ARC Review — Crown of Briars by R.L. Perez
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (rounded)

Thank you to NetGalley and Willow Haven Press for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Crown of Briars is a dark, fantasy-infused retelling of Beauty and the Beast — and as a fairytale retelling enthusiast, I’m happy to say it delivered on its promises. The story follows the key beats of the original tale but with a darker edge and a high fantasy twist that made it feel both familiar and fresh.

🖤 The Characters

The main characters were well-crafted and engaging. I especially appreciated the dynamic between the leads, though I found myself wishing for a bit more depth in the Beast’s development — I expected a touch more internal conflict and emotional tension.
That said, the Beast being a shadowy, winged, tailed “dark prince” type gave me definite Fourth Wing + ACOTAR + The Cruel Prince vibes, which I absolutely loved. (Though I’ll admit… the color choice wasn’t my favorite — but that’s a personal preference.)
The side characters felt a bit underdeveloped, but they served their purpose within the story.

🗡️ The Plot & World

The dark fantasy setting was immersive, and I appreciated how the MMC consistently respected boundaries and consent — refreshing in this genre. Although he had a bit of a temper, any misunderstandings between characters resolved fairly quickly, which kept the pacing sharp.
The dragon character was a standout, though I found myself wishing we had learned more about her.

🔥 The Twists & Spice

I half-suspected someone, so the twist took me by surprise (though in fairness, I had nearly forgotten about this one).
The spicy scenes were intense — written for readers who enjoy their dark fairytales with a generous dash of heat. They delivered on tension, with a touch of delicious guilt woven into the experience.

⸻

✨ Final Thoughts

Crown of Briars is a solid, engaging standalone and a compelling retelling. While I craved a bit more depth in some aspects, it still hit the right notes for a dark romance fantasy. Perfect for fans of fairytale retellings who like their beasts shadowy, their stakes high, and their romance intense.

I love this series so much. Each book has such a great and dark twist on a classic tale. I love the beauty and the beast elements in this. They were there in such unique ways. The romance in this was amazing and you could really see it build up and grow. I just loved everything about this book.

Firstly, thank you to the author and netgalley for sending me this ARC copy! I absolutely loved reading it and it definitely is one of my favourite romantasy books!
This is a retelling of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale but with twists and steamy scenes that are absent in the original story! 🙈 And oh! This book has "My wife" trope in it🤭
Anyone who loves Sarah J. Maas, shadow daddies and dragons I am telling you this book is absolutely a catch! ❤️
I believe you will be drawn to this story as much as I was into it and you will not want to put the book down until it's finished.🙈 The world building by the author is so immersive and so good that it will capture your imagination!
This was an absolutely lovely story where our MMC (the beast, shadow daddy) and our FMC (the beauty, who is a human princess) work their differences out and slowly start to trust each other. Here our MMC is a winged beast and there is also a sassy raven shifter side character who plays a huge role in the story! The whole story is based on a dramatic curse and dark magic. It is a mixture of courtly intrigue, dark fae magic, witches, beasts, dragons and obviously steamy romance!!!
I loved how the book was so easy to follow and damn!!! R L perez has a solid writing style that will get you hooked immediately from the first page!
Overall I loved the book so so much that I finished reading it in 3 days span!🙈

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves reading paranormal romance, adventure, dragons, shadow daddy trope, beauty and the beast tale. This book serves all of these in abundance 🙈

I ended up giving this book 3.5/5 stars.

While I enjoyed the read, there were things that didn't resonate with me.

The things that did work for me:

Overall the story was enjoyable, and the take where the beast stays beastly was refreshing. Sybelle's magic was interesting; I really enjoyed the different gems and the facets of magic it opened up for her. I like the found family with the maid; the friendship between them was really cute.

Things that didn't work for me:

The MCs for me suddenly went from hating/detesting each other to being all over each other at/after one revel. Personally, I would've liked more buildup there. I needed that sexual tension/angst vs. just sudden lust out of nowhere.

Overall it was an easy, spicy read with some interesting anatomy on the beast part that made for an enjoyable ride.

Thanks, NetGalley and R.L. Perez, for the ARC.

Read this if you like:
🌹 Fairy Tales retold for Adults
🌹 🌶️ romantic fantasy series
🌹 books with gorgeous covers

Thank you to Willow Haven Press, RL Perez and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I can't fault this at all! an adult Beauty and the beast retelling, im in!
I adore everything about this story. Monster MMC, strong FMC. An enemies to lovers, slow burn. From the first chapter I was completely hooked and this story was just brilliant the whole way through. I love romantasy, and the fact this is a standalone makes it so good as I hate cliffhangers. I have now bought the first in this series

Crown of Briars is a spicy retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and I was here for ALL.OF.IT.

Do you want arranged marriage? Done. Do you want forced proximity? Done. Do you want enemies to lovers? Done. Do you want “touch her and die” MMC? Done. Do you see where I’m going with this?

The world building was impeccable and there was so much information, but not an overwhelming amount. I was quickly drawn into this fantasy world and enjoyed following Sybelle and Varius's journey. I was captivated from the beginning of this book and enthralled with the workings of Sybelle’s magic she possessed, alongside her relationship with her dragon.

Varius truly stole my heart and had me swooning throughout and other moments he had me enchanted by his command and leadership.

Sybelle and Varius together was everything! From the times they hated one another to the times they loved one another there was no denying their chemistry.

"Be my wife. My queen. My everything. Please."

Between the angst, spice, and world building, Crown of Briars had its fair share of heart-pounding, mind racing, chest clutching moments and I loved every beautiful and beastly minute of it.

*Thank you R.L. Perez and Willow Haven Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and R. L. Perez for providing me with an eARC for review ✨

Publication Date: August 4, 2025

In this Beauty & the Beast retelling, Sybelle of the Earthen Court has been born, bred, and trained to kill her betrothed, the King of the Shadow Court, to end him and his magic’s reign of terror. But everything is not as it seems, and as she spends her days with Mr. Shadow King Varius himself, his cast of unseelie advisors, and a castle with a sense of humor, she starts to wonder if her loyalties have been misplaced. And why does Varius keep asking for her blood?

I absolutely DEVOURED my trip to Valora. I picked this up and the next thing I knew, hours had flown by and I was 300 pages into Sybelle and Varius arguing with each other and notching that tension up higher and higher. Everything about this world felt so unique—the magic system, the physical traits of the unseelie, the threat to the kingdom—but it was never overwhelming or hard to decipher. At the same time, though, I never felt like I was being talked down to when concepts were explained, or like I was reading a fantasy textbook, and that made for an extremely immersive experience. When I finished I felt like I had been teleported out of the world back to Earth, and I had to sit for a bit to reacclimate.

She does burn slooooooowly, but deliciously, so if you’re looking for that, pick this one up right now. Overall, I was enthralled the entire time. I couldn’t wait to see how Varius and Sybelle would vex each other next, and the supporting cast of characters were delightful. Sybelle and Varius felt like such real people, with flaws and a complicated sense of who they were, and it made them even more intriguing to read about. It stayed true to its Beauty & the Beast roots without feeling like just a simple remake, where all the plot points and twists and turns were the same—this one takes you on a blast of a journey all its own. I can’t wait to pick up the rest of the books in this series and enjoy them all!

Review has also been posted on Goodreads, Fable, and Storygraph. Review will also be posted on Instagram on July 21, 2025.

4⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read Crown of Briars in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This Beauty and the Beast-inspired fantasy blends action, fae magic, dragons, and slow-burn romance 👑🐉💘. Azure, the loyal, mind-talking dragon bonded to the FMC from the start, completely stole the show 💙. The sentient castle was another highlight—it added charm and mystery to the setting 🏰. The romance leans into enemies to lovers and arranged marriage tropes, with some real steam. While the first half moved a little slowly and the world-building wasn't particularly deep, the secrets and court intrigue gave me Bridge Kingdom vibes and kept me hooked. The FMC did come across a bit childish at times, but her bond with Azure and emotional growth helped balance that.

Also, I couldn’t stop picturing the Beast as a red-skinned orc with curly hair and goat horns—and honestly? It worked 😅❤️‍🔥. He’s got definite shadow daddy energy, brooding and powerful. And sometimes, the real monsters aren’t the ones with claws and wings.

A solid pick for fans of fairytale retellings, fae courts, dragons, and romantic fantasy with bite.

#CrownofBriars #NetGalley

Crown of Briars by R.L. Perez
A dark and steamy Beauty-and-the-Beast retelling featuring cursed royalty, court intrigue, dragon familiars… and one very conflicted princess with a plan.

Princess Sybelle is no stranger to sacrifice—every generation, a bride is sent to marry the fearsome Wraith King, cloaked in magic and shadows. She’s prepared to die… until she decides she’d rather kill him instead. With her dragon familiar by her side, Sybelle enters a deadly magical competition, determined to uncover the secrets that bind her kingdom and the man who’s supposed to be her doom. What she finds is far more dangerous—truth, temptation, and a connection she never saw coming.

What I Loved

Sybelle’s steel-core resolve: This girl walks into her fate with a plan and doesn’t flinch. She’s smart, strategic, and absolutely someone you’d want on your team during a magical coup.

The Wraith King oozes charisma and mystery: Monster? Maybe. But he's layered, sharp-tongued, and unexpectedly vulnerable.

The worldbuilding is beautifully crafted: Think magic that pulses with danger, whispered histories, dragon familiars, and political scheming with deadly consequences.

The romance has tension, stakes, and bite: No insta-love here—just two enemies circling each other with wariness, heat, and unresolved grudges.

What Didn’t Land for Me

The middle slowed a little too much: A few chapters wandered into world mechanics and court logistics just when I wanted more action.

Side characters felt a touch undercooked: With such a rich world, I kept hoping a few secondary players would leap off the page more.

Exposition sometimes dimmed the emotional heat: The romantic arc built nicely, but occasionally got tangled in the info-dump weeds.

4 stars—for a richly imagined fantasy, a heroine with grit and fire, and a romance that burns its way through layers of deception and duty. Crown of Briars delivers magic, political mayhem, and emotional depth in a way that lingers long after the final page.

If you like your fairy tale retellings with thorns, shadows, dragons, and sharp-tongued characters who don’t play by the rules—this one’s for you.

Hi there,
I will copy my review that I posted on Bookmory and Goodreads and Amazon below. I just wanted to say that I absolutely adoooored this book. I was hooked from the first chapter and from there became obsessed with the characters, the story, the dual POV, the elements of the classic tale and of course the new elements and twists and turns. This has been the most amazing book and I am dying to read more from you!! I understand this is book 2, there seems to be a novella too according to your kick starter, and at the end you say the next book is her Snow White friend Eira and I can’t wait!! I’m also running to get the first book and I absolutely need all of these books as physical copies for my shelves. Thank you so much for accepting me to arc read this, you’re my first arc read and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity for this amazing book!!

Review below:

O…M…G!! Absolutely hooked from the first chapter, I couldn’t get enough. This book was painful to put down and so addictive when I picked up!! One of the best Beauty and The Beast retellings I have read, with elements from the classic tale to amazing twists you don’t see coming!! Absolute praise to R.L. Perez for Crown of Briars, I am beyond excited to read more!!

When I tell you I inhaled this book. I quite literally did in under 48 hours. What a fantastic read. There are plenty of beauty and the beast retellings out there. Some are great and some not so much. This one? AMAZING

I really enjoyed this book so much. It had everything I love, fantasy vibes, slow burn romance, and characters with real emotions and struggles. The writing was smooth and easy to follow, so I read it very fast and didn’t want to stop. Sybelle was such a strong mc. I liked how she didn’t act afraid and how she tried to understand the new world around her. She had some really unique magic too, which made her story more interesting. And Varius, my gosh. At first he looked scary, but I really liked how his personality came out slowly. Their connection felt real and the chemistry between them was amazing. The story was kind of dark and full of mystery, but also romantic and emotional. It gave me that perfect mix of fairytale and fantasy but with more spice and deeper characters. Also, I loved the atmosphere. The setting was very cool, with shadows, curses, and fae courts. I got obsessed a little. Thank you so much to the author, Willow Haven Press and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving a honest review

A spicy beauty and the beast retelling where the beast stays the beast. If you like well thought out world building that’s easy to follow, an intriguing story line filled with curses and shadows, an interesting magical system involving gem stones and a darker tone with a tension filled romance then this is for you.

The writing was really easy to get into and helped feel connected to the world. The characters were really likeable in their own way, and I appreciated how they each had their own distinct character voice, bringing their different POV’s to life. Given the rich backstory these characters had, I do think they could've been a little more complex in how they are as people now.

I appreciated how strong our FMC, Sybelle, was without falling into the trap of bravery making her do stupid things. She stood up for herself and didn’t back down when our MMC Varius was involved in a back and forth with her.

I do have to add that some of the reasons for the characters actions seemed a bit silly and felt to me like those were only given to continue having tension between the characters. Because they seemed far-fetched and silly it was also hard for me to really understand why the two mc’s still hated each other after a certain point. The characters switched between being nice and understanding, to being angry, and then being nice and understanding again a little too quickly for me.

Overall an enjoyable read! I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys these tropes:

spicy beauty and the beast retelling
arranged marriage
a dragon as a companion
rich magic system
shadows and curses
strong fmc
broody mmc who turns out to have a soft side

TLDR: if you want to see the beast get with the beauty while being introduced to a world filled with shadows, and curses and a gemstone based magic system then this is for you.

A beauty and the best retelling that includes an enchanted castle and a dragon bestie. It was a good time. Easy read, good humor. The magic and court politics were pretty typical. I did really like Azure. It was a solid quick read. It’s a good read when you want a simple standalone.

This is a Beauty & the Beast retelling with a twist. I’ve read a few fairy tale based books and I generally not a fan.

However this book was good. Our FMC is smart and sassy as well as having an intriguing form of magic. Our beast is a softy at heart and wants to do right by our beauty.

The world is split into different courts - which felt very reminiscent of ACOTAR and I’d like to read more books that feature the other courts.

I enjoyed the unseelie/ seelie fae part of the world, and how the curse affects the people and world. And the castle is like the friend you never knew you needed.

I feel we haven’t seen the end of one character. You’ll know when you get there and I enjoyed a few of the twists. I was trying to work things out as I read and meant that I wanted to keep going.

Overall an enjoyable read and a good twist of the Beauty & The Beast storyline.

“I will always come for you, dannahla.” 🥀
Watch out book boyfriends there’s a new Shadow Daddy on the block and he’s beastly and glorious!

Princess Sybelle has trained her whole life to marry the fearsome Wraith King in order to save her people. However, as she discovers the truth behind his curse and the man beneath the monstrous exterior, her mission becomes complicated. Now torn between her duty to her kingdom and her growing love for the cursed king, Sybelle must make a heartbreaking choice that could change everything.

To say I devoured this book would be an understatement! THIS right here is how you do a retelling! With original takes on shadow and fae magic, characters that know how to be both powerful and vulnerable, a world you just want to dive into and a true villain you will never see coming. While it has elements of the original fable; the beauty, the beast, a curse, a rose, Crown of Briars is it’s own beautifully unique tale. Sybelle is the perfect amounts of sassy, curious and determined. The dynamic between her and Varius was incredible. The spice was delectably spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️. And I loved that this book didn’t only focus on the romantic relationships but the friendships too. The banter between Sybelle and her best friend Az was not only witty but offered some comic relief to more serious points of the storyline. I cannot wait to read the next standalone in this series. If you love slow burn, dark fae vibes with a touch of spice and characters you actually want to be friends with, this book is for you!

Thank you to R.L. Perez, Willow Haven Press and NetGalley for the eARC of this book!

Crown of Briars reads more like a cozy romantasy than a high-stakes fantasy romance. There’s tension, but it’s muted. Stakes, but not urgent. Spice, but not gut-punching angst. It’s less "I’m on the edge of my seat" and more "I’m mildly intrigued while sipping tea." If that’s your field house, you’ll love it.

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🌿 What Worked:

Crystal Magic System – The FMC could imbue herself with power using gemstones, which was unique and refreshing. It felt studied and intentional, not just tossed in for aesthetics. I only wish it had been explored deeper.

Sentient Castle – Lowkey gave House of Wind energy (Nesta’s story in ACOTAR) and I was here for it.

Side Characters – Tislora, Enzira, and Azura (the dragon) were standout moments in an otherwise flat cast.

Spice – The spicy scenes were actually good. Not overly done, and gave the tension a break when needed.



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🪨 What Didn’t Work:

Pacing – The first half was full of internal monologues and slow unraveling. I was waiting for the plot to do something. At 36%, I was already bored. At 88%, I still didn’t know why I should care.

Romance Shift – These two went from enemies with real tension to "eff our kingdoms, I choose you" after one fairy ball. And the shift wasn’t believable. Varius in particular felt off — a man obsessed with duty doesn’t just drop it without cause.

World-Building – Thin. Both kingdoms felt like vague concepts rather than lived-in places. Side characters popped in and out without real presence or weight.

Emotional Investment – I couldn’t connect with their stakes. I should’ve cared about protecting their people, but it felt like a plot point, not a passion.

Retelling Disconnect – Honestly, it didn’t need to be marketed as a Beauty and the Beast retelling. It didn’t feel like one. That label raised expectations that weren’t met. If anything, A Curse So Dark and Lonely handled that theme better.

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Would I recommend it? For cozy romantasy readers who enjoy slow pacing, magic systems with soft lore, and tension-light romances, sure.

This was an ARC read via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book, I mean I was hoping I would as it’s a beauty and the beast retelling, so I’m pretty guaranteed to like it on that alone, but I did really enjoy this and thought it had new and unique fantasy elements in the world building, the story itself was engaging. I loved the enchanted castle, it was wonderful and I only wish they existed. Highly recommended read, can’t wait for more to come

This romantasy book captured my attention from the first chapter! Loved the Beauty and the Beast vibes it gave off as well. Would definitely recommend this book.