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A Court of Fairy Tales #1
An Enchantment of Thorns
A fae beast. An enchanted forest. A beauty destined to break the curse upon them...
As town greenwitch, Aster’s spent her whole life defending her people from the nightmarish fae of the forest. Yet despite her best efforts, each year a girl is taken by the fae Beast who rules the Folkwood, sacrificed to the ancient faerie magic of the Tithe.
And this year, the Beast claims Aster.
When he whisks her away to his lavish woodland Court, Aster finds herself prisoner in a cursed mansion laced with enchantments and filled with hordes of wicked faerie servants. Not to mention there’s the Beast himself, whose savage beauty and dark magic never fail to remind Aster of his predatory fae nature.
But when the Beast realizes Aster is more powerful than she ever could have guessed, he offers her a deal. Her freedom in exchange for her help breaking the curse on his Court.
As feelings blossom between the two of them, their faerie bargain will force Aster to choose: her people or her heart.
A retelling of Beauty and the Beast, An Enchantment of Thorns is the first in a new series of interconnected fairy tale retellings that feature strong heroines, swoon-worthy heroes, clean romance, and magical happy ever afters. Readers are comparing this new fae romance to A Court of Thorns and Roses, Uprooted, and The Cruel Prince.
As town greenwitch, Aster’s spent her whole life defending her people from the nightmarish fae of the forest. Yet despite her best efforts, each year a girl is taken by the fae Beast who rules the Folkwood, sacrificed to the ancient faerie magic of the Tithe.
And this year, the Beast claims Aster.
When he whisks her away to his lavish woodland Court, Aster finds herself prisoner in a cursed mansion laced with enchantments and filled with hordes of wicked faerie servants. Not to mention there’s the Beast himself, whose savage beauty and dark magic never fail to remind Aster of his predatory fae nature.
But when the Beast realizes Aster is more powerful than she ever could have guessed, he offers her a deal. Her freedom in exchange for her help breaking the curse on his Court.
As feelings blossom between the two of them, their faerie bargain will force Aster to choose: her people or her heart.
A retelling of Beauty and the Beast, An Enchantment of Thorns is the first in a new series of interconnected fairy tale retellings that feature strong heroines, swoon-worthy heroes, clean romance, and magical happy ever afters. Readers are comparing this new fae romance to A Court of Thorns and Roses, Uprooted, and The Cruel Prince.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 6, 2021
202 people are currently reading
1666 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
March 17, 2024
4.5 rounding up!
This was a wonderful Beauty and the Beast retelling that I ate up! It has major Cruel Prince fairy world vibes with whimsical scenery, creatures, magic and more. Would have been a one day read if work and life didn't get in the way.
The audio book was great!
This was a wonderful Beauty and the Beast retelling that I ate up! It has major Cruel Prince fairy world vibes with whimsical scenery, creatures, magic and more. Would have been a one day read if work and life didn't get in the way.
The audio book was great!
December 25, 2023
5/5 stars
I received an ARC of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
The Folkwood is a dangerous place. The woods are full of fae who are extremely dangerous. Aster’s job as the town greenwitch is to keep the forest back and protect the townspeople from the fae. But she’s taken in the Tithe, a selection ceremony where the Beast picks an eighteen-year-old girl and takes her back into the Folkwood with him. Unable to help her town and held captive by the Beast, Aster is determined to escape. Yet escape seems impossible when she’s under the watch of the powerful and handsome faerie, not to mention surrounded by the Folkwood. The Beast offers Aster her freedom if she manages to complete a certain task—breaking the curse on him. As she goes about her task, she finds herself falling for him. However, as the forest grows more dangerous, Aster is left to choose between helping her people or breaking the curse.
Fae? Beauty and the Beast re-telling? This had my name written all over it, and it did not disappoint! I tore through this book and finished it around 3 am. My only regret is that I now have to wait a long time before the next book comes out!
There are so many things to love about this book! The backbone of the story was based on Beauty and the Beast, with fae elements adding and altering the plot. The authors wove these aspects together to create a magical, romantic tale! Anyone familiar with the Beauty and the Beast story will know that it incorporates the enemies-to-lovers trope, something that I absolutely adore; it was done so well in this book!
The Beast is a handsome fae under a horrible curse. But there’s so much more to him than that! He has plenty of moments that will leave you jealous of Aster! Needless to say, he was my favorite character!
Aster surprised me in this book. I wasn’t sure what to think of her at first, but I really liked her by the end! She’s got a lot of strength and courage. I also really like how she interacts with the Beast! Her commitment to breaking the curse and to her family is definitely commendable!
The magic in this book is so cool! It incorporates the typical way faery magic works with some unique twists! The authors made it their own, and it was actually one of my favorite parts of the book.
I cannot recommend this enough! I’m desperate to get my hands on book two! If you like fairy tale re-tellings, enemies-to-lovers, fae, clean romance, or Beauty and the Beast, I strongly recommend reading this!
I received an ARC of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
The Folkwood is a dangerous place. The woods are full of fae who are extremely dangerous. Aster’s job as the town greenwitch is to keep the forest back and protect the townspeople from the fae. But she’s taken in the Tithe, a selection ceremony where the Beast picks an eighteen-year-old girl and takes her back into the Folkwood with him. Unable to help her town and held captive by the Beast, Aster is determined to escape. Yet escape seems impossible when she’s under the watch of the powerful and handsome faerie, not to mention surrounded by the Folkwood. The Beast offers Aster her freedom if she manages to complete a certain task—breaking the curse on him. As she goes about her task, she finds herself falling for him. However, as the forest grows more dangerous, Aster is left to choose between helping her people or breaking the curse.
Fae? Beauty and the Beast re-telling? This had my name written all over it, and it did not disappoint! I tore through this book and finished it around 3 am. My only regret is that I now have to wait a long time before the next book comes out!
There are so many things to love about this book! The backbone of the story was based on Beauty and the Beast, with fae elements adding and altering the plot. The authors wove these aspects together to create a magical, romantic tale! Anyone familiar with the Beauty and the Beast story will know that it incorporates the enemies-to-lovers trope, something that I absolutely adore; it was done so well in this book!
The Beast is a handsome fae under a horrible curse. But there’s so much more to him than that! He has plenty of moments that will leave you jealous of Aster! Needless to say, he was my favorite character!
Aster surprised me in this book. I wasn’t sure what to think of her at first, but I really liked her by the end! She’s got a lot of strength and courage. I also really like how she interacts with the Beast! Her commitment to breaking the curse and to her family is definitely commendable!
The magic in this book is so cool! It incorporates the typical way faery magic works with some unique twists! The authors made it their own, and it was actually one of my favorite parts of the book.
I cannot recommend this enough! I’m desperate to get my hands on book two! If you like fairy tale re-tellings, enemies-to-lovers, fae, clean romance, or Beauty and the Beast, I strongly recommend reading this!
March 7, 2025
Okay, buckle up porque esta va a ser mi rant personal de este libro. Como siempre ACLARANDO que se trata únicamente de mi experiencia y perspectiva subjetiva tras escuchar el audiolibro.
Esta valoración NO pretende ser una verdad absoluta, sino el reflejo de cómo me sentí a lo largo de la obra. Entiendo que los gustos son muy personales y que es completamente válido que a unas personas les atraiga lo que a otras no.
Además, me parece importante cuestionar la tendencia a normalizar y romantizar conductas tóxicas en relaciones amorosas, especialmente cuando dichas actitudes se enmarcan en personajes dentro de los cánones de atractivo. Resulta paradójico que un relato inspirado en "La Bella y la Bestia", cuyo mensaje original invita a ver más allá de la apariencia física, incurra en los mismos errores que critica.
Pasando a lo que nos gusta a todos, procedo a renegar sobre este librito tan interesante que es An Enchantment of Thorns.
☆ En "An Enchantment of Thorns" de Helena Rookwood, EN MI PENSAR (ojo ahí), la obra peca de depender excesivamente de fórmulas y tropos ya agotados. La narrativa se percibe como una reelaboración superficial de títulos como "A Court of Thorns and Roses" (que ojo: no es una buena referencia para que comparen tu obra, si comparan tu libro con ACOTAR, algo hiciste mal) y "Uprooted", sin aportar innovaciones significativas. La autora, como un sinfín de otras más, construye un mundo feérico hostil, un romance entre lo humano y lo mágico, y una protagonista dotada de poderes herbales, elementos que, aunque tradicionales en el género, terminan generando una sensación de déjà vu (de que ya has leído esto en alguna otra parte). En este sentido, parece que se han "tejido aspectos de Beauty and the Beast con elementos feéricos, sin trascender los tropos establecidos", lo que sitúa la obra como una especie de "copia de la copia de la copia de la copia".
☆ Por otro lado, el ritmo narrativo se muestra desigual. La primera mitad del relato se dedica a establecer con detalle el universo en el que se mueven Aster y Thorne, pero a medida que avanza la historia, la trama pierde fuerza y se ve invadida por escenas alargadas que no aportan al desarrollo central. Asimismo, la resolución del conflicto principal se diluye de forma abrupta, probablemente en previsión de una secuela, lo cual resulta frustrante para quienes esperan un cierre más contundente.
☆ En cuanto a la construcción de los personajes, resulta notable un tratamiento problemático en las dinámicas de poder y relaciones tóxicas. Thorne, el interés romántico, se ve inmerso en un sistema opresivo, encarnado en el Tributo anual que priva de libertad a chicas humanas, y su redención se justifica de manera superficial mediante un trasfondo trágico. Sin embargo, este recurso carece de un verdadero peso moral, ya que nunca asume una responsabilidad completa por sus actos, lo que termina normalizando comportamientos desiguales. Por su parte, la evolución de Aster se reduce a decisiones impulsivas que, en lugar de fortalecer su rol como protectora, la encasillan en estereotipos predecibles. Además, la transición de enemies to lovers se efectúa de forma tan abrupta que apenas se exploran los sentimientos subyacentes, dejando al lector (por lo menos a mí) con la sensación de que faltaron momentos clave que justificaran esa evolución.
☆ Asimismo, si bien el entorno feérico y el folklore que envuelve la trama ofrecen un potencial interesante, la ejecución resulta inconsistente. Se prioriza la estética y el ambiente sobre la coherencia interna del sistema mágico; por ejemplo, la magia herbal de Aster, tan crucial para la protección de su aldea, se presenta de manera vaga y poco desarrollada, lo que empobrece el universo narrativo.
☆ Por otro lado, la obra fracasa en transmitir la esencia de la moraleja de "La Bella y la Bestia". Mientras que el cuento original promueve la idea de que la redención y el amor genuino van más allá de la apariencia física, en este relato el "encantamiento" se rompe mediante un recurso mágico sin un correspondiente crecimiento emocional. Aster, al perdonar las acciones nocivas sin exigir un cambio real en Thorne, perpetúa la nociva noción de que el amor puede justificar comportamientos tóxicos.
☆ En términos técnicos, la prosa es funcional pero carece de lirismo, y los diálogos se sienten predecibles, acompañados de descripciones que resultan redundantes. Incluso el diseño de la portada se ve genérico, con indicios (como la forma de las manos, la cara y las flores de la corona de flores) que SUGIEREN (ojo, que SUGIEREN) la utilización de IA, lo que aumenta la sensación de un producto más comercial que artístico (lo que no tendría nada de malo si no fuera por la sensación de que la autora utilizó IA, porque si van a escribir algo comercial, por lo menos tengan la decencia de escribirlo ustedes y que los recursos utilizados sean hechos por personas reales, la IA en el arte como partícipe principal es innecesaria en mi pensar).
En fin, aunque entiendo completamente que algunos lectores puedan disfrutar de la mezcla entre retelling y romance feérico, considero que "An Enchantment of Thorns" presenta serias deficiencias estructurales y éticas. Siento que se orienta descaradamente hacia fórmulas comerciales en lugar de una narrativa sólida, dejando personajes y mensajes en un estado inconsistente.
Esta valoración NO pretende ser una verdad absoluta, sino el reflejo de cómo me sentí a lo largo de la obra. Entiendo que los gustos son muy personales y que es completamente válido que a unas personas les atraiga lo que a otras no.
Además, me parece importante cuestionar la tendencia a normalizar y romantizar conductas tóxicas en relaciones amorosas, especialmente cuando dichas actitudes se enmarcan en personajes dentro de los cánones de atractivo. Resulta paradójico que un relato inspirado en "La Bella y la Bestia", cuyo mensaje original invita a ver más allá de la apariencia física, incurra en los mismos errores que critica.
Pasando a lo que nos gusta a todos, procedo a renegar sobre este librito tan interesante que es An Enchantment of Thorns.
☆ En "An Enchantment of Thorns" de Helena Rookwood, EN MI PENSAR (ojo ahí), la obra peca de depender excesivamente de fórmulas y tropos ya agotados. La narrativa se percibe como una reelaboración superficial de títulos como "A Court of Thorns and Roses" (que ojo: no es una buena referencia para que comparen tu obra, si comparan tu libro con ACOTAR, algo hiciste mal) y "Uprooted", sin aportar innovaciones significativas. La autora, como un sinfín de otras más, construye un mundo feérico hostil, un romance entre lo humano y lo mágico, y una protagonista dotada de poderes herbales, elementos que, aunque tradicionales en el género, terminan generando una sensación de déjà vu (de que ya has leído esto en alguna otra parte). En este sentido, parece que se han "tejido aspectos de Beauty and the Beast con elementos feéricos, sin trascender los tropos establecidos", lo que sitúa la obra como una especie de "copia de la copia de la copia de la copia".
☆ Por otro lado, el ritmo narrativo se muestra desigual. La primera mitad del relato se dedica a establecer con detalle el universo en el que se mueven Aster y Thorne, pero a medida que avanza la historia, la trama pierde fuerza y se ve invadida por escenas alargadas que no aportan al desarrollo central. Asimismo, la resolución del conflicto principal se diluye de forma abrupta, probablemente en previsión de una secuela, lo cual resulta frustrante para quienes esperan un cierre más contundente.
☆ En cuanto a la construcción de los personajes, resulta notable un tratamiento problemático en las dinámicas de poder y relaciones tóxicas. Thorne, el interés romántico, se ve inmerso en un sistema opresivo, encarnado en el Tributo anual que priva de libertad a chicas humanas, y su redención se justifica de manera superficial mediante un trasfondo trágico. Sin embargo, este recurso carece de un verdadero peso moral, ya que nunca asume una responsabilidad completa por sus actos, lo que termina normalizando comportamientos desiguales. Por su parte, la evolución de Aster se reduce a decisiones impulsivas que, en lugar de fortalecer su rol como protectora, la encasillan en estereotipos predecibles. Además, la transición de enemies to lovers se efectúa de forma tan abrupta que apenas se exploran los sentimientos subyacentes, dejando al lector (por lo menos a mí) con la sensación de que faltaron momentos clave que justificaran esa evolución.
☆ Asimismo, si bien el entorno feérico y el folklore que envuelve la trama ofrecen un potencial interesante, la ejecución resulta inconsistente. Se prioriza la estética y el ambiente sobre la coherencia interna del sistema mágico; por ejemplo, la magia herbal de Aster, tan crucial para la protección de su aldea, se presenta de manera vaga y poco desarrollada, lo que empobrece el universo narrativo.
☆ Por otro lado, la obra fracasa en transmitir la esencia de la moraleja de "La Bella y la Bestia". Mientras que el cuento original promueve la idea de que la redención y el amor genuino van más allá de la apariencia física, en este relato el "encantamiento" se rompe mediante un recurso mágico sin un correspondiente crecimiento emocional. Aster, al perdonar las acciones nocivas sin exigir un cambio real en Thorne, perpetúa la nociva noción de que el amor puede justificar comportamientos tóxicos.
☆ En términos técnicos, la prosa es funcional pero carece de lirismo, y los diálogos se sienten predecibles, acompañados de descripciones que resultan redundantes. Incluso el diseño de la portada se ve genérico, con indicios (como la forma de las manos, la cara y las flores de la corona de flores) que SUGIEREN (ojo, que SUGIEREN) la utilización de IA, lo que aumenta la sensación de un producto más comercial que artístico (lo que no tendría nada de malo si no fuera por la sensación de que la autora utilizó IA, porque si van a escribir algo comercial, por lo menos tengan la decencia de escribirlo ustedes y que los recursos utilizados sean hechos por personas reales, la IA en el arte como partícipe principal es innecesaria en mi pensar).
En fin, aunque entiendo completamente que algunos lectores puedan disfrutar de la mezcla entre retelling y romance feérico, considero que "An Enchantment of Thorns" presenta serias deficiencias estructurales y éticas. Siento que se orienta descaradamente hacia fórmulas comerciales en lugar de una narrativa sólida, dejando personajes y mensajes en un estado inconsistente.
June 13, 2021
Enchanting!
This is one of those stories that has multiple weaknesses, but by the time I finished, I loved it anyway.
The world building is very well done. It does take a while to set things up & get going. Once Aster got to the castle, it was more engaging.
Her initial thoughts about escaping were surprising, since from her perspective, she knew the villagers were punished when they didn't produce all the girls, so it would have been natural for her to assume they'd also be punished for a tithe girl running away
And the idea that she would suggest going to the revel after Thorne told her about what the fae there would do to a human wasn't credible. Jealousy can make us do stupid things but that was a pretty crazy level of stupid, & I couldn't buy it.
Other issues were similar to those of other reviewers - not enough showing of the transition in their relationship. The telling only works if we're able to see all the pivotal moments, but what we're shown merely hints at a warming up between them, & the rest is simply told.
It also has to be acknowledged that Thorne's indifferent lack of communication with the girls contributed to their fear & fates.
Nevertheless, Aster makes a very sympathetic heroine. Most of her mistakes are understandable & believable - even if I did find myself saying "No, don't!" several times, lol.
Thorne takes a little longer to warm up to. He could have helped protect her better by sharing what info he was allowed, but the authors do successfully convey that her level of ignorance confuses & surprises him which helps - some. And it's almost impossible not to feel sympathy for his tragic backstory.
The second half of the story is where we begin to get a lot more answers and action. The ending is exciting & happy, but then in the last chapter it segues into the hook for the next book (which would have gone over better if it had been added as a sneak peek instead - give readers a chance to savor the happy ending & wait to read the next jump when they're ready) , so it ends up feeling like a cliff hanger after all. Thankfully, it'll be out & available in 4 days, so I don't have to live in suspense for too long! Of course, then there's a 3rd book I'll have to wait for after that. Sigh.
*Romance level: passionate kisses, nothing graphic; there's a scene where a couple sleeps together, but it's post-battle, & the authors are clear that it's only literal sleep
*Language: a half dozen uses of "folkd-mned"
This is one of those stories that has multiple weaknesses, but by the time I finished, I loved it anyway.
The world building is very well done. It does take a while to set things up & get going. Once Aster got to the castle, it was more engaging.
Her initial thoughts about escaping were surprising, since from her perspective, she knew the villagers were punished when they didn't produce all the girls, so it would have been natural for her to assume they'd also be punished for a tithe girl running away
And the idea that she would suggest going to the revel after Thorne told her about what the fae there would do to a human wasn't credible. Jealousy can make us do stupid things but that was a pretty crazy level of stupid, & I couldn't buy it.
Other issues were similar to those of other reviewers - not enough showing of the transition in their relationship. The telling only works if we're able to see all the pivotal moments, but what we're shown merely hints at a warming up between them, & the rest is simply told.
It also has to be acknowledged that Thorne's indifferent lack of communication with the girls contributed to their fear & fates.
Nevertheless, Aster makes a very sympathetic heroine. Most of her mistakes are understandable & believable - even if I did find myself saying "No, don't!" several times, lol.
Thorne takes a little longer to warm up to. He could have helped protect her better by sharing what info he was allowed, but the authors do successfully convey that her level of ignorance confuses & surprises him which helps - some. And it's almost impossible not to feel sympathy for his tragic backstory.
The second half of the story is where we begin to get a lot more answers and action. The ending is exciting & happy, but then in the last chapter it segues into the hook for the next book (which would have gone over better if it had been added as a sneak peek instead - give readers a chance to savor the happy ending & wait to read the next jump when they're ready) , so it ends up feeling like a cliff hanger after all. Thankfully, it'll be out & available in 4 days, so I don't have to live in suspense for too long! Of course, then there's a 3rd book I'll have to wait for after that. Sigh.
*Romance level: passionate kisses, nothing graphic; there's a scene where a couple sleeps together, but it's post-battle, & the authors are clear that it's only literal sleep
*Language: a half dozen uses of "folkd-mned"
April 29, 2021
I received a copy of this book from the author. This is my honest review.
I’ve been on a reading spree for fairytale retellings, and Beauty and The Beast has been my favourite.
This was a great story. I’m a big fan of fae, and I think the world created was really in depth, and done well.
Aster was an enjoyable character, and I loved her interactions with the characters around her. She had great character development.
The story is always going to be essentially the same with a retelling, but creativity of the twists and plot made you sometimes forget that it was a retelling.
I wasn’t expecting the cliffhanger! It really does show that you can’t trust anything fae say. It’ll be great to see how this continues!
I’ve been on a reading spree for fairytale retellings, and Beauty and The Beast has been my favourite.
This was a great story. I’m a big fan of fae, and I think the world created was really in depth, and done well.
Aster was an enjoyable character, and I loved her interactions with the characters around her. She had great character development.
The story is always going to be essentially the same with a retelling, but creativity of the twists and plot made you sometimes forget that it was a retelling.
I wasn’t expecting the cliffhanger! It really does show that you can’t trust anything fae say. It’ll be great to see how this continues!
April 29, 2021
I was in a completely book slump and this book completely pulled me out of that slump. Absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to continue the series and I will most definitely be requesting to be a part of their ARC team!!!!
Thank you so much to the authors for the ARC copy! I am delighted to share I loved this Beauty and the Beast retelling and look forward to anything these authors write in the future. 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
Thank you so much to the authors for the ARC copy! I am delighted to share I loved this Beauty and the Beast retelling and look forward to anything these authors write in the future. 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
March 30, 2021
I'm a sucker for fairy tale retellings ❤️ I really really can't wait for more!!
June 23, 2021
A great book I enjoyed reading this book. I loved the storyline and characters. I loved this book.
June 16, 2023
2.5 stars
This is a shallow romance in an underdeveloped yet unique Fae world. There isn’t even a consistent love interest. The romance is not at all developed and all attraction-based. Male Fae are extremely handsome, naturally. So, Aster spends most of the book drooling over the two males she sees.
Aster’s trust and convictions, too, are swayed quite a few times throughout the book. Though, she is made to be a determined, stubborn woman who no one is able to persuade of lies. Least of all the Fae.
So – no. Basic trust, actual loving relationships based on something other than lust and neat endings are not strong points of this novel.
The characters are the best part of the book. Aster is a strong character, and a great balance of protective, determined, and loving. The close relationship she has with her sister is sweet, too. And, I enjoyed how Aster and her sister worked together to protect their people from the Fae enemies.
The magic and Fae were identical to An Enchantment of Ravens. The attraction-based romance was another thing they had in common. However, this book was unique once combined with the Beauty and the Beast retelling.
Beauty and the Beast alternatives:
The Rose Gate: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Beauty and the Beast and Kingdom of Beauty: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast
Content:
Romance: Aster's father has an affair with both a lady and her maid. Aster and her sister are the two products of it. This is mentioned quite a few times.
Fairies cannot do Craft. When Asters asks what they can do Thorne lists a few pastimes, including making love.
Aster notices the perfect bodies of male fairies many times and finds them distracting. Including their chests and broad shoulders, and perfect figures. She and Thorne also have a conversation about whether hairy chests or smooth chests are more handsome to human females.
Aster and other women wear very revealing dresses. There is a party, with many fairies coming in various forms of dress or undress. Aster mentions seeing flashes of bare flesh, but nothing more is said.
Violence: There are many scenes of peril and violence. The entire book is full of Fae deceiving people, killing them for sport and eating them.
Other: The Beast has tattoos on his skin as part of his curse. This is mentioned quite a few times.
This is a shallow romance in an underdeveloped yet unique Fae world. There isn’t even a consistent love interest. The romance is not at all developed and all attraction-based. Male Fae are extremely handsome, naturally. So, Aster spends most of the book drooling over the two males she sees.
Aster’s trust and convictions, too, are swayed quite a few times throughout the book. Though, she is made to be a determined, stubborn woman who no one is able to persuade of lies. Least of all the Fae.
So – no. Basic trust, actual loving relationships based on something other than lust and neat endings are not strong points of this novel.
The characters are the best part of the book. Aster is a strong character, and a great balance of protective, determined, and loving. The close relationship she has with her sister is sweet, too. And, I enjoyed how Aster and her sister worked together to protect their people from the Fae enemies.
The magic and Fae were identical to An Enchantment of Ravens. The attraction-based romance was another thing they had in common. However, this book was unique once combined with the Beauty and the Beast retelling.
Beauty and the Beast alternatives:
The Rose Gate: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Beauty and the Beast and Kingdom of Beauty: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast
Content:
Romance: Aster's father has an affair with both a lady and her maid. Aster and her sister are the two products of it. This is mentioned quite a few times.
Fairies cannot do Craft. When Asters asks what they can do Thorne lists a few pastimes, including making love.
Aster notices the perfect bodies of male fairies many times and finds them distracting. Including their chests and broad shoulders, and perfect figures. She and Thorne also have a conversation about whether hairy chests or smooth chests are more handsome to human females.
Aster and other women wear very revealing dresses. There is a party, with many fairies coming in various forms of dress or undress. Aster mentions seeing flashes of bare flesh, but nothing more is said.
Violence: There are many scenes of peril and violence. The entire book is full of Fae deceiving people, killing them for sport and eating them.
Other: The Beast has tattoos on his skin as part of his curse. This is mentioned quite a few times.
March 6, 2022
Absolutely loved it! I was hooked from the very first page. A perfect mix of magic and mystery! If you enjoy high fantasy and fae, I 100% recommend!
April 6, 2021
Every year on the Spring Equinox every girl who has turned eighteen dresses in a white dress and a flower crown and goes to the clearing in the middle of the Folkwood on the outskirts of their small village of Rosehill where the Beast, a handsome, yet terrifying powerful fae gentlemen choses one girl and spirits her away for the tithe, never to be seen again. This year both Aster and her sister Ava are expected to be in the meadow. Aster knows the village needs her as their only greenwitch, a wisewoman versed in using herbal magic to keep the Folkwood from growing beyond its borders and keeping the fae of the forest from claiming or bedeviling any of the villagers. But she’s also determined that her sister, the prettiest of the tithe girls, will not be taken.
This is a richly detailed and imagined version of the Beauty & the Beast tale, inspired by Naomi Novik’s Uprooted. It also reminded me of Camille Peters’ Enchantment and Anthea Sharp’s Feyland books. It starts out in a small rustic remote village cut off from the rest of the world with being in the middle of a sprawling forest populated by all sorts of Irish fae creatures, like the Puca, kelpie, sprites, and plenty of others that Aster discovers. The forest vegetation encroaching on the village, threatening to swallow it whole is straight out of Uprooted, with Aster being a one-woman army trying to keep it back. And like in Uprooted, there is a tithe where one girl is picked and spirited away. From there, the book dives into the Beauty & the Beast tale as Aster tries to solve the mystery of why girls are taken each year, what is asked of her, and what happened to all of the other girls before her. I tend to grade fairy tale retellings on how much originality they have, versus keeping enough elements of the original tale to still draw some parallels between. And this successfully pulls it off, weaving its own story with plenty of surprises and new elements, while leaving bits and pieces to akin to the original tale. When people say Beauty & the Beast, there is an expectation of a romance, but the romance is rather thin in this story (I didn’t really notice any romantic feelings on the part of Thorn specifically, other than a couple of moments of jealousy). But I did love Aster for her determination, even if she does make poor choices every so often. And I loved that though she trained and operated with the idea that all fae were bad, she had to revise those prejudices and preconceived notions to understand Thorn's world. And Thorn is the usual brooding, handsome enigmatic dark fae gentleman that us indie book fans always drool over. And I loved all of the side characters from Aster’s frivolous sister Ava, to her strong hunter sister Laurel (I wonder if we’re going to get a Red Riding Hood tale starring her eventually) (though Ava was a bit like the spoiled sisters in the original tale, I loved that Laurel wasn’t), to her father the former ladies’ man, to the various servants and visitors to Thorn’s home. This book also has quite a bit of humor in it, which I adore any book that can pull it off. And I love when characters get frustrated with things. It did feel long at times as she learned about the fae world, but there were so many memorable scenes. I should warn that though there is closure on the main storyline for this book, it does end on a cliffhanger to push toward the next book in the series. And am I planning to get the next book in the series? Yes, I most certainly am.
This is a richly detailed and imagined version of the Beauty & the Beast tale, inspired by Naomi Novik’s Uprooted. It also reminded me of Camille Peters’ Enchantment and Anthea Sharp’s Feyland books. It starts out in a small rustic remote village cut off from the rest of the world with being in the middle of a sprawling forest populated by all sorts of Irish fae creatures, like the Puca, kelpie, sprites, and plenty of others that Aster discovers. The forest vegetation encroaching on the village, threatening to swallow it whole is straight out of Uprooted, with Aster being a one-woman army trying to keep it back. And like in Uprooted, there is a tithe where one girl is picked and spirited away. From there, the book dives into the Beauty & the Beast tale as Aster tries to solve the mystery of why girls are taken each year, what is asked of her, and what happened to all of the other girls before her. I tend to grade fairy tale retellings on how much originality they have, versus keeping enough elements of the original tale to still draw some parallels between. And this successfully pulls it off, weaving its own story with plenty of surprises and new elements, while leaving bits and pieces to akin to the original tale. When people say Beauty & the Beast, there is an expectation of a romance, but the romance is rather thin in this story (I didn’t really notice any romantic feelings on the part of Thorn specifically, other than a couple of moments of jealousy). But I did love Aster for her determination, even if she does make poor choices every so often. And I loved that though she trained and operated with the idea that all fae were bad, she had to revise those prejudices and preconceived notions to understand Thorn's world. And Thorn is the usual brooding, handsome enigmatic dark fae gentleman that us indie book fans always drool over. And I loved all of the side characters from Aster’s frivolous sister Ava, to her strong hunter sister Laurel (I wonder if we’re going to get a Red Riding Hood tale starring her eventually) (though Ava was a bit like the spoiled sisters in the original tale, I loved that Laurel wasn’t), to her father the former ladies’ man, to the various servants and visitors to Thorn’s home. This book also has quite a bit of humor in it, which I adore any book that can pull it off. And I love when characters get frustrated with things. It did feel long at times as she learned about the fae world, but there were so many memorable scenes. I should warn that though there is closure on the main storyline for this book, it does end on a cliffhanger to push toward the next book in the series. And am I planning to get the next book in the series? Yes, I most certainly am.
March 20, 2021
An intriguing retelling of a classic story. Some parts are ofcourse a little predictable since we all know the story of Beauty and the Beast, but a lot of new elements are added, keeping you curious.
I love that it takes place in a world with Fae Courts, these are always the stories I love most (for the ACOTAR lovers, the dynamic between Thorne and Faolan sometimes made me think of Tamlin and Lucien, but still it was completely different). This also holds a lot of potential for the next two books, a lot of stuff we have yet to explore and discover. You heard it right, there will be to other books in this series. I was really glad when I found out about this, because this way the story doesn't end already. Aster and Laurel seem great as well, strong female characters who care deeply about their friends and family, two amazing characters I'd like to befriend. The stuff about Craft and enchantresses is pretty cool as well. I liked the writing style as well, very fluent, you want to keep on reading.
Even when looking hard for them, I couldn't immediately find some downsides to this book, I just liked the entirety of it. Just maybe not the villains in the story, but hey, you can't have a good book without some villains you just despise ;)
Thank you Elm Vince & Helena Rockwood for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed the book and can't wait to read A Trial of Thorns and A Promise of Thorns.
I love that it takes place in a world with Fae Courts, these are always the stories I love most (for the ACOTAR lovers, the dynamic between Thorne and Faolan sometimes made me think of Tamlin and Lucien, but still it was completely different). This also holds a lot of potential for the next two books, a lot of stuff we have yet to explore and discover. You heard it right, there will be to other books in this series. I was really glad when I found out about this, because this way the story doesn't end already. Aster and Laurel seem great as well, strong female characters who care deeply about their friends and family, two amazing characters I'd like to befriend. The stuff about Craft and enchantresses is pretty cool as well. I liked the writing style as well, very fluent, you want to keep on reading.
Even when looking hard for them, I couldn't immediately find some downsides to this book, I just liked the entirety of it. Just maybe not the villains in the story, but hey, you can't have a good book without some villains you just despise ;)
Thank you Elm Vince & Helena Rockwood for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed the book and can't wait to read A Trial of Thorns and A Promise of Thorns.
March 20, 2022
Pretty good book as far as an alternative beauty and the beast story goes. It was entertaining enough to keep me invested, though there were a few things that seriously bug me. Maybe I'm wrong, but as far as I know, no one puts weeds into their compost unless they want to fight more weeds in their next crop/garden.
There were only a few grammar/punctuation mistakes, though the missing punctuation did jerk me to a halt, it wasn't bad enough throughout the story to cause too many problems.
Once again, I still feel beauty and the beast stories are parallel to Stockholm syndrome, but this one takes a slightly strange turn. I cannot explain more without spoilers, but it definitely made things interesting.
For my clean readers: language, violence, kidnapping, inappropriate dancing, romance, and murder.
There were only a few grammar/punctuation mistakes, though the missing punctuation did jerk me to a halt, it wasn't bad enough throughout the story to cause too many problems.
Once again, I still feel beauty and the beast stories are parallel to Stockholm syndrome, but this one takes a slightly strange turn. I cannot explain more without spoilers, but it definitely made things interesting.
For my clean readers: language, violence, kidnapping, inappropriate dancing, romance, and murder.
March 11, 2021
I am such a sucker for Beauty and the Beast retellings. This quickly became one of my favorites. While it had all the essentials, beastly beau, nerdy girl, magical servants, a library, and even a ball of sorts, these fabulous authors twisted each of these components into something new. It is definitely recognizable as BatB, but extremely individual. These fantastic additions elevate this version from a simple retelling to a reimagining. The world building is complete and complex. The characters are three dimensional and both empathetic and terrifying. I'm so tickled that this is the beginning of a series and not just a one and done. I can't wait to immerse myself into this world again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2021
Je. Savais. Qu'on. Ne. Pouvait. Pas. Lui. Faire. Confiance. BORDEL.
Mais comme d'hab, les personnages ont décidé de ne pas m'écouter ... Fine🤷🏻♀️
Aster, t'es trop con bordel. Nan mais, sérieusement ? T'es débile, ma chérie. On peut plus rien pour toi, là.
Mais comme d'hab, les personnages ont décidé de ne pas m'écouter ... Fine🤷🏻♀️
Aster, t'es trop con bordel. Nan mais, sérieusement ? T'es débile, ma chérie. On peut plus rien pour toi, là.
July 5, 2023
I found myself skimming the last 25% because it felt like the author started rambling
October 23, 2024
This book was just okay, I'm going to describe it as basic and I don't mean that in a disrespectful way. This is there was nothing unique or surprising about the writing, the plot, the characters or their development. I know it was based on beauty and the beast and that was cute but even the twist of the betrayal at the end wasn't really surprising at all and for that reason and the fact that I just didn't really connect with the main female character or the romantic relationship is why I will not be continuing on with the series. Once again it was not badly written it just didn't speak to me.
May 9, 2021
"Aster! I didn't realise stalking and harrassing a girl and causing her death were bad things. Poor me."
June 26, 2021
This was such a lovely Beauty and the Beast inspired retelling. It has such major cottage core vibes and I couldn't help but fall in love with the world that was created. I adore Aster and Thorne and can't wait to read the next book.
August 8, 2021
This book gave me a court of thorns and roses vibes that I think work because it’s not as dark and definitely not very graphic. I would say it’s a clean read with a bit of romance at the end but it still works
January 11, 2022
[I wish I could give this 3.5 stars, because some of the problems I had with it are just related to it being a YA novel but not advertised as one, which isn't the fault of the authors.]
Up front, I felt like this book was very derivative. There are a lot of fairy tale retellings going around right now, and this once felt like a retelling of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" in the style of "A Court of Thorns and Roses" with an attempt at the richness of Naomi Novik's "Uprooted" worldbuilding.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story but have absolutely no doubt that the authors read both of those books before they wrote this.
That being said, I enjoyed it. I was immersed in the world and read the whole book in 2 days, which is fast for a mother of two who is in full-time graduate school. I could picture everything vividly but never felt like the authors were hand-feeding me descriptions of every little detail; my imagination was guided but allowed to run wild. That is a difficult balance for an author to pull off, and I was impressed.
I actually think the book was too edited - there were whole chunks of book that felt like they were missing. Weeks would go by without barely a mention, but then the authors would inform us that Aster's relationship with Thorne had progressed without us really seeing it, or that she had suddenly started working on a new enchantment but without telling us when it happened or what inspired it.
There were also a bunch of internal consistencies that bothered me. Why were the girls who were getting ready for the Tithe all excited about it when everyone in the town clearly knew that the fae were evil, and all of those girls would have known someone who died hideously in the Folkwood? It isn't logical. Why on earth would Aster go and join the Revel without getting magical help from the fae or at least talking to Thorne about it? I get that she's jealous, but one of her primary character traits is her ability to keep her head when everything around her is out of control. I kept expecting a reveal that the jealous little house fairy had slipped a dropper of fae fruit into her tea or something to explain it but it was just Aster doing something I could never imagine Aster doing. The scene was incredibly well written however - my brain was swept into the whirl and confusing and fear and ecstasy of the Revel so thoroughly that it wasn't until afterwards that I realized it didn't make any sense.
In terms of the composition, the book is very simple. It is written at a fairly young reading level. I never encountered a single word I had to look up in the dictionary. Because of that, it felt very light and easy to read, and some of the content was darker than I expected. I'm fine with that, obviously, but a 10-year-old who can easily read at this level might find some of it frightening. It never demanded greater literacy from the reader, but it was communicated clearly and the parts that were confusing were written that way on purpose because the protagonist was confused.
All that being said, I enjoyed reading it and was swept into the world without hesitation. It's a nice, light read and something I would recommend to a younger teen who isn't ready for ACOTAR or Uprooted.
Up front, I felt like this book was very derivative. There are a lot of fairy tale retellings going around right now, and this once felt like a retelling of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" in the style of "A Court of Thorns and Roses" with an attempt at the richness of Naomi Novik's "Uprooted" worldbuilding.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story but have absolutely no doubt that the authors read both of those books before they wrote this.
That being said, I enjoyed it. I was immersed in the world and read the whole book in 2 days, which is fast for a mother of two who is in full-time graduate school. I could picture everything vividly but never felt like the authors were hand-feeding me descriptions of every little detail; my imagination was guided but allowed to run wild. That is a difficult balance for an author to pull off, and I was impressed.
I actually think the book was too edited - there were whole chunks of book that felt like they were missing. Weeks would go by without barely a mention, but then the authors would inform us that Aster's relationship with Thorne had progressed without us really seeing it, or that she had suddenly started working on a new enchantment but without telling us when it happened or what inspired it.
There were also a bunch of internal consistencies that bothered me. Why were the girls who were getting ready for the Tithe all excited about it when everyone in the town clearly knew that the fae were evil, and all of those girls would have known someone who died hideously in the Folkwood? It isn't logical. Why on earth would Aster go and join the Revel without getting magical help from the fae or at least talking to Thorne about it? I get that she's jealous, but one of her primary character traits is her ability to keep her head when everything around her is out of control. I kept expecting a reveal that the jealous little house fairy had slipped a dropper of fae fruit into her tea or something to explain it but it was just Aster doing something I could never imagine Aster doing. The scene was incredibly well written however - my brain was swept into the whirl and confusing and fear and ecstasy of the Revel so thoroughly that it wasn't until afterwards that I realized it didn't make any sense.
In terms of the composition, the book is very simple. It is written at a fairly young reading level. I never encountered a single word I had to look up in the dictionary. Because of that, it felt very light and easy to read, and some of the content was darker than I expected. I'm fine with that, obviously, but a 10-year-old who can easily read at this level might find some of it frightening. It never demanded greater literacy from the reader, but it was communicated clearly and the parts that were confusing were written that way on purpose because the protagonist was confused.
All that being said, I enjoyed reading it and was swept into the world without hesitation. It's a nice, light read and something I would recommend to a younger teen who isn't ready for ACOTAR or Uprooted.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2022
A lovely and unique retelling of an old classic, Beauty and the Beast.
I will admit, as much as I love retellings, and as much as I love Beauty and the Beast, I feel like every other retelling being written is of this story. It starts to feel a bit redundant, and I admit, I was a little hesitant to read this for that very reason. I'm very glad I did pick this up though, as it was an enchanting read. The story was loosely based off of Beauty and the Beast, but still managed to be unique and a very engaging read.
If you love fairy tale retellings, even if you're tired of Beauty and the Beast, I really suggest you give this book a try. It was definitely a pleasure to read.
I will admit, as much as I love retellings, and as much as I love Beauty and the Beast, I feel like every other retelling being written is of this story. It starts to feel a bit redundant, and I admit, I was a little hesitant to read this for that very reason. I'm very glad I did pick this up though, as it was an enchanting read. The story was loosely based off of Beauty and the Beast, but still managed to be unique and a very engaging read.
If you love fairy tale retellings, even if you're tired of Beauty and the Beast, I really suggest you give this book a try. It was definitely a pleasure to read.
March 6, 2022
Beauty & Beast retelling // KU
February 9, 2022
Enjoyable but I had some problems with the time line which seemed to be all over the place. The world building was good and the main characters engaging, but it got rather bogged down in the flowery stuff and had a tendency to waffle. The use of modern language grated in places: 'okay' and 'goofy'.
My real disappointment was the ending which was an unexpected cliffhanger. two and a half stars rounded up because I really liked Mosswhistle!
My real disappointment was the ending which was an unexpected cliffhanger. two and a half stars rounded up because I really liked Mosswhistle!
November 30, 2024
This book was so much fun & even though a lot of it was predictable, the ending took me by surprise. I do wish the romance had a bigger role. Side note I would die for Mosswhistle, they’re my favorite character.
May 7, 2021
From page one, An Enchantment of Thorns wrapped its tendrils around me and held tight for the journey with Aster. The depictions of the surroundings and characters were so beautifully written in vivid and colorful detail. Every character, from Aster and Thorne down to the small child Nairn, is richly described and had you invested in their fate. AEoT was un-put-down-able (it's totally a word 😉) and I cannot WAIT to see where the next book takes us!!
March 24, 2021
I’m a sucker for Beauty and the Beast retellings. So when I saw the opportunity to read an ARC of this story I couldn’t resist!! Of course being that it’s Beauty and the Beast, the direction of this story is fairy predictable, but the execution was wholly original. Including a lovely cast of lovable characters such as Aster and Thorne. Their relationship is so wholesome. I love them a lot!
This story isn’t incredibly angsty and was actually quite pleasant to read. I never wanted to put it down once I picked it up!! The ending left me hanging and I can’t wait to see how the story continues.
This story isn’t incredibly angsty and was actually quite pleasant to read. I never wanted to put it down once I picked it up!! The ending left me hanging and I can’t wait to see how the story continues.
October 12, 2021
A fresh re-telling of this classic tale.
Aster's journey throughout this story is filled with courage, loyalty, and adventure. Thorne is a complex fae who grows so much.
Mosswhistle is amazing. So adorable and ridiculously brave.
I felt like this story follows the basic outline of Beauty & the Beast to the point where the reader knows what the true key to breaking the curse is, but having that knowledge doesn't ruin a thing and there are so many twists and turns to keep you well-invested in the journey.
The world is richly built with complex characters and we are set up for a great series that I can't wait to get more of!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Aster's journey throughout this story is filled with courage, loyalty, and adventure. Thorne is a complex fae who grows so much.
Mosswhistle is amazing. So adorable and ridiculously brave.
I felt like this story follows the basic outline of Beauty & the Beast to the point where the reader knows what the true key to breaking the curse is, but having that knowledge doesn't ruin a thing and there are so many twists and turns to keep you well-invested in the journey.
The world is richly built with complex characters and we are set up for a great series that I can't wait to get more of!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 27, 2025
I felt like this was kinda like the dollar store version of ACOTAR.
It really is as if ACOTAR and beauty and the beast were to have a mash up and then the author thought to add in a Dobby character.
I think the thing of it is, none of this really gripped me. It was a little too long and the plot was a mess. We get characters added in halfway through, and the whole mystery of the curse isn't even really thought out or consistent.
If you're wanting something to have playing in the background while you work I would say that there are probably better options since this was just so bland.
It really is as if ACOTAR and beauty and the beast were to have a mash up and then the author thought to add in a Dobby character.
I think the thing of it is, none of this really gripped me. It was a little too long and the plot was a mess. We get characters added in halfway through, and the whole mystery of the curse isn't even really thought out or consistent.
If you're wanting something to have playing in the background while you work I would say that there are probably better options since this was just so bland.
August 25, 2023
This is a dark twisted retelling of Beauty and The Beast. It is so good. It is full of magic, fairies and creatures. It is not what you expect from the original story. What a creative spin on this fairy tale. I cannot wait for book two.
Thank you Hidden Gems Books for this ARC.
Thank you Hidden Gems Books for this ARC.
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