I adored how this story took the classic Sleeping Beauty tale and flipped it into something rich, dark, and utterly captivating. I loved the way their hate-to-love dynamic felt so real and messy, making every moment they shared feel earned and emotionally charged. It made me root for these reluctant allies in a way that left me smiling and heartbroken all at once. It’s quite an unforgettable read, and I loved it.

I started The Artist and the Dragon without realizing it was the second book in a duology—but Megan Van Dyke does a great job of giving the audience enough backstory for the world to make sense without sacrificing the pacing or development of the plot. It reads perfectly as a standalone, and I never felt like I was playing catch-up.
This fantasy romance draws inspiration from Sleeping Beauty and The Phantom of the Opera, but these references feel more like clever fan service than structural anchors. They're fun for readers to notice, but the plot goes in its own original direction.
Where the book truly shines is in the middle, when the main characters finally drop the pretense, admit their feelings, and just be with each other. The emotional tension and chemistry hit their peak, and the story becomes much more character-driven—allowing the romance to breathe while the overarching plot takes a backseat. Those chapters were the most engaging and heartfelt, and I really wish we’d had more of that.
Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and Megan Van Dyke for this free, advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book as an ARC and absolutely loved it. Thank you NetGalley and Megan Van Dyke for this ARC.

This review is a little late to the game but when you’re a college student things get crazy at the end of the semester and I’m currently playing catch up on all my ARCs.

This book picks up not long after The Musician and the Monster ends so if you haven’t read that book yet you really should because it’s a great book as well. This book can be read as a standalone but I don’t recommend it or you will miss out on the journey that is book 1.

I loved Bronwyn and Malik and this book had me on the edge of my seat especially in the second half. The twists had me wanting to scream sometimes because I wanted to hit a character or two. Their relationship is somewhat of a slow burn seeing as she basically hated him all of book 1 and the beginning of this book.

I didn’t see some of the twists coming but I did see at least 1. I had a feeling about who the big bad dragon was and I’m not going to say if I was right or not but I will say there were signs pointing to multiple characters.

Overall I really loved this book and will definitely be getting a physical copy to match my copy of The Musician and the Monster.

The Artist and the Dragon is the second book in a duology written by Megan Van Dyke, closely following on from The Music and the Monster. This book follows the older sister of Ceridwen from the first book, Bronwyn who is our artist. Many of the characters are people we meet in the first book with a few notable exceptions. We also see the inner thoughts of Malik and Bronwyn in this book, seeing how their feelings have developed since the first.

This book was actually my favorite over the first story. I loved Ceridwen and Drystan but Malik brings a much more cheeky persona to the story. The plot, characters, story and the fabulous banter between our main characters made this book. The plot is based on a retelling of sleeping beauty, with Ceridwen falling under a sleeping curse with her family namely Drystan, Bronwyn and Malik trying to hunt down who cursed her and put a stop to it. Through hunting down the villain in this story, the longing between Malik and Bronwyn is intense. With snarky banter and longing looks at the forefront of the story along with pretending to date other people, makes their relationship even more of a slow burn. One of my stand out characters was the opera owner Wynni, who taunted the fledgling relationship between our two main characters.

Perfect for those who love stories with vibes of Bridgerton and Phantom of the Opera with a gothic and dark atmosphere throughout.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ARC! I'd had The Musician and the Monster on my TBR for while, so when I was accepted for this ARC, I was happy to finally dive into the series! :)

The Artist and the Dragon follows the first book, and is about the elder sister, Bronwyn. When Ceridwen falls under a sleeping curse, Bronwyn will stop at nothing to save her sister. Even if it means allying herself with the obnoxious and annoyingly wonderful Malik. And try as they might, as they work together to hunt for “dragons,” they can’t contain their growing attraction 👀

I liked this series a lot! These are the first of Van Dyke’s books I’ve read, but I’ve decided she is a master at longing. The way these characters YEARNED for their loves against every odd stacked against them was palpable. The chemistry in both novels was excellent and the banter in Book 2 was *chef’s kiss* 😘

I also really liked the overall vibe of both books, with the gothic themes and strong nods to Phantom of the Opera and old-timey Europe with a fantasy twist. The writing and setting were perfectly atmospheric, and created flutters of romantic glee and dread in equal measure 🥰😱

I usually read/review books without spice, so I did skip chapter 37 and the last part of chapter 38. There was LOTS of delicious desire and tension outside of those chapters, and I appreciate that the explicit scenes were easy to skip when it came to it ♥️

⭐ 5 🌶️ 2

Ok… we need to talk…

I devoured the first book of The Castamar duology, and to be honest, it was an immediate ⭐5 stars for me. Beauty and the Beast retelling? Say no more! But also… The story, how it was written, the characters, the plot, everything was perfect 🤩. I really enjoyed it and I thought..

“It is impossible that the second one is as good, and it is going to be disappointing.”

Well… let me tell you, I might have just found the first 6 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ of the year. OH MY GOD! This book! It has everything ♥️ ♥️

I thought I LOVED Ceridwen and Drystan, and don’t get me wrong, Malik was already a top character for me in book one, but… OH LORD…

🔥 🔥 Bronwyn and Malik!!! I AM IN LOVE with them ❤️‍🔥

I spent hours devouring this book and nonstop giggling… I could not put this book down!

The characters are amazing, and the story is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, but it is WAY MORE! The plot, the story, AND THE BANTER!!! 🔥 🌶️

It is so well written! I received the ARC of this book from the author, but as soon as I finished the book, I bought the Kindle and the physical copies because I am obsessed and I know I will re-read these books

Megan Van Dyke just jump into my list of favorite authors and this duology is now part of my GOD tier romantasy/fairytale retelling series!

It's Megan Van Dyke... what more do you need to say. I have read three of her books and once again had a great time with this one. Fast paced and easy to read with great balance of plot and romance.

Thank you Megan Van Dyke and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
I read The Musician and the Monster and I liked how the author got us into the story. I really enjoyed about Ceri and Drystan (actually I need to read it again!), and knowing there was going to be a story about Bronwyn and Malik, I knew I had to read it.
Maybe I was not very convinced at the first part of the book, but the second half, and specially that plot twist at the 85%, that was like what?
Really fun and easy to read, lots of romance, mystery and a very good ending.

The Artist and the Dragon is the second book in the Castamar duology. While it can be read as a standalone, it does contain some spoilers for the first book.

I had The Musician and the Monster—the first in the series—on my TBR for a while, but I finally picked it up because I wanted to dive into Malik and Bronwyn’s story without being spoiled. I loved Malik as a secondary character, and I loved him even more as a main one.

The Artist and the Dragon is a Sleeping Beauty retelling, with elements and themes reminiscent of The Phantom of the Opera. The slow-burn romance is beautifully done, full of delicious angst between the two leads.

I really enjoyed this fantasy world, which feels like Bridgerton with a magical twist. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of Megan’s work.

The Artist and the Dragon by Megan Van Dyke

This book was a cozy, romantic escape that delivered exactly what I was hoping for. Megan Van Dyke’s writing is warm and immersive, and the fantasy world she’s created feels both magical and approachable. The chemistry between the characters was sweet, and the pacing kept me turning pages without ever feeling rushed.

I really enjoyed the overall vibe of the story. It’s the kind of read that makes you feel good — perfect for a weekend binge or a relaxing night in. If you’re into low-stakes fantasy romance with a bit of whimsy, this one is worth picking up.

I enjoyed this second book in the Castamar Duology . It’s a bit of a sleeping beauty retelling with monsters,magic & dragons. The first book was about Drystan & Ceridwen & this one was about Malik & Bronwyn. Malik & Bronwyn have a complicated relationship to start with , harbouring secret feelings for each other but not knowing what the other feels, it is a slow burn romance . They both work together to try & find the culprits that have cursed Ceridwen & help save her sister. There pent up feelings, a bit of mis- communication but not to the point that it’s annoying. There action,loss, courage & more thrown in with twists & turns. The pacing was great too so kept you wanting to read more! All around avery good read :)

I had the opportunity to be an ARC reader for The Artist and the Dragon by Meghan Van Dyke, which will be published on April 29th, and I'm so excited to tell you all about this story! This book follows Bronwyn, the sister of the kingdom's future queen. Bronwyn dreams of escaping aristocratic responsibilities and living as an artist in secret. However, her life takes a turn when, after helping her brother-in-law and Malik (the heir to the throne) dethrone the former tyrant king, new problems arise. Although Malik wishes to cede the crown to his cousin, the reign is threatened when dragons begin to question the power of the new monarchs. When her sister falls under a spell of eternal sleep, Bronwyn will not hesitate to ally herself with Malik—the prince who swore he had no feelings for her—to fight for her family and her kingdom. What neither of them imagines is how strong the feelings they have kept silent for so long are. The Artist and the Dragon is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty with hints of The Phantom of the Opera. Meghan Van Dyke transports us to a world filled with dragons, operas, paintings, magic, and a slow-burn romance that captivates you from the beginning. I loved Bronwyn's character so much. She's a strong, determined, and loyal protagonist, willing to do whatever it takes to protect those she loves and face her destiny with the man she's always secretly loved. An easy, entertaining read, perfect for those looking to lose themselves in a fantasy world filled with magic, secrets, and love.

The moment I saw this had Sleeping Beauty vibes, I was in BUT THEN they tossed in a bit of Phantom of the Opera and I was like hold my TBR because this needed to be my next read.

Transparently, I plunged into this not realizing it is book two in a duology and so was a bit confused about the references being made to Bronwyn’s sister and the King. There was also clearly tension between our FMC and MMC beyond just the spicy kind we all know and love! Once I figured out this is book 2, I read a synopsis on book 1 and was fine to keep going!

I very much so enjoyed the world this tale is set in, as it gives reference to a Victorian or Regency era with the dresses, parties and society. Add in the subtle references to the opera house and how Bronwyn was pulled from “behind the scenes” and into the spotlight (although for her painting rather than singing) was a beautiful homage to Christine from Phantom. There is even a falling chandelier scene! 😍 real talk, the Sleeping Beauty references are much more subtle and pertain more to a side character than Bronwyn but they are there and I loved them.

As for the plot, I was highlighting and making notes throughout, but still not totally sure who the “baddie” was until the very end when all was revealed. I did believe the letter that goes out to everyone revealing the Dragon, but also knew it could NOT be that straightforward. The author rewards us with a beautiful villain monologue scene that revealed what was REALLY going on and it was perfect.

The epilogue was also brilliant, featuring a child whose name harkens back to the millennial childhood classic, almost quoting verbatim, but in a 21st century vernacular. As a die hard fan of the original, it made me smile and gave me some warm and fuzzies.

A massive thank you to the author Megan Van Dyke and the team at NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this! I’ll be on the lookout for other works from Megan for sure!!

Thank you to Netgalley/Publishers/Author for the ARC of this book. It's the second book in a duology. Unfortunately, I hadn't read the first book-so some gaps are being filled through the telling of this story. Thankfully, there's mentioning of what happened in the first book so I'm not a lost little lamb -entirely- with the story.

There is a magic system in this book that seems reserved to those with noble blood, but I wish there was more description to the magic in this world and the deity (they used 'by the Goddess' in the book, so it would be nice to have an explanation of -who- she is, what she represents, etc)

There are definitely original ideas within this book that I enjoyed, but there were also a lot of tropes for your basic fantasy book that didn't make it particularly stand out in some elements. I liked that with the 'dark magic' that it can twist the user into something monsterous - that's cool.

Romance aspect: Meh, it was there. I wasn't invested in the relationship between the FMC and MMC because I found the incessent pining and wishy-washy back and forth really juvenile and grating on the nerves. The placing of the MMC and FMC is too convenient just so they can angst over one another. The MMC and FMC are together for a majority of the book, so at that point I'm not sure if its true romance or just Stockholm syndrome.

There's even a scene in the book where the MMC traps the FMC between his hands against a bookshelf (we've all seen the reels of the swoon-worthy pose), but I wasn't invested in the relationship developing so the scene did nothing for me.

If you like fantasy books that aren't too complex or wordy, then for sure, you're going to like this book - especially if you liked the first and you like HE's

I went into this book completely blind. I had not read the first book, which I very much wish I would have. Because of this, the start was slow for me. but about halfway through I fell in love with this book! I love the characters and the story line so much! Easily one of my favorite reads this year, cannot wait to go back and read the first!

A fun romantasy that was a retelling mash up of some of my favourite stories. I was engaged with the characters and loved seeing how the relationship progressed with the plot, their banter and chemistry was so enjoyable!

A Sleeping Beauty retelling mixed in with some Phantom of the Opera motifs and set in a gaslamp fantasy world complete with angsty pining, dragons, and a deadly mystery! Bronwyn Kinsley is an artist and the newly crowned Queen's sister... and she's also recovering from her heart being broken by the flirtatious crown prince Alistair (Malik) Ithael. Bronwyn had saved him, had given him her blood and her heart... and he crushed it and now she is determined to avoid him as much as possible and move on. Malik on the other hand is determined to hunt down the dangerous dragon faction that is threatening his brother the new King and everyone he loves... including the one woman he has made hate him despite the fact that he is head over heals for her but doesn't want to give his enemies a hint of his weakness and just how much he treasures her. Yet when Bronwyn's sister is cursed and the dragons come after her, Malik will do everything to keep her safe... but with Bronwyn determined to break the curse and face them it means he has to ally himself with her... and finally possibly tell her the truth. Because the more Bronwyn tries to pull away to a new suitor the more Malik's jealousy grows and the harder it becomes to watch the one person who holds his heart turn from him, because at the end of the road if she doesn't want him after all of this, would any of it be worth it if he can't be with her? This is the second book in the duology and takes place immediately after the first book. I will say I absolutely adored this book, possibly even more than the first book because of how much I loved this couple. Bronwyn and Malikare perfect for each other and I am a sucker for dual pining, and boy do they yearn and pine for one another. I also am a sucker for a "jealousy" trope and Malik was down bad and immediately folded haha. This was such a fantastic series and the world in this was amazing. I had so much fun with the mystery and the twist and turns. Plus we get to see cameos of the characters from the first book in this as well. I seriously didn't want this book to end because of how much fun I was having with it. If you like angsty pining, they are both so in love with each other, mystery, and magic, absolutely pick up this book!!!

Release Date: April 29, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley, Megan Van Dyke's Arc Team , and ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

5 Stars – A Magical, Romantic Delight (ARC Review)

I had the absolute pleasure of reading an advance reader copy of The Artist and the Dragon, and I’m completely smitten. Megan Van Dyke has crafted a stunning romantic fantasy full of heart, heat, and magic—I couldn’t put it down.

The chemistry between the dragon shifter hero and the artist heroine is everything. Their relationship builds with a slow-burn intensity that had me hooked from the beginning. I loved their emotional connection just as much as the romance itself—it’s tender, fierce, and deeply satisfying.

The use of art and creativity throughout the story was so beautifully done and added such a unique layer to the worldbuilding. The magical setting felt vivid and alive, and the stakes kept the tension high while still allowing room for softer, heartfelt moments.

Van Dyke’s prose is immersive and lyrical, and the pacing struck that perfect balance between action and emotion. I finished the book feeling full, happy, and immediately ready to reread it.

This was a standout read for me. If you love romantasy, dragon shifters, or fairytale vibes with a grown-up edge, definitely add this one to your list. I can’t wait to see what Megan Van Dyke writes next!

One of my favorites . I read her Peter pan inspired book years ago and have wanted to read more by her. So happy for this arc (thank you netgalley) to dive into this new inspired fairytale retelling 🥹💕 the bridgerton vibes the grand balls. The characters AHH loved it so much

I enjoyed this book. It was engaging and entertaining. It's a 3.5 for me. I get a little turned off when the tone of the story doesn't completely fit the world that was being built in the story. I like when things are consistent. However, that said, I did enjoy that even though this book follows the Musician and the Monster, you could read this one without having read the previous and not be completely lost. Overall, it was not bad:)