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Andari Chronicles #4
Shadow and Thorn
A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast
When a beautiful thief meets a beastly king, it’s anything but true love.
Unless a haunted castle can change their minds…
Zara has always hated to steal, even from the dead, but treasure hunting is the only life she knows—until her father’s cowardice traps her in an abandoned Erathi castle. She soon discovers that her new home is far less empty than she once believed, and far more dangerous than she could ever have predicted.
Alexei is king of a forgotten kingdom—its people dead or enslaved, and the magic that once protected it lost to all but memory. His only hope to save those few who remain is to return to the place where Erath fell, and brave the shadowed halls of a castle that echoes with the ghosts of his past.
When their paths collide, Alexei and Zara may both have a chance to atone for past mistakes… unless they kill each other first. Brought together by a castle, a cat, and a crew of allies both expected and unexpected, they will plumb the depths of an unimaginable betrayal and forge the foundations of a love they would risk anything to keep.
A gripping tale of adventure, betrayal, and romance, Shadow and Thorn is the fourth book of the Andari Chronicles, a series of interconnected but stand-alone fairy tale retellings that feature strong heroines, romance, mystery, and deeply satisfying happily ever afters.
When a beautiful thief meets a beastly king, it’s anything but true love.
Unless a haunted castle can change their minds…
Zara has always hated to steal, even from the dead, but treasure hunting is the only life she knows—until her father’s cowardice traps her in an abandoned Erathi castle. She soon discovers that her new home is far less empty than she once believed, and far more dangerous than she could ever have predicted.
Alexei is king of a forgotten kingdom—its people dead or enslaved, and the magic that once protected it lost to all but memory. His only hope to save those few who remain is to return to the place where Erath fell, and brave the shadowed halls of a castle that echoes with the ghosts of his past.
When their paths collide, Alexei and Zara may both have a chance to atone for past mistakes… unless they kill each other first. Brought together by a castle, a cat, and a crew of allies both expected and unexpected, they will plumb the depths of an unimaginable betrayal and forge the foundations of a love they would risk anything to keep.
A gripping tale of adventure, betrayal, and romance, Shadow and Thorn is the fourth book of the Andari Chronicles, a series of interconnected but stand-alone fairy tale retellings that feature strong heroines, romance, mystery, and deeply satisfying happily ever afters.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 12, 2017
366 people are currently reading
959 people want to read
About the author
Kenley Davidson
35 books936 followersKenley Davidson is a romantic fantasy author and unrepentant caffeine addict who believes in the power of storytelling and loves nothing more than a good book hangover. Her books include romantasy, urban fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, and sci fi, but no matter the genre, she writes stories of hope and redemption with characters you can root for, heart-pounding romance without the spice, and happy endings that might just make you cry.
Her favorite things (besides books) are coffee, k-dramas, cats, and playing cozy video games. And also scones.
Kenley currently lives in Oklahoma, where she cares for a menagerie of misfit house plants while waiting for her adult children to occasionally pop in for laundry and a home-cooked meal.
Find out more about Kenley’s books at her website: kenleydavidson.com
Her favorite things (besides books) are coffee, k-dramas, cats, and playing cozy video games. And also scones.
Kenley currently lives in Oklahoma, where she cares for a menagerie of misfit house plants while waiting for her adult children to occasionally pop in for laundry and a home-cooked meal.
Find out more about Kenley’s books at her website: kenleydavidson.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
March 31, 2021
Shadow and Thorn by Kenley Davidson is the 4th book in the Andari Chronicles and a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Once again, it is narrated by the amazing Esther Wane! In the previous book, Pirouette, some of Kyril’s co-spies are a stern man named Alexei, who pretends to be married the Brenna. SPOILERS COMING UP! Well, Alexei is caught and tortured leaving him permanently disfigured. I was overjoyed when I found out that this was going to be Alexei’s story. I am also glad that it didn’t involve Brenna—they had absolutely zero chemistry. We don’t get much information about him, but we know Alexei has magic and has a mysterious past that he is hiding. In Shadow and Thorn, we discover that he is King of a long-forgotten kingdom. When the magical protection fell, his people were enslaved or killed. He returns to the capital to try to restore his kingdom. When he arrives at the castle he discovers that it is not empty. A young woman named Zara and an odd cat occupy his palace. He doesn’t trust her and makes no effort in hiding his disdain. As more of the secrets of the castle come to light, they will have to work together to restore the kingdom.
Our beauty, Zara is the daughter of a thief! She is smart, clever, and enjoys exploring abandoned castles. Our best, a disfigured Alexei who is consumed with guilt. Then there is the whole magical castle that has a mind of its own—and voila! –A perfect Beauty and the Beast retelling! This story is complex, twisty, and really dark! Like…really dark. In order for the castle to survive, it must bind itself to someone…willing or not. The creepy aesthetic is on point. Of course, I have a weakness for enemies to lovers tropes, and this one is definitely that! Zara and Alexei are obviously meant for each other and they have much better chemistry than Brenna! But what helped this book is the wonderful cast of supporting characters. Malichai was probably my favorite. He is a beastly man himself. He can fight but he is also like a big teddy bear.
Kenley Davidson always does a wonderful job at creating a magic system and culture. In this case, they are both intertwined. I love that this country and its magic are ancient and have evolved over time into something that is not necessarily good. This aspect makes readers unsure who to believe. Who is good? And who is evil? Overall, a wonderful addition to the series and one of my favorites! 5 out of 5 stars!
Our beauty, Zara is the daughter of a thief! She is smart, clever, and enjoys exploring abandoned castles. Our best, a disfigured Alexei who is consumed with guilt. Then there is the whole magical castle that has a mind of its own—and voila! –A perfect Beauty and the Beast retelling! This story is complex, twisty, and really dark! Like…really dark. In order for the castle to survive, it must bind itself to someone…willing or not. The creepy aesthetic is on point. Of course, I have a weakness for enemies to lovers tropes, and this one is definitely that! Zara and Alexei are obviously meant for each other and they have much better chemistry than Brenna! But what helped this book is the wonderful cast of supporting characters. Malichai was probably my favorite. He is a beastly man himself. He can fight but he is also like a big teddy bear.
Kenley Davidson always does a wonderful job at creating a magic system and culture. In this case, they are both intertwined. I love that this country and its magic are ancient and have evolved over time into something that is not necessarily good. This aspect makes readers unsure who to believe. Who is good? And who is evil? Overall, a wonderful addition to the series and one of my favorites! 5 out of 5 stars!
March 14, 2017
An unconventional beauty. A handsome, despicable beast. And a malicious, sentient castle. Intrigued yet? You should be.
Shadow & Thorn is the fourth book in the Andari Chronicles, my favorite fairytale series. Each book is a standalone, with a complete story to tell by itself. However, some elements intertwine throughout them all: a few familiar characters, the same world, and the same time period. I highly recommend reading them in chronological order, just to get familiar with where everything is and what’s going on.
Let’s start with plot, shall we? Kenley Davidson has officially mastered Murphy’s Law in her writing: just about anything that can go wrong, does go wrong. Be still, my aching heart. This author is not a fan of sparing her characters any complicated situations. Oh no—why let them get a break when you could paint them into a corner instead? Oh well. At least it makes for a very nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat novel!
The characters, as always, sparkled with wit, vivacity, and life-likeness. We got to see the return of some familiar faces—Alexei, I’m looking at you—and also the introduction of some new ones. Zara was a real treat. She was so fun to read about! I love how Davidson does such a good job of getting inside her character’s heads, and letting us live as them for a little while. Silvay, Wilder, Gulver, and Malichai were great as well, and I really hope they show up in future books, as I would hate for this to be goodbye!
The setting was very well done in this one as well. I loved reading about Erath—or rather, what’s left of it—and the culture the people of Erath embody. I had been very curious about this mythical country since it was mentioned in Traitor’s Masque. The atmosphere Davidson created of ancient magic around the benevolent, though introverted, society worked perfectly for this fairytale. The one caveat is that it wasn’t totally clear how their magic system worked, and I would have liked to learn more about it, but it wasn’t strictly necessary to the plot.
And now for the malicious sentient castle. I couldn’t decide whether this belonged under setting or characters, so I decided to make it its own section. Athven Nar, where most of the plot takes place, is a centuries-old castle that has had magic, hope, and patriotism poured into it for all of its existence. I have only come across this concept maybe twice in all of my reading, and I was very pleased to see how Davidson spun it into the story. I won’t say more for fear of spoiling it all. You’ll just have to read it for yourself.
Shadow & Thorn is a little bit of Diana Wynne Jones, and a little bit of Robin Mckinley, but entirely of Kenley Davidson. Magic, mystery, and love all make this Beauty & the Beast retelling very much worth the read. Bonus points: there was a lot less profanity in this one! Kudos to you, Davidson, for cutting it down. Your readers appreciate it.
Rating: 4 stars
Recommended: 14 and up
Content guide (may contain minor spoilers):
Language: 3/10 (one bad word used 3-5 times)
Violence: 5/10 (some fights and injuries—non-graphic. one character almost dies)
Sexual Content: 2/10 (a few non-detailed kisses)
*Many thanks to the author for providing a copy to review!*
For more reviews, or to have your own book reviewed, see gabriellenblog.wordpress.com
Shadow & Thorn is the fourth book in the Andari Chronicles, my favorite fairytale series. Each book is a standalone, with a complete story to tell by itself. However, some elements intertwine throughout them all: a few familiar characters, the same world, and the same time period. I highly recommend reading them in chronological order, just to get familiar with where everything is and what’s going on.
Let’s start with plot, shall we? Kenley Davidson has officially mastered Murphy’s Law in her writing: just about anything that can go wrong, does go wrong. Be still, my aching heart. This author is not a fan of sparing her characters any complicated situations. Oh no—why let them get a break when you could paint them into a corner instead? Oh well. At least it makes for a very nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat novel!
The characters, as always, sparkled with wit, vivacity, and life-likeness. We got to see the return of some familiar faces—Alexei, I’m looking at you—and also the introduction of some new ones. Zara was a real treat. She was so fun to read about! I love how Davidson does such a good job of getting inside her character’s heads, and letting us live as them for a little while. Silvay, Wilder, Gulver, and Malichai were great as well, and I really hope they show up in future books, as I would hate for this to be goodbye!
The setting was very well done in this one as well. I loved reading about Erath—or rather, what’s left of it—and the culture the people of Erath embody. I had been very curious about this mythical country since it was mentioned in Traitor’s Masque. The atmosphere Davidson created of ancient magic around the benevolent, though introverted, society worked perfectly for this fairytale. The one caveat is that it wasn’t totally clear how their magic system worked, and I would have liked to learn more about it, but it wasn’t strictly necessary to the plot.
And now for the malicious sentient castle. I couldn’t decide whether this belonged under setting or characters, so I decided to make it its own section. Athven Nar, where most of the plot takes place, is a centuries-old castle that has had magic, hope, and patriotism poured into it for all of its existence. I have only come across this concept maybe twice in all of my reading, and I was very pleased to see how Davidson spun it into the story. I won’t say more for fear of spoiling it all. You’ll just have to read it for yourself.
Shadow & Thorn is a little bit of Diana Wynne Jones, and a little bit of Robin Mckinley, but entirely of Kenley Davidson. Magic, mystery, and love all make this Beauty & the Beast retelling very much worth the read. Bonus points: there was a lot less profanity in this one! Kudos to you, Davidson, for cutting it down. Your readers appreciate it.
Rating: 4 stars
Recommended: 14 and up
Content guide (may contain minor spoilers):
Language: 3/10 (one bad word used 3-5 times)
Violence: 5/10 (some fights and injuries—non-graphic. one character almost dies)
Sexual Content: 2/10 (a few non-detailed kisses)
*Many thanks to the author for providing a copy to review!*
For more reviews, or to have your own book reviewed, see gabriellenblog.wordpress.com
June 2, 2020
This is a really interesting retelling of Beauty and the Beast. In some ways, it ends where most people think of the fairy tale beginning. The most interesting thing was the enchanted castle.
April 17, 2017
Another day, another fairy tale re imagining under my belt. I'm back to one of my favorites, Beauty and the Beast, and this one was definitely different.
Normally, a fairy tale retelling of Beauty and the Beast will have a young, handsome, arrogant prince who is trapped in a horrible castle (with a few loyal servants) brooding in the dark and saying that he will never love again. That is not this book.
This is not faithful to the Disney plot. While there is a castle, an enchanted castle even, there is no real curse, no angry mob, no buff jackass who is excessively into himself.
Zara is a treasure hunter that gets locked in an enchanted castle, not with a beast, but with a cat. Her father is pushed out of the castle by magical means and she is left alone, at least for a little while.
Enter Alexei.
The lost ruler. He used to live in the castle where he learned his magic. However, a war pushed him out of his home and he did not return for 26 years. Alexei is blind in one eye and deeply scarred from the war and his life. He does not trust much and is numb from all of the isolation and pain that he has gone through. But he is not a warrior. Alexei is great at magic and is incredibly intelligent but he is not able to take up a sword and reclaim his birthright. He's also a bit of a silver fox, being over 40 years old.
Hey, age means experience right?
So, in order to restore her power, the castle locks them in together (with a few sidekicks) and tries to shove them together, preferably in a marriage bond. The castle's goal is single-minded, and she will stop at nothing to get her way.
There are a few flaws in this book. It's pretty slow paced and I found myself not caring sometimes. Alexei and Zara can both be a bit whiny at times and I wanted to know more about other characters. I adored Malichai (who was the warrior in the book and hysterical) and I wanted his story more than I wanted Alexei's. Also, Zara seems to give up pretty rapidly. Yes, I get that she thinks that her father has abandoned her and that it is hopeless but she just stops caring and that somehow bothered me.
But other than all of that, this book was refreshing and different. It wasn't a typical retelling and while it was a retelling of an existing story, I still didn't know what was coming next. You never know if an author is not going to give a happy ending and that's why I liked this book.
Normally, a fairy tale retelling of Beauty and the Beast will have a young, handsome, arrogant prince who is trapped in a horrible castle (with a few loyal servants) brooding in the dark and saying that he will never love again. That is not this book.
This is not faithful to the Disney plot. While there is a castle, an enchanted castle even, there is no real curse, no angry mob, no buff jackass who is excessively into himself.
Zara is a treasure hunter that gets locked in an enchanted castle, not with a beast, but with a cat. Her father is pushed out of the castle by magical means and she is left alone, at least for a little while.
Enter Alexei.
The lost ruler. He used to live in the castle where he learned his magic. However, a war pushed him out of his home and he did not return for 26 years. Alexei is blind in one eye and deeply scarred from the war and his life. He does not trust much and is numb from all of the isolation and pain that he has gone through. But he is not a warrior. Alexei is great at magic and is incredibly intelligent but he is not able to take up a sword and reclaim his birthright. He's also a bit of a silver fox, being over 40 years old.
Hey, age means experience right?
So, in order to restore her power, the castle locks them in together (with a few sidekicks) and tries to shove them together, preferably in a marriage bond. The castle's goal is single-minded, and she will stop at nothing to get her way.
There are a few flaws in this book. It's pretty slow paced and I found myself not caring sometimes. Alexei and Zara can both be a bit whiny at times and I wanted to know more about other characters. I adored Malichai (who was the warrior in the book and hysterical) and I wanted his story more than I wanted Alexei's. Also, Zara seems to give up pretty rapidly. Yes, I get that she thinks that her father has abandoned her and that it is hopeless but she just stops caring and that somehow bothered me.
But other than all of that, this book was refreshing and different. It wasn't a typical retelling and while it was a retelling of an existing story, I still didn't know what was coming next. You never know if an author is not going to give a happy ending and that's why I liked this book.
October 27, 2020
Glad to see Alexei get his own story :)
November 2, 2018
What a unique and intriguing story this turned out to be! I love the links between plots and characters from book to book, and this one was possibly even more satisfying than the last. It was obviously inspired by Beauty and the Beast, yet in some ways it seemed more like a set-up for a Beauty and the Beast plot. Rowan is far more beastly and awful than Alexei!
This said, I thoroughly enjoyed the story, especially the characters. Rowan is perfectly awful, Zara is a strong heroine, and the cat . . . :-) The Rose and Athven Nar were marvelous plot elements, and the fantasy themes are original and fascinating.
Well worth reading!
This said, I thoroughly enjoyed the story, especially the characters. Rowan is perfectly awful, Zara is a strong heroine, and the cat . . . :-) The Rose and Athven Nar were marvelous plot elements, and the fantasy themes are original and fascinating.
Well worth reading!
June 6, 2021
I’m sorry that I didn’t enjoy this one. The beginning was very slow, and the momentum never quite seemed to pick up. And what does it say when your favourite characters in a book are not the main ones? The secondary cast was pretty adorable. Overall, this might be my least liked one of the series.
April 8, 2023
Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful.
I feel that it is important to point out that the back cover of the book says that it is *inspired by Beauty and the Beast* and not an attempted retelling.
This could make a difference to readers who are looking for a true BatB story and could be disappointed in the departures from the original. But as a book INSPIRED by the fairy tale, it is simply amazing.
To tell more would give spoilers, so I will simply leave it as a suggestion to read if you love Beauty and the Beast and especially if you love fairy tales- this is an original with a few elements of the favorites brought in and entwined with humor. I laughed out loud several times and chuckled to myself many more.
Looking forward to reading more of this author.
I feel that it is important to point out that the back cover of the book says that it is *inspired by Beauty and the Beast* and not an attempted retelling.
This could make a difference to readers who are looking for a true BatB story and could be disappointed in the departures from the original. But as a book INSPIRED by the fairy tale, it is simply amazing.
To tell more would give spoilers, so I will simply leave it as a suggestion to read if you love Beauty and the Beast and especially if you love fairy tales- this is an original with a few elements of the favorites brought in and entwined with humor. I laughed out loud several times and chuckled to myself many more.
Looking forward to reading more of this author.
September 2, 2021
This would be my third favourite of the series, with Goldheart being first and Pirouette being second. I was delighted to get a story about Alexai. Zara was sweet and hilarious. The ending made me explode in ridiculous smiles. This was such an unconventional Beauty and the Beast retelling. Alexai's disfigurement in the pirouette nearly made me cry but I kinda liked it here. I missed Kyril and his antics though. Honestly, this was the absolute cutest. I can't even.
September 14, 2017
Deep feelings
Loosely related to beauty and the beast, this was fresh and unique. The characters are fantastic! The deep emotions of guilt, abandonment, and others are keenly felt. The trueness of the heroine will bring me back for rereading.
Loosely related to beauty and the beast, this was fresh and unique. The characters are fantastic! The deep emotions of guilt, abandonment, and others are keenly felt. The trueness of the heroine will bring me back for rereading.
January 3, 2021
Love Zara and Alexei! 😊🤗😂
March 6, 2024
The unique thing about this book is that it is heavily inspired by the Beauty and the Beast fairytale, but you have a hard time pinpointing just one character or plot point to align with the classic story. Is Zara supposed to be Belle or the Beast? Maybe it’s Alexei…but wait he’s not trapped. I think I finally concluded that it was a prologue to the story considering how it ends.
Of all the protagonists in this series, I think I relate to Zara most in character and core desires. This author does a good job of making all her heroes and heroines have unique desires and character development.
Of all the protagonists in this series, I think I relate to Zara most in character and core desires. This author does a good job of making all her heroes and heroines have unique desires and character development.
July 22, 2017
Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairy tale (original not Disney) and so, I am often critical of new versions. Shadow and Thorn is one of the best retellings I have read. Incorporating both old and new, the symbolism from the original story is enhanced by Davidson's imagination. A delightful read and a job well done.
January 13, 2021
This book got me hooked in the beginning and then the end. The middle 200 pages or so were a struggle but still an interesting read.
March 23, 2017
3.5 stars
June 20, 2021
For the record, I adored books 1-3 of this series for their twisty socio-political re-imaginings of fairy tales that took a sledgehammer to the old stories and picked up pieces of them to make them both new and familiar at the same time. They went big on story with the romance element kept as part of the overall picture rather than taking center stage. This one still does that; there's something about a rose, a curse, a castle, and even a cameo appearance for the library. There are two people thrown together by circumstances beyond their control. What it lacked for me was likeable, relatable characters. I didn't understand them, their chemistry, or their story, so felt far less involved that I had by previous parts of the series.
We pick up a while after book 3, with the miserable Alexei on the way home after his misadventures in Caelan. He and his party are heading to the lands of Erath, once a thriving but secretive magical kingdom that he has a particular connection to. After his brush with death and finding something he needed, he's determined to do his duty. At the same time, a thief girl named Zara finds herself trapped inside a magical Erathi castle, magically bound there by some kind of guardian spirit. When Alexei turns up on the doorstep, things get complicated: he's here for the castle, and for the magical artefact hidden within. The same artefact she was supposed to steal, not knowing its importance. Oh, and a certain blond haired former prince is lurking out there somewhere, power-hungry as ever...
The be blunt, I didn't like Alexei or Zara. They both came across as spiky and unnecessarily rude, withholding information for reasons I couldn't understand that lead to the arguments. It seemed to me like they spent the entire book arguing and jumping to illogically hot-headed conclusions about why the other was a bad person. Maybe that's why I didn't feel their chemistry. There were so many times I wanted to know more about them to understand just why they'd act the way they did, but everything about them is told rather than shown (we don't even see Zara breaking in to the castle, and I wished Erathi magic had some kind of remembrance spell so we could see Alexei and his brother/cousins' relationships from the past). Alexei especially confused me; being older and presumably wiser he still leapt to various angry conclusions without thinking things through. Side characters had potential, but didn't really get the time to develop into more than comic relief or instruction-givers.
The story felt a tad fragmented for me to follow well, and again I didn't get some of the logic behind what happened. It seemed a bit too simple, but also not exactly explained.
Overall I wasn't so keen on this side-story in the Andari-verse. It answers one question regarding the bigger picture but otherwise didn't live up to quite the same standards of sheer awesome that books 1-3 did for me.
We pick up a while after book 3, with the miserable Alexei on the way home after his misadventures in Caelan. He and his party are heading to the lands of Erath, once a thriving but secretive magical kingdom that he has a particular connection to. After his brush with death and finding something he needed, he's determined to do his duty. At the same time, a thief girl named Zara finds herself trapped inside a magical Erathi castle, magically bound there by some kind of guardian spirit. When Alexei turns up on the doorstep, things get complicated: he's here for the castle, and for the magical artefact hidden within. The same artefact she was supposed to steal, not knowing its importance. Oh, and a certain blond haired former prince is lurking out there somewhere, power-hungry as ever...
The be blunt, I didn't like Alexei or Zara. They both came across as spiky and unnecessarily rude, withholding information for reasons I couldn't understand that lead to the arguments. It seemed to me like they spent the entire book arguing and jumping to illogically hot-headed conclusions about why the other was a bad person. Maybe that's why I didn't feel their chemistry. There were so many times I wanted to know more about them to understand just why they'd act the way they did, but everything about them is told rather than shown (we don't even see Zara breaking in to the castle, and I wished Erathi magic had some kind of remembrance spell so we could see Alexei and his brother/cousins' relationships from the past). Alexei especially confused me; being older and presumably wiser he still leapt to various angry conclusions without thinking things through. Side characters had potential, but didn't really get the time to develop into more than comic relief or instruction-givers.
The story felt a tad fragmented for me to follow well, and again I didn't get some of the logic behind what happened. It seemed a bit too simple, but also not exactly explained.
Overall I wasn't so keen on this side-story in the Andari-verse. It answers one question regarding the bigger picture but otherwise didn't live up to quite the same standards of sheer awesome that books 1-3 did for me.
March 28, 2017
All I can is I enjoyed this book so much. The writing is amazing the plot and the world building. This the fourth book in the andari series.
March 30, 2017
I was slightly more disappointed in this book than the first three. I felt that, somewhere along a third of the way through, the Beauty and the Beast character tropes started to be more forgotten than altered as Davidson had previously. In Goldheart, I adored how such slight changes made the largest differences in the end. Instead, this book felt that it had lost its path, and rather was content to go meandering off. Had I not come to expect a certain style from Davidson for this series, that would have been unnoticed. As it was, it was slightly jarring and disappointing.
However, the story and writing itself were still quite fun.
However, the story and writing itself were still quite fun.
March 21, 2017
Shadow and Thorn is an enjoyable addition to Kenley Davidson's Andari series, each of which is structured by a different fairy tale -- Beauty and the Beast, in this case. Like the others, this is a well-written story with engagingly believable characters that uses it's source material very imaginatively, which means that you're never quite sure what's going to happen (though a happy ending is a pretty foregone conclusion, it doesn't take quite the form one might have expected). Most curiously, the book ends with a curse on another 'beast'...
March 24, 2017
Wonderful! Such a creative story with the Beauty & the Beast background and the characters were great. Love the way it ended, too.
July 16, 2018
I dove into this book not knowing what to expect, but it didn’t take long before I was wholly and utterly captivated. The first thing that caught me was the writing. To me, it had a certain grace about it which danced with elegant steps across the pages. And it took me by surprise, I had not anticipated such charm when first I turned to “Chapter 1.”
To put it bluntly, the characters were amazing! I think Zara has slipped into my top ten list of female heroines. She was strong and witty and smart enough not to fall for Rowan’s silky charade. Alexei was rather bitter at first, but as the book progressed, his faults allowed for some lovely character growth.
Now, this is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast; however, it is twisted in many very appealing very innovative ways. Most retellings stick closely to the Disney version of Beauty and the Beast, but Davidson allowed her imagination to take different pathways along the journey and I loved this. It was new and exciting and wonderful.
Lastly, this was a clean read. I was waiting for that one part or that bad word, but it never came and so, I was able to fully enjoy this story. I definitely recommend “Shadow and Thorn” to all those who love a fairytale retelling or a clean YA fantasy.
To put it bluntly, the characters were amazing! I think Zara has slipped into my top ten list of female heroines. She was strong and witty and smart enough not to fall for Rowan’s silky charade. Alexei was rather bitter at first, but as the book progressed, his faults allowed for some lovely character growth.
Now, this is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast; however, it is twisted in many very appealing very innovative ways. Most retellings stick closely to the Disney version of Beauty and the Beast, but Davidson allowed her imagination to take different pathways along the journey and I loved this. It was new and exciting and wonderful.
Lastly, this was a clean read. I was waiting for that one part or that bad word, but it never came and so, I was able to fully enjoy this story. I definitely recommend “Shadow and Thorn” to all those who love a fairytale retelling or a clean YA fantasy.
January 29, 2020
I just didn't enjoy this one as much as the others. Malichai was my favorite character. I loved his over the top singing and desire to be in an epic. :) The rest of the cast was great, too. Gulver, Silvay, and Wilder were fun! Unfortunately I wasn't the biggest fan of Alexei and Zora. I just didn't really buy into their relationship or their ages. I just felt that a 42 year old man and a woman in her 30s should be less angsty. I mean Alexei was more so than Zora, and he did feel like his birth right was stolen, but still. I just didn't buy into their ages. Also, buildings with their own personalities are usually a miss for me. Incarceron freaked me out and Athven Nar was no different. Entities that people walk/live in that do not always have the best attentions aren't usually my cup of tea.
I just felt disappointed in this novel. I was expecting great things from a B&B retelling and instead got this. But hey at least Malichai got his epic.
I just felt disappointed in this novel. I was expecting great things from a B&B retelling and instead got this. But hey at least Malichai got his epic.
January 30, 2022
This is not really a series you can read without the others. It is a nice point to stop at two. This book ends the plot line of the first 4 books. I stopped reading after the first 2 books because they are bogged down with words and not as much action or romance as I like. The second 2 have similar issues. I LOVE the originality of the story lines and the characters are so much fun but the amount of time spent inside there heads just gets to be too much. This is one of the most unusual B&B retellings I have ever read and there was so much I loved about it. The supporting characters is one.
Sweet romance with a kiss. I would say 14 and up.
Sweet romance with a kiss. I would say 14 and up.
February 1, 2021
I'll admit I began the book very confused. Though it had me quite perplexed, it was compelling nonetheless and so on I read. And once again I'm glad I did because this turned out to be a great book. Probably my favorite from the Andari Chronicles so far.
Alexei is a man wrapped in guilt and shame and anger. He wears it like armor and woe to any who dares to try and break through. Underneath that armor is a soft gooey center full of love and wonder. He is destined to meet that one special person that is able to break through and help him begin to heal. I'm glad he finally gets his own story because he plays a fairly important part in 2 of the previous stories.
Zara is a treasure hunter, though the treasure she truly seeks isn't the kind one can pick up and carry away. She is determined, resourceful, quick with a quip and when it comes down to it, she's incredibly selfless and giving. She can hold her own, perhaps not always physically, but mentally she is a tough cookie in the best kind of way. I do believe she has earned the place of my favorite female character in the Andari Chronicles.
Malichai is a giant singing teddy-bear warrior-man and I love him. And how could anyone forget Loraleen, his ever faithful piebald mare with hooves the size of a human head. Though she doesn't appear often, she is still quite memorable. Silvay, Wilder, and Guthver each added something unique to the eccentric little group, thus providing plenty of fodder for Malachai's epic ballad.
Rowan and Porfiry can suck it and they both get what they deserve.
Except she could still hear the screaming. She searched, but the wrongness was gone. Her awareness was secure. She turned inward, and found something she had not anticipated. The delicate motes of lavender, the lovely and mesmerizing tracery of light was part of her now. And so were the screams.
Alexei is a man wrapped in guilt and shame and anger. He wears it like armor and woe to any who dares to try and break through. Underneath that armor is a soft gooey center full of love and wonder. He is destined to meet that one special person that is able to break through and help him begin to heal. I'm glad he finally gets his own story because he plays a fairly important part in 2 of the previous stories.
False hope was far better than admitting that you never had any hope at all. He ought to know. He’d been limping along on false hope ever since he first learned that Porfiry was still alive.
Zara is a treasure hunter, though the treasure she truly seeks isn't the kind one can pick up and carry away. She is determined, resourceful, quick with a quip and when it comes down to it, she's incredibly selfless and giving. She can hold her own, perhaps not always physically, but mentally she is a tough cookie in the best kind of way. I do believe she has earned the place of my favorite female character in the Andari Chronicles.
“All right.” Zara placed her elbows on the table and rested her chin on her hands. “All we have to do is think like a sadistic bastard and make a list of all the places such a person might think to hide something valuable. Alexei? Clearly you’re the one who should advise us how to move forward.”
Malichai is a giant singing teddy-bear warrior-man and I love him. And how could anyone forget Loraleen, his ever faithful piebald mare with hooves the size of a human head. Though she doesn't appear often, she is still quite memorable. Silvay, Wilder, and Guthver each added something unique to the eccentric little group, thus providing plenty of fodder for Malachai's epic ballad.
Alexei sighed and pulled his horse to a stop. “Well, they’re certainly going about the business properly, aren’t they?” “I’d say they could use a bit more local color,” Malichai responded thoughtfully. “Perhaps a war hawk, perched on that one’s shoulder. A wolf, snarling at their feet. Braided hair, dyed red with the blood of their enemies.” “Oh, do be serious,” Silvay reprimanded them sharply. “A day like this demands a necklace of skulls, at the very least.”
Rowan and Porfiry can suck it and they both get what they deserve.
Zara looked from Rowan, to Alexei and back again. Something was happening, something they had not prepared for and it made no sense. “Just say what you mean,” she snapped irritably. “You prattle worse than anyone I ever met. Maybe you think it sounds cunning and mysterious, but honestly you’re just tiresome.”
July 29, 2021
Forgive any spelling mistakes--I'm basing this review on the audiobook since my library didn't have the book in any other format.
Another win for Kenley Davidson. Beauty & the Beast is a fairy tale I love anyway, and I really enjoyed the way she used it to guide this book. As with the others in the series, it's not a retelling that strictly follows the original, and I love it. She used the various elements to make her own story, infusing beast, beauty, and other bits and pieces into pretty much the whole thing. And she does it so well.
I was very glad to get a book about Alexei (34), especially after seeing him in the previous book. Despite their age difference, he and Zara (23) were perfectly suited for each other. That's not to say that they didn't clash (they did), but they did it in a way that shaped, improved, and complemented rather than tore each other down. The book also includes an enjoyable cast of supporting characters.
As with the previous books, Rowan is featured in this one. He's like the Voldemort of the series, tying it all together and leading it towards . . . something. What, I'm not yet sure. But I doubt that this is the last we'll see of him.
How it ends:
Note: Maybe some mild swearing?
Narrator: Esther Wade
A pleasure to listen to her, just as with the previous books.
Another win for Kenley Davidson. Beauty & the Beast is a fairy tale I love anyway, and I really enjoyed the way she used it to guide this book. As with the others in the series, it's not a retelling that strictly follows the original, and I love it. She used the various elements to make her own story, infusing beast, beauty, and other bits and pieces into pretty much the whole thing. And she does it so well.
I was very glad to get a book about Alexei (34), especially after seeing him in the previous book. Despite their age difference, he and Zara (23) were perfectly suited for each other. That's not to say that they didn't clash (they did), but they did it in a way that shaped, improved, and complemented rather than tore each other down. The book also includes an enjoyable cast of supporting characters.
As with the previous books, Rowan is featured in this one. He's like the Voldemort of the series, tying it all together and leading it towards . . . something. What, I'm not yet sure. But I doubt that this is the last we'll see of him.
How it ends:
Note: Maybe some mild swearing?
Narrator: Esther Wade
A pleasure to listen to her, just as with the previous books.
June 12, 2020
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT SOOO MUCH!!! FANTASTIC, ENCHANTING, MAGICAL STORY!! lpve the characters, worldbuiling, witty scenes and plottwists!!
The story is about Alexei who is the king of a haunted kingdom. Erathi (all people are bonded to the land). He is scarred by Porfiry (book 3) he is his cousin and the Betrayer who stole the enchanted Crystal Rose which is the sourse of the barrier and magic.
27 years ago the kingdom Erathi house of Nar/ Athri was attacked and the people enslaved or killed. Alexei has to flee to keep his brother save. He feels guilty for he had run away (in truth he was just a child) now he is returing to find the rose and save his kingdom.
Zara is a treasure hunter who loves not the treasure but the experience. She and her father and 2 fellows go to Arthi to seek treasures but they fleed and Zara is locked inside!! She meets a cat who apparently is the castle/ Magic/Arthi herself!! She is bonded to her. Alexei together with Silvary, Malichai, Gulder and Wilden go to the castle. They meet Zara and Alexei and they argue the WHOLE TIME!! she is stubborn, angry and complicated. She thinks her father abandoned her and only wants a home. They plan to search the for the rose and they must work together to restore the kingdom. They both comnuicate with Arthi/cat through visions. She has told Zara she must marry Alexei- they will forever by bonded and can't leave ar die. Alexei refuses and rage grows. Arthi tricked them!!! and Alexei saves Zara from a fire moster with his own magic!! Meanwhile ROWAN IS BACK!!! he wants to learn magic from Arthi and bargains with zara to bond together with Arthi or else... so zara decieves him by trapping him in the bond (when bonded one can't escape or leave, or else will die!! Arthi wants revenge on porfiry who stole the rose and BROKE IT AND HID THE PIECES IN A CISTERN!! Wilden finds the pieces and Alexei tries to mend them. He gets a vision of Nar (who made the rose and is the founder) he tells all pieces have a purpose. Rowan and Zara share time together so he can convince her and she plays to role. He tells her he wants to conquests all kingdoms and 'peace' by sacrificing the weak so he will reign. (The library scene is with rowan!!!) She at last gives in and they bond with the castle but PORFIRY ATTACHED A SILVER CHAIN ON ZARA AND SHE GOES INTO A COMA!!! Poriry is later ingrained into the castle and turned to stone!! Rowan enchanted Gulder to almost let him kill Zara!! Wilder has found zara's father and he fights with rowan (who now knows of thebetrayel l) he is trapped in the castle and can only be set free is his heart is pure. A pieve of the rose is ingrained into Arthi and she is now her humanform (Queen/cousin Alelei) Alexei saves zara by 'marrying' her through the bond. Because he loves her!!! Emotional scene!! She wakes up and at last tells him she loves him too!!! Epilogue: kimgdom is restore, school of magic is founded. Arthi is behind thorns so no one will find Rowan. and Zara and Alexei have a cute little cottage and they are finally home!!! Sooo happy for them!!!!
The story is about Alexei who is the king of a haunted kingdom. Erathi (all people are bonded to the land). He is scarred by Porfiry (book 3) he is his cousin and the Betrayer who stole the enchanted Crystal Rose which is the sourse of the barrier and magic.
27 years ago the kingdom Erathi house of Nar/ Athri was attacked and the people enslaved or killed. Alexei has to flee to keep his brother save. He feels guilty for he had run away (in truth he was just a child) now he is returing to find the rose and save his kingdom.
Zara is a treasure hunter who loves not the treasure but the experience. She and her father and 2 fellows go to Arthi to seek treasures but they fleed and Zara is locked inside!! She meets a cat who apparently is the castle/ Magic/Arthi herself!! She is bonded to her. Alexei together with Silvary, Malichai, Gulder and Wilden go to the castle. They meet Zara and Alexei and they argue the WHOLE TIME!! she is stubborn, angry and complicated. She thinks her father abandoned her and only wants a home. They plan to search the for the rose and they must work together to restore the kingdom. They both comnuicate with Arthi/cat through visions. She has told Zara she must marry Alexei- they will forever by bonded and can't leave ar die. Alexei refuses and rage grows. Arthi tricked them!!! and Alexei saves Zara from a fire moster with his own magic!! Meanwhile ROWAN IS BACK!!! he wants to learn magic from Arthi and bargains with zara to bond together with Arthi or else... so zara decieves him by trapping him in the bond (when bonded one can't escape or leave, or else will die!! Arthi wants revenge on porfiry who stole the rose and BROKE IT AND HID THE PIECES IN A CISTERN!! Wilden finds the pieces and Alexei tries to mend them. He gets a vision of Nar (who made the rose and is the founder) he tells all pieces have a purpose. Rowan and Zara share time together so he can convince her and she plays to role. He tells her he wants to conquests all kingdoms and 'peace' by sacrificing the weak so he will reign. (The library scene is with rowan!!!) She at last gives in and they bond with the castle but PORFIRY ATTACHED A SILVER CHAIN ON ZARA AND SHE GOES INTO A COMA!!! Poriry is later ingrained into the castle and turned to stone!! Rowan enchanted Gulder to almost let him kill Zara!! Wilder has found zara's father and he fights with rowan (who now knows of thebetrayel l) he is trapped in the castle and can only be set free is his heart is pure. A pieve of the rose is ingrained into Arthi and she is now her humanform (Queen/cousin Alelei) Alexei saves zara by 'marrying' her through the bond. Because he loves her!!! Emotional scene!! She wakes up and at last tells him she loves him too!!! Epilogue: kimgdom is restore, school of magic is founded. Arthi is behind thorns so no one will find Rowan. and Zara and Alexei have a cute little cottage and they are finally home!!! Sooo happy for them!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I really like Kenley Davidson's writing and storytelling (especially world and magic building WOW) and I found it mostly easy to follow (I was a bit lost at the start with all these places and names, and even now I still can't remember every place that were mentioned and the people there, but it wasn't that necessary to remember any place other than Erathi). I loved all the characters, they were so sweet and they really banded together in the end which was really nice to read. I wish there was a little more of Wilder and it felt like she got forgotten a few times, but I understand this was also a part of her character.
I also really loved the romance between Alexei and Zara, it was sort-of enemies-to-lovers (I feel like it wasn't completely, which is why I say sort-of) which I also love *evil grin.* I loved Alexei especially (even though he was a bit pig-headed at the start, which, you know, he had his reasons). He was sweet after he got over his pig-headedness, and I liked how Davidson didn't let his scars define him, and Zara was more focused on who he was rather than what he looked like.
The only thing that really bothered me was Zara deciding she knew best and forging ahead with her own plan to save everyone without including anyone else. This just bugs me in general with characters, so I think it is more of a personal preference thing. I was going to give it a 3.75 but that ending gave it an instant 4, I loved it.
Altogether it was a charming read with a feel good ending.
#rowansucks!
100% clean (no spice)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I really like Kenley Davidson's writing and storytelling (especially world and magic building WOW) and I found it mostly easy to follow (I was a bit lost at the start with all these places and names, and even now I still can't remember every place that were mentioned and the people there, but it wasn't that necessary to remember any place other than Erathi). I loved all the characters, they were so sweet and they really banded together in the end which was really nice to read. I wish there was a little more of Wilder and it felt like she got forgotten a few times, but I understand this was also a part of her character.
I also really loved the romance between Alexei and Zara, it was sort-of enemies-to-lovers (I feel like it wasn't completely, which is why I say sort-of) which I also love *evil grin.* I loved Alexei especially (even though he was a bit pig-headed at the start, which, you know, he had his reasons). He was sweet after he got over his pig-headedness, and I liked how Davidson didn't let his scars define him, and Zara was more focused on who he was rather than what he looked like.
The only thing that really bothered me was Zara deciding she knew best and forging ahead with her own plan to save everyone without including anyone else. This just bugs me in general with characters, so I think it is more of a personal preference thing. I was going to give it a 3.75 but that ending gave it an instant 4, I loved it.
Altogether it was a charming read with a feel good ending.
#rowansucks!
100% clean (no spice)
April 17, 2020
I liked Alexi's story. I don't know why I kept imagining him older than his 35 or so years. But in this one, he's finally returning home. Home to his "living" castle and to his lands. He's supposed to be king but he has rejected that part of his inheritance. The "living" castle is quirky and manipulative. I wasn't leaning towards favoring the character at all. Especially when she would use Rowan as a means to an end. Although, in the end, they both got what was coming to them.
Zara was a great character! I liked her sassiness and she really shoots from the hip. She unknowingly arrives at the castle with her father & his treasure hunters. The hunters were promptly rejected by the house leaving Zara there to wander for months before the "living" house materializes into a cat-shaped avatar.
They are all here to help restore the boundaries of the land and bring Erath back into the prosperous place it once was. Except, Zara who just wants to go home.
This was quite the adventure. I couldn't have guessed how it all played out, so littered with twists and turns it was. But it was a very rewarding read! I felt like justice was delivered and am satisfied with the ending.
Like the others in this series thus far, the book is peppered with profanities. I like Wilder and all the secondary characters very well!
Zara was a great character! I liked her sassiness and she really shoots from the hip. She unknowingly arrives at the castle with her father & his treasure hunters. The hunters were promptly rejected by the house leaving Zara there to wander for months before the "living" house materializes into a cat-shaped avatar.
They are all here to help restore the boundaries of the land and bring Erath back into the prosperous place it once was. Except, Zara who just wants to go home.
This was quite the adventure. I couldn't have guessed how it all played out, so littered with twists and turns it was. But it was a very rewarding read! I felt like justice was delivered and am satisfied with the ending.
Like the others in this series thus far, the book is peppered with profanities. I like Wilder and all the secondary characters very well!
November 15, 2020
A unique retelling of Beauty and the Beast! Each of Davidson's fairy tale retellings are so loose that if I didn't know going in what it was that she was intending to mimic, I might not have even guessed it.
Alexei was a minor character in the retelling from the Twelve Dancing Princesses, and he suffered a disfiguring fate in that story, which is essentially what rendered him "the Beast." He returns to his home nation to find that his otherwise abandoned castle is currently occupied by a treasure hunter named Zara (Beauty), and a cat, who turns out to be the embodiment of the castle itself. It isn't Alexei that imprisons Zara, but the spell upon the castle itself. The castle (as played by the cat) informs the two early on that they must marry, but both rebel against this.
The primary villain in every story is Rowan Tremontaine, the former crown prince of Andari. Ousted by his own nation essentially for being a ne'er do well in favor of his younger brother, all his machinations revolve around finding a way to not only win back what he lost, but to expand his power into neighboring nations besides. His interference nearly topples the kingdom and results in Zara's death, but one thing you can count on in this series: there's always a happily ever after.
Alexei was a minor character in the retelling from the Twelve Dancing Princesses, and he suffered a disfiguring fate in that story, which is essentially what rendered him "the Beast." He returns to his home nation to find that his otherwise abandoned castle is currently occupied by a treasure hunter named Zara (Beauty), and a cat, who turns out to be the embodiment of the castle itself. It isn't Alexei that imprisons Zara, but the spell upon the castle itself. The castle (as played by the cat) informs the two early on that they must marry, but both rebel against this.
The primary villain in every story is Rowan Tremontaine, the former crown prince of Andari. Ousted by his own nation essentially for being a ne'er do well in favor of his younger brother, all his machinations revolve around finding a way to not only win back what he lost, but to expand his power into neighboring nations besides. His interference nearly topples the kingdom and results in Zara's death, but one thing you can count on in this series: there's always a happily ever after.
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