Crown of Briars Book Review
Slow-Burn Dark Fantasy That Surpasses Expectations
If you love fairy tale retellings with a bit of bite, you’ll
probably be hooked by this one just like I was. From the description alone, I
was eager to dive in—a Beauty and the Beast story with some darkness and spice?
Yes, please!
I’ll admit, dual POVs usually aren’t my thing. At first, it
threw me off, but pretty soon I was looking forward to seeing both sides of the
story. The author does a great job making each character’s perspective unique
and interesting, so it didn’t take long for me to get invested in both of them.
One thing I worried about was that the plot might fall into
the whole Stockholm Syndrome trap, but I’m happy to say it really doesn’t. The
relationship between Sybelle and Varius actually felt honest and slow-burning.
I found myself rooting for them more and more as their connection grew.
What really makes this book stand out is Sybelle’s inner
struggle. She has to choose between holding on to a lie she grew up believing—a
lie meant to protect her people, and the whole reason she agreed to marry
Varius, the enemy Wraith King—or following her own instincts when she discovers
his kingdom is cursed, and she just might be the one who can break it. It
definitely kept me turning pages!
The chemistry between Sybelle and Varius is off the charts.
I wasn’t sure what to expect with the “spice,” but honestly, the romance was
way more swoon-worthy than cringey. In fact, I ended up wanting a Varius of my
own by the end!
There’s also a great message here: that love isn’t about
what you look like or where you come from, but about who you are. The author
gets that across without being heavy-handed, which I really appreciated.
This was my first book by R.L. Perez, and I was so hooked I
immediately picked up "Crown of Slumber" to see what else they’ve
got. This is the first book in the series, but both can be read as a stand-alone novel; however, the dragon companion we fall in love with in Crown of Briars is first introduced in Crown of Slumber, and I love, love, love Azure! The writing pulls you right in, and the characters just stick with you.
All in all, if you want a romantic fantasy with real depth,
some edge, and a love story you can truly root for, definitely check this one
out!
Thank you to NetGalley and Willow Haven Press for an e-arc of this book.
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. Out August 4, 2025!
