Beauty's Dark Dream

by Kay McClayne

Wake up, little prey.

Thrain

I am the monster who haunts her dreams. Once a dark fae prince, I was imprisoned in the nightmare realm by a light fae curse. Only love can break it, but terror feeds me power, and there’s one mortal whose screams I crave.

Princess Briar, my favorite little prey. Once, we were friends. We were almost more. Until my dark cravings scared her away.

When her dreams become traps and she begs me to scare her awake, she stirs my old obsession. I know she’ll run, but I like the chase. With the power she feeds me, I’ll take back what should be mine. Starting with her.

Briar

Every night, my dreams hold me captive and it’s getting worse. I sleep while the light fae overrun my kingdom. Only terror wakes me, and there’s nothing in my nightmares that still scares me.

Nothing but him.

Thrain, Lord of Nightmares, the monster I once trusted. I’m terrified to get close to him again, but fear is just what I need. If I don’t become a plaything in his vicious nightly games, I will sleep forever while my kingdom falls.

————
Beauty’s Dark Dream is a dark fantasy romance with fairy tale vibes, a strong heroine, and a morally gray fae-monster. See author’s website for full CW.

This is the first book in the Curse of the Fallen series. Each book is an interconnected standalone with HEA that follows a different dark fae brother as he seeks true love to break his curse.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance

335 pages, Paperback

Published March 24, 2026

About the author

Kay McClayne is the author of dark romantic fantasies brimming with steam and plot. When she’s not in her woodland cabin writing stories that live rent-free in the minds of her readers, she is probably trying to convince her partners that she needs more fruit trees. (She will not eat all that fruit, they correctly argue. But the deer and the bears will love it.)

A lifelong dreamer, Kay's great loves—the ocean, dragons, and ancient mythology—find their way into her worlds, which she populates with morally gray heroes and heroines who make their own destinies.

Kay shares her home in upstate New York with her polyamorous family, a small flock of dragons (cough, cough, pet chickens), and an unreasonable number of zucchini plants (the fruit trees need company).

Want off the cliff? Join Kay's Dark Dreamers
on Facebook or sign up for her newsletter at https://kaymcclayne.com
to be sure you don't miss the release of book two in the Games of Power series.

Kay is also on Instagram and Threads at https://www.instagram.com/kaymcclayne...

Reviews

[Roxypeanut · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this was my first ever ARC read and a first from Kay McClayne.
This is for anyone who loves dark romantasy, mixed with a sprinkle of fairytale lore, a supernatural dom daddy a self rescuing princess who reclaims her power and a healthy dose of deliciously dark spicy time.

Briar is a princess with a Sleeping Beauty like curse. When she sleeps she travels to the Nightmare realm but she can escape and wake when she’s sufficiently afraid or fearful. Enter Thrain, a dark fae prince who was cursed to be the lord of the Nightmare realm and feeds off the fear of those who end up there in there while they sleep.
Briar’s sleeping curse is taking over more of her life while her father, the ruler of a mortal kingdom tries to marry her to Barron, a light fae lord with a dark agenda of his own.
While under her curse, Briar and Thrain’s interactions evolve from friends to lovers to tormentors and back to lovers while Briar is learning the truth about herself and Thrain is figuring out what will break his own curse and that of his equally cursed brothers.
Everyone gets a happy ending (and a dark and spicy epilogue!) and the end of the book leads into the potential next book in the series that will follow Thrain’s brother Draven and the fate of Briar’s sister Illayda.

I enjoyed the story and am looking forward to see how the future stories build the world out and come together to complete the story of the Fallen brothers curse and how everyone fits together.
It took me about 2 days to read, this would be a great weekend read of if your looking for a shorter book. I read mainly on Kindle and it came in at about 292 pages. I would have loved if it was a little longer if only to have more backstory for Thrain’s background but I’m hoping with the future books featuring each of the brothers, that will fill out their background more.
Overall I give Beauty’s Dark Dream 4 stars and 4.5 spicy peppers. Definitely check your content warning because while the spice is consensual, it has themes that might be triggering for some.

[Danni Drummond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beauty's Dark Dream
Curse of the Fallen Book 1
By Kay McClayne

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶🌶


🖤 Dark romantasy
🥀 Enemies to lovers
🖤 Beauty and the Beast X Sleeping beauty retelling of sorts
🥀 MMC is cursed to be king of nightmares
🖤 FMC has been cursed to sleep
🥀 Forced Proximity
🖤 Political Intrigue
🥀 Curses

This was an amazing book! A very different take on multiple Fairytales with a high dose of spice thanks to the MMC 😉

Briar the FMC falls asleep constantly and into the world of nightmares she goes where our MMC Thrain rules and consumes her fear like its the tastiest treat!
Only all is not what it seems, you see Thrain has been cursed by the light Fae, as have his brothers, his curse? To be the King of nightmares ruler of dreams, only Briar somehow manages to visit every time she falls asleep which shouldn't happen as she is thought to be mortal.

The mortal princess has been f0rced into an arranged engagement to the light fae but Thrain has other plans. She is after all his "little prey" 😍

This shorter read if full of folklore, fae × mortals, friends to Enemies to lovers, spice and so much more!

I absolutely cannot wait for the next book to see what happens next 😍

Beauty's Dark Dream is available now 😘🖤

#fairytaleretelling #darkromantasy #kingofnightmares #bookreview #booktok

[bookishpadawan · Rating 4 out of 5]

🖤Dark fantasy romance
🥀Sleeping beauty + Beauty and the Beast vibes
🖤Fae x human
🥀Forced proximity
🖤Political intrigue
🥀She's a princess who can't wake
🖤He's the monster who haunts her dreams
🥀Shadow daddy who loves t0rture
🖤Obsessed fae-monster MMC
🥀Fear play, blood play, possession
🖤He watches her sleep

♥️♥️Huge thanks to Kay McClayne for including me on her ARC team, it's an honor and privilege to me. All opinions are my own♥️♥️

"I'm a monster, Briar. Don't you want a monster?"

Every time Briar falls asleep, she enters a dream realm ruled by the Lord of Nightmares, Thrain. when she was younger, Briar felt happy going into the realm of dream and meeting Thrain, until Thrain showed his monster form. Years went by and the timespan of Briar's being trapped in her dreams was getting longer and longer while she needed to wake up to deal with real issues in her kingdom, only terrors that woke her immediately. then one day, Briar asks Thrain to help her wake up—to give her terrors.

Briar turns to me and breaks into a huge smile—brighter than the sun, bright enough to shine hope into the darkest corners of my soul. She pressed her hands to my cheeks.
I'm covered in blood and hair, embodying every monstrous thing about me that's always scared her. But she's not afraid or repulsed. She's got fucking tears in her eyes. I can't believe it.
"I thought I'd have to sleep to find you again," she says, breathless.
"I will always find you, my little prey. There's no escaping me." It comes out all deep and rough and scratchy, which hides the emotion making my voice crack as she stretches up to reach my face.
I bend without thinking.
And she plants a kiss on the tip of my bloody snout.

I loved it!😍 I enjoyed this book immensely✨ This book was so fun from beginning to end, a fast paced short story with a surprising plot twist near the end, hard to put down!😱 the characters and the storyline are very good. My complaint with this story is that there are some unanswered questions... I think some parts just need more explanation, and I don't like the second epilogue😢😢but this book leaves you wanting more! this is the first book of interconnected standalones, and hopefully there will be a continuation of this couple's story in the sequel!🤩 I'm also curious about the story of Thrain's brothers, especially Veritos🤩 I can't wait for the next story to see where it leads! definitely a great start to a short series, highly recommended!✨

[Mandy Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kay McClayne’s Beauty’s Dark Dream is a remarkably original entry in the romantasy genre, offering an imaginative storyline that feels fresh and unlike anything I have read before. This dark, addictive read pulls the reader in from the very first page, blending a haunting fairy tale atmosphere with intense romantic tension and high-stakes fae bargains. The narrative centers on Princess Briar, a future queen caught between her father’s dangerous dealings with the Light Fae and her nightly excursions into the Realm of Dreams, ruled by Thrain, the Lord of Nightmares.
​The driving force of this story is the evolution of the relationship between Briar and Thrain. Their chemistry is dangerous, emotional, and perfectly captures a complex "hunter and prey" dynamic that keeps the reader completely invested. A standout moment occurs early in the book when Thrain notes that while he isn't required to participate in a character's torment, he chooses to because they share a "special bond." This dialogue immediately establishes him as a compelling, morally grey lead. Beyond the romance, the story provides a grounded emotional heart through the bond between Briar and her sister, Illayda, which remains a highlight throughout the book.
​As a dark romantasy, the story expertly balances its steamy, explicit content with a plot full of secrets and graphic violence. The author provides a comprehensive list of content warnings on her website, which is a helpful resource given the intense nature of some scenes. This is a strong and satisfying debut for the A Curse of the Fallen series. Each book is an interconnected standalone with a guaranteed HEA that follows a different dark fae brother as he seeks true love to break his curse. While it leaves plenty of room for future installments, it avoids a cliffhanger for the primary couple, making it a passionate and atmospheric read that is impossible to put down.

[Jesse Lemire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who knew fear could be so exhilarating?

"I'd thought I'd have to sleep to find you again."
"I will always find you, my little prey."

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3.5 🌶🌶🌶

Tropes
✅️Beauty and the Beast Retelling
✅️Fae/Humans
✅️Forced Proximity
✅️Arranged Marriage
✅️Political Intrigue
✅️Dark Romance

Triggers
☑️Torture
☑️Death

Kinks
✴️Primal Play
✴️Knife Play
✴️Blood Play
✴️Fear Play
✴️Gang Bang
✴️Marking

*Thank you, Kay McClayne, for letting me join your ARC Team! *

I love a unique Beauty and the Beast story, and what better way to capture the Beast than as the Lord of Nightmares.

Thrain and his dark Fae siblings were cursed by their light Fae siblings, and the only way to break their curses is to find true love. Thrain is trapped in the land of dreams and feeds off the fear of sleeping Fae. One of those unfortunate victims is Briar, a human princess. Neither of them understand why Briar is pulled into the land of dreams, but the pull is getting harder to resist, and so are their feeling for each other.

Beauty's Dark Dream is definitely dark. The land of dreams is not for the weak of heart. Thrain feeds off of Briar's fear like fine wine as he chases her in several monstrous forms and has his way with her once he's caught his prey. Briar also finds release from the fear/thrill that only Thrain can provide.

The problem is that the longer Briar is in the land of dreams, the weaker she becomes in reality. Briar is on the verge of losing her Kingdom, and her only salvation is the very thing she fears the most.

The end also opens the door for Thrain's siblings Draven and Bram to have their own stories. I would personally LOVE to witness Bram's. I'd love a deep dive into the Lord of Death's journey.

[Jenn Winning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beauty and the Beast meets Sleeping Beauty in this unique dark fairytale reimagining.

Thrain and the rest of his dark fae brothers have been cursed by their light fae brothers in an age old battle of power and control. Forced to carry the mantle as the Lord of Nightmares, he feeds on the fears of others.

Briar is a mortal princess who loves the thrill of fear and often finds herself at the mercy of the realm of Nightmares. She’s known Thrain for years, but can she let go of her biggest fear and learn to trust him again in order to save herself and her realm?

The plot was simple, fast paced, and immediately pulls you in to the action. The banter between Thrain and Briar was satisfying enough, as they both pushed themselves to face the circumstances holding them back, yet I just didn’t find it as captivating as I hoped it would be. As this book was just under 300 pages, I also found myself wanting more explanation into certain events that I felt were just skimmed over and we, as readers, were just expected to accept and move on from. I’m no stranger to dark romance, but several things just didn’t make sense, especially the second epilogue. I know it was supposed to showcase the beastly side of Thrain, but it just seemed to negate all the character and relationship growth of the previous chapters.

As the start of a new interconnected standalone series, the ending does set up the next couple nicely. I think it will be that book that will determine whether or not I continue this series.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC read! I might be biased because dark romantasy is my favorite, but I loved this book. It is definitely not a slow burn - the whole book is pretty fast paced. World building and character development was thorough yet concise. I was quickly sucked into Briar and Thrain’s story, enthralled with the characters, and thoroughly entertained by the plot. The ending was satisfying - I’m not a fan of cliffhangers just to keep readers hooked. Still, I’d devour a sequel in a heartbeat! (And, I’ll get to because it’s a series - yay!)

I rate it a three or four out of five peppers for spice, because there’s not much of it - which is fine with me. However, I’d advise readers to heed the trigger warnings. Some of the romance might be a little twisted for the average person, and I realize that’s not everyone’s cup of tea. At first, I thought the specific scenes (especially the blade, IYKYK) seemed unnecessary. Not going to lie, I had to sit and think about why certain actions added depth and importance rather than just being dirty scenes. Would the story be just as good without the twisted bits? Sure, but it would be slightly forgettable.

I don’t remember where I read this was a Beauty and The Beast-like story, but I personally didn’t catch that vibe. Without spoiling, I can see why it would’ve been described that way. I personally disagree, and feel this was something unique in its own way. Looking forward to book two, and the next story!

[Jessica Forbes · Rating 2 out of 5]

First time ARC reader: These opinions are strictly my opinions and you can take them or leave them: for me this book was not a win. The story line was dark, twisted and almost sadistic in away. If you are looking for a new spin to Beauty and the Beast meets Sleeping Beauty then this is your read. Everyone gets a happy ending , in more ways than one.

Please for the love of god read the trigger warnings and note that they are not descriptive enough by any means to portray what takes place in this book.

Briar and Thrains’s relationship is not one built out of love. It is established on a foundation of fear and sexual assault.

The scenes with the blade are very unnatural and unnecessary. It made me actually say out loud to the author(although she couldn’t hear me) Ms Kay who hurt you and are you ok?! To have the dark thoughts to come up with that scene there has to be trauma.

The storyline was predictable and yet there wasn’t enough background on the main characters to establish the history between them or why the characters are the way they are.
I feel this book would have been great as the second in the series.

To the author thank you for choosing me as an ARC reader. While this book was not for me and I almost DNF’d it, I did finish it and it helped me realize what is dark and what is DARK lol.. I wish you the best of luck and please remember I am one opinion in a sea of 5 stars for you.

[Krista Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

He’s fallen for her, but can only see her in her nightmares, and she’s stuck in a cycle where him terrifying her is the only way she wakes up!

This book follows a FMC princess of the human kingdom, who’s become trapped in her nightmares at night and sometimes won’t wake up for days because the only way she can is if she terrified. She’s been stuck like this all her life, but when the MMC she trusted finally showed his true form, she ran and has been running ever since from him in her dreams and he can’t help but want to follow. In her waking world, her kingdom is dying and her people are starving, and there’s almost nothing her father the king can do to save them, as the fae lord he’s paying to help, seems to only make it worse. When she suddenly becomes promised to this wicked lord, she must learn how to wake up from her dreams faster to save her people and fight this tension she cannot deny with the MMC who scares her for more than just his monster!

This was a fun retelling of beauty and the beast, where she ends up liking his beast form just as much, there are multiple curses afoot, an entitled male who thinks he owns our FMC, and of course plenty of tension. I really enjoyed how the FMC is trying to stick up for and help her and people and doing everything she can, even almost killing herself in her dreams, to wake up and help them. The romance between her and the MMC is heart pounding and exciting and they are constantly pushing the edge between different types of fear. Overall the reveals and story kept me invested and my rating 4.3/5!

Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!

[InkedSirenXO · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book feels like a cursed lullaby wrapped in thorns.

From the first page, Beauty’s Dark Dream pulls you into a shadowed castle where fear is currency and desire is a dangerous indulgence. The atmosphere is thick and gothic, almost breathing against your skin. Every corridor feels haunted. Every whisper feels intentional.

The FMC is not your fragile fairytale princess. She’s unraveling, waking only through fear, and watching her slowly piece together her strength was deliciously tense. And the MMC? He is the storm at the window. Cold. Calculated. Obsessive in a way that makes you question your morals just enough to keep turning the page.

“Wake up, little prey…” lives rent free in my head.

The dynamic is dark and predatory, but layered. There’s a push and pull that feels like a dance on broken glass. You know someone is going to bleed… you just don’t know who first.

If you love:
🖤 Dark fairytale vibes
🌹 Gothic castles and cursed kingdoms
🕯 Morally gray, obsessive MMC
🔥 Tension that simmers before it burns

Then this one needs to be on your TBR immediately.

It’s haunting. It’s seductive. It lingers like smoke long after the last page.

[Heather Havey · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I want to say a huge thank you to Kay McClayne for choosing me to be part of her ARC team. This is my first time reviewing a pre-released book, and I’m so grateful it’s with such an amazing author 🧡 These opinions are strictly my own.

The book caught my attention from chapter one, and I was immediately invested in what would happen next. I loved the banter between Briar and Thrain—it added so much personality to the story. It’s a fast-paced read with a great plot twist at the end that I didn’t see coming.

I really enjoyed it, though I was left with a few unanswered questions. I found myself wishing for a bit more background on the two main characters to better understand their history. That said, I loved the alternating POVs and felt really connected to both characters.

The second epilogue felt slightly out of place, although it was good on its own. The book does set up Draven’s story nicely, and I’m looking forward to the next one—especially to see how the worlds come together and hopefully learn more about the Fallen brothers’ curse.

It took me a little over two days to read. Definitely check your trigger warnings before diving in.

[Allie Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can we start with the chapter and POV font and the different illustrations for Briar and Thrain? They set an entire mood all on their own - and they perfectly represent their respective characters. I LOVED this book, and knowing there's another one coming makes me want to scream into the void to get it faster. I haven't read a lot of retellings, but this one is clever and beautifully dark. Y'all better get just as obsessed with this book as I am. Briar and Thrain's relationship was the perfect concoction of twisted, terrifying, and wholesome. Like...Do I want a Thrain? Probably not. I'm a scaredy-cat and would not thrive being frightened out of my mind. However. Chapter 22. CHAPTER 22!!! What in the world did I read?!? You better read this when you're alone in a bed if you know what I mean because WOW. I don't think I could personally experience this, but I was DEFINITELY experiencing it in my brain. We end this story cheering Barron's demise, praying fervently for Illayda, celebrating Briar and Thrain, and spitting agitated fire because now we need to wait for the next book to come out. So. Rude.

[Lucrezia Castello · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect.

But as soon as I got into the first few chapters, it struck me as a mix between *Beauty and the Beast* and *Winter Requiem* by Krisha Skies.

We have Princess Briar, who is not your typical royal: she cares deeply for her sister Illayda and her people, who are suffering from an inexplicable plague. To make matters worse is the pact struck by the King of Rhodes with the Lord of Light, the High Judge Barron: a contract that has brought more destruction than benefit to the King’s original plans for the human world.

The further the story goes, the more you realise that Briar and the Lord of Nightmares have known each other for so long that he is familiar with every one of her fears, and knows how to use them to his advantage. So much so that when the princess needs his help, he is determined to toy with his favourite prey: but he fails to realise that if you play with fire, you’ll only end up getting burnt!

Can't wait to read the sequel, truly🥰

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a solid start to the series. The dark fantasy atmosphere, the curse element, and the emotional tension kept me invested from beginning to end.

What I especially loved is that the series continues with interconnected characters. The next book follows another of the cursed brothers, Draven, along with Briar’s sister, Illayda — and I’m already intrigued. I love when companion novels expand the world instead of simply extending the same couple’s story. It makes the universe feel bigger and more layered.

The cursed brothers dynamic adds depth and long-term potential to the series, and I’m excited to see how their stories unfold.

If you enjoy dark fantasy romance with curses, family ties, and interconnected character arcs, this one is definitely worth picking up

[Katrina De · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a dark romantasy with some trigger warnings, but i hate when I am given the trigger warnings list before I read the book, but please check them before you read it if you require a trigger warning.

For all the other dark fantasy readers out there, I would put it at a medium spice and dark romantasy. Definitely not for those under 18.

it's a loose retelling of I feel several fairy tales together. the MFC and MMC have this love/hate relationship in that she hates him and he is obsessed with her. but she needs him to help her and she doesn't want to depend on him. She needs to save her own kingdom.

There is violence, a few villains and the back stories are pretty decent.

A happily ever after with the beginning of what looks to be a few more books in a series.

a decent length and has a pretty good flow.

[Enelyae Is Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Yeah, that was a good time. Dark, traumatizing, but oh so good. Thrain definitely lives up to the name Dark Fae Monster 🫦! I really liked the take on this retelling. The dream realm, the politics, and the spice! All of it was super fun.

The long game the Light Fae are playing has kept me hooked, and I honestly cannot wait to see how Thrain and his brothers fight back against it in other books. There were definitely a few plot twists in there that I was not expecting, and that made me like the book all the more! But honestly, my favourite thing about the book was Thrain 😉 and then how much Briar kicked ass and grew. She faced a part of herself that she had avoided for years, and I am so proud of her for that!!

Thank you, Kay, for the opportunity to enjoy Thrain and Briar, and I cannot wait for the next book!!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beauty’s Dark Dream is such an original storyline that I truly enjoyed, and it is unlike anything I have read before. It is an imaginative dark romantasy book with fairy tale vibes. For years human Briar keeps traveling to the dream world where Thrain resides as Lord of Nighmares. It gets harder and harder for her to wake up.
My favorite quote is definitely one dark fae Thrain made early in the book, “He didn’t have to participate in cursing me, but he did. I don’t have to torture him almost every night, but I do. We have a special bond.” I realized right then that I really liked this character!
This is a wonderful first book of the A Curse of the Fallen series. There is no cliffhanger for the main characters. I can not wait to see what happens in the next book!

[Tysha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really enjoyable dark and spicy romantasy.

Briar is a princess of Rhodes, a mortal realm, and set to be its future queen. Unfortunately her father, and current king, has entered into bargains with Barron, a light Fae lord with his own agenda.

Briar spends most of her time asleep, caught in the Realm of Dreams, ruled by Thrain, Lord of Nightmares. It was these scenes of Briar and Thrain together that kept me hooked to this story, they had an interesting relationship of prey and hunter which evolved over time. I also loved the relationship between Briar and her sister Illayda, would be more than happy to read more from either sister's point of view in the future.

As a dark romantasy, there is graphic violence, explicit content, and some scenes that could be triggering for some readers. The author does have a list of content warnings of their website.

I received an ARC of this ebook from the author, and I'm voluntarily leaving this review.

[De Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was utterly delicious and one of the most unique stories I have read. It’s dark and twisted and spicy and hauntingly addictive. I was in its grasp from the first line until long after I put the book down. Briar and Thrain are completely insane together. I loved it so much. The connection and chemistry between them can be felt coming off the page. It’s dangerous and dark, and I absolutely adored watching it grow and develop. Thrain is the definition of morally grey. And that can definitely be seen in his relationship with Briar. The author gave us an amazing balance between plot and spice, creating a compelling story that kept me invested from start to finish. I will be reading more in this series.

[Heather Bolin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly wow from the first page. You get drawn into this story from the first word. This is a very, very dark story about a princess that always runs from her problems. This is very spicy and you need to check trigger warnings before you start. This shows the journey of Briar and Thrain, one mortal, the other dark fae. They have to come to terms with one another to maybe break a curse and save a kingdom at the same time. I loved every minute of this story. This is the complete story for them, but you get so immersed in this world that now you want to know what happens to the side characters. You can in the next book Captive of the Currents. I can't wait for this.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for this ARC opportunity in exchange for my honest review.

From the very beginning of this book, I loved it, it kept me interested and wanting to know more. Think dark fairytale Vibes with some spice added in. I can not wait to see how the next books unfold in this standalone series.

Briar our FMC is a mortal who is cursed with sleep and trying to help her kingdom but can only wake with fear. Add in Thrain our MMC who is cursed to rule the dream world and his one kryptonite is Briar his “Little Prey”. If you like Fae, curses and spicy dark fantasy books this is a book you need to add to you TBR.

[Kristie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always a huge shout-out to the Author for allowing me to ARC read!

I went into this very intrigued with concept of a sort of Sleeping Beauty but with a Beauty and the Beast mash up.

Was this a 5 star read? No, but the concept was there and I feel like if we would've stretched it out into a 4-500 page novel it would've been. However, it's condensed into just under 300 pages so there's a lot of plot holes that weren't quite filled.

It's fast paced and keeps you entertained from the first page. I devoured it in just over a day between working and the kids. If you want a short but spicy read I definitely recommend it. It's entertaining and I'll definitely be reading the entire series.

[Keely Urquhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

**** ARC REVIEW ****

Beauty’s Dark Dream is a dark, addictive read that pulls you in from the very first page. Kay McClayne creates a gripping story filled with tension, secrets, and intense chemistry between the characters.

The dark atmosphere and morally grey characters make the story impossible to put down, while the romance is passionate, dangerous, and full of emotion. The spice is perfectly balanced with the plot, making the story just as intriguing as it is steamy.

If you love dark romance with powerful characters and plenty of tension, this book is definitely worth the read.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has the vibes of Sleeping Beauty mixed with Beauty and the Beast but make it dark and twisted with fae. As dark as this story was with some elements there was still a version of happily ever after that every fairytale has. I also really like the idea that the books to follow will be the Fallen brothers and the breaking of the curse. Briar’s character starts off seemingly weak and not knowing how to solve the numerous problems that plague her life, one of which is staying awake and out of the Nightmare realm, and you get to watch how she finds strength and fire through her adversity and Thrain’s support for her. It seems some monsters really can be loved.

[kayleighsBookCorner · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up

I absolutely devoured this book! It was dark, twisted, and deliciously spicy. It was just pure perfection!

The pacing was quick and engaging, with a strong plot and immersive world-building that pulled me in from the start. The chemistry between the main characters was incredible, and I loved the tension and growth throughout their journey. The banter between Thrain and his brothers had me laughing more than once.

This is the first book in a series of interconnected standalones, and I’m already counting down the days for book two!

Definitely check out the trigger warnings before diving in if you have any.

[Sabrina Leonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book. We dove straight into a world of fae (light and dark) and mortal realms. The dark fae royalty were cursed and are trapped in their own realms until they are able to find a way to break their curse. For Thrain, it’s true love but fae curses and bargains are tricky.
This book is filled with politics, family drama, curses, magic and monsters not thinking they deserve love. Watching Briar realize who she is and finding her inner voice is refreshing and gives us all a bit of hope.
Looking forward to reading the next book

[Madison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this but I struggled massively with the characters and the storyline.

There were a few characters mentioned quite frequently and I had no idea of their relevance, it wasn’t explained very well. I feel like I needed more of a backstory to the characters and the world itself, some parts got very confusing. A lot of moments that felt relevant were just glossed over and left.

Something else I found annoying was getting a scene happen from one POV and then the next chapter would start with the exact same scene but from the other characters POV. It was irritating and I found myself skipping a lot.

I was not a fan of the second epilogue. For me, it ruined the characters growth and relationship completely.

Thank you for the ARC.

[Tara Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book. My niche for books are “retellings” and fae lore and this did it for me! I loved the characters and the different perspective they brought to each other and the book as a whole. I enjoyed how it was comforting but also kept me on the edge of my seat. I had the honor of being an ARC reading with one of my good friends and to be able to see this before others and still share in the giddiness it brought was just perfection. Thrain is a mess but I love him anyways! I’m so excited to see what comes next for those brothers of his. 🤭😍

[Leihla Scharlau · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars – Dark Romantasy Perfection!Kay McClayne's Beauty's Dark Dream hooked me instantly with heart-pounding romance between Briar and Thrain—obsessive tension and fear play that kept me riveted. Briar shines as a fierce FMC, risking it all to save her kingdom amid gothic nightmare vibes.There was a surprise about why she slept so much, plus a twist about her heritage that amps the stakes thrillingly. That very dark knife scene fits perfectly, making it unforgettable. Loved it—need book 2 now! Add to TBR!

[Laura Kordowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Hauntingly beautiful story. Kay McClayne knows how to put a modern twist on the classic fairytale. The Cover art is elegantly designed for table art but don't be fooled because the book is spicy. The chapters leave you wanting more and Beauty's Dark Dream (Curse of the Fallen Book 1) is well-written and edgy. There are darker elements of romance in the novel that makes love look irresistible. Exciting, breathtaking and hot off the shelf. If your craving a dark romance, this is the read for you!