3.5⭐
Minor spoilers

I don't usually go for Beauty and the Beast retellings as some of them can be cringey, so I didn’t dive into this book expecting much, maybe just a fun and quick read. But as I got deeper into it, past the first chapters of getting used to the world (which wasn’t explained in as much detail as I would’ve liked), and past the cringe meeting between Sybelle and Varius, our leads, I started to get genuinely interested in what was going to happen.
The premise of the book was interesting: a curse, an arranged marriage, and a sacrifice. It was done well, with some plot twists and funny moments, as well as parts where I couldn’t put the book down, plus a nice dose of spice. It leaned more toward the spicier side for me, with some very intense scenes, so be sure to check your triggers.
The enchanted castle created a nice atmosphere. I’d even say it had its own personality, which added to the plot. Maybe my favorite part was the dragon, Azure, who remained such an important character until the very end. But I had one question throughout most of the book: how did no one see a dragon roaming the castle? She was sleeping on balconies?? I was so confused, and by the end, I still didn’t have an answer.
There were some negative points from my perspective. There were times when miscommunication or simply the lack of communication was what moved the story forward, which can be frustrating. Also, at the beginning of the book, Sybelle was straight up stupid, or at least did stupid things. But as the story progressed, she had some character development. I can’t say the same for our male lead though, from the start to the end, he couldn’t control his shadows when he was angry. At one point, it was just cringe. I started to dread every time he got angry because “his shadows pull down at his feet and darken the room” again. In my opinion, he had so much space for character development, but it didn’t really happen.
Also, please don’t be fooled (like I was) when the book is portrayed as having “deadly court schemes”. Yes, there were some, but they definitely weren’t the core of the plot. (I still wish to know what happened to Sybelle's father, and what exactly did her sister in the Earth Court)
In the end, the book was a fun and fast read. I didn’t even realize how quickly I was getting through it,not until the whole story became a mess and I checked to see if I was going to cry by the end. There could’ve been more worldbuilding, as the only explanation we got was at the beginning of the book when we learned about the Courts. But the plot was captivating, and the ending provided a satisfying conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC. This is my honest opinion, and I cannot wait for the next book, Crown of Poison, where we’ll see Sybelle’s friend having her own adventure.

I adore fantasy retellings and this one did not disappoint. The magic system used was so unique and intriguing, I loved it. The story follows the bones of Beauty and The Beast whole still offering a fresh, new perspective on the tale that keeps it interesting and new. I do wish we got more time with the main characters, it seemed like they hated each other then quickly turned to love without much flirting or angst in the middle.

I’m so excited for Crown of Poison now and can’t wait to read it! Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sending this advanced copy my way. I’m very grateful and will continue to seek out books by R. L. Perez.

4 stars – A creative Beauty and the Beast retelling with rich world-building and a strong, inquisitive heroine

This standalone entry in the Crowns of the Fae series offers a fresh and engaging take on the Beauty and the Beast motif, blending classic elements with inventive twists.

Sybella, half-fae and eldest princess of the Earthen Court, has been promised to the Shadow Court as part of a long-standing political bargain. Unbeknownst to all, she brings with her a hidden dragon—a secret she’s managed to keep even from her own court.

What awaits her in the Shadow Court is not what she expects: a magical, shifting castle, beastly but endearing unseelie fae, and King Varius, who is battling a kingdom-consuming curse. As Sybella unravels the mystery of the Shadow Court’s slow decay, her curiosity and quiet determination may be the key to its salvation.

The strength of the novel lies in its vivid, immersive world-building and the heroine’s sharp, thoughtful character. Varius, despite his monstrous form, is a compelling figure—more tragic than terrifying, with just enough vulnerability to make his arc resonate.

The pacing is steady, though the resolution felt slightly rushed in comparison to the rich buildup. Some side elements, including the dragon, could have benefitted from more narrative weight, but they add charm nonetheless.

A well-crafted story that stands on its own while inviting readers to explore the broader series. I’ll be picking up more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest opinion!

AHHHHHHHHGH. I literally could not put this book down and finished in less than 24 hours.

I will absolutely be needing a hard copy of this book as soon as it comes out!

Crown of Briars is a Beauty and the Beast 🥀 retelling with a twist, full of dark fae magic, deadly court schemes, and steamy romance.

Beauty and the Beast is one of my all time favorites and it is marketed as a retelling if the Beast remained a beast - and R.L. Perez nailed it!!!

I loved the story progression, the way you meet and learn about the characters. The relationship between Sybelle and everyone is so heartwarming. Enzira is a freaking gem. She is what every girl should want in a friend! Azure is the perfect companion and my dreams for having a dragon bestie have only grown more dire. Her growing relationship with Varius has the banter, then tension, the slow burn.

Varius, you are added to my book husband list without a doubt! Dannahla is now a term I will absolutely be needing to my husband to call me. The revel scene, the consummation scene 🌶️ how the fully give themselves to one another after slowing gaining each others trust is just incredible.


I am so so grateful I was able to receive an ARC of this from NetGalley.


Tropes:
- Arranged marriage
- Forced proximity
- Slow burn
- my wife, my husband
- Banter and tension
- Shadow magic +

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC. I do like a fairy tail retelling, sometimes they're hit and miss, but this one was very good!

It's giving enemies to lovers, dark romance with a slow burn that's worth the wait. It was quite long in places but overall I think this book will be really popular with romantasy lovers like myself!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me a copy of Crown of Briars!

After reading the first two books and loving them, I was so excited to get back to this world and read another story! I had some expectations this time around and they did NOT fail. I LOVED it so much.

The two main characters Sybelle and Varius were so well-written and formed such a nice couple. I enjoyed how Sybelle was fearless, confident and assertive, and also how Varius was protective of his people and Sybelle.

I did not see the plot twist coming until last minute and I thought it was a great idea and well done!

The two maids-Enzira and Ramia- were lovely side characters! So caring and nice

I would highly recommend it! I cannot wait to read Crown of Poison!

This was a good book and thank you NetGalley Co-Op for letting me read it! The magical setting of this book was great. It also had a little bit of mystery to it (trying to figure out how to break the curse) which wasn’t bad. There were moments in the story that in my opinion were a little cheesy but I still enjoyed myself. The spice was DEFINITELY spicing lol. I think my favorite part of this book was the castle that had a mind of its own and it would keep forcing Varius and Sybelle back together. Would recommend to my friends who like spice.

so thankful for this ARC of Crown of Briars!!! this was such a fantastic and refreshing retelling, I literally devoured this book! The magic system had me hooked, it was so different from anything i’ve read before.

A slow burn, darkly romantic Beauty and the Beast retelling with horns, shadows and a deadly curse. I devoured this in a day.

Princess Sybelle has been raised to marry the terrifying Wraith King and protect her kingdom but she has a secret plan to kill him instead. Until she meets Varius… and everything begins to unravel. He’s brooding, cursed and far more than the monster she expected. Their forced proximity and growing trust had me hooked. The tension? So good. The banter? Sharp. The dragon familiar? Iconic.

Sybelle is strong, clever and loyal to a fault. Varius is all shadowed restraint and quiet devotion and their chemistry burns slow but steady. I also adored the magical castle with a mind of its own (more sentient settings please!) and how the plot weaves steamy romance with court politics, curses and shifting alliances.

This one’s a standalone but has the emotional depth and worldbuilding of a full series. Thank you so much to Willow Haven Press and NetGalley for the ARC I’m absolutely diving into more of R.L. Perez’s work next!

Tropes & highlights:
✨ enemies to lovers
✨ arranged marriage
✨ magical bargains
✨ shadow powers & fae courts
✨ dragon sidekick (!!)
✨ actual emotional growth

If you’ve read other Beauty and the Beast retellings and think this will be just another of the same…you’re wrong! I love this new take on a well known tale. Sybelle and Varius are what Belle and Beast should have always been.

I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this book when I started it, but after I got a few chapters in I was sucked in. I couldn’t put this down for the life of me, all I wanted to do was fall into this story. This book is a beauty and the beast retelling, but this story is so much more. I love the little references that are about beauty and the beast like the rose, Sybelle’s name (belle), the beast that comes out, etc. The feelings between Sybelle and Varius was everything, the bickering to the heartfelt moments got me. I loved the friendship that Sybelle made with Enzira, and how Sybelle accepted the people in the Shadow Court. Azure was definitely one of my top favorite, even though she is a dragon. The connection she and Sybelle have is everything, the love they have for each other is amazing. I would recommend this book to anyone whether Fantasy is their thing or not, because this book was a 5 star for me!

Thank you to NetGalley & Victory Editing for an eARC of Crown of Briars by R.L Perez
Review date: 14/07/2025
Review posted on Goodreads

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)

Review:

An enjoyable read for you're a fan of fairy tale retellings or not. It offers a reimagined version of Beauty and the Beast that’s both familiar and original all at the same time. The writing is clear and accessible, making it a breeze to get lost in the story.

What sets this retelling apart is how it introduces new elements such as fae characters and a unique magic system.
Just when I thought I knew where the story was going, the author delivered a twist I didn’t see coming—one that completely redefined the meaning of the curse and the true nature of love and sacrifice. It was a brilliant surprise that made the ending all the more satisfying.

Final Thoughts:
I highly recommend Crown of Briars to anyone who enjoys romantasy/fantasy or anyone who hasn’t read a book from that genre before.

This is a spicy Beauty and the Beast retelling, for anyone who prefers their Beast to stay a Beast.

The writing was solid and easy to follow, and I really enjoyed Sybelle’s magic, it felt fresh and unique. And the dragon was a total scene-stealer. Though it did feel a little odd that she was the only one of her kind mentioned... I kinda wanted more lore there.

I liked the story overall, but for me personally, it ran a little long. That’s just a preference thing, not a deal-breaker.

If you like your fairy tales dark, magical, and hot, this one might be for you.

Thank you to the author and Netgally for the ARC, this is my honest opinion!

Amazing book loved the characters abd plot. I couldn't stop reading I stayed up all night. Ii loved the book so much thank you for the arc.

Review Date: 7/13/2025
Review Site: Goodreads
Format(s): eBook
Rating: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐🏰
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes: Shadow Daddy, Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers, Arranged Marriage
Triggers: This book does contain some dark and adult content. Readers that are sensitive to certain triggers may want to check the trigger warnings for the book prior to reading at: https://www.rlperez.com/content.

----Summary----
This is a new and unique beauty and the beast retelling. While there are many elements that stay true to both the original tale and Disney's version, the author has included some new twists to give the story a fresh face.

Sybelle, the FMC, is a princess of the Earthen Court and must marry the Wraith King of the Shadow Court to save her people from the deadly shadows encroaching on her kingdom. As Sybelle begins to learn there is more to the Shadow Court and its inhabitants than she was first led to believe, she must decide whether or not to stay true to her original mission or change course based on the discoveries of her new world.

----Thoughts----
There was definitely a lot of thought given to the setting, characters, and overall plot of this story. I really loved the magic/gemstone spin, the mystery behind breaking the curse, and I adored both Azure and the mischievous castle. One downside for me though, was I found the relationship between the MMC and FMC to be a bit frustrating. There was so much constant miscommunication and arguing, even as their relationship progressed. I did find myself binging parts of this book, but I often felt inundated by the amount of world building and inner monologuing, which slowed down the pacing. This is not necessarily a negative comment, I just personally have too short of an attention span to enjoy that level of detail.

----Final Verdict----
This story is well written and a distinct spin on a classic fairytale, but the numerous miscommunications between the MMC and FMC along with the slower pacing just meant it wasn't for me. I would recommend this story to anyone who is looking for a high fantasy, darker adult beauty and the beast retelling.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

Crown of Briars is a dark, steamy Beauty and the Beast retelling with a fae twist, set in a richly imagined world full of shadow curses, courtly tension, and reluctant alliances. While this is the second book in the Crowns of the Fae series, it works completely as a standalone — I hadn’t read the first book, and I had no trouble following the plot or understanding the world.

The story follows Sybelle, a fierce and duty-bound princess from the Earthen Court who’s been trained from birth to marry — and ultimately destroy — the monstrous Wraith King, Varius. Their dynamic is enemies to lovers with plenty of tension and power struggles, as Sybelle is torn between loyalty to her people and the unexpected connection she begins to feel with her new husband.

The book delivers on dark fantasy vibes, with a cursed palace, a morally grey king, and a heroine who’s more than capable of standing her ground. There are dragons, court intrigue, and a slow-burn romance that leans into the “touch her and die” energy fans love. If you enjoy retellings with heavy atmosphere, fae politics, and spice that builds toward a payoff, this one definitely delivers in those areas.

While I’ve never really read a book where the love interest looked quite like the Wraith King, I actually found myself thoroughly enjoying the unique twist. It gave the story an otherworldly, mythic feel that really worked in the context of the dark, magical world. I loved this book overall!

Recommended for readers who love:
🖤 Beauty and the Beast retellings
🔥 Slow-burn fantasy romance
👑 Enemies to lovers
🐉 Dragon familiars
🕯️ Shadow magic & courtly intrigue

Thank you to Willow Haven Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my review!

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book kept my interest throughout , if you love a fantasy retelling this book is for you.
It is a beauty and the beast story with a twist. Both characters are enemies to lovers.
Varius tries hard to not fall for her but it fell hard. He was willing to give up everything for her. Sybelle had confusing feeling due to her fae/ human life. She was able to see past what lies she had been told and make her own decisions. She was a strong female in a male dominated time.

Would I recommend this book?
If you like fantasy romances, I would give this a read it was an easy read and I felt like I couldn’t put it down at parts.

4.5⭐️
3🌶️

Thank you to NetGalley and Willow Haven Press for an e-arc of this book.

Crown of Briar is book 2 in the Crowns of Fae series, but each are set up as stand alones and can be read in any order. I did read book 1, Crown of Slumber, before reading this but you DON’T need to in order to read this story. There isn’t really anything overlapping outside it’s technically the same world, but different courts.

Sybelle was born to fulfill a treaty. Every generation, the Earthen Court sends a human royal bride to marry the Shadow King. Generations of women have gone before her, never to be heard from again. But it’s what must be done to keep the Unseelie shadows from attacking their court. But Sybelle’s father is determined to end the Shadow King once and for all and bred Sybelle to be half fae, despite his complete hatred of everything and everyone fae. He’s trained her from birth for one purpose and one purpose only.

Varius, King of the Unseelie, has tried everything to avoid the inevitable: marry a human bride and keep the shadows at bay. The curse on his land has consumed the life of every king before him leading back generations. There’s a way to end the curse for good, but he’s bound to not reveal any details to his new bride. When Sybelle arrives, she’s not at all what he expected. She’s stubborn, strong willed, and the biggest of all, doesn’t seem afraid of his beastly appearance. She should be in his mind though. While at first, they both are determined to make do with this political marriage, each with their own motives, soon enough, real trust and feelings begin to develop. But centuries of hatred between the two species brings prejudices that are hard to break. And as they both discover, there’s more to this curse than originally thought.

It took me a couple chapters to really get into this and the concept of the description of the Unseelie forms Varius and others have. Being a Beauty and the Beast retelling, it really leans heavy into loving the Beast side. It took a bit for me, but honestly, I ended up loving this installment probably more than the first (still loved Crown of Slumber though!).

The development between Sybelle and Varius is so genuine and grows over time. I also love too how Sybelle really immerses herself into the Unseelie court. She isn’t afraid or bashful of their different traditions. The revel scene was just 🥵🥵

The spice 🌶️ is slow burn but omg, the payoff is SO worth it!! Wow, their scenes are hot hot hot. How Varius completely gives himself to Sybelle and vice versa was so thrilling to read. We have a couple different scenes on top of a lot of banter and tension throughout the book. Just loved it! 🥵😍

Overall, I enjoyed reading this and can’t wait for the next book, which is going to be a Snow White retelling following one of Sybelle’s friends. If you enjoy dark, spicy fairytale retellings, this is a series for you. You still get elements of the fairytale but with a unique twist to them. Fun to read!

Okay, I loved this! What a fabulous Beauty and the Beast retelling that was unique and thrilling, with the original story woven in perfectly.

***Fantasy
***Slow burn
***Adventure and intrigue
***Touch her and die

Absolutely would recommend this one!

Thank you to Willow Haven Press, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

I absolutely love this story. For me, it is the best retelling of Beauty and the Beast that I have read so far. The characters were loveable! The traits were beastly but soft. The main characters Sybelle and Varius fight prejudice, curses, and tragedies. The author was able to build the world while simultaneously keeping the plot on track! Great job, R. L. Perez