5/⭐️ 2.5/🌶️ Crown of Briars by R.L. Perez is a standalone in her Crowns of Fae series and it was the perfect retelling.

Blurb:

He must wed her to break the curse. She must kill him to save her kingdom. Torn between her duty to her kingdom and breaking the Wraith King’s curse, Sybelle must decide if her loyalties are to the home she was raised to protect, or to the dark king who has worked his way into her heart?

If Beauty and the Beast was your favorite of the Disney movies, then you are going to want to check this book out. I was lucky enough to receive an early copy from NetGalley. Sybelle is our FMC and she was born in order to fulfill a treaty. The women who have gone to the shadow court before were never to be heard from again. Sybelle’s father has prepared her for the day when she would be called there next. She is tasked with finding a hidden object and ending the Shadow King’s life.

Our MMC, Varius, is that Shadow King and he is not at all what she expected. Varius is driven by the need to end the curse. There is a way to end it but he is bound by the curse to not speak it to anyone else. When Sybelle arrives they are not what either of them expected.

You have great imagery I could easily picture the sentient castle and how the magic works. Sybelle and Varius were great MCs with depth to them. I enjoyed how much lining and slow burn we get in this standalone. It was so enjoyable to read and wondering what would happen next with them. The mystery element added more layers to the plot and moving it forward.

I did not read the first book in this series before diving in. These are true standalones that you could read out of order. Will I be going back to read the first one? Absolutely. This releases August 4th, happy reading!

4.5⭐

If you're fan of Beauty and the Beast vibes, this book is definitely one to check out. It’s a great retelling with a unique magic system, dark fae, court drama, slow burn romance, and an arranged marriage trope. Highly recommend it. ✨

I had so much fun reading this one. It totally pulled me in, and I couldn’t stop until I hit the last page. I was honestly kind of sad when it ended because I just wanted more!

Standalone story, told from both Sybelle and the Wraith King’s PoVs.

It’s my first book by this author, and I’m very impressed. Already eyeing what to read next from the author. Easily one of my July 2025 📚favorites.

Thank you NetGallley, Willow Haven Press and author for eARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley, Willow Haven Press & R.L. Perez for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

This is my second book by R.L. Perez and what can I say? A book where I don't complain once is an automatic 5/5 for me.

The writing style is impeccable, she only used the word precise (once I believe) and she didn't join it with "expertly precise" which grinds my gears when authors do it. By I digress. Great writing style, definitely "show me, don't tell me".

Somethings are predictable of course because it is a retelling BUT R.L. Perez does a fantastic job of reimagining those events to make the unique to the book. The FMC is 25 which I greatly appreciate, we had an emotional aware and mature FMC which was a breath of fresh air.

I will say I now know what a barbed penis looks like...definitely had to google that. The more you know?

Overall thoroughly enjoyed the book from start to finish, I thought it had a good balance between action, character/world building, and spice.

This Beauty and the Beast retelling pulled me right in. As a kid, that story was one of my absolute favorites—probably where my romantasy obsession really began. 😂😅 This version? Grown-up, darker, fae-infused, and full of everything I didn’t know I needed.

Sybelle is a fierce, clever FMC who’s committed to her cause no matter what. She keeps pushing forward..no hesitation, even when she’s faced with the Wraith King, the supposed monster she’s been trained her whole life to destroy. 💀And when the truth about him starts to unfold… yeah, I was hooked. He’s introduced as this terrifying figure, but piece by piece, you see the softness underneath. The chemistry, the tension, the slow unraveling of his curse—it was so good.

The worldbuilding was rich, the magic system had some unique touches (hello, dragon 🐉 !), and I loved all the pieces that made it feel like more than just a retelling, it had its own soul. 🙌🏽

I really wish this had been a duology or even a trilogy. ☝️ I needed more time with Sybelle and Varius. I wanted more scenes of them after everything they’d been through. 💕 And the side characters? So intriguing. I could easily see spin-offs or deeper subplots for them. Their stories had so much potential that I felt we only got a small taste of. Also… the war scenes? Loved them, but I wanted more grit, more strategy, more moments to feel the stakes.

The story leapt off the pages, and it was clear the author poured her heart into it. It gave me exactly what I wanted from an adult Beauty and the Beast story, and I’ll definitely be rereading certain parts just to soak up that tension again.


What thjs story brings:
🌹 Beauty and the Beast retelling
⚔️ Enemies to lovers
👑 Cursed king
🌑 Shadow magic
🧚‍♀️ Fae court politics
🐉 Dragon familiar
🔥 Slow burn
🛏️ One bed
⚔️ War and rebellion
💀 Soft monster romance
💪 Loyal-to-a-fault heroine
😮 Romantic tension that simmers
🤝 Found family undertones

💬 What’s your favorite Beauty and the Beast-inspired romantasy? Or a story where you really wish there had been more time with the characters? Let’s chat in the comments!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

I loved this book! I read most of it in one sitting, it literally had me hooked. This was a new author for me and I absolutely cannot wait to go and find more of her books! I loved the banter between the characters - it was superb! There was a good balance of plot and spice and some fun side characters with such unique magic!

4.75/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

I was really surprised with how much I enjoyed this. I am not a huge fairytale retelling person generally but I think this story was done really well. I like both the FMC and the MMC but I do think their chemistry and relationship as a whole could have been a little more fleshed out. I also enjoyed the plot, and the magic system/fae aspect of this was pretty interesting to me.

I think this book could be really interesting also written with a little more spice, using the MMCs unique anatomy to create some really unique scenes (if you know, you know). I do appreciate that it was pretty plot focused though, as I know not everyone loves a ton of spice.

Overall, I did really enjoy this book, but it just didn’t quite hit the 5⭐️ mark for me. I will be checking out other stuff by this author though, as I enjoyed her writing style and storytelling as a whole.

This was a vibes read for sure and I enjoyed it as such. It was a fun Romantasy with a little bit of everything sprinkled in.

It read like a fairy tale, a little bit predictable but in a comforting cozy way.

The FMC Sybelle and MMC Varius were cute together, and I really appreciated that there wasn’t too much “miscommunication” as there was a time or two that I was worried this trope was going to rear its head (and it’s my least favourite).

The side characters added to the story, I especially enjoyed Tislora.

It did lull a bit in the middle, and it wasn’t overly original but since it was a retelling I expected that.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley, Willow Haven Press & R.L. Perez for providing an eARC of this book!

Links to Fable & GoodReads reviews included

Troupes/ Highlights-
* Beauty & the Beast retelling
* Arranged marriage
* Cursebreaker
* “My wife”
* Multi-POV
* Dragon familiar
* Shadow daddy/ naughty shadows

Short summary:
Sybelle, a princess from the human Earthen Court, and King Varius, an unsullie fae from the Shadow court, enter an arranged marriage to fulfill a treaty with their own secrets and motives.

As romance and tension blooms between them, they begin to unravel clues to a centuries-old curse damning them and their people.

My thoughts:
This was fast-paced and un-put-downable, especially towards the end. The romance begins as piqued curiosity and burns until scorching at around 70%. It feels equally balanced with the plot and was convincing.

The magic is interesting and unique. The stakes were high and I found myself very invested in trying (and failing lol) to figure out the mystery of the curse.

There are other books in this series, but I jumped into this book and it reads fine as a stand-alone.

Great read, another beauty and the beast type Romance. When a human is given the the shadow king to break a curse, he gets more then he bargained for!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you for allowing me to review

This book was fantastic! This Beauty and the Beast retelling is so much fun. Sybelle goes to the Shadow Court to fulfil the Earthen Court's treaty to provide a human bride, but once she arrives, nothing is as she seems. This spicy enemies to lovers romance between Sybelle and Varius was so much fun. Between a curse, a magical castle, a dragon, and some very entertaining side characters, this story is non-stop fun.

Crown of Briars is a magical retelling of Beauty and the Beast. The second book in "the Crowns of Fae" did not disappoint! I like how the worldbuilding takes form, how you think you know what is going on and then you don't!
It's a delicious romantasy with tension, spicy and lot's of action.

Star Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️


Sybelle, a part fae princess from the human court is called to fulfill her duty to marry the Unseelie Fae and protect her kingdom from the deadly shadows and the Wraith King. But when she arrives, the Wraith King, her husband, is not who she was led to believe. She must now choose: protect her kingdom or save the court and people she has learned to love.

This was a very fun read. A spicy retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but made completely its own. The love between the characters moved a little too fast to be believable, but I still think it was a well written book and it made it hard to put down. The spice scenes 🥵🥵

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved „Crown of Slumber“ from this author and „Crown of Briars“ also has a special place in my heart now. I hope this author never stops writing fairytale retellings. Love, love, love!

Crown of Briars is titled a beauty and the beast retelling. Every generation of the Earthen Court gives a princess as a human bride to the Wraith King to protect their realm from deadly shadows. Princess Sybelle has prepared all her life for this. But everything is not as it seems. The source of the shadows is not actually the Wraith king himself but an ancient curse. While Sybelle is trying to figure out how to break the curse, the Wraith king starts growing on her. When the chance offers itself, Sybelle has to decide whether she is willing to give her life to break the curse and save the king and his people.

The author incorporates an interesting magic system, a good setting, political intrigues and thus achieves to develop a unique story. This is something I would not take for granted when it comes to fairytale retellings. The book is easy to read, the story is well paced and you can observe continuous character development of the fmc throughout the book. The romance develops nicely and includes some spicy scenes.

However, the story wasn’t able to convey deeper feelings to me. The forced marriage or forced proximity do not really feel forced, the longing is only superficially there. The passion doesn’t seem real but simply as if it was part of the plot. In total, this was a rollercoaster ride for me. There were parts during the book which got me hooked. Other parts were filled with information, which wouldn’t have been necessary for me, what became quite boring. In my opinion the story could have been achieved with a lesser number of pages, which most probably would have elevated my rating.

All in all a good book, which I would recommend to those of use who will never stop loving fairytales but prefer some spice in it. Thanks to Willow Haven Press and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC. All opinions are my own.

DNF at around 50%
I picked up Crown of Briars by R.L. Perez drawn in by its beautiful cover, interesting description, and a few positive reviews.
While the story includes many classic fantasy elements that will likely appeal to fans of the genre, I personally couldn't connect with the plot or the characters.
That said, the writing style is very accessible, which could be a strong point for readers who are just beginning their journey with fantasy. However, due to the abundance of genre-specific tropes, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it as someone’s first fantasy book.
Although it wasn’t the right fit for me, I believe the book will find its audience - especially among readers new to fantasy genre.

3.5 stars

After reading one of the authors previous 'retellings' I was so excited to read this one.

Overall I think the concept of the storyline was good - It just didn't hit the right spot for me.

The world itself was interesting and I definitely enjoyed learning about the enchanted castle.

I think I have come to the realization that I'm not a big fan of 'monster' romances - as by the description of the 'beast' I would class this under that category. I also didn't love the miscommunication that happened from time to time.

I feel like the FMC could have been a bit more bad arse as she was meant to be a bit more of a threat - but I felt that she fell flat from that.

I am still super keen to read the rest in this series as I really enjoyed the first book.

Every generation, the Earthen Court offers a princess bride to the formidable Wraith King, a chilling pact made to protect their realm from his deadly shadows. Princess Sybelle steps into this generations-old tradition, not as a helpless victim, but as a warrior with a desperate plan. She has prepared her entire life to face the monster terrorizing her people, and her ultimate goal is chillingly clear: uncover the source of his shadow magic to destroy him for good.
The Wraith King, despite his terrifying reputation and demonic appearance, is not who he seems. He proves to be as captivating as he is deadly, igniting a fire in her soul she never knew she had. This immediate shift in Sybelle's perception promises a delicious enemies-to-lovers dynamic, steeped in dangerous attraction.
The true heart of the story emerges when Sybelle discovers the Wraith King himself is trapped by a powerful curse. Her mission of vengeance transforms into a desperate desire to free him. This revelation introduces a poignant internal conflict: to break his curse would jeopardize her own life and, more importantly, the lives of the people she's sworn to protect.
For fans of Beauty and the Beast retellings, Hades and Persephone vibes, or anyone who craves a dark, angsty romance where the monster isn't quite the monster he seems.

A darker, high-stakes spin on Beauty and the Beast. Princess Sybelle—raised to marry the monstrous Wraith King to protect her kingdom—is determined to stop his reign by killing him. However, the more she learns about him and the shadows consuming his realm, the clearer it becomes that duty and desire may collide in unexpected ways. A dragon familiar, fae court intrigue, layered magic, and steamy enemies-to-lovers tension drive the plot forward. Loved every minute of this book

If, like me, you are a Disney adult who also loves fantasy books, add this to your TBR right now! 📚

From reading the dedication, I knew I would love this book! The re-telling was perfect, not a 100% play-by-play of Beauty & The Beast but so imaginatively incorporated. The immersive world, twists & turns and each character had me hooked! ✨

Sybelle is such a strong FMC. She’s smart, capable, funny & takes no shit 😅 I loved all of her friendships formed throughout this book. Varius is a perfect MMC. Broody, grumpy, “touch her and die” - yes please 😍

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing & R L Perez for the opportunity to ARC review this book!

🌟6 stars rounded down🌟

I feel as if I owe this author and Willow Haven Press, and Victory Editing Netgallery Co-op an apology. I know on Netgallery we're supposed to read these books in a relatively timely manner & I normally try to do so. But with this book I was slower than a turtle trying to swim in a pool of peanut butter, I took my time, I JUST NEVER WANTED IT TO END!!!!! 😭

If I could "Blue skidoo, we can too!" Myself into 1 book, this would be my choice

Clock it, July 26th 2025. From now till the day I die, I will never EVER read another Beauty and the Beast retelling. This is the one (and only) Beauty & the Beast retelling I need flowing through my veins untill the day that I die..HOW IS THIS EVEN BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL BEAUTY & THE BEAST?!

If Beauty & the Beast and ACOTAR had a baby, it would be this book

Because Beauty & the Beast!?.. with the FAE?????? a hilarious dragon sprinkled in for a bonus, cause WHY NOT!?!?!?!.. An enchanted castle with a sense of humor?!?!?! Old retellings mixed with beautiful originality?!?!? SIGN ME THE FOOK UP!!!!

I'm seriously going to go broke this year with the amount of hardcopy book trophies I have to buy. I will most DEFINITELY be getting this one


it's really so hard for me not to just word vomit every beautiful inch of a great book such as this one. I really try my best to bite my tongue so everyone can get the same experience. But this book has me squealing & kicking my feet together the whole time! To the point it was getting ridiculous!

This book manages to blend strong originality while still sticking to the backbone of a tale as old as time.. In a way this is better than the original Beauty & Beast. This story is so in depth and beautifully woven even characters such as Gaston and the hag Agatha, etc, get more of a backstory then ever before


Y'alllllllllll🫢🫢🫢🫢🫢🫢🫢..this book made me do a thing.. & it literally took me to another planet.. You know how it's a budding social media trend to name the song you're feeling while you're reading a book??( If not it's cute & you should check it out).. Welllllllll.. about half way through, I KNEW this was my Ordinary (by Alex Warren) read. So, as I was drawing to the end I couldn't help but think.. what if I actually played this song in the background while I finished up the last chapter or so??.. 🫢........😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 YALL😭, MY SOUL TRANSCEND TO ANOTHER PLANET WITH ME STILL ATTACHED!! It brought ALLLLL the feels!! Chills, goosebumps, heart palpitations, OBVIOUSLY me balling like a BABY, it was such an experience.

I can feel it in my bones as I type this, the book hangover from this is right around the corner & it's going to be a rough one

i don't know if this is set up for a book 2, BUT I NEED A BOOK 2!!!!!!!!.. i know other characters from this story have there book. But I need more of THISSSS RIGHT HERE!! Her sister saying it wasn't over yet is my ONLY wisp of hope that maybe one day my wish will be granted



Edit: as predicted the hangover is REAL, one to rival my college days..The song Ordinary came on today while I was cleaning & I just started balling! Like Kim Kardashian ugly cry. I just want to be back with Sybelle & Various! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 I'm so desperate I might just tape a copy of the book to a wall and attempt The Platform 9 & 3/4 maneuver