Release Date: April 1, 2025
Full Disclosure: I applied and was accepted to receive an eARC for this book, but there was a mix-up and I never got it/never received a response. Recently, I found it on Kindle Unlimited, so that's how I read it.
First of all, if you're looking for a heart-pumping, spicy romantasy, this is definitely a great book for you. Second of all, the same thing that got me to pick up the book is probably the main reason I'm not giving it 5 stars: Beauty and the Beast meets Anastasia! I was EXCITED. One of my favorite fairytales and one of my favorite historical mysteries! Yeah...no.
Don't get me wrong. The book is clearly heavily influenced by both Disney films, but as someone who, yes, has seen the Disney films, but also has read other versions of both stories...no. I don't really see a lot of the Anastasia story at all, again, unless, you count select elements of the Disney movie, and yes, the story is incredibly heavily influenced by Beauty and the Beast but it's very much an inversion, actually, a critique of the Beauty and the Beast story.
Again, don't get me wrong--I love a good fairytale inversion! It just wasn't what I was expecting, and in a romance its sets you off very much on the wrong foot. I think if this had been billed as "a dark twist on Beauty and the Beast" or "inspired by Beauty and the Beast and other fairytales," or something like "you know the Disney version but..." I wouldn't have been so put off looking for the fairytale elements and romance I was expecting.
Otherwise, this is an interesting rendering of a somewhat dark Fae world, has a lot of fun millenial references, pulls off a really steamy romance, and packs more than enough action for a movie. SJM fans, Megan van Dyke fans, and faerie/fairytale romantasy fans should definitely check out A Thorn In Every Heart, and yes, it's going to be a series!
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