This retelling of Beauty and the Beast may not look like it at first glance, but all the elements are there: a quaint little village, a daughter of the working class, a curse, man/beast metamorphosis. Throw in some magic blood, flesh-eating monsters, and walking corpses, and you got yourself Among the Beasts & Briars.

The reversal of turning beast into man was a great a twist. His enhanced senses, ability to see the magnetic poles, and his intimate knowledge of Cerys, or "Daisy" to him, was very intriguing, It made me think of how intimately our own pets know us. We consider ourselves alone when they're around and tend to behave like our true selves. If they suddenly had the words to communicate with us, we may not like what they had to say.

The horror elements I especially enjoyed. The twisted bodies of the bone-eaters and ancients were described with just the right amount of gory detail that it made me make faces as I read them, but I still felt like I could keep down my lunch. This made it surprisingly violent for a YA book, which I don't really see as a problem. Teens (for the most part) are more fully realized than we give them credit for and can handle a lot that's thrown at them. Which is probably why there are also many mature themes that take some time to unpack: the effects of trauma, the importance of questioning our perceived truth, and the extreme lengths people are willing to go just for a sense of safety.

There are a lot of fairy retellings out there and it can all start to feel a bit repetitive, but this story is so unique that it feels like an original fairy tale all its own. While this is a stand alone novel, Ashley Poston has certainly created a world rich enough to expand upon and I sincerely hope she does.

What a great book. It was a little hard to get into and the decisions that were made by the characters seemed a little far fetched. The ending kind of just ended, seemed to be setting up for a sequel. I wished we would have learned a bit more about how the king got the crown and why people still have effects of the curse. Over all I would land it at a solid 3.5.

DNF, 20%

For a book that is sold as a “dark, lush” fairytale, the writing seemed very childlike and simplistic. More middle grade than YA.

I had been very excited to read this book, as the premise is exactly my taste, but the first three chapters are entirely info-dumps and abrupt flashbacks.

The rising conflict seems entirely too forced - six chapters in, and the narrative is holding the readers’ hands through it all, practically screaming at us: “See? Cerys is magical! She has a dead mom! Her best friend is the future queen! She’s mourning, she’s plain, she’s sooo average yet so so special, get it?!” Zero subtlety or nuance.

One line in particular is where I decided to give up reading after trying for months to get into this book: “And besides, how many people out there could love a girl with dirt underneath her fingernails?” Protagonists who are entirely too self-conscious about being average or ordinary are one thing, but this self-criticism made me roll my eyes at just how outlandish it was.

Cerys gives me whiplash with how she jumps back and forth between caring all too much about her lost loved ones to worrying about marriage in the blink of an eye, seemingly with no prompting or motivation.

Basically, this entire book’s central conflict seems forced to the point where it is unrealistic, and for a fairytale, that’s a difficult criticism for me to give because I feel bad not suspending my belief for the sake of the genre. Unfortunately, there are much better ways to go about a story like this and this book just didn’t hit the mark well enough for me to continue reading.

This story is one of the first new releases in a very long time that has felt like an original fairytale. Absolutely scintillating swordplay and warm realistic friendships!

I enjoyed the book however I wouldn't seek it out again. Some of the story fell short for me and I had a little trouble getting into it.

This is the first book by Ashley Poston that I've read, so I didn't have any preconceived ideas of her writing style or her books in general. So when I received this book, I was open and lept in blindly.

I'm sincerely regretting not reading more of her books.

A fairytale dream turned dark and deadly, this book takes what our characters think is a blessing and reveals it's a curse. Cerys is a gardener's daughter - destined to become the royal gardener herself. But when her best friend, Princess Anwen's coronation day turns into a nightmare, Cerys becomes her kingdoms only hope. With only a crown, a fox, and a little bit of magic, Cerys is the only hope for this kingdom to survive.

I loved this plot. I am a huge fan of dark, twisted fairytales and this one is so creepy and disturbing. I think one of my favorite "tropes" is the animal to human magical change. Fox, as he is so lovingly named, is a fox who is turned human from the magic of Cerys' blood. He calls her Daisy, because of the daisy's in her hair, of course, and I find this duo adorable. Vala, their bear companion who helped them escape the woodcursed citizens turned monsters, remains a bear but one that can communicate to Fox directly.

As they try to find the Lady of the Woods, I try not to fall in love with this trio. Cerys is stupidly brave and Fox is a coward trying to be brave and it's the best equation. Their "flirting" as Vala calls it, makes me so happy, even during moments of chaos. I love how Ashley takes something so simple and turns it into a moment between Cerys (Daisy) and Fox. That and the magical demon hunters trying to steal the crown from them.

Based on this book, I'm so excited to read Ashley's other books! I love the writing, the plot, the characters, and while I'm sad this is a standalone, the ending. If you want a dark fantasy, fairytale with magic, curses, and a little stench of death - this is a perfect read!

At its core, this is a fairy tale. Not a retelling, but a magical, twisted fairy tale. It has a crown, a cure, magic, and castles. It also has terrifying creatures that want to eat you. I have never related to a character like a do with a certain one in this story. I’m a huge fan of food too 😉 I loved the character development of Cerys. Her constant questioning turning into bravery. And the side characters that I can’t mention without spoiling. All in all, a SOLID 5 stars from me. It is said to be a stand alone but I think Ashley left it in a way that could easily allow for a few books about side characters if she ever felt like venturing.

***I received an uncorrected proof of this ebook from netgalley in exchange for an honest review***

I don't know what I feel after reading this book. Either way, I'm not feeling much. The world and magic system felt almost half-formed. I had so many questions that never got answered. The characters were one-dimensional and didn't really grow on me at all. In a way, this book almost felt too short. I am left wanting more: more understanding of the world-building/history, more explorations of the relationships between characters, more character growth. I did not like Fox's POV chapters, and wish the book had been only from Cerys's POV. Fox's thought processes seemed very infantile, which made the romance between him and Cerys vaguely uncomfortable. I'm a sucker for magical sentient forests, but this book didn't quite hit the mark for me. It wasn't bad, but it isn't something I would likely re-read.

*This book was received as an Advanced Reader's Copy from NetGalley.

While it was a quick read, this book definitely had a lot of interesting concepts for a fantasy. The world building, magic, and other concepts had a distinct flair; which is a positive thing in so many fantasy books that seem to be re-hashing the same concepts.

Cerys is special. While not of the royal family lineage, she has magic. Her magic can make plants grow at will, but comes with a heavy price. Because of past events, which she can perform these magical feats, she's lost people she loved. Now, the peace of her kingdom is at stake; and the only person she has to help her isn't a person, he's a fox.

Cerys was a great character. She has progressed growth throughout the book and even though she's timid, worried, and a bit doubtful of herself, it doesn't stop her. Her loyalty to her friends and family is far stronger than her doubts could ever be. Fox; we'll just say he was an interesting character. He definitely has flaws and while he does some growing through the book, it certainly isn't at as strong a level as Cerys (who he calls Daisy).

The magic concepts I thought were interesting; the curse and how it impacted people. The progression of the issues in the world. The magic both the royal family and Cerys could work and how they used it. All of it was interesting. My only real complaint about the book was just how fast paced the ending was. It made it hard to keep up as I would think one thing was happening; and then it was already in another place. One character would be helpful, only to start being harmful. But these rapid changes usually had reasoning behind them, even if I was having trouble following.

While I had thought this to be a standalone, certain indications at the end lead me to believe it's not, so I'm excited to see when the next one comes out. In the meantime, I'll definitely be looking into more of Poston's books.

Review by M. Reynard 2020

After escaping the magical and sinister Wood that took her mother from her, Cerys knows nothing will ever be the same. Her blood now has the power to grow, and while not necessarily a bad trait for a gardener's daughter to have, the only people with blood in their veins is the royal family since they are what keeps what waits in the Wood at bay. Cerys knows that the only life for her is someday taking over as the Royal Gardener, but when the coronation of a new queen is attacked by the very creatures the crown is supposed to keep out, it seems that her best laid plans may have to wait. Striking out with only a fox and a bear for companions, its a race through the Wood to safety as Cerys tries to find shelter and save her kingdom. But can a gardener's daughter save the day and bring about a happy ending?

What a fantastical fantasy read! Full of whimsy and charm, Among the Beasts and Briars stretches the imagination in a fun and floral way. I was constantly surprised and amazed as our story unfolded--the world building was both sweet and lovely as well as dark and dangerous, twining the two together in an expert way. I even find myself wishing some of the darker characters were available as decorations for Halloween! The writing was full of imagery and quotable lines jumped from the pages. I especially enjoyed some unexpected plot twists that left my mouth gaping. Our characters were fresh and helped keep the storyline interesting, especially our two points of view who both experienced some major character arcs throughout the book. The one element I wish I could tweak would be the ending, and that's mostly because I wish there had been more of an explanation of what happened in order to help bring the novel fully to a close. Regardless, this is a dazzling story sure to enrapture any reader that picks it up. Not only is it perfect for YA readers, it is without a doubt a treat for older readers as well.

This was a 3.5 star book, for me.

I felt that this story was one that began with a seedling of Briar Rose and elements of Sleeping Beauty, but the story grows and twists, much like a wild vine, into something else entirely. The idea of a Wild Wood and ancient gods lurking deep in the forest was one I found very fascinating. The story compelled me forward, progressing at quite a clip and staying the course in a pretty straightforward manner. Where this book lost some higher marks, for me, was a lot of missing backstory. Not more about Seren and Lorne, but more about how the world itself works. I kept reading about Bone Eaters, but what were they? How were these different than Ancients, and why is that their name, anyway? I wanted more about he Lady of the Wilds, and perhaps that is on its way, as the afterword continued sections seem to hint at. All told, I felt this story to be essentially fairly simplistic and likely easy for a younger group of readers (which is great!), though I found myself wanting more from it.

What a fun fantasy read this was! The worldbuilding, characters, and storyline all come together to create an amazing romp through two kingdoms and enchanted wood. If you want to escape into a fairy tale for a few hours, this is a great place to start.

Among the Beasts & Briars is my favorite Poston book to date. The characters are ones you easily fall in love with, and the plot keeps you wondering, guessing, and wishing for a happy ending. I loved the uniqueness of the storyline. The way the story was wrapped up in the end had me hoping for a sequel.

Cerys will never be the hero or the princess that gets rescued. She's the daughter of the royal gardener and her place is in the background. When the royal succession did not play out successfully, Cerys is forced to take the lead and save the kingdom. Among the Beast & Briars is a lush dark fantasy fairytale that will have readers hanging on every page. Poston is a masterful storyteller and captures the essence of fairytales in her story. The swap of narratives between Cers and Fox, give the plot a well rounded and solid depth to what is occurring. The relationship between the two and what they have to face individually play well against each other. Allowing for the chemistry and secrets to be discovered organically. While the story mainly focuses on Cerys and Fox, the supporting characters add another layer of dimension and understanding. There are iconic staples with a darker twist that gives Among the Beast & Briars an adult look at how fairytales can be written and formed for young adult readers. The only short coming is the final climactic scene. It felt rushed and not quite fleshed out. The scene suddenly stops abruptly and causes the story to halt, which was a little jarring.

I am an Ashley Poston fan and was excited to receive an early copy of this book from the publisher. I was initially drawn into by the gorgeous cover and then the description of magic, a curse and an adventure to save a kingdom pulled me in completely.

The world building was well done with a rich history that was layered so that pieces unfolded throughout to story. I thought the magic and the curse were interesting and really enjoyed that aspect of the story. I particularly loved Cerys’s magical abilities. Cerys was a brave, caring and blunt heroine who I liked from the beginning. Unfortunately, it took me a long time to connect with the other characters so I didn’t feel as invested until about halfway through. There were also parts where the pacing felt too slow and I found myself losing interest at times. I went into this with high expectations and while it wasn’t quite what I hoped for I’m glad that I stuck with it because I ultimately liked the story and it’s unique twists.

Disclaimer: I got this from @NetGalley. and I am a huge fan of fairytale retellings. This is no exception. If you're a fan of the Once Upon a Con series, then this is a must-read. I'll be posting a more in-depth review closer to the publication date!

This book was such an enchanting breath of fresh air! I loved the simple, charming, utterly delightful fairy tale magic of this book. I loved the journeys of the characters and the ending and couldn't help the smile on my face reading this. I mean, there's an enchanted wood, a gardener's daughter with strange magic, a mysterious fox, a lost prince, a magical bear... What else do you need? Absolute treasure!

Among the Beasts and Briars is the perfect YA book for teens to ease into the YA book genre. It's cute and fast-paced with likeable and solid character arcs. I think I've finally found the perfect book for teens that's appropriate and does not contain erotics (cough cough sarah j mass). For me, it was a good fluff book. I didn't blow my mind and I like that.

This was a very fun book. I liked the world Poston had created and really enjoyed the characters. If you like fairy tales, you'll enjoy this one!

I love this trend of retelling fairy tales and making them appropriate for all types. These are stories that took us through childhood and it is nice to get them again as an adult. I love that this one is one of the lesser-known tales. While it is obvious after awhile where the story is going to go relationship-wise, I did not care. The journey there was so well done. This book is a must-buy for my shelves (and not just because the cover is so gorgeous either)