A rebellious young woman and a skilled swindler team up in this enchanting young adult fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

“A unique and twisty magical romp!”—Tamora Pierce, New York Times bestselling author of the Immortals Quartet

“A smart and hilarious twist on a tale as old as time.”—Marissa Meyer, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles

A run-in with a fairy godling at her betrothal ball left Merit Cravan with more than any fairyborn noble could want: wealth, intelligence, and the kind of beastly visage that makes children weep.

Now Merit has until her eighteenth birthday to break the fairy’s curse—and every day, she loses a little more of herself to the animal she’s become. All because she picked one unsuitable boy.

Tevin DuMont has nothing except a fairy gift of charm, an exceptionally handsome face, and two siblings he’s trying desperately to protect. As the oldest son in a family of con artists, he’s learned how to use what he has to his best advantage. He’ll do anything to keep his siblings safe, so when his mother runs afoul of the Beast of Cravan, Tevin doesn’t think twice. He’ll pay his mother’s debt, even if it means taking her place.

With her birthday looming, Merit has to find a match, but she’s terrified she’ll make the same mistake as before. Then she meets Tevin and realizes there’s no one better to protect her from an unsuitable match than the most unsuitable boy of all. Can Tevin help her break the curse, or is she doomed to be the Beast of Cravan forever?