Title: My Dark Prince
Where I Read: NetGalley Audio as an ARC
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The RayView: ✨✨✨✨✨
The HeatRay: 💥
How It Be Spicin’?: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
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“Doctor Cohen just entrusted the cat with the cream. Briar was temptation and me? I was the perfect sinner.”
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My Dark Prince is an interconnected standalone following Briar and Oliver - childhood best friends turned lovers turned enemies. Or so Briar thinks. After a tumble into a dark, cold pond from losing a game of chicken with construction equipment, Briar wakes up with temporary amnesia. She can’t remember the last 15 years of pain, betrayal, and the building of her adult life brick by brick. Oh and Oliver? He’s a hot mess with a dark past filled with guilt and regret determined to find every way out of this situation. That is, until he realizes this may be his chance to hold on to the only love of his life-forever.
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If you know me, you know I can’t stand the amnesia trope. HOWEVER! I went into this story knowing what was coming. Sometimes as readers we have to challenge ourselves and this novel was mine. I absolutely adored how panicked Oliver was over being put in charge of Briar post-accident as her guardian. He spends a long time trying to find a way out of this entire situation. It’s probably the most realistic “strangers” amnesia trope I’ve ever read. The logical reasoning and emotions that build and collide within the chapters made this a compelling read. The VAs chosen for this project made these characters come alive and I enjoyed listening to every second. Every inflection, laugh, exasperation made it worthwhile to dig in and hold tight. And don’t get me started on the tears I cried. 😭

After listening to this book in practically a full day I can’t believe how amazing the character and world building are. From secrets to truths being revealed. The wholesome story of the two main characters finally having their happy ending just makes my heart melt.

A Sleeping Beauty retelling with a bad playboy and a girl who’s had to rely on no one but herself. This one is THICK, y’all. I didn’t realize just how big this book was until I started it, and *whew* What an incredible story. Oliver is the ultimate bad boy, and I couldn’t help but love him and his brother Seb. This is a second chance romance, and Briar? I adored her. She’s been through so much, but she’s strong because of it. The mix of enemies to lovers, childhood friends, secrets, and amnesia had me hooked. The characters are so complex and well written. When Briar finally remembers? Get ready, because the dirty games are just getting started. The narrators, Christian Fox and Andi Arndt were amazing. I loved the tones and inflections they used. They really brought the story to life. The emotions they invoked were spot on and added so much depth to the characters.
Get your pearls ready.

Audiobook Review
4.5 Stars

My first Dark Prince Road and I feel I’m missing out by not having read the first two books. This group of people are cray cray in a fun way!
Briar is a great h: she grows into this woman that fights for what’s right, fights for herself and ultimately for her clients.
Ollie is crass, petty and childish… but also a deeply caring person and not al all how he portrays himself to be to others.
Most of this book is spent lying. Lying to each other, to others and to themselves. But it’s also full of banter, so much poking fun of each other and their friends. Despite the length of the book it was well worth it.
Let’s now go to the best part of this audiobook-the voices!!! So much Christian Fox yumminess!! Andi Arndt is great, always has, always will but Mr Fox has indeed stolen the show. My ears appreciated his contribution to the book.

Briar and Oliver are the best Sleeping Beauty retelling I have ever read. They are childhood friends turned lovers and then become strangers under the saddest circumstances. The event surrounding their falling out come to be known in the most painfully delicious of ways that made stepping away from them next to impossible. Briar suffers from amnesia after a fall and because she was with Oliver at the time, he plays into the lie that she weaves that they’re together and happy post fall. The doctor’s encourage him to keep her happy and to allow her to remember the past on her own. I loved their connection, but I loved Ollie’s sweet, sensitive heart that he kept hidden from everyone, because deep down he’s just a man too afraid to get hurt by the only woman he’s ever loved that he would rather hide himself behind a playboy facade. The narrators do a spectacular job bringing young and current Briar and Oliver to life and I’ll think about these two for a long time. I need to go back and read/listen to the first in the series - so this one is a complete stand alone, set in the world of Dark Prince Road, despite seeing the other couples plenty in this book.

I really enjoy this book! I didn't realize it was the third in a series, so I will definitely have to listen to the others! The narrators were great and easy to listen to. The story was sweet with some spice, but it didn't overshadow the story! I look forward to reading more books from this author!

This was so good!! I loved this story! I know there are more in this book series. This is the third book but you can read the books individually and it will still make sense. If you do read them in order, you’ll know more about the characters kind of thing and now I just wanna read them all now, I love all the characters there’s too cute! This story has is young love and found family. The banter is so good. I couldn’t not put this down.

Such a great audiobook. Couldn't stop listening to it. Thank you for my advance reader copy. Can't wait to look up other books from this author.

I really wanted to like this book. I did like Briar's character because she was pretty resilient, and Oliver was cute--just not for what this book is pitched/marketed as. Dark romance fairytale retellings are some of my favorite stories, but this one didn't work for me. I found it difficult to see this as a dark romance. Oliver is too nice for that. Yes, he lies to her, but her doctor pretty much told him he had to. What happened to Seb was brutal, but it's not like Oliver did any of that intentionally.

I think what really took me out of it were certain phrases that were used. There are a ton of word choices that someone could use for this specific body part, but they chose... buns of steel. The first thing that really caught me though was Oliver's nickname for Briar. I couldn't take this seriously as a dark romance when the MMC is calling her "cuddle bug." Also they straight up wrote that Briar and Oliver "French kissed," and it made me think that a fourteen-year-old wrote this.

I haven't read any other books in the series (yet?), so maybe I don't understand the world enough to fully appreciate these characters for who they are. I am intrigued enough by the other characters to consider reading the first two books, but I'm not sure yet. I just kind of got the ick from this one (I also really hate the word "cream" when used in THAT context), and that's a personal thing. This one just wasn't for me, but I am the type of person to try an author again if I find their books intriguing. I'm also interested to see if they take Seb for a Beauty & the Beast-esque retelling.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Spellbinding, Darkly Addictive Romance!

Parker S. Huntington and L.J. Shen have done it again with My Dark Prince! This twisted, intoxicating retelling of Sleeping Beauty is everything I crave in a dark romance—passion, tension, and a hero who is as dangerous as he is irresistible.

Oliver and Briar’s love story is raw, edgy, and filled with secrets that kept me hooked from start to finish. The tension between them crackles like a live wire, and the push-and-pull dynamic had me on edge in the best way. Oliver is the perfect morally gray billionaire—possessive, tortured, and completely captivating. And Briar? A fierce, determined heroine who refuses to let the darkness swallow her whole.

And the narration? Absolutely phenomenal! Christian Fox delivers Oliver’s intensity with a gravelly depth that had my heart racing, while Andi Arndt, as always, is pure magic. Her ability to bring Briar’s emotions to life made the story even more immersive.

There isn’t a single book from Parker S. Huntington or L.J. Shen that I haven’t devoured, and My Dark Prince is no exception. This is an absolute must-listen for anyone who loves a seductive, high-stakes romance with a wickedly compelling antihero and a heroine who gives as good as she gets. Five stars aren’t enough!

My Dark Prince by Parker S. Huntington & LJ Shen was AMAZING. I'm not usually one for an amnesia plotline, but this one worked for me. Christian Fox and Andi Arndt delivered stellar performances as the two narrators. This was my first book that I read in this particular series (technically I think this one is considered a standalone set in The Dark Prince Road universe), but now I'm going back and reading the others because I loved all the characters so much. My copy of My Dark Romeo arrived yesterday, so I can't wait to dive in.

It's marketed as enemies to lovers, and yes--present day Briar hates our MMC--but it really feels more like a second-chance romance because they were each other's first love as teenagers. Watching them break through years of resentment and bitterness to reconnect was so special. (But I'm a born romantic, so I'm not surprised it had me melting.) Also the spice was definitely spicing.

When the book you think will be your least favorite in the series becomes your favorite 🤭😉

💜 Friends>Enemies> lovers
💜 Second chance
💜 Amenesia
💜 Fake engagement
💜 Forced Proximity
💜 Fairytale retelling

I was convinced I was going to hate this book. Our MC Ollie was shown to be a huge playboy in our previous books and I had the FMC totally wrong. I ATE this up. I love the sleeping beauty twists and how they tied that in.
Ollie was HOT and so gone for her. It was so fun to see the true Ollie!! It was a wild ride with all the emotions from butterflies to blushing.

Thank you for this ALC netgalley+ dreamscape

I can’t believe Ollie’s story is finally here—and it was so worth the wait! From the moment he appeared, I knew I needed to know everything about him, and wow… this book delivered in the best way.

If you’re into audiobooks, this one is a must. The narrators knocked it out of the park—it felt like I had my own private movie playing in my head. I didn’t want it to end!

I seriously can’t wait for everyone to read (or listen to) this one—I just know you’re going to love it as much as I did!

I love a good fairytale retelling and this gave all the Sleeping Beauty vibes. The audio, narrated by Andi Arndt and Christian Fox was very well done. Now I need to go back and check out the other two books!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ALC, in exchange for an honest review.

I just finished *My Dark Prince* and let me tell you, it’s like if Disney took a sharp turn into darker, steamier territory! Picture *Beauty and the Beast*—but with a whole lot more secrets, intense baggage, and a prince who’s got that dangerously irresistible vibe.

The main character? She’s fierce and unapologetically herself. And the prince? *Wow.* He’s completely in love with her, but there’s so much emotional weight on his shoulders, it’s like he’s carrying a whole suitcase full of trouble. Throw in some wild family drama, an emotional moment that will tighten your chest, and just the right amount of heat to make you blush, and you’ve got a really engaging story. Plus, there’s a side plot with a sibling that left me so curious, I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Be warned though, this audiobook is a bit of a journey, so grab a cozy blanket and some snacks. It’s not a quick listen!

That said, there were a few moments where I thought, "Come on, make me feel this more!" I really wanted to be hit harder by the emotional scenes, to have my heart fully wrecked, but it didn’t quite reach that level for me. Some parts could’ve been trimmed down a bit too, just to keep the pace flowing. But honestly, that didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed it overall.

This was a great listen, and I’ll definitely be recommending it to my friends who love a dark romance with a brooding, tortured prince. It’s definitely worth the time if you’re into stories that twist fairy tale tropes into something deeper and a little edgier.
4.25 Stars!
#NetGalley, #MyDarkPrince, #LJShen, #ParkerSHuntington, #DisneyRetelling, #Smutty

Really enjoyed Briar and Oliver’s story! And even more, the side quest of Briar’s connection to the other characters in different and heartfelt ways. It was a chunker of a read, but well rounded and nicely paced! Audiobook note: Andi and Christian are masters of their art. Excellent production!

Wow! This was my first amnesia trope and I have to say I really enjoyed it! I loved all the characters throughout the story but can’t wait to see more of Dallas! The audio was great but when the male narrator started doing the female voices in his chapters I was absolutely cackling! This man voicing a southern female caught me completely off guard and had me rolling! After a chapter or two I got used to it though and I think it actually enhanced the story for me. The only problem I found was in the very end of the book the female narrator reading as Briar says Cooper is NOT her biological father yet the paper says it’s a match. So that was confusing to me since I don’t have a physical copy of the book to look at. All in all I would definitely recommend this book and the audio.

I enjoyed My Dark Prince about as much as book 2, My Dark Desire. I listened to the audiobook version and it was well done. I enjoyed both narrators, they did a good job of adding to my enjoyment of the book. The book is told in dual POV.

~~What I liked~~
-The plot and writing were good, there were some funny parts and I enjoyed the happy ending for Briar.
-I was a lot worried about how the authors would be able to explain Oliver's boy-toy behavior from the prior book(s), but they did a decent job. Not sure it was very much believable, but I like how they tried to manage his behavior.


~~What I didn't like~~
-Much like my issue with book 2, the storyline seems very jumbled. It wasn't told as smoothly as other stories, almost like there were two authors writing this book...🤔. I know, there were two authors, but it was like they didn't do a good job of transitioning between character POV or the actual story. It made it difficult for me to really 'sink into' the book.
-I really wish they would have handled the "secret" a bit better. It didn't seem to end on a happy note.

Overall, this book was ok, but I can't in good faith recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Well, who doesn’t love a retelling of a Disney classic?!?! This book has so much to love, a sassy FMC, a hunky and madly in love MMC, family drama, a traumatic event, and some spice and humor sprinkled about. I loved that this offers a story within a story as you meet a sibling who leaves you wanting more and more. Grab a snack and a blankie, this book or audiobook is gunna take a minute. As much as I really did enjoy this, there were a couple times that I thought there could have been more emotional pull or they could have glossed over and cut sections a little shorter. I don’t want to give away spoilers, but I do think there was opportunity to really draw on the readers emotions with the tragic events. I was not disappointed in the length or pace of the book, just a general thought. All in all I thought it was good and I will absolutely be recommending this to some of my reader friends. I would like to thank the authors Parker S. Huntington and L.J. Shen, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the opportunity to revive an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. I have not been financially compensated for a positive review.

3.5⭐️

honestly, i got into this book without any expectations. i haven't read yet other two books in the series (even though they're on my TBR and now i'm even more excited for them).
🎧first of all, let's talk about the narrators. i'm not a fan of dual narration, because i prefer a male narrator read all male character's line, the same for a female narrator. here female/male narrators narrate everything in their chapter. at first, it threw me off. i wasn't sure if i'd fully enjoy the audiobook. but both of them did such an amazing job with opposite sex voices that i was able to just focus on the story.

in terms of story, my expectations were also exceeded. it wasn't the greatest story i've read, but i was waiting with super toxic-red-flag story, and there WERE red flags, but to me they turned beige haha
💓Oliver is actually a definition of a beige flag. he did some things that weren't right but he also was very selfless, caring and somehow the most normal person out of the group (not including Briar). i was mad at him fro leaving Briar at first, but you get to get into his mindset in the course os the book, and it helps to truly understand his motives.

overall, i wanted to hug him as well as Briar. they are a definition of "right person, wrong time". Briar is my girl. i may not always agree with her but i support her at all costs.
also, to my surprise, i enjoyed the amnesia trope. it's not my favorite but here it was so fun, i was all for all the jokes.

➖ for minuses, it was a bit too long. some descriptions or characters' thoughts weren't really necessary, they felt repetitive at times. the third act breakup (which wasn't even a breakup) was also unnecessary. i understand why the author wanted to make it that way but we could've wrapped up this plotline earlier.

all in all, can't wait to get to other books now.

p.s. some of that dirty talk made me howl on the moon, so good!!!