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Bittersweet & Strange
Boone Rosier has spent his life taking care of his father. So when saving him comes with an impossible price, there is no choice to make.
He will pay it.
Hidden high in the mountains is a castle the villagers have whispered about for years. A place no one dares approach. Inside lives the man their stories turned into a beast.
Rhys is cold, controlling, and cruel.
When Boone offers himself in exchange for his father’s freedom, Rhys accepts. And once Boone belongs to him, he has no intention of ever giving him back.
Boone expects locked doors. He expects cruelty. What he doesn’t expect is how quickly Rhys proves himself capable of both.
Rhys takes what Boone never offers. He punishes resistance. He makes it clear that Boone’s freedom is no longer his own.
Boone hates him.
He should always hate him. But hatred becomes harder to hold onto when Rhys becomes more than the monster Boone believed him to be. He is still cruel. Still possessive. Still dangerously obsessed with keeping Boone.
He is also the man Boone begins reaching for when everything falls apart.
Then Rhys does the one thing Boone never believed possible.
He lets him go.
Boone finally has his freedom. But when the life waiting for him outside the castle begins to unravel, he finds himself turning toward the last person he should ever trust.
The beast.
And this time, Boone walks back into the castle knowing exactly what waits inside.
Escaping the beast was difficult. The real danger is discovering Boone might not want to anymore.
Bittersweet & Strange is a dark MM Beauty and the Beast retelling featuring a morally black love interest, captivity, obsession, coercion, non-consensual content, and other potentially disturbing themes. Intended for readers 18+. Please review the full content warnings before reading.
He will pay it.
Hidden high in the mountains is a castle the villagers have whispered about for years. A place no one dares approach. Inside lives the man their stories turned into a beast.
Rhys is cold, controlling, and cruel.
When Boone offers himself in exchange for his father’s freedom, Rhys accepts. And once Boone belongs to him, he has no intention of ever giving him back.
Boone expects locked doors. He expects cruelty. What he doesn’t expect is how quickly Rhys proves himself capable of both.
Rhys takes what Boone never offers. He punishes resistance. He makes it clear that Boone’s freedom is no longer his own.
Boone hates him.
He should always hate him. But hatred becomes harder to hold onto when Rhys becomes more than the monster Boone believed him to be. He is still cruel. Still possessive. Still dangerously obsessed with keeping Boone.
He is also the man Boone begins reaching for when everything falls apart.
Then Rhys does the one thing Boone never believed possible.
He lets him go.
Boone finally has his freedom. But when the life waiting for him outside the castle begins to unravel, he finds himself turning toward the last person he should ever trust.
The beast.
And this time, Boone walks back into the castle knowing exactly what waits inside.
Escaping the beast was difficult. The real danger is discovering Boone might not want to anymore.
Bittersweet & Strange is a dark MM Beauty and the Beast retelling featuring a morally black love interest, captivity, obsession, coercion, non-consensual content, and other potentially disturbing themes. Intended for readers 18+. Please review the full content warnings before reading.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 15, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 21, 2026
I absolutely loved this MM retelling of Beauty and the Beast! And I really enjoyed both MCs for different reasons.
Let's start with Rhys because that man was a whole handful. He was cranky, controlling, and very much used to having things his way. But what I loved about him was his character development. He didn't suddenly become this completely different person just because he fell in love. He was still Rhys, attitude and all. However, he was able to recognize some of his own shortcomings, reflect on them, and actually make the necessary changes, though not by much. And I appreciated that because growth doesn't always mean changing who you are. Sometimes it simply means learning that the world doesn't revolve around you and that other people's feelings and needs matter too.
Now, Boone, I loved his gentle spirit. He was kind, patient, and understanding, but don't get it twisted, Boone was no pushover. He knew how to stand his ground, but he also had enough wisdom to know when something was worth addressing and when it was better to pick his battles. And I think that's what made him such a great match for Rhys. He wasn't trying to change the man, but he also wasn't about to let Rhys run all over him either. Which, let's face it. Ultimately, that is what happened.
What I appreciated most about these two was how human they were. Neither one was without flaws, and they definitely had their moments. But that's the thing about relationships, isn't it? You're dealing with two imperfect people who have to figure out how to love and care for each other in spite of those imperfections. And I loved that they gave each other room to do just that. They weren't always going to get it right, but there was a willingness to understand one another, and I think that made their relationship feel that much more genuine.
And then there's Lucien. Chile, I don't have a single kind thing to say about that man. Just eww. Every time he came around, I was irritated. But I suppose that's the point of a well written villain. You're not necessarily supposed to like them, and he certainly made sure I didn't. Now, while I was able to make my own assumptions about how things ended for Lucien, I really would have appreciated knowing exactly what happened to his raggedy ass. Lol. Because after all that foolishness, I needed a little more closure where he was concerned. Don't leave me over here having to fill in the blanks! I wanted to know exactly how things played out for him.
If you enjoy well known fairy tales but for adults, this one is a must read.
Let's start with Rhys because that man was a whole handful. He was cranky, controlling, and very much used to having things his way. But what I loved about him was his character development. He didn't suddenly become this completely different person just because he fell in love. He was still Rhys, attitude and all. However, he was able to recognize some of his own shortcomings, reflect on them, and actually make the necessary changes, though not by much. And I appreciated that because growth doesn't always mean changing who you are. Sometimes it simply means learning that the world doesn't revolve around you and that other people's feelings and needs matter too.
Now, Boone, I loved his gentle spirit. He was kind, patient, and understanding, but don't get it twisted, Boone was no pushover. He knew how to stand his ground, but he also had enough wisdom to know when something was worth addressing and when it was better to pick his battles. And I think that's what made him such a great match for Rhys. He wasn't trying to change the man, but he also wasn't about to let Rhys run all over him either. Which, let's face it. Ultimately, that is what happened.
What I appreciated most about these two was how human they were. Neither one was without flaws, and they definitely had their moments. But that's the thing about relationships, isn't it? You're dealing with two imperfect people who have to figure out how to love and care for each other in spite of those imperfections. And I loved that they gave each other room to do just that. They weren't always going to get it right, but there was a willingness to understand one another, and I think that made their relationship feel that much more genuine.
And then there's Lucien. Chile, I don't have a single kind thing to say about that man. Just eww. Every time he came around, I was irritated. But I suppose that's the point of a well written villain. You're not necessarily supposed to like them, and he certainly made sure I didn't. Now, while I was able to make my own assumptions about how things ended for Lucien, I really would have appreciated knowing exactly what happened to his raggedy ass. Lol. Because after all that foolishness, I needed a little more closure where he was concerned. Don't leave me over here having to fill in the blanks! I wanted to know exactly how things played out for him.
If you enjoy well known fairy tales but for adults, this one is a must read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I recieved this book as an ARC copie from the Author.
And honestely?
It is the perfect Dark Romance version of Beauty And the Beast!!
The Beast.. in his castle, where nobody ever dares to come...
Brutal, Dangerous, he was the man they were all affraid of, or at least, the stories that were told about "him"...
The Beauty.... living on the outsides of the Village, struggling with his sick father, thru every winter.. the house almost fell apart, supplies got less and less...
But one day, his father went to town, to show one of his inventions, but got lost on the way....
A heavy snow storm, led the man right up the castle... and that, was life changing...
For the Beast, Who captured the man and locked him in his cell, because no one dared to trespass on his property?
For the father, who's health already wasnt at its best?
Or for the "Beauty", who followed the tracks of his father, and found the castle of the stories, and gave himself to the Beast?......
....Or for the man who thinks he already had a claim on the Beauty, and bathed in arrogance?
Or maybe for all of them?
Who knows🤷♀️
But one things is for sure...
You cant always trust the stories,
And in every story, is a version of truth, it just all depends on the way you're looking at it....
Ardis outdid herself, with this slowburn!
As my favorite MM Dark romance writer, i love all her work, but this one, feels like hearing you very first fairytale all over!
Loved it!
And honestely?
It is the perfect Dark Romance version of Beauty And the Beast!!
The Beast.. in his castle, where nobody ever dares to come...
Brutal, Dangerous, he was the man they were all affraid of, or at least, the stories that were told about "him"...
The Beauty.... living on the outsides of the Village, struggling with his sick father, thru every winter.. the house almost fell apart, supplies got less and less...
But one day, his father went to town, to show one of his inventions, but got lost on the way....
A heavy snow storm, led the man right up the castle... and that, was life changing...
For the Beast, Who captured the man and locked him in his cell, because no one dared to trespass on his property?
For the father, who's health already wasnt at its best?
Or for the "Beauty", who followed the tracks of his father, and found the castle of the stories, and gave himself to the Beast?......
....Or for the man who thinks he already had a claim on the Beauty, and bathed in arrogance?
Or maybe for all of them?
Who knows🤷♀️
But one things is for sure...
You cant always trust the stories,
And in every story, is a version of truth, it just all depends on the way you're looking at it....
Ardis outdid herself, with this slowburn!
As my favorite MM Dark romance writer, i love all her work, but this one, feels like hearing you very first fairytale all over!
Loved it!
October 29, 2026
I absolutely loved this
It’s the perfect dark romance version of Beauty and the Beast
This is my first book from this author and it will not be my last it is everything I love in my dark romances, forced proximity, obsession and spice combined with MM and my favourite fairy tale
I read it in one sitting, there were parts where I was bawling my eyes out and then there were the scenes between Rhys and Boone, I loved all of them the hateful m, the gentle, the spice I am just obsessed with these two ❤️
If you love your fairy tales a bit more adult you need to read this immediately
‼️Please check your Trigger Warnings‼️
Expect: 🔥MM Dark Romance 🔥Forced Proximity 🔥Power Imbalance 🔥Dub Con/Non Con🔥Forced Restraints/Bondage🔥
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s the perfect dark romance version of Beauty and the Beast
This is my first book from this author and it will not be my last it is everything I love in my dark romances, forced proximity, obsession and spice combined with MM and my favourite fairy tale
I read it in one sitting, there were parts where I was bawling my eyes out and then there were the scenes between Rhys and Boone, I loved all of them the hateful m, the gentle, the spice I am just obsessed with these two ❤️
If you love your fairy tales a bit more adult you need to read this immediately
‼️Please check your Trigger Warnings‼️
Expect: 🔥MM Dark Romance 🔥Forced Proximity 🔥Power Imbalance 🔥Dub Con/Non Con🔥Forced Restraints/Bondage🔥
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 16, 2026
Bittersweet & Strange has confirmed what I already knew: Ardis Thorne is my favorite MM dark romance author. I was literally counting down the days for this release and was not disappointed. The story between Boone and Rhys had everything that I love in my dark romances: forced proximity, obsession, hate to love and spice! And then we were given an unexpected update/follow up on Rhys' family (IYKYK) and that was just the cherry on top of an already great story.
October 22, 2026
It's really just what the genre is and it doesn't trigger me but when one character SAs another that's terrible. But then they fall in love and when that character is SA'd by someone else then it's wrong. Just seems a bit illogical. But many novels in this genre do it.
I enjoyed the novel mostly and even found emotional depth in it and the characters. The writing is pleasing and readable. I like that the characters are unapologetic.
Will keep reading this author.
I enjoyed the novel mostly and even found emotional depth in it and the characters. The writing is pleasing and readable. I like that the characters are unapologetic.
Will keep reading this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2026
Re telling of Beauty and the Beast
This story was amazing. The author ‘s creation of Rhys and Boone was excellent. I felt like I actually knew them, heard their thoughts, and felt their emotions. The description of the castle made me feel like I was there. All in all an amazing re telling of one of my favorite fairy tales. I hope the paper back comes out soon. Lastly, Ms. Thorne needs to write another MM “fairy tale”. Maybe Cinderella . I would loveee it.
This story was amazing. The author ‘s creation of Rhys and Boone was excellent. I felt like I actually knew them, heard their thoughts, and felt their emotions. The description of the castle made me feel like I was there. All in all an amazing re telling of one of my favorite fairy tales. I hope the paper back comes out soon. Lastly, Ms. Thorne needs to write another MM “fairy tale”. Maybe Cinderella . I would loveee it.
November 2, 2026
This book is not as dark as her others in my opinion but I still really enjoyed it. I went into it thinking this was just an MM adaption of beauty and the beast however there was more depth to it. Whilst parts of the book follows beauty and the beast, the beast was not who you would think.
The writing was good and the relationship between the MCs was more complex than simply falling for someone. It features Stockholm syndrome but also the monster trying to be the hero.
I would definitely recommend this book.
The writing was good and the relationship between the MCs was more complex than simply falling for someone. It features Stockholm syndrome but also the monster trying to be the hero.
I would definitely recommend this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2026
Love this story so so much, . I love all of this author's works and never grow tired of them.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews