Bonded by Thorns: Beasts of the Briar, Book 1

Alexis Murphy

A wonderful start to a why choose beauty and the beast retelling

"Ahhhh! Okay, so this book got me out of a major reading slump, and honestly it’s one of my top books for this year, because that was so good. I know Rose, or Rosie, or Rosalina, is said to be such an unbelievable character for being how she is with Lucas, but here’s how I see it. She almost drowned, he saved her life. She felt like she owed him her life, and felt seen by someone when he was so nice and ‘caring’ towards her in the beginning. And after what he had done for her, she didn’t feel like she had the right to question or deny him of what he wanted, and to her it felt good to be seen by someone, because before she was no one. She is such a relatable character to me because she loves deeply and wholeheartedly, and she has shortcomings yes. I know how she feels, because I felt more seen reading this character than I have almost any other character. But she is also strong, and stubborn, and brave. She is human, and she was such an amazingly written character that she will always be one of my favorites. Also what is with the way the house reacts to her, and the briars, and how her magic helped the roses??? Is there something I’m missing? Keldarion, he’s a great character, and believable as well. His heart was shattered from his previous love, and he became a recluse, I mean who wouldn’t. I believe he was portrayed realistically enough for fantasy, because that is what this is. His character was strong, demanding, gruff, but also caring and kind in his own way. I love how he started to open up towards the end, but I do hate what he had gone and decided to do at the end as well. Because that was just plain rude and stupid even if it was to set her free, but let’s be honest the only place she would ever be free is with him and the other princes. Dayton, oh how I just love a f*boy. He’s perfectly portrayed as someone who doesn’t care about anything as long as he can drink and f***. But let’s be honest, he loves his little family and he fell for her as much as the others had. I loved the little novella in the end of this to give a bit more backstory on him and Farron, and let’s just say, I melted. That was also so good and I loved reading about them together. Farron, oh my sweet man. He’s the nerdy, shy, cute one you’d almost never find at parties. I adore him so much and how sweet and awkward he was throughout this. His moment of ‘I’m going to eat you’ was funny because one thing he’s such a sweet man, the next he’s a terror trying to eat you. This sweet man deserves to be happy as all of them do. And I hope to see him come out of his shell. Ezryn, he is still so much a mystery, but I loved getting to learn about him. He is a mysterious character, his features are never described other than vague mentions, he hides away from everyone always hunting, but Rose means something to him, something he is afraid to admit. I would love to know his backstory more with Kel, other than they grey up together. Cassian, there is just something about him that isn’t just straightforward. I mean, evil? Yes. Handsome? Yes. But something that doesn’t make sense? Also yes. And what is his bargain with Kel? And in the backstory of Farron and Dayton, he shows up, and what he says is so completely out of thought, I mean what? What even happened? Quellos, there is something so thoroughly wrong with him. The way he speaks to people is weird, as is the way he tries to isolate Kel. What is he up to? Also who is the mother? Where is her mother? I have so many questions. The whole book is written beautifully, and I will be reading the rest of the series. I recommend this series to anyone wanting a beauty and the beast retelling, but why choose, because so far it’s so good. ["

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February 19, 2026 Verified Purchase

Flirty for Fiction

A SPICY why choose Beauty & the Beast retelling that had me smiling

"I’m always a sucker for a good why choose, so this one immediately had my attention...and when you add in a Beauty and the Beast retelling? Say less. What really worked for me were the little nods to the original story. Lines like “you should learn to control your temper!” and “far-off places, daring sword fights, magic spells, and a prince in disguise?” had me grinning and kicking my feet. It felt like a love letter to the classic while still doing its own thing, which I really appreciated. The dynamic between the characters was intriguing, especially with the why choose setup, and it definitely kept me curious about where things are going for everyone. That said, I'm not completely sold on the series just yet by the end of book one. It felt more like a foundation-builder than something that fully hooked me emotionally, but it did its job well enough that I want to keep going. Also, I highly recommend the audiobook if that’s your thing. I really enjoyed the narration and thought it added a lot to the experience. Overall, a fun and promising start with great nostalgic elements—I’m definitely intrigued enough to continue the series! ["

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March 18, 2026 Verified Purchase

Barbara Mann

All the princes yes!

"If you love fairytales with a dark, steamy twist, Bonded by Thorns absolutely delivers. This is not your childhood Beauty and the Beast—it’s richer, bolder, and unapologetically addictive. a bookish heroine stepping into an enchanted fae realm to save her father, only to bargain away her freedom to four cursed princes who transform into beasts at night. What unfolds is a delicious blend of magic, danger, romance, and tension that never lets up. Each prince feels distinct and compelling—the sweet intellectual, the shadowy enigma, the charming flirt, and the brooding, temperamental leader who resists everything… including you. The emotional push-and-pull between duty, desire, and growing attachment is incredibly well done. Watching the heroine struggle between her goal of freedom and her deepening feelings adds real weight to the romance. And the fact that she doesn’t have to choose just one love interest makes the story feel fresh and indulgent in the best way. Spicy, magical, and emotionally engaging, this book is a must-read for fans of reverse harem fantasy and fae romance. Just be warned: once you enter the Enchanted Vale, you won’t want to leave. ["

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April 27, 2026 Verified Purchase

Raysa Peguero

This book was really good

"Rating 3.75 ⭐⭐⭐ Spice 🥵: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ I didn't expect the why choose trope when I started reading, but it was a welcome addition. I love the stories of Farron & Dayton more than anything, and I'm eager to delve deeper into them in the next books. Rosalina's growth was well portrayed. However, she was incredibly frustrating at times. I understand where she's coming from, but how could she not see that Lucas was a walking red flag? He was abusive, never cared about her hobbies, and always made decisions for her without her input. And she still saw that as love? It's heartbreaking to see this kind of behavior normalized in relationships by some people. Her dad wasn't much better, leaving her essentially alone without any support. It was good to see Rosalina in an environment where she was cared for and loved. Kalderion and his stupid secrets were driving me crazy, and that ending... well, I won't spoil it! I hope to see more of Caspian and Ezryn's inner thoughts in the future books. Overall, it's a good book if you're looking for a darker take on Beauty and the Beast. The plot is well-developed, but some aspects were predictable. And I must admit, that one word that starts with C was used excessively. If you can overlook those minor things, you'll likely enjoy this book. Tropes: Fated Mates 💘 Forced proximity 🙅♀️ Grumpy x sunshine 🌦️ Enemies to lovers ❤️🔥 Why choose?!! Enchanted Castle 🏰 Awkward Sunshine FMC ☀️ Touch her and die 🔪 Magical Winter Solstice Ball ❄️ Sword crossing ⚔️ Hot Villain 🖤 ["

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December 29, 2024 Verified Purchase