Loved it. Devoured it in a day.

Beauty and the Beast is one of my favourite fairytales and I love finding new retellings. This is definitely one of my favourites now.

Sybelle is fiery and brave and seeing her relationship develop with Varius is captivating. The romance is a slow burner but it makes the pay off oh so much sweeter.

Would recommend and I'm intrigued to read more from this series.

Honestly, I really enjoyed this book! It had me wanting to continue reading from the beginning. I kept telling myself husband how much I enjoyed it. I have only dabbled in monster romances and I loved how much fantasy was also involved. The only thing that docked a quarter of a point was that there weren’t any really big surprises. Gerard being the bad guy/son was surprising but I wasn’t committed to him enough for it to be jaw dropping shock. I loved it otherwise. I can’t wait to go back and read the first one.

Crown of Briars🥀

Thank you to Willow Haven Press and @netgalley for an arc of this!🫶🏼

I want to start by saying this is probably the best Beauty & The Beast retelling I have ever read! 🥀🥹 The story really gripped me from the beginning and kept me hooked throughout. The pacing was good, I wasn’t bored at any point or wanting anything to hurry up and happen.

I really liked both main characters, their banter was great and the tension was palpable🥵 I liked all the side characters too, I found them super lovable (including the castle which is a character all in itself!😍)

I also loved that at the end the main character chose to stay in his ‘beast’/unseelie form a lot of the time and the author didn’t place emphasis on him becoming incredibly good looking.

The only thing I will say is that I wish we had more world building and information on characters, I felt the author could have went slightly more in depth here.

Overall this was such a fun, great read and I can’t wait to read others by this author! I would 100% recommend this❤️‍🔥

#beautyandthebeast #booksta #fairytaleretelling #arcreview #netgalley

I received this copy as an E-Book gift from the author, R.L. Perez, through NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me the chance to read this book as an Advance Reader Copy. My thoughts are honest and my own.

I came into this book with no expectations whatsoever, and I was piqued when I discovered it was a retelling of one of my favorite stories, Beauty and the Beast. The world-building was extremely detailed. At first, I didn't understand the magic system and its origins, but I quickly realized that the more I looked and saw where it formed, the more sense it made, especially with how the magic affects one or the other, particularly in a group of species/individuals. It was slow at first since there wasn't much information, and it was moreso relied heavily on the plot, but as I got further, I was just blown away at how everything was spaced out. It was like each chapter was heavily planned, and like there wasn't anything you'd miss out between the MMC and FMC. I will say, though, the tension, banter, the forced proximity, AND the enemies-to-lovers just hit the spot PERFECTLY and were well executed in my opinion. The last 25% of the chapter had me on the edge of my bed, a bit scared and tense, and I won't lie, that is how I felt at the last part.

I honestly enjoyed the retelling of The Beauty and the Beast. There was more depth in both characters. Their character development was well thought out, and how were both willing to change, be truthful, and make sacrifices of their own. The fact that it was The Beauty making the biggest sacrifice rather than the beast was beautifully written. The spice in this book was a perfect dash from the amount of tension between Varius and Sybelle, like ughhh, it was enjoyable to read the scenes and how both provoked and teased one another. I won't lie, I cackled like a gremlin...do I have regrets laughing that way late at night?.... MOTHER OF SHADE NOT.

All in all, I give this book a 4.5 out of 5, and I enjoyed this romantasy retelling with a good twist. It was new, nostalgic. This book is wonderful, and I do recommend this to those who love a retelling of stories we grew up loving when we were all young. I am excited for R.L Perez's upcoming projects and what more she will have in store for her wonderful books.

My reviews are posted on both GoodReads, Instagram, Fable, and StoryGraph

⭐ Rating: 3.5 (rounded up to 4 on NetGalley)

⚠️ Spoiler-ish Warning: I talk about some plot and romance moments, so proceed with caution if you want to go in totally blind.

Crown of Briars is like someone took a classic Disney princess movie, threw it into a fae court full of political drama, added a cursed beastly king, a loyal dragon, and a healthy sprinkle of spice.

We follow Princess Sybelle, half-human, half-fae, raised with one mission: kill the Wraith King. Only, when she’s sent to marry him, things get… complicated. Turns out Varius, the infamous Wraith King, is cursed to transform every full moon — the same curse that’s slowly killing his people by sending deadly shadows after them. He’s broody, respectful, and way more tortured-hero than monster. And Sybelle? She’s stubborn, loyal, and has a dragon named Azure who honestly steals every scene.

This book moves fast. There’s banter. There’s tension. There’s spice (yes, that early). There’s political scheming, magic gemstones, jealous sorceresses, messy family drama, and more than one plot twist that had me whispering, “Wait, WHAT?!” The enemies-to-allies-to-lovers progression is satisfying, and I liked that the romance was balanced with actual stakes; breaking the curse, protecting kingdoms, and maybe not dying in the process.

While I had a great time, it’s not one I’d recommend to everyone. It’s a fun, quick fantasy romance ride with enough intrigue to keep you hooked, but it’s not groundbreaking. For me, it’s the perfect kind of book to binge on a cozy weekend when you want drama, magic, and a little bit of steam without overthinking it.

Final thought: I’d recommend this one to my 90s girls who grew up on classic Disney princess stories and now want those same vibes, but with fae politics, curses, and a couple of well-placed bedroom scenes.

Crown of Briars tells the tale of Sybelle, of the Earthen Court, who is being forced to marry the Wraith King of the Shadow Court in order or save her people. She quickly realizes that there is more at play, and starts to battle true feelings for the king, instead of killing him which is her original goal. This Beauty & The Beast retelling gives a unique darker take full of magic, twists, enemies to lovers, possessive mmc, monster romance slow burn but still spicy vibes. Definitely a recommended read if you enjoy these tropes!
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! I am not really a princess girl but this retelling was done so well.

I was not expecting to love it so much!

It has such a sweet slow burn and I love how this take left the beast remaining a beast.

I found the characters really well developed and it was well paced.

I just love her best friend, why can't I have a dragon!

I was really drawn to how kind and accepting the FMC was and how she wasn't afraid to stick up for others. I also thought her fae ability was really unique and cool.

The MMC is a true grump but a respectful one, he becomes very protective with all the claims of ownership we love!

it came across as a true enemies to lovers and the slow burn seemed genuine and not rushed!

I devoured this book and will have to pick up the authors other work as I loved her writing.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the author for letting me receive this as an ARC!

I absolutely loved this book! At first I wasn't so sure and it took me a little while to get into it but once I did, I devoured it. I love Beauty and the Beast and this version was such a good way of retelling the story!

Sybelle - Amazing use of the name to get it in there, was fearless and brave and did not back down. She could have listened to Varius, the beast, sooner and heard him out but lets face it, what strong willed female listens to a man! Right. 🤣🤣

I loved the beast, he was determined not to ruse as his forefathers did and that showed massively and he loved Sybelle fiercely. He was so jealous!

I liked the magic, shadows, fae and useelie and there is even a dragon, which come on we all love! 🥰

Some of the characters were so loveable and sweet and some you just wanted to punch in the face! It's what makes a great book!

Hats off to R.L.Perez! Another amazing book and fast becoming one of my fave authors after reading all of the Ivy & Bone series and now Crowns of the Fae! 🥰🥰 xx

R.L. Perez is a new author for me, and I approached this book with high expectations based on its intriguing synopsis. I was delighted to find that it exceeded my hopes, offering a captivating experience.

Having read numerous retellings of Beauty and the Beast, I can confidently say that this one comes closest to capturing the essence of the original tale. The Beast, known as the Wraith King, embodies the true nature of the character—gruff and monstrous, as befitting a cursed Unseelie Fae.
The slow-burn romance between Sybelle and the Wraith King is utterly addictive, enhanced by the tension of the enemies-to-lovers and arranged marriage tropes that draw you deeper into the story.

"Crown of Briars" truly fulfills all the expectations one might have for a Beauty and the Beast retelling. A special mention goes to the fantastic side characters, Ramia and Enzira, who add depth and charm to the story.

I’m also excited to hear that Perez has written a Snow White retelling, which I do plan to read very soon.

⭐️ 3.5 Stars

Crown of Briars by R.L. Perez was more of a palette cleanser read, the kind of book you pick up between heavier reads when you want something enjoyable but not too intense. It is a Beauty and the Beast retelling with a twist. It had witches, monsters, fae and a world ruled by the shadows.

The story includes several romance tropes: miscommunication, enemies to lovers, an arranged marriage, and the one bed situation. The pacing stayed fairly even throughout, though I did find myself getting stuck on a few sections. One thing I really appreciated was the chapter structure where each book section is titled from the character’s which makes it easy to follow the shifting POVs.

Both the FMC and The MMC are trying to break a curse placed upon their lands, each with limited information. As the story unravels they become more familiar with each other and with the truth. A few plot twists along the way and an interesting magic system involving gems.

This was actually only my second time reading a story with a “monster romance” element, and it wasn’t bad at all. It didn’t necessarily have any standout, unforgettable moments, but it was still enjoyable overall.

As for spice level, I’d rate it about a 🌶️🌶️. The first scene doesn’t show up until around the 60% mark, but that wasn’t dealbreaker for me. If you enjoy fantasy romance with some tails and horns heat level this would be worth picking up.

ARC

Thank you to Net Galley and Willow Haven Press for an opportunity to read and review this book. All views are my own.

Crown of Briars is a beauty and the beast retelling. The story follows two kingdoms, The Earthern and the Shadow Court. One must give the other a human bride to protect them both from the Wraith Kings deadly Shadows. This book is part of a series called the Crowns of Fae, but can be read as a stand alone.

Our MCs were multi dimensional and done well. Unfortunately, that did not transfer as much to our side characters. Their relationship did feel a bit rushed and I think a bit more time to build that connection would have made it stronger and feel more organic. The world building was done well, from the magic, histories and political aspects. I did feel it read more like a YA with mature content at times.

Overall, it was an alright read and if you enjoy your romantasies or a beauty and the beast inspired story, then this will be for you.

🌟🌟🌟

This was a new and captivating fantasy retelling of beauty and the beast which features dark fae, an arranged marriage and lots of political intrigue.

I love reading reimagined fairytales and beauty and the beast is one of my favourites to read. Crown of Briars did an incredible job of taking the existing story and spinning it into a completely new tale with a unique plot, complex characters and a compelling magic system. Sometimes retelling can feel repetitive and predictable, yet that isn’t the case with this book. This one had a slighter darker undertone which only elevated the storytelling and tension throughout.

Varius may have been a ‘beast’ but his soft personality made him endearing, he is everything you’d want from a tormented and multilayered MMC. He is kind yet possessive and really took the ‘my wife’ trope to the next level.

The prejudice between the both courts was well executed and explained, I loved watching both Sybelle and Varius work together to overcome their fears to save their respective kingdoms. Their relationship built organically and I appreciated how this wasn’t an insta-love story, their connection and trust was a slow built which only added to the tension.

The only reason it’s not a 5 star was because I got so sick of the word ‘stones’ starting every sentence, it really pulled me out of the story because it felt like there was instances where it was said multiple times in a scene, whether in their subconscious or conversations with each other.

Thank you to NetGalley and Willow Haven Press for providing me with an ARC ✨

FANTASTIC! I flipping loved this book.
This story was a blast from start to finish. Loved the beauty and the beast retelling. The strong FMC was easy to love and Varius was as grumpy and brilliant.
The world building was excellent and I loved the magic of the castle. Some tropes there of course - enemies to lovers for one - but I enjoyed this immensely
Thanks so much to publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a fun and unique twist to the most common themes currently available!!

What I loved:
🌹 The writing was simple, no complex chatter that makes you look up every. Single. Word.
🌹 Fun stone magic
🌹 Strong minded MMC and FMC
🌹 Unique magic mixed with common fae lifestyle
🌹The castle having a mind of its own 🤣


What I didn’t like:
❤️‍🔥 Some of the world building was hard for me to grasp
❤️‍🔥 Connecting the plot full circle (maybe I just read too fast)
❤️‍🔥 I wish there had been more time to build a stronger connection between the MMC and FMC, at some point of the book things felt rushed
❤️‍🔥 The revel scene. It felt redundant to many other books that has the same scenario and situation so I felt as if I was reading a similar book already and it wasn’t intriguing to read that part
❤️‍🔥Although I DID love Azure, it also felt quite redundant to have a dragon bestie with banter. Maybe Fourth Wing just ruined that for all other books and I should have some grace.

💫 Overall: I enjoyed the new ideas that came with similar themes, the story line was different but also familiar. It was an interesting read and I would recommend it!!

Thank you Net Galley and R.L Perez for an early ARC for an honest review. 🫶

Do you like beasts? Enemies to lovers? Slow burn? This wonderful retelling hits all of the tropes we know a love while feeling original and engaging. The romance is hot, the plot kept me on my toes, and some fun castle surprises made this an amazing book. This book is a must for Romantasy lovers!

Prepare to be utterly captivated. This book is an absolute masterclass in building tension, weaving intrigue, and crafting deeply compelling characters. I genuinely loved every single minute of it, and it's quickly become one of my favorite reads of the year.

From the very first page, the story grabs you with a pervasive sense of mystery and intrigue that truly lies at every corner. The central enigma of the curse provides a fantastic hook, drawing you deeper into a world where ancient secrets and dangerous truths are slowly unearthed. Watching both protagonists grapple with this unknown, each initially trying to decipher the curse on their own, sets a compelling stage for their inevitable convergence.

But what truly elevates this story is the magnificent tension in between these two. It's palpable from their very first interaction, a push-and-pull dynamic that crackles with unspoken emotions and conflicting goals. This initial friction gradually transforms into a powerful, collaborative partnership as they're forced to work together towards the end to unravel the curse's complexities. The seamless transition from wary adversaries to a unified force was handled beautifully, making their eventual teamwork incredibly satisfying to witness.

And oh, the chemistry! It's simply off the charts. Every stolen glance, every barbed comment, every shared moment of vulnerability just oozes with an undeniable connection. This wasn't just physical attraction; it was a deeply ingrained bond that truly made for great story building. The Female Main Character (FMC) is a standout, an incredibly strong, intelligent, and resilient individual who absolutely held her own throughout. It was refreshing to see her navigating the challenges, not just of the curse, but of her burgeoning feelings. The slow-burn romance is exquisitely done, with a beautiful portrayal of mutual affection where both characters are clearly falling for each other at a wonderfully organic pace.

In summary, if you're craving a read that masterfully blends a compelling mystery with a deeply satisfying romance and characters you'll root for, look no further. This book delivers on all fronts: intellectual intrigue, emotional depth, and a chemistry that will leave you breathless. It was such a great read, and I wholeheartedly recommend it. Don't miss out on this gem!

A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of Crowns of Briars by R.L. Perez for review.
A Dark and Enchanting Retelling
R.L. Perez’s Crowns of Briars is an enchanting and easy-to-read fantasy romance, perfect for readers who love a good "Beauty and the Beast" retelling with a dark twist. As the second book in a series, it works well as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the first book, Crowns of Slumber, to fully immerse yourself in this captivating world.
The story follows Princess Sybelle, a woman who has dedicated her life to a singular purpose: marrying the fearsome Wraith King and, with the help of her dragon familiar, killing him to free her people from his shadows. However, her mission is complicated when she discovers the Wraith King isn't the monster she was led to believe. He is handsome, alluring, and trapped by a curse that she feels compelled to break. Sybelle finds herself in an impossible position, torn between her duty to her kingdom and her growing feelings for the man she was meant to destroy.
What makes this book so enjoyable are the two main characters. Sybelle is a strong and determined heroine, and the Wraith King is a compelling and mysterious hero. Their dynamic is the heart of the story, and watching their relationship develop is a true delight. The novel cleverly incorporates nods to the classic "Beauty and the Beast" tale while forging its own unique path, offering a fresh take on a familiar story.
Crowns of Briars is a perfect pick for a weekend read. It’s a great choice for those who want to be swept back into a beloved world without needing to remember every detail from previous books. It's a quick and engaging read that leaves you eager for more. I’ll definitely be picking up the third book when it's released!

I want to thank NetGalley for giving me this opportunity to review this book


Various is the wraith king of the court of shadows. He has a deep secret that he controls and keeps to himself only very few know. Sybelle is the princess of another court, she is set to marry the wraith king but she has secrets herself and does everything to contain them. The greatest part to me is her pet dragon, I really liked this story it only took me about three days to read I could not stop reading it. I thought it was intriguing in the fact that there was a lot of twist throughout the story. Yes I liked the spice, but to be honest I wish for a little more between the wraith king and Sybelle but overall I would suggest this book to all that want a book that will keep your attention

Perez's Crown of Briars was, above all, an amusing retelling of the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast. The characters had unique quirks that let to funny interactions, and sweet friendships progressed alongside the story. Our main character, Sybelle, is determined and sassy with strong convictions and relatable moments of anxiety. Some of the fantasy elements -- such as the sidekick dragon -- were goofy in a cartoonish manner that is reminiscent of the princess movies many of us watched growing up, but the story was also much spicier than I anticipated, making it definitely suitable for an adult audience.

To be completely honest, I don't believe that this is the book you're looking for if you want something new and revolutionary in the romantasy genre. In many ways, I believe the world-building relies on tropes that are popular in bookish social media spaces at present. Some aspects of the story are very creative in their application, whereas others hardly differ from other stories in the genre. I would have liked to see more imaginative names for the different regions/kingdoms, for example. However, as this book is the second in a series, it is understandable that these likely could not have been changed. With that being said, I think that this story reads perfectly well as a standalone. If you're a huge fan of A Court of Thorns and Roses and Beauty and the Beast, and you're looking for something easily digestible, I would pick this book up. Please be sure to read the content warnings, however, as there are themes of sexual assault and also graphic sexual scenes in this one.

Crown of Briars is a gorgeously dark, enchanting retelling of Beauty and the Beast that drips with gothic atmosphere and emotional intensity. R.L. Perez has crafted a tale that feels both familiar and entirely new—taking the bones of the beloved classic and weaving them into something far more sinister, seductive, and spellbinding.

This version of the Beast is no tragic prince waiting to be saved—instead, he’s powerful, unpredictable, and hauntingly magnetic. The heroine is strong-willed and sharp, refusing to be caged by fate or fear. Their dynamic crackles with tension, and the slow-burn romance is laced with shadows, danger, and desire.

Perez doesn’t shy away from the darker themes of the original fairytale—captivity, curses, and the question of what truly makes someone monstrous. Every page pulses with stakes, secrets, and a sense that something beautiful might be blooming—even among thorns.

If you’re a fan of dark fantasy, cursed magic, and fairytales with bite, Crown of Briars is an absolute must-read. R.L. Perez delivers a lush, moody, and unforgettable retelling that lingers long after the final page.