3.5-3.75/5 rounded up.

I remember liking the first book in this series, and the same goes for this second one!

This is a Beauty and the Beast retelling (and I love retellings) that follows the Wraith King as he marries Sybelle (a princess) to try to break his curse.

This is a world of fae, shadow magic, kingdom politics, and twisting magic. All things that I enjoy in a fantasy novel.

The plot twists worked well, the characters had great senses of humor, the side characters were well-developed, and there was a really cool enchanted castle (all you have to say is that there is a cool castle and I am in).

I didn't love the miscommunication that was happening every now and then, it made the characters just seem stupid at times. I think that was a disservice to them.

This did read super fast and I think that is always a good thing. I will definitely be continuing this series, so far, I have been having a great time with it and will recommend it to anyone looking for a new fantasy to get into.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

4.5/5

Now when any book starts with a dedication of ‘for those who were disappointed when the beast turned back’ I am as sat as I was when I first read P.C. Casts Goddess of Roses as a teenager. I love a Beauty and the Beast retelling, I love all fairytale retellings to be fair but especially Beauty and the Beast, and Crown of Briars does not disappoint.

It does feel a little bit like playing Romantasy Bingo, especially at the beginning - we’ve got a fae MMC with shadow powers, a secret half fae (at least for one main character), fae that can’t lie, witches, dragons, forced proximity, there’s only one bed (eventually), arranged marriages, enemies (ish) to lovers, telepathy between the MCs and more and honestly… it’s all really well done. It feels natural within the world of the novel and each element comes into play within the plot.

The relationship between Varius and Sybelle had me kicking my feet and enjoying every second of their interactions, both of them felt like fleshed out characters with realistic intentions for their world. Their tension was delicious and I really enjoyed every second of this.

It was quite long (says the person also reading massive fantasy epics) but I’ll take that for a complete near-standalone story with strong pacing that didn’t feel like I was wanting a scene to be cut so we could get on with anything. I found the action all well paced and nothing felt rushed.

On the spice, I felt like it hit the right balance - we didn’t leave any of the interesting parts of cursed forms and shadow powers on the bedside cabinet so to say.

Overall I really enjoyed my time with it and look forward to reading more by this author!

This is a romantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast in which our main character Sybell is to be wed to the King of the Shadow Court in order to keep deadly shadows that plague the border between their courts at bay. Sybell finds that the King is not who she once thought he was, and as the book unfolds she begins to learn more about the true nature of her new husband. I loved this book's theme of loving authentically and working through differences in beliefs and culture. However, I felt that the world building could have been better, as lots of information about the book's setting was delivered through the internal monologue of the two main characters. Ultimately I think the romance factor of this book was what made it enjoyable for me and I would give this novel three stars.

This was an enjoyable read but not really that memorable. I don't think the relationship between the MMC and FMC was necessarily that good, he was always wanting to hurt her and yet got super lovey-dovey toward the end. Their relationship just didn't feel believable. However, I liked all the Beauty & the Beast influences in this book like the magical mirror and rose gem. Still, some of the magic system felt incomplete or oversimplified and just left me feeling confused. Not one of the worst romantasy books I've read but I don't think I would re-read it. Thanks for the ARC though!

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! This book is expected to be released on August 4, 2025.

I was pleasantly surprised by Crown of Briars! This standalone retelling of Beauty and the Beast follows Sybelle, a princess of the Earthen Court whose duty is to wed Varius, the Wraith King of the Shadow Court, to fulfill a generations long treaty. Unlike the princess brides who came before her, Sybelle is determined to take matters into her own hands, kill Varius, and return home to the Earthen Court. Varius needs Sybelle, his human bride, to end the curse plaguing his lands and people, at the cost of her life. However, after their marriage ceremony things being to unravel. Sybelle learns everything she's been told about the Shadow Court and it's king may not be completely true. Varius realizes he wants to be different than his ancestors, and that sacrificing a human bride isn't as black and white as he thought. Grappling with new truths, surprising discoveries, and conflicting emotions, Sybelle and Varius need to decide where their true loyalties lie--with their kingdoms, or with each other--and what their true mission is.

While this was a retelling and contained elements from Beauty and the Beast, I loved the new and fascinating magical/fantasy elements woven into the world. It kept the story fresh and unique, making it a really engaging read. On top of a unique magic system, I loved the depth of all the characters. Seeing Sybelle's relationships with various members of the Earthen and Shadow Courts was a highlight of the book, and truly had me rooting for Sybelle. Lastly, I loved the enchanted castle. Being able to feel Sybelle's apprehension and fear of the castle thaw as her own prejudices did, and seeing how this altered the setting of the book brought an immersive factor to the story that kept me hooked until the end.

Overall, I devoured this book and will not only be going back to read R.L Perez's other work, but am eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series.

You know what about beauty and the beast retelling? Its always about the kingdom secret & how the curse work in different adaptations.

But this I can say one of the better retelling I ever read so far, the plot?? Plotting, the drama?? Oh yes!!!

Read it with all your heart to enjoy a story, theres no need to critically analyze, this is fictional and of course its crazy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
As a total mood reader who’s always down for a good time, Crown of Briars was exactly the kind of fantasy escape I love. It’s a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but it really takes on a life of its own with unique twists and a rich magical world that pulled me in more than I expected.

The creativity woven into the story was great, and I especially loved the magic systems, it felt fresh and imaginative without being overly complicated. I also found myself surprisingly connected to the characters, which isn’t always the case with retellings. They had depth, heart, and a story that kept me turning pages.

Overall, this was a fun read that delivered on both magic and emotion. I’d absolutely pick up more from R.L. Perez!

I received an ARC of Crown of Briars from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and I absolutely devoured it. As someone who’s loved the Crown of Fae series so far, this Beauty and the Beast-inspired installment completely delivered. Sybelle is the kind of fierce, stubborn heroine you can’t help but root for, and her unique magic made her even more compelling. I especially loved the soft, protective side of Varius, whose bond with Sybelle built into a romance that felt both steamy and genuinely heartfelt. The worldbuilding was immersive, the political tension added great stakes, and the dragon companion was a fun bonus. It’s over 500 pages, but it never dragged for me—I didn’t want it to end. My only complaint? The next book isn’t out until next summer, and I’m already counting the days.

I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley but opinions are my own.

I was very excited to get this ARC as I have really enjoyed the Crown of Fae series so far. I love how the author takes fairy tales and turns them into stories about the Fae (literal faerie tails I guess! 😊)

I enjoyed Sybelle and her stubborn, strong spirit. Her unique magic was pretty cool too! I loved how Varius was gentle with Sybelle and quickly came to love and protect her. Overall, the storyline was really interesting, and did not feel like 500+ pages!

Definitely bummed the next one doesn’t come out til next summer!!

Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC!

Just devoured #CrownOfBriars by @rlperezbooks and I’m obsessed! This dark fantasy #mustreadbook is a #fairytale retelling of #beautyandthebeast, spiced up with romance and danger. #bookreviews

Review: Crown of Briars by R.L. Perez

This Beauty and the Beast retelling had everything I love—danger, magic, and a romance that walks the line between enemies and something deeper. Sybelle is fierce, determined, and completely torn between her duty to her kingdom and the growing bond she can’t deny with the cursed Wraith King.

The twisty politics, shadowy magic, and dragon companion kept things engaging, but it was the emotional tension that really pulled me in. I loved how the Wraith King wasn’t just a dark, broody love interest—there’s real pain and vulnerability under his monstrous exterior, and watching that unravel was so satisfying.

If you love dark fae fantasy, court intrigue, and a heroine forced to choose between what she was raised to believe and what she feels in her heart, Crown of Briars absolutely delivers.

✨✨✨Beauty and the Beast retelling with Fae and Spice! 🌶️ 🥵 🌶️ ✨✨✨

🥀 I really enjoyed Crown of Briars!!! This book was so FUN and ENJOYABLE!!! 🥀

When I first requested this one I thought it was a standalone novel, but then I saw it shows on Goodreads as the 2nd in the series. However, luckily they can be read in any order or as standalones!

This is definitely for the girls who wanted the beast to stay a beast. 🤭 I love how this story was done so much. Cursed fae, enemies to lovers, a dragon, gemstones, magic, and etc. I loved Sybelle and Varius’s characters and the chemistry between the characters is so good!

Crown of Briars is the perfect spicy Beauty and the Beast retelling! I need to read the other book (Sleeping Beauty) ASAP and I saw there’s a third one (Snow White) coming next year!! Eee 😱

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released August 4, 2025.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It held my attention from start to finish, with a satisfying ending that didn’t feel rushed or overly neat. The world is primarily centred around two fae kingdoms; while a wider map is included, it feels like the broader world is explored more in other linked titles within the series. That said, the contained setting worked well for this particular story.

The romance was a definite highlight—genuinely steamy, well-paced, and emotionally charged. Sybelle is a strong and capable protagonist; her skill as a fighter occasionally felt slightly out of sync with her personality, but given her harsh upbringing, it made sense for her character. Varius, the cursed Unseelie prince, strikes a perfect balance between tortured and honourable, and his dry humour added a lot of charm. Their chemistry was compelling throughout, with the masquerade ball scene standing out as a particular favourite.

There are some darker themes at play—self-sacrifice, duty, and the burden of a powerful curse—but the tone remains hopeful. Even when things seemed impossible, the characters’ determination kept me invested and rooting for them.

This is a great pick for fans of ACOTAR-style fae romance, Beauty and the Beast retellings (especially where the “beast” doesn’t lose his edge), and readers looking for a love story with emotional weight and real heat.

Thank you to Victory Editing Netgallery and NetGalley for the ARC!

It was refreshing to read a unique take on Beauty and the Beast. I appreciated the author's nod to the Beast's unseelie form throughout the book, without emphasizing his transformation into a more "beautiful" and accepted form if he had maintained his traditional seelie form. The plot moved at a good, steady pace, keeping the reader engaged. The banter between the FMC and MMC was a fun added component for the book. The hints of darker themes were a welcome addition for those who enjoy reading dark fantasy (myself included).

The only critique is that the writing style in the beginning felt slightly choppy, and it was evident how the author's style progressed as the book continued to become more descriptive and cohesive. Good fantasy read!

Thank you NetGalley for this read!

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

I devoured this book in 48 hours—it’s a binge-worthy romantasy that delivers dark fae vibes, forbidden magic, and a swoon-worthy, brooding Shadow King with serious “touch her and die” energy. As a lover of Beauty and the Beast retellings, this one ticked so many of my favourite boxes: mysterious courts, ancient powers, and that glorious blend of romance and danger.

The romance between the FMC and MMC had instant chemistry and was full of potential—I only wish we'd had a bit more time to marinate in the tension. A slower burn and more yearning would’ve turned the emotional stakes from compelling to completely devastating (in the best way!). Clearly, I live for angst.

The plot is rich with threads—dragons, gemstone magic, court intrigue, and family secrets—and while this gave the world a lived-in, high-stakes feel, some subplots could have been expanded on for even more impact. Characters like Sybelle’s father, Gerard, and the dragon intrigued me, and I’d love to see them fleshed out further in future books or bonus material. Tislora especially stood out as a mysterious and fascinating side character—I’m still thinking about her absence from the Revel!

The dual POV added depth, and with even more focus on the emotional inner lives of our leads, it could become a powerhouse narrative tool in the series. The message woven through the fae’s beastly forms—that beauty doesn’t require softening or taming—was such a poignant touch. The contrast between the Shadow Court and the Earthen Court gave the world rich texture, and I'd happily spend more time exploring it.

Some highlights I loved:

“Dannahla” is now my ride-or-die term of endearment.

Enzira! Sweet, fierce, and an absolute joy—more of her, please.

Themes of sacrifice, love vs. duty, and redemption landed beautifully.

That ending? The King’s moment of reckoning and reflection was the perfect close.

Overall, this is a darkly lush, imaginative tale with real heart. With just a bit more breathing room for its romantic and emotional beats, it could easily soar into five-star territory. If you're into dark fae, dangerous magic, and romance with teeth—don’t hesitate. Read this, my dannahlas.

4 stars – would gladly return to this world again.

Crown of Briars is a Beauty & The Beast retelling and it is so good! Our FMC is sent to marry the Wraith King to help save her kingdom from his shadows, but nothing is as it seems. There is a curse, and she must figure out what is going on and how to stop the curse before it is too late. I am a sucker for a strong FMC who makes intelligent choices, and that is what we have in the Crown of Briars. The mystery around the Curse is great, and I really loved some of the side characters. (The castle is the best.) Crown of Briars is slightly enemies to lovers, found family, strong FMC, Fae magic, romance story that you will not want to put down. Thank you to Netgalley for the gifted eARC.

This is exactly as it’s marketed: a spicy Beauty and the Beast retelling! It had enough in it to where you could clearly see the connections between the classic story and this one, but the author also made it unique and switched the world up to keep it interesting and different to the readers! It also gives you the moments that Disney could never show us even if they wanted to 😉.

I think it took me a bit longer than normal to get through this because of how much was on the page, but I also understood that we needed the backstory of Sybelle, our Beauty, being given away as a bride to the Shadow Kingdom, then the relationship progression between the characters, all for a good payoff. Maybe it’s just because I’m used to longer series and not everything being wrapped up in a neat bow by the end.

I do wish the progression of feelings for the characters was more believable to me. Again, this could be because im used to slower burns, but it seemed like their emotions towards each other jumped around a lot. Sybelle was meant to have this struggle of being tasked with killing the king, the Beast, but that wasn’t as much of a character arc or plot point as I believed it would be. She didn’t seem to even contemplate it for that long before deciding she couldn’t do it because she wasn’t sure how.

I also wanted the MMC to be a bit more complex as a character. I feel like we saw his anger easily, and his love for Sybelle at the end, but I felt like not much else was going on with him. It was hard to get a read on how he truly felt, with his mood constantly changing. He would be angry at Sybelle but then understanding and gentle the next, and I didn’t really see why. I also just feel like they went from lust to love relatively quickly. I would’ve liked to see more meaningful moments between them leading up to the climax and ending.

Overall, this didn’t snag me as much as I wanted, but I still enjoyed it. If you love fairy tale retellings and love the story of Beauty and the Beast, plus some sexual tension and spice, this one would be a good read for you!

I enjoyed this beauty and beast retelling, it was definitely a fun eARC and worth the read. The world build and quirky castle are a hoot. I truly enjoyed the characters and their character development. Their growth and dual POV made this a really fun experience.
If you enjoy retelling i recommend adding this one to your TBR! It come with a shadow daddy, found family, dragons, enchanted castles, who-done-it curse vibes and a villain you love to hate!

4.25 🌟 2 🌶️

4.5 ⭐ For this unique Beauty and the Beast retelling.

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC!
I appreciated the steamy take on the classic tale, with mix of common and unique magical elements, from gemstone magic to political schemes involving seelie and unseelie fae, humans and witches. This is a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers ride with a strong but compassionate FMC and a misunderstood MMC.

This was my first read by this author and it was such a treat! I didn't realize this was a standalone in a series of fairy tale retellings, which means I have more to read now that I've finished this!

3.5 Stars, but leaning towards 4…

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC copy.

*Spoilers ahead*

I have a lot of mixed emotions about this novel, so I’ll do my best to make sense!

Firstly, I was really intrigued by the premise of this novel, the unseelie court and the earthen court, their bargain. I mean who doesn’t love a forced marriage trope? Not me, I’m a massive sucker for them, especially for a morally grey MMC. I liked that the fae weren’t all sanitized versions of fae who were stunningly, humanly perfect looking (at least initially).
I liked the premise of historical conflict creating a future where some fae were hidden or living amongst unseen.

But I did have issues with the plots direction. Honestly, there was just too much jammed into this novel - a forced marriage, necro shadows threatening courts, a curse that would ultimately kill (done in some weird Beauty and the Beast allegory form that made no sense) an old lover leading an invasion, attempts on the FMC’s life by a traitor, a sentient house, a best friend dragon, stones that granted power, searching for stones, maid best friends, witches and hidden witches, allusions to other courts, evil forests… it was endless. And half of them felt completely superfluous to the story. And the twist at the end? Sigh. The end itself was easy to spot by half way through, but the “villain” felt unnecessarily convoluted. It felt like there was so much potential, but it was lost in the sheer volume of things happening.

Also, I’m not going to lie, I really disliked Sybelle (sigh at the name choice). She made no sense to me as a character, she was a bad arse half fae trained assassin who starts the novel shagging her guard against a door (what!!?!!) but then is also a quiet little stone collecting, book reading, whimsical human bride? I was so confused about which one she was meant to be & I think ultimately she became a bit of nothing. Especially with all the talking to the dragon. So boring. I found the whole dragon friend thing ridiculous and not at all fitting to the characters or plot.

The dual POV was interesting, but not necessary. Especially when neither of the characters used it to show emotional depth.

All in all, I felt like this book had so much potential, but lost its way. I’d be interested in reading other stories by this author as I was really into the non perfect version of fae and the darker elements she alluded to. There was just too much plot jammed into one story.