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A clever thief. A disgraced mage. A kiss of poison . . . .
Don't miss this "Beauty and the Beast" trilogy!
Peronelle Beck longs for nothing more than to leave behind her thieving ways and pursue a life of honest work. But when her father lands himself neck-deep in debt, Nelle must take on a dangerous job if she hopes to save his life . . . a job that brings her to the shores of Roseward Isle.
For fifteen years, Soran Silveri has fought to suppress the nightmarish monster stalking Roseward. His weapons are few and running low, and the curse placed upon him cripples his once unmatched power. Isolation has driven him to the brink of madness, and he knows he won’t be able to hold on much longer.
When a sharp-tongued, uncouth, and undeniably beautiful young woman shows up on his shore, Soran resolves to drive her away. He won’t be responsible for another death!
But Nelle is equally determined not to be frightened off by the hideously scarred mage. Not until she gets what she came for . . . .
Can two outcasts thrown together in a tangle of lies discover they are each other’s only hope? Or will the haunted darkness of Roseward tear them apart?
Don't miss this "Beauty and the Beast" trilogy!
Peronelle Beck longs for nothing more than to leave behind her thieving ways and pursue a life of honest work. But when her father lands himself neck-deep in debt, Nelle must take on a dangerous job if she hopes to save his life . . . a job that brings her to the shores of Roseward Isle.
For fifteen years, Soran Silveri has fought to suppress the nightmarish monster stalking Roseward. His weapons are few and running low, and the curse placed upon him cripples his once unmatched power. Isolation has driven him to the brink of madness, and he knows he won’t be able to hold on much longer.
When a sharp-tongued, uncouth, and undeniably beautiful young woman shows up on his shore, Soran resolves to drive her away. He won’t be responsible for another death!
But Nelle is equally determined not to be frightened off by the hideously scarred mage. Not until she gets what she came for . . . .
Can two outcasts thrown together in a tangle of lies discover they are each other’s only hope? Or will the haunted darkness of Roseward tear them apart?
415 pages, Paperback
First published September 20, 2020
1018 people are currently reading
2835 people want to read
About the author
Sylvia Mercedes
37 books2,257 followersHi, there. I'm Sylvia: cat-lover, tea-drinker, book-addict, and avid fan of the Kickbutt Heroine Fantasy Genre! If you like reading about tough heroines with extraordinary powers facing their demons and saving their loved ones . . . then we ought to be friends!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews
February 12, 2021
Seems like I’m the minority here since this book has such high reviews. Your mileage may vary so if the summary looks interesting to you, you should try a sample.
Personally I couldn’t get through the writing style. I get that the author wanted to focus on the thief twist of the female protagonist but the four chapters before she meets our male protagonist, I already don’t like her. Supposedly she’s this great thief and has been trained by her mother, but she has no tact, stabs and threatens people without a plan, and half of her dialogue is her cursing ‘Bullspit’ or ‘boggarts’ or a combination of the two. Where is the intelligence and resourcefulness of a thief? I just couldn’t dredge up any sympathy for her situation because I couldn’t believe that she was that good of a thief.
Oh and she’s stunningly beautiful and wasn’t taught how to use it? Bah! Lies. But she’s had a rough 2 years having to work as a maid to support herself and her gambling addicted fool of a father... Lemme just play the world’s smallest violin for you.
I also didn’t enjoy the narration and being inside her head. There was a lot of ‘telling,’ and not enough showing—of the important interesting bits. Half of her internal dialogue is attributing her thief skills to her mom or complaining about how poor she and her dad are now that her mom isn’t around to steal and provide for them anymore. Like thanks, I got that the first time you said it, you don’t need to repeat it every other paragraph.
I believe the entire first chapter was her walking through a hall (talking about the calming breathing her mother taught her and to focus, like her mother taught her), using fae-claws to climb up a window into a tower (which she got thanks to her mom), stealing the quill, kissing the mage dude who showed up (with the sleeping lipstick she got from her mom—which don’t even get me started on how this would not work without her ingesting it herself and getting KTFO. Authors, stop using lipstick poison/drugs, it doesn’t work like that!), leaving and meeting up with her lookout/childhood crush Sam (who also used to help her mom on past thefts).... Unless her mom is coming back as a twist villain or something, please stop throwing her in my face.
Nelle is living in the shadow of her mother before she meets Silvari and I just never got a feel for WHO she is or WHAT she stands for besides her loyalty to her really dumb dad. Oh and her love and adoration of her mother who taught her everything she knew. I started skimming at 12% and DNF at 21%. Maybe you will enjoy this better than I did. Seems like a lot of others had fun.
Personally I couldn’t get through the writing style. I get that the author wanted to focus on the thief twist of the female protagonist but the four chapters before she meets our male protagonist, I already don’t like her. Supposedly she’s this great thief and has been trained by her mother, but she has no tact, stabs and threatens people without a plan, and half of her dialogue is her cursing ‘Bullspit’ or ‘boggarts’ or a combination of the two. Where is the intelligence and resourcefulness of a thief? I just couldn’t dredge up any sympathy for her situation because I couldn’t believe that she was that good of a thief.
Oh and she’s stunningly beautiful and wasn’t taught how to use it? Bah! Lies. But she’s had a rough 2 years having to work as a maid to support herself and her gambling addicted fool of a father... Lemme just play the world’s smallest violin for you.
I also didn’t enjoy the narration and being inside her head. There was a lot of ‘telling,’ and not enough showing—of the important interesting bits. Half of her internal dialogue is attributing her thief skills to her mom or complaining about how poor she and her dad are now that her mom isn’t around to steal and provide for them anymore. Like thanks, I got that the first time you said it, you don’t need to repeat it every other paragraph.
I believe the entire first chapter was her walking through a hall (talking about the calming breathing her mother taught her and to focus, like her mother taught her), using fae-claws to climb up a window into a tower (which she got thanks to her mom), stealing the quill, kissing the mage dude who showed up (with the sleeping lipstick she got from her mom—which don’t even get me started on how this would not work without her ingesting it herself and getting KTFO. Authors, stop using lipstick poison/drugs, it doesn’t work like that!), leaving and meeting up with her lookout/childhood crush Sam (who also used to help her mom on past thefts).... Unless her mom is coming back as a twist villain or something, please stop throwing her in my face.
Nelle is living in the shadow of her mother before she meets Silvari and I just never got a feel for WHO she is or WHAT she stands for besides her loyalty to her really dumb dad. Oh and her love and adoration of her mother who taught her everything she knew. I started skimming at 12% and DNF at 21%. Maybe you will enjoy this better than I did. Seems like a lot of others had fun.
December 8, 2020
"This was a man who had seen things he should not see, done things he should never do. A man who had leapt for the stars only to discover how far he could fall."
Wow- this was a great Beauty and the Beast retelling!
The character were refreshingly different from the original (a thief h and a mage H!) with serious motivations and individual goals that drove the story in a fun way.
We also get some interesting world building and background stories with Nelle's life as a thief in the dark and gritty city landscape- as well as Soran's lonely existence living on a magical and deadly island.
When their stories come together we get more information on the magic in this world, mythical creatures and strange happenings going on. Also, we're teased with a bit of a slow build romance that I think has some serious potential.
Will read on to the next one! Check this out on KU.
September 28, 2020
A Beauty and the Beast retelling, featuring a troubled mage who has lost his powers, a cunning street thief with everything to lose, and the nightmarish thorn maiden intent on destroying them all. This retelling has some truly unique twists and turns, and plenty of feels. I also really love the magic system and history for this world.
This new release is the first in a trilogy that spans the full fairytale, so don't expect your Happily Ever After quite yet. But do come along for the ride - it's super fun, and has some great twists on the original!
A solid four stars.
This new release is the first in a trilogy that spans the full fairytale, so don't expect your Happily Ever After quite yet. But do come along for the ride - it's super fun, and has some great twists on the original!
A solid four stars.
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October 23, 2021I enjoyed that the heroine is maidenly enough to attract unicorns. I LOVED that the maidenly heroine attracts the unicorn by singing a tavern drinking song in incomprehensible thieves' cant.
January 20, 2021
Overall: 2 stars. A Beauty and the Beast-inspired fantasy romance that is overwrought and a bit too long for its own good
When I read the blurb for this one, I was super excited. I was hoping for a grumpy mage + high-spirited apprentice situation like Uprooted or Master of Crows. Unfortunately, this book ain’t that. There’s a loooot going on here, but none of it seems to have any lasting impact on the characters. Soran was an outline of an interesting tortured hero, but there’s not enough of him, and our heroine Nelle is one “cor blimey!” away from being a Cockney street waif from a Victorian novel. To top it off, our couple doesn’t really join forces until about 60% into the book: things do pick up at that point, but that’s a long time to wait for relationship interaction in a character-driven romance.
Meh.
When I read the blurb for this one, I was super excited. I was hoping for a grumpy mage + high-spirited apprentice situation like Uprooted or Master of Crows. Unfortunately, this book ain’t that. There’s a loooot going on here, but none of it seems to have any lasting impact on the characters. Soran was an outline of an interesting tortured hero, but there’s not enough of him, and our heroine Nelle is one “cor blimey!” away from being a Cockney street waif from a Victorian novel. To top it off, our couple doesn’t really join forces until about 60% into the book: things do pick up at that point, but that’s a long time to wait for relationship interaction in a character-driven romance.
Meh.
January 17, 2021
This book wasn't at all what I expected. It felt like Sylvia ripped away from familiar tropes and created two very fresh characters. And I loved it!
Nelle is a quirky, blunt street girl with flaming red hair. She's brave, sometimes rash, but not really hot-tempered, which I enjoyed. The mage was... I really don't know what to say about him without saying too much, as you learn about him gradually. I don't want to spoil the fun! Same goes for the villain. I detested her like a good villain should be, yet I'm also curious to learn more. (She's a creepy outfit!)
There were all sorts of fantastical creatures, and the humor in this story was refreshing. I laughed quite a bit. :D
I'll definitely be reading book 2
Nelle is a quirky, blunt street girl with flaming red hair. She's brave, sometimes rash, but not really hot-tempered, which I enjoyed. The mage was... I really don't know what to say about him without saying too much, as you learn about him gradually. I don't want to spoil the fun! Same goes for the villain. I detested her like a good villain should be, yet I'm also curious to learn more. (She's a creepy outfit!)
There were all sorts of fantastical creatures, and the humor in this story was refreshing. I laughed quite a bit. :D
I'll definitely be reading book 2
January 19, 2021
I really enjoyed this. Nelle and Soran are incredible. I love her attitude and her way with words and the fact she’s not some prissy female. She’s fierce and strong. I feel bad for Soran and hope that they can free him from his imprisonment.
January 19, 2021
Thief is such an intriguing tale, with similarities to Beauty and the Beast, yes, but also its own unique elements. Rather than a respectable yet odd girl from a quiet village, Peronelle, “Nelle,” is a former talented thief, who is forced into accepting a dangerous job to save her father. The author does a terrific job setting up the backstory of Nelle’s life – how she came to be a thief, her place in the society that is presented in the story, and the relationships that were established before the reader is introduced to the story. I thought it was well done along with the rising action of the plot; it engaged me quickly. It’s also refreshing that while she lacked a bit of manners, she isn’t so annoying brash as to be unrealistic; she is, however, very brave, and I liked that about her.
Soran Silveri might be a scarred beast of a man, but he is not a monster. A much more malevolent being takes the role, and it was spookily intriguing learning exactly what was going on at Roseward Island, a place that by all accounts looks like it was a prosperous place years before. I really felt for Soren; he paid for his mistakes many times over and continues to pay despite dwindling resources of his magical resources and the difficulty he faces night upon night fighting this monster.
The romance is a slow burn, which is my favorite kind – there’s not insta love for all that Nelle is tasked to accomplish her mission in whatever way possible, and Soran has been in absolute seclusion for fifteen years. Since there are more books to come, I’d hate for all of the tender, “aw” moments to have already happened. I do consider this a clean read; as far as the romance, while there is obvious attraction, it’s nothing over the top, and there is nothing explicit. There are some scarier, tense moments keeping it from being what I would strictly call a sweet read. I feel like there is much more to be explored in the romance, the island, and how the magic of the world works. I adored the addition of the wyverns, which are not dragons, as I soon found out, and not all unicorns are sweet, benevolent creatures.
I loved the imagery of this world and can’t wait to see what happens to these characters in the next book, which I am definitely eager to read. There are certainly questions to be answered and mysteries to be unraveled for Nelle and Soran.
I received an advanced copy of this novel from the author; I was not required to post a positive review, and these are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Soran Silveri might be a scarred beast of a man, but he is not a monster. A much more malevolent being takes the role, and it was spookily intriguing learning exactly what was going on at Roseward Island, a place that by all accounts looks like it was a prosperous place years before. I really felt for Soren; he paid for his mistakes many times over and continues to pay despite dwindling resources of his magical resources and the difficulty he faces night upon night fighting this monster.
The romance is a slow burn, which is my favorite kind – there’s not insta love for all that Nelle is tasked to accomplish her mission in whatever way possible, and Soran has been in absolute seclusion for fifteen years. Since there are more books to come, I’d hate for all of the tender, “aw” moments to have already happened. I do consider this a clean read; as far as the romance, while there is obvious attraction, it’s nothing over the top, and there is nothing explicit. There are some scarier, tense moments keeping it from being what I would strictly call a sweet read. I feel like there is much more to be explored in the romance, the island, and how the magic of the world works. I adored the addition of the wyverns, which are not dragons, as I soon found out, and not all unicorns are sweet, benevolent creatures.
I loved the imagery of this world and can’t wait to see what happens to these characters in the next book, which I am definitely eager to read. There are certainly questions to be answered and mysteries to be unraveled for Nelle and Soran.
I received an advanced copy of this novel from the author; I was not required to post a positive review, and these are my honest thoughts and opinions.
October 8, 2020
This was probably one of the most original B&B retellings I have read. It was so unusual and so well done when it came to the world building, mystery and the story line. The characters needed a lot of help and the idea of reading 3 books that takes 2 weeks in book time would kill me. Book 2 and three are set to come out 12/20 and 3/21 so that might give you pause to start this. This book was only 4 days in the life of these characters and they both almost die at least 4 times. That can get old quick. My biggest problem was the little guttersnipe of a main character Nelle. She acted like she was 14 years old and talked like it too. I tried to find it charming but just was irritated by her. I loved her bravery and spunk but hated that she thought about using her body to get what she wanted. I just hated the way she talked:{ I just kept picturing Belle and the 2 did not compare at all. I know the author meant to create something totally different and it just didn't work for me.
This book is PG13. There is a level a sensuality and lust that is more adult. There is a detailed make out scene that gets interrupted so doesn't go far but is very sensual. Most men want to rape her (which I hate) . There is a lot of violence, skin being ripped and torn, killing of fae creatures, near death experiences every day. Hitting of women. Death and torture.
This book is PG13. There is a level a sensuality and lust that is more adult. There is a detailed make out scene that gets interrupted so doesn't go far but is very sensual. Most men want to rape her (which I hate) . There is a lot of violence, skin being ripped and torn, killing of fae creatures, near death experiences every day. Hitting of women. Death and torture.
August 16, 2020
I LOVE IT. I'm a sucker for fairy tale retellings, and The Scarred Mage of Roseward has all the markers of a classic retelling, but has added so many unexpected elements. We have magic, wyverns, fae, interdimensional war, and a very unique spin on the beast "curse". Also, unicorns are bad?!
I enjoyed SM's pilot series, The Venatrix Chronicles, but her writing style has evolved so much and I loved this one so much more. There is still so much yet to be discovered about Nelle and Soran, and I'm expecting a few big reveals in the next installment.
The villain, The Thorn Maiden, is the stuff of nightmares. Literally. And it's obvious there is more to her than meets the eye also.
The romance has little growth. By the end of the book only a few days have passed since they've met, so I'm glad for that. I hate insta love. The sexual tension we do see I think makes sense. Nelle was sent to this island for the purpose of seducing this man (against her will), and Soran hasn't even seen a human, let alone a woman, in 15 years.
In short, I really enjoyed it. There were so many unexpected elements. I'll definitely continue the series.
I enjoyed SM's pilot series, The Venatrix Chronicles, but her writing style has evolved so much and I loved this one so much more. There is still so much yet to be discovered about Nelle and Soran, and I'm expecting a few big reveals in the next installment.
The villain, The Thorn Maiden, is the stuff of nightmares. Literally. And it's obvious there is more to her than meets the eye also.
The romance has little growth. By the end of the book only a few days have passed since they've met, so I'm glad for that. I hate insta love. The sexual tension we do see I think makes sense. Nelle was sent to this island for the purpose of seducing this man (against her will), and Soran hasn't even seen a human, let alone a woman, in 15 years.
In short, I really enjoyed it. There were so many unexpected elements. I'll definitely continue the series.
April 25, 2021
This book tries to be deep and mysterious but in actually is just an info dump at beginning and end, with filler in the middle. I understand keeping plot points hidden to make the story suspenseful, but this story kept everything hidden until 95% (with more secrets left unsaid). It's clearly setting up the second/third books, but simply isn't a good / compelling enough story for me to continue.
And if I have to read "bullspit" one more time I will scream.
And if I have to read "bullspit" one more time I will scream.
May 10, 2021
1.5 stars?
I struggled with this one. I made it through, but the more I think about it the more about the book annoys me and the less I like it.
The plot dragged a bit, and with only one major plot line and no sub plots, the pacing really suffered and the story felt a little flat.
The main character, Perenelle, was incredibly annoying - if she said ‘bullspit’ one more time I was just about ready to slap her (is she meant to be a cockney Victorian child?!). And there were so many contradictions to her backstory and character it wasn’t even funny (if you’re supposedly this amazing thief, surely you’d have a bit more intelligence).
I found the romance quite uncomfortable as she was meant to be 18 and he was meant to be 35? I don’t mind age gap romances, particularly in fantasy, but I find it a little uncomfortable when they are both human and both ‘normal’ ages (if it’s a different species/immortal that ages differently then it doesn’t feel as strange to me, because it’s clearly fantasy, but it feels iffy when they’re both human and the age gap is a real life one, if that makes sense). She’s a child and he’s an adult, and that’s clear not just in their ages but in the way they act, so a romance between the two feels incredibly uncomfortable. And for what is meant to be a character driven romance, it took way too long for any signs of romance to begin.
Lots of people liked this so if it sounds interesting to you, give it a go. Personally, I really didn’t vibe with the writing style, and although the premise had potential the execution very much fell flat.
I struggled with this one. I made it through, but the more I think about it the more about the book annoys me and the less I like it.
The plot dragged a bit, and with only one major plot line and no sub plots, the pacing really suffered and the story felt a little flat.
The main character, Perenelle, was incredibly annoying - if she said ‘bullspit’ one more time I was just about ready to slap her (is she meant to be a cockney Victorian child?!). And there were so many contradictions to her backstory and character it wasn’t even funny (if you’re supposedly this amazing thief, surely you’d have a bit more intelligence).
I found the romance quite uncomfortable as she was meant to be 18 and he was meant to be 35? I don’t mind age gap romances, particularly in fantasy, but I find it a little uncomfortable when they are both human and both ‘normal’ ages (if it’s a different species/immortal that ages differently then it doesn’t feel as strange to me, because it’s clearly fantasy, but it feels iffy when they’re both human and the age gap is a real life one, if that makes sense). She’s a child and he’s an adult, and that’s clear not just in their ages but in the way they act, so a romance between the two feels incredibly uncomfortable. And for what is meant to be a character driven romance, it took way too long for any signs of romance to begin.
Lots of people liked this so if it sounds interesting to you, give it a go. Personally, I really didn’t vibe with the writing style, and although the premise had potential the execution very much fell flat.
January 21, 2021
This is such a great start to a series and an interesting, subtle take on Beauty and the Beast. The main beats of a Beauty and the Beast story are there, but they are woven through a lush fantasy world filled with deadly magical creatures, an island being pulled from reality, and a plucky heroine who has no fear of taking on danger and who triumphs by sheer force of her determination.
The main characters together...eep! I have such a thing for an upbeat heroine and a taciturn leading man who end up getting stuck together. Such sparks!
As this is only book 1 in the trilogy, the ending is very open-ended and feels like we got only the first third of a story. But I was expected it, given the set up of the trilogy, and wasn't disappointed. I can't wait for the next book to find out what happens!
The main characters together...eep! I have such a thing for an upbeat heroine and a taciturn leading man who end up getting stuck together. Such sparks!
As this is only book 1 in the trilogy, the ending is very open-ended and feels like we got only the first third of a story. But I was expected it, given the set up of the trilogy, and wasn't disappointed. I can't wait for the next book to find out what happens!
January 6, 2021
Intrigued
A bit of a slow start, but not unbearable. Wasn't sure about Nelle at first, but she's growing on me. Will definitely be continuing this series.
A bit of a slow start, but not unbearable. Wasn't sure about Nelle at first, but she's growing on me. Will definitely be continuing this series.
Want to read
April 23, 2021Whoa!! The cover!!
December 13, 2020
2.5 stars.
Parts of this were interesting and others were so slow. I didn't like the annoying mentions of all the women that the hero had been with. Ick. And the fact that no one is ever mentioned bathing (even a towel bath) and the hero definitely needs to do some, was sort of gross. Also, if you're a reader who needs to know all the things near the beginning of book, give this one a pass. There's no explanation of anything (and not even a full one at that) until you hit the 93% mark.
Overall, this was alright but I'm not sure I'm going to stick with it.
Parts of this were interesting and others were so slow. I didn't like the annoying mentions of all the women that the hero had been with. Ick. And the fact that no one is ever mentioned bathing (even a towel bath) and the hero definitely needs to do some, was sort of gross. Also, if you're a reader who needs to know all the things near the beginning of book, give this one a pass. There's no explanation of anything (and not even a full one at that) until you hit the 93% mark.
Overall, this was alright but I'm not sure I'm going to stick with it.
May 9, 2021
If I have to read the word "bullspit" ever again in my life, it'll be too soon. Please, author.. You could have just used the word 'fuck' and all would have been well. You don't need to invent curse words, especially ones that sound that ridiculous. Then for the love of god, you don't need to repeat it multiple times in every chapter. I lost count at 23 times.
This was a good story and I want to hear more about what happens, but I really can't deal with the heroine's stupid choices and bullspit.
This was a good story and I want to hear more about what happens, but I really can't deal with the heroine's stupid choices and bullspit.
May 15, 2023
This book was entirely prologue! Like literally nothing important happened plot wise and there was no solutions. Not even short term. How this was 400 pages I cannot tell you. But am I excited to see what happens next? Yes a little bit. I can’t explain it to you. Fair warning this book is so slow. And for a fantasy romance it’s SLOW burn. We haven’t even started burning yet like Jesus.
March 31, 2025
A beautifully dark and dangerous start for this Beauty and the Beast inspired tale which is, as I’ve said before in other reviews, ties to the wider universe of Ms. Mercedes’s incredibly detailed world-build.
Maybe I’m reading everything out of order- I wouldn’t know for certain without looking up publishing dates, but here we get the story of Soran Silveri, a disgraced and cursed former Miphato. Now I’ve come across this name before in the Prince of the Doomed City series- Soran is a character who is spoken of, but no longer part of the storyline. He, of course, is a complete mystery yet I know he wrote the noswraith called the Thorn Maiden into being.
Well, now I get to find out the hows and whys of the story. Actually, the why is covered in the free short story The Rose of Dornrise, which you can download if you join her e-newsletter. Trust me, the download is completely and utterly worth it.
Now in this first book of the trilogy we find what he’s happened after Soran created his noswraith, knowing full well it breaks the Pledge between human and faekind. Our boy is punished about as harshly as you can imagine- doomed to live an extended life trapped on the abandoned and set adrift island his family once owned property on, and the spell book he must read aloud through the night to bind the Thorn Maiden for another day.
His death at her hands will come one day, but it is hoped that enough time will have passed by then that the island will have drifted off into the void and unable to reach the fae or mortal realms to cause further harm.
It is here he meets Nelle- the woman who arrives mysteriously one day who sneaks onto the island and stays, despite his warnings. It turns out Nelle has her reasons to not go back to the mainland, and they may not for as innocent of excuses as she says.
I am loving Soran as a character and his odd hermit mannerisms, especially how Nelle seems to throw him for a loop for a variety of reasons. The wyvern is freakishly adorable and Nelle is an charming delight to add to the mix, making for great chemistry and despite Soran’s mangled and scarred skin, thanks to the Thorn Maiden, there is something rather appealing about the vulnerability he shows, even with the gruff exterior. Even though I know Soran’s future, that does not in the least detract from enjoying the details of his past.
Now I’m off to book two- eager for more of the story and to watch this attraction between the two bloom.
Maybe I’m reading everything out of order- I wouldn’t know for certain without looking up publishing dates, but here we get the story of Soran Silveri, a disgraced and cursed former Miphato. Now I’ve come across this name before in the Prince of the Doomed City series- Soran is a character who is spoken of, but no longer part of the storyline. He, of course, is a complete mystery yet I know he wrote the noswraith called the Thorn Maiden into being.
Well, now I get to find out the hows and whys of the story. Actually, the why is covered in the free short story The Rose of Dornrise, which you can download if you join her e-newsletter. Trust me, the download is completely and utterly worth it.
Now in this first book of the trilogy we find what he’s happened after Soran created his noswraith, knowing full well it breaks the Pledge between human and faekind. Our boy is punished about as harshly as you can imagine- doomed to live an extended life trapped on the abandoned and set adrift island his family once owned property on, and the spell book he must read aloud through the night to bind the Thorn Maiden for another day.
His death at her hands will come one day, but it is hoped that enough time will have passed by then that the island will have drifted off into the void and unable to reach the fae or mortal realms to cause further harm.
It is here he meets Nelle- the woman who arrives mysteriously one day who sneaks onto the island and stays, despite his warnings. It turns out Nelle has her reasons to not go back to the mainland, and they may not for as innocent of excuses as she says.
I am loving Soran as a character and his odd hermit mannerisms, especially how Nelle seems to throw him for a loop for a variety of reasons. The wyvern is freakishly adorable and Nelle is an charming delight to add to the mix, making for great chemistry and despite Soran’s mangled and scarred skin, thanks to the Thorn Maiden, there is something rather appealing about the vulnerability he shows, even with the gruff exterior. Even though I know Soran’s future, that does not in the least detract from enjoying the details of his past.
Now I’m off to book two- eager for more of the story and to watch this attraction between the two bloom.
February 9, 2021
I couldn't get into this book and mostly found it boring. I'm giving it two stars because the writing isn't bad at all but the pacing was not good.
Around the 12% mark I started skimming, just as an FYI.
Alright, so nothing happened in this book. It was set up as Nelle coming to Soran's island to steal a spellbook. But the island is cursed at night by the Thorn Maiden who is darkness incarnate.
Every night Soran must read from the spellbook to rebind her so she cannot leave the island and kill people.
Solid plot, I liked that part.
Where the book falls short is with its characters. You've got Nelle who curses left and right, "bullspit" (boy did I loathe that word halfway through this book) which was used a total of 36 times btw. And does a lot of cooking and cleaning for Soran.
Literally their first time meeting she wants to cook some eggs and he just...let's her. For someone who wants her to leave he sure isn't very motivated.
She looks around the island twice (sort of 3 but that was more of a dream) for this magic spellbook that she doesn't even know what it looks like. I think if her motivations were more clear, like playing the fool or trying to appease Soran. Something that made me see her plotting mind beyond cooking, blushing around the mage, arguing with the wyvern, and hunting a unicorn.
As for Soran, I really didn't like his POV. When he's around Nelle he just thinks about how lonely he's been and how he'll never feel the softness of a woman's skin again and honestly I felt so icky. I think it was supposed to be tragic but I had no sympathy.
"Was she truly as beautiful as she looked to him in that moment? Or was he just . . . starved?" 63%
"A raw, animal-like heat ran through his veins, and it required whatever self-mastery he still possessed to not reach out, slide a hand around her waist, and draw her to him, pressing that narrow back against his chest so that he might breathe in the scent of her hair, her neck, her shoulder." 68%
This is her...2nd(?) morning there. No thank you.
The two of them combined became uninteresting and they had no chemistry.
The wyvern was my favorite who seemed more like a cute puppy.
Half the book was getting to the island and Nelle cooking, the other half was them hunting a unicorn, which are evil creatures. And sort of unveiling some secrets of the island. It was slow, slow, slow.
Bummed that I'm in the minority and didn't enjoy this book but it happens and I won't be continuing this series. I'm still in the middle of her Venatrix Chronicles series which suffers from the same slow moving plot but that one is holding my interest more.
Around the 12% mark I started skimming, just as an FYI.
Alright, so nothing happened in this book. It was set up as Nelle coming to Soran's island to steal a spellbook. But the island is cursed at night by the Thorn Maiden who is darkness incarnate.
Every night Soran must read from the spellbook to rebind her so she cannot leave the island and kill people.
Solid plot, I liked that part.
Where the book falls short is with its characters. You've got Nelle who curses left and right, "bullspit" (boy did I loathe that word halfway through this book) which was used a total of 36 times btw. And does a lot of cooking and cleaning for Soran.
Literally their first time meeting she wants to cook some eggs and he just...let's her. For someone who wants her to leave he sure isn't very motivated.
She looks around the island twice (sort of 3 but that was more of a dream) for this magic spellbook that she doesn't even know what it looks like. I think if her motivations were more clear, like playing the fool or trying to appease Soran. Something that made me see her plotting mind beyond cooking, blushing around the mage, arguing with the wyvern, and hunting a unicorn.
As for Soran, I really didn't like his POV. When he's around Nelle he just thinks about how lonely he's been and how he'll never feel the softness of a woman's skin again and honestly I felt so icky. I think it was supposed to be tragic but I had no sympathy.
"Was she truly as beautiful as she looked to him in that moment? Or was he just . . . starved?" 63%
"A raw, animal-like heat ran through his veins, and it required whatever self-mastery he still possessed to not reach out, slide a hand around her waist, and draw her to him, pressing that narrow back against his chest so that he might breathe in the scent of her hair, her neck, her shoulder." 68%
This is her...2nd(?) morning there. No thank you.
The two of them combined became uninteresting and they had no chemistry.
The wyvern was my favorite who seemed more like a cute puppy.
Half the book was getting to the island and Nelle cooking, the other half was them hunting a unicorn, which are evil creatures. And sort of unveiling some secrets of the island. It was slow, slow, slow.
Bummed that I'm in the minority and didn't enjoy this book but it happens and I won't be continuing this series. I'm still in the middle of her Venatrix Chronicles series which suffers from the same slow moving plot but that one is holding my interest more.
January 17, 2021
After her mother died, Nelle gave up crime to become a dishwasher. It might not be glamorous, but it was a living. Unfortunately, the criminal underworld hadn't forgotten Nelle's skills, which is how she ends up being recruited for the WORST. JOB. EVER. On the one hand, if she refuses she'll lose her hands and her father's life... On the other, if she takes the job she gets to deal with ghosts, scaly critters that bray like donkeys, flaming skeleton horse thingies, and a possibly crazy mage who clearly hasn't washed his hair in fifteen years.
Random thoughts: The story is exciting and often funny. There's some romance (as you would expect in a story inspired by Beauty and the Beast), and hints that the trilogy is going to handle some larger problems in this fantasy world, probably involving the fragile truce between men and faeries. I think SM strikes an interesting balance with Nelle; she can come across as brash, but she's not hotheaded, she's just often over-matched, with no real way to handle the situation except to brazen it out. I'm looking forward to the next book!
Content warnings: Several instances of sexual threat (both directions). Especially the opening scene. (Go away, evil rose ghost!) And one scene in the middle of the book which seems like it might wander off into romance territory but then decides not to. Overall rating is PG-13 due to those elements.
Random thoughts: The story is exciting and often funny. There's some romance (as you would expect in a story inspired by Beauty and the Beast), and hints that the trilogy is going to handle some larger problems in this fantasy world, probably involving the fragile truce between men and faeries. I think SM strikes an interesting balance with Nelle; she can come across as brash, but she's not hotheaded, she's just often over-matched, with no real way to handle the situation except to brazen it out. I'm looking forward to the next book!
Content warnings: Several instances of sexual threat (both directions). Especially the opening scene. (Go away, evil rose ghost!) And one scene in the middle of the book which seems like it might wander off into romance territory but then decides not to. Overall rating is PG-13 due to those elements.
October 17, 2020
Different kind of curse
I really enjoyed this retelling. Nelle is a snarky and clever girl that has found herself in a complicated situation. The story switches between two points of view allowing for a richer story.
I really enjoyed this retelling. Nelle is a snarky and clever girl that has found herself in a complicated situation. The story switches between two points of view allowing for a richer story.
January 5, 2023
It was so bad. One of the worst books I read in 2021 and it was all the more baffling as I had actually had several people mention this book with praise. The writing was choppy and repetitive. There was no depth or charm to the characters and the plot was not convincing.
August 20, 2020
A bit of backstory : I saw this book via goodreads back before it was even available to be an arc and thought to myself “ this book sounds like something right up my street, I will keep an eye out for it.” Fortunately, I was given the opportunity by the author to review this book early as an ARC ( one of the happiest days of my 2020) and by far I was not disappointed! Lets talk about it :
Some of the great stuff :
1. Mysterious haunted lighthouses? Fae? Those are some of my favourite things in a fantasy book. Its almost like the author read my deepest desires for a fantasy and mixed them all together in a cauldron of brilliance. I love stories with haunted locations - there is just something mysterious and satisfying about them. When you enter that place, your heart beats at the speed of light , hand in hand with your hero and discovers its secrets - there is no greater feeling of awe and delight. Fae creatures? I mean Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses series I would blame for my love of that, so any book with fae already melts my heart.
2. How the story was changed but worked with Beauty and the Beast. Without giving the plot away, it was slightly changed so that Nelle was not a prisoner of the mage and was slowly falling in love with him. The way the story was presented meant that it cut out the whole Stockholm syndrome that is most commonly brought up with the fairytale.
3. The wyverns and their cute little scenes. It felt like a disney movie - fluffy and lovely and I laughed all the way through the appearance of little wyverns.
No explicit scenes - I mean some people like more smut, but I do love stories that touch on the romance gently. I can see Soran and Nelle’s relationship growing and its not an insta love either, which is nice.
Things worth mentioning :
This is a very character driven story, it is a little bit slow, but thats good because we really spend this book focusing on the characters.
I am very much looking forward to the next book!!!
Some of the great stuff :
1. Mysterious haunted lighthouses? Fae? Those are some of my favourite things in a fantasy book. Its almost like the author read my deepest desires for a fantasy and mixed them all together in a cauldron of brilliance. I love stories with haunted locations - there is just something mysterious and satisfying about them. When you enter that place, your heart beats at the speed of light , hand in hand with your hero and discovers its secrets - there is no greater feeling of awe and delight. Fae creatures? I mean Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses series I would blame for my love of that, so any book with fae already melts my heart.
2. How the story was changed but worked with Beauty and the Beast. Without giving the plot away, it was slightly changed so that Nelle was not a prisoner of the mage and was slowly falling in love with him. The way the story was presented meant that it cut out the whole Stockholm syndrome that is most commonly brought up with the fairytale.
3. The wyverns and their cute little scenes. It felt like a disney movie - fluffy and lovely and I laughed all the way through the appearance of little wyverns.
No explicit scenes - I mean some people like more smut, but I do love stories that touch on the romance gently. I can see Soran and Nelle’s relationship growing and its not an insta love either, which is nice.
Things worth mentioning :
This is a very character driven story, it is a little bit slow, but thats good because we really spend this book focusing on the characters.
I am very much looking forward to the next book!!!
February 23, 2022
This book has everything you could ever want from a Beauty and the Beast retelling (except for her other five siblings that wouldn't fit in this retelling sadly). We have a resourceful heroine, a haunted hero, a creepy setting, mystery galore, and best of all- little animal friends in the form of wyverns. Also, the sorceress character is by far the creepiest of all Beauty and the Beast retellings (and definitely in the top three of creepiest villains of all fantasy retellings ever).
The setting itself was its own character and just so creepy and romantic at the same time. Another unlikely character was the chemistry between the scarred and hardened hero trying to sleep through life and the young, bright heroine who is too full of life to let that happen. I especially loved our title character, as our scrappy young thief was a character who knew she was beautiful and knew others knew it, but was also decidedly innocent and I really appreciate that she is both. The wyvern is my favorite character, though. Sorry, Nelle.
As a note to more sensitive readers, this story had a few bad words mixed in with fantasy words, fantasy violence, and strong romantic elements that puts in in the NA category rather than YA.
I look forward to reading the next two books- but I just got the rest of the Venatrix series, so I'm going to be wrapped up for at least a day...
The setting itself was its own character and just so creepy and romantic at the same time. Another unlikely character was the chemistry between the scarred and hardened hero trying to sleep through life and the young, bright heroine who is too full of life to let that happen. I especially loved our title character, as our scrappy young thief was a character who knew she was beautiful and knew others knew it, but was also decidedly innocent and I really appreciate that she is both. The wyvern is my favorite character, though. Sorry, Nelle.
As a note to more sensitive readers, this story had a few bad words mixed in with fantasy words, fantasy violence, and strong romantic elements that puts in in the NA category rather than YA.
I look forward to reading the next two books- but I just got the rest of the Venatrix series, so I'm going to be wrapped up for at least a day...
June 21, 2021
This is the first book I've ever read by Sylvia Mercedes and I will definitely read her again. While the book clearly resembled the Beauty and the Beast story, the twists were fun. Nelle (Beauty) was indeed beautiful, but uses that to her advantage by wearing poisoned lipstick that puts any man she kisses to sleep. She is also a renowned thief. The mage (Beast) was trapped in a strange place with a Thorn Maiden (yes, she is exactly what she sounds like), wyverns, and a murderous unicorn (although the unicorn surprises him, so maybe that's not a typical day's work). I thought it was hilarious the Nelle, despite her beauty can't sing, although she tries anyway. There was also something that seemed like a love triangle and it revolved around the mage which was another fun departure from the traditional tale. My only complaints were that the story was a little slow to get started and certain parts of the story jumped so quickly, I wasn't sure if I missed something or if they were dreaming, but that could have just been the shift between the main characters. The creativity was fantastic, however.
I received a free audiobook from the author and have reviewed it willingly.
I received a free audiobook from the author and have reviewed it willingly.
May 16, 2021
I have deeply enjoyed Sylvia Mercedes books thus far. This Beauty and the Beast retelling has not been what I would have expected. This series is definitely what I would consider a slow-burn romance. Nelle and Soren get off to a rocky start, but Nelle’s tenacity and lovely spirt slowly begin to win him over.
Nelle is a plucky, courageous character with a tendency toward magic that she never knew she possessed. In her desperation to save her father, Nelle attempts to win over the thorny Mage Soren Silveri. Soren slowly but surely begins to fall for her. I have enjoyed how well-drawn Soren is. He is taciturn, somewhat arrogant, but altogether a softie underneath all his scars and hard exterior.
What I loved: The wyverns that Soren created to keep him company and thus keep himself sane on his island. The unnamed wyvern that resides with Soren and Nelle is very cute and now I want one.
The scene with the unicorn. What an action-packed scene! I enjoyed it immensely! Also, one of my favorite scenes is when Soren is explaining to Nelle why the unicorn decided to reveal himself to her:
“Yes, well.” The mage took another heavy step or two, clearing his throat. “Unicorns will sometimes choose to reveal themselves to pure young maidens.” He hesitated before adding, “Virgins.” –Page 185
Of course, this comment caused an awkward yet strangely intimate moment between them. Sylvia is just such a darn good writer.
My only complaint is that the chapters do not end on cliff hangers to speed the book along. Maybe some readers would disagree with me but I rather like cliff hangers (as long as there isn’t one in the final chapter).
I thoroughly enjoyed the first installment in this retelling and can’t wait to devour the other two.
Nelle is a plucky, courageous character with a tendency toward magic that she never knew she possessed. In her desperation to save her father, Nelle attempts to win over the thorny Mage Soren Silveri. Soren slowly but surely begins to fall for her. I have enjoyed how well-drawn Soren is. He is taciturn, somewhat arrogant, but altogether a softie underneath all his scars and hard exterior.
What I loved: The wyverns that Soren created to keep him company and thus keep himself sane on his island. The unnamed wyvern that resides with Soren and Nelle is very cute and now I want one.
The scene with the unicorn. What an action-packed scene! I enjoyed it immensely! Also, one of my favorite scenes is when Soren is explaining to Nelle why the unicorn decided to reveal himself to her:
“Yes, well.” The mage took another heavy step or two, clearing his throat. “Unicorns will sometimes choose to reveal themselves to pure young maidens.” He hesitated before adding, “Virgins.” –Page 185
Of course, this comment caused an awkward yet strangely intimate moment between them. Sylvia is just such a darn good writer.
My only complaint is that the chapters do not end on cliff hangers to speed the book along. Maybe some readers would disagree with me but I rather like cliff hangers (as long as there isn’t one in the final chapter).
I thoroughly enjoyed the first installment in this retelling and can’t wait to devour the other two.
October 8, 2020
I loved this book. It is not a typical Beauty and the Beast retelling, but an inspiration grown to more than a pale copy. The main character, Nelle, is intelligent, determined, and quirky; the "Beast," Soran, is a man suffering the terrible consequence of his actions. There is plenty of beauty and gorgeous darkenss, but also organic humor and a light touch in handling the growing respect between the two main characters. Told in Mercedes' glittering prose, it is a fresh and wonderful read for those who enjoy character-driven fantasy.
July 7, 2021
I'm a sucker for Beauty and the Beast retellings and this book did not let me down! It was unique enough to really grab my attention and keep on reading, but still kept key elements from the classic tale that we all know and love. I really enjoyed that I got to read this book from both Nelle's and Soran's point of views. I felt like I really got to know them as characters. Nelle's humour really fit into the story and it really fit to her personality. I'm excited to read the second book to explore more of this well thought-out world with amazing creatures.
June 17, 2022
One of the very few books I've rated five stars so far in 2022. Five stars is typically reserved for books I both enjoy and consider a perfect favorite--stuff I can daydream about. This author is new to me (well, I did read Stolen Mage Bride), so I'll be checking out her other books as well.
Everything was just my exact taste. I loved the characters (Nelle is especially a delight but might not be for every reader), the setting, and the mystery of the world around them.
Everything was just my exact taste. I loved the characters (Nelle is especially a delight but might not be for every reader), the setting, and the mystery of the world around them.
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