Going off the fact that this _is_ a Beauty and the Beast retelling it still is probably one of the most creative ones I’ve ever seen. I absolutely loved the side characters and the new plot. The writing was easy to understand and I stayed up late to finish the book. The love interests were unique and the ending ripped me to pieces. In a good way, of course. (*cries in the corner*)

Vier Prinzen, ein Bücherwurm und ein Schurke. Das Buch ist wirklich sehr gut und ich habe es absolut verschlungen. Ich musste sofort den zweiten Band nehmen, denn ich werde hier nicht aufhören. Ich muss sofort wissen wie es weiter geht! Es erinnert mich auch etwas an ACOTAR, ich muss aber sagen ich finde den ersten Teil hier viel besser. Urban Fantasy x High Fantasy, da es eine zweite Welt neben der modernen gibt. Ein must read für Fantasy Reverse Haren fans 😍

Ich habe "Bonded by Thorns" als Hörbuch gehört und absolut geliebt. 🥀 Was ihr hier nicht erwarten solltet: - einen herausragenden Schreibstil - eine super starke & intelligente FMC - besondere Handlung & Plottwists Was ihr erwarten könnt: - ein "Die Schöne und das Biest" Retelling in flüssigem Schreibstil und einfachem Englisch - klassische Tropes aus dem Fae-Genre (junge Frau gelangt durch Zufall in den Fae Realm, Fae Prinzen, ein magischer Fluch, Mates) - sehr heiße Spice Szenen zwischen MM & FM 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - tolle Charaktere, von denen man mehr lesen will Halber Stern Abzug, weil der Schreibtisch manchmal schon ein klein wenig trashy war und Rosalinas geringer Selbstwert/Naivität mich teilweise auf die Palme gebracht hat. Das ließ gegen Ende zum Glück nach. Ich kann es kaum erwarten, die weiteren 3 Teile zu hören. 🤭 PS: Auf dem Bild zu sehen ist die wunderschöne Fairyloot Ausgabe. ✨

Wow! Der Anfang ist wirklich sehr sehr nah an Die Schöne und das Biest angelehnt und war dementsprechend wenig überraschend. Aber dieses Buch hat mich total gefesselt, die Protagonistin ist total toll, und ne richtig gute Mischung aus lieb und süß aber auch stark, smart und lässt sich nicht die Butter vom Brot nehmen. Die Charaktere sind alle wirklich toll ausgearbeitet und catchy. Und dieses Ende hat mich doch echt kalt erwischt und ich würde am liebsten sofort weiter lesen! Klare Empfehlung! 🌶⚔🔥

“Bonded by Thorns” by Elizabeth Helen offers an enchanting twist on the classic Beauty and the Beast tale, blending elements of fae lore with a slow-burn romance that will appeal to fans of both fantasy and fairy tale retellings. The novel takes familiar themes of love, transformation, and inner beauty and transplants them into a richly imagined world where magic and danger are ever-present. One of the novel’s strongest aspects is its world-building. Helen creates a vivid, immersive environment filled with enchanted forests, menacing creatures, and an alluring, mystical court. The attention to detail brings the fae world to life, drawing readers into a setting that feels both magical and treacherous. The protagonists journey through this world mirrors that of Belle’s, as she navigates the complexities of a mysterious and often dark realm, gradually uncovering secrets about both herself and her enigmatic captor(s). The characters, particularly the protagonist and her ‘beastly’ love interest(s), are well-developed, though their arcs occasionally feel predictable. The romance builds slowly, echoing the classic tales focus on the gradual transformation of fear and mistrust into understanding and love. This slow progression is a refreshing change in a genre often marked by insta-love, but it may test the patience of readers who prefer a quicker payoff. The tension between the characters is palpable, with interactions that are charged with a mix of yearning, conflict, and the looming question of whether true beauty lies beneath the surface. For readers looking for a bit of spice, “Bonded by Thorns” does not disappoint. The romance, while slow to build, eventually delivers on its promise with a few steamy scenes that are both sensual and tastefully done. These moments add heat to the narrative without overshadowing the emotional connection between the characters. The chemistry is well-executed, with the ‘beastly’ lead exuding a dangerous allure that adds to the novels dark, seductive atmosphere. However, the novel‘s pacing is where it stumbles. While the slow-burn romance adds depth, the overall plot progression can feel sluggish at times. Certain sections of the book drag, with an overemphasis on internal monologues and repetitive introspection. Additionally, some plot points are overly predictable, which diminishes the impact of the storys twists and turns. Despite these pacing issues, “Bonded by Thorns” remains a compelling read, especially for those who appreciate detailed world-building and a gradual romance. The writing is polished, with moments of lyrical beauty, and the chemistry between the leads is undeniable. The “Beauty and the Beast” undertones give the story a familiar yet fresh flavor, making it an enjoyable escape into a world where love and magic intertwine. In conclusion, “Bonded by Thorns” offers a captivating reimagining of the Beauty and the Beast story within a fae fantasy context. While its slow pacing and familiar tropes hold it back from reaching its full potential, it's a solid entry in the genre, earning a respectable 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Listened to the audiobook which is probably why everything was even more spicy :D The spice is 1000/1000🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ I really like these fae princes - I think it’s a great mixture of characters. The world is interesting and not too complicated. My “problem” is the FMC - she’s the sunshine kind of girl and is saved too many times by the men surrounding her. This is just not my kind of FMC but I really liked the audio book anyway. Therefore not a 5 star rating. But this is just my taste. I liked her, but she’s just not my kind of FMC. I already started the 2. book and I’m kind of excited with how many people she’ll end up - hehe 🤌🫶 This whole “who will be and who not” - is the motor of the whole story anyway. It’s nice to listen to - not a lot happens - a beauty and beast retelling at its core - but one should and could try. All in all it’s the spice and these fae princes for me- woaaah. So we will see. Would recommend to try - especially when you’ve never read a why choose/ reverse harem. Makes you giggle and grin a lot.

Sign me up for yet another Beauty and the Beast retelling! I think this is a 4,5. I really really really love this book. In the beginning I was kind of torn about Rosalina as the female lead because I felt like she was descripted as extemly naive and I was kind of unnerved by that. But after the story really picked up I could oversee that. She surely isn't the strongest female main character out there but I can live with that. What I can't live with is the cliffhanger! I absolutely hate that I have to wait before continuing the story. The release of book 2 is only a couple of days away but after that I will have to wait a whole damn year for book 3 and that's gonna be torture. I'm not looking forward to that.

Beauty and the Beast retelling Reverse Harem (ich denke, dass es darauf hinauslaufen wird) Lässt sich super schnell lesen und irgendwie konnte ich das Buch heute nicht mehr aus der Hand legen. Zugegeben, das Buch erfindet nichts neu. Hat man alles so schonmal gesehen und gelesen, und jeder wird seine liebsten Tropes hier finden. Die Charaktere folgen auch brav ihren Klischees , aber hey, es macht Spaß und ich hatte bei diesem Buch definitiv nicht den Anspruch, großartig überrascht zu werden. Tatsächlich war mein liebster Love interest nicht der mysteriöse, wortkarge Blondschopf, sondern das genaue Gegenteil. Aber die Reihe ist noch jung, hab das Gefühl, dass da noch jemand anderes den ersten Platz übernehmen wird, von dem man nicht so viel mitbekommen hat ;) Enemies to Lovers wird für die folgenden Bücher auch angeteast und ich bin definitiv offen dafür.