrie (MMC2), Leer’s best friend — and yes, that dynamic is as interesting as it sounds 👀

Since this is spoiler-free, I won’t get into specifics, but the world-building is fairly gentle and never feels overwhelming. It unfolds naturally as the story progresses, which I appreciated.

I’ll be honest; the first ~5% was a bit of a struggle for me. Some of the writing felt slightly clunky and it didn’t immediately pull me in. HOWEVER. The remaining 95%?

Fully redeemed. Once Alfrie’s POV entered the chat, I was locked in. He is hands-down my favourite character so far and easily the highlight of the book for me.

There are some genuinely delightful twists and turns. While there is some obvious foreshadowing, there were still plot twists that caught me off guard (which I love). The romance is very much central to the story rather than a background subplot, and I adored several of the side characters — especially Zara’s bodyguard, Alix.

The ending absolutely sets up future books, and I will 100% be continuing this series. Despite a few moments where the sentence structure didn’t feel as smooth as it could have been, I ended up really enjoying Jen’s storytelling overall. This was a fun, romantic, twisty romantasy that definitely held my attention.

I’m very much looking forward to reading more from Jen! ✨

[Meghan Sutherland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC. There were several twists throughout the book that weren't completely expected some that were. Overall I feel like it's a twist on Snow White. It was a fun read.

[The Lit · Rating 4 out of 5]

​A sincere thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy (eARC) of this title. The Lit Whisperer’s analysis finds this to be a compelling and atmospheric read, earning a solid 4 stars.
​Overall, the world-building is good and the characters are well-developed, making for an immersive experience. I particularly enjoyed the tension between the main character, Zara, and her "enemy." That friction kept the pages turning! However, I did struggle with the love triangle between Zara and the two male leads; it felt a bit forced for my taste.
​⚠️ SPOILER ALERT: I found it frustrating that Leer wanted to kill Zara so abruptly ("just like that"), and I wasn't a fan of Alfrie being used as a mere pawn in the larger game.
​Despite those plot points, it remains a good story with a very strong atmosphere.
​Follow me for more reviews @TheLitWhisperer.

[Lindsay S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC and absolutely loved it! Entranced from the start… I’m already anxiously awaiting book 2.

[Charlotte Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A huge thankyou to the Author Jen Drapp and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

My first of hopefully many!!

I really loved this book, it was such an easy read.
Filled with so much tension and the perfect plot twists.

Everything i look for in a fun fantasy read.

Overall a fantastic read!!

[MaReads Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zara, a Seelie Fae princess unable to shift into animal form, is betrothed in an arranged marriage to Prince Leer to unite their realms against the Unseelie. Seeking one last night of freedom before their first meeting, she shares an intimate encounter with a handsome stranger, only to discover he is Prince Leer himself.

3.75⭐️/5 — 3/5 🌶️

💍 Arranged marriage
👁️ Love at first sight
💗 Love triangle
❤️‍🔥 Betrothed’s best friend
🏛️ Fae politics
🍎 Snow White Retelling

When I sent the cover to a friend, she immediately pointed out that it gave Snow White vibes, and honestly, I felt almost silly for not making the connection before the poisoned apple appeared! All the clues were right there: the evil queen, the mirrors, the obsession with beauty... Aside from that, I had a really good time reading this romantasy. It leans a bit basic and is super predictable, by 30%, I had already guessed the majority of the plot and the main twists. Still, it totally works, hits all the right tropes, and reminds me a bit of Amid Clouds and Bones and The Rose Bargain.

⚠️ Spoilers ahead

The World & Worldbuilding
The story is set in a classic Fae realm divided between the Seelie and Unseelie courts, filled with political maneuvering, royal duty, and kingdom-uniting alliances. The worldbuilding weaves in subtle Snow White fairy tale elements, from vanity-obsessed evil royals and magical mirrors to dark bargains and poisoned fruit. At the center of it all is the mystery surrounding shifting, as Zara stands out as the only Fae princess who seems completely unable to shift into her animal form, making her a unique political pawn in her father's eyes.

The Main Characters
Zara (FMC): I found Zara to be a bit naive throughout the book, whether it came to reading her father or seeing through Leer's motives. She eventually asks the right questions, but always a bit too late. She was actually quite selfish and almost detestable at the very beginning, especially in the way she kept doing whatever she wanted regardless of how badly it impacted Alix. However, she grows on you as she navigates her new reality.

Prince Leer (MMC #1): Leer plays the role of the almost-perfect Prince charming remarkably well. From their very first encounter at the tavern, where he uses his squire’s name, he and Zara share an instant, magnetic connection (love at first sight vibes) that makes the arranged marriage seem surprisingly not so terrible after all.

Alfrie (MMC #2): Leer’s squire and best friend. I obviously adored Alfrie! He brings that delicious grumpy energy to contrast Leer's charm, making the dynamics of the court so much more fun.

The Romance & The Dynamic
The love triangle in this book was genuinely enjoyable to follow! On one side, you have the instant chemistry and "not-so-bad" arranged marriage setup with Prince Leer. On the other side, you have the golden dynamic with Alfrie (betrothed's best friend), which delivers a true, top-tier slow burn. Zara and Alfrie don't even kiss until around the 70% mark, and things don't go any further than that in this first installment! On top of the romantic tension, I really loved the cozy found family dynamic that develops between Zara, Alix, and Emlyn, which gave the character interactions a lot of heart.

What I Want to See in the Sequel
Since I managed to predict most of the major plot twists so early on in this first book, I really hope the sequel pushes the boundaries a bit more and brings some truly unexpected surprises! Now that the Snow White inspiration is fully out in the open and the initial romance lines have been drawn, I want to see Zara step out of her naivety, fully embrace her power (and hopefully her shift!), and deal with the fallout of the love triangle and political betrayals with a lot more sharpness.

Recap & Recommendations

What I liked:
-The fun Snow White retelling elements (evil queen, mirrors, beauty obsession).
-The well-executed love triangle with two very distinct male leads.
-Alfrie's grumpy character and the slow burn with Zara.
-The heartwarming found family dynamic between Zara, Alix, and Emlyn.
-Vibes similar to Amid Clouds and Bones and The Rose Bargain.

What I liked less:
-Highly predictable plot twists that I guessed around 30% into the book.
-Zara’s initial selfishness and her overall naivety when dealing with her father and Leer.

I recommend this book if: You love Fae politics, light fairy-tale retellings, multi-layered love triangles, and a true slow-burn romance with the betrothed's grumpy best friend.
I do not recommend this book if: You get frustrated by naive heroines who take a long time to connect the dots, or if you're looking for an ultra-complex, unpredictable plot with heavy spice in book one.

[ੈ♡‧₊˚ Thais · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and author Jen Drapp for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. I’m so glad I got to read it. 💖

⁂⋆⁺⋆ ⸼ ⁂⁂⋆⁺⋆ ⸼ ⁂⁂⋆⁺⋆ ⸼ ⁂

🌙 Review: What Claws Beneath the Crown by Jen Drapp
𓍊𓋼𓍊 2 ☆

🗡 Update (02/04/26)

❥๑━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━๑❥


❤ I recently finished reading What Claws Beneath the Crown by Jen Drapp, and I must confess that I’m coming away from this experience with very mixed feelings. The book sets out to be a "romantasy" with high political stakes and mystical transformations, but the execution fluctuates between moments of brilliance and passages that truly test the reader's patience.

● The Superficiality of the Protagonist

❤ I’ll start with the point that bothered me the most: the construction of our protagonist, Zara. In the synopsis, the author already warns us that she is a spoiled princess, oblivious to the real world. However, the execution of this personality trait felt heavy-handed. For much of the plot, Zara comes across as frivolous and lacking a distinctive backbone.

❤ Her emotional inconsistency is frustrating; in one chapter, she is understandably spiraling because she’s being treated as a bargaining chip in a political marriage, yet in the very next, she seems to forget her convictions simply because her suitor, Leer, is physically attractive. This lack of depth makes her growth—which should be the heart of the book—feel a bit forced rather than an organic evolution.

● Alfrie’s "Oasis"

❤ If the characters, in general, lack layers, Alfrie is the exception that proves the rule. He is, without a doubt, the highlight of the book. Through him, the author manages to inject real dramatic weight, exploring his traumas and a past that feels much more grounded than the rest of the cast. His dynamic with Zara is what kept me turning the pages, as he brings a sobriety and emotional charge that balances out the futility of the court interactions.

● The Silver Lining: Writing and Worldbuilding

❤ Despite the pacing and characterization issues, it’s not all thorns. Jen Drapp has a fluid writing style that makes for an easy read, and the concept of the "shift" (the animal transformation) is well-integrated. When the action finally kicks in and the political masks fall, the book gains an electrifying momentum.

❤ The setting of Masseda and Lanray, while it could have been more detailed, creates an interesting backdrop for the conflict between the Seelie and Unseelie courts.

● The Verdict

❤ What Claws Beneath the Crown had the potential to be a gripping read, but it ultimately gets lost in characters that feel like cutouts of well-known archetypes without the necessary depth. It’s a fun read for those looking for a light pastime in the genre, especially for the mystery surrounding Alfrie and the ending that promises a much more interesting (and less annoying) Zara in the next volume.

[Katya & the Braincells Inc. · Rating 2 out of 5]

OVERALL RATING: ⭐⭐
2 stars :/

Oh nooo. I feel a little bad writing this because I really wanted to love this novel. The premise sounded exactly like my kind of fantasy: royalty, romance, danger, and a darker twist on a fairytale setup. On paper, this should have worked perfectly for me.

Unfortunately, the execution just never clicked. The first twenty chapters suffer from a incredibly slow pace where very little plot progression actually occurs (at one point where I swear I've been reading for hours, I checked my reading progress only to realize I was BARELY even halfway through the story). And after all that boiling build up, I still saw the twist coming from a mile away. In retrospect it makes more sense knowing this is very clearly setting up the stage for a dramatic, high-stakes fae duology, but as a first installment, it often felt more like extended setup than a story with its own satisfying momentum.

The dialogue unfortunately didn't help much either. A lot of conversations felt overly unnatural where characters sounded less like people speaking and more like lines written to establish tropes or tension (especially in early chapters). The repeated use of "male" and "female" in dialogue and narration also pulled me constantly -- I know that's common in some fantasy romance spaces, but personally it always feels awkward and clinical.

Zara as a protagonist also became a major hurdle personally; I understand that her spoiled behavior is intentional and acknowledged by the narrative but her emotional growth felt either minimal or too delayed for the amount of time we spend in her head. Early on, her hostility toward other characters especially confused me because I never felt like the story grounded that resentment strongly enough before asking the reader to sit with it for chapters and chapters. And her instant, overly-lustful reaction to meeting the prince nearly put me off, but I guess that should've been expected for a spicy 🌶 story. Because of that, I struggled to emotionally invest in her perspective.

To be fair, there are elements here that I found interesting. The strongest part of the book for me was probably Alfrie. His background as a refugee displaced by the wars caused by Zara's father immediately gave his POV more tension and emotional complexity. Realizing Alfrie was actually the ML was surprising especially because at first he comes across like a complete scumbag and I liked Leer's prince-y character more. But at least that made him memorable.

Despite all my frustrations, I am still curious enough that I'll probably check Book 2 out when it releases. I think readers who enjoy slow-burn fantasy romance with spice 🌶, love triangles, fae politics, and morally messy characters may enjoy this more. Unfortunately, other than the aforementioned reasons, I am professionally employed as a Love Triangle Hater™, so this will remain a 2* read.

I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

What Claws Beneath the Crown by Jen Drapp

Okay… buckle up, because this book is such a ride. I went in thinking “oh, a Snow White retelling, sure, should be cute,” and what I got instead was emotional chaos, dark fae lore, and a slow-burn romance that left me a little heartbroken, a little swoony, and very very invested.

Zara is everything you don’t expect from a princess—selfish, immature, magic-less, and basically refusing to adult—but somehow you root for her anyway. Watching her grow from spoiled brat to someone who can actually face the dangers of shifting, fighting, and running a kingdom? Chef’s kiss.

And then there’s Alfrie. Sigh. The broody, tragic, heartbreakingly real squire who is supposed to teach her and ends up teaching me about patience, loyalty, and having feelings too intense for words. Their enemies-to-lovers tension is chef’s kiss x100, slow-burned with enough teasing, heartbreak, and subtle longing to make you yell at the pages: “JUST KISS ALREADY, ZARA!”

Prince Leer, Zara’s betrothed, adds another layer of complexity—he’s swoony, swoony, swoony—but the focus is so wonderfully on Zara and Alfrie that the love triangle never feels overwhelming. Instead, it builds the stakes, adds tension, and keeps your heart fluttering in all the right ways.

The worldbuilding is rich with fae lore, shifting magic, Seelie vs. Unseelie courts, and that dark fairytale vibe that sneaks up on you until you’re fully immersed. There’s action, politics, heartbreak, and moments that genuinely made me gasp. And the twists? Some were predictable, yes, but others genuinely threw me for a loop.

If there’s a “con,” it’s that Zara can be frustrating at first. She’s immature, spoiled, and makes choices that make you want to shake her. But that is the point—she has room to grow, and watching her do it? Incredible. Also, the romance is a touch fast on Alfrie’s end, but honestly, the tension, banter, and slow-burn vibes make up for it tenfold.

By the last third of the book, I was fully emotionally invested, gasping at plot twists, swooning over Alfrie, cheering for Zara, and already itching for book two.

Final verdict: if you love enemies-to-lovers slow-burn romance, dark fairytale vibes, fae magic, and character growth that hits you right in the heart—this book is for you. I am now officially waiting impatiently for the sequel and emotionally unprepared for whatever happens next.

Thanks to Jen Drapp and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[AC · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I read the synopsis, I was intrigued so I’m 🙁 to say this book didn’t work much for me. What Claws Beneath the Crown is a dark, fairy-tale-inspired romantasy, with its roots in a Snow-White retelling, the story weaves together fae politics, shifting magic, romance... I feel that the book had potential because the concept is interesting, but I found the plot was easily predictable from the first chapters, and it didn’t feel like there was any chemistry between the characters. The book just dragged on and on, and nothing happened.

The romance also felt shallow, Zara and the prince had sex from the first time they saw each other and after that, it was just that, cause the prince was hot 🤦‍♀️, no building of feelings between them or between her and “the right guy”, no real tension, no yearning.

Zara isn’t an easy heroine to love, she’s immature, sheltered, entitled and often frustrating😡. She acts like a spoiled child 99% of the time without a care for whoever gets punished for her actions (certainly not her) or for any sort of consequences, she doesn’t learn from her mistakes...ok, ok, I understand she’s meant to come off as a spoiled princess, but she lacked depth, she doesn’t even come off as smart, it would have helped if we could see her grow, but she’s constant throughout the whole book in all of the above.

Alfrie, on the other hand, is the exception🥰🥰🥰, he was the only character who felt layered, bringing a depth and weight to the story, exploring his traumas and a past that feels much more grounded than the rest. He’s, without a doubt, the highlight of the book and the reason I finished it. Another character I likes was Alix, I hope in the next book he’ll have his time to shine.

While not without its flaws, it’s an intriguing start to the series. Overall, this is a story that feels like the beginning of something bigger and I hope other people enjoy it despite my review since reading is subjective 😊

[BurningThruBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC. What Claws Beneath the Crown, Jen Drapp. Release date: 2-17-26. Page count: 372. Book 1 of 2.

Jen Drapp delivers the most delicious dark romantasy in her Snow White inspired novel What Claws Beneath the Crown. The story follows Princess Zara of Masseda, a strikingly beautiful fae shifter...who has never learned to shift...as she navigates the political unrest of her realm, an arranged marriage to Prince Leer of Lanray, and her evil stepmother’s determination to rise in power.

Zara is fiercely independent, and the last thing she wants is to be tied down in marriage to an insufferable royal; but after discovering Prince Leer is chivalrous, confident, charismatic, and beyond handsome...her impending nuptials don’t seem so daunting. That is until she meets Alfrie, Prince Leer’s mysterious and moody squire. Zara is captivated by Alfrie’s dazzling emerald eyes. She finds herself drawn to the melancholy soul and quiet reserve of the one man she’s forbidden to love. When an unexpected attack from the Unseelie Court leaves the kingdom of Masseda reeling from grief and anguish, Zara must fight to uncover the truth when nothing is what it seems – including the two men who have her heart.

What Claws Beneath the Crown is a five star read. The descriptive narration immediately draws you into a fantasy realm full of beauty and horror, lush landscapes that captivate, a delectable cast of characters to love and hate, and shifter magic that is well presented and executed. The story’s pacing and intrigue will leave you burning through pages and uttering the all too famous “just one more chapter” – guaranteeing you’ll be late to commitments and lacking on sleep! And let’s not talk about the ending...if you enjoy a shocking cliffhanger...buckle up. Book two cannot come soon enough.

[Lesesucht · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the idea and there were some aspects I really enjoyed.
We have here Fae which are able to transform into animals or take on a human form. I liked this and to read who can transform into what animal.
Also the idea that Unseelie can be killed by Fae who can take the form of a tiger is interesting.
That glamour can be used on other Fae and is considered to be used only by Unseelie as it requires a piece of your soul is a good idea.

Unfortunately the story could not convince me at all.
Everything was too predictable for me. With the info given in the story it was right from the start totally clear to me what deception was ongoing and who nearly each and every person really is.

Also how the main characters were set up and acted could not convince me.
Zara is called spoiled and this is what she is most of the book for me. She knows everything best and when somebody is not reacting like she wants she reminds them that she is a princess. I did not like this at all.
Leer I did not like at all and I never understood that Zara is against a marriage, sees him and is high over heels for him, has sex with him and talks so fast about love.
Alfrie is an interesting character even so I never understood why he accepted to be punished as they saved his live in the past even so it seems like he can´t remember all of his past. Why he considers Leer as a friend even so he is being beaten due to his actions and his friend is not doing anything about it I did not get.
I did not feel any romance between the characters. Also real emotions were missing for me. What we have in the book didn´t convince me.

For me it was dragging quite a lot and at the end pace is coming, all the reveals are done and then it stops with a cliff hanger.

So interesting ideas, but unfortunately this book is not what I love to read.

[The Beachy Booknook · Rating 2 out of 5]

So sorry but this did just not do it for me. I found the entire thing to be written poorly. The characters were shitty, the world-building made no sense, and the plot had giant ass holes. I just could not get into this story and was very bored. THANK YOU in advance to NetGalley for the e-Arc of this story in exchange for an honest review.

What I liked:
- Our MMC, Alfrie. Literally the only enjoyable character in the entire book (besides Alix). He was layered and grumpy and sweet.
- Fae animal shifters are kind of cool. Except the shifting isn't really explained well just that some fae can shift.
- Snow white retelling. Meh

What I didn't like:
- The FMC, Zara, is utterly intolerable. She starts the story spoiled and selfish, literally ruining everything for everyone around her and not giving a fuck. And instead of having a redemption arc and maturing, she ends the story just as insufferable.
- The world building was not fleshed out enough. Every chapter brought up new questions - about the plot, about characters, about their motivations - and nothing was ever explained. Like some fae have healing magic and some don't. That aspect was never explained just thrown away as an off-hand comment. I could follow the basic premise of the story but was ultimately mostly confused.
-Nothing happens for the first 70% of the book, then everything happens in the last 30%. Pacing was poor and left me bored for the beginning.
-Ultimately, not a lot about this story gripped me. The characters were unlikable and difficult to root for. There were few original elements in this story.