Disenchanted

A Lay of Ruinous Reign #1

by Brianna Sugalski

The Princess Bride and Buffy the Vampire Slayer meet Sarah J. Maas' Throne of Glass in this Breton folklore-inspired dark fantasy, brimming with wry humor, epic adventure, and an irresistible romance.

Lilac Trécesson is a prisoner in her parents' castle after a most wicked secret was revealed on the eve of her fifteenth birthday. Years later, her Accession looms upon her father's decision to abdicate, and between the riotous townsfolk and scheming noble bent on snatching her throne, she prepares for the worst… Until a letter arrives from The Witch of Lupine Grotto, containing a curious offer to banish her curse forever.

She begrudgingly trades her coronet for a cloak and ventures into the forest Brocéliande, only to find herself cornered by a bloodthirsty barkeep who demands her help in exchange for protection against the even deadlier forces of the woods.

With only the protection of her inherited dagger—and unsolicited help of the sardonic stranger who inserts himself on her quest—Lilac must find the impious enchantress and return in time to claim her crown. Pity the fool to underestimate the girl with subpar blade skills but the spite to make up for it.


This is the tale of a cursed princess,
A crestfallen killer,
The town that wants them to burn,
And the witch who can save them both.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Dark Fantasy, Adult, Vampires

487 pages, Paperback

Published December 16, 2022

About the author

Brianna Sugalski (currently published as Briar Somerset) is a Romantic Dark Fantasy author with a soft spot for spite-driven, pastry-loving FMCs, regrettably obsessive and bloodthirsty love interests, and well-fought-for Happily Ever After Alls.

In all facets of her craft, she prefers exploring the ominous—disenchanting, if you will—undertones of history, romance, and the arcane.

Note:
I wanted to share a small but meaningful change in my author journey. From this point forward, I’ll be publishing under the pen name "Briar Somerset": https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

This transition will be completely transparent and I plan for it to take place gradually, starting with my social media platforms and website. Then, onto my sequel book cover. Not to fret; Lilac and Garin remain stubbornly unchanged—still venomous, self-repulsed, and clawing their way through darkness toward each other.
Book one, Disenchanted, will remain available under “Brianna Sugalski,” a nod to where this journey began. From Disillusioned (#2) onward, the Ruinous Reign series will be published under my pseudonym.

More information here:
https://atreatiseonthirst.substack.co...

Reviews

[Brianna Sugalski · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been quite a process revamping my YA Dark Fantasy debut to a New Adult novel. DISENCHANTED has grown with me, just as my readers have, and I made this decision with love so that my characters and their world could grow according to what the sequel, DISILLUSIONED (2024), has required. Drafting my sequel for two years through a period of personal depression has given me room to develop more thorough world building and lore in my series foundation; I am grateful for this second chance to give my characters the edits and romance they deserve. This is a scary jump for me, perhaps my own leap into an enchanted forest filled with unknowns. What I do know is that this version is the story that needed to be told, and that you all deserve.

I am endlessly thankful for your support and patience, and I would not be able to get this story in your hands without the help and support of a whole team of talented professionals and readers who have become family. My editors, Olivia Swenson, Loni Crittenden, and Julia F. (EntirelyBonkerz), thank you for your honesty and keen insight, and for making me laugh while helping my manuscript suck substantially less than it did when I delivered it to you. Aimee Jones, Beth Wilkinson, and Lucas La Chaise, you are there for me whenever I need translations or history fact checking; I’m thankful for your time and friendship, and that you’ve shared your colorful, stunning cultures with me and this book series.

The rest of the A Lay of Ruinous Reign series will follow the New Adult rating elevation, and each will come with a content warnings page. If you’ve read YA Disenchanted before, I hope you’re ready. If you’re new here, Welcome to Brocéliande!

[Júlia]

It was a pleasure to help Brianna edit and develop her re-release of Disenchanted. From a YA fantasy to a NA fantasy, I can't wait to see it re-published and out in the real world, I think you guys are going to like this one.

Go to my website entirelybonkerz.com or email me at entirelybonkerzz@gmail.com if you are looking to hire a developmental editor for your book 🤗

[Cydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disenchanted enchanted the heck out of me!

This book was previously published under the same name but as a YA book. This version has been updated to be NA, and includes some editing and reconfiguring—I haven't read the original, but I really, really loved my time with this version, so I think all the moving pieces paid off!

Somerset has woven such a beautiful world with engaging characters who grow as the story progresses, and a compelling plot. Garin is presented as the bad guy, but quickly became my favorite character in the entire story—he's sarcastic, hilarious, and charming, but he can be cunning and deceptive when he feels like he needs to be. It was fun not knowing what direction he was leaning but he also felt very balanced because he is SUCH a loverboy LOL. I love when vampires are given the opportunity to be charming *and* scary!

Lilac starts off close-minded and self-righteous, set off on her own quest to remove a curse set on her. When I tell y'all she grows so much as a person and turned out to be extremely likable, trustworthy, and selfless! I loved this journey for her. I can't wait to see more of her as Queen.

I feel like the biggest theme in this book is how much prejudice colors how we see the world, how we experience the world, and how we understand the world. There are so many people—myself included—who had to be thrust out of indoctrination and other falsehoods in order to become compassionate and empathetic to others. I think this theme was extremely well-executed.

The ending was unexpected and leaves off as a happy for now, so I am excited to see what the characters get into with Disillusioned, the second book in this series! Also, the audiobook was so dynamic and fun to listen to; you can tell the production is so intentional in this.

I will say that while I enjoyed the ending, it felt a bit rushed in that I didn't fully understand the fullness/extremities of the actions of the villain. So while I was satisfied by what happened regardless, I'm curious about what exactly was done. This book has a slow start with the world building and internal monologues by both characters, so don't let that deter you!

Thank you so much to Briar Somerset and Lunette PR for the ARC!

4.5 ⭐️s
2 🌶️

[Yeg]

DNF at 25%

[britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivien’s eyes bulged.
“Long live the queen.”
He sank his fangs into the duchess’s wrist, fingers twined in her hair as he forced her to watch. Just before she slipped into darkness, he dropped his voice just above a whisper.
“And God help anyone who crosses the queen.”

i finished disenchanted last week and have not been able to stop thinking about it or the final moments of the book (quote above).

i’m always on the hunt for vampire stories that feel fresh and new and @authorbriarsomerset delivers! she even made me a fan of fantasy creature blending, which is huge for me because i don’t like vampires and fae to mix at all! but briar has a talent for unapologetic, humorous, addictive writing and made me believe that perhaps fairytale creatures shouldn’t be exclusively confined to shrek’s swamp (sorry i had to).

if you’re looking for a fantasy filled with villains that will make you pee your pants with laughter, vampires that rival spike’s hypnotic aura, and a queen lead by love, duty, and a dollop of magic, then this one is most definitely for you!

[Dominique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enthralling Blend of Magic and Romance!

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.25 Stars)
🔥🔥🔥

*NA ARC received in exchange for an honest review*

So give me shame
Give me pain
Give me the curse of growing old
As long as you will give me her colors.

Disenchanted is a Romantic Dark Fantasy that takes us on a wild journey into the land of Brittany and the Brocéliande Forest , where magic, mystery, and love intertwine in the most captivating ways. From the very first page, I was transported to a place of intricate lore, rich world-building, and a sarcastically spicy romance that left me SPELLBOUND.

What truly grabbed me in the first installment of the series was the chemistry between the main characters. Lilac and Garin’s snarky banter had me giggling and fuming throughout the entire book. Lilac, is a frustratingly hot-headed, yet endearing, princess with a curse. And while she is royalty, she is also very, very human; experiencing pain, fear, naivety, lust, and other struggles a young person would face. And GARIN! What a wonderful way to develop Lilac’s character and balance their growing relationship than with his quick wit, sharp tongue, and handsomely, bloody allure. Their interactions make it easy to become emotionally invested in their journeys.

Also, a huge nod to Sugalski's masterful writing style. The way she effortlessly weaves together fantastical elements throughout action-packed chapters, but continues the romantic narrative, keeps you on the edge of your seat and wanting more. The beautiful depictions of the magical and the mundane really immersed me in this vividly painted world where magic is both a gift and a curse. The attention to detail in word choice and imagery was honestly so poetic in parts… and even though there is crass language peppered throughout, the mixture added extra layers of realism.

Overall, I really enjoyed this read. It’s a mesmerizing blend of political scheming, adventure, danger, mythology, and romance surrounding a youth seeking her rightful place within her kingdom. My only criticism was there were several grammatical errors which would take me out of the story. Otherwise, I’m looking forward to reading the sequel, Disillusioned , and highly recommend this book to anyone who loves the tropes below!

Favorite Tropes:
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🔪 Touch Her and Die
😉 One Bed Romance
🧛‍♂️ Morally Gray MMC / Vampire Romance
🏹 Brave FMC
🧙‍♂️ The Quest

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t quite know what to expect coming into Disenchanted by Brianna Sugalski, other than it sounded interesting and like the kind of book I would like, but I feel like it ended up being so much more.

The story follows Lilac, princess to a kingdom she is one day meant to rule. However, there’s one thing about Lilac that is considered a curse, that being that she can understand the Daemons of her world. For this reason she has been kept hidden in the castle for many a year, until the beginning of this book where she runs away to see what the wider world is like and to save her people by getting rid of the curse.

Along the way she meets Garin, a mysterious fellow she meets at a bar who unintentionally reveals something about himself he’d rather keep quiet from the princess of the kingdom. Together they set off (Lilac captive if Garin could convince her of this fact) to return to Garin’s people whose society he has been kicked out of, where he plans to use Lilac to prove this is the case.

Nothing convinces me more of the fact that I have some slight issues than when I fall hard for a character of a questionable nature. This moment of clarity came to me early on with Disenchanted with Garin, who very quickly after meeting Lilac has a rather, shall we say violent introduction, that immediately had me like “Yes, I love him already and I’m going to need him to be in all of the book going forward.” A new book boyfriend has entered the building and I love that morally grey vibe.

Lilac, for all her sheltered captivity for so much of her life, is a character I really enjoyed. She’s opinionated and doesn’t let the small minds of others dictate her own feelings and beliefs, and she’s not afraid to speak up for what she believes in. She is still naive as one would expect from someone so isolated from the wider world, particularly as far as Daemons are concerned, but she is also open minded and her naivety is never grating. She’s brave, not afraid to butt heads with dangerous creatures and never tempering her tongue which results in a lot of sass which I love. It also makes for such entertaining discourses between herself and Garin with such engaging banter. I loved every minute of the two of them together, talking and sassing one another.

The plot is always flowing, from one adventure to the next with a vast array of supporting characters that are enjoyable, and some that make you want to wring their necks. Despite the fact that it’s only over the course of a matter of days, so much happens and there’s plenty of character growth from Lilac and Garin both. I feel like the story gave a great opportunity to see a good chunk of the world, from the different creatures that inhabited it, all lumped together as Daemons by humans, to the differing opinions held between those with great hatred for Daemons, to those like Lilac who are more understanding, and even the hatred Daemons feel for the humans who have oppressed them.

The ending of the book wrapped things up nicely, while still leaving the story open enough for a sequel, and I cannot wait for more of this world because I really enjoyed this book.

[Ree Ree]

EDIT: It has come to my attention that there is two versions of this story and I read the old edition. Once my book buying ban is over I will get the new edition and give a review. I love an author that takes note of criticisms and strikes to do better. Love a bad bitch

I had high hopes. They were not met. Another new author that fails to understand the importance of editing, editing, and more editing. This was a solid first draft, but a first draft.

The pacing was slow as all hell and then smushed together in the last 200 pages. A lot of filler scenes that wasn't necessary made it clunky and disrupted the flow of the novel. Way to many side plots that were not needed and never finished which was annoying.
The lore of the book was not quite as clear as it should have been in regards to the history of the world. The recent history mentioned but never fully elaborated.

Characters were underdeveloped and bland. Lilac was incredibly frustrating and annoying. She had to have everyone around her hold her hand on this mission and till the very end had to have her god damn hand held. She was useless as a character, weak, and annoying. She did nothing, seriously. it hurt my soul. Character relationships were forced and rushed. It happens time and time again where its supposed to be enemies to lovers and the enemies part is extremely weak.

Lastly the plot was basic. It needed something more than what it was. The curse on homeboy was boring and the whole witch thing was ridiculously overused.

This had potential and further edits (real edits by a professional) are needed to make this reach the potential it has.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted this book to be more, but at the same time, there was too much of what was there. The plot dragged, the chemistry and push-and-pull between Garin & Lilac was abrupt and confusing, and the ending was unsatisfyingly vague. I did think there was some solid world-building, or at least the beginnings of it. I would be interested to see what Book 2 is about. Also, some editing errors that need to be corrected.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Angel Bucci · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this one should have stayed young adult.

[Chiara | wordsbychiara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spice: 2 peppers

DISENCHANTED combines Arthurian legends with rich fantasy lore and a sizzling vampire romance! Though I never got around to reading it in its YA form, seeing how much I enjoyed the NA rebranding I can only say the author’s hard work paid off. The world is lush and magical, capable of delivering both a Hobbit-like warmth but also a darkness that seeped through the pages and worthy of the bloodthirsty vampires and devious fair folk present in the book.

The story follows princess Lilac and vampire Garin. Both are cursed, and while Lilac is on a quest to find the witch that can save her—before her Accession or before one of her enemies ends her—Garin “offers” his protection in exchange for her help in returning to the coven that shunned him half a century prior. Hello forced proximity! The chemistry and tension between the two is undeniable, and their banter was often entertaining. Garin is one of the most charming characters I’ve ever read, capable of delivering witty lines while guzzling blood off a severed arm. This duality in him is what made him the most intriguing character of the book. I was especially interested in uncovering the story behind his curse.

The Arthurian feel added a great epic fable touch to the story, which is highly recommended to those who are fans of The Princess Bride and Throne of Glass. Throughout Lilac and Garin’s quest, we get the opportunity to meet many characters, some good, others bad, and most very morally gray. My favorites, if it wasn’t obvious already, were the vampires. Bastion is so deliciously dark and definitely a character I want to see and learn more of (perhaps in a book of his own?), but Kestrel of the fair folk and the witch Ophelia were also highly interesting characters whom I’m expecting to have a larger role later on in the series.

Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.

[LinaVer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It felt like this book wanted to be everything at the same time: a comedy, romance, adventure fantasy, folklore, historical fiction and so much more. Ordinarily, I would not mind such a mixture. Books that play with and transcend the boundaries of their genre, usually are quite fun. And I did enjoy "Disenchanted", to some extent - I had an inkling it might be an easy read to get me out of a reading slump, and that it was. However, this time there was just slightly too much of everything, too many things happening. Worse part in this - to me anyway - was the fact that the main character Lilac just seems to be adrift amidst all the chaos of one adventure chasing another. The plot moves relentlessly fast and doesn't really help the reader connect to the events deeper or feel that the stakes are actually high, even though we're expected to believe that somehow. The characters and the lore we're introduced to are cute and quirky, yet there's so many of them, you kind of lose count. And Lilac has no agency at all, everything seems to happen to her, no matter how often she seems to want to become her own person. There were so many scenes where some "high stakes" things were happening, and somehow it was always Garin, the barkeeper, that saved the day, while she brandished her words about her bravery like an imaginary sword. I mean, even the whole plotline kind of really starts moving after she pees in the forest. Hmm, ok, I guess?

The romance and the extremely dramatic yearning between the two main characters didn't convince me either. I really liked Garin, he seemed to be the one character that's a bit more fleshed out, and some of the ways he took care of the heroine did feel cute. But their infatuation felt a bit too insta-love like for me. That's a personal preference, I guess.

All that said, I went into this book thinking it might help me get out of a reading slump, and, like I mentioned, it did. It moves fast and has some interesting lore and world-building, so it definitely has its reader. And I hope it will find more and more of those readers.

Thank you to the author and BookSirens for the ARC copy of this book. My review is based solely on my honest opinion, and is written with the utmost respect.

[Meg (fantasybook.adventurer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨Disenchanted✨

In this first installment of Briar’s Ruinous Reign series, we find ourselves in the medieval world of France but if France was also full of magical creatures alongside humans. Many places are real and others are fictional, which makes this trip through Brittany and Broceliandé so fun.

At almost 20, Lilac is days away from ascending her throne but having been isolated for years after her kingdom found out she has the ability to speak the languages of the magical and outlawed creatures/monsters of their world, they fear her reign will be as cursed as she is. When she receives a letter from a witch who can help her, Lilac escapes her castle to adventure through the dangerous and forbidden wood in hopes of a future of freedom and acceptance.

However, when Lilac runs into a charismatic barkeep, Garin, and decides to take her life into her own hands, she finds herself facing two villains: either her narcissistic betrothed or handsome Garin who has a penchant for blood. With faerie bargains, a deep pull to her vampiric bodyguard, and her crown on the line, Lilac and Garin set out to make way for peace in a corrupt and prejudice world.

While the world building and religions had me a bit off, I found myself still very much intrigued and captivated by the romance and cast, wanting to keep reading and discovering what would happen next. With an ending that is a “happy for now” and leaving us wanting for book two, I’m excited to see what Briar gives us next.

Tropes you may find in Disenchanted are enemies to lovers, age gap, vampire x princess, captor x prisoner, magical creatures, forced proximity, the villain saves her, slow burn to low spice, she falls first but he falls way harder, and one bed.

Disenchanted is out now and on KU!

[✩₊*Shelby ⋆ ☾⋆ LiteraryFaery ⁺₊✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely adored Disenchanted by Brianna Sugalski! This is a new adult dark fantasy vampire romance perfect for fans of The Princess Bride & From Blood and Ash!

This book features SO many of my favorite things ever—16th century Europe, Arthurian lore vibes, a badass heroine, a vampire love interest, and so much more to fall in love with!

What to Expect:
—Runaway Princess
—Vampire MMC
—Enemies-to-Lovers
—Forced Proximity
—Only One Horse/Bed
—Slowburn Tension 🔥

Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed above are entirely my own.

[Donna (BookDragonGirl) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s easy to get lost in this fantastical, romantic dark fantasy!

I read the Young Adult edition of this book when Sugalski first published it. When I saw the new adult edition I had to have it. Sugalski BLEW ME AWAY with this masterpiece!!! The history and folklore alone fascinated me. But it was the grumpy Princess and grumpy Vampire that really did me in!! Forced proximity, enemies to lovers, etc. just made the romance that develops so much sweeter. Lilac and Garin are a new favorite book couple for me!!!

A lot went into the writing of this book and IT SHOWS!! Two worlds together but miles apart, there are so many different characters outside of the humans, Shapeshifters, Vampires, Witches, Fae and so many more interesting creatures. We get to experience them all with Lilac after she sneaks out of the castle and ventures into the forbidden world of Daemons to find a cure for her curse.

The adventure we take with Lilac into Brocéliande and beyond is exciting and at times nail biting. The wry humor breaks up the tension and made me chuckle. The romance as it blossomed took my breath away, and seeing both Lilac and Garin grow was heartwarming. This book has it all, everything you could want from a Romantic Dark Fantasy and more!!

[The Arcist · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oof. This might be a 2 for me..mayyyybbbee a 2.5. I just could not. I tried. The amount of times I swore I'd DNF this is outlandish to me. It was boring, not much happened for the length of this book. The back and forth between Lilac and Garin was… not for me. Idk what this was but enemies to lovers doesn't describe it. The hatred between them with no undercurrent or tension was just odd. I felt like sometimes the writing lacked clarity too.

I think the book struggles with its own identity honestly. It's not a high fantasy really but not low fantasy. It's not YA but the NA elements don't add anything (and are pretty scarce TBH). The swearing was awkward. Lilac was abysmal. Garin was not endearing/lovable/charming. We didn't really get to the motivation for most of the villains. There's a lot of undeveloped characters (really most of them). The ending was unsatisfying too.

I am struggling to find something that kept me reading besides sheer force of will. I don't hate it but I will not recommend it at this point. I may read the sequel but probably won't go out of my way.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Becca Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely PHENOMENAL! The perfect mix of dark fantasy with your classic runaway princess & unlikely enemies to lovers!

Just the right amount of smut (adjacent) to read beautifully without feeling like a penthouse forum!

The dark humor is amazingly written & flows beautifully- it doesn’t seemed force!

I also suck at reviews. Maybe I’ll come back one day & write a better worded one. But I ADORE this book!

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disenchanted was a great high fantasy read full of adventure and a surprising bit of romance twisted in. I loved the way Sugalski wrote the world in a way that made complete sense. The pace is steady and there was not a single time where I was bored which is why it’s deserves 4 stars in my opinion 😊

[Lotte van Leeuwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, it wasn’t amazing and it wasn’t bad. It was just ok. I will probably read book 2

[Aishah Humaira' (Mermaird ♡) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review coming later <3

[Haley Calvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

a new genre and new edits were exactly what this book needed omg

[Betwixt the Pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: unique world building; intriguing magics; Pride and Prejudice meets vampires meets magical fantasy; steamy, slow burn, enemies to lovers; touch her and ☠️; I need more

IF you had told me when I bought this book in December 2023, that it was GOING to be a 5 Penguin read from me....that I would have THE BIGGEST BOOK HANGOVER after finishing it....that it would contend with books like Pride and Prejudice, The Loom Saga, Daughter of Smoke and Bone in JUST HOW MUCH I WOULD ENJOY IT........... I'd probably have ignored you and continued on with whatever I was doing. Which is why I'm here to tell you, you NEED to drop what you're doing and PICK. THIS. BOOK. UP.

"Menacing," she repeated, riding her nerves. "That's a funny way of calling someone beautiful."

"Beauty is what people admire from afar. Menace is the lure that draws them near."

Brianna Sugalski wove a fiercely entertaining, stubbornly snarky, could-not-bring-myself-to-put-it-down read that swept me entirely off my feet and left me slack-jawed and surprised on the final page. There is no "stopping to catch your breath" with this book. There is no "just going to take a break and have some dinner and maybe do something else for a moment." This book is give it your all, MUST finish it immediately, soul-wrenchingly beautiful. The characters are well-written; the romance is slow burn and steamy and scorching; the story is gorgeous, driven by both character and plot. The redemption at the end felt maybe a little bit.....TOO easy if I'm being honest, but at the same time I can't deny that in my head I was ABSOLUTELY CHEERING for the win so take that with a grain of salt.

"I may be a monster, but I am humane, princess. I am a gentleman, and I would be gentle until you splintered and begged me to f*ck you."

If you are looking for something with a little bit of the historical meets a little bit of vampire meets a little bit of magical realism meets.....EVERYTHING ELSE? This is definitely the read for you. I definitely recommend to lovers of uniquely magical worlds, seekers of their next pulse-pounding romance, and anyone who wants to just forget reality for four or five.... HUNDRED ....pages or so. Are YOU ready to be Disenchanted, Penguins?

[Joy Avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ☆☆☆☆ Spice: 🌶

Angst: 💔💔💔

Cliffhanger? More a HFN

Do I recommend it? ✔️

Tropes: dark romantic fantasy, new adult, friends to enemies to lovers, royalty, paranormal romance, forced proximity, action/adventure, magic, touch her and die

Lilac Trécesson is a prisoner in her parents' castle after a most wicked secret was revealed on the eve of her fifteenth birthday. Years later, her Accession looms upon her father's decision to abdicate, and between the riotous townsfolk and scheming nobles bent on snatching her throne, she prepares for the worst… Until a letter arrives from The Witch of Lupine Grotto, containing a curious offer to banish her curse forever. She begrudgingly trades her coronet for a cloak and ventures into the forest Brocéliande, only to find herself cornered by a bloodthirsty barkeep who demands her help in exchange for protection against the even deadlier forces of the woods. With only the protection of her inherited dagger—and unsolicited help of the sardonic stranger who inserts himself on her quest—Lilac must find the impious enchantress and return in time to claim her crown. Pity the fool to underestimate the girl with subpar blade skills but the spite to make up for it. This is the tale of a cursed princess, a crestfallen killer, the town that wants them to burn, and the witch who can save them both.

This has definitely become one of my favorite audiobooks, as the narration of Krys Janae and Zachary Johnson was phenomenal. I couldn't believe this was the author's debut. The world building was spot on as I could easily feel, smell, and visualize the environment around me. Each character was meticulously created and introduced in the best ways. I loved the interactions between Lilac and Garin, but I needed more. I felt like the story was missing key moments between them in order to believe their evolution as a couple. I still recommend this read. I can’t wait to see where the author takes us next in this series. This is my honest opinion, freely given.

[eclecticbychoicereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was a teenager, I spent a summer in the small Breton city of Vannes, attending a course in French language and literature. My fascination with Brittany and France in general has only deepened since that summer.

Brittany especially holds a special kind of power (should we call it a thrall?) with its rich history and even richer tapestry of lore and myths. So, when I saw the opportunity of reading a historical fantasy set in this enchanting atmosphere, I knew I had to seize it. And I never looked back...

Disenchanted was everything I wanted it to be. It swept me into the alluring, eerie atmosphere of the world of magic, the intrigue and the corruption of the ruling class, the prejudice and the fears of the era (15th century), along with intriguing characters and an immersive plot.

Lilac and Garin are both beautifully flawed characters, each burdened with their own past, their mistakes, and their regrets. Even though their backgrounds are vastly different, I loved seeing them come together, learning about each other, and essentially becoming each other's safe place.

A vampire and a human princess on her road to becoming the queen. A love for the ages or a disaster waiting to happen? We are yet to see what will become of them in the end, but the foundation Briar has set is formidable, making you yearn for more of their story. Am I running straight to Disillusioned to continue the tale of these unlikely lovers? You bet I do.

Thank you, Briar, for having me on your ARC team and letting me lose myself wandering through the forest of Brocéliande with you.

[andshe.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disenchanted is a romantic dark fantasy that takes us on an adventure through the lands of Brittany and the Broceliande Forest. Our FMC Lilac is a princess practically held prisoner in a kingdom she is soon set to rule. All because she can communicate and understand the Daemons of the world. She flees the palace to find the one witch that can rid her of this curse so she will finally have the people of her kingdom on her side.

However, along the way, she meets a fair few Daemons, including a vampire called Garin. He sets out to use her to be able to return back to his Coven, but sometimes things dont always go to plan.

The world building in the book was sensational. It was magical, mysterious, and full of well developed characters. Every single chapter was action-packed and brimming with suspense.

I adored Garin from the beginning, he gave morally grey vibes, and despite his violent nature, I absolutely chose to root for him and Lilac. Their banter was addictive. Although she was held captive by her parents, she is fierce, determined, and highly opinionated. They both make fantastic characters.

I look forward to reading the sequel as if this one is anything to go by, it's going to be fantastic.

Thank you to Lunette PR and the author for a digital copy.

[Hannah Reilly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this so much more than I did. The author is clearly a talented writer (albeit with too much access to a thesaurus) but the plot and character development were far from seamless.

Garin is a decent attempt at a morally grey MMC, but without the moral strength and true goodness needed, I didn’t connect with him at all and the attempts to make him likable were weak at best. Strong “touch her and you die” vibes but without any of the build up to that - the romance felt very forced and most of the tension was built around not knowing if he wanted to feed on her or sleep with her (both as the reader and as MCs, which made it hard to feel the connection and root for them). Also lots of in-depth details to an unnecessary extent while also at the same time not answering some of the most important questions and leaving us to take some things for granted. I think it would have great potential if it were tightened up, clarified some more, and had more fleshed out characters.

Things I did enjoy: pretty good execution of forced proximity/enemies to lovers, and the subplot with the le Tellacs was compelling - I wish that would have been played out more with respect to building up the “touch her and you die” tension. Writing style is compelling and mostly easy to follow albeit a little over the top in some places. Lilac is a pretty strong FMC, I wish we could have gotten more of her backstory as opposed to punting it to the second book which appears to be the plan.

I may or may not read the second book when it comes out. Love that this was a fleshed out adaptation of a YA version - hopefully the author will only continue to flesh this out more!

[Tabitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stay up until 2AM reading this book!

This book started off weak—I literally thought it was gonna be a DNF—but it really picks up once FMC and MMC meet, which goes to reinforce my long-held opinion that all romance MCs should meet in chapter one, lol. The problem in the beginning was historical accuracy, and then there were quite a few typos throughout the text. More than half a dozen, I think.

As for the historical accuracy issue, whilst I don’t expect every single thing to be meticulously researched in order to enjoy a novel (and I rated 5 stars in spite of that), I expect authors to know the basics like, what clothes would the characters have worn? The year is 1532; FMC wears “silk breeches” under a “slip” with a dress over top. Women didn’t wear underpants under their chemises. There is a mention of her mother forcing her to wear a “corset” for the first time at age 15; the boned garments of the time were called “pairs of bodies” and were worn by children of all ages from the moment they were capable of standing upright. The mother also makes a comment about the FMC’s curves suiting a corset, and I think the author had a curvaceous Victorian corset in mind when she wrote this, but it’s actually a hilarious backhanded compliment when you consider the fact that the fashionable female silhouette in this time period was flat-fronted and conical.

And then there’s things like guillotines and matches that just… weren’t invented yet.

Anyway, enough of that, on to the stuff I want to rave about!

This book gave me ALL of the delightfully messy, blood-drenched, amoral vampire shenanigans my little heart could take, and made me WANT them. MMC doesn’t come off as the genre-typical “200-year-old teenager” hot mess; he’s capable of being calculating, restrained, charming, frightening, apologetic, tormented and tormentor, cruel and kind, and he is believable in all of these facets, like you’d expect of someone who has centuries of life experience to draw upon.

The FMC’s journey is essentially a coming-of-age, or rather coming into her own. Her father, the king, has inexplicably decided to abdicate the throne to her at the tender age of twenty, and apparently this cannot wait a single day—if she misses the coronation, he’s going to give the crown to someone else. But there’s a problem: FMC has the strange and otherworldly ability to talk to the things that go bump in the night, and people are terrified of her for it. Knowing her time before the coronation is running out, she endeavors to find a cure for this affliction. On the way, she proves herself to be a quick thinker under pressure, adaptable and juuuuust the right amount of merciless to make a vampire fall in love with her, and maybe, given time, a kingdom as well.

[Joyffree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Lilac is believed to be cursed and unfit to rule by many of her people. With her Accession looming and the kingdom on the brink of chaos, she sets out on a perilous journey in search of a possible remedy to break the curse. Her quest will take her through the mystical Brocéliande Forest where she will encounter beings she has only read about. Mischievous fairies, cunning vampires, friendly and not-so-friendly witches, not to mention a handsome, exiled vampire named Garin who may hold the key to her freedom.

Now if they can both survive not only the Forest but also each other

This is the first book in the series and it did not disappoint!
The first couple of chapters were character introductions and foundation-building
However, once the story started to take off?
I was captivated
With its witty banter, thrilling adventure, and a young heroine who defied expectations
I was looking for things to do that allowed me to keep listening I was that captivated.
This was dually narrated which, for me, just gave the characters more life.
I was there, I was in the way, constantly giving my two cents, lol.
Lucky I am not in a little room at the moment I would easily forget I wasn't really there

The author did a wonderful job of blending folklore, court life, adventure, and various fantasy and paranormal characters in a way that captivated and entertained.
Let me not forget the high-friction romance between Lilac and Garin

I suggest for those who can go with the Audio!
They did a great job on the narration and bringing this story and its characters to life

[S. Spilsbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure through the woods to find truth and self and a little magic. Sugalski writes fun characters and the pace is quick and keeps you reading without thought. I will definitely tune in for book 2!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing debut! The audiobook is amazing! Performed in duet narration by Krys Janae and Zachary Johnson. Both were phenomenal. I thought their voices matched the characters real well. The transitions were seamless and elevated the story.

I loved the writing style. The world building is easy to follow and the characters were very interesting. Lilac finds out she posesses a rare gift. She wants to get rid of it before her ascension to the throne. So when she receives a letter from a witch telling her she can remove it. Lilac starts this epic adventure, where she cross paths with a mystery barkeep.

If you love vampires, adventure and slow burn romance pick this one up.

Release date: Audiobook out now!

Thank you to the author and enticing book promotions for my audio alc in exchange for an honest review.