Among the Beasts and Briars is Ashley Poston's foray into high fantasy. With a darkly whimsical magical forest, a gardening girl with special powers, and plenty of enchanted beings to populate the world, the entire novel feels like a fairy tale. Honestly, this book could be a whole new tale unto itself.

I liked the atmosphere best of all--Cerys has to undertake a quest through a forbidden forest to reach a legendary city, and her wonder at the monstrous creatures that inhabit it (the forest) and the people she meets there (the city) really engages the reader in her world. The pacing took a bit of time to get used too, but the ending didn't feel too rushed so in hindsight I didn't mind Cerys's long journey. The rules are simple to grasp, even as Cerys questions everything she's known about her kingdom. Everyone loves a good magical forest, and ATBAB certainly serves up. The woodcurse lives in Cerys's magic, which is certainly cool, but of course there are corrupted beings to fight and magic bears and foxes to provide interest.

I can't say much about the romance for fear of spoiling the book--on this site I typically don't discuss much past the plot summary--but I will tell you that it's adorable and perfect for Cerys. You're going to guess what the big secret is, but you might not mind as much as me. They do wrong by each other sometimes, but always come back to fix it. That's commitment. That's trust. That's love.

I guess... in the middle of all the dark fantasy and upper YA I've been reading recently, ATBAB just felt a little bit easy to me. I clocked the big plot twist about halfway through, and the prose wasn't as complex as I would have liked. I don't mean that in an entirely bad way, though. Sometimes it's nice to read a book you don't have to think so much about. It was a great afternoon read, and escaping to Aloriya is quite satisfying after all.

I'm giving Among the Beasts and Briars 4/5 stars. I got a physical copy as part of my November Owlcrate box, and I really enjoyed the whole theme. Whether you did the same or picked it up from your local library or bookstore, the universe put this book in your path for a reason and you shouldn't ignore that.

Well this was... a book. Among the Beasts & Briars is a soft fairytale about the royal gardeners daughter and her adventure into saving her village from the evil woods that is cursing everyone.

Honestly I'm not overly impressed with this story. It definitely has those fairytale vibes, if you can get past the second hand embarrassment the dialogue gives you. Not only that the story itself is very very predictable, and by 30%-40% I had basically the entire plot figured out, I knew who the animal characters were, who the family connections where and so fourth, it was so plainly obvious that it didn't make it fun in any way shape or form.
The one character I wanted to see, never even happened. I wanted to see the Lady of the Wilds but nope, I wasn't given that.

Cerys and Fox were honestly very annoying characters to follow, they kept beating themselves up for everything they did. They of course had stupid squabbles, because we need tension of some sort I suppose. Fox becoming human and just knowing how to act like one was unbelievable, but was also a huge give away as to who he actually was.
Then the story hit the dreaded Romance, which was eye rolling and nauseating, but also riddled with so much cringe, and just gave me the most secondhand embarrassment I have ever felt in a YA novel. Their banter was so juvenile and unappealing. I would have preferred they stayed friends because their relationship was much cuter that way.

One of the other parts that really bothered me was it felt like Cerys forgot about Anwen during the entire middle portion of the book after the romance portion started. She is suppose to be best friends with her but after awhile it was like Anwen was just an after thought and Cerys was focused on, yes saving her people but more concerned about turning Fox back to which ever form he wanted at the current state of their weird relationship. Also her Dad, she stopped mentioning him too after awhile, which was super disappointing.

The way the story ended felt like a cop out, as if the author didn't know how to end it, you get this big climatic scene of Cerys pulling off the final move to put an end to everything that went wrong and save the Lady of the Wilds and everyone involved in the curse, and then it does a 6 months time skip. So we never get to see what actually happens in that big momentous moment which just absolutely killed the end of the story. Time skips like that are such a mood killer, I wanted to see the results of the moment Cerys broke the crown, I wanted to finally see the Lady of the Wild, but no I got jipped and got a stupid time skip, that wraps everything up with a neat little bow! BORING!

Thank you Netgalley and Harpercollins Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A tale as old as time is what awaits the readers. I loved this story from the start and it really made me think of how this story should be told. I could see a group sitting around the fire while a bard told the story of the gardener's daughter and how she became a hero to her people. The only issue I had with this one was that I really wanted to know what was up with the bear Vala. We don't really get any closer to her which was kind of sad. I would love to see a follow up to this one as well as a prequel. Because I totally need more stories set in this world.

The character to this one were so amazing. I loved Cerys and Fox and Vala!! I would love to see this picked up by Disney or something because this totally needs to be a movie.

If you loved the Bone Houses you are going to love this one!! I will forever be screaming from the roof tops VALA VALA!! OMG I don't know what to say about this one. I just fell in love with everything about this story. The characters, the setting, the magic. I just couldn't put it down!!!



Go Into This One Knowing: Dark, Light Romance, Magic

I liked this book, but I can't help but feel that it should have been a series. The first portion of the book is quite difficult to get through as it is very slow. Yet once things finally get going, this novel becomes much more interesting. Until the ending that is, while the beginning was too dragged out, the ending of this novel was rushed and many plots were left with their strings still flying about.

*I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Ashley Poston and fairy tales? Sign me up! This was a delightful fantasy romance with great plot and nuance. It felt like I was reading a Ghibli movie!

This was a very interesting story, more like a Grimm fairytale than a Disney, or even H.C. Andersen. It is the story of the daughter of the royal gardner, in a small kingdom protected by the magic of a crown given to them by the queen of a city hidden deep in a magical wood. It is the story of that daughter, and what happened when the magic fails.

I really enjoyed the writing style of this book. The prose was very well done, the dialogue was at times heartwrenching, hilarious, and poignant. The characters are very interesting and well-developed, even those we don't see in person very often. One major character is a fox who was accidentally transformed into a human, and his POV chapters were a lot of fun, particularly as it was clear that he continued to act and think like a fox, where other stories would have likely just made him a human with some fox traits. It was very clever, and very well done.

This book is definitely a YA tale, and so it does lack to a degree some of the world-building you would expect from an adult fantasy, but I don't see that as being detrimental to the story. Readers should be aware, however, that this book is as much a horror story as it is fantasy, and be prepared. There were scenes that surprised even me in terms of the level of horror.

This was actually a very fun read. It's a fairy tale inspired fantasy with a heroine who must find the strength to overcome a fast changing world. Much like a real fairy tale it delivers a message and many lessons. Along the way, we meet lots of old evil ancients that will literally eat your flesh. I really enjoyed it and read it one sitting. The writing was very easy, I hate when authors get tangled up with superfluous writing and she even injected some humor. It seems like there's enough of a story for more from some of the side characters and the author included notes on that and I will definitely be checking on those

This story is exactly what I needed. I was afraid it would have dark elements, which ordinarily wouldn’t bother me, but I have found myself shying away from them during this time of COVID.

But this story fit my mood perfectly. It had beauty to it, and a lightness that I didn’t expect from the blurb. This is an author to definitely watch in the future!

I loved how adventurous the setting was. The woods had spooky vibes and I

was shown how not just told. The pacing felt on point and I enjoyed how Cerys

was flawed as a human should be. A short fairytale esque novel that was much

needed. I enjoyed how Cerys wasn`t the princess or some rich girl. A Gardener's

daughter who deserves the world and knows what it's like to lose precious moments.

Absolutely ENCHANTING. This is not a word I often use to describe books, but honestly I don’t feel as though any other word could fully encapsulate how I feel about this book. The tale of Cerys and the fox is one of those stories that can become an instantly beloved classic, breathtakingly showcasing everything we all know and love about our favorite fairytales. I found myself in this story totally lost in the wild of the wood, mesmerized by the magic and mystery within, and falling in love with the relatable and imperfect characters along the way. One of the best parts of this story is how readers can see themselves in the eyes of Cerys, a bit of a “nobody” who finds herself in the most impossible of situations, and pulls from the depths within herself to find the courage to do what needs to be done. I honestly can’t say too much about this book for fear of rambling all of my feelings and giving away ALL the spoilers, but this was by far one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I needed some magic and wildness in my life right now, and this book delivered far beyond my expectations.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Full review can be read here: https://twincitiesgeek.com/2020/11/horror-and-inner-bravery-are-found-among-the-beasts-and-briars/

I did not end up finishing this book.

Things I liked about it included the relationship between Fox and Daisy. I thought that the inner dialogue of Fox was the most intriguing part of the novel. Poston did a good job of making the transition from a fox to Fox and the turmoil of that for the character clear.

The thing I didn't like is that I didn't feel like there was a flow to the text. It felt like things happened out of nowhere. I felt like I was jumping into something each time I picked it up to read.

I just recently read an interview with Ashley Poston where she said that with Among the Beasts and Briars she really wanted to create a YA fantasy that wasn't quite as dark as everything else that seems to be on the market lately and that has a happy ending, and I think she hit those notes perfectly.

Among the Beasts and Briars is a magical fairytale that will take you on a dazzling journey that is full of wit and humor and charm while still also incorporating some darker themes and elements that gave this book the perfect amount of creepiness while still retaining it's hopeful air. The story really takes off when Cerys, the daughter of the royal gardener, is thrust into an unexpected adventurer where she must break a curse that has been plaguing the land of Aloriya and another Kingdom that has been caught up in it. Accompanying her on this journey are Fox, a rather unexpected companion, and a magical Bear who she doesn't really know much about.

Cerys is a surprisingly capable girl who I really delighted in getting to know. I think one thing that I really liked about her was that she wasn't actually an overly ambitious girl (and I mean that in a good way!) an instead focused more on simply wanting to help others and do whatever is right and best for her land and those around her. Along with Cerys is Fox--who is easily one of my favorite characters--and I really loved how Poston developed his character. I won't go into much detail about him because it would lead to major spoilers (although I really want to talk about him more!), so I'll just say that his wittiness was such a delight and his natural chemistry with Cerys was similarly a joy to read. I really loved how the two managed to play off of one another in ways that highlight each one's personality while also contributing to their own individual development as well.

The world-building of Aloriya and the mysterious woods was lush and vivid and I found myself constantly wishing I had some illustrations to go with them to illuminate how beautiful this world was. I loved hearing about Cerys and her father's gardening endeavors in particular, and in fact I feel like I could read an entire novella or something similar purely following them on a day-to-day gardening duties storyline--it's just so beautiful and interesting!

The pacing of the story felt spot-on the entire time. I think Poston did a great job in spending just enough time on each event, as well as just enough time in the kingdom of Aloriya, the woods, and a few other unexpected settings before moving on to a new setting and/or plot point. Her descriptions were beautiful, as mentioned, but they weren't drawn out or excessive and drag the plot down; instead, they bolstered the plot and I helped push the story along by crafting some truly beautiful and exciting scenes, full of wit, some danger, and plenty of adventure.

And lastly, I know I've probably made this book seem very tame and uplifting, but there are definitely some darker moments and somewhat creepy elements--particularly in the woods--that helped give this book an even more compelling note that I personally loved. Dark woods are always my favorite, and this book was no exception to that! I had no idea what was going to be around the corner at any time, which really made this book a great experience.

Overall, I've given Among the Beasts and Briars 4.5 stars! This was a really fun and enchanting story that definitely left me in a good mood whenever I read it.

Among the Beast & Briars is a quick paced adventure into the crazy woods. Cerys is just the royal gardener's daughter, after barely escaping when she was young she is now facing the danger again to save her family, friend, and kingdom from the cursed creatures. The adventure is fast paced and even though I had quite the idea of what was going to happen I don't think it took to much away from the story. I was not a fan of the ending as I had way to many questions that needed answers and I felt like it was just thrown together in an awkward way but the whole rest of the story was enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in return for a honest review. These thoughts, miss spellings, and grammar errors are all my own.

I couldn't get into this book. While the magic was intriguing, I couldn't find any interest in any of the characters. There was nothing really wrong with this book, but there was also nothing really right with it either. I found it overall forgettable and predictable.

The story was interesting, if predictable. I love fairytale-esque stories, so I enjoyed that aspect of the book. There weren’t any surprises in the book, so it sometimes felt like it took the characters way too long to figure things out.

There were some parts of the magic and plot that didn’t quite make sense to me, but they were easy to put aside and continue reading. I would be interested to know how many times the words “I’m just a gardener’s daughter” or some variation of it came up; It was guaranteed to either make me roll my eyes or let out an exasperated sigh.

Overall, I enjoyed it. I plan on adding it to our eBook collection.

BefOre reading Among the Beasts & Briars, I had only read the Geekerella books by Ashley Poston so this was my first introduction to her fantasy writing. I am pleased to say that I loved it and will have to read more by Poston!!

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Ashley Poston has crafted a new fairy tale for the ages! Among the Beasts and Briars may very well be my favorite book of the year. When I originally picked it up, I thought it would be a retelling. My mistake! Poston has made her own story, and it has everything a fairy tale requires. To quote my favorite princess, there are “far-off places, daring sword fights, magic spells, and a prince in disguise!” Among the Beasts and Briars will take the reader on an adventure with a strong heroine, a crafty fox, and a curse hot on their trail.

Cerys is the daughter of the royal gardener and best friend to the princess, soon-to-be queen, of Aloriya. She’s happy in her garden, but something seems to be missing from her life. Something she can’t put her finger on. When she was younger, she barely escaped the woods and its curse that killed her friends and mother. Now she lives her life day to day never really forgetting what she lost and missing them deeply. Her only companion is the fox she saved from a bear trap. He steals from her garden, and she pretends to scold him but in truth she loves him. During the princess’s coronation, the bone-eaters of the woods arrive, and it is up to Cerys to save them. Fleeing into the forest, she teams up with her fox and a mysterious bear to find the lost city of Voryn in the hopes that they can save her home.

Fox is the best! He has been Cerys’s companion for as long as he can remember. She saved him once, now it’s his job to do the same. He loves her smile, and so he does and says things simply to make her laugh as they journey deeper into the woods. Fox is kind, clever, and mischievous, but he also believes that he isn’t brave. A fox will run and hide when in danger, evasion is their game. But he quickly learns he can’t leave Cerys to fend for herself.

Overall I really enjoyed Among the Beasts and Briars. I don’t want to say too much for fear of spoilers. I was hooked from the beginning and didn’t want the story to come to an end (which by the way, you should totally read through the acknowledgements for a little easter egg or two at the end of the book). If you are looking for a story full of whimsy and adventure, look no further than this book.

Among the Beasts and Briars drew me in with the beautiful cover art and exciting summary. However, this book just wasn't for me. I am a huge YA reader, but this book read much more middlegrade/younger ya than my tastes allow. It's a great clean read for those who are maybe just entering the realm of magic and fantasy in books, but the characters and plot twists left something to be desired for myself, who is a more mature YA lover.
Let me reiterate, that there is nothing inherently wrong with this book. I just could not connect in any meaningful way to the characters and plot. I was not its target audience. You might be. I'd give it a try, you might find that you adore it. But it just was not my cup of tea. and that's okay!

I'm rounding down to two stars for the sake of the rating system on this site, but ultimately would give this read a 2.5 stars.

I received an eARC curtsy of Netgalley (thank you, Netgalley!).

Some parts were predictable, others not so much so.

My favorite character was Vala. I didn't like Cerys very much: she would always talk about how afraid she was and how she was "just a gardener's daughter" and couldn't break a curse and yet she was the first one always running head first into trouble when she hears calls for help. So there didn't seem to be much of a flaw she had to overcome.

A fun fast-paced read that was refreshingly fairytale-esque.