I just devoured this book in one sitting! Just like Belle I always secretly wanted the beast to stay a beast (of course) so this book just really hit the spot! If only I had my own Varius! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m a sucker for a Beauty and the Beast retelling, and Crown of Briars absolutely delivered. From the first chapter, I was pulled in by the immersive writing and the slow-building tension between Sybelle and the Wraith King, Varius. He was everything I love in a romantic lead—brooding, powerful, a little dangerous, and somehow still completely swoon-worthy. He’s flawed in all the best ways, which made him feel real and unforgettable.

Sybelle was fierce and loyal, and I loved the way her loyalty to her kingdom clashed with her growing feelings for Varius. The emotional stakes were high, and the magical world around them was rich with detail. The dragon, the cursed magic, the court scheming—it all worked so well together.

The romance had just the right mix of tension, chemistry, and heart. If you enjoy retellings with heart, magic, and a morally gray love interest, this one is a must-read.

As someone who is obsessed with fairytale retellings, I was beyond excited to be offered this ARC. The back bone of the Beauty and the Beast is there, but with many twists and changes that keep the story feeling new and exciting.

The FMC is Sybelle, a human princess frkm the Earthen Court who has been raised to marry the Wraith King of the Shadow Court, Varius. The only thing that can keep the curse at bay temporarily is for Sybelle to willingly give her blood to make an elixir. With the shadows creeping in, however, is this enough? Can Sybelle break the curse permanently and at what cost?

I read this unaware that it was the second in a series, but I didn't have any issues with understanding the story of characters. This could definitely be read as a standalone. I would recommend this book for lovers of fairytales, enemies to lovers, found family and for those who like a bit of spice that doesn't become the whole plot.

There is nothing I love more than a good Beauty and the Beast retelling, so when I was offered the chance to read the ARC of this story I was excited. It can be difficult to be unique with retellings but the author did a great job making the story her own. Sybelle is a human from the Earthen Court who has been raised to marry the Unseelie Fae King of the Shadow Court Varius in order to keep the toxic curse at bay. There was just the right amount of enemies to lovers, tension, slow burn and spice. Oh and you can’t forget a dragon. This was a really enjoyable stand alone romantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley, Willow Haven Press and R.L. Perez for the opportunity to read this advance copy.

Thank you so much for the early access to this book through Netgally.

This book had me from the first chapter. A beauty and the beast retelling with plenty of twists. Whilst the second book in the crowns of fae series I don’t feel you need to have read the first book as this can be read as a standalone.

With a truly different and fascinating magic system, action ,plot twists, secrets and a dragon this had me unable to put it down from start to finish.

Sybelle the Fmc, witty and determined whilst being compassionate. Varius the mmc who has a big heart under the cold indifferent mask he wears perfectly complimenting each other has you falling in love with their relationship throughout the story.

Overall a very good read.

I loved reading this book — I actually couldn’t put it down! From the very first page, I was hooked. It’s the perfect blend of gripping fantasy, raw emotion, and sizzling romance. The story pulled me in from the very beginning and never let go.

Every twist had me gasping, and I found myself completely invested in their journey — both the magical and the emotional. The author does such a fantastic job of balancing heart-pounding action with deeply romantic and vulnerable moments.

Highly recommend to anyone who loves their fantasy with passion, intensity, and just the right amount of darkness.

I love a good fairy tale retelling, and this one did not disappoint. Sybelle is from the Earthen (human) court, and she must marry the Shadow King. But she plans to kill him in order to save her people. After all, he’s a monster. Or is he?

I could not put this book down, but it did leave me feeling a bit disappointed in the end. At times, I felt like the story wasn’t quite there (to be fair, I read an ARC copy of this book), but it has good bones. While it is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, it has its own flair. And yes, I knew who one of the villains would be from the beginning, but the other was a surprise.

Dragons and monsters and grumpy but touch her and die? Enemies to lovers will get me every time. 3.5 for this lovely romantasy.

Additionally, many thanks to Net Galley, the publisher, and the author for sending me an ARC copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Crown of Briars is a romantasy standalone Beauty and the Beast retelling done right. The author incorporates a lot of the original tale and adds a twist and spice.

Seeing the growth in Sybelle and Varius' relationship and their love form made me so happy. He went from I want nothing to do with her to "I would sacrifice everything for her"🌹🌹

Overall I really enjoyed this book!

4.25🌟
2🌶

I absolutely devoured this book.

I enjoyed this beauty and the beast retelling. The characters were strong and enjoyable. The fmc was no damsel in distress.

My favorite part of this was that she fell in love with him no matter what form he took, and took him for who he was inside. Even when they started like enemies they slowely learned more of eachother and got closer. Varius made me fall in love with him aswell.

There were moments i gasped, laughed and almost cried when i was reading this. There was an appropriate amout of spice to further the plot of the story in my opinion. The pacing was amazing and the fight scenes were detailed and fun to read. You really feel the emotions of these characters as you read. And don't get me started on the banter, it was bantering.

This easily became one of my favorite reads of the year and I will be adding more of her books to my ever growing tbr.

I finished this book two days ago and have been searching for the words to describe it. It was amazing. Varius is the book boyfriend you didn’t know you needed but can’t live without. Sybelle is not helpless, and I love her strength. The book is relatively predictable, but I don’t mind that. I like feeling things out and seeing how an author puts their plot together. This book is well crafted and rightfully promises a Beauty and the Beast retelling with a twist. I have marked others in this series as “Want to Read” and can’t wait to get my hands on them! Highly recommend!

I received this as an ARC from our good friends at NetGalley. However, I will be purchasing a physical copy as soon as it is available.

3.25 stars**

This was a very different *Beauty and the Beast* retelling — the Beast is a true beast, and the world includes other mythical creatures like dragons and fae. I really appreciated the fresh twist and the expanded fantasy elements. While I usually enjoy a slow-burn romance, I need strong tension and banter to stay engaged, and I felt that was missing here.

The pacing was uneven and dragged in places, which made it harder to stay fully invested. The magic system was unique and had great potential, but it wasn’t explained or developed quite enough to feel fully immersive.

Overall, it wasn’t a bad story — the premise and worldbuilding were intriguing — but with more developed romantic tension and a tighter narrative, it could have really shined. The first standalone in this series was really good, and despite my mixed feelings about this one, I’m still looking forward to the third book, which will be a *Snow White* retelling.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy! I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Crown of Briars is a bold Beauty and the Beast retelling where the Beast remains a true beast, adding a darker, more intense twist to the classic tale. The worldbuilding was immersive, with shadows, curses, and a unique gemstone-based magic system that stood out. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the gradual trust that developed between the main characters.

That said, I think I would’ve connected more if monster/human romance were more my thing. Some of the spicier scenes pulled me out of the story a bit, but I can definitely see the appeal for fans of the subgenre. A creative and distinctive retelling with strong potential.

I’ve also posted a version of this review on Goodreads and plan to share it on Amazon once reviews are open.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7719915274

I was able to read this as an ARC and I’m so thankful!

🔔 *Beauty and the Beast* meets *Fae Court Politics* in this light, monster-ish/fae fantasy with just the right amount of bite, and a touch of heat.

This was my first foray into the monster-ish realm, and I was pleasantly surprised. A unique retelling of *Beauty and the Beast*, but with a fae twist: Seelie and Unseelie courts, a brooding shadow king named Varius, and one strong, emotionally intelligent heroine, Sybelle.

Sybelle was raised to be a pawn in a contract between courts that went back centuries, she walks into her fate with maturity, kindness, and a refreshing ability to self-reflect (yes to fantasy heroines who *grow*). The romance is *enemies-to-lovers* with a slow burn (that starts with a whole lot of prejudice), mutual respect, and characters who actually talk through their issues like adults. A rare gem.

The spice level was a moderate 2.5/5, just enough to raise your eyebrows, not your blood pressure. A few unexpected twists kept things moving, making this a fun and easy read between heavier, high-stakes sagas (looking at you, *Throne of Glass*).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 – A delightful fae snack with heart, heat, and just enough darkness to keep you turning the pages.

***Thank you to NetGalley and author R.L Perez for the ARC of this book for my unbiased opinion***


When Princess Sybelle is called to fulfill her destiny of being wed to the Wraith King, she has a plan that she must follow through with. A generations-old contract between the Earthen Court and the Shadow Court. Slowly but surely, Sybelle comes to realize that not all things are as they seem. Even the castle itself has secrets of its own. This book is DELICIOUSLY enchanted, sexy, and full of magic. If you aren't sure of this book because it's another retelling of Beauty and the Beast, don't let that stop you. From the first page this book clawed me with its sharp and shiny claws, dragging me right into the book itself. R.L. Perez has written an incredible book that will not disappoint, and I look forward to more by this author!

Available on Amazon on August 4th, 2025

Crown of Briars is a medium spicy adult retelling of Beauty and the Beast that offers a fresh take while still having the familiarity of the story. The various side characters stood out as some of my favorite parts of the story, adding real depth to Sybelle and making her journey feel more personal and grounded. This is definitely a book I will be reading again and recommending to friends!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Crown of Briars is a standalone Fantasy Romance book and retelling of Beauty and the Beast and I loved all the twists the author did on that tale, I loved this book and Sybelle and Varius so much!

Sybelle has known all her life she is promised to be the terrifying Wraith King’s bride, but she’s going to take matters in her own hands and kill her husband after the wedding. Varius needs a human bride to end the curse plaguing him and all his people, but, when he and Sybelle meet, they soon realize they have been wrong about each other and with Varius’s magic out of control and the marriage neither of them wanted slowly turning into something real, they need to find a way to break the curse before it destroys even more of their lands and people.

This book is a perfect example why I love Beauty and the Beast retellings, the author masterfully integrated the original tale’s elements into a new and unique and fascinating story that kept me on the edge of my seat with so much action, secrets and plot twists. I really liked this take on the fae and found the magic system truly fascinating, especially Sybelle’s magic was so interesting and I enjoyed learning about it. Sybelle and Varius were amazing MCs, she was really strong and proved it so many times despite being considered weaker species and Varius was the kind of MMC I love most in romantasy books, they both weren’t exactly thrilled about the marriage and started off as enemies, but both were willing to do what must have been done and I loved seeing their relationship slowly bloom, it was a real slow burn but I could feel the attraction between them from the beginning and loved seeing them slowly fall for each other, they were incredible together and the spicy scenes were *chief’s kiss*. I also liked the side characters, especially Azure, she was a real gem of this book.

Crown of Briars is an amazing Fantasy Romance book, I absolutely loved it and recommend it to everyone. I can’t wait for this author’s next retelling and need to read the previous one ASAP!

Wow, I really loved this book. It is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast with some interesting twists. Sybelle, is a strong willed, intelligent and brave FMC who won't drive you nuts with her stubborn behavior. Varius is the grumpy shadow daddy who is deeply self conscious and fiercely loyal to his people. Together they must break the centuries old curse that plagues the land. This book is full of rich descriptions, and a unique magic system. Wonderfully written side characters include a chatty dragon and, my favorite, a sassy castle (you heard me). Several deliciously spicy scenes would put it at 3-4 🌶️ depending on your personal scale and the perfect ending brought a little tear to my eye. Overall, this is an excellent read and I definitely recommend.

🥀‘I would sacrifice everything to keep her safe. My own people. My own life. All of it.’ 🥀

WOW did I LOVE this book! I cannot recommend it enough- it was everything and more I could have hoped for with a Beauty and the Beast retelling! I absolutely loved Sybelle and Varius the main characters, I ADORED Azure Sybelle’s dragon and the world was so magical and everything you could want and hope for in a romantasy! 🖤🗡️

Crown of Briars is a Beauty in the Beast retelling with a twist- with dark fae magic and curses, dragons, magical castles, deadly court schemes, fiery romance and all of the tropes we all love. Every generation, the Earthen Court raises a human princess from birth with the sole goal of being given to the fae Shadow Court to become the Wraith King’s bride. The bride is a peace offering between the kingdoms, to stop war and to keep the deadly necro shadows that spread throughout the kingdom at bay. What happens to the brides when they are sent away remains a complete mystery. Princess Sybelle doesn’t intend to be like other brides- she has a plan to kill the Wraith King once and for all and end the suffering of her people, using the power of her secret dragon, her magical abilities from her gemstones and unrelenting inner strength. However, despite his demonic appearance she finds the Wraith King is not who he appears to be- Sybelle is allured by him, despite how deadly he is, and this is only amplified when she uncovers the powerful curse he is trapped by, that the Earthen Court kept hidden from her.

🥀 ‘You are an enigma, Sybelle.’ 🥀

This story was beautifully written and such an amazing concept for a twist on a fairytale so many of us know and love. Sybelle is both relatable and someone that I aspire to be more like- she is sassy, witty, fiery and determined, yet also compassionate, caring and loyal to a fault to those who are important to her. This makes her the perfect contrast to Varius, who presents himself as cold, violent and terrifying, yet on the inside is compassionate, extremely protective and caring for those he loves. This allows them to complement eachother and grow personally and together as the story goes on- Sybelle begins to feel confident thinking independently and becoming a leader and Varius starts to embrace his caring side and accept help from others. I LOVED their relationship! I also loved the friendships in this book so much, my favourites being Sybelle’s connection to Azure and her friendship with Enzira.🖤

🥀 ‘“You can do this,” Azure said. “You may be nothing more than a pitiful human, but I know you are capable of facing this wretched monster. If you can tolerate me, then you can certainly tolerate him.”’ 🥀

The setting of this book was also so magical- I loved how the Shadow Count and the fae within it were described, and the stark contrast it has to the Earthern Court. You feel incredibly immersed within the world and like you are uncovering the mysteries of exploring the Shadow Court alongside Sybelle. I was also a huge fan of the concept of the castle- I loved that the castle often decided where it wanted people to go, even the King, and that it acted as a way of guiding the characters to where they were needed to warn them of danger. I also loved that the castle responded to Sybelle alone in unique ways, like pulling books off of the bookshelves about topics she asked for. I adored that she has a huge love for books. 🌙

🥀 ‘All fables came from somewhere. And all magic has a source.’ 🥀

Overall I absolutely loved this book and will definitely be checking out the other books written by R.L Perez, and also rereading this one. 🤭 If you loved The Serpent and Wings of the Night by Carissa Broadbent, I know you will LOVE this book- Sybelle’s sassiness and humor remind me of Oraya, yet she is also very unique as a character. Also, if you loved Xaden’s shadow magic in Fourth Wing and if you loved Andarna, you will definitely be in for a treat reading Crown of Briars!! 🖤

Thank you so much to Willow Haven Press and Netgalley for approving me for this ARC! I absolutely loved reading it 💗

I really enjoyed reading this book! It hits all the romantasy tropes we know and love. This is a Beauty and the Beast retelling with everyone’s favorite- shadow magic! I liked our FMC, Sybelle (I see what you did there) because she was strong, but not annoying. She was willing to admit her mistakes and apologize. In a genre that sometimes has sassy FMCs who do no wrong, this was a breath of fresh air. And while our MMC, Varius, started out as a broody king, he quickly developed beyond that into a well-rounded character. Both of the MCs were fiercely caring and stubborn at times, yet displayed graceful humility when needed. There was spice, but not too much; this was a romantasy teeming with plot.

Arc Review !!

Tropes: fairytale retelling, arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, curses, fae/witches/dragons

OH MY GOD! I absolutely loved this book, one of my favorite fairytales is beauty and the beast which this is a retelling of! The author did a really great job incorporating this into the story without it being a play-by-play of the original tale which I thought worked very well. Also, many of the twists I didn't see coming and I normally am pretty good at doing so! I cannot wait to read this author's other books now that I've read this!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the Author for this e-ARC!

(Bookstagram post coming soon 07/9 or 07/10 at the link provided!)