Title: Bonded by ThornsAuthors: Elizabeth Helen
Series: Beasts of the Briar #1
Publication: July 18, 2024 by HarperCollins
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Find it on: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble | Blackwell’s | Google Play | Waterstones
Rating: 4/5★
Four handsome fae princes.
One awkward bookworm.
An Enchanted Vale.
A beastly curse to break.
Rosalina O’Connell lives her life in Orca Cove as quietly as she can.
When her father turns up missing, Rosie goes after him and finds herself in the Enchanted Vale, the land of the fae. Where her father has been imprisoned and Rosie has no choice but to make a deal with four fae Princes to take his place.
As Rosie begins to learn more about the four Princes, she discovers that they have been cursed. The Princes must take on the form of demonic wolves every night and with every year that passes, more of their magic fades away.
If the Princes can each find their mate, they will break their curse and free their realm. Rosie is determined to help them…
The only problem is, the more time she spends with the Princes, the more she’s convinced that she’s the one they’re all meant to be with.
A spicy Beauty and the Beast retelling filled with enchanted fae, morally grey characters, a stupidly hot villain and a Princess who has found her Prince Charming. All four of them.
I randomly came across this book at a bookstore that was a totally new title for me and decided to get it because it did sound like right upon my alley. A ‘why choose’ romance, a Beauty and the Beast retelling and set in the world of fae? Say no more! I had to buy it right away. Also, it didn’t hurt that the cover is absolutely stunning. Once I started reading I barely could make myself stop. It was so easy to read one more chapter and then one more, and another. It was the definition of a pageturner!
Bonded by Thorns was clearly heavily inspired by the Disney version of Beauty and the Beast. Some scenes came straight from the movie with a modern and adult twist, but obviously there were also the differences like instead of one beastly prince there were four and they were fae who turned into beasts at night. The mortal bookworm female main character was called Rosalina and came from the modern world where she’s always felt like an outcast until she went in search for her father in the forest and came upon the fae world where she traded his imprisonment with her own.
Now, there were some flaws that I couldn’t look beyond. Was it the most perfect book? No. I found the dialogue between characters not the smoothest in some way. It felt a little awkward at times even. It was also a very obvious tropey and not the most unique story ever. But the entertainment factor, the smut and the fact that it was such a fun and easily readable book made more than up for all the flaws. I did really enjoy the descriptions in the book, especially of the fae world. It was all described in a way where I could really imagine this world and how different it is from our modern mortal world. I really enjoyed that.
The romance was very steamy, sexy and just scorching hot. It was, as they say, the chef’s kiss. I really have nothing negative to remark on that aspect. There was MF as well as MM content and I loved it all. Rosalina had such chemistry with all of the fae princes, all in different ways. I can’t blame her fascination with them because I felt equally the same as her. I’m also curious to see if we’ll get more of their backstories in the next books. I’m just so curious about them and the fae world in general!
Bonded by Thorns by Elizabeth Helen is a steamy Beauty and the Beast retelling featuring four fae princes and one bookworm, who quite literally stumbles into their magical and dangerous world. It was a pageturner from beginning to end and I can’t wait to read the second book in the series!
About the authors:
Elizabeth Helen is the combined pen-name of sister writing duo, Elizabeth and Helen. Elizabeth and Helen write fantasy romance, and love creating enchanting adventures for their characters. When they’re not writing, you can find them snuggling their cats, exploring their rainforest home, or rolling the dice for a game of Dungeons & Dragons.
This definitely sounds unique! I love the twist on Beauty and the Beast, and the fact that you couldn’t put it down makes me so curious😁
It’s not like the most incredible story ever but it’s just so fun. I’ve already ordered the next book so I’m highly anticipating that right now 😀
This looks like a fantastic read. Thanks for sharing.