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sundragonscrolls 's review for:
Crown of Briars: A Beauty and the Beast Retelling
by R.L. Perez
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Crown of Briars by R.L. Perez is a Beauty and the Beast retelling with a fresh magical twist, blending familiar fairytale beats with original touches of gem-based magic and a sentient castle. While it didn’t fully deliver the emotional weight I wanted, it’s a solid fantasy romance that’s easy to read and offers some fun worldbuilding details.
The story follows the familiar bones of the Beauty and the Beast tale, but Perez injects her own flavor through the magic system—where the FMC's power comes from gems and crystals when she holds them—and the enchanted setting of the castle itself, which feels alive and responsive (giving me definite House of Wind vibes from ACOTAR). These were highlights for me, as they added texture and novelty to an otherwise well-trodden narrative path.
When it comes to the romance, this is framed as enemies to lovers, but the shift from hostility to attraction happened too quickly for my taste—it felt more like an insta-switch than a slow-burn transformation. That left me feeling less invested in the emotional side of the pairing, even though the story hits the marks of tension, banter, and eventual connection.
My favorite elements weren’t the leads, but rather the supporting touches: Azure the dragon and Enzira, both of whom added color and intrigue every time they appeared on the page. Those moments helped balance out the flatter stretches of the romance arc.
Overall, while the romance didn’t sweep me away, the imaginative gem magic and castle setting gave Crown of Briars a uniqueness that fans of retellings might still enjoy. It’s a solid, if not standout, addition to the Beauty and the Beast retelling shelf.
⭐ Final Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - 7.5 out of 10
Category Breakdown:
* Plot: 1
* Pacing: 1
* Theme: 1
* Setting: 1
* Characters: 0.5
* Ending: 1
* Originality: 0.5
* Emotional Impact: 0
* Overall Enjoyment: 1
Tropes:
• Beauty and the Beast Retelling
• Enemies to Lovers
• Sentient Castle
• Fae Curse
• Dragon
• Magic (FMC hides hers)
• Bookish FMC
Themes:
• Transformation and Redemption
• Love breaking curses
• Power tied to nature/magic
Triggers/Content Warnings:
• Violence and battle scenes
• Some magical injury/gore
• Sexual Content - there is mention of SA in one scene, but it is not descriptive
Spice Level: 3/5 – explicit scenes
Language: Mild – light profanity
Age Range: 18+
The story follows the familiar bones of the Beauty and the Beast tale, but Perez injects her own flavor through the magic system—where the FMC's power comes from gems and crystals when she holds them—and the enchanted setting of the castle itself, which feels alive and responsive (giving me definite House of Wind vibes from ACOTAR). These were highlights for me, as they added texture and novelty to an otherwise well-trodden narrative path.
When it comes to the romance, this is framed as enemies to lovers, but the shift from hostility to attraction happened too quickly for my taste—it felt more like an insta-switch than a slow-burn transformation. That left me feeling less invested in the emotional side of the pairing, even though the story hits the marks of tension, banter, and eventual connection.
My favorite elements weren’t the leads, but rather the supporting touches: Azure the dragon and Enzira, both of whom added color and intrigue every time they appeared on the page. Those moments helped balance out the flatter stretches of the romance arc.
Overall, while the romance didn’t sweep me away, the imaginative gem magic and castle setting gave Crown of Briars a uniqueness that fans of retellings might still enjoy. It’s a solid, if not standout, addition to the Beauty and the Beast retelling shelf.
⭐ Final Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - 7.5 out of 10
Category Breakdown:
* Plot: 1
* Pacing: 1
* Theme: 1
* Setting: 1
* Characters: 0.5
* Ending: 1
* Originality: 0.5
* Emotional Impact: 0
* Overall Enjoyment: 1
Tropes:
• Beauty and the Beast Retelling
• Enemies to Lovers
• Sentient Castle
• Fae Curse
• Dragon
• Magic (FMC hides hers)
• Bookish FMC
Themes:
• Transformation and Redemption
• Love breaking curses
• Power tied to nature/magic
Triggers/Content Warnings:
• Violence and battle scenes
• Some magical injury/gore
• Sexual Content - there is mention of SA in one scene, but it is not descriptive
Spice Level: 3/5 – explicit scenes
Language: Mild – light profanity
Age Range: 18+