Rating: 4 stars 🖤🖤🖤🖤

"It was the first time I realized that maybe - maybe sharp things could be beautiful too.”

If you’re looking for:

✔️ A simple magic system
✔️ A slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance
✔️ Marriage of revenge
✔️ A fast-paced read
✔️ One bed & tending wound trope
✔️ Found family

Then this book is for you. It’s the reason I picked the book, so I don’t see why you shouldn’t.

When you believe your enemy is your mother’s killer you marry him. For revenge. But when lines are blurred and sides are exchanged, right and wrong become hard to differentiate.

I believe this is my first beauty and the beast retelling and I was not disappointed. I’ve wanted to put my hands on this book from the first time I saw it. It is a perfect light read for when you crave some fantasy. The magic was basic and the plot was captivating. The plot twist was expected but perfectly timed.
I LOVE the side characters, especially Kristoff, he has the best humor. And Nate is just perfect. I don’t want to give out anything but he is nice and caring. So caring that it created this warm atmosphere. Connie was sweet but not my favorite although I did admire her wit and intelligence. Her father is the worst, it’s like he’s the one forcing her to do the dirty work and I can’t stand him.
I’m not sure how this is going to be a series since the story feels like it came to an end but I’ll still be looking forward to reading it.
Also, there is an illustration of both characters in the beginning. They're a beauty 🥰

I actually really enjoy this book! This was a great take on the enemies to lovers trope!
Contessa has one goal only! Avenge the murder of her mother and she is willing to marry the man who did it…

Totally recommend the book! Nice world wish we learn more about it!

This was a unique story with a beauty and the beast feel. It did not follow Beauty and the Beast so closet that it couldn’t become its own story, but it had vague similarities and qualities. I liked both Contessa and Nate and enjoyed watching their characters grow together. My only complaint is that I would’ve like to see a little more spice in their story! It’s a great read for all fairytale lovers!

A retelling of beauty and the beast in society with some people who have special abilities, known as a Talented. Contessa was raised to believe the beast had murdered her mother. She was taught how to use her mind rather than how to dance. Her father, the police chief, has groomed Contessa to infiltrate and gather evidence to bring the beast to justice. However, nothing is at it appears. Nate, the beast, has his reasons for bringing Contessa into his life, but hides an even bigger secret than just his nightly outings. As Contessa sees who Nate really is, she begins to wonder what really happened to her mother and vows to discover the truth. But the truth doesn’t always turn out to what one expects. Contessa grows throughout the novel, becoming open to those around her and thinking for herself.
I received this novel from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A really great twist on the Beauty and the Beast tale! Nathaniel Woodrow is whispered to be the head of one of London's most powerful gangs known as the Lions. Scarred badly from a supposed fight to take power and become the leader of the Lions he is called the beast. When Contessa's mother is brutally killed all fingers point to the beast and his gang so together with her father who just happens to be the chief of the royal police and wants Nate and his followers all swinging from the gallows they concoct plan for revenge and getting her closer to Nate. So when the beast asks for her to marry its just what Contessa needs to get proof that this monster killed her innocent mother and so many others. But nothing is what it seems and with so many lies and dark secrets little by little Contessa learns that while Nathaniel might look beastly he is not a murderer but someone who cares deeply for those around him and that the true monster and murderer of her mother is closer then she thinks. This is a slow burn but a awesome read nonetheless with great characters and strong writing and it puts together a awesome read. The chemistry between Nate and Contessa was their and once the truth comes out so did their passion. I also loved a few secondary characters like the charming rogue Kristoff Mainsworth he was fabulous and Gregor Nate's man who runs his house and keeps everyone going. I love the scenes were Kristoff and Gregor sneak off to spend time together! Their so cute together. And then theirs Rhosyn!!! Love this young girl spirt and strength! She's A fighter and as tough as any of the men in Lions gang but at the same time soft and loving with the little ones. I really enjoyed this book. Until next time Luv's💕💋

I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher and Author for this copy😉💋

Thank you #NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital copy of #BeautyandtheBlade.
I'm a sucker for a Beauty and the Beast retelling, and this one rates very high on my list of them. This retelling has gangsters, a "talented" cast of characters, and takes place during the Victorian times (I believe). A lot of favorite tropes also make an appearance... marriage of convenience, forced proximity, and an incredible slow burn.
I did not find the main characters, Contessa and Nathanial, very relatable or even likeable at the beginning of the story. As more and more was revealed about them though, I fell in love with them and they became such complex characters.
There are also several plot twists, big and small, throughout the story that I rarely saw coming. I'm not sure if I just missed them because I was enjoying the story so much, or if they weren't very obvious, but I always love when I don't see a plot twist coming.
If there are more books in this series, I will definitely be reading and anything else I can find by this author.

"It was the first time I realized that maybe - maybe sharp things could be beautiful too."

Contessa agrees to marry Nathaniel Woodrow, aka the Beast, to get justice for her murdered mother. She's not sure what good fortune brought upon the marriage proposal, but now she finds herself in the unique position to investigate him and his criminal organization so she can finally bring him to justice.

Of course the Beast isn't what he seems. He doesn't try to consummate their marriage like a villain. His home is sparse and barely lived in. His friends are kind and charming, and soon Contessa finds herself doubting that he's the evil criminal mastermind she thought he was.

Faith in humanity: restored. Beauty and the Blade is touted as a Beauty and the Beast retelling with a Peaky Blinders flair, but it's so much more than that. This isn't a book about a charming prince cursed until he finds true love; it's about a young man who did an extraordinary thing for his friends and he paid the price. Now, he spends his days continuing on his mission with no hidden agenda. He finds a woman who (thankfully) doesn't take the whole book to figure out his secret and they work together rather than remaining at odds.

Because of Beauty and the Blade, I finally understand what a cinnamon roll character is! Nate is big, he's bad, he can take you out with a knife without breaking respect, and he'll respect your romantic boundaries whether you want him to or not. I'm glad SC Grayson didn't turn him into a typical alpha male because the true strength of his character lies in his personality and feelings rather than his impressive muscles.

And the way Contessa grew fond of him...::fans self::. It took slow burn to a new level!

Overall, I loved everything about this book - the characters, the dialogue, Nate, the opportunities for sequels, Nate, the happy hormones flowing after reading it, Nate. Can't wait to see what else is in store for this series!

Featured favorite tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Arranged marriage
Slow burn

Favorite quotes:
"Remember, the first step in knife fighting is to have fun and be yourself."

"You might be the first thing I've let myself want, not because anybody else says I should, but because I want you. I want you more than anything."

"So, do we have a plan, or do you just want me to kick down your father's front door and stab anybody that has a problem with it?"

"Well then, I guess, when we get home, I am going to have to remind you just how bad I can be."

Rating: 2.5/5 ⭐️ (rounded up to 3⭐️)

Publication Date: January 26th 2023

Author: S.C. Grayson

Review: This was a different side of the retelling of the beauty and the beast (literally). I enjoyed reading it with a certain twist. I just felt like I needed a little more from everyone . It was easy to get through the book if you like retelling like this. But I just felt like I was trying to grasp on to the characters a little too hard. It also has shorter chapters which I love.

Thought it would have more 🌶️ and it wasn’t much.

Still a interesting read i think it is worth checking it out.

Beauty and the Blade takes us to a world where those who are “gifted” are being hunted down and hung simply for the way they were born. This is a thought provoking love story. I really enjoyed this book and am anxiously awaiting the next in this world.

Beauty and the beast retellings are my all time favourite and this one delivered!

Nathaniel, known as the Beast, is the lider of a gang and Contessa, the police chief daughter, wants justice for the murder of her mother.
When a marriage proposal arrives she sees the oportunity to bring him down. But maybe she was all wrong about him.

I liked the pace of the story and the idea of the talented left me wanting more. I would have love a little more hate/ love beetwen the main characters but i have to admit the slow burn was excellent.

Overall, this was a nice read and a very original retelling.

Highly recommend.

I really liked this take on "Beauty and the Beast". Not sure of the time period, I think it's Edwardian?? And I love Urban Fantasy/Historical mash-ups. I enjoyed the character growth that happened to both Connie and Nate over the course of their story.

My only complaint is that the first 20% of the story was pretty slow, not much happening. But it read fast, if that makes sense. Once the story really got going I found it hard to put down.

This was my first book by Grayson and would definitely read others.

"And you might be the first thing I've ever let myself want, not because anybody else says I should, but because I want you. I want you more than anything. "

To say I absolutely adored this book would be an understatement. Every single one of the characters was well written and heartfelt. Throughout the whole book I could not stop swooning.

Technical things first. The book was very well written, I did not notice any grammar or spelling errors. It took me a minute to get adjusted to S. C. Grayson's writing style but once I was used to it the book flew by. I think the book pacing was wonderful and the conclusion felt thought out and complete.

Now the swoon worthy parts. Nate can just own my soul. I loved him so much throughout the entire book. His back story broke my heart and a few times when he shared how he viewed himself I just felt so deeply for him. He was so wholesome and well intentioned and willing to let the world think of him as this villain as long as he could keep doing good.

He is also the king of consent when we finally hit the peak of the slow burn.

Connie is everything you could want in a heroine. Throughout the book she is strong and sure of herself but not unwillingly to learn and bend. She grew a lot as a character over the course of the book and it all felt very natural. I loved how she created a relationship with everyone in the house and had friendships outside her growing relationship with Nate.

The magical world was easy to follow and added a touch of additional excitement to this story. I could very much see the beauty and the beast vibes at the start. And when she read to him?! My heart couldn't handle it

This book is a slow burn in the best way. They both come into the marriage under different pretense and they get to know each other before things heat up. When they do spicy scenes are not fade to black but are also not exceptional explicit. I think they fit in perfectly. Side note: I loved how Connie initiated so much of it!

This was such an enjoyable read and I could not put it down. I can't wait for the next book because I loved this story universe so much.



I received an arc copy of this book from net galley. This review is provided for free

𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘚.𝘊. 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘴𝘰𝘯

This book had me grinning like a Cheshire and gave me flutters! I am absolutely in love with Connie and Nate. Their relationship is just so adorable. Contessa is a smart, courageous FMC, expert in strategy and espionage, and Nate is a broody, morally grey MMC, who isn't quite what his reputation portrays.

The side characters in this story were brilliant - lovable but badass. Kristoff is my favourite kind of supporting character - the charming rogue with the twinkle in their eye. The dynamic between all of their little 'found family' was just heartwarming.

Some of my favourite tropes made an appearance too - enemies to lovers, forced proximity, found family - just a little happy place for me!

A beauty and the beast retelling, it's an easy read in the best way - I finished in 24 hours. It maintained it's flow, and delivered on the action, character growth and developing romance. This is going to be a comfort read for me, and I'm already excited for book two.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (because it gave me a lovely, comfy, happy feel!)
🌶️🌶️ (just a little)

Thank you @s.c.grayson @NetGalley and @cityowlbooks for the opportunity to read this in return for an honest review.

🖤❤️🖤❤️

Beauty & the Blade by S.C Grayson has found family, enemies to lovers, and an interesting magic system.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Most London socialites dream of marrying for love or status, but Contessa’s wedding is about justice—and revenge.” - SC Grayson

The writing of this story and it’s originality was superb. It gives off fairytale meets Sherlock Holmes vibes that will keep you guessing. If you enjoy Beauty & The Beast retellings with a twist I’d recommend trying this book out. Pacing may yo-yo depending on preference but overall a solid and entertaining read!

Please aware of spice levels. This is not a fade to black story. Some scenes are described but not in great detail. Only read what you are comfortable with.

Thank you to so much to NetGalley for an ARC of this story! #netgalley #retellings

I wanted to enjoy this but overall found the story, characters, and plot to be something not what I was longing for or one that I would pick back up.

This story is a classic retelling of Beauty and the Beast with added "Peaky Blinders" type of vibes.
Contessa is the perfect spitefire FMC that we all adore. Shes been raised to believe the leader of the lions was responsible for her mothers murder, and so when the leader himself sought her hand in marriage, she and her father accepted. Their plan was for Contessa to use the marriage to find proof hes the horrible beast hes known to be, and prove he was responsible for her mother's death among many other horrible things. But the more Contessa gets to know Nate (The Beast) The more she realizes he isn't who she was taught to think he is, and that something far more twisted is the actual truth.

The world and "Talent" system are written great and super easy to understand.
Nate, is your average brute strong silent type in the beginning and I rather enjoyed watching him let his walls down to let Contessa in as they spent more time together and began to earn each others trust. Having their romance bloom so naturally and slowly was truly beautiful, it gave me total butterflies! This is definitely a fairytale that I look forward to getting more of! Thanks so much for the opportunity to read it! I loved it!

Beauty and the Blade is book 1 in The Talented series by S. C. Grayson and what a phenomenal story it was!

This is a gripping read that I couldn’t put down. And I can't wait to read the next one.
The characters are so easy to fall in love with. The main characters have such depth.
The pacing was good, and world building was amazing.
Grayson did an outstanding job here creating a world that kept me hooked from the very beginning.
Everything about it kept me reading to find out what happens next.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You Mystic Owl & Netgalley for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Thank you S.C Grayson for the eARC of Beauty and the Blade.

I absolutely loved Beauty and The Blade. We were thrusted into the story straight away with an arranged marriage. I loved how this set the pace for the full story, it was fast and hard hitting the pacing was continuous and I just found myself rolling through the pages, eager to find out what was going to happen next.
Contessa was a fantastic character, she was created well and had multiple layers to her, Nate aka The Beast was supposed to be the horrid, fearsome character and I just loved him from the start. All these characters in Beauty and The Blade were richly created with a realism to them.
The world they lived in was eye opening and described so well I felt transported whilst I was reading.
To me Beauty and The Blade was as rough as a diamond in a stone but it's a beautiful, enchanting, cozy and delightful read.
I loved every twist, turn and revelation of this novel and I'm looking forward to reading more from The Talented series.

this was a great start to the Talented series, it was written really well and I loved the Beauty and the Beast elements going on. It had what I expected in this type of book and loved the fantasy elements going on. The characters were written perfectly and I'm glad I got to get to know them. S. C. Grayson does a great job in creating this world and I'm glad I got to read this. I look forward to more in this series.

"The Beast just nodded and remained kneeling on the floor. It was odd to have her mother’s murderer in such a vulnerable position before her. It was something she’d envisioned many times, usually with him begging for her forgiveness. Now that she was here, though, it felt vastly different than she had imagined. Banishing the thought from her mind, Contessa turned to leave the room. Just as she was about to step into the hallway, she heard a voice behind her."