The Fox and the Briar

by Chesney Infalt

Neither of us will bow, so one must break.

Princess Briar Rose has been betrothed to Seelie Prince Loren since her naming day—the same day the Unseelie King cast the sleeping curse on her. With her entire life already decided, she yearns to make choices for herself instead of being dragged along by tradition and fate.

Loren knows that he is the one at fault for the wall between Briar Rose and himself. But now that the curse is upon them—and the only way to break it is through True Love’s Kiss—he is terrified that, no matter how hard he is falling for her, he may not be enough.

The Unseelie King has been working to restore the fractured Faerie Courts before the In-Between destroys them all. There is nothing he will let stand in his way, not even true love.

So, he has a choice for Briar Rose that will save Faerie… at the cost of betraying everyone.

Genres: Fantasy, Retellings, Fiction, Romantasy, Romance, Fairy Tales

Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2022

About the author

I've been writing since I was six years old. Those stories won't ever see the light of day (hopefully), but I have others that I'm willing to share with the world.

Happy reading!

Reviews

[M.E. Aster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Infalt makes her mark on the fairytale world with her unique retelling of Sleeping Beauty.

I had the honor of reading The Fox and the Briar early and I cannot sing it’s praises enough. Filled with vibrant characters, magic, and romance, this story has something for everyone. I was enraptured from the start and I could hardly put this book down.

Briar Rose was a lovable heroine, and her budding romance with Loren, the Seelie Prince, is beautifully written. And the Unseelie King (my favorite) is perhaps one of the best villains I’ve read this year.

The prose flows in a poetry like manner, painting the story in vivid colors in my head. Infalt has outdone herself here and I can’t wait to read whatever she writes next.

*I had the privilege of beta reading this book and this is my honest, voluntary review.*

[Chesney Infalt]

This is my Faerie Sleeping Beauty retelling, which is a part of my Once Upon a Reimagined Time series. Each story can be read as a standalone, but you will see familiar characters from previous works make cameos as the series progresses.

*Note: This book will give spoilers for what happens to a main character in The Heart of the Sea, so I suggest reading in order of publication date*

[L.V. Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gorgeous retelling of Sleeping Beauty, filled with soft fairytale splendor and characters to fall in love with.

The villain of this story very nearly stole the show, and I'm not in the least bit mad about that.

Tristan is a complex and nuanced villain who will no doubt steal more hearts than just mine... And I do hear rumours of him having his own book... We can only hope! 😍🖤

I don't want to give any spoilers to this enchanting tale so will leave my review brief. I adored it. It is pure and lovely and magical, everything I have come to expect from Chesney Infalt. 🖤

[Michele Quirke · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fox and the Briar was a book I've been looking forward to for awhile now. Having read and enjoyed Chesney's The Heart of the Sea, I knew this book needed to be bumped to the top of my TBR list, so I snagged myself an ARC as soon as I saw they were available. I do want to quickly point out that if you haven't read The Heart of the Sea and plan to do so, you may want to read that before The Fox and the Briar. The plot lines are unrelated and Fox is a standalone, but they do take place in the same world and there are some pretty big spoilers for Heart of the Sea. So keep that in mind.

Now, for the actual review. I've only recently started enjoying fairytale retellings and this one might be one of my favorites. Chesney's writing is lyrical and has a way of sucking you in until it's 2AM and you realize you should've been in bed hours ago. Her prose is beautiful and honestly that alone is a reason to pick up her books.

I enjoyed the childhood friends-to-lovers romance in this. I loved watching Loren and Briar Rose slowly open up and rekindle their old friendship after years of pulling away (Loren) and wondering what had happened (Briar Rose). I enjoyed reading about the pranks they pulled on each other over the years. I also like Tristan, the Unseelie King, as a character. His motivations for casting the curse were understandable and I even harbored sympathy for him as he struggled to prove himself worthy and unite Faerie. However, for me his chapters slowed the pace quite a bit and made the book drag in some areas.

Overall, the plot didn't have much action so if you're here for something to keep you on the edge of your seat, this might not be the right choice. The writing and characters are strong though so it's definitely worth a read.

If you enjoy slow-burn romances and fairytale retellings, check this one out. 4.5 Stars.

[Katherine Macdonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful, charming fairytale with all the classical elements... plus a dreamy, conflicted "villain" that you're bound to fall in love with! A sweet tale of magic and true love with a few modern twists that are sure to put a smile on your face.

Can't wait for the next one! :)

[Cat Bowser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.

Well, I didn’t think it was possible for the author to top Heart of the Sea but I’m very happy to be wrong! Sleeping Beauty is my favorite fairy tale and this is a wonderful version of it.

The romance here is sweet and lovely to follow. There’s a wonderful balance and as always, the characters are marvelous. Realistic but with that fantasy dust of paint to give them just the right spice.

And the others are just as good.I’d recommend the book based on the villain alone. God, that boy just drips with such much arrogance and self importance that it’s impossible for him not to eat up every scene that he’s in.

In short, definitely read this one, particularly if you have a love for the Sleeping Beauty story. You won’t regret it.

[K. Dezendorf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting retelling of the Sleeping Beauty tale. There were a lot of added elements that made this story unique to its teller. The main characters are likable, the side characters are fun, and the descriptions are lovely and delight the imagination. There isn't a whole lot of action as the story focuses more on the characters, their circumstances, and working through those circumstances. I think anyone who is a fan of the fae and fairytales can definitely get much enjoyment out of this.

I received an ARC copy of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.

[E.P. Stavs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an ARC of this book, and am voluntarily leaving a review.

What can I say? This was delightful, and most certainly my new favorite of Infalt's books. I loved the characters, Toussaint in particular. The settings were imaginative and fun, and the storyline flowed well with a satisfying conclusion. All in all, a lovely book. Would recommend!

[C.K. Beggan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: I received a free ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I'm so taken with this incredibly gentle, understated fantasy retelling! The Fox and the Briar is a fae retelling of Sleeping Beauty, with a reserved, Darcy-esque fae prince who can't seem to find the right words to tell his princess how he feels.

Fans of the misunderstanding trope will like the initial premise. Those who don't will be pleased (and maybe squee a little) when it ends with the first quarter or so of the story. There's an arranged marriage, a prince in magical disguise and Tristan, a wicked fae king with boldness for days. And who doesn't love a villain with swagger?

The more I read of Tristan, the more I loved this story. While the (loveably) bumbling Seelie prince can't find the nerve to express himself, Unseelie King Tristan casually worries about keeping a courtier from falling in love with him. The guy's got confidence.

I really liked where the story was left, and hope to hear more from the characters, just like characters from the author’s previous retelling, The Heart of the Sea, make an appearance in The Fox and the Briar. And if the Cheshire Cat is involved--included here as a denizen of faerie--you know it has to be good.

[Shelby Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars, really. A highly enjoyable fairytale retelling! Briar Rose and Loren were sweet. The Unseelie King stole the show for me. (Along with his wyvern, Asra!) You can tell from the start he's a complex character, and his motivations . . . I really love characters like that!
The world-building was well done. I look forward to reading more of Infalt's fairytale retellings in this world she's created!

[T.M. Kohl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the setting and the characters. Each character had their own flaw to grow from, and each arc was satisfying. It had many tropes from the classic Sleepy Beauty story (especially the Disney movie), but presented in a fresh and fun way.

My favorite character might have ended up being the Unseelie King, and I hope there is more to his story coming.

Loren and Briar Rose were both runner ups, and I really enjoyed seeing them overcome the previous hurt between them.

Overall, a super fun story with lots of sweet romance!

[Mystic Forest Crafts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a pure pleasure to read. It transported me back to the first time watching a classic Disney movie but included more of the wit and fun found in more recent releases.

Pros:

I really appreciate that the biggest change from the original tale is no longer having the Prince a complete stranger.

I love that parts of more than one story were included. I can’t say for certain I’m right, but I noted things which reminded me of classic Disney Sleeping Beauty, The Swan Princess, The Last Unicorn and we had the honor of the Cheshire Cat appearing. This really led to the story being familiar but changed and allows for more tales to be told in this land if the author wishes to continue.

Cons:

I usually can find one or two things that I don’t like but I’m struggling here. Normally multiple points of view bother me but this flowed well and didn’t overlap in ways where it felt like the story was being told twice. I suppose the best I can do for negatives is that beyond main characters everyone is rather one dimensional.

[Piper Pringle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was good. It gave me "Cruel Prince" vibes which I appreciated. I loved the ending so much!!!!!

[Casie Aufenthie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fox and the Briar is the second book in Ms. Infalt’s Once Upon a Reimagined Time Series, though both can be read on their own. I did read the Heart of the Sea first, so I was very excited to pick up this new work and see what fun twists the author had in store for her version of Sleeping Beauty. I wasn’t disappointed.

There was a nice bit of world building that explained the history of the Fae and the Human alliance, as well as, how Fae magic worked and what its limits were. While there could have been more depth given to some areas, I tend to prefer a lighter/faster background, so it was just the right amount for me.

What captures my attention in a story is the characters, and as always, Ms. Infalt has created characters you can’t help but relate to and root for, even if they are technically the antagonist in one case. First, there’s Briar Rose, who remains sweet and strong despite knowing she’s been cursed and having it hang over her head all her life. She doesn’t take grief from anyone and doesn’t fear doing what must be done to save Fae. Most impressively, she keeps an open mind/heart even when people have hurt her. Next is her love interest, Loren, who is sweet, if a bit immature. He pushes her away to protect her, rather than just having an open conversation with her, but it can be forgiven after all he does to set things right. Finally, my favorite, the Unseelie King, Tristan. I have a soft spot for sympathetic villains, and he fits the bill perfectly. His motives make sense, and why he is the way he is has such a sad, understandable reason that part of me wanted him to win at any cost. There were also two guest characters from Heart of the Sea that made an appearance, and it was such a fun surprise to see them again. Brilliant.

If you enjoy sweet, slow burn romance, morally grey villains, and fairy tale retellings with a twist, you won’t want miss this one.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the title suggests, this is a “Fae” Sleeping Beauty retelling, although the Fae part came more from the Prince’s side of the story. The book is told in three different POVs, which are The Unseelie King (Tristan), The Seelie Prince (Loren) and The Human Princess (Briar Rose). I enjoy the different perspectives of the characters, especially the ones from the Seelie vs Unseelie. However, this same thing made the story feel repetitive, as we often had the same scene through the eyes of three different characters, albeit with each having a little bit of different input, but it felt slowed down by the repetition of the feelings that we were already told many times that they had, and the over description of one another.

Still, the writing had some beautiful descriptions of the places, and it was easy to imagine yourself in Faerie, and expanding this world with different creatures that we wouldn’t always associate with a fairytale, and it even had some dark imagery at times.

The storyline didn’t have many changes of what makes a “Sleeping Beauty” story what it is, but the addition of more faeries made it stand out. The side characters were my favorite part, with Toussaint, Loren’s bodyguard, standing out for me. He was a charming faerie that sounds like a lot of fun to be around. The twists on some of the other characters that we may know from other versions of the story were also interesting.

I would say that the story, as a retelling, was good, but I wished that there were a couple more turns. Most of the time I was cheering for the “villain”, and I hoped he would have gotten what he truly deserved, but in the end, it didn’t feel like we had a resolution to any problems (despite the main characters achieving what they wanted), I just ended up with many questions.


Quote: “Neither of us will bow, so one must break.”

[Radhia Ismael Gundry]

Loved this! This was probably one of my favorite retellings, plotwise. The Unseelie King was my favorite, and I love when villains get their own POV told, and in this one, not only was his told, but he was featured as a main character! I loved seeing the complexities and character growth in him. Amazing.

Loren and Briar Rose were so sweet and I enjoyed the conflicting emotions Loren had at the start! Briar Rose was so sweet but also strong and bold, making her the perfect future Queen. I felt like she really got a chance to let her diplomatic and monarch side shine and was overall a strong leader (not something seen in a lot of princesses!).

I loved the world-building. It’s rich and vivid. It completely transported me into their world. A couple of things were referenced that could have used some further explanation about Faerie culture, but all in all, glorious.

I honestly can't wait for more and am confused why this has so few ratings? Maybe promote it more??

I hear dear ol' Tristian and Toussaint are getting their own books!? Toussaint is my second fav and both deserve their own stories told and to have their characters explored more. I am looking forward to reading their HEAs!

[Christine Rains · Rating 5 out of 5]

On Princess Briar Rose's naming day, the Unseelie King cast a curse upon her. She is betrothed to the handsome Seelie Prince Loren who has been her friend since childhood, but now uncertainty hangs between them as they approach her eighteenth birthday. Faerie itself is being torn apart. If the two factions do not unite, the In-Between will consume it all. The Seelie believe Briar Rose's marriage and becoming fae will save their realm, but nothing is that simple, especially not True Love's Kiss.

This is a fantastic retelling of Sleeping Beauty where the princess is not utterly powerless. Briar Rose knows the curse is coming and there is nothing anyone can do about it, but she can train on the Dreamscape and hope that will help when she does sleep. Her relationship with Loren is like most YA relationships in books with the awkwardness, new feelings, and misunderstandings. Add on top of that the fact that Faerie itself is in trouble and the Unseelie King only wants to help the land as does Briar Rose, and things get more complicated. I did very much like the Unseelie King, dark, handsome, and brooding, with a tiny wyvern full of attitude on his shoulder! I'd love to see more of him.

[Sketchy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a little hard to adjust to the tense of this book - but overall, it was worth it. It was a very enjoyable read with interesting characters, twists, and development. The Unseelie King was a wonderful spin of a villain and his character portions were my favorite by the end of the book - in the beginning, there were a little jarring and not my preferred portion, but each chapter of his revealed new layers about how the fae realm works in this world.

Loren & Briar Rose were also suitably adorable and their relationship was well written - not insta-love, but a building and enjoyable growth.

Overall, this book was a surprising treasure. I wasn't sure if I'd like it, but ended up really enjoying it. The magic and descriptions were overall wonderful, and it really is a unique take on Sleeping Beauty.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this Fae Sleeping Beauty retelling. I liked the MCs quite a bit. There were a couple of references to the previous book's characters, but nothing I felt I had to read the previous book for.

***mild spoilers***

I really liked that Loren and Briar Rose ended up talking and having a mature conversation about their problems/ misunderstandings. I hate when characters don't ever talk and things just keep getting worse.
I really want to know who/ what the Cheshire Cat is!
There is one non consensual kiss while she's sleeping (to see if she would wake up) and Briar Rose makes sure he knows that was not ok and not to do anything like that again (she is able to do this in the dreamscape)
I was very relieved that there was no love triangle, because for a good while I thought that might be a possibility. Thank goodness it wasn't. Now I need a book with Tristan's love story!
Also I'm hoping we get to see some of the pranks in future stories in this world!

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book that I’ve read by this author. This is the 2nd book in the Once Upon a Reimagined Time series and is a sleeping beauty retelling. I will most definitely be going back and reading the first one which is a gender swap little mermaid retelling. I was pleasantly surprised with this book! Character development and world building is unbelievable.

We all know the story of sleeping beauty but this one follows Princess Briar Rose, cursed by the Unseelie King Tristan and arranged to marry the Seelie Prince Loren. I love Loren’s hesitation to tell Briar how he truly feels. But Tristan is determined to fox the Faeirie Courts. I actually really like this villain. Such an amazing story and plot.

This book will have you rethinking if everything you know about sleeping beauty. So many twists and turns, mystery, love, curses and so much more. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

I received this arc and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.

[kymagirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Briar Rose (h) is betrothed to Loren (H), the Seelie Prince, in this reimagining of the Sleeping Beauty fairytale where only True Love's kiss can save Briar Rose from the curse, she will experience on her eighteenth birthday. The story switches POV among Briar Rose, Loren, and the Unseelie King in this story of magic, fae and romance. The language was extremely descriptive of small details which felt a little flowery at times. I just really wanted the story to get a move on and felt like I was pushing myself to get through it at times - I kept checking the percent read. I'm not a huge fan of fae fiction and hoped based on the description that this might help win me over, btu that wasn't the case.

[Mandy Schimelpfenig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love it when a fairytale retelling makes the villains motives not only more clear and believable but sympathetic. In this Sleeping Beauty retelling, Briar Rose is cursed as an infant by the Unseelie King partly out of revenge and mostly to complete his mother's goals of uniting the faerie courts. Fast forward to her 18th birthday, Briar Rose is nervous about being reintroduced to her betrothed, Loren, the heir to the Seelie throne and half brother to the Unseelie King. Once she's married, she'll be made into a faerie. Though she and Loren were friends as children, they grew apart, and Briar Rose doesn't know if she'll be happy with the seemingly chilly fae prince. Couple that with the curse looming over their heads and you've got an angsty, character driven book that keeps you wondering how it's going to work out until the end.
The writing is well done and immersive. I felt like I was in faerie and really sympathized with the characters. I'd definitely read more by this author.

[oragami · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book. The romance was so cute and not toxic. But the main characters, Briar Rose and Loren had no dimensions at all. Both only seemed to be thinking about the other person 90% of the time and the other 10% was about how they needed to rule the land. Idk, maybe I'm wrong. But the characters lacked SO much on so many different levels. They were so consumed with the thoughts of one another it was getting very boring and repetitive. I love seeing strong FMC's. They don't have to be physically strong for them to be strong (obv) but Briar was just so very...lacking in everything UGH.

[Sarah Zane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the characters so much! Chesney did a great job with world building, loved the whole aspect of the dreamscape, and I love how much agency Briar had in the story, and loved that the Unseelie King had his own POV so we got to see the story from all sides
The romance was incredibly sweet and swoon-worthy
Chesney did a fantastic job with character development and giving a new spin on a well loved story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book in the Once Upon a Reimagined Time series. It’s a Faerie Sleeping Beauty retelling. It’s a great retelling with several twists. Great characters! Well-developed story line and characters. It pulled me in from beginning to end and held my attention. The world building is detailed and imaginative. This book has strong, well-developed characters and an interesting story line that keeps you turning the pages. I want to read the previous book and can’t wait for the next in the series. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Judy Gittleson Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Briar Rose and Seelie Prince Loren are betrothed when very young and then she is cursed by the Unseelie King. The twists to the one we all remember, brings this story forward to include the world of fae. The characters are well developed and the interactions are entertaining. Plenty of drama, danger, hidden agendas, compromises, big decisions, romance, revelations and much more. Totally enjoyed this story and hope to read more by this author shortly.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Susan Hancock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having enjoyed The Heart of the Sea, I was already looking forward to The Fox and the Briar - it did NOT disappoint! The slow burn love between Princess Briar Rose and Prince Loren, hampered by misunderstandings and misplaced protectiveness, was so sweet to read. The best kind of YA romance. Unexpectedly though, it was the Unseelie King (and of course his Wyvern) who stole my heart. A thoroughly nuanced portrait of a ‘villain’ with the heavy and lonely burden of his position weighing him down.

A delightful and thoughtful fairytale retelling, one not to miss!

[Adrianne Lemke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun retelling

I definitely enjoyed this story. Loren and Briar Rose had quite a few misunderstandings to work out as they each struggled with the curse placed by the Unseelie king, and the expectations placed on them even as children.
I enjoyed the cameo appearances by characters from The Heart of the Sea, and I enjoyed reading the POV of Tristan as he tried to do what he thought was necessary to restore Faerie.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning read the first book in this series before this one. The Heart of the Sea. There is a spoiler in this for book one. Great twist on a classic fairytale. I love the gender twist on the role that was Maleficent. Well written. Likable characters. Good world building. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

[Dee Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly epic retelling of the tale of sleeping beauty with beautiful imagery, emotional characters, intrigue, drama, romance and a familiar character or two from other famous stories woven together to make a wonderful new tale.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.