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Briarley
An m/m World War II-era retelling of Beauty and the Beast .During a chance summer shower, an English country parson takes refuge in a country house. The house seems deserted, yet the table is laid with a sumptuous banquet such as the parson has not seen since before war rationing. Unnerved by the uncanny house, he flees, but stops to pluck a single perfect rose from the garden for his daughter - only for the master of the house to appear, breathing fire with rage. Literally. At first, the parson can't stand this dragon-man. But slowly, he begins to feel the injustice of the curse that holds the dragon captive. What can break this vengeful curse?
172 pages, Paperback
First published May 5, 2018
63 people are currently reading
1916 people want to read
About the author
Aster Glenn Gray
17 books176 followersAster Glenn Gray writes fantasies with a romantic twist, or romances with a fantastic twist. (And maybe other things too. She is still a work in progress.) When she is not writing, she spends much of her time haunting libraries, taking long walks, and doing battle with the weeds that seek to topple her tomato plants.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 322 reviews
January 1, 2022
I KINDLE-BORROWED THIS BOOK FROM MY FRIEND TEAL. THANK YOU!
My Review: One thing no one tells you about being an adult is that there are no unmixed emotions.
None.
The world is so much harder to navigate without Certainty as your guide, either that you...or your leaders...are Right, Correct, Blessed By Gawd; or that you are damned, doomed!, hopeless and irredeemable! because that is also freedom from the murk and misery of figuring it out step by step, bit by bit, holding as much of a candle as you possess to illuminate annihilating blackness.
What They also fail to mention is: that blackness, the awful weight of it, the airless suffocating relentless gravity? That is the presence and substance of Them, the expectations and blames and angers and recriminations...black is the presence of all colors, weight is the sensation of gravity from so much mass, like a black hole.
White is what you see when there is nothing there. When you scrub off, slip out from under, refuse to pick up their shitty, rotten-souled, stinking cruelty, you lose their weight and your eyes clear the darkness...but unrelieved white is blinding no less than pure black.
So learn this, grasp it, hold it up in front of yourself like a sword: There is no purity in the real, honest world. There are no unmixed emotions. And that is how you learn to navigate and identify the places you are safe. They have your mix of black and white, they match or enhance the colors you've chosen and blended, the ones that give your eyes the right shine and your heart the right lift. Drop the purity filters, learn how to see in as many shades between black and white as you can find.
When you will dare anything, anything at all, for someone else, to save them and create the world they want, you are closer to that clarity than at any other time.
You'll never be so brave, so sure, so certain of your actions, as when you rise to serve the ones you love. Nothing, literally no thing, can stop that purity...except nasty old Reality. And that's why we need stories like this one.
Why, I suppose, we need all stories...they provide endings when dank, dismal Reality insists on hauling up the fucking Sun again to glare at you and highlight your crow's feet and shine blindingly on your bald patch.
But sometimes, in the gray place your shadow makes, comes that voice: "did you make the coffee?"
So do it again, Hero.
My Review: One thing no one tells you about being an adult is that there are no unmixed emotions.
None.
The world is so much harder to navigate without Certainty as your guide, either that you...or your leaders...are Right, Correct, Blessed By Gawd; or that you are damned, doomed!, hopeless and irredeemable! because that is also freedom from the murk and misery of figuring it out step by step, bit by bit, holding as much of a candle as you possess to illuminate annihilating blackness.
What They also fail to mention is: that blackness, the awful weight of it, the airless suffocating relentless gravity? That is the presence and substance of Them, the expectations and blames and angers and recriminations...black is the presence of all colors, weight is the sensation of gravity from so much mass, like a black hole.
White is what you see when there is nothing there. When you scrub off, slip out from under, refuse to pick up their shitty, rotten-souled, stinking cruelty, you lose their weight and your eyes clear the darkness...but unrelieved white is blinding no less than pure black.
So learn this, grasp it, hold it up in front of yourself like a sword: There is no purity in the real, honest world. There are no unmixed emotions. And that is how you learn to navigate and identify the places you are safe. They have your mix of black and white, they match or enhance the colors you've chosen and blended, the ones that give your eyes the right shine and your heart the right lift. Drop the purity filters, learn how to see in as many shades between black and white as you can find.
When you will dare anything, anything at all, for someone else, to save them and create the world they want, you are closer to that clarity than at any other time.
You'll never be so brave, so sure, so certain of your actions, as when you rise to serve the ones you love. Nothing, literally no thing, can stop that purity...except nasty old Reality. And that's why we need stories like this one.
Why, I suppose, we need all stories...they provide endings when dank, dismal Reality insists on hauling up the fucking Sun again to glare at you and highlight your crow's feet and shine blindingly on your bald patch.
But sometimes, in the gray place your shadow makes, comes that voice: "did you make the coffee?"
So do it again, Hero.
January 29, 2023
Such a well-written, beautifully told story.
It’s a M/M, beauty and the beast retelling. It’s historical, fantastical, the writing is gorgeous and swept me away. It’s tender and soft and so sweet. There was something about it that made it comforting to read.
As with any good novella, I always want them to be longer. I could’ve spent way more time with Briarley and Edward.
It’s my first book by this author, but definitely not my last.
It’s a M/M, beauty and the beast retelling. It’s historical, fantastical, the writing is gorgeous and swept me away. It’s tender and soft and so sweet. There was something about it that made it comforting to read.
As with any good novella, I always want them to be longer. I could’ve spent way more time with Briarley and Edward.
It’s my first book by this author, but definitely not my last.
December 21, 2021
***** 4.5 stars *****
Let's put those stars into context.
I don't like fairy tales, I don't like retellings, I don’t like dragons. And what we have here is Beauty & the Beast retold as an m/m romance. With a dragon.
Yet… This obviously not-for-me book by a new-to-me author turned out to be amazing, moving, rich, touching, wonderful, and one of the best things I’ve read this year. (Her newest release, Honeytrap, which I finished yesterday, now holds the spot as my best book of 2020. So believe me, this author is a keeper.)
Written in such a casual, natural way that the lovely writing never draws attention to itself, the story reeled me in from the first pages. The setting, rural wartime England circa 1940, was richly imagined and felt deeply authentic. It felt true to books I’ve read set in Britain during and post-WWII, books written by authors who actually lived through those times.
I can't tell you how faithfully it tracks the fairy tale, or how/where it diverges from it, because I don’t know the Beauty & the Beast story. (Due to that whole “hating fairy tales” thing.) All I know is that it stands on its own as a story of two lonely men, thrown into months of forced proximity, gradually getting to know and appreciate and love each other. It moved me to tears, without ever degenerating into sentimentality.
This came so close to deserving 5 stars, but I had to hold back half a star because Still, I'm rounding up because it was such a moving and immersive experience, and because it introduced me to an author who has the potential to become one of my all-time favorites.
If you'd like to see a review by someone who's actually familiar with Beauty & the Beast and can discuss the book from that perspective, please check out Cristina’s excellent review here.
Let's put those stars into context.
I don't like fairy tales, I don't like retellings, I don’t like dragons. And what we have here is Beauty & the Beast retold as an m/m romance. With a dragon.
Yet… This obviously not-for-me book by a new-to-me author turned out to be amazing, moving, rich, touching, wonderful, and one of the best things I’ve read this year. (Her newest release, Honeytrap, which I finished yesterday, now holds the spot as my best book of 2020. So believe me, this author is a keeper.)
Written in such a casual, natural way that the lovely writing never draws attention to itself, the story reeled me in from the first pages. The setting, rural wartime England circa 1940, was richly imagined and felt deeply authentic. It felt true to books I’ve read set in Britain during and post-WWII, books written by authors who actually lived through those times.
I can't tell you how faithfully it tracks the fairy tale, or how/where it diverges from it, because I don’t know the Beauty & the Beast story. (Due to that whole “hating fairy tales” thing.) All I know is that it stands on its own as a story of two lonely men, thrown into months of forced proximity, gradually getting to know and appreciate and love each other. It moved me to tears, without ever degenerating into sentimentality.
This came so close to deserving 5 stars, but I had to hold back half a star because Still, I'm rounding up because it was such a moving and immersive experience, and because it introduced me to an author who has the potential to become one of my all-time favorites.
If you'd like to see a review by someone who's actually familiar with Beauty & the Beast and can discuss the book from that perspective, please check out Cristina’s excellent review here.
June 10, 2018
(This review duplicates what's in this Dreamwidth entry.)
Briarley retells the story of Beauty and the Beast, imagining what might happen if Beauty’s father was man enough not to let his daughter sacrifice herself for him. Instead, he stays in her place.
In this retelling, it’s World War II, and the father is a parson who’s also a veteran of the Great War, and the beast takes the form of a dragon.
You know this is going to be a different type of retelling by the parson’s initial reaction to the dragon’s dilemma:
Nor is this mere flippancy: “I have seen shell-shocked soldiers make great, great strides when they are given charge of a dog,” he says, and adds,
And that’s the type of story this is: the parson musing on the nature of love, different types of love, in the company of the dragon, who’s at first haughty, vain, capricious, and entitled, but gradually becomes… well, somewhat less so. Gray resists the easy out of a dramatic personality transformation—the emotional equivalent of taking off the glasses and having a character become suddenly gorgeous. Real people are beloved despite being prickly and short tempered. In this story, the parson has reasons for feeling both deep pity for and a deep attachment to the young man that the dragon once was.
The two talk not only about love, but also morality, vindictiveness, compassion—so much. And lest I’ve made it sound like some kind of milk-soaked graham cracker of a story, let me quickly also add that it’s **funny** too, as when the dragon and the parson have this exchange:
It’s an imaginative, moving, surprising story—I highly recommend it.
Briarley retells the story of Beauty and the Beast, imagining what might happen if Beauty’s father was man enough not to let his daughter sacrifice herself for him. Instead, he stays in her place.
In this retelling, it’s World War II, and the father is a parson who’s also a veteran of the Great War, and the beast takes the form of a dragon.
You know this is going to be a different type of retelling by the parson’s initial reaction to the dragon’s dilemma:
“The curse says you must learn to love and be loved, does it not? Those are the only conditions?” The dragon nodded, his head still buried in his hands. The parson broke a piece off a roll and buttered it. “Then I suggest you get a puppy,” he said.
Nor is this mere flippancy: “I have seen shell-shocked soldiers make great, great strides when they are given charge of a dog,” he says, and adds,
“A dog is a more loving creature than man. All the things that we wish we were, dogs are: loyal, faithful, loving, and cheerful in the face of adversity.
And that’s the type of story this is: the parson musing on the nature of love, different types of love, in the company of the dragon, who’s at first haughty, vain, capricious, and entitled, but gradually becomes… well, somewhat less so. Gray resists the easy out of a dramatic personality transformation—the emotional equivalent of taking off the glasses and having a character become suddenly gorgeous. Real people are beloved despite being prickly and short tempered. In this story, the parson has reasons for feeling both deep pity for and a deep attachment to the young man that the dragon once was.
The two talk not only about love, but also morality, vindictiveness, compassion—so much. And lest I’ve made it sound like some kind of milk-soaked graham cracker of a story, let me quickly also add that it’s **funny** too, as when the dragon and the parson have this exchange:
“That’s not how you learn to love, not at all. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it does not kidnap – ”The parson replies, “I believe the injunction against kidnapping is implied by all the rest of it.”
“You’re misquoting,” the dragon interrupted. “Paul doesn’t say anything about kidnapping.”
It’s an imaginative, moving, surprising story—I highly recommend it.
June 26, 2021
that was a very sudden, disappointing ending. lots of plot holes too, but still, i did kind of enjoy reading this in a weird way, but i started hating it when i saw that i barely had 10 pages left and the romance was non-existent. it’s unlike anything i’ve ever read before though, since i’m not one to read retellings unless i accidentally stumble upon them. but like…… WHERE was the romance? we got crumbs! they barely even kiss 🥴
i read honeytrap by this author months ago and absolutely loved it (i gave it an instant five stars and i still think about that book months later) so i wanted to check out more of this author’s writing. sadly, i didn’t love this one 💔
i read honeytrap by this author months ago and absolutely loved it (i gave it an instant five stars and i still think about that book months later) so i wanted to check out more of this author’s writing. sadly, i didn’t love this one 💔
September 20, 2020
3.5 stars
The writing was technically beautiful and the story an original mix of modern (it’s set in 1940) and fairytale.
I say the writing was technically beautiful because even though I enjoyed the story and the storytelling flew easily, it failed to make me sink into the story and I felt detached from the characters, always aware that I was reading about characters in a book. As a result, I was also extremely aware of any inconsistency that could’ve easily been, and in some case was, explained with the ‘it’s a fairytale retelling’ card.
I’m not sure why, but part of it is certainly the fact that I didn’t even know the names of the MCs for most of the book and even after I learned their names, the parson was still referred to as ‘the parson’ until the end of the book. Another part is that this is presented as a m/m retelling of Beauty and the Beast but the ‘romance’ didn’t work for me at all. It didn’t feel natural, just pieced together to fit that description. Since I’d have preferred if it wasn’t included at all. Everything else would’ve worked anyway, even if the two MCs had been friends.
Despite my issues, I enjoyed the story (I’m adding half a star for Daisy 💜) and I’m looking forward to discussing it more with the friends who joined me in this BR. 😊
Side note: just to give an example of what I meant by inconsistency that I should’ve explained away with the fairytale card and couldn’t, Harrods didn’t exist until 1849 and
And hard as I try, I can’t buy how the parson
The writing was technically beautiful and the story an original mix of modern (it’s set in 1940) and fairytale.
I say the writing was technically beautiful because even though I enjoyed the story and the storytelling flew easily, it failed to make me sink into the story and I felt detached from the characters, always aware that I was reading about characters in a book. As a result, I was also extremely aware of any inconsistency that could’ve easily been, and in some case was, explained with the ‘it’s a fairytale retelling’ card.
I’m not sure why, but part of it is certainly the fact that I didn’t even know the names of the MCs for most of the book and even after I learned their names, the parson was still referred to as ‘the parson’ until the end of the book. Another part is that this is presented as a m/m retelling of Beauty and the Beast but the ‘romance’ didn’t work for me at all. It didn’t feel natural, just pieced together to fit that description. Since I’d have preferred if it wasn’t included at all. Everything else would’ve worked anyway, even if the two MCs had been friends.
Despite my issues, I enjoyed the story (I’m adding half a star for Daisy 💜) and I’m looking forward to discussing it more with the friends who joined me in this BR. 😊
Side note: just to give an example of what I meant by inconsistency that I should’ve explained away with the fairytale card and couldn’t, Harrods didn’t exist until 1849 and
And hard as I try, I can’t buy how the parson
May 1, 2020
Briarley by Aster Glenn Gray is a fabulous queer retelling of the classic fairytale of Beauty and the Beast.
Set in the English countryside around the time of the Blitz in 1940, the story follows the adventures of a parson who finds himself tangled up with the curse that's been cast over the Briarley estate and its inhabitants.
Readers will probably be already familiar with the basic plot of the story either by reading one of its versions or through cinematic adaptations. Gray's novel preserves the main aspects of it - we have the gruff aristocratic turned into a hideous beast until he'll learn to love, the mansion suspended in a supernatural space/time, the few servants who have remained stuck within the house.
The changes are, however, very significant. The parson's refusal to leave his daughter at Briarley as a ransom for his attempted theft of a rose from the house's beautiful garden, flips the story on its head. The self-sacrifice of the parson, who offers to stay behind, puts him in the best position to evaluate and rethink the notion of love, not only with relation to the curse bestowed upon Briars and his household but also in relation to his own understanding of it.
The two main characters are beautifully portrayed. The dragon is fierce and scary but also endearing in his tantrums and sudden reactions. Edward, the parson, is thoughtful and full of a soft irony that I found truly lovely.
The writing is wonderful - the uncanny and the mundane get perfectly mixed and the more meditative parts of the story really glow and shine.
This is a clever, moving, beautiful retelling of a very famous story and I highly recommend it.
Set in the English countryside around the time of the Blitz in 1940, the story follows the adventures of a parson who finds himself tangled up with the curse that's been cast over the Briarley estate and its inhabitants.
Readers will probably be already familiar with the basic plot of the story either by reading one of its versions or through cinematic adaptations. Gray's novel preserves the main aspects of it - we have the gruff aristocratic turned into a hideous beast until he'll learn to love, the mansion suspended in a supernatural space/time, the few servants who have remained stuck within the house.
The changes are, however, very significant. The parson's refusal to leave his daughter at Briarley as a ransom for his attempted theft of a rose from the house's beautiful garden, flips the story on its head. The self-sacrifice of the parson, who offers to stay behind, puts him in the best position to evaluate and rethink the notion of love, not only with relation to the curse bestowed upon Briars and his household but also in relation to his own understanding of it.
The two main characters are beautifully portrayed. The dragon is fierce and scary but also endearing in his tantrums and sudden reactions. Edward, the parson, is thoughtful and full of a soft irony that I found truly lovely.
The writing is wonderful - the uncanny and the mundane get perfectly mixed and the more meditative parts of the story really glow and shine.
This is a clever, moving, beautiful retelling of a very famous story and I highly recommend it.
September 22, 2024
✰ 3.5 stars ✰
“Are you always so warm?” he asked the dragon, and reached out to touch a hand to his forehead.
The dragon shied away. “Always,” he said tersely. “Fire burns within me.”
The parson supposed that indeed it must.”
I never thought I would be reading a romance between that of the Beast and Belle's father, but, here we are. Here I am. 😊 Well it is not entirely a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, per se, but something of that between a stubborn and unflinching dragon and a sweet-tempered and kind-hearted elderly clergyman. A parson, who after unwittingly plucking a rose from the dragon's garden in the hopes of gifting it to his daughter, Rose, finds himself the guest in the dragon's lair - well, not his lair, more like his 'enchanted estate, where a dragon who is also a man threatened to keep me prisoner', while he ponders the ways in which to break the curse imposed upon him and his mansion and his servants, for despite their tireless efforts over a hundred years, the curse remains unbroken. 🥀🙏🏻
Until now.
Until with the little help of a delightfully precious dog, Daisy, the wits and solemn thought of religious zeal overcoming the onslaught of burdened prejudice and the whimsical antics of a deserted country house's delightful help, this felt like a warm blanket over a cozy fire, complete with the feels of a stubborn heart but with a loyal conviction that sometimes love does not always appear in the way we expect, and that it takes a certain kind of love to remind us what it means to be loved. 🌹❇️
“I know this is not to your taste, sir. But it seems to me that you must risk something, perhaps risk everything, if you are to break this curse.”
Set in the pre-early days of World War II, this was a very sweet and wholesome read. The vibes were magical - it captured the feeling of mystery and marvel - that spark of enchantment that lit up the light at how fantastical everything is, yet, there was that prevalent threat that if the curse did not break on All Hallow's Eve 1940, then the residents were doomed forever. It was a challenge the parson took on headstrong and steadfast, because like his dutiful daughter observed, 'you have an incorrigible affection for broken things'. 😥 And perhaps, no one was more broken than the dragon - no one who needed him more now than ever, as the clock ticks down to his fateful tragedy.
And you can't help but draw the similarities to the Disney classic, complete with the way the parson got under the dragon's skin, much like how Belle aggravated the Beast, only for him to want to do something in kindness for her. And the parson proved himself to a worthy guest in his mansion - 'in that moment he felt also something he had never expected to feel: and that was a profound compassion for the dragon.' ❤️🩹❤️🩹 The scenes between the two were lovely; tinged with frustration, yet patience, the parson steered the dragon to safer and greener pastures, filled with warmth and affection and kindness. Their relationship did not hint at love on first sight at all, at first, but a kindred relationship of understanding. 🥹🩶🤍
It is a slow-burn, and it is kind of not, considering the time limit, but it was adorable to see the dragon hesitantly but deservedly let the parson change his ways. It was warm in how the parson was very determined to help the dragon. He evoked this gentle patience and tolerance, along with a dash of sensible humor that made it impossible for the dragon to ignore, despite how hard he fought it off. 🥲 Gifting him Daisy was the purest gesture, a kindness that radiated within him at seeing a crippled dog delight in his presence nor be fearful of his claws, proving that there is still hope for the dragon to 'return to life and love and happiness through the agency of a good dog. Do try.' She truly had a heart of gold, and I could not help smiling every time she appeared. 🥰
Some grievances, that, not quite major or minor, but just enough to sway the rating.
“If you want someone to guide you through a labyrinth, you must choose someone who has been there before.”
What perhaps made it a bit harder to really connect was the slightly heavy emphasis on religion and tying it into the adversities of war. I know it is necessary at how the dragon had to overcome his own past guilt over his sexuality, and who better and wiser to aid him in understanding that part of himself than a parson - even with the bittersweet irony, I felt there was just a little too much too heavy emphasis on Christianity. 'I suppose you feel as a man of God that it is your duty to redeem me. “I would not presume so much,” the parson replied. “It is for God to redeem.' 🥺 Even with the relevance to how it was the parson who had to help the dragon forgive himself of his own self-loathing for simply being himself, it felt a little too much for its supposed fairy-tale vibe. I don't deny that it was important and cathartic for both of them to open up about their pasts, but still. 😕
Once they had formally introduced themselves, I wish the author could have changed the writing to have them address each other by their given name. It got a bit difficult to appreciate the story more, when they're still being called the dragon and the parson. It could have given their relationship a little more depth and growth in feeling comfortable to call each other by their given names. 🥺 Especially with such a lovely name like Briarley and the parson's own name, it is a shame it could not have been said more. 😔
The ending was a perfect blend of Howl's Moving Castle and the Beast's dramatic fall from the tower; heightened with excitement and passion and thrills that encompassed in the overwhelming happiness, while tinged with the uncertainty of an expectant future. However, why did it have to end so abruptly!!??? 😭😭 Give me more of the parson and the dragon being sweet and lovey-dovey! Give me more of the parson hesitant because of their significant age gap. And it is a lot! But, alas, it ended before they really begun; which is a shame, because seeing the dragon woo him even more and shower him with affection would have been the icing on the cake. 🙎🏻♀️
Suffice to say, this was another heartwarming read from the author. 👍🏻👍🏻 They have a knack of writing historical romances that are gentle and soft, but tinged with a realistic purpose to it. If that makes sense. I particularly loved how the author showed the injustice it was - 'to force the young man to learn to love by cutting him off almost entirely from human contact.' It is a rather heartbreaking thought, one I never really connected with the original Beast. But, how the parson and the dragon slowly grew closer, and hopefully fall deeper in love as time goes by felt believable and charming, that I could not quite fault it too much. And with a supporting cast that was equally charming and not too over the top allowed the magic of the enchantment to work its charm on me, as well. 🫶🏻✨🫶🏻
“Are you always so warm?” he asked the dragon, and reached out to touch a hand to his forehead.
The dragon shied away. “Always,” he said tersely. “Fire burns within me.”
The parson supposed that indeed it must.”
I never thought I would be reading a romance between that of the Beast and Belle's father, but, here we are. Here I am. 😊 Well it is not entirely a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, per se, but something of that between a stubborn and unflinching dragon and a sweet-tempered and kind-hearted elderly clergyman. A parson, who after unwittingly plucking a rose from the dragon's garden in the hopes of gifting it to his daughter, Rose, finds himself the guest in the dragon's lair - well, not his lair, more like his 'enchanted estate, where a dragon who is also a man threatened to keep me prisoner', while he ponders the ways in which to break the curse imposed upon him and his mansion and his servants, for despite their tireless efforts over a hundred years, the curse remains unbroken. 🥀🙏🏻
Until now.
Until with the little help of a delightfully precious dog, Daisy, the wits and solemn thought of religious zeal overcoming the onslaught of burdened prejudice and the whimsical antics of a deserted country house's delightful help, this felt like a warm blanket over a cozy fire, complete with the feels of a stubborn heart but with a loyal conviction that sometimes love does not always appear in the way we expect, and that it takes a certain kind of love to remind us what it means to be loved. 🌹❇️
“I know this is not to your taste, sir. But it seems to me that you must risk something, perhaps risk everything, if you are to break this curse.”
Set in the pre-early days of World War II, this was a very sweet and wholesome read. The vibes were magical - it captured the feeling of mystery and marvel - that spark of enchantment that lit up the light at how fantastical everything is, yet, there was that prevalent threat that if the curse did not break on All Hallow's Eve 1940, then the residents were doomed forever. It was a challenge the parson took on headstrong and steadfast, because like his dutiful daughter observed, 'you have an incorrigible affection for broken things'. 😥 And perhaps, no one was more broken than the dragon - no one who needed him more now than ever, as the clock ticks down to his fateful tragedy.
And you can't help but draw the similarities to the Disney classic, complete with the way the parson got under the dragon's skin, much like how Belle aggravated the Beast, only for him to want to do something in kindness for her. And the parson proved himself to a worthy guest in his mansion - 'in that moment he felt also something he had never expected to feel: and that was a profound compassion for the dragon.' ❤️🩹❤️🩹 The scenes between the two were lovely; tinged with frustration, yet patience, the parson steered the dragon to safer and greener pastures, filled with warmth and affection and kindness. Their relationship did not hint at love on first sight at all, at first, but a kindred relationship of understanding. 🥹🩶🤍
It is a slow-burn, and it is kind of not, considering the time limit, but it was adorable to see the dragon hesitantly but deservedly let the parson change his ways. It was warm in how the parson was very determined to help the dragon. He evoked this gentle patience and tolerance, along with a dash of sensible humor that made it impossible for the dragon to ignore, despite how hard he fought it off. 🥲 Gifting him Daisy was the purest gesture, a kindness that radiated within him at seeing a crippled dog delight in his presence nor be fearful of his claws, proving that there is still hope for the dragon to 'return to life and love and happiness through the agency of a good dog. Do try.' She truly had a heart of gold, and I could not help smiling every time she appeared. 🥰
Some grievances, that, not quite major or minor, but just enough to sway the rating.
“If you want someone to guide you through a labyrinth, you must choose someone who has been there before.”
What perhaps made it a bit harder to really connect was the slightly heavy emphasis on religion and tying it into the adversities of war. I know it is necessary at how the dragon had to overcome his own past guilt over his sexuality, and who better and wiser to aid him in understanding that part of himself than a parson - even with the bittersweet irony, I felt there was just a little too much too heavy emphasis on Christianity. 'I suppose you feel as a man of God that it is your duty to redeem me. “I would not presume so much,” the parson replied. “It is for God to redeem.' 🥺 Even with the relevance to how it was the parson who had to help the dragon forgive himself of his own self-loathing for simply being himself, it felt a little too much for its supposed fairy-tale vibe. I don't deny that it was important and cathartic for both of them to open up about their pasts, but still. 😕
Once they had formally introduced themselves, I wish the author could have changed the writing to have them address each other by their given name. It got a bit difficult to appreciate the story more, when they're still being called the dragon and the parson. It could have given their relationship a little more depth and growth in feeling comfortable to call each other by their given names. 🥺 Especially with such a lovely name like Briarley and the parson's own name, it is a shame it could not have been said more. 😔
The ending was a perfect blend of Howl's Moving Castle and the Beast's dramatic fall from the tower; heightened with excitement and passion and thrills that encompassed in the overwhelming happiness, while tinged with the uncertainty of an expectant future. However, why did it have to end so abruptly!!??? 😭😭 Give me more of the parson and the dragon being sweet and lovey-dovey! Give me more of the parson hesitant because of their significant age gap. And it is a lot! But, alas, it ended before they really begun; which is a shame, because seeing the dragon woo him even more and shower him with affection would have been the icing on the cake. 🙎🏻♀️
Suffice to say, this was another heartwarming read from the author. 👍🏻👍🏻 They have a knack of writing historical romances that are gentle and soft, but tinged with a realistic purpose to it. If that makes sense. I particularly loved how the author showed the injustice it was - 'to force the young man to learn to love by cutting him off almost entirely from human contact.' It is a rather heartbreaking thought, one I never really connected with the original Beast. But, how the parson and the dragon slowly grew closer, and hopefully fall deeper in love as time goes by felt believable and charming, that I could not quite fault it too much. And with a supporting cast that was equally charming and not too over the top allowed the magic of the enchantment to work its charm on me, as well. 🫶🏻✨🫶🏻
Read
March 22, 2020Autorka je zbog izolacije u doba virusa na nekoliko dana spustila cenu ove novele na nulu i evo, ja barem zahvaljujem se na tome :srce:
Prva rečenica blurba sve sažima - radi se o gej verziji Lepotice i zveri smeštene u Englesku u doba Drugog svetskog rata. Samo to ne zvuči ni izbliza toliko šarmantno i simpatično koliko zapravo jeste. Naime, lepotica je ovde sredovečni zalutali paroh a zver je zmaj tj. čovek na kog je bačena kletva zmajolikosti. Ne znam koliko je autorka bila inspirisana vrlo matorom pričom The Griffin and the Minor Canon, ali mene je Brajerli neodoljivo podsetio na nju i to posle par decenija od čitanja.* Humor je diskretan ali stalno prisutan, a paroh je čudo jedno od prisebnosti i zdravog razuma - tako je njegova prva reakcija kad vidi začaranu kuću i začaranu večeru da se uredno zahvali i krene napolje u noć i nevreme, jer ko je lud da se time bavi. Druga reakcija, kad zmaj zatraži da mu pošalje ćerku, jeste "DA LI STE VI NORMALNI GOSPODINE" i sve u svemu, svako natezanje između zmaja i paroha završava se sa 1:0 za popa.
Dodatni bonus poeni idu za vrlo brižljivo opisanu atmosferu Drugog svetskog rata koja uključuje zamračivanje i racionisanje hrane, potom za sporedne likove i uopšte za popunjavanje svih zamislivih narativnih rupa. Ova novela nekako za mene ima vajb najboljeg mogućeg fanfikšna i stvarno mi je legla u ovom trenutku.
*Stoktonova priča možda nije nešto ali ima zaista ljubak i nežan završetak, preporučujem ko voli.
Prva rečenica blurba sve sažima - radi se o gej verziji Lepotice i zveri smeštene u Englesku u doba Drugog svetskog rata. Samo to ne zvuči ni izbliza toliko šarmantno i simpatično koliko zapravo jeste. Naime, lepotica je ovde sredovečni zalutali paroh a zver je zmaj tj. čovek na kog je bačena kletva zmajolikosti. Ne znam koliko je autorka bila inspirisana vrlo matorom pričom The Griffin and the Minor Canon, ali mene je Brajerli neodoljivo podsetio na nju i to posle par decenija od čitanja.* Humor je diskretan ali stalno prisutan, a paroh je čudo jedno od prisebnosti i zdravog razuma - tako je njegova prva reakcija kad vidi začaranu kuću i začaranu večeru da se uredno zahvali i krene napolje u noć i nevreme, jer ko je lud da se time bavi. Druga reakcija, kad zmaj zatraži da mu pošalje ćerku, jeste "DA LI STE VI NORMALNI GOSPODINE" i sve u svemu, svako natezanje između zmaja i paroha završava se sa 1:0 za popa.
Dodatni bonus poeni idu za vrlo brižljivo opisanu atmosferu Drugog svetskog rata koja uključuje zamračivanje i racionisanje hrane, potom za sporedne likove i uopšte za popunjavanje svih zamislivih narativnih rupa. Ova novela nekako za mene ima vajb najboljeg mogućeg fanfikšna i stvarno mi je legla u ovom trenutku.
*Stoktonova priča možda nije nešto ali ima zaista ljubak i nežan završetak, preporučujem ko voli.
April 20, 2020
Completely and utterly delightful re-telling of Beauty & the Beast. Thoughtful, intelligent, gently humorous; a very simple prose style that's still luminous. Never have I felt the want of an epilogue so badly.
If I'd enjoyed the book less, I would have shown how clever I was by commenting on some logistical question-marks about the plot. But they honestly don't matter. This is going on my DIK shelf for when I'm in need of humane tolerance.
If I'd enjoyed the book less, I would have shown how clever I was by commenting on some logistical question-marks about the plot. But they honestly don't matter. This is going on my DIK shelf for when I'm in need of humane tolerance.
September 20, 2020
I enjoyed this fairytale retelling of Beauty and the Beast very much.
Perfect for a Sunday BR with friends.
BR with Cristina, Elena, Gabi, Rosa and Teal.
Perfect for a Sunday BR with friends.
BR with Cristina, Elena, Gabi, Rosa and Teal.
May 19, 2021
B+ / 4.5 stars- My read for the May TBR Challenge prompt Fairytale
I’m not a big fan of fairytale retellings, so I struggled a to come up with something for this month’s Challenge prompt and was almost at the point of just picking up a random book instead. But then I remembered Aster Glenn Gray’s Briarley – an m/m version of Beauty and the Beast – that I’d come across at the end of last year after enjoying Honeytrap. Problem solved!
This version of the story is set in the English countryside during World War II, and the exquisite writing and the author’s gift for language and tone sucked me in from the very first page:
There once was a country parson with a game leg from the Somme, who lived in a honey-colored parsonage with his daughter, the most beautiful girl in the world.
Others might have quibbled that Rose was not the most beautiful girl in the world, or even the prettiest girl in the village of Lesser Innsley. But to the parson she was all loveliness, all the more so because his wife died when their Rose was still very young, and so Rose was all he had left to love in this world.
Rose is home on leave from her work as a nurse, and when the parson (as he is usually called) has to go to a meeting in town regarding the evacuation of London’s children, she reminds him to bring her back a rose, something he’s done habitually whenever he returned from a trip away from home. As he’s cycling back, he somehow takes a wrong turn, and with his bad leg aching and the weather worsening, he decides to take refuge in a grand, seemingly abandoned house, hoping perhaps to use the phone to get a message to Rose that he’s been delayed. His knocks go unanswered, so he tries pushing the door… and is surprised when it opens. Inside, he finds a dining room with a crackling fire and a sumptuous feast laid out – one that must have put an incredible strain on the owner’s ration books! – but an eerie chill, despite the fire, will not leave him and he makes his way outside intending to continue his journey home. The house is surrounded by plentiful rose bushes and, remembering his promise to take one home, he cuts one using his penknife, and is about to leave when a booming voice yells “Thief!” from somewhere overhead – and a creature with wings and a large, scaly snout drops from the sky, gathers him in its arms and flies up into the air and onto the roof of the mansion.
The terrified parson tries to apologise to the dragon-man for stealing his rose, but the dragon will not hear his apology and says he will let him go – if he will send his daughter to take his place.
The author preserves the basic elements of the tale, but from here on in, she makes a number of significant changes while still very much preserving the spirit of the original. The parson’s refusal to bring his daughter to the house flips the story on its head, and his response to the dragon’s somewhat petulant reaction to his refusal:
“If the Luftwaffe gets you, it will be the only good work they ever did,”
Sets the tone for the gently adversarial relationship that develops between them.
And it’s clear this is going to be a very different sort of retelling when, in response to learning of the dragon’s dilemma, the parson suggests he should get a dog:
“The curse says you must learn to love and be loved, does it not? Those are the only conditions?” The dragon nodded, his head still buried in his hands. The parson broke a piece off a roll and buttered it. “Then I suggest you get a puppy,” he said.
At first glance it seems dismissive, but he then goes on to explain how he’s seen shell-shocked soldiers make huge progress when put in charge of a dog’s welfare - showing he’s already got a good read on the situation and is genuinely trying to find a practical solution to undoing the curse.
Briarley is fairly short (novella-length), but where so many shorter romances fall into the insta-love trap, this doesn’t and actually feels like a slow-burn as the parson and the dragon (as they’re usually called) start spending time together while the parson muses on the nature of love and its many forms and the dragon starts to let down his guard and become… more human.
The characters are well drawn – the dragon haughty, impulsive and entitled, the parson insightful with a nice sense of irony - and the author does an excellent job of showing their antagonistic relationship developing into a true friendship, and then taking a more romantic turn. The parson’s deep affection for the dragon permeates the pages as the story progresses, as does his understanding and compassion for the thoughtless young man he’d once been.
The setting of rural wartime England is superbly and subtly evoked; the location in the enchanted house spares the characters most of the real hardships endured by so many, but the war is never far away; it’s in the talk of rationing, of children being evacuated from the cities, of young people being called up to fight and watching the raids by the Lutfwaffe and the aerial dogfights between them and the RAF.
My only complaint – which is kind of a big one for a book labelled a romance – is that the love story is under-developed and could have used a few more pages/chapters to be more fully fleshed-out. The deep affection and the friendship between the parson and the dragon are strongly present and thoroughly convincing, but not so much the romantic love, which is disappointing. But even so, Briarley is funny and thought-provoking, the dialogue is clever, the writing is superb and the whole thing is utterly charming. In spite of the low-key romance, it’s still well worth reading and if you’re a fan of fairytale retellings, it should be on your radar.
I’m not a big fan of fairytale retellings, so I struggled a to come up with something for this month’s Challenge prompt and was almost at the point of just picking up a random book instead. But then I remembered Aster Glenn Gray’s Briarley – an m/m version of Beauty and the Beast – that I’d come across at the end of last year after enjoying Honeytrap. Problem solved!
This version of the story is set in the English countryside during World War II, and the exquisite writing and the author’s gift for language and tone sucked me in from the very first page:
There once was a country parson with a game leg from the Somme, who lived in a honey-colored parsonage with his daughter, the most beautiful girl in the world.
Others might have quibbled that Rose was not the most beautiful girl in the world, or even the prettiest girl in the village of Lesser Innsley. But to the parson she was all loveliness, all the more so because his wife died when their Rose was still very young, and so Rose was all he had left to love in this world.
Rose is home on leave from her work as a nurse, and when the parson (as he is usually called) has to go to a meeting in town regarding the evacuation of London’s children, she reminds him to bring her back a rose, something he’s done habitually whenever he returned from a trip away from home. As he’s cycling back, he somehow takes a wrong turn, and with his bad leg aching and the weather worsening, he decides to take refuge in a grand, seemingly abandoned house, hoping perhaps to use the phone to get a message to Rose that he’s been delayed. His knocks go unanswered, so he tries pushing the door… and is surprised when it opens. Inside, he finds a dining room with a crackling fire and a sumptuous feast laid out – one that must have put an incredible strain on the owner’s ration books! – but an eerie chill, despite the fire, will not leave him and he makes his way outside intending to continue his journey home. The house is surrounded by plentiful rose bushes and, remembering his promise to take one home, he cuts one using his penknife, and is about to leave when a booming voice yells “Thief!” from somewhere overhead – and a creature with wings and a large, scaly snout drops from the sky, gathers him in its arms and flies up into the air and onto the roof of the mansion.
The terrified parson tries to apologise to the dragon-man for stealing his rose, but the dragon will not hear his apology and says he will let him go – if he will send his daughter to take his place.
The author preserves the basic elements of the tale, but from here on in, she makes a number of significant changes while still very much preserving the spirit of the original. The parson’s refusal to bring his daughter to the house flips the story on its head, and his response to the dragon’s somewhat petulant reaction to his refusal:
“If the Luftwaffe gets you, it will be the only good work they ever did,”
Sets the tone for the gently adversarial relationship that develops between them.
And it’s clear this is going to be a very different sort of retelling when, in response to learning of the dragon’s dilemma, the parson suggests he should get a dog:
“The curse says you must learn to love and be loved, does it not? Those are the only conditions?” The dragon nodded, his head still buried in his hands. The parson broke a piece off a roll and buttered it. “Then I suggest you get a puppy,” he said.
At first glance it seems dismissive, but he then goes on to explain how he’s seen shell-shocked soldiers make huge progress when put in charge of a dog’s welfare - showing he’s already got a good read on the situation and is genuinely trying to find a practical solution to undoing the curse.
Briarley is fairly short (novella-length), but where so many shorter romances fall into the insta-love trap, this doesn’t and actually feels like a slow-burn as the parson and the dragon (as they’re usually called) start spending time together while the parson muses on the nature of love and its many forms and the dragon starts to let down his guard and become… more human.
The characters are well drawn – the dragon haughty, impulsive and entitled, the parson insightful with a nice sense of irony - and the author does an excellent job of showing their antagonistic relationship developing into a true friendship, and then taking a more romantic turn. The parson’s deep affection for the dragon permeates the pages as the story progresses, as does his understanding and compassion for the thoughtless young man he’d once been.
The setting of rural wartime England is superbly and subtly evoked; the location in the enchanted house spares the characters most of the real hardships endured by so many, but the war is never far away; it’s in the talk of rationing, of children being evacuated from the cities, of young people being called up to fight and watching the raids by the Lutfwaffe and the aerial dogfights between them and the RAF.
My only complaint – which is kind of a big one for a book labelled a romance – is that the love story is under-developed and could have used a few more pages/chapters to be more fully fleshed-out. The deep affection and the friendship between the parson and the dragon are strongly present and thoroughly convincing, but not so much the romantic love, which is disappointing. But even so, Briarley is funny and thought-provoking, the dialogue is clever, the writing is superb and the whole thing is utterly charming. In spite of the low-key romance, it’s still well worth reading and if you’re a fan of fairytale retellings, it should be on your radar.
October 4, 2018
I'm going to put Briarley up there with the most original retellings of "Beauty and the Beast" I've read, because of the setting and the pairing as much as for the plot.
It's set in the English countryside during World War II, and despite the location sparing them from the most severe hardships of it, the war isn't absent from the story. It's there in the rationing, in the necessity for the young ones to go to the frontlines to fight or to nurse, and in the aerial dogfights betweeen the Luftwaffe and the RAF that can be witnessed down from the manor, etc. I really appreciated that the insularity of the place wasn't used as an excuse to ignore the conflict, that historical events aren't window dressing here.
Then there's the characters. Parson Edward Harper is a kind and likable man in his middle age, widowed and with one daughter that's a war nurse, who is compelled by foul weather to seek refuge in a dark and seemingly abandoned manor when returning to his village after his duties. The manor is so spooky he's sent bicycling away at top speed almost as soon as he enters the place, but on his way he's tempted to pick a rose for his daughter, as he has the habit of bringing back a rose every time he's gone from home. As anyone who's read the original tale will know, this gets him in serious trouble with the manor's master. Who's a dragon. Yes, a realer than real dragon called Briarley. Cursed, of course. All this also a staple of Beauty & Beast retellings.
But that's where the by-the-letter adherence ot the fairy tale's plot ends, because the rest is different. It's essentially like those sweet and clean slow-burn romances from the 1800s that so many people still love to pieces even now, with the sole difference that it's a male-male pairing (I don't recall seeing a M/M clean romance before!). This being so short, instant love would've been expected, but it's kept going as slow as length permits instead. There's the other elements you'd expect in a Regency novel: the loyal gaggle of servants, the brooding housemaster, the irrepressible doggie, village eccentrics of all kinds... I sometimes had to remind myself that this was a "modern" story. There's plenty of banter as much as serious talk between the characters, and I appreciated that the societal and moral challenges to same-sex couples that would've plagued people from the time aren't avoided but discussed, and in a manner that doesn't detract from the storyline.
It's set in the English countryside during World War II, and despite the location sparing them from the most severe hardships of it, the war isn't absent from the story. It's there in the rationing, in the necessity for the young ones to go to the frontlines to fight or to nurse, and in the aerial dogfights betweeen the Luftwaffe and the RAF that can be witnessed down from the manor, etc. I really appreciated that the insularity of the place wasn't used as an excuse to ignore the conflict, that historical events aren't window dressing here.
Then there's the characters. Parson Edward Harper is a kind and likable man in his middle age, widowed and with one daughter that's a war nurse, who is compelled by foul weather to seek refuge in a dark and seemingly abandoned manor when returning to his village after his duties. The manor is so spooky he's sent bicycling away at top speed almost as soon as he enters the place, but on his way he's tempted to pick a rose for his daughter, as he has the habit of bringing back a rose every time he's gone from home. As anyone who's read the original tale will know, this gets him in serious trouble with the manor's master. Who's a dragon. Yes, a realer than real dragon called Briarley. Cursed, of course. All this also a staple of Beauty & Beast retellings.
But that's where the by-the-letter adherence ot the fairy tale's plot ends, because the rest is different. It's essentially like those sweet and clean slow-burn romances from the 1800s that so many people still love to pieces even now, with the sole difference that it's a male-male pairing (I don't recall seeing a M/M clean romance before!). This being so short, instant love would've been expected, but it's kept going as slow as length permits instead. There's the other elements you'd expect in a Regency novel: the loyal gaggle of servants, the brooding housemaster, the irrepressible doggie, village eccentrics of all kinds... I sometimes had to remind myself that this was a "modern" story. There's plenty of banter as much as serious talk between the characters, and I appreciated that the societal and moral challenges to same-sex couples that would've plagued people from the time aren't avoided but discussed, and in a manner that doesn't detract from the storyline.
June 10, 2018
Just completely unexpected. Aster Glenn Gray re-imagines the eternal tale of the Beauty and the Beast in the countryside of warn-torn 1940 England. Is it corny at times? Obviously, as one expects. But it's mostly the smart, insightful, bittersweet and funny journey of a solitary dragon and the no-nonsense parson he kidnaps, and who won't trade his daughter's life for his. So the Parson stays, worms his way into the dragon's tiny, isolated world, and it's just pure pleasure to see them debate of religion, love, human nature, and whether adopting a puppy might break the dragon's curse if no maiden is available to do so. :D
February 3, 2022
I kept misreading “the parson” as “the person,” which made things very distracting (the characters are called “the parson” and “the dragon” to sustain the fairytale-like prose). I hope there’s a followup story or bonus epilogue with Rose!
September 7, 2025
Briarley is an enchanting, gentle, reimagined telling of Beauty and the Beast. Though the ‘romance’ aspect is subdued and really doesn’t blossom until the very end of the story, I thoroughly enjoyed this thoughtful tale. It’s written and told with a tone which, to me, echoed fantastical childhood fairy tales.
What charmed me the most was the exploration of what it means to love and whether familial love, platonic love, love of pets, acts of kindness/love toward mankind in general, etc. could break the curse. This exploration was refreshing and heartwarming.
I also appreciated Aster Glenn Gray’s take on other themes at the heart of the fairy tale. She questions whether the harshness of the curse is warranted weighed against the reason for the curse in a thoughtful nuanced way that spoke to me. She also confronts the difficult issue of how the church judges homosexuality, how that judgment inspires self condemnation and hate within Briarley/the dragon and the ways the parson reconciles his faith and his love. I am not religious and actually consider myself somewhat anti-religion so when religion comes into play in queer stories, I’m often either ambivalent or low key annoyed. Here, it inspired an affinity for and understanding of both the dragon and the parson.
Having had a taste of Aster Glenn Gray’s style with Honeytrap, what I got with Briarley was very much what I expected, a thoughtful, gentle tale that is a little out of the typical m/m mainstream and which warmed my cynical, queer, weary heart.
Why 4 stars and not 5?
The main reason is that I would have loved for the romance aspect to have been explored in greater depth plus there were a few plot holes that didn’t really bother me but which did pull me out of the story just a touch.
I borrowed Briarley on KU but intend to add it to my birthday wishlist so I have it in my library permanently.
What charmed me the most was the exploration of what it means to love and whether familial love, platonic love, love of pets, acts of kindness/love toward mankind in general, etc. could break the curse. This exploration was refreshing and heartwarming.
I also appreciated Aster Glenn Gray’s take on other themes at the heart of the fairy tale. She questions whether the harshness of the curse is warranted weighed against the reason for the curse in a thoughtful nuanced way that spoke to me. She also confronts the difficult issue of how the church judges homosexuality, how that judgment inspires self condemnation and hate within Briarley/the dragon and the ways the parson reconciles his faith and his love. I am not religious and actually consider myself somewhat anti-religion so when religion comes into play in queer stories, I’m often either ambivalent or low key annoyed. Here, it inspired an affinity for and understanding of both the dragon and the parson.
Having had a taste of Aster Glenn Gray’s style with Honeytrap, what I got with Briarley was very much what I expected, a thoughtful, gentle tale that is a little out of the typical m/m mainstream and which warmed my cynical, queer, weary heart.
Why 4 stars and not 5?
The main reason is that I would have loved for the romance aspect to have been explored in greater depth plus there were a few plot holes that didn’t really bother me but which did pull me out of the story just a touch.
I borrowed Briarley on KU but intend to add it to my birthday wishlist so I have it in my library permanently.
September 20, 2021
This one was short but it's the way this author wrote this story that was so 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡.
The characters were super believable and just so good together.
The couple was adorable too.
If you are going through a reading slump and want something to read just to try something different and indulging, I totally suggest this one! ❤️
The characters were super believable and just so good together.
The couple was adorable too.
If you are going through a reading slump and want something to read just to try something different and indulging, I totally suggest this one! ❤️
December 27, 2023
Oh boy. This was trucking along at a 4-star rating for most of the book. I really liked how she changed up several elements to the "Beauty and the Beast" story, the WW II time setting, the remote English country side, the big eery castle. Even with the beast being a dragon, I was really enjoying how he wasn't a monster or a tantrum-throwing manchild. The parson was never really a prisoner and chose to stay and help because he felt it his duty to do so. They actually addressed how over the top the punishment was compared to what the beast and the servants did (yes, the servants were guilty too in this story). I even liked that this was told in a style similar to the old fairy tales.
BUT. There were still plot holes. None of the servants could leave the premises. So how did they get mail out, when the people in the nearby town seemingly forgot the estate existed? Who picked up the mail? Certainly, no one was delivering it. How did people outside remember to go visit their relations there if there was a mind-whammy thing going on causing people to forget about it? As Elena pointed out in her review, Harrod's was established after the spell was cast. How did they find out about it? If the dragon could fly wherever he wanted but could only land on estate grounds, how did no one ever see him flying around?
But all that I could have overlooked or explained as "the magic effects others more strongly than some" or even "the magic got stronger over time" or even just "time itself made the people around the estate forget about it since there was no activity coming or going from it after the first few years of the spell being cast". What really dropped this down to 3 stars was the final chapter.
Why was the romance even there? It ended up feeling tacked on and not earned at all. And then all the talk about It just felt like an unnecessary obstacle at the last minute to, I don't know, add angst or something. It didn't make sense.
This is the third story from this author I've read, and so far they're all pretty mediocre in the end. The only reason I liked Honeytrap as much as I did was because of Gennady, otherwise, that wouldn't be worth remembering either. I have one more from her through KU, so I'll give that a whirl, but I'm thinking this author just may not be for me.
Oh, wait, I have to give an honorable mention to Daisy, the dog. She was adorable and the best thing about this story. 🥰
BUT. There were still plot holes. None of the servants could leave the premises. So how did they get mail out, when the people in the nearby town seemingly forgot the estate existed? Who picked up the mail? Certainly, no one was delivering it. How did people outside remember to go visit their relations there if there was a mind-whammy thing going on causing people to forget about it? As Elena pointed out in her review, Harrod's was established after the spell was cast. How did they find out about it? If the dragon could fly wherever he wanted but could only land on estate grounds, how did no one ever see him flying around?
But all that I could have overlooked or explained as "the magic effects others more strongly than some" or even "the magic got stronger over time" or even just "time itself made the people around the estate forget about it since there was no activity coming or going from it after the first few years of the spell being cast". What really dropped this down to 3 stars was the final chapter.
Why was the romance even there? It ended up feeling tacked on and not earned at all. And then all the talk about It just felt like an unnecessary obstacle at the last minute to, I don't know, add angst or something. It didn't make sense.
This is the third story from this author I've read, and so far they're all pretty mediocre in the end. The only reason I liked Honeytrap as much as I did was because of Gennady, otherwise, that wouldn't be worth remembering either. I have one more from her through KU, so I'll give that a whirl, but I'm thinking this author just may not be for me.
Oh, wait, I have to give an honorable mention to Daisy, the dog. She was adorable and the best thing about this story. 🥰
February 3, 2021
The first half of this book took forever to get through. I thought about putting it aside. Repeatedly. I also wasn't fond of the religious content. But sometime after crossing into the second half, I was finally immersed, quit thinking about Edward being a parson, and just fell in love with the characters and the story. A very different style of writing. Many tears in the last quarter of the book. All in all, a lovely historical fantasy/PNR and a unique take on Beauty and the Beast.
September 21, 2020
I enjoyed this book a lot, it's a nice reading for an afternoon. I liked the writing style of this retelling of the Beauty and the Beast , is easy to read and the ambiance is lovely, but I think it would have benefited of some more pages. For me the "romance" felt rushed they were becoming friends and then, boom! I love you... some more pages to show how their friendship changed would have been wonderful and after that I wouldn't have minded if the book would have stopped there because the fairy tale vibe is enough to give us our HEA.
September 21, 2020
3.5 rounded up
May 12, 2018
A retelling of Beauty and the Beast where the beast is a dragon and the traveller a village parson who refuses to trade his daughter's freedom for his own? Where he stays with the beast himself and they have discussions on the nature of love and its varying forms? And also it's set in England during World War II? Clearly, I must read this immediately.
I am here to tell you that it is every bit as delightful as I'd hoped. The fairytale tone is charming without being twee, Briarley Hall has just the right amount of magic (lent help by Gray's heartrendingly lovely depictions of the landscape), and the English countryside feels real and lived-in and more than a little war-weary.
Most importantly, though, the leads are complex and beautifully rendered. The dragon's slow awakening to respect and eventual love feels genuine—as does the parson's occasional frustration with the dragon's self-pity. Their dynamic works well, emphasizing their humanity even amidst the fantastic surroundings.
It's one of my favorite truisms that you can write a good story about anything—a transsexual glam-rock singer from communist East Berlin, a trigendered alien race, a postapocalyptic culture of car-obsessed warlords—if you find the love in it, the place where the characters and their struggles speak to the shared humanity in us. For a tale about a person supposedly incapable of love, this story is suffused with it, as ever-prevalent and ever-blooming as the enchanted roses. Fear, too, and grief, and anger, and the whole gamut of emotions; they anchor the novella and make it real and immediate in a way that many authors spend whole books never quite reaching. I loved this story and I can't wait to see what Gray does next.
I am here to tell you that it is every bit as delightful as I'd hoped. The fairytale tone is charming without being twee, Briarley Hall has just the right amount of magic (lent help by Gray's heartrendingly lovely depictions of the landscape), and the English countryside feels real and lived-in and more than a little war-weary.
Most importantly, though, the leads are complex and beautifully rendered. The dragon's slow awakening to respect and eventual love feels genuine—as does the parson's occasional frustration with the dragon's self-pity. Their dynamic works well, emphasizing their humanity even amidst the fantastic surroundings.
It's one of my favorite truisms that you can write a good story about anything—a transsexual glam-rock singer from communist East Berlin, a trigendered alien race, a postapocalyptic culture of car-obsessed warlords—if you find the love in it, the place where the characters and their struggles speak to the shared humanity in us. For a tale about a person supposedly incapable of love, this story is suffused with it, as ever-prevalent and ever-blooming as the enchanted roses. Fear, too, and grief, and anger, and the whole gamut of emotions; they anchor the novella and make it real and immediate in a way that many authors spend whole books never quite reaching. I loved this story and I can't wait to see what Gray does next.
August 20, 2020
The parson grew exasperated. “It’s not real love if it is only a means to an end,” he said.
..........
“Perhaps your love for you wife purified it?” the dragon suggested. “It did not need purifying,” the parson said.
This story is unique and quite resembles beauty and the beast but MM version. And isn't it beautiful? Love loveeeeeee ❤
Weakened by arduous journey, the parson stopped to shelter in a deserted house but it was well kept and cleaned. The parson did not believe in spell or superstition. He felt an ominous urge to retreat, so he did but not without a rose for his dear daughter.
Doommmm! There it was the furious dragon. The dragon enraged the parson and threatened him to bring his daughter as a replacement. Of course, he refused to such ridiculous proposal. Who on earth would send someone so dear to the dragon?
The parson wondered what happened and why the dragon seemed desparate and infuriating. It turned out. They were cursed: servants and dragon alike. The parson who had an eccentric fondness for broken things insisted to stay and help life the curse. ( he is a truly good man. Selfless.caring.strong albeit his injuried leg)
The romance was short but adorable as the two men learned to care for one another.
..........
If you want someone to guide you through a labyrinth, you must choose someone who has been there before.”
.........
Thx for reading. I am actually new at this review thing. I am prone to reading than writing, but I am trying to write a good review to share my perspective. I have been reading quality reviews on goodreads, and I wish I could do the same. My English is flawed but I am trying my best. 🤞🤞
..........
“Perhaps your love for you wife purified it?” the dragon suggested. “It did not need purifying,” the parson said.
This story is unique and quite resembles beauty and the beast but MM version. And isn't it beautiful? Love loveeeeeee ❤
Weakened by arduous journey, the parson stopped to shelter in a deserted house but it was well kept and cleaned. The parson did not believe in spell or superstition. He felt an ominous urge to retreat, so he did but not without a rose for his dear daughter.
Doommmm! There it was the furious dragon. The dragon enraged the parson and threatened him to bring his daughter as a replacement. Of course, he refused to such ridiculous proposal. Who on earth would send someone so dear to the dragon?
The parson wondered what happened and why the dragon seemed desparate and infuriating. It turned out. They were cursed: servants and dragon alike. The parson who had an eccentric fondness for broken things insisted to stay and help life the curse. ( he is a truly good man. Selfless.caring.strong albeit his injuried leg)
The romance was short but adorable as the two men learned to care for one another.
..........
If you want someone to guide you through a labyrinth, you must choose someone who has been there before.”
.........
Thx for reading. I am actually new at this review thing. I am prone to reading than writing, but I am trying to write a good review to share my perspective. I have been reading quality reviews on goodreads, and I wish I could do the same. My English is flawed but I am trying my best. 🤞🤞
November 17, 2025
Reread, November 2025
I’m sick and couldn’t sleep last night, so what better comfort than to read this absolutely blessed novella. Aster Glenn Grey does not get enough hype.
Originally read, Feb 2020
A queer retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in the early days of WWI, in which a bisexual country parson stumbles into the enchanted estate of a dragon but rather than trading his daughter for his freedom decides to stay himself. What follows is a careful, generous slow burn of a romance, that explores many different forms of love and gives lots of space to relationships beyond the central pairing. Although the book is short it has vivid textural detail, strong sense of place and lots of lovely banter. I found it painfully beautiful at times: the writing is so spare and confident.
If you loved Silver in the Woods, you will love this too.
I’m sick and couldn’t sleep last night, so what better comfort than to read this absolutely blessed novella. Aster Glenn Grey does not get enough hype.
Originally read, Feb 2020
A queer retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in the early days of WWI, in which a bisexual country parson stumbles into the enchanted estate of a dragon but rather than trading his daughter for his freedom decides to stay himself. What follows is a careful, generous slow burn of a romance, that explores many different forms of love and gives lots of space to relationships beyond the central pairing. Although the book is short it has vivid textural detail, strong sense of place and lots of lovely banter. I found it painfully beautiful at times: the writing is so spare and confident.
If you loved Silver in the Woods, you will love this too.
March 22, 2020
This is such a kind, gentle and funny retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Just lovely!
March 24, 2020
An absolute gem! An unexpected retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in World War II England. At turns witty and poignant. Sumptuous and stark.
The author challenges traditions of the classic fairytale by swapping out a country parson in place of the beauty. And the beast isn’t the conventional bull/bear/lion hybrid we’ve come to associate with the story, but instead a real fire breathing winged dragon - with a bit more human form.
Its, yes, a tale as old as time *cringes* but the slow, inevitable march of true love - the kind of love that forever changes you, has been around since the beginning of time. It sneaks up on you but once it’s caught up to you it’s an absolute force of nature washing away any facade.
If you’re looking for a balm in these very trying times then I cannot recommend this enough. But I have to warn you: you will have a book hangover after this one.
5 very enthusiastic stars
The author challenges traditions of the classic fairytale by swapping out a country parson in place of the beauty. And the beast isn’t the conventional bull/bear/lion hybrid we’ve come to associate with the story, but instead a real fire breathing winged dragon - with a bit more human form.
Its, yes, a tale as old as time *cringes* but the slow, inevitable march of true love - the kind of love that forever changes you, has been around since the beginning of time. It sneaks up on you but once it’s caught up to you it’s an absolute force of nature washing away any facade.
If you’re looking for a balm in these very trying times then I cannot recommend this enough. But I have to warn you: you will have a book hangover after this one.
5 very enthusiastic stars
November 9, 2018
Beauty and the Beast retellings always attract my attention, however full of questionable morals the original tale was. Remove the Stockholm Syndrome part and give the story a fresh twist and you'll have an enthusiastic reader in me.
This was the case for Briarley. The twist was in the setting (England during WWII) and in the protagonists (an older man instead of a young girl as the Beast's "captive") - and it worked perfectly well. The romance was a slow-burn, and I loved the book's touches of humour and humanity. There is an interesting, touching reflexion about religion and homosexuality (the hero is a bisexual country parson); nothing preachy, just a beautiful message of hope and acceptance.
All in all a win for me, and I'll be following Gray's work!
This was the case for Briarley. The twist was in the setting (England during WWII) and in the protagonists (an older man instead of a young girl as the Beast's "captive") - and it worked perfectly well. The romance was a slow-burn, and I loved the book's touches of humour and humanity. There is an interesting, touching reflexion about religion and homosexuality (the hero is a bisexual country parson); nothing preachy, just a beautiful message of hope and acceptance.
All in all a win for me, and I'll be following Gray's work!
July 16, 2018
OK, so Beauty and the Beast, but the dad doesn't sell out his daughter. And the beast is a dragon. And it's WWII, so you gotta fight some Nazis.
I don't know what else to tell you. This rules.
I don't know what else to tell you. This rules.
February 5, 2022
Ця книжечка якась така... приємна? Це ретелінґ "Красуні і чудовиська", дія якого розгортається в 1940-му році в Англії. Наш герой не купець, як в класичних версіях, а parson (не знаю, як правильно перекласти українською). Він сам був солдатом у Першій світовій, втратив багатьох близьких, був поранений (і поранена колись нога йому дошкуляє навіть через 20 років), у своїй парафії він звик допомагати людям, тіла і душі яких понищила Велика війна і саме як людину з ПТСР він згодом трактує місцеве чудовисько.
Як у звиклому варіанті, він зрізає без дозволу троянду для своєї доньки Роуз, його ловить на гарячому обурений власник зачарованого маєтку, який тут має вигляд такого собі драконо-чоловіка, і вимагає, щоб той прислав до нього свою доньку. А наш parson такий: "Дульки! Моя дочка — не моя власність і не твоя, і їй самій вирішувати, куди їй іти. І взагалі: вона записалася медсестрою, тож виконує дуже важливу та потрібну роботу, нíколи їй скніти з тобою!" І тут я полюбила його всім серцем. Але наш parson людина, народжена, щоб допомагати, тож він вирішує залишитися і спробувати допомогти зняти закляття, особливо після того, як довідується, що в маєтку з господарем мешкають ще й невидимі слуги.
"Щоб зняти закляття треба когось полюбити? Що ж, драконолюду треба завести песика! — одразу ж вирішує наш герой. — Бо собак просто неможливо не любити!" І все, я просто розтеклася. Дуже миле коротке чтиво.
Як у звиклому варіанті, він зрізає без дозволу троянду для своєї доньки Роуз, його ловить на гарячому обурений власник зачарованого маєтку, який тут має вигляд такого собі драконо-чоловіка, і вимагає, щоб той прислав до нього свою доньку. А наш parson такий: "Дульки! Моя дочка — не моя власність і не твоя, і їй самій вирішувати, куди їй іти. І взагалі: вона записалася медсестрою, тож виконує дуже важливу та потрібну роботу, нíколи їй скніти з тобою!" І тут я полюбила його всім серцем. Але наш parson людина, народжена, щоб допомагати, тож він вирішує залишитися і спробувати допомогти зняти закляття, особливо після того, як довідується, що в маєтку з господарем мешкають ще й невидимі слуги.
"Щоб зняти закляття треба когось полюбити? Що ж, драконолюду треба завести песика! — одразу ж вирішує наш герой. — Бо собак просто неможливо не любити!" І все, я просто розтеклася. Дуже миле коротке чтиво.
August 17, 2022
3.5✨ I have been planning to read 3 books from this author for the last year. But I ended up reading this novella because it's a retelling of my fav 'Beauty and the Beast.
Set in the 1940s, England with WWII in the background. But, the author has retained the elements of fantasy in the story and the cursed castle is still struck in the 1840s. Although the Beast is as grumpy as the original one, Beauty is a vicar.
I enjoyed the lovely setting and well-written characters. I should especially mention that I liked how the discussion around Internalised homophobia was handled. But I am not too happy with some plot holes. Still, I will love to read more from the author.
P.S- Please note it's a Historical fiction and closed-door romance.
Set in the 1940s, England with WWII in the background. But, the author has retained the elements of fantasy in the story and the cursed castle is still struck in the 1840s. Although the Beast is as grumpy as the original one, Beauty is a vicar.
I enjoyed the lovely setting and well-written characters. I should especially mention that I liked how the discussion around Internalised homophobia was handled. But I am not too happy with some plot holes. Still, I will love to read more from the author.
P.S- Please note it's a Historical fiction and closed-door romance.
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