This book had a really great premise. It’s an adult fairytale retelling, villain origin story, and combines Snow White with Rumpelstiltskin. I was excited, but it didn’t work for me. I honestly wanted to DNF it so many times, which is rare for me. I also rarely rate books below 3 stars, but I felt in this case 2 was the best I could honestly give.

I think a major problem for me was the writing. The characters talked and acted like preteens or young teens. I think she was going for shy and unsure based on the number of times the characters said “um,” but it was just awkward. Then there were the “spicy scenes” which were also awkward and strange. I don’t know if she was going for a BDSM thing, but it just didn’t work. I was so bored for most of the book. It didn’t help that there were several lines that seemed adapted from other popular series like Harry Potter (doing what’s right instead of easy) and Bridgerton (burn for you). I think there was a Game of Thrones based line too. It just made me inwardly cringe.

Honestly, I think it would have been better to rework this book into a mid grade or YA tale by removing the adult material.

I’m not sure I would pick up another book by this author unless it had amazing reviews and/or someone highly recommended it.

Thank-you Rosalyn Briar, Quill and Crow Publishing House, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this free arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I would first like to thank Quill and Crow Publishing House for allowing me access to this amazing ARC copy.

Her Dark Enchantments is a fantasy story, telling how The Wicked Witch of Sleeping Beauty came to be. Follow Myravelle as she grows up in a tower with her Fairy mother Xylina, who is being held captive by the King for her ability to spin gold. Then the King finds out that Myravelle herself has magic in her veins, she is able to awaken those put to sleep by the effects of the magic Dormrya wood found in the Sleepy Woods. To do so, however, costs her greatly.

She falls in love with a soldier from the Sleepy Woods Company, whose task is to locate the Fairy Kingdom. What follows is a twisting, turning tale of love, loss and betrayal. If you never thought you would be able to feel sympathy for the woman who puts Sleeping Beauty in her slumber, you may well think again after reading this book!

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good fantasy tale, strong female characters and epic love stories.

This book was a great twist on a classic fairytale. The way that the author chose to take the story and the characters that the reader met were fantastic. I loved this and can't wait to get a physical copy of this beautiful book.

the description and cover had me gripped from the start. The book follows Myravelle Spinner who is a half fairy and she uses human canvases to create healing charms to save those with a sleeping curse. This story is a dark feeling of the classic sleeping beauty, and what I also loved was that elements from different fairytales were also embedded throughout this story — a truly brilliant and nostalgic touch.

I found the concept to be absolutely compelling and the world building and magic was intriguing. The characters were also well-written and captivating, Myravelle is a strong, but complex, main character and I thought her storyline developed really well. The relationships were well-developed and had me frantically turning each page to find out what was going to happen to them!

Overall I thought it was a wonderful read and I would definitely recommend it to fans of fairytale retellings!

A Maleficent retelling?!

I'm a huge fan of retellings and fairy tales. So when I saw this was supposed to be a Sleeping Beauty retelling, I couldn't say no. I love how the author intertwines elements from different fairy tales (Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, and Rumpelstiltskin) into the story. It was a great idea and concept. But I had some issues with the execution, especially with the pacing. The first half of the novel was slow. While the second half was all over the place. It was fast one minute and then slow the next. Another issue was the characters. They were a bit one-dimensional. They never felt real.

Overall, I really like the story. But the execution wasn't the best.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Rosalyn Briar, Quill and Crow Publishing House, and Independent Book Publishers Association for graciously sending me the ARC to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

Thank you NetGalley and for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was very basic, and there wasn’t anything unique about it. It felt very much like your average fantasy romance novel. However, I did like this was a good retelling of Maleficent, but at times it felt quite flat.

I struggled with this one.

The pacing was much too fast, I think. I got whiplash from how fast everyone's feelings were changing in the beginning, and then with everything happening in the story.

I will say there were some pretty neat shows of magic, but not enough to save the book.

Her Dark Enchantments
Thanks to Netgalley for the free ARC. This review is entirely my honest opinion of the book.
Rating: 5 stars
Beauty crafted, compelling, and captivating. This book brings a refreshing and dark twist to a classic tale.
I absolutely loved this book. I have read a lot of fairytale retellings, and sometimes, I do get a bit weary of them because they can be quite repetitive. However, this book felt entirely new, refreshing, and original. It had its own story with nods to the classic story woven into it. The world-building was excellent, and it had a lot of intriguing original elements. I loved the way the trees held magic, and I also loved the idea of the different sources of power and the unique way that Myravelle’s powers were formed.
This book was darker than I expected, but it was executed well and it really helped me empathize with Myravelle’s character. Although she was somewhat morally grey, I really connected with her and rooted for her the whole time. She was an absolute badass and I loved her as a character. I really also shipped the romance as well. The plot was interesting and there were several twists that I did not expect. I was shocked, swooning, and heartbroken throughout this story. The ending had a bit of a surprising change in tone, but it did feel appropriate. This is definitely a story I will remember.

A fairytale in the truest sense. Although it can be compared to a retelling of A Sleeping Beauty, it has elements and crossovers and hidden Easter eggs from other fairytales as well. The characters and world building contain all the essential elements of a traditional fairy tale. There’s morally grey shades in the Dark fairy and also the human characters. This story picked me up at the start and carried me along in its tide, flowing through words and worlds as easily as any story that tells itself. It was a wonderful journey and I’ll definitely seek out more of the same. The cover is beautiful, but also not what I’d expected the story to be if judging a book by its cover. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Okay. I wasn't really liking this book until I got to the end and it all made sense.

I don't know if three stars would be correct or maybe 2 and a half, but I think the conflict here is that I didn't connect with the characters and the love story didn't reach me. There are certain themes and ways of carrying out this romance that I did not understand why it was done that way.

It has some pretty cool plot twists, I liked the twist it took, the way Myravelle was connected to the curse of sleeping beauty was really cool and how it comes to that too. I like when the other side of the story is shown and that's why I ended up enjoying it.

I think without the romance it was better. That's why I think I was the problem.

Thanks NetGalley and Quill and Crow Publishing House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t know this was a retelling or alternate origin story ofMaleficent, so it was a nice surprise! The FMC was written really well through out the story, her character development was delicious from start to finish with a slight hiccup in the middle.

I was invested in Myravelle and Byzarien’s story. Loved how the author beautifully conveyed the pain of their histories and the live that grew between them.

The side characters were also fun and would have loved to see them more throughout the story but, the main MMCs had to flee for the next part of the book and this is where I felt like the story dragged on! I understand this was the part where the FMC would be trying to find out more about herself and her origins but her character during this part was the weekest.

Between mid way to about 83% of the book, it was easy for me to put down the book as there wasn’t much happening!! There was, but it wasn’t as exciting as the first half!!! Then it picked up, and it picked up good, we get to watch the FMC develop further into her truest character and it was amazing!

if you live Fairytale Villain origin Stories then this one is great. Please read any and all TWs

Tropes
•Enemies to lovers to 😭
•Forces proximity
•magic

TWS
•blood play
•mentions of suicide
•death of loved ones
•body mutilations
🌶️/5

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book for an honest review!

I liked the concept, but I think it struggled being a shorter book. There was a lot of world building and character development shoved into just over 200 pages. I think this probably caused some of my issues with the story. Spoilers below:


Byzarien went from hating Myravelle to professing his love rather quickly. Certain things weren't really explained, and I was often distracted by all the characters who had names that contained an X, Y, Z, or a combination of them. That being said, I still enjoyed Byzarien and Myravelle; I just thought they needed more time.

Posted to goodreads.com/nelliereadsalot on 5/11.

So far while reading this book, I've had to gasp at least three times. When Myravelle received her mothers finger as a "gift". That pissed me off. Like who the fuck would do that shit. I definitely believe that the king is the one behind all of the fairy attacks. I believe that the fairies haven't bee attacking at all and if they are. They are doing it to protect there land/forest. When she slipped the sweet pea into the cauldron, I knew that was going to trigger their interaction. I didn't think that Byzarien would be a masochist. The way he wants her to keep cutting her even after she didn't need to anymore was amazing. After reading this book, I didn't believe I would of cried at the end of chapter 35. I didn't see the queen of fairies to do that and more. The way the book came about at the end was soo worth the slow burn of this book. I like this way of retelling the Sleeping Beauty story.

Oh my my what I just read. I am currently in a state of shock. The writer has done an incredible job. Myravelle's perspective was truly amazing. I feel like giving this book a five-star rating. It was an excellent retelling. A wicked fairy who didn't want to be evil, but time and circumstances took everything away from her and turned her into a villain. Myravelle's sorrow was something else, but the ending with Byzarien was mind-blowing. I thought Myravelle and Byzarien would have a happy ending. What happened to Byzarien made me want to cry. But then I remembered that a past story of Mistress of All Evils couldn't possibly have a happy ending. After reading it, I feel sympathy and compassion in my heart for the wicked fairy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a copy of Her Dark Enchantments.
Who doesn't love a retelling. I love how creative they can be and this one did not disappoint. This one was a very entertaining take on Sleeping Beauty with other fairytales scattered in. If you love retellings then be sure to pick this one up.

I love a good twisted fairytale retelling. I didn't expect the book to end the way it did, and don't get me started on the preface. That being said I would absolutely read it again.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the Arc in exchange for an honest review.

I am drawn to fairytale re-tellings, but to have one from the villain's POV is new for me. I thought it was well thought out and the characters were well-written.

It kept my attention all the way through as lately I have been finding my mind wandering while I read.

Would definitely recommend

"Her Dark Enchantments" is a dark retelling of Sleeping Beauty that explores the origins of the iconic villainess, the Wicked Fairy. The book follows Myravelle Spinner, a half-fairy who uses human canvases to create healing enchantments that save the lives of soldiers afflicted by a sleeping curse. The story takes place in a world where fairies and humans are at odds, and Myravelle must navigate this conflict while dealing with her own internal struggles.

The book is well-written and features strong character development. Myravelle is a complex protagonist who is sympathetic despite her dark powers, and Byzarien, the soldier who becomes her canvas, is a great foil for her. Their romance is sweet and satisfying, and the book's found-family aspect is a nice touch.

The story's pacing is a bit slow in the first half, as it takes time to establish the characters and their motivations. However, once the story picks up, it becomes a page-turner with a satisfying conclusion. The world-building is intricate and elaborate, but some modern terms and concepts can be jarring and disrupt the overall cohesiveness.

Overall, "Her Dark Enchantments" is a great read for fans of fairytale retellings and dark fantasy. It offers a fresh take on the Sleeping Beauty story and explores themes of love, power, and redemption. The book has some trigger warnings for bullying, but handles them well. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and entertaining read.

First off thank yo netgalley for the ARC, here is my honest review. This book was beautifully written. This dark gothic type retelling of the origins of Maleficent was right up my alley. If you want a retelling told through the eyes of a villain then this book os perfect. I definitely recommend this book. I can’t wait for more.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book

I wanted to like this book.
Damn, I wanted to LOVE it.
Sadly, I failed massively.
Though I found the premise interesting, it was the cover that drew me in - this author's books always do that for me, she has the most exquisitely stunning covers and I always fall for them. I also hoped that what I had failed to enjoy on her previous novel, I would not find in this one.
I was wrong.
I still couldn't give a toss for the characters, I found them bland and trite and nothing about the way they were written managed to spellbind or move me. I was left as indifferent to them as I can be. The premise of the tale was still interesting - or should I say alluring - enough for me to persist, despite my lack of interest in those characters, but the story dragged and dragged for far long than I would have liked it to. Everything was sleepy, in it, like the name of those woods. I also found myself rather annoyed - for absolutely no good reason - at the author ripping off a certain scene from the old Disney Sleeping Beauty film, which my grandad took me to see at the theatre. It felt like a very unneccessary and silly gimmick, to me.
Anyway, all this has made me realise one important thing: I am definetely not this author's audience, and I won't be falling under the spell of her stunning covers again.