Review Date: 7/13/2025
Review Site: Goodreads
Format(s): eBook
Rating: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐🏰
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes: Shadow Daddy, Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers, Arranged Marriage
Triggers: This book does contain some dark and adult content. Readers that are sensitive to certain triggers may want to check the trigger warnings for the book prior to reading at: https://www.rlperez.com/content.

----Summary----
This is a new and unique beauty and the beast retelling. While there are many elements that stay true to both the original tale and Disney's version, the author has included some new twists to give the story a fresh face.

Sybelle, the FMC, is a princess of the Earthen Court and must marry the Wraith King of the Shadow Court to save her people from the deadly shadows encroaching on her kingdom. As Sybelle begins to learn there is more to the Shadow Court and its inhabitants than she was first led to believe, she must decide whether or not to stay true to her original mission or change course based on the discoveries of her new world.

----Thoughts----
There was definitely a lot of thought given to the setting, characters, and overall plot of this story. I really loved the magic/gemstone spin, the mystery behind breaking the curse, and I adored both Azure and the mischievous castle. One downside for me though, was I found the relationship between the MMC and FMC to be a bit frustrating. There was so much constant miscommunication and arguing, even as their relationship progressed. I did find myself binging parts of this book, but I often felt inundated by the amount of world building and inner monologuing, which slowed down the pacing. This is not necessarily a negative comment, I just personally have too short of an attention span to enjoy that level of detail.

----Final Verdict----
This story is well written and a distinct spin on a classic fairytale, but the numerous miscommunications between the MMC and FMC along with the slower pacing just meant it wasn't for me. I would recommend this story to anyone who is looking for a high fantasy, darker adult beauty and the beast retelling.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

Crown of Briars is a dark, steamy Beauty and the Beast retelling with a fae twist, set in a richly imagined world full of shadow curses, courtly tension, and reluctant alliances. While this is the second book in the Crowns of the Fae series, it works completely as a standalone — I hadn’t read the first book, and I had no trouble following the plot or understanding the world.

The story follows Sybelle, a fierce and duty-bound princess from the Earthen Court who’s been trained from birth to marry — and ultimately destroy — the monstrous Wraith King, Varius. Their dynamic is enemies to lovers with plenty of tension and power struggles, as Sybelle is torn between loyalty to her people and the unexpected connection she begins to feel with her new husband.

The book delivers on dark fantasy vibes, with a cursed palace, a morally grey king, and a heroine who’s more than capable of standing her ground. There are dragons, court intrigue, and a slow-burn romance that leans into the “touch her and die” energy fans love. If you enjoy retellings with heavy atmosphere, fae politics, and spice that builds toward a payoff, this one definitely delivers in those areas.

While I’ve never really read a book where the love interest looked quite like the Wraith King, I actually found myself thoroughly enjoying the unique twist. It gave the story an otherworldly, mythic feel that really worked in the context of the dark, magical world. I loved this book overall!

Recommended for readers who love:
🖤 Beauty and the Beast retellings
🔥 Slow-burn fantasy romance
👑 Enemies to lovers
🐉 Dragon familiars
🕯️ Shadow magic & courtly intrigue

Thank you to Willow Haven Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my review!

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book kept my interest throughout , if you love a fantasy retelling this book is for you.
It is a beauty and the beast story with a twist. Both characters are enemies to lovers.
Varius tries hard to not fall for her but it fell hard. He was willing to give up everything for her. Sybelle had confusing feeling due to her fae/ human life. She was able to see past what lies she had been told and make her own decisions. She was a strong female in a male dominated time.

Would I recommend this book?
If you like fantasy romances, I would give this a read it was an easy read and I felt like I couldn’t put it down at parts.

4.5⭐️
3🌶️

Thank you to NetGalley and Willow Haven Press for an e-arc of this book.

Crown of Briar is book 2 in the Crowns of Fae series, but each are set up as stand alones and can be read in any order. I did read book 1, Crown of Slumber, before reading this but you DON’T need to in order to read this story. There isn’t really anything overlapping outside it’s technically the same world, but different courts.

Sybelle was born to fulfill a treaty. Every generation, the Earthen Court sends a human royal bride to marry the Shadow King. Generations of women have gone before her, never to be heard from again. But it’s what must be done to keep the Unseelie shadows from attacking their court. But Sybelle’s father is determined to end the Shadow King once and for all and bred Sybelle to be half fae, despite his complete hatred of everything and everyone fae. He’s trained her from birth for one purpose and one purpose only.

Varius, King of the Unseelie, has tried everything to avoid the inevitable: marry a human bride and keep the shadows at bay. The curse on his land has consumed the life of every king before him leading back generations. There’s a way to end the curse for good, but he’s bound to not reveal any details to his new bride. When Sybelle arrives, she’s not at all what he expected. She’s stubborn, strong willed, and the biggest of all, doesn’t seem afraid of his beastly appearance. She should be in his mind though. While at first, they both are determined to make do with this political marriage, each with their own motives, soon enough, real trust and feelings begin to develop. But centuries of hatred between the two species brings prejudices that are hard to break. And as they both discover, there’s more to this curse than originally thought.

It took me a couple chapters to really get into this and the concept of the description of the Unseelie forms Varius and others have. Being a Beauty and the Beast retelling, it really leans heavy into loving the Beast side. It took a bit for me, but honestly, I ended up loving this installment probably more than the first (still loved Crown of Slumber though!).

The development between Sybelle and Varius is so genuine and grows over time. I also love too how Sybelle really immerses herself into the Unseelie court. She isn’t afraid or bashful of their different traditions. The revel scene was just 🥵🥵

The spice 🌶️ is slow burn but omg, the payoff is SO worth it!! Wow, their scenes are hot hot hot. How Varius completely gives himself to Sybelle and vice versa was so thrilling to read. We have a couple different scenes on top of a lot of banter and tension throughout the book. Just loved it! 🥵😍

Overall, I enjoyed reading this and can’t wait for the next book, which is going to be a Snow White retelling following one of Sybelle’s friends. If you enjoy dark, spicy fairytale retellings, this is a series for you. You still get elements of the fairytale but with a unique twist to them. Fun to read!

Okay, I loved this! What a fabulous Beauty and the Beast retelling that was unique and thrilling, with the original story woven in perfectly.

***Fantasy
***Slow burn
***Adventure and intrigue
***Touch her and die

Absolutely would recommend this one!

Thank you to Willow Haven Press, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

I absolutely love this story. For me, it is the best retelling of Beauty and the Beast that I have read so far. The characters were loveable! The traits were beastly but soft. The main characters Sybelle and Varius fight prejudice, curses, and tragedies. The author was able to build the world while simultaneously keeping the plot on track! Great job, R. L. Perez

I just devoured this book in one sitting! Just like Belle I always secretly wanted the beast to stay a beast (of course) so this book just really hit the spot! If only I had my own Varius! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m a sucker for a Beauty and the Beast retelling, and Crown of Briars absolutely delivered. From the first chapter, I was pulled in by the immersive writing and the slow-building tension between Sybelle and the Wraith King, Varius. He was everything I love in a romantic lead—brooding, powerful, a little dangerous, and somehow still completely swoon-worthy. He’s flawed in all the best ways, which made him feel real and unforgettable.

Sybelle was fierce and loyal, and I loved the way her loyalty to her kingdom clashed with her growing feelings for Varius. The emotional stakes were high, and the magical world around them was rich with detail. The dragon, the cursed magic, the court scheming—it all worked so well together.

The romance had just the right mix of tension, chemistry, and heart. If you enjoy retellings with heart, magic, and a morally gray love interest, this one is a must-read.

As someone who is obsessed with fairytale retellings, I was beyond excited to be offered this ARC. The back bone of the Beauty and the Beast is there, but with many twists and changes that keep the story feeling new and exciting.

The FMC is Sybelle, a human princess frkm the Earthen Court who has been raised to marry the Wraith King of the Shadow Court, Varius. The only thing that can keep the curse at bay temporarily is for Sybelle to willingly give her blood to make an elixir. With the shadows creeping in, however, is this enough? Can Sybelle break the curse permanently and at what cost?

I read this unaware that it was the second in a series, but I didn't have any issues with understanding the story of characters. This could definitely be read as a standalone. I would recommend this book for lovers of fairytales, enemies to lovers, found family and for those who like a bit of spice that doesn't become the whole plot.

There is nothing I love more than a good Beauty and the Beast retelling, so when I was offered the chance to read the ARC of this story I was excited. It can be difficult to be unique with retellings but the author did a great job making the story her own. Sybelle is a human from the Earthen Court who has been raised to marry the Unseelie Fae King of the Shadow Court Varius in order to keep the toxic curse at bay. There was just the right amount of enemies to lovers, tension, slow burn and spice. Oh and you can’t forget a dragon. This was a really enjoyable stand alone romantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley, Willow Haven Press and R.L. Perez for the opportunity to read this advance copy.

Thank you so much for the early access to this book through Netgally.

This book had me from the first chapter. A beauty and the beast retelling with plenty of twists. Whilst the second book in the crowns of fae series I don’t feel you need to have read the first book as this can be read as a standalone.

With a truly different and fascinating magic system, action ,plot twists, secrets and a dragon this had me unable to put it down from start to finish.

Sybelle the Fmc, witty and determined whilst being compassionate. Varius the mmc who has a big heart under the cold indifferent mask he wears perfectly complimenting each other has you falling in love with their relationship throughout the story.

Overall a very good read.

I loved reading this book — I actually couldn’t put it down! From the very first page, I was hooked. It’s the perfect blend of gripping fantasy, raw emotion, and sizzling romance. The story pulled me in from the very beginning and never let go.

Every twist had me gasping, and I found myself completely invested in their journey — both the magical and the emotional. The author does such a fantastic job of balancing heart-pounding action with deeply romantic and vulnerable moments.

Highly recommend to anyone who loves their fantasy with passion, intensity, and just the right amount of darkness.

I love a good fairy tale retelling, and this one did not disappoint. Sybelle is from the Earthen (human) court, and she must marry the Shadow King. But she plans to kill him in order to save her people. After all, he’s a monster. Or is he?

I could not put this book down, but it did leave me feeling a bit disappointed in the end. At times, I felt like the story wasn’t quite there (to be fair, I read an ARC copy of this book), but it has good bones. While it is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, it has its own flair. And yes, I knew who one of the villains would be from the beginning, but the other was a surprise.

Dragons and monsters and grumpy but touch her and die? Enemies to lovers will get me every time. 3.5 for this lovely romantasy.

Additionally, many thanks to Net Galley, the publisher, and the author for sending me an ARC copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Crown of Briars is a romantasy standalone Beauty and the Beast retelling done right. The author incorporates a lot of the original tale and adds a twist and spice.

Seeing the growth in Sybelle and Varius' relationship and their love form made me so happy. He went from I want nothing to do with her to "I would sacrifice everything for her"🌹🌹

Overall I really enjoyed this book!

4.25🌟
2🌶

I absolutely devoured this book.

I enjoyed this beauty and the beast retelling. The characters were strong and enjoyable. The fmc was no damsel in distress.

My favorite part of this was that she fell in love with him no matter what form he took, and took him for who he was inside. Even when they started like enemies they slowely learned more of eachother and got closer. Varius made me fall in love with him aswell.

There were moments i gasped, laughed and almost cried when i was reading this. There was an appropriate amout of spice to further the plot of the story in my opinion. The pacing was amazing and the fight scenes were detailed and fun to read. You really feel the emotions of these characters as you read. And don't get me started on the banter, it was bantering.

This easily became one of my favorite reads of the year and I will be adding more of her books to my ever growing tbr.

I finished this book two days ago and have been searching for the words to describe it. It was amazing. Varius is the book boyfriend you didn’t know you needed but can’t live without. Sybelle is not helpless, and I love her strength. The book is relatively predictable, but I don’t mind that. I like feeling things out and seeing how an author puts their plot together. This book is well crafted and rightfully promises a Beauty and the Beast retelling with a twist. I have marked others in this series as “Want to Read” and can’t wait to get my hands on them! Highly recommend!

I received this as an ARC from our good friends at NetGalley. However, I will be purchasing a physical copy as soon as it is available.

3.25 stars**

This was a very different *Beauty and the Beast* retelling — the Beast is a true beast, and the world includes other mythical creatures like dragons and fae. I really appreciated the fresh twist and the expanded fantasy elements. While I usually enjoy a slow-burn romance, I need strong tension and banter to stay engaged, and I felt that was missing here.

The pacing was uneven and dragged in places, which made it harder to stay fully invested. The magic system was unique and had great potential, but it wasn’t explained or developed quite enough to feel fully immersive.

Overall, it wasn’t a bad story — the premise and worldbuilding were intriguing — but with more developed romantic tension and a tighter narrative, it could have really shined. The first standalone in this series was really good, and despite my mixed feelings about this one, I’m still looking forward to the third book, which will be a *Snow White* retelling.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy! I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Crown of Briars is a bold Beauty and the Beast retelling where the Beast remains a true beast, adding a darker, more intense twist to the classic tale. The worldbuilding was immersive, with shadows, curses, and a unique gemstone-based magic system that stood out. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the gradual trust that developed between the main characters.

That said, I think I would’ve connected more if monster/human romance were more my thing. Some of the spicier scenes pulled me out of the story a bit, but I can definitely see the appeal for fans of the subgenre. A creative and distinctive retelling with strong potential.

I’ve also posted a version of this review on Goodreads and plan to share it on Amazon once reviews are open.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7719915274

I was able to read this as an ARC and I’m so thankful!

🔔 *Beauty and the Beast* meets *Fae Court Politics* in this light, monster-ish/fae fantasy with just the right amount of bite, and a touch of heat.

This was my first foray into the monster-ish realm, and I was pleasantly surprised. A unique retelling of *Beauty and the Beast*, but with a fae twist: Seelie and Unseelie courts, a brooding shadow king named Varius, and one strong, emotionally intelligent heroine, Sybelle.

Sybelle was raised to be a pawn in a contract between courts that went back centuries, she walks into her fate with maturity, kindness, and a refreshing ability to self-reflect (yes to fantasy heroines who *grow*). The romance is *enemies-to-lovers* with a slow burn (that starts with a whole lot of prejudice), mutual respect, and characters who actually talk through their issues like adults. A rare gem.

The spice level was a moderate 2.5/5, just enough to raise your eyebrows, not your blood pressure. A few unexpected twists kept things moving, making this a fun and easy read between heavier, high-stakes sagas (looking at you, *Throne of Glass*).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 – A delightful fae snack with heart, heat, and just enough darkness to keep you turning the pages.

***Thank you to NetGalley and author R.L Perez for the ARC of this book for my unbiased opinion***


When Princess Sybelle is called to fulfill her destiny of being wed to the Wraith King, she has a plan that she must follow through with. A generations-old contract between the Earthen Court and the Shadow Court. Slowly but surely, Sybelle comes to realize that not all things are as they seem. Even the castle itself has secrets of its own. This book is DELICIOUSLY enchanted, sexy, and full of magic. If you aren't sure of this book because it's another retelling of Beauty and the Beast, don't let that stop you. From the first page this book clawed me with its sharp and shiny claws, dragging me right into the book itself. R.L. Perez has written an incredible book that will not disappoint, and I look forward to more by this author!

Available on Amazon on August 4th, 2025