5 stars
Big shoutout to Jordan Lee for the ARC! Here's my two cents.
This MM version of Beauty and the Beast was my first ever taste of dark fantasy romance, and boy did I love it!
Meet Cale, a guy who's been shunned by his community and is now just scraping by as a kitchen hand in Tolburg. One day, he decides to visit his mom back home during Spring Tide. While looking for shelter from rain in Ashwood forest, he stumbles into another realm via an abandoned building. Now he's stuck inside Ashwood Manor with no escape because scary monsters roam outside its walls.
Then there's Gil, the manor's lord who does his best to look after everyone living there. He was cursed into this realm 14 years ago and can transform into a wolfman. He tries to control this beastly side of him and only shifts when he's away from the manor in the woods. Everyone knows how to break his curse but they can't talk about it because that’s part of the curse too. For Gil to be free, he must fall in love with someone who loves him back—beast form and all.
Cale and Gil's relationship evolves naturally despite some hiccups due to Gil’s trust issues. It was amazing seeing their bond grow stronger over time. I wish we could have seen more scenes set in the realm’s forest though—to get a better understanding of those terrifying monsters lurking around! The world-building was pretty cool; I found it fascinating how the curse lured people in with enchanted food only to trap them inside.
The book ends on a happy-for-now note and I can't wait to see what comes next in this duology!
What do you guys think? Who else has read this? Let me know your thoughts below!
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