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Thorn of a Curse
EVERY CURSE HAS ITS CONDITIONS
Cursed to appear as a monster when any gaze touches him, Beast avoids human interaction, hating the enchanted thorns piercing his skin with each glance. But when a Sandceress nearly cursed his friends, he faces his own fears… and his own curse. Beast reluctantly enters the Tales of Time bookshop, rumored to have enchanted texts. Inside, he finds a woman with wit as sharp as her tongue and enchanted glasses that see through his curse, to see…him. But Beast can’t risk breaking his curse—its conditions are too steep, he won’t let the magic hurt anyone else.
EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORNS.
Rose’s entire life has revolved around caring for her father and researching magic. She never thought she’d meet a cursed man who sought how to break a curse—just not his own. While helping him, she learns the curse he’s seeking answers for is the very same that tore apart her family. But this curse…it doesn’t follow the rules of magic.
EVERY HEART HAS ITS SCARS.
With townsfolk who despises all things magic, tensions rise and danger lurks around them. Beast tries to resist Rose, and her touch, for her protection, but being truly seen reminds him what it feels like to be himself. Not the beast. The man. Desire burns between them as Rose continues to investigate his curse—and past—despite his insistence, convinced it’s the key to solving their mystery curse. Together they must dive into the history of magic—Vala, Fae, and Mermaid—to uncover dangerous secrets not only about each other, but about magic itself.
Cursed to appear as a monster when any gaze touches him, Beast avoids human interaction, hating the enchanted thorns piercing his skin with each glance. But when a Sandceress nearly cursed his friends, he faces his own fears… and his own curse. Beast reluctantly enters the Tales of Time bookshop, rumored to have enchanted texts. Inside, he finds a woman with wit as sharp as her tongue and enchanted glasses that see through his curse, to see…him. But Beast can’t risk breaking his curse—its conditions are too steep, he won’t let the magic hurt anyone else.
EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORNS.
Rose’s entire life has revolved around caring for her father and researching magic. She never thought she’d meet a cursed man who sought how to break a curse—just not his own. While helping him, she learns the curse he’s seeking answers for is the very same that tore apart her family. But this curse…it doesn’t follow the rules of magic.
EVERY HEART HAS ITS SCARS.
With townsfolk who despises all things magic, tensions rise and danger lurks around them. Beast tries to resist Rose, and her touch, for her protection, but being truly seen reminds him what it feels like to be himself. Not the beast. The man. Desire burns between them as Rose continues to investigate his curse—and past—despite his insistence, convinced it’s the key to solving their mystery curse. Together they must dive into the history of magic—Vala, Fae, and Mermaid—to uncover dangerous secrets not only about each other, but about magic itself.
545 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 16, 2026
About the author
Sylvia Lockard
2 books27 followersStories are Sylvia’s lifeblood—whether originating from a book, movie, or video game—and she’s always been drawn to writing her own. Books have always felt like they held their own kind of magic bound within pages, and that called her away from her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology to follow her true passion. Heart of a Forest is Sylvia’s debut romantasy novel, the first in her A Pure Heart series.
Despite living in Florida, her favorite season is fall (spooky time!) and she loves staying inside curled up with a good book—while getting side-eyed by her sassy cat. When not writing fantasy adventures with swords and sorcery and morally grey characters, she can be found watching TV with her boyfriend and their four dogs. (She also has two lizards, a menace of a kitten, and a fish that would want an honorable mention, please). She dreams of one day writing full-time and for the rest of her life.
Despite living in Florida, her favorite season is fall (spooky time!) and she loves staying inside curled up with a good book—while getting side-eyed by her sassy cat. When not writing fantasy adventures with swords and sorcery and morally grey characters, she can be found watching TV with her boyfriend and their four dogs. (She also has two lizards, a menace of a kitten, and a fish that would want an honorable mention, please). She dreams of one day writing full-time and for the rest of her life.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 18, 2026
10/10 i got to beta read this back in December and since then changes have been made, (idk how it can get better hehe) But will update my review once i reread the arc! 💅🏼🫶🏼
July 10, 2026
*Review of advance copy received from author*
I finished my read last night and I instantly wanted to pick it back up and read it again! The retelling was beautifully done! This book ate and left no crumbs! Also can we just take a minute for the beautiful men in both books! (chefs kiss) 🤌🏼 I can’t wait to see what come next!
*thank you to the author for the arc*
I finished my read last night and I instantly wanted to pick it back up and read it again! The retelling was beautifully done! This book ate and left no crumbs! Also can we just take a minute for the beautiful men in both books! (chefs kiss) 🤌🏼 I can’t wait to see what come next!
*thank you to the author for the arc*
August 10, 2026
This sequel is just as good as the first one! I’m so impressed by how she was able to have a unique take on fairytales while also connecting the entire cast of characters! The way she has essentially layered all of stories to create one big immersive world is nothing short of impressive.
4 1/2 💜’s.
4 1/2 💜’s.
July 13, 2026
This is such a good retelling! I devoured this story up!
𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝒊𝒇 𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒓? 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓? 𝑷𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔. 𝑶𝒏. 𝑻𝒉𝒆. 𝑭𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒓.
I loved the way the different characters are intertwined in the story. While each character has pieces that tie to the 'retelling' part, I thoroughly enjoyed the way this story was unique to its own.
Rose is a great character whose inquisitive and kind. I love how Rose learned information but didn't always bring it forth to respect peoples feelings and boundaries. If you love found family like me... the entire band worked so well together on their tasks and took protecting each other seriously.
Beast and Rose, love! The romance in this story was 🤌🥵 Just wait until the gazebo scene, that's all I'm gonna say. I really love them together.
I would definitely be interested in seeing how this story progresses with the next book.
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
🥀 Beauty & the Beast retelling
💀 He’s cursed
🖤 Morally grey MMC
📚 Nerdy FMC
🔐 Secret pasts
👑 Dominant FMC
💔 Touch-starved MMC
𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝒊𝒇 𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒓? 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓? 𝑷𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔. 𝑶𝒏. 𝑻𝒉𝒆. 𝑭𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒓.
I loved the way the different characters are intertwined in the story. While each character has pieces that tie to the 'retelling' part, I thoroughly enjoyed the way this story was unique to its own.
Rose is a great character whose inquisitive and kind. I love how Rose learned information but didn't always bring it forth to respect peoples feelings and boundaries. If you love found family like me... the entire band worked so well together on their tasks and took protecting each other seriously.
Beast and Rose, love! The romance in this story was 🤌🥵 Just wait until the gazebo scene, that's all I'm gonna say. I really love them together.
I would definitely be interested in seeing how this story progresses with the next book.
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
🥀 Beauty & the Beast retelling
💀 He’s cursed
🖤 Morally grey MMC
📚 Nerdy FMC
🔐 Secret pasts
👑 Dominant FMC
💔 Touch-starved MMC
July 16, 2026
Thorn of a Curse is a beautifully written retelling of Beauty of the Beast with multiple interconnecting story lines. This book is book 2 in the Pure Heart Series and picks up exactly where Heart of a Forest ends. The characters from the first book continue to develop wonderfully in book 2. I greatly enjoyed seeing the relationships blossom between Loxley and other main characters and then exploring additional members of his band of men. The interconnecting stories make for such an exciting story. I am so thankful I was able to be part of the ARC reading team for Sylvia Lockhard and Nook and Fable Media. I love this story and the tension between Rose and Beast is *chef's kiss.* My only hope is that the side character storylines continue to expand and develop in book 3!
Review of advance copy received from Author
5 Stars — This Book Ripped My Heart Out and Stitched It Back Together with Thorns
CW: See my full review for detailed content notes on physical pain, body horror, family trauma, and imprisonment.
TBR-pilled. Soul-destroyed. Emotionally feral. Send help.
I went into Thorn of a Curse expecting a Beauty & the Beast retelling. What I got was a masterclass in yearning as a weapon and the most devastating take on “cursed MMC” I’ve read in years. Sylvia Lockard didn’t just retell a fairy tale — she gutted it, bled it out, and rebuilt it into something that feels like it was written for the parts of me that love pain.
The Premise:
Beast is cursed. Not to be ugly. Not to be a literal monster. He’s cursed to physically suffer every time someone looks at him. Glances = thorns piercing his skin. Sustained eye contact = agony. Touch = catastrophic. So he hides. He isolates. He chooses to be the beast because it’s safer than being human.
Rose is a bookshop owner with enchanted glasses that let her see magic — and more importantly, truth. She doesn’t see a monster. She sees a man in pain. And she is fascinated. Not in a savior way. In a “I need to understand every broken piece of you” way.
The curse is tied to her family. Breaking it could destroy everything. But fate keeps throwing them together, and desire becomes literal torture.
What Worked For Me:
1. The Curse Mechanics = GENIUS
This isn’t just “he’s broody and cursed.” The curse is active. It’s visceral. Every scene where they’re in the same room has stakes. Lockard makes you feel the thorns. When he flinches from her gaze, you flinch. When he begs her not to look, you understand why. It’s the most creative curse system I’ve read since A Court of Thorns and Roses made me obsessed with Fae bargains.
2. Rose is the FMC I’ve Been Waiting For
Nerdy, bespectacled, owns a bookshop, and she’s not here to “fix” him with love. She’s here because she’s intellectually and emotionally obsessed. She documents his curse like a scholar. She challenges him. She fears him and wants him in equal measure. Her glasses as a magical item? Chef’s kiss. She literally sees what others can’t. The scene where she takes them off for the first time destroyed me.
3. Slow Burn That Actually Burns
This is not a 40% spice book. This is 90% tension. Because they literally cannot touch. Cannot look. Every inch of proximity is earned through pain and trust. When they finally… you know… it’s not just sexy. It’s relief. It’s catharsis. I was gripping my Kindle like it was holy scripture.
4. The World of Vala
Fae politics, mermaid factions, a town that outlaws magic, and enchanted texts that fight back. It’s rich without being info-dumpy. The family secrets plot with Rose’s bloodline had me gasping. The stakes aren’t just romantic — they’re political, magical, and generational.
5. Prose That Cuts
Lockard’s writing is lyrical but never purple. Lines like “Being truly seen reminds him what it feels like to be himself. Not the beast. The man.” live in my head rent-free. The dialogue is sharp. The internal monologue is devastating. I highlighted half the book.
Minor Quibbles:
The mid-book pacing slows a bit during the research sequences, but honestly? I was so invested in the curse mechanics that I didn’t care. And I need Book 2 yesterday because that ending? CRIMINAL.
Read This If You Love:
• Cursed MMCs with “if you look at me I’ll bleed” energy
• Nerdy, bespectacled FMCs who are braver than knights
• Slow burn where eye contact is foreplay
• Beauty & the Beast retellings that go feral
• Magic systems with physical consequences
• “Who hurt you?” → “Everyone. And I’d do it again.”
• Uprooted by Naomi Novik, ACOTAR, or One Dark Window vibes
Content Notes: Physical pain/gore from curse, emotional manipulation, family betrayal, imprisonment, mentions of past trauma. Fade-to-black to low-mid spice with intense tension.
Final Verdict:
Thorn of a Curse took the “Beauty & the Beast” skeleton and grafted thorns onto its bones. It’s about what it costs to be truly seen, and whether love is worth bleeding for. I finished this at 2am and stared at my ceiling for an hour.
Sylvia Lockard, I need the next book in A Pure Heart Series before this curse consumes me too.
CW: See my full review for detailed content notes on physical pain, body horror, family trauma, and imprisonment.
TBR-pilled. Soul-destroyed. Emotionally feral. Send help.
I went into Thorn of a Curse expecting a Beauty & the Beast retelling. What I got was a masterclass in yearning as a weapon and the most devastating take on “cursed MMC” I’ve read in years. Sylvia Lockard didn’t just retell a fairy tale — she gutted it, bled it out, and rebuilt it into something that feels like it was written for the parts of me that love pain.
The Premise:
Beast is cursed. Not to be ugly. Not to be a literal monster. He’s cursed to physically suffer every time someone looks at him. Glances = thorns piercing his skin. Sustained eye contact = agony. Touch = catastrophic. So he hides. He isolates. He chooses to be the beast because it’s safer than being human.
Rose is a bookshop owner with enchanted glasses that let her see magic — and more importantly, truth. She doesn’t see a monster. She sees a man in pain. And she is fascinated. Not in a savior way. In a “I need to understand every broken piece of you” way.
The curse is tied to her family. Breaking it could destroy everything. But fate keeps throwing them together, and desire becomes literal torture.
What Worked For Me:
1. The Curse Mechanics = GENIUS
This isn’t just “he’s broody and cursed.” The curse is active. It’s visceral. Every scene where they’re in the same room has stakes. Lockard makes you feel the thorns. When he flinches from her gaze, you flinch. When he begs her not to look, you understand why. It’s the most creative curse system I’ve read since A Court of Thorns and Roses made me obsessed with Fae bargains.
2. Rose is the FMC I’ve Been Waiting For
Nerdy, bespectacled, owns a bookshop, and she’s not here to “fix” him with love. She’s here because she’s intellectually and emotionally obsessed. She documents his curse like a scholar. She challenges him. She fears him and wants him in equal measure. Her glasses as a magical item? Chef’s kiss. She literally sees what others can’t. The scene where she takes them off for the first time destroyed me.
3. Slow Burn That Actually Burns
This is not a 40% spice book. This is 90% tension. Because they literally cannot touch. Cannot look. Every inch of proximity is earned through pain and trust. When they finally… you know… it’s not just sexy. It’s relief. It’s catharsis. I was gripping my Kindle like it was holy scripture.
4. The World of Vala
Fae politics, mermaid factions, a town that outlaws magic, and enchanted texts that fight back. It’s rich without being info-dumpy. The family secrets plot with Rose’s bloodline had me gasping. The stakes aren’t just romantic — they’re political, magical, and generational.
5. Prose That Cuts
Lockard’s writing is lyrical but never purple. Lines like “Being truly seen reminds him what it feels like to be himself. Not the beast. The man.” live in my head rent-free. The dialogue is sharp. The internal monologue is devastating. I highlighted half the book.
Minor Quibbles:
The mid-book pacing slows a bit during the research sequences, but honestly? I was so invested in the curse mechanics that I didn’t care. And I need Book 2 yesterday because that ending? CRIMINAL.
Read This If You Love:
• Cursed MMCs with “if you look at me I’ll bleed” energy
• Nerdy, bespectacled FMCs who are braver than knights
• Slow burn where eye contact is foreplay
• Beauty & the Beast retellings that go feral
• Magic systems with physical consequences
• “Who hurt you?” → “Everyone. And I’d do it again.”
• Uprooted by Naomi Novik, ACOTAR, or One Dark Window vibes
Content Notes: Physical pain/gore from curse, emotional manipulation, family betrayal, imprisonment, mentions of past trauma. Fade-to-black to low-mid spice with intense tension.
Final Verdict:
Thorn of a Curse took the “Beauty & the Beast” skeleton and grafted thorns onto its bones. It’s about what it costs to be truly seen, and whether love is worth bleeding for. I finished this at 2am and stared at my ceiling for an hour.
Sylvia Lockard, I need the next book in A Pure Heart Series before this curse consumes me too.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I truly wish I could give more than 5 stars because this book is one for the ages.
I use to tell people that Beauty and the beast was my favorite story but Thorn of a Curse is even better.
The writing is out of this world and you immediately fall in love. This book is filled with magic, curses, potions, and enchantments that make every page better than the next. The character development is incredible, and every moment pulls you deeper into the story. It is the kind of book that keeps you up long after bedtime because you simply cannot put it down.
Rose is such a strong fmc and her mouth if you know you know. She has this wonderful way of loving hard while still staying completely true to herself. She sees Beast for who he really is, not just what everyone else thinks he is. Rose is the kind of character you cannot help but fall in love with.
Beast aka Cam, is loyal in the most beautiful, heart melting way. His curse adds a little edge, but his protective nature makes him even more irresistible. And those beautiful blue eyes? Absolutely unforgettable. Beneath it all, his true self is what really stole my heart. The relationship with Rose is legendary and it makes their connection feel tender, intimate, and completely swoon worthy.
I could read this over and over and still love it. The author cleverly hides little hints to different fairytales throughout, making it so fun to discover them all. It is the kind of book that stays with you long after you finish it.
If you love fairytale retellings, this is an absolute must read. It is enchanting, heartfelt, and unforgettable from beginning to end.
I use to tell people that Beauty and the beast was my favorite story but Thorn of a Curse is even better.
The writing is out of this world and you immediately fall in love. This book is filled with magic, curses, potions, and enchantments that make every page better than the next. The character development is incredible, and every moment pulls you deeper into the story. It is the kind of book that keeps you up long after bedtime because you simply cannot put it down.
Rose is such a strong fmc and her mouth if you know you know. She has this wonderful way of loving hard while still staying completely true to herself. She sees Beast for who he really is, not just what everyone else thinks he is. Rose is the kind of character you cannot help but fall in love with.
Beast aka Cam, is loyal in the most beautiful, heart melting way. His curse adds a little edge, but his protective nature makes him even more irresistible. And those beautiful blue eyes? Absolutely unforgettable. Beneath it all, his true self is what really stole my heart. The relationship with Rose is legendary and it makes their connection feel tender, intimate, and completely swoon worthy.
I could read this over and over and still love it. The author cleverly hides little hints to different fairytales throughout, making it so fun to discover them all. It is the kind of book that stays with you long after you finish it.
If you love fairytale retellings, this is an absolute must read. It is enchanting, heartfelt, and unforgettable from beginning to end.
Review of advance copy received from Author
As someone who loves Beauty and the Beast retellings, Thorn of a Curse was exactly what I was hoping for.
I really enjoyed the way Sylvia Lockard put her own spin on the classic story while still keeping the elements that make the retelling so compelling. Beast is cursed to appear as a monster to everyone around him, and Rose is determined to break a curse that turns out to be much bigger than either of them expected. Their journey is filled with magic, mystery, and plenty of emotional tension.
This is the kind of retelling I love. It honors the original fairy tale but isn't afraid to make it its own. It struck the perfect balance between familiar and original.
If you enjoy Beauty and the Beast retellings, morally grey MMCs, fantasy romance, and stories filled with magic, curses, and hidden secrets, I definitely recommend giving this one a try. It delivered everything I look for in a fairy tale retelling and is one I'll definitely be recommending to fellow fantasy romance readers.
Thank you Sylvia Lockard for my gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed the way Sylvia Lockard put her own spin on the classic story while still keeping the elements that make the retelling so compelling. Beast is cursed to appear as a monster to everyone around him, and Rose is determined to break a curse that turns out to be much bigger than either of them expected. Their journey is filled with magic, mystery, and plenty of emotional tension.
This is the kind of retelling I love. It honors the original fairy tale but isn't afraid to make it its own. It struck the perfect balance between familiar and original.
If you enjoy Beauty and the Beast retellings, morally grey MMCs, fantasy romance, and stories filled with magic, curses, and hidden secrets, I definitely recommend giving this one a try. It delivered everything I look for in a fairy tale retelling and is one I'll definitely be recommending to fellow fantasy romance readers.
Thank you Sylvia Lockard for my gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 16, 2026
Thorn of a Curse is so vibrant. I was constantly in awe of the details and really enjoyed finding the connections, both from fairy tales and within the A Pure Heart series.
I'm glad I reread Heart of a Forest directly beforehand, because it made book 2 that much more rewarding.
Rose and Beast's give and take was fire. They're so sweet, so savvy, and so satisfying as a couple.
The book is so much more than their story, though. It balances this romance with a full cast of characters, an evolving plot, and the fun of reimagining well loved fairytales.
So far, both books are once in a lifetime books for me. They're books I would love to read for the first time again and will keep reading (shout-out to reading the first book 3 times). I can't wait to see what happens in book 3.
If you enjoy the aha moment of making connections, ACOTAR, ONCE, and passionate love stories, check this series out.
I'm glad I reread Heart of a Forest directly beforehand, because it made book 2 that much more rewarding.
Rose and Beast's give and take was fire. They're so sweet, so savvy, and so satisfying as a couple.
The book is so much more than their story, though. It balances this romance with a full cast of characters, an evolving plot, and the fun of reimagining well loved fairytales.
So far, both books are once in a lifetime books for me. They're books I would love to read for the first time again and will keep reading (shout-out to reading the first book 3 times). I can't wait to see what happens in book 3.
If you enjoy the aha moment of making connections, ACOTAR, ONCE, and passionate love stories, check this series out.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved, loved, loved this story. The world building that begins in book one continues here with so many great characters and fairytale Easter eggs. I'm obsessed with the strong female characters and the men who support them. Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairytale and this retelling did not disappoint. The twists were great and I didn't see many of them coming. I'm on the edge of my seat and can't wait for the next book to come out. The characters each got a lot of development in this story while also introducing new characters. It had been awhile since I read book one, but the author did a great job of bringing me back into the story where I didn't feel like I had forgotten too much.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you Sylvia Lockard for allowing me to be apart of your ARC team and for letting me read and review the second in your Pure Heart Series- Thorn of a Curse.
As much as I loved the first in the series, the second book was even better. It had the same fairytale/Disney characters we all love and added to them with more of our favourites, with hints of the Descendents and Once a upon a Time. It also had more character development for more of the characters as well.
Fans of Disney, Fairytales, The Descendants & Once Upon A Time absolutely need to read this series, I can't wait for more books to come.
As much as I loved the first in the series, the second book was even better. It had the same fairytale/Disney characters we all love and added to them with more of our favourites, with hints of the Descendents and Once a upon a Time. It also had more character development for more of the characters as well.
Fans of Disney, Fairytales, The Descendants & Once Upon A Time absolutely need to read this series, I can't wait for more books to come.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Great characters, plot, and twists. The story led in several paths leaving me guessing at every turn. I enjoyed the new characters introduced in this story and getting better acquainted with characters that feel like old friends, such as Beast, Zella, Loxley and “Red”. Several fairytale Easter eggs left me feeling a bit nostalgic despite the story seeming brand new. I loved this book and can’t wait for book 3!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The slow-burn romance, unique magic system, and emotional depth made it impossible to put down. Rose and Beast stole my heart, and the mystery kept me turning pages until the very end. I can’t wait for the next book! 🖤📚
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews