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Her Dark Enchantments
The Wicked Fairy. The Mistress of All Evil. The villain of Sleeping Beauty goes by many names, but where did she come from?
Myravelle Spinner grew up in a tower with only spiders, spindles, and stone walls for friends while her mother spun gold for the king. She wondered why her mother refused to teach her fairy magic until one fateful mistake led Myravelle to become the healer in the king’s Sleepy Wood Company…
Drained from years of waking soldiers from a cursed sleep, Myravelle must now choose a new canvas–a man whose life she drains with a dagger to fuel her healing powers. A ritual binds her to Byzarien Dumont, who loathes fairies for the fires that left his family impoverished and his body riddled with scars. His burning hatred causes Myravelle’s enchantments to wilt, leading the king to threaten her mother’s life.
Byzarien can only see Myravelle as a beautiful spider who strings men along her web, while Myravelle considers love a weakness for the king to exploit. With their families in danger and soldiers rotting in a death-like sleep, the pair must learn to trust one another before the dark magic spinning in Myravelle’s soul unravels once and for all.
The Wicked Fairy never asked to become a monster…
Myravelle Spinner grew up in a tower with only spiders, spindles, and stone walls for friends while her mother spun gold for the king. She wondered why her mother refused to teach her fairy magic until one fateful mistake led Myravelle to become the healer in the king’s Sleepy Wood Company…
Drained from years of waking soldiers from a cursed sleep, Myravelle must now choose a new canvas–a man whose life she drains with a dagger to fuel her healing powers. A ritual binds her to Byzarien Dumont, who loathes fairies for the fires that left his family impoverished and his body riddled with scars. His burning hatred causes Myravelle’s enchantments to wilt, leading the king to threaten her mother’s life.
Byzarien can only see Myravelle as a beautiful spider who strings men along her web, while Myravelle considers love a weakness for the king to exploit. With their families in danger and soldiers rotting in a death-like sleep, the pair must learn to trust one another before the dark magic spinning in Myravelle’s soul unravels once and for all.
The Wicked Fairy never asked to become a monster…
217 pages, ebook
Published April 25, 2023
10 people are currently reading
653 people want to read
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June 13, 2023
There's a good deal of irony in finding a Sleeping Beauty retelling soporific, as if the story were the spindle you prick your finger on and fall asleep. You'd think a retelling that tells the side of the wicked fairy that cursed Briar Rose would be interesting, more so if you mix it with a pinch of Rapunzel elements and a larger pinch of Rumpelstiltskin elements.
But it wasn't. For me, the story was so very dull and plotholey that it was hard to stay interested in it. Myravelle wasn't an interesting character, and although the soldier Byze is more interesting compared to her character, with such a name, it's challenging to take him seriously. Why give him a name like Byzarien that evokes the bizarre as if he's some Argentine rapper joining voices to sing Shakira's spite? The characters in general needed to be more layered, especially the Wicked Fairy that ends up being cartoonish, and the ending is so very predictable. I think this book tries to be "Maleficent" too hard, and suffers from trying to explain too much in too short a space, doing time jumps that leave some things unexplained.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
But it wasn't. For me, the story was so very dull and plotholey that it was hard to stay interested in it. Myravelle wasn't an interesting character, and although the soldier Byze is more interesting compared to her character, with such a name, it's challenging to take him seriously. Why give him a name like Byzarien that evokes the bizarre as if he's some Argentine rapper joining voices to sing Shakira's spite? The characters in general needed to be more layered, especially the Wicked Fairy that ends up being cartoonish, and the ending is so very predictable. I think this book tries to be "Maleficent" too hard, and suffers from trying to explain too much in too short a space, doing time jumps that leave some things unexplained.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2023
A Maleficent retelling?!
I'm a huge fan of retellings and fairy tales. So when I saw this was supposed to be a Sleeping Beauty retelling, I couldn't say no. I love how the author intertwines elements from different fairy tales (Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, and Rumpelstiltskin) into the story. It was a great idea and concept. But I had some issues with the execution, especially with the pacing. The first half of the novel was slow. While the second half was all over the place. It was fast one minute and then slow the next. Another issue was the characters. They were a bit one-dimensional. They never felt real.
Overall, I really like the story. But the execution wasn't the best.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Rosalyn Briar, Quill and Crow Publishing House, and Independent Book Publishers Association for graciously sending me the ARC to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
I'm a huge fan of retellings and fairy tales. So when I saw this was supposed to be a Sleeping Beauty retelling, I couldn't say no. I love how the author intertwines elements from different fairy tales (Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, and Rumpelstiltskin) into the story. It was a great idea and concept. But I had some issues with the execution, especially with the pacing. The first half of the novel was slow. While the second half was all over the place. It was fast one minute and then slow the next. Another issue was the characters. They were a bit one-dimensional. They never felt real.
Overall, I really like the story. But the execution wasn't the best.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Rosalyn Briar, Quill and Crow Publishing House, and Independent Book Publishers Association for graciously sending me the ARC to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
February 24, 2023
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley, and this is my honest review.
(4.5 stars.)
This is like Wicked meets Sleeping Beauty meets Rumpelstiltskin. My mind is blown, my heart is broken, I’m about to cry, I love this book.
Her Dark Enchantments introduces us to a world where magical trees are what stand between human and fairy war. These trees, called Dormrya trees, are a major source of economic trade thanks to their ability to form deadly, poisonous weapons. The fairies, however, have cursed the trees in order to protect their realm in the center of their grove, resulting in any man that comes in contact with even a splinter to fall into some form of deep sleep. Sometimes it’s just a limb that falls asleep, sometimes the entire person falls into a cursed sleep plagued by nightmares, and the only person that can wake them up is Myravelle. A fairy herself under the king’s thumb, Myravelle’s magic is fueled by her connection with a chosen man, with painful, deadly costs for both parties. Yet, what happens when the one man who hates her is chosen to be her next canvas?
I’ve said this once, and I’ll say it again: this is Wicked, but instead of getting the Wicked Witch’s origin story, you get the Wicked Fairy’s. You can see so clearly how Myravelle never wanted to hurt anyone. In fact, all she wants is freedom for both herself and her mother, and someone that could actually love her despite her long list of dead lovers. Essentially, the way Myravelle’s magic works is through runes. After finding a man to be her canvas, she carves a rune into his chest, which gives the man an immediate wave of pleasure—fans of soft-med core smut will enjoy this. By combining their blood through this rune, Myravelle is able to charge her magic enough to reverse the sleeping curses, but while the man feels all the extasy, Myravelle takes on all of their pain until they have nothing left to give and they die. It's an honor and a death sentence; one that isolates Myravelle even in her brief moments of connecttion with her canvases. She doesn’t want to hurt anyone, she didn’t ask for this power, and while the guilt eating her alive made me immediately empathize with her, her drive to try and do something about it made me love her. She’s sad, lonely, and afraid, but she’s also powerful, loyal, determined, and fierce. I loved getting to see her evolution throughout this book, and her breaking points and spiral into her final form was so well done I want to scream. Myravelle is 5 stars. Then, we have Byzarien.
A soldier in the Sleep Wood Company, Byze is tasked with trying to either get through the trees to the fairies, or just harvest the trees to make weapons. After his family home was set ablaze, Byze was horribly scarred down the entire side of his body by the flames as he saved his younger siblings. Now, he works in the company to scrounge up whatever money he can for his family, who are stuck in the slums. His scars are a constant source of insecurity for him, especially since he thinks no one can love him as a result. Yet, when Byze is summoned to be the next canvas and an opportunity for said love is presented to him, he is pissed. He’s honestly a grump—although there’s no sunshine in this trope. Yet, his love for his friends and family, his stubbornness but concurrent ability to admit maybe he was wrong, and his fierce loyalty and good heart made me immediately love him.
As for the plot itself, it is so clearly written by someone that has a firm grasp on story telling. So many times, the characters are presented with situations where they are like, “Absolutely not,” and try to do something else instead. Yet, the plot doesn’t just shove them along down the correct path, but instead actively corners the characters and shows them what will happen if they don’t make that choice. Every decision has consequences, even the right ones. Also, so many gay relationships, and even some character race diversity (we love). There was also such a smooth, well-paced evolution from enemies, to friends, to lovers in the first half of the novel. I never felt like the romance was stalling or events were just occurring for the sake of including them. I will say in the second half it felt like the romance pendulum swung so hard so fast, but the overall wicked, fantastical fairytale vibe helped me get over it pretty fast. This is also mainly in regards to Byze’s POV, not Myravelle’s, which is interesting. I also wish there had been a dedicated moment for Byze to face his scars and be like, “I’m tired of hiding behind my hair. These are my scars,” but we didn’t really get that. It’s not a huge deal, but I think that would have been the bow on top of his arc, you know?
Overall, I adore Her Dark Enchantments. The characters are easy to root for and love. The romance is fantastically paced, and I love how they have the bonding understanding of what it’s like to be viewed as unlovable to the rest of the world. The magic system is pretty soft, but again, that matches the fairytale vibe, and the details we do get are so freaking cool and interesting. The world is magical and enthralling, the story immediately sucks you in, the ending is amazing and ugh! Just read this, okay?
(4.5 stars.)
This is like Wicked meets Sleeping Beauty meets Rumpelstiltskin. My mind is blown, my heart is broken, I’m about to cry, I love this book.
Her Dark Enchantments introduces us to a world where magical trees are what stand between human and fairy war. These trees, called Dormrya trees, are a major source of economic trade thanks to their ability to form deadly, poisonous weapons. The fairies, however, have cursed the trees in order to protect their realm in the center of their grove, resulting in any man that comes in contact with even a splinter to fall into some form of deep sleep. Sometimes it’s just a limb that falls asleep, sometimes the entire person falls into a cursed sleep plagued by nightmares, and the only person that can wake them up is Myravelle. A fairy herself under the king’s thumb, Myravelle’s magic is fueled by her connection with a chosen man, with painful, deadly costs for both parties. Yet, what happens when the one man who hates her is chosen to be her next canvas?
I’ve said this once, and I’ll say it again: this is Wicked, but instead of getting the Wicked Witch’s origin story, you get the Wicked Fairy’s. You can see so clearly how Myravelle never wanted to hurt anyone. In fact, all she wants is freedom for both herself and her mother, and someone that could actually love her despite her long list of dead lovers. Essentially, the way Myravelle’s magic works is through runes. After finding a man to be her canvas, she carves a rune into his chest, which gives the man an immediate wave of pleasure—fans of soft-med core smut will enjoy this. By combining their blood through this rune, Myravelle is able to charge her magic enough to reverse the sleeping curses, but while the man feels all the extasy, Myravelle takes on all of their pain until they have nothing left to give and they die. It's an honor and a death sentence; one that isolates Myravelle even in her brief moments of connecttion with her canvases. She doesn’t want to hurt anyone, she didn’t ask for this power, and while the guilt eating her alive made me immediately empathize with her, her drive to try and do something about it made me love her. She’s sad, lonely, and afraid, but she’s also powerful, loyal, determined, and fierce. I loved getting to see her evolution throughout this book, and her breaking points and spiral into her final form was so well done I want to scream. Myravelle is 5 stars. Then, we have Byzarien.
A soldier in the Sleep Wood Company, Byze is tasked with trying to either get through the trees to the fairies, or just harvest the trees to make weapons. After his family home was set ablaze, Byze was horribly scarred down the entire side of his body by the flames as he saved his younger siblings. Now, he works in the company to scrounge up whatever money he can for his family, who are stuck in the slums. His scars are a constant source of insecurity for him, especially since he thinks no one can love him as a result. Yet, when Byze is summoned to be the next canvas and an opportunity for said love is presented to him, he is pissed. He’s honestly a grump—although there’s no sunshine in this trope. Yet, his love for his friends and family, his stubbornness but concurrent ability to admit maybe he was wrong, and his fierce loyalty and good heart made me immediately love him.
As for the plot itself, it is so clearly written by someone that has a firm grasp on story telling. So many times, the characters are presented with situations where they are like, “Absolutely not,” and try to do something else instead. Yet, the plot doesn’t just shove them along down the correct path, but instead actively corners the characters and shows them what will happen if they don’t make that choice. Every decision has consequences, even the right ones. Also, so many gay relationships, and even some character race diversity (we love). There was also such a smooth, well-paced evolution from enemies, to friends, to lovers in the first half of the novel. I never felt like the romance was stalling or events were just occurring for the sake of including them. I will say in the second half it felt like the romance pendulum swung so hard so fast, but the overall wicked, fantastical fairytale vibe helped me get over it pretty fast. This is also mainly in regards to Byze’s POV, not Myravelle’s, which is interesting. I also wish there had been a dedicated moment for Byze to face his scars and be like, “I’m tired of hiding behind my hair. These are my scars,” but we didn’t really get that. It’s not a huge deal, but I think that would have been the bow on top of his arc, you know?
Overall, I adore Her Dark Enchantments. The characters are easy to root for and love. The romance is fantastically paced, and I love how they have the bonding understanding of what it’s like to be viewed as unlovable to the rest of the world. The magic system is pretty soft, but again, that matches the fairytale vibe, and the details we do get are so freaking cool and interesting. The world is magical and enthralling, the story immediately sucks you in, the ending is amazing and ugh! Just read this, okay?
March 24, 2023
A dark, adult focussed retelling of Sleeping Beauty, with elements of Rumplestilskin. Overall, the story ebbed and flowed, and I found myself trying to fill in the blanks of what was going on, where, and why, which took from the story somewhat. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.
January 29, 2023
im trying to lower my five star ratings this year, but omfg this book deserves more!!
I love love LOVE fairytale retellings, and I love sleeping beauty sm, so when I found out this book existed and was a dark retelling of sleeping beauty where we find out more about the dark fairy, I had to have it. I am so happy I got an arc bc this was up there on my most anticipated reads of 2023.
the characters were honestly so freaking amazing, I fell in love with Myravelle. and holy shit this was so well written, I actually devoured it.
I want to write more but there’s actually nothing more to say except this was SO good.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I love love LOVE fairytale retellings, and I love sleeping beauty sm, so when I found out this book existed and was a dark retelling of sleeping beauty where we find out more about the dark fairy, I had to have it. I am so happy I got an arc bc this was up there on my most anticipated reads of 2023.
the characters were honestly so freaking amazing, I fell in love with Myravelle. and holy shit this was so well written, I actually devoured it.
I want to write more but there’s actually nothing more to say except this was SO good.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 10, 2023
Oh my my!! What I just read! I am currently in a state of shock. The writer has done an incredible job. Myravelle's perspective was truly amazing. I feel like giving this book a five-star rating. It was an excellent retelling. A wicked fairy who didn't want to be evil, but time and circumstances took everything away from her and turned her into a villain. Myravelle's sorrow was something else, but the ending with Byzarien was mind-blowing. I thought Myravelle and Byzarien would have a happy ending. What happened to Byzarien made me want to cry. But then I remembered that a past story of Mistress of All Evils couldn't possibly have a happy ending. After reading it, I feel sympathy and compassion in my heart for the wicked fairy.
I received an e-copy from Netgalley against an honest review.
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March 18, 2023
Her Dark Enchantments is a darkly gothic fairy tale, retelling the origins of Maleficent from the perspective of Myravelle, a lonely and abused young woman whose skills and abilities are taken advantage of by the king under threat to her unjustly imprisoned mother. As a healer, Myravelle employs ritual magic to continue the king's campaign against the enchanted environment, which is how she meets Byzarian, a soldier embittered by a violent past who hates her kind. Filled with atmospheric detail and respectful care to Myravelle's craft, this book weaves a sensual spell, with twists and turns that will keep you hoping for a happy ending. I was especially impressed by Myravelle's characterisation, as such care is given to understanding her motivations and struggles, and to consider the pressures under which she is attempting to survive. Things get dark, and as the cover suggests, this is not a light-hearted fairy story, but it's one that will claw its way into your heart.
I am grateful to have received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
I am grateful to have received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
April 6, 2023
This is the story of Malificent the evil witch in Snow White. The premise was good but that was as far it went for me. The writing style was terrible and the character were wooden. I am sure younger readers will lap it up. It did nothing for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
April 23, 2023
This is such a fantastic book! I always love a good fairytale retelling, but to have one told from pov of who we believe to be the villain was so much more intriguing.
Myravelle is a character that you root for instantly. I repeatedly found myself asking, “Who’s the real villain in this story?” Briar does such an excellent job weaving this story together and keeping you on your toes throughout the entire book.
I’m already looking forward to a reread and highly recommend it!
Myravelle is a character that you root for instantly. I repeatedly found myself asking, “Who’s the real villain in this story?” Briar does such an excellent job weaving this story together and keeping you on your toes throughout the entire book.
I’m already looking forward to a reread and highly recommend it!
April 2, 2023
I would like to thank NetGalley and the author for giving me a copy in advance. I will give my honest opinion.
2.30/5
The book was fine. Sometimes too much ripetitive and slow, mostly at the beginning. The first half of the book is so slow. Almost nothing happens and then, everything happens. All at once and too fast. They fall in love in a blink of a eye and that I really didn’t like. There is no chemistry between the two MC. I liked the book towards the end, but then too fast!
It would have been better with two books and explain everything better.
2.30/5
The book was fine. Sometimes too much ripetitive and slow, mostly at the beginning. The first half of the book is so slow. Almost nothing happens and then, everything happens. All at once and too fast. They fall in love in a blink of a eye and that I really didn’t like. There is no chemistry between the two MC. I liked the book towards the end, but then too fast!
It would have been better with two books and explain everything better.
February 20, 2023
Oh, goodness me! I really didn't expect to love this book to pieces, the way I did, even after having experienced Rosalyn's immersive storytelling first-hand in the past and, thus, having already fallen for her stories. This book tore my heart apart, and yet it may be one of my favourite reads of the year. (Yes! Already! That's how good it is)
Maleficent is one of the most famous, most feared villains in the Disney repertoire, but did anyone ever try to guess how she became the Mistress of All Evil? If the Angelina Jolie movies didn't fully convince you, then this book is for you. From the moment she was born, Myravelle Spinner's fate has been in the hands of the greedy King of Eglantyne, who has used her and her mother for his own selfish gain. As the healer of the Sleepy Wood Company, Myravelle is nonetheless feared, for she needs someone she can draw life from to gather the magic required to wake the other soldiers from their cursed sleep. Her newest canvas, Byzarien Dumont, is different from his predecessors: he doesn't want Myravelle, and doesn't feel honoured to have been chosen. In fact, he hates her, and everything she is, for he sees Myravelle as a wicked spider. When the pair finds out that their respective families are in danger, and Myravelle's magic stops being enough to wake soldiers from their death-like sleep, they'll have to learn to trust one another.
If I had to highlight something that really made me love this book, I'd have to mention the characters for sure. From the very beginning, the reader knows that Myravelle is doomed by the narrative; we know that we're reading about Maleficent's origin story, and thus, we know that things won't end well for her. That's, perhaps, what makes the story so powerful and tragic; Myravelle wasn't born a bad person. Instead, she was forced to become unholy and evil to survive. As the forces of fate play with her heart and soul, she slowly descends into the dark, and her journey hurts so much. Cleverly so, Rosalyn made sure to gradually incorporate all the elements we associate Maleficent with as the story progressed: the black ring, the black clothes, the crow, the staff, the horns, the green skin. Each time she acquired one of these, my heart broke a little more, yet I couldn't stop reading.
Honestly, I don't think that anyone could walk away from this book not loving Myravelle, and not feeling sad and broken after everything she went through. Even in the end, she kept trying to be good, and she kept trying to make things right. I just love her to pieces, and oh my goodness, I could gush about her forEVER.
Byzarien was also a sweetheart, and his own shift in perspective was so interesting. At first he is presented as a man with black-and-white ideals, and a strong will, but as he gets to know Myravelle better, things stop being so clear-cut. Since I don't want to spoil a single thing, I can't say much about him, but trust me when I say that he, too, will steal your heart.
The writing was really atmospheric, and I could envision every single place that was mentioned in the story - the Sleepy Woods, the tower, the Fairy Kingdom, the Dumont household. More than that, I could feel so many emotions from what was being told, and how it was being told.
If you aren't hyped for this book, you're not paying attention, so make sure to add it to your lists and preorder it!
Maleficent is one of the most famous, most feared villains in the Disney repertoire, but did anyone ever try to guess how she became the Mistress of All Evil? If the Angelina Jolie movies didn't fully convince you, then this book is for you. From the moment she was born, Myravelle Spinner's fate has been in the hands of the greedy King of Eglantyne, who has used her and her mother for his own selfish gain. As the healer of the Sleepy Wood Company, Myravelle is nonetheless feared, for she needs someone she can draw life from to gather the magic required to wake the other soldiers from their cursed sleep. Her newest canvas, Byzarien Dumont, is different from his predecessors: he doesn't want Myravelle, and doesn't feel honoured to have been chosen. In fact, he hates her, and everything she is, for he sees Myravelle as a wicked spider. When the pair finds out that their respective families are in danger, and Myravelle's magic stops being enough to wake soldiers from their death-like sleep, they'll have to learn to trust one another.
If I had to highlight something that really made me love this book, I'd have to mention the characters for sure. From the very beginning, the reader knows that Myravelle is doomed by the narrative; we know that we're reading about Maleficent's origin story, and thus, we know that things won't end well for her. That's, perhaps, what makes the story so powerful and tragic; Myravelle wasn't born a bad person. Instead, she was forced to become unholy and evil to survive. As the forces of fate play with her heart and soul, she slowly descends into the dark, and her journey hurts so much. Cleverly so, Rosalyn made sure to gradually incorporate all the elements we associate Maleficent with as the story progressed: the black ring, the black clothes, the crow, the staff, the horns, the green skin. Each time she acquired one of these, my heart broke a little more, yet I couldn't stop reading.
Honestly, I don't think that anyone could walk away from this book not loving Myravelle, and not feeling sad and broken after everything she went through. Even in the end, she kept trying to be good, and she kept trying to make things right. I just love her to pieces, and oh my goodness, I could gush about her forEVER.
Byzarien was also a sweetheart, and his own shift in perspective was so interesting. At first he is presented as a man with black-and-white ideals, and a strong will, but as he gets to know Myravelle better, things stop being so clear-cut. Since I don't want to spoil a single thing, I can't say much about him, but trust me when I say that he, too, will steal your heart.
The writing was really atmospheric, and I could envision every single place that was mentioned in the story - the Sleepy Woods, the tower, the Fairy Kingdom, the Dumont household. More than that, I could feel so many emotions from what was being told, and how it was being told.
If you aren't hyped for this book, you're not paying attention, so make sure to add it to your lists and preorder it!
May 26, 2023
Her Dark Enchantments by Rosalyn Briar
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I originally requested this book as I thought the premise had a lot of promise. However, I was sadly disappointed after reading it.
Unfortunately, I found the writing style and language to be rather juvenile. The beginning of the book was too slow-paced and included a lot of unnecessary repetition. Then, the second half of the book felt rushed, which was odd considering this was where most of the interesting actions occurred. I felt that the author could have cut a lot of the pages towards the start and instead used this time to fully describe the events that happened towards the end. I found myself being confused by certain parts of the plot, as it felt like the author skipped over the important parts and instead focused on unnecessary small details, such as the character's clothing. The story seems to jump all over the place, and the reader is left to fill in the gaps as best as they can. An example of this is when we are told that the volcano has caused the unending winter, but no further explanation is given as to how or why.
Furthermore, the characters were not particularly likeable. Myravelle was a good character in certain parts of this book, but at others, she came across unhinged, and the reasonings behind her volatile behaviour were not explained in enough detail. Therefore, I was left confused by her character, and the violence she carried out seemed unproportional. I ended up viewing her as an equal villain in this story, which I don't think is what the author was aiming to portray. Byzarian was okay as a character, and there were certain parts of his storyline that I found to be well-thought out and interesting. Yet, I felt that his change in feelings towards Myravelle was too sudden, so I was left wondering whether these were true feelings or were due to the canvas spell.
Overall, I think the author attempted to do too much in too little of a page count. The premise of the sleeping beauty retelling was interesting, but it all got a bit mixed up with parts of the Rumpelstiltskin story as well as a bit of a maleficent vibe. If the author had chosen one of these storylines and stuck to it, this may have made the book more coherent. There were certain parts of this that I did really like, but unfortunately, the bad parts overshadowed the overall story.
Perhaps a younger audience would be better suited for this book, but I personally did not enjoy it.
2 out of 5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I originally requested this book as I thought the premise had a lot of promise. However, I was sadly disappointed after reading it.
Unfortunately, I found the writing style and language to be rather juvenile. The beginning of the book was too slow-paced and included a lot of unnecessary repetition. Then, the second half of the book felt rushed, which was odd considering this was where most of the interesting actions occurred. I felt that the author could have cut a lot of the pages towards the start and instead used this time to fully describe the events that happened towards the end. I found myself being confused by certain parts of the plot, as it felt like the author skipped over the important parts and instead focused on unnecessary small details, such as the character's clothing. The story seems to jump all over the place, and the reader is left to fill in the gaps as best as they can. An example of this is when we are told that the volcano has caused the unending winter, but no further explanation is given as to how or why.
Furthermore, the characters were not particularly likeable. Myravelle was a good character in certain parts of this book, but at others, she came across unhinged, and the reasonings behind her volatile behaviour were not explained in enough detail. Therefore, I was left confused by her character, and the violence she carried out seemed unproportional. I ended up viewing her as an equal villain in this story, which I don't think is what the author was aiming to portray. Byzarian was okay as a character, and there were certain parts of his storyline that I found to be well-thought out and interesting. Yet, I felt that his change in feelings towards Myravelle was too sudden, so I was left wondering whether these were true feelings or were due to the canvas spell.
Overall, I think the author attempted to do too much in too little of a page count. The premise of the sleeping beauty retelling was interesting, but it all got a bit mixed up with parts of the Rumpelstiltskin story as well as a bit of a maleficent vibe. If the author had chosen one of these storylines and stuck to it, this may have made the book more coherent. There were certain parts of this that I did really like, but unfortunately, the bad parts overshadowed the overall story.
Perhaps a younger audience would be better suited for this book, but I personally did not enjoy it.
2 out of 5 stars
March 21, 2023
Myravelle Spinner grew up in a tower with only spiders, spindles, and stone walls for friends while her mother spun gold for the king. She wondered why her mother refused to teach her fairy magic, until one fateful mistake led Myravelle to become the healer in the king’s sleepy wood company…
Drained from years of waking soldiers from a cursed sleep, Myravelle must now choose a new canvas–a man whose life she drains with a dagger to fuel her healing powers. A ritual binds her to Byzarien Dumont, who loathes fairies for the fires that left his family impoverished and his body riddled with scars. His burning hatred causes Myravelle’s enchantments to wilt, leading the king to threaten her mother’s life.
Byzarien can only see Myravelle as a beautiful spider who strings men along her web, while Myravelle considers love a weakness for the king to exploit. With their families in danger and soldiers rotting in a death-like sleep, the pair must learn to trust one another before the dark magic spinning in Myravelle’s soul unravels once and for all.
2 stars
I found this kinda hard to rate because there were few parts I liked but unfortunately most of it wasn’t doing it for me and I pushed through to see if I would enjoy it but sadly I didn’t. The first few chapters are the parts I really liked and then after that it just wasn't working for me and I think a different reader would definitely enjoy this because the premise is so interesting (that's what got me intrigued) but I think the way it went after a few chapters for me personally I just couldn’t get back into it which is a shame.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC!! Her dark enchantments comes out on 25th April.
Drained from years of waking soldiers from a cursed sleep, Myravelle must now choose a new canvas–a man whose life she drains with a dagger to fuel her healing powers. A ritual binds her to Byzarien Dumont, who loathes fairies for the fires that left his family impoverished and his body riddled with scars. His burning hatred causes Myravelle’s enchantments to wilt, leading the king to threaten her mother’s life.
Byzarien can only see Myravelle as a beautiful spider who strings men along her web, while Myravelle considers love a weakness for the king to exploit. With their families in danger and soldiers rotting in a death-like sleep, the pair must learn to trust one another before the dark magic spinning in Myravelle’s soul unravels once and for all.
2 stars
I found this kinda hard to rate because there were few parts I liked but unfortunately most of it wasn’t doing it for me and I pushed through to see if I would enjoy it but sadly I didn’t. The first few chapters are the parts I really liked and then after that it just wasn't working for me and I think a different reader would definitely enjoy this because the premise is so interesting (that's what got me intrigued) but I think the way it went after a few chapters for me personally I just couldn’t get back into it which is a shame.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC!! Her dark enchantments comes out on 25th April.
March 16, 2023
I requested this book on a whim and I'm glad I did because I quite enjoyed it. I know very little about the sleeping beauty story, but this sounded like it could be interesting. And it was. Granted, it did have a couple times where the story was a little meh, but it would always pick back up. More times than not, I wanted to keep reading when I knew I had to stop. I really liked Byzarien and Myravelle as a couple and all the different sides they showed. And all of Myravelle's magic was really neat.
I do have two sort of complaints about it though. What was the point of the first chapter/prologue? I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how they were connected, and I really don't think that they were at all. Secondly, I would have really liked to know old Byzarien and Myravelle were. Perhaps it was mentioned and I missed it? Myravelle in particular because she so often acted like a mature adult, but then there were times where she just seemed so young and desperate.
Like at least one other review I read, I didn't really like how were dropped right into this story with absolutely no idea what was what, but it was easy enough to figure out after a little bit. Byzarien is part of a sort of military unit that was formed in order to find and gather fairy cursed trees for their king. It's very dangerous because even a sliver can put a soldier into an unwaking sleep where they suffer thru nightmares. That's where Myravelle comes in. As a fairy, she has certain magic powers that the king easily exploits by holding her mother hostage. In this case, she is able to wake the sleeping soldiers. But to do so, she needs a canvas. A bonded male that she can cut runes into that will give her the power and strength to do this. Byzarien has just lost one of his closest friends who was Myravelle's last canvas, when he is chosen next. When Myravelle had done that ritual, she had added an extra ingredient because she was so desperate for a companion and a friend. Someone who could actually love her. She never expected the results she got.
This is definitely an enemies to lovers story, at least on one side, because Byzarien hates Myravelle with a passion all because she's a fairy and he lost a great deal to the fairies. He in no uncertain terms tells her how he feels about her being a monster and how he will never bond with her the way she wants. He is really rather cruel, but he soon regrets his words and his actions as he slowly sees that Myravelle is not a monster at all and that she is indeed a trapped victim trying her hardest to protect her mother and find any solace she can in the arms of her canvases. He doesn't see it, but he has already fallen in love with her.
It was frustrating to watch these two in the beginning with how they treated one another despite how they both feel. It takes a lot, but these two finally admit to their feelings. And just in time. When the king goes back on his word, he breaks something in Myravelle that lets the darkness inside of her get stronger. What she does next puts her life in more danger, and because Byzarien will not leave her side, they are both forced to flee. They seek sanctuary and answers in the fairy realm, but the answers received are few and terrible. Also not accepted there, they are forced to flee yet again with another betrayal. A brief respite gives these two some actual joy, but they must move on. Unfortunately it's right into a trap where something happens that rarely ever does, and it surprised the hell out of me. It's also where the final piece holding Myravelle together breaks and she will become the evil fairy she has been painted as.
That part of the book was probably the most intense. And from there Myravelle goes on to get stronger, gain more power, and meticulously plan her revenge. After everything that happens to her, from the beginning of the book to the very end, it's hard not to feel bad for Myravelle and to understand why she does what she does. Especially after she learns exactly why her mother was kidnapped and locked up, who her real father is, and how a vengeful god plans to use her. As far as origin stories go, this one was a heart wrenching and sad one of a poor, innocent girl, who tried her hardest to protect those she loved and still loses everything to the greedy ones in power.
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
I do have two sort of complaints about it though. What was the point of the first chapter/prologue? I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how they were connected, and I really don't think that they were at all. Secondly, I would have really liked to know old Byzarien and Myravelle were. Perhaps it was mentioned and I missed it? Myravelle in particular because she so often acted like a mature adult, but then there were times where she just seemed so young and desperate.
Like at least one other review I read, I didn't really like how were dropped right into this story with absolutely no idea what was what, but it was easy enough to figure out after a little bit. Byzarien is part of a sort of military unit that was formed in order to find and gather fairy cursed trees for their king. It's very dangerous because even a sliver can put a soldier into an unwaking sleep where they suffer thru nightmares. That's where Myravelle comes in. As a fairy, she has certain magic powers that the king easily exploits by holding her mother hostage. In this case, she is able to wake the sleeping soldiers. But to do so, she needs a canvas. A bonded male that she can cut runes into that will give her the power and strength to do this. Byzarien has just lost one of his closest friends who was Myravelle's last canvas, when he is chosen next. When Myravelle had done that ritual, she had added an extra ingredient because she was so desperate for a companion and a friend. Someone who could actually love her. She never expected the results she got.
This is definitely an enemies to lovers story, at least on one side, because Byzarien hates Myravelle with a passion all because she's a fairy and he lost a great deal to the fairies. He in no uncertain terms tells her how he feels about her being a monster and how he will never bond with her the way she wants. He is really rather cruel, but he soon regrets his words and his actions as he slowly sees that Myravelle is not a monster at all and that she is indeed a trapped victim trying her hardest to protect her mother and find any solace she can in the arms of her canvases. He doesn't see it, but he has already fallen in love with her.
It was frustrating to watch these two in the beginning with how they treated one another despite how they both feel. It takes a lot, but these two finally admit to their feelings. And just in time. When the king goes back on his word, he breaks something in Myravelle that lets the darkness inside of her get stronger. What she does next puts her life in more danger, and because Byzarien will not leave her side, they are both forced to flee. They seek sanctuary and answers in the fairy realm, but the answers received are few and terrible. Also not accepted there, they are forced to flee yet again with another betrayal. A brief respite gives these two some actual joy, but they must move on. Unfortunately it's right into a trap where something happens that rarely ever does, and it surprised the hell out of me. It's also where the final piece holding Myravelle together breaks and she will become the evil fairy she has been painted as.
That part of the book was probably the most intense. And from there Myravelle goes on to get stronger, gain more power, and meticulously plan her revenge. After everything that happens to her, from the beginning of the book to the very end, it's hard not to feel bad for Myravelle and to understand why she does what she does. Especially after she learns exactly why her mother was kidnapped and locked up, who her real father is, and how a vengeful god plans to use her. As far as origin stories go, this one was a heart wrenching and sad one of a poor, innocent girl, who tried her hardest to protect those she loved and still loses everything to the greedy ones in power.
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
May 23, 2023
Beautiful writing and deliciously dark aesthetics abound in this intriguing tale of Myraville, the future Wicked Fairy. The first half of this was my favorite, as I love a good enemies-to-lovers romance. But the second half is compelling in its own way, as the author leads you down a steadily darkening (and heart-wrenching) path. Be warned: this is not a romance but a love a story. HEAs not required. 🖤
September 25, 2025
It was an interesting weaving set of fairytales that should have been a wonderful read but felt short because of the writing.
The FMC lacks depths in character, in my opinion, and really didn't feel or give a convincing arc for me most of the time. I think her development was weak and didn't really do it for the so-called villain or revenge arc at the end. The same goes for most of the character here despite the interesting set of names.
I really wish this was written more in an engaging and immersive manner because, really, this book would have served hard if it did, which was really disappointing considering the potential of the world verse here.
Thank you, Quill and Crow Publishing House, for the e-arc.
The FMC lacks depths in character, in my opinion, and really didn't feel or give a convincing arc for me most of the time. I think her development was weak and didn't really do it for the so-called villain or revenge arc at the end. The same goes for most of the character here despite the interesting set of names.
I really wish this was written more in an engaging and immersive manner because, really, this book would have served hard if it did, which was really disappointing considering the potential of the world verse here.
Thank you, Quill and Crow Publishing House, for the e-arc.
February 28, 2023
I received a early advanced readers copy and this is an honest and voluntary review!My thanks to NetGalley and Quill and Co Publishing for providing me with a copy!
Book is released on April 25th so this is a spoiler free review!
Her Dark Enchantments
Rosalyn Briar
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
“𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒘𝒆 𝒃𝒆 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒐?”
Her Dark Enchantments is a dark, twisted villain origin story of Malificent from the classic sleeping beauty fairytale! It has enemies to lovers, an amazing magic system, faeries and even a little spice! If you like any of these things I 100% recommend giving this book a go!
I really loved the writing of this book! Myravelle is a really interesting and well written character and her development throughout the book was amazing! I loved that although it is a sleeping beauty inspired book- there are references to other fairytales such as Rumpelstiltskin and The Red Shoes by Hans Christian Andersen (such an underrated fairytale, I was so happy it was included!!!) The world building was really interesting, for such a short book it was done incredibly! You learn a lot about the magic system and the gods they worship and this made the story really enjoyable!
The plot itself was very enjoyable- it was quite fast paced and always kept me reading to see what happened next. There was a really amazing plot twist at the end that I did not see coming! The one thing I didn’t quite enjoy as much in this book was how quickly the enemies became lovers, but that is just my preference and I completely appreciate some people don’t enjoy slow burn. I just think Byzarian forgot about his hatred for Myravelle quite suddenly and it could have been more of a slow transition, but then again this book is just under 300 pages so it’s understandable that the romance was a bit quicker paced. Overall it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book, I would 100% say this book is worth preordering just based on the amazing plot and world building!
Book is released on April 25th so this is a spoiler free review!
Her Dark Enchantments
Rosalyn Briar
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
“𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒘𝒆 𝒃𝒆 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒐?”
Her Dark Enchantments is a dark, twisted villain origin story of Malificent from the classic sleeping beauty fairytale! It has enemies to lovers, an amazing magic system, faeries and even a little spice! If you like any of these things I 100% recommend giving this book a go!
I really loved the writing of this book! Myravelle is a really interesting and well written character and her development throughout the book was amazing! I loved that although it is a sleeping beauty inspired book- there are references to other fairytales such as Rumpelstiltskin and The Red Shoes by Hans Christian Andersen (such an underrated fairytale, I was so happy it was included!!!) The world building was really interesting, for such a short book it was done incredibly! You learn a lot about the magic system and the gods they worship and this made the story really enjoyable!
The plot itself was very enjoyable- it was quite fast paced and always kept me reading to see what happened next. There was a really amazing plot twist at the end that I did not see coming! The one thing I didn’t quite enjoy as much in this book was how quickly the enemies became lovers, but that is just my preference and I completely appreciate some people don’t enjoy slow burn. I just think Byzarian forgot about his hatred for Myravelle quite suddenly and it could have been more of a slow transition, but then again this book is just under 300 pages so it’s understandable that the romance was a bit quicker paced. Overall it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book, I would 100% say this book is worth preordering just based on the amazing plot and world building!
April 20, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Quill & Crow Publishing House for a digital ARC - pub date 4/25/2023. Trigger Warnings : violence, physical and emotional abuse. (Technically a 3.5 but I rounded up for how the ending took me.)
At first I was torn about reading this one because I am a complete junkie for fairy tales and retellings but I am generally annoyed by the trend of all Bad Ass Villains needing a Tragic Backstory (TM) to justify their wickedness. The Wicked Fairy in Sleeping Beauty, most notably in the Disney version, is one of the OG and there is an amusing family story of her appearance on the big screen scaring little me so much that my uncle dragged me from the theater crying and handed me back to my parents, swearing never to take me to a movie until I could behave. (Fun fact: He held to that until I was in my early teens and he took me to see Casper) Maleficiant is deliciously, wickedly, powerfully terrifying and every inch of me resisted humanizing her (no, I have never seen the Angelina Jolie pic). She has style and drama and flair to spare.
But the cover... What a beautiful cover and, okay, I'll give it a go because it sounded promising. I am glad I did. The world is created well without too much fussy explanation. You are able to sink pretty easily into the world and the situations, lousy as they are. Part of this is the POV choices which alternate between the two main characters but are not quite omnipotent for them. You get into the heads of Myravelle and Byzarien but you don't get utterly lost in them which works out quite well to show the reader the different sides at the beginning.
There is a lot of heavy fairy-tale traditional trappings in the book but they are woven with a larger feel that has a better grounding. Unlike fairy tales where almost no one and no place has a name or much growth, Her Dark Enchantments lavishes names and feelings and backstories on many characters in addition to the main two. The only ones lacking more depth feel like they are deliberately left out of the circle for a reason - most probably because every story needs a villain and, by virtue of what this book is, it cannot start out as the Wicked Fairy. Myravelle needs to walk her path to get there and so does the reader.
Which is kind of a funny thing and I am impressed the author managed to keep me reading because I absolutely KNEW where this story was going. It had to go to dark places, it had to end badly, the couple cannot get a happily ever after... Because then we wouldn't have the Wicked Fairy.
The beginning was slow and Byzarien's anger/hatred grew tiresome but, once they started communicating properly, things melted into a better flow and I found myself caring about what happened to them and dreading what I knew was going to HAVE to happen. On the way, though, I could enjoy learning about how magic in this world worked in tandem with Myravelle learning. This was a particularly nice conceit and made the magic feel quite organic and reasonable. Finding each new rune and learning to use it felt like an adventure. Just as, unfortunately, every fresh betrayal taught a different lesson. Thankfully, the author had enough sense to keep from unrelenting doom and gloom and gave us (and the couple) bright spots to relieve the pacing - Byzarien's friends, their devotion to each other, uncomplicated and no nonsense LGBTQIA relationships, Byzarien's family and acceptance, even sweet little Sola trying to be fair.
Really quite an enjoyable read and I'm glad I tried it despite my pre-existing prejudices. :)
At first I was torn about reading this one because I am a complete junkie for fairy tales and retellings but I am generally annoyed by the trend of all Bad Ass Villains needing a Tragic Backstory (TM) to justify their wickedness. The Wicked Fairy in Sleeping Beauty, most notably in the Disney version, is one of the OG and there is an amusing family story of her appearance on the big screen scaring little me so much that my uncle dragged me from the theater crying and handed me back to my parents, swearing never to take me to a movie until I could behave. (Fun fact: He held to that until I was in my early teens and he took me to see Casper) Maleficiant is deliciously, wickedly, powerfully terrifying and every inch of me resisted humanizing her (no, I have never seen the Angelina Jolie pic). She has style and drama and flair to spare.
But the cover... What a beautiful cover and, okay, I'll give it a go because it sounded promising. I am glad I did. The world is created well without too much fussy explanation. You are able to sink pretty easily into the world and the situations, lousy as they are. Part of this is the POV choices which alternate between the two main characters but are not quite omnipotent for them. You get into the heads of Myravelle and Byzarien but you don't get utterly lost in them which works out quite well to show the reader the different sides at the beginning.
There is a lot of heavy fairy-tale traditional trappings in the book but they are woven with a larger feel that has a better grounding. Unlike fairy tales where almost no one and no place has a name or much growth, Her Dark Enchantments lavishes names and feelings and backstories on many characters in addition to the main two. The only ones lacking more depth feel like they are deliberately left out of the circle for a reason - most probably because every story needs a villain and, by virtue of what this book is, it cannot start out as the Wicked Fairy. Myravelle needs to walk her path to get there and so does the reader.
Which is kind of a funny thing and I am impressed the author managed to keep me reading because I absolutely KNEW where this story was going. It had to go to dark places, it had to end badly, the couple cannot get a happily ever after... Because then we wouldn't have the Wicked Fairy.
The beginning was slow and Byzarien's anger/hatred grew tiresome but, once they started communicating properly, things melted into a better flow and I found myself caring about what happened to them and dreading what I knew was going to HAVE to happen. On the way, though, I could enjoy learning about how magic in this world worked in tandem with Myravelle learning. This was a particularly nice conceit and made the magic feel quite organic and reasonable. Finding each new rune and learning to use it felt like an adventure. Just as, unfortunately, every fresh betrayal taught a different lesson. Thankfully, the author had enough sense to keep from unrelenting doom and gloom and gave us (and the couple) bright spots to relieve the pacing - Byzarien's friends, their devotion to each other, uncomplicated and no nonsense LGBTQIA relationships, Byzarien's family and acceptance, even sweet little Sola trying to be fair.
Really quite an enjoyable read and I'm glad I tried it despite my pre-existing prejudices. :)
April 9, 2023
I was drawn to this book by its title and cover, which promised a dark and twisted retelling of Sleeping Beauty from the perspective of the wicked fairy.
The book follows Myravelle, a fairy who grew up in a tower with her mother, who spun gold for the king. Myravelle longed to learn fairy magic, but her mother forbade it. One day, she accidentally revealed her powers and was forced to become the healer of the king’s Sleepy Wood Company, a group of soldiers who were cursed to fall into a deep sleep every night. To wake them up, Myravelle had to drain the life force of a man with a dagger and use it to fuel her healing enchantments.
Myravelle’s life changed when she was bound by a ritual to Byzarien Dumont, a scarred and bitter man who hated fairies for the fires that destroyed his family and his home. Their mutual distrust and resentment threatened to ruin Myravelle’s magic and put their lives in danger. As they faced enemies and secrets from their pasts, they also had to deal with their growing attraction and feelings for each other.
I liked the premise and the world-building of this book, which blended elements of fairy tales, magic, and history. The author created a complex and intriguing character in Myravelle, who was not a typical villain but a flawed and sympathetic heroine who struggled with her dark nature and her desire for love. I also enjoyed the slow-burn romance between Myravelle and Byzarien, who had great chemistry and banter.
However, I also found some parts of the book redundant and confusing. The plot seemed to drag at times, especially in the middle, where there were too many scenes of Myravelle waking up the soldiers or arguing with Byzarien. I also got lost in some of the details of the magic system and the history of the kingdom, which were not explained very well. I wished there was more action and suspense to keep me engaged.
Overall, I think Her Dark Enchantments is an original and creative take on Sleeping Beauty that fans of gothic fairy tales might enjoy. It has a strong heroine, a swoon-worthy hero, and a dark twist that will surprise you. Thank you NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The book follows Myravelle, a fairy who grew up in a tower with her mother, who spun gold for the king. Myravelle longed to learn fairy magic, but her mother forbade it. One day, she accidentally revealed her powers and was forced to become the healer of the king’s Sleepy Wood Company, a group of soldiers who were cursed to fall into a deep sleep every night. To wake them up, Myravelle had to drain the life force of a man with a dagger and use it to fuel her healing enchantments.
Myravelle’s life changed when she was bound by a ritual to Byzarien Dumont, a scarred and bitter man who hated fairies for the fires that destroyed his family and his home. Their mutual distrust and resentment threatened to ruin Myravelle’s magic and put their lives in danger. As they faced enemies and secrets from their pasts, they also had to deal with their growing attraction and feelings for each other.
I liked the premise and the world-building of this book, which blended elements of fairy tales, magic, and history. The author created a complex and intriguing character in Myravelle, who was not a typical villain but a flawed and sympathetic heroine who struggled with her dark nature and her desire for love. I also enjoyed the slow-burn romance between Myravelle and Byzarien, who had great chemistry and banter.
However, I also found some parts of the book redundant and confusing. The plot seemed to drag at times, especially in the middle, where there were too many scenes of Myravelle waking up the soldiers or arguing with Byzarien. I also got lost in some of the details of the magic system and the history of the kingdom, which were not explained very well. I wished there was more action and suspense to keep me engaged.
Overall, I think Her Dark Enchantments is an original and creative take on Sleeping Beauty that fans of gothic fairy tales might enjoy. It has a strong heroine, a swoon-worthy hero, and a dark twist that will surprise you. Thank you NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 29, 2023
If there's anything I love more than a good retelling it's a breathtaking origin story and this book is both, with the bonus of making you feel for the Mistress of all Evil, and Dearie let me tell you, she's evil for a reason.
Myravelle is that rare character that wants to be good, strives to be part of a family, to just have a place to belong, she's willing to do whatever it takes to not rock the boat, not only does her life depend on it but so does her mothers and the lives of all the soldiers she's supposed to be waking up.
You see Myravelle has a very special gift, actually many gifts, but what makes her valuable to King Zylvain is her healing gift which allows her to use pain to access her magic but she has to draw pain from her Canvases, men that are chosen for this very purpose, what it does to them however is a pain she carries heavily on her heart every single day.
Then she decides to change the rules and look for a Canvas that she can love, and we find Byzarien, only one problem Byzarien has a pure hatred for the Faries, with good reason, and Myravelle is a very powerful Fairy.
Through ups and downs, they find themselves, how to love, and how much they're willing to fight for the ability to live a life together.
One betrayal after another pushes our characters further and further from where they feel safe, who they feel they can trust, and into an unknown world where from the very beginning their instincts tell them something is wrong.
Love can push us to do things we don't even think ourselves capable of and this story.... it broke my heart for both of them and so many others while making me cheer as a very twisted form of retribution is executed.
If you're looking for a book to take you into a tale that gives you insight into multiple intertwined stories we all know and love, or just want a story that will prove that good and evil and so much more complicated than we think then this is the book for you.
If it isn't evident by this point I loved this book.
Thank you so much to Quill and Crow Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing a digital copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Myravelle is that rare character that wants to be good, strives to be part of a family, to just have a place to belong, she's willing to do whatever it takes to not rock the boat, not only does her life depend on it but so does her mothers and the lives of all the soldiers she's supposed to be waking up.
You see Myravelle has a very special gift, actually many gifts, but what makes her valuable to King Zylvain is her healing gift which allows her to use pain to access her magic but she has to draw pain from her Canvases, men that are chosen for this very purpose, what it does to them however is a pain she carries heavily on her heart every single day.
Then she decides to change the rules and look for a Canvas that she can love, and we find Byzarien, only one problem Byzarien has a pure hatred for the Faries, with good reason, and Myravelle is a very powerful Fairy.
Through ups and downs, they find themselves, how to love, and how much they're willing to fight for the ability to live a life together.
One betrayal after another pushes our characters further and further from where they feel safe, who they feel they can trust, and into an unknown world where from the very beginning their instincts tell them something is wrong.
Love can push us to do things we don't even think ourselves capable of and this story.... it broke my heart for both of them and so many others while making me cheer as a very twisted form of retribution is executed.
If you're looking for a book to take you into a tale that gives you insight into multiple intertwined stories we all know and love, or just want a story that will prove that good and evil and so much more complicated than we think then this is the book for you.
If it isn't evident by this point I loved this book.
Thank you so much to Quill and Crow Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing a digital copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 11, 2023
I went into this story fairly blind, having only briefly glanced at the blurb and being drawn in by the beautiful cover and the promise of a fairytale retelling.
What I got, at least in the first 75% of the book, was a dark, twisted and kind of kinky story that surrounded an intricate, broken and flawed set of characters. There was layer upon layer of each being peeled back for the reader to enjoy.
I enjoyed Byzarien and Myravelle's story quite a lot, not even really putting the new story to the tendrils of the original until after the 75% mark. The first three quarters of this book is where the story really shines.
I liked the sweet glimpses into life, the peek into a world of gods and beliefs that seem somewhat crude and simultaneously quite complex. Some elements of the magic was handled well, others leaned heavily on tropes we know well and are well used. Some character choices were obvious nods to the original, others not so obvious until later.
Are there plot holes and flaws, yes, but those didn't really detract from my enjoyment of the story. At least not to start with.
However, after the 75% mark, what should have been a gut punch to the feels, felt rushed and utterly cosmetic. I felt absolutely no emotional connection and that really ruined an otherwise solid 4 star book. Unfortunately all the lovely build up and character development was lost in a single scene and the book just couldn't recover.
If you like fairytale retellings, or even the Disney worlds of Maleficent, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty etc then you may enjoy this story. However, if you're looking for something that is 100% true to the originals, look elsewhere.
**Note: I was given an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley**
What I got, at least in the first 75% of the book, was a dark, twisted and kind of kinky story that surrounded an intricate, broken and flawed set of characters. There was layer upon layer of each being peeled back for the reader to enjoy.
I enjoyed Byzarien and Myravelle's story quite a lot, not even really putting the new story to the tendrils of the original until after the 75% mark. The first three quarters of this book is where the story really shines.
I liked the sweet glimpses into life, the peek into a world of gods and beliefs that seem somewhat crude and simultaneously quite complex. Some elements of the magic was handled well, others leaned heavily on tropes we know well and are well used. Some character choices were obvious nods to the original, others not so obvious until later.
Are there plot holes and flaws, yes, but those didn't really detract from my enjoyment of the story. At least not to start with.
However, after the 75% mark, what should have been a gut punch to the feels, felt rushed and utterly cosmetic. I felt absolutely no emotional connection and that really ruined an otherwise solid 4 star book. Unfortunately all the lovely build up and character development was lost in a single scene and the book just couldn't recover.
If you like fairytale retellings, or even the Disney worlds of Maleficent, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty etc then you may enjoy this story. However, if you're looking for something that is 100% true to the originals, look elsewhere.
**Note: I was given an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley**
April 14, 2023
3.5⭐️
Myravelle Spinner grew up on a tower with nothing but spiders to keep her company. Her mother spins gold for the king, a job that would likely be passed to Myravelle. But as a teenager it’s discovered that Myravelle has the ability to wake those put under a cursed sleep. But to do so she must carve into a man with a dagger to fuel her powers. Enter Byzarien Dumont, the latest canvas picked for Myravelle.
But Byzarien is different. After overcoming his prejudice to the fairies, he discovers that Myravelle never asked to be the monster everyone sees her as and that she maybe his one true love. And she’ll burn the whole kingdom down to stay with him.
I’m on a dark retelling kick and this was an interesting tale of the Wicked Witch from Sleep Beauty. I enjoyed watching the events that lead to a meek girl doing what she had to do to keep her mother safe to this wicked creature who curses the kings daughter and cackles while doing it. You can feel Myravelle’s sanity slip as she undergoes one betrayal after another and honestly, good for her taking things into her own hands.
The only reason this isn’t a higher rating from me is the pacing. I loved the beginning when Myravelle and Byzarien meet and I loved the ending. But the middle dragged and felt more like it was following a fantasy checklist if they go here and something bad happens and then here where something bad happens. Also, I wasn’t attached to any of these characters and felt they were mostly surface level. How am I supposed to believe her turning wicked over her one true love if the relationship was they hate each other/they love each other with no transition?
Thanks Netgalley and Quil & Crow for providing this ARC for an honest review!
Myravelle Spinner grew up on a tower with nothing but spiders to keep her company. Her mother spins gold for the king, a job that would likely be passed to Myravelle. But as a teenager it’s discovered that Myravelle has the ability to wake those put under a cursed sleep. But to do so she must carve into a man with a dagger to fuel her powers. Enter Byzarien Dumont, the latest canvas picked for Myravelle.
But Byzarien is different. After overcoming his prejudice to the fairies, he discovers that Myravelle never asked to be the monster everyone sees her as and that she maybe his one true love. And she’ll burn the whole kingdom down to stay with him.
I’m on a dark retelling kick and this was an interesting tale of the Wicked Witch from Sleep Beauty. I enjoyed watching the events that lead to a meek girl doing what she had to do to keep her mother safe to this wicked creature who curses the kings daughter and cackles while doing it. You can feel Myravelle’s sanity slip as she undergoes one betrayal after another and honestly, good for her taking things into her own hands.
The only reason this isn’t a higher rating from me is the pacing. I loved the beginning when Myravelle and Byzarien meet and I loved the ending. But the middle dragged and felt more like it was following a fantasy checklist if they go here and something bad happens and then here where something bad happens. Also, I wasn’t attached to any of these characters and felt they were mostly surface level. How am I supposed to believe her turning wicked over her one true love if the relationship was they hate each other/they love each other with no transition?
Thanks Netgalley and Quil & Crow for providing this ARC for an honest review!
May 22, 2023
This book had a really great premise. It’s an adult fairytale retelling, villain origin story, and combines Snow White with Rumpelstiltskin. I was excited, but it didn’t work for me. I honestly wanted to DNF it so many times, which is rare for me. I also rarely rate books below 3 stars, but I felt in this case 2 was the best I could honestly give.
I think a major problem for me was the writing. The characters talked and acted like preteens or young teens. I think she was going for shy and unsure based on the number of times the characters said “um,” but it was just awkward. Then there were the “spicy scenes” which were also awkward and strange. I don’t know if she was going for a BDSM thing, but it just didn’t work. I was so bored for most of the book. It didn’t help that there were several lines that seemed adapted from other popular series like Harry Potter (doing what’s right instead of easy) and Bridgerton (burn for you). I think there was a Game of Thrones based line too. It just made me inwardly cringe.
Edit: The constant fainting of the main character (and sometimes other characters) was off putting too. Women apparently frequently overwork themselves and faint in this world because they’re too powerful. I think the fainting was one of the first things that started to diminish my enjoyment of the story.
Honestly, I think it would have been better to rework this book into a mid grade or YA tale by removing the adult material.
I’m not sure I would pick up another book by this author unless it had amazing reviews and/or someone highly recommended it.
Thank-you Rosalyn Briar, Quill and Crow Publishing House, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this free arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I think a major problem for me was the writing. The characters talked and acted like preteens or young teens. I think she was going for shy and unsure based on the number of times the characters said “um,” but it was just awkward. Then there were the “spicy scenes” which were also awkward and strange. I don’t know if she was going for a BDSM thing, but it just didn’t work. I was so bored for most of the book. It didn’t help that there were several lines that seemed adapted from other popular series like Harry Potter (doing what’s right instead of easy) and Bridgerton (burn for you). I think there was a Game of Thrones based line too. It just made me inwardly cringe.
Edit: The constant fainting of the main character (and sometimes other characters) was off putting too. Women apparently frequently overwork themselves and faint in this world because they’re too powerful. I think the fainting was one of the first things that started to diminish my enjoyment of the story.
Honestly, I think it would have been better to rework this book into a mid grade or YA tale by removing the adult material.
I’m not sure I would pick up another book by this author unless it had amazing reviews and/or someone highly recommended it.
Thank-you Rosalyn Briar, Quill and Crow Publishing House, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this free arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 24, 2023
Her Dark Enchantments by Rosalyn Briar is an enchanting tale of love, betrayal, and dark magic that will leave you spellbound until the very end. This book is an endearing prequel to the fairy tale we all know as Sleeping Beauty but has all the elements of a great fairy tale, with a unique twist that keeps the story fresh and engaging.
The story centers around Myravelle Spinner, a fairy who has grown up in a tower with only spiders, spindles, and stone walls for company. Her mother, who is a skilled spinner of gold, has refused to teach Myravelle fairy magic, leaving her feeling isolated and frustrated. However, everything changes when Myravelle makes a fateful mistake that leads her to become the healer in the king's Sleepy Wood Company.
The author does an excellent job of building tension and suspense as Myravelle is forced to choose a new canvas to drain life from to fuel her healing powers. Her choice, Byzarien Dumont, is a man who loathes fairies and holds a burning hatred for them due to the fires that left his family impoverished and his body scarred. As the story progresses, Myravelle and Byzarien are bound together by a powerful ritual that leads to a complicated relationship full of distrust and betrayal.
One of the things that I loved about this book was the way that the characters were developed. Myravelle is a complex and fascinating character who struggles with her own dark magic and the weight of her responsibilities. Byzarien is a wounded soul who is unable to trust anyone, let alone a fairy who he believes to be responsible for his family's suffering. Their relationship is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, and the chemistry between them is palpable.
Overall, Her Dark Enchantments is a captivating and well-written book that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. It is a must-read for fans of fantasy, fairy tales, and dark romance. The Wicked Fairy never asked to become a monster, but this book will leave you questioning whether the monsters in this world are truly born or made.
The story centers around Myravelle Spinner, a fairy who has grown up in a tower with only spiders, spindles, and stone walls for company. Her mother, who is a skilled spinner of gold, has refused to teach Myravelle fairy magic, leaving her feeling isolated and frustrated. However, everything changes when Myravelle makes a fateful mistake that leads her to become the healer in the king's Sleepy Wood Company.
The author does an excellent job of building tension and suspense as Myravelle is forced to choose a new canvas to drain life from to fuel her healing powers. Her choice, Byzarien Dumont, is a man who loathes fairies and holds a burning hatred for them due to the fires that left his family impoverished and his body scarred. As the story progresses, Myravelle and Byzarien are bound together by a powerful ritual that leads to a complicated relationship full of distrust and betrayal.
One of the things that I loved about this book was the way that the characters were developed. Myravelle is a complex and fascinating character who struggles with her own dark magic and the weight of her responsibilities. Byzarien is a wounded soul who is unable to trust anyone, let alone a fairy who he believes to be responsible for his family's suffering. Their relationship is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, and the chemistry between them is palpable.
Overall, Her Dark Enchantments is a captivating and well-written book that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. It is a must-read for fans of fantasy, fairy tales, and dark romance. The Wicked Fairy never asked to become a monster, but this book will leave you questioning whether the monsters in this world are truly born or made.
April 21, 2023
I wanted to like Her Dark Enchantments more than I did. The premise was interesting. The relationship really didn't do it for me. Enemies-to-lovers can be done well, but 'magic that induces a sexual attraction while the character then has to remember he actually hates the other person' is... not great. The relationship also felt way too rushed. It could've been a very lovely story if it were an actual slow burn, but to go from hatred to proposing in what feels like very little time (seriously, how much time actually passed? A few days?) felt rushed. If Byzarien had gone from hatred to friendship as he slowly realised Myravelle wasn't the enemy he thought she was, it would've made for a more believable story (and would've made the ending all the more heartbreaking).
That said, there were good parts to the story as well. I loved the magic, and the queer rep. And while I didn't really get into the first half of the book, the second half was really engaging. The trip into the fairy kingdom, and learning more about Myravelle, was interesting, as was her fully embracing her role as the 'Unwanted Queen'. I love the addition of the recognizable elements from Sleeping Beauty as well, the birth of Briar Rose and Maleficent's 'blessing' and the burning of the spindles.
All in all, it wasn't a bad read, though there was definitely room for improvement.
[Thanks to Rosalyn Briar and Booksirens for a free copy of Her Dark Enchantments in exchange for an honest review.]
That said, there were good parts to the story as well. I loved the magic, and the queer rep. And while I didn't really get into the first half of the book, the second half was really engaging. The trip into the fairy kingdom, and learning more about Myravelle, was interesting, as was her fully embracing her role as the 'Unwanted Queen'. I love the addition of the recognizable elements from Sleeping Beauty as well, the birth of Briar Rose and Maleficent's 'blessing' and the burning of the spindles.
All in all, it wasn't a bad read, though there was definitely room for improvement.
[Thanks to Rosalyn Briar and Booksirens for a free copy of Her Dark Enchantments in exchange for an honest review.]
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2023
I received a free arc via Netgalley. This is my honest impartial review. (2* Stars)
2* Stars - Enjoyable fairytale retelling, but room for improvement.
A retelling of the wicked fairy in Sleeping Beauty. Think Maleficent's backstory meets elements of Rumpelstiltskin.
What did this book do well? Well, this definitely was an easy read. I read this book in 2 evenings and I didn’t have to work hard to get into this book. The concept of this book was really interesting, I could see how the author was pulling together the strands of the original “wicked fairy” narrative from sleeping beauty and making it her own.
This book had the potential to be really great. Some of the narrative was really beautiful and a few lines really stuck out to me. “Had the stars truly fallen for her?”
What fell flat for me was the pacing. It was a mix of stretches of narrative where nothing really happened to multiple events happening in a few pages. The plot also closely followed the main characters - I think exploring scenes without the main characters or even snippets of other locations - just to add some more background to the narrative would have helped just bolster the overall plot.
I personally didn’t connect with the enemies to lovers aspect of the book. Again it had the building blocks to be something great, but the change to “lovers from enemies” just didn’t connect with me and felt superficial.
Despite flashes of great narrative, some of the description wasn’t there. I found myself filling the blanks in a lot of things and I felt there was a lot of telling me how the characters felt. Where I just wanted the characters to be developed enough to just show me instead .
Overall, it’s an easy read. If you like a fairytale retelling you will like this book. I wanted it to be just a bit more developed and perhaps take time to focus on some elements of the plot longer, but it was still an enjoyable quick read.
https://www.tiktok.com/@natalicrystal...
2* Stars - Enjoyable fairytale retelling, but room for improvement.
A retelling of the wicked fairy in Sleeping Beauty. Think Maleficent's backstory meets elements of Rumpelstiltskin.
What did this book do well? Well, this definitely was an easy read. I read this book in 2 evenings and I didn’t have to work hard to get into this book. The concept of this book was really interesting, I could see how the author was pulling together the strands of the original “wicked fairy” narrative from sleeping beauty and making it her own.
This book had the potential to be really great. Some of the narrative was really beautiful and a few lines really stuck out to me. “Had the stars truly fallen for her?”
What fell flat for me was the pacing. It was a mix of stretches of narrative where nothing really happened to multiple events happening in a few pages. The plot also closely followed the main characters - I think exploring scenes without the main characters or even snippets of other locations - just to add some more background to the narrative would have helped just bolster the overall plot.
I personally didn’t connect with the enemies to lovers aspect of the book. Again it had the building blocks to be something great, but the change to “lovers from enemies” just didn’t connect with me and felt superficial.
Despite flashes of great narrative, some of the description wasn’t there. I found myself filling the blanks in a lot of things and I felt there was a lot of telling me how the characters felt. Where I just wanted the characters to be developed enough to just show me instead .
Overall, it’s an easy read. If you like a fairytale retelling you will like this book. I wanted it to be just a bit more developed and perhaps take time to focus on some elements of the plot longer, but it was still an enjoyable quick read.
https://www.tiktok.com/@natalicrystal...
June 26, 2023
I received a copy of Her Dark Enchantments by Rosalyn Briar from NetGalley. I was intrigued by the book because it is a retelling of Maleficent. The story is romance, fantasy, and adventure. It follows Myravelle Spinner, a fairy who is forced by the King to be a healer in his Sleepy Wood Company.
Myravelle has had a troubled life. Her mother was kept in a tower by the King, where she spun gold for him. This is the place Myravelle grew up in. She is lonely and scared, but she has to keep working as a healer to keep her mother safe. The soldiers of the Sleepy Wood company do not like Myravelle, and Byzarien is no different. This scarred, brave, and broody soldier has a difficult history with the fairies, so naturally detests Myravelle. She picks one soldier as a ritual (her canvas) to help her heal soldiers fallen into a death-like sleep. The soldiers she picks do not survive for very long because the ritual, takes a toll on them.
A friend of Byzarien is the latest one to succumb to Myravelle’s experiments which fuels his hatred toward her. The ritual to pick the next canvas is when Myravelle tweaks the spell out of loneliness, and Byzarien’s name pops up. Byzarien knows he won’t live long once he becomes Myravelle’s canvas, but he doesn’t have much of a choice. The spell Myravells tweaks are for love. The tension between these two kept me hooked. Myravelle knows the change in spell is the reason for Byzarien being chosen, but he doesn’t like her at all. Slowly, he starts cooperating with her magic to help his friends.
Her Dark Enchantments by Rosalyn Briar is an interesting retelling of Maleficent. It gets a dark and almost gothic-like vibe throughout the story. I liked the arc for Myravelle’s character as she goes from victim to all-powerful. Her romance with Byzarien and the elements of fantasy woven throughout the story are engaging.
Myravelle has had a troubled life. Her mother was kept in a tower by the King, where she spun gold for him. This is the place Myravelle grew up in. She is lonely and scared, but she has to keep working as a healer to keep her mother safe. The soldiers of the Sleepy Wood company do not like Myravelle, and Byzarien is no different. This scarred, brave, and broody soldier has a difficult history with the fairies, so naturally detests Myravelle. She picks one soldier as a ritual (her canvas) to help her heal soldiers fallen into a death-like sleep. The soldiers she picks do not survive for very long because the ritual, takes a toll on them.
A friend of Byzarien is the latest one to succumb to Myravelle’s experiments which fuels his hatred toward her. The ritual to pick the next canvas is when Myravelle tweaks the spell out of loneliness, and Byzarien’s name pops up. Byzarien knows he won’t live long once he becomes Myravelle’s canvas, but he doesn’t have much of a choice. The spell Myravells tweaks are for love. The tension between these two kept me hooked. Myravelle knows the change in spell is the reason for Byzarien being chosen, but he doesn’t like her at all. Slowly, he starts cooperating with her magic to help his friends.
Her Dark Enchantments by Rosalyn Briar is an interesting retelling of Maleficent. It gets a dark and almost gothic-like vibe throughout the story. I liked the arc for Myravelle’s character as she goes from victim to all-powerful. Her romance with Byzarien and the elements of fantasy woven throughout the story are engaging.
March 31, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for allowing me, early access to read this book, in exchange for an honest review
Her Dark Enchantments is a retelling of Maleficent and her origins, through the perspective of Myravelle.
healed but feared
abused and used
Myravelle's only motivation was to free her mother until she became entangled with Byzarien. Love and longing, spin between the two lovers, as they go through their journey together.
I loved how the book is perfectly paced, not too slow or too fast. Romance in this book was phenomenal and it was just so easy to support and love Byzarien and Myravelle's relationship. The bond they share was deeper than love but also laced with the understanding of how they have both been misunderstood and longed to be loved. I also loved the multiple twists in this book which shocked me enough to gasp.
Definitely, a must-read for fantasy romance readers, with a good plot, good characters, good romance and turmoil of emotions.
Her Dark Enchantments is a retelling of Maleficent and her origins, through the perspective of Myravelle.
healed but feared
abused and used
Myravelle's only motivation was to free her mother until she became entangled with Byzarien. Love and longing, spin between the two lovers, as they go through their journey together.
I loved how the book is perfectly paced, not too slow or too fast. Romance in this book was phenomenal and it was just so easy to support and love Byzarien and Myravelle's relationship. The bond they share was deeper than love but also laced with the understanding of how they have both been misunderstood and longed to be loved. I also loved the multiple twists in this book which shocked me enough to gasp.
Definitely, a must-read for fantasy romance readers, with a good plot, good characters, good romance and turmoil of emotions.
January 25, 2023
I received a free ARC copy of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Man, I love Sleeping Beauty; it’s easily my favorite fairy tale. But anyone that knows it, knows the real lore and fun is in the Dark Fairy, whom we know so little about.
So what does our lovely author do with this? She takes the concept and runs with it to the absolute limit. We’re introduced to the Dark Fairy’s origin here and it is done amazingly well. She is connected to Byzarine in a way I didn’t imagine, didn’t expect but loved so much!
The world is such a brilliant set up for this type of story…painted in shades of black and darkness, with plenty of shadows in between. By the time the book was over, the origin made so much sense that I don’t think I can think of the original story without it now and that’s a great addition to have.
If you love a dark tale with drippings of sweet and bitter, definitely check it out!
Man, I love Sleeping Beauty; it’s easily my favorite fairy tale. But anyone that knows it, knows the real lore and fun is in the Dark Fairy, whom we know so little about.
So what does our lovely author do with this? She takes the concept and runs with it to the absolute limit. We’re introduced to the Dark Fairy’s origin here and it is done amazingly well. She is connected to Byzarine in a way I didn’t imagine, didn’t expect but loved so much!
The world is such a brilliant set up for this type of story…painted in shades of black and darkness, with plenty of shadows in between. By the time the book was over, the origin made so much sense that I don’t think I can think of the original story without it now and that’s a great addition to have.
If you love a dark tale with drippings of sweet and bitter, definitely check it out!
January 28, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was expecting a dark fairy tale, and this felt different from a traditional fairy tale. Having said that, I still found it romantic and magical. The writing was tasteful and elegant, and I'd say there were some slightly spicy moments, if that's what you're in the mood for.
I was interested in the dynamic of the relationship between the two main characters, and I became very emotionally involved, especially towards the end.
Thank you to the author and Booksirens for a free copy to review.
I was expecting a dark fairy tale, and this felt different from a traditional fairy tale. Having said that, I still found it romantic and magical. The writing was tasteful and elegant, and I'd say there were some slightly spicy moments, if that's what you're in the mood for.
I was interested in the dynamic of the relationship between the two main characters, and I became very emotionally involved, especially towards the end.
Thank you to the author and Booksirens for a free copy to review.
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