Gwen is a normal young woman living a normal life. But when her house catches fire, she follows the ancient cat that lives in her barn through a portal. On the other side of the portal, she finds that she’s in Avalon. Yes, that Avalon, the one with King Arthur. And the barn cat, who she’s always called Merlin, talks. He tells her that Mordred, Arthur’s nephew, now rules Avalon with an iron fist (literally), and that he managed to escape from the Crystal, where Mordred traps anyone in Avalon with magic. If Gwen wants to go home, Merlin says, she has to destroy the crystal. Then Merlin will have his magic back, and he can return Gwen from whence she came.

Mordred is convinced she’ll turn on him like everyone else, and her fire magic (a complete surprise t0 Gwen) should have him sending her straight to the Crystal. But he wants to learn what she knows, to protect himself from the threat that brought her to Avalon, and, well, Gwen makes him feel things he hasn’t allowed himself to feel in a very long time. And Gwen? She realizes she shouldn’t trust Mordred. She certainly shouldn’t fall head over heels for him.

I do love a good Arthurian fantasy, and this one was a lot of fun! Gwen is a little bit of a vanilla heroine – we don’t know much about her beyond that she’s a regular girl from Kansas. But Mordred more than makes up for it. Normally he’s the villain in any Arthurian tale, and this is no exception. But Kingsley does a wonderful job of writing him in such a way that sometimes you can’t help but empathize with him.

I liked the way Kingsley made use of the Knights of the Round Table. They still serve the ruler of Avalon, but do they follow Mordred and give him the same loyalty they gave Arthur? Read and find out.

Mordred has dogs, too. Naturally, they take to Gwen. If he’s a dog person, he can’t be ALL bad, can he?

And the romance bits. Let’s not forget that! This is a slow burn romance, and boy, does it BURN. Most of it is teasing and innuendo and some pretty entertaining banter, but there’s a bit more on-page spice toward the end of the book. Whatever. Gwen is perhaps inexperienced in the ways of love, but I suspect that if she ever really lets herself fall, the pages might burn right out of the book.

I’ve never read Sarah J. Maas, so I can’t say how this compares to that. I can say it was an enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to the next installment!

Thanks to Second Sky Books and NetGalley for a review copy. All opinions here are mine, and I don’t say nice things about books I don’t actually like.

I'm not one to read King Arthur retelling but give me a villain romance and I'm all for it!

Though not my first read with Kathryn Ann Kingsley, I did enjoy getting to know a new world of hers. This story had a good set up with the disruption of not only Gwen's world but of Avalon as well. I will say that the plot can be a little bit slow at certain times in this book I do think the ending provided a great set up for book 2.

One thing I did love was the characters:
Gwen was an interesting protagonist because I truly didn't know if she which direction she was going to choose when it came to Mordred and Avalon.

Mordred... the villain who is apologetically his bad self. I love that Mordred doesn't try to be the good guy in this book, he is aware of how he acts and knows that it can be a lot for Gwen to witness.

Lancelot frustrated me but also cracked me up so I will give him that.

Overall, 4 out 5 stars because I did enjoy reading this and I really want to see how book 2 will go

I just finished this today, and I really enjoyed it! Gwen pulled me in to the story right from the beginning, and did not lose my attention. Mordred is a dark broody MMC, and I loved him too. I have not read much Camelot retelling, but this one was definitely a good one. The story was definitely focused on the two main characters, and I hope for more input from the supporting characters in book 2.

I’m not going to post this review anywhere other than my blog and NetGalley as I DNF after getting to page 100.

I couldn’t get into it, I don’t know if it was because it written in the third person?.

It had the makings of a great book and I was so hyped to read it because this is only the second fantasy style book I’ve read recently and I enjoyed the first one I’d read by this publisher.

By all means make your own decisions on this book when you’ve read it yourself, it just wasn’t for me, I will say I really enjoyed Gwen and her chapters of the book.

This is a clever new fantasy series with a King Arthurian feel to it. When Gwen is literally "dropped" into Avalon, she immediately is put on emotional high alert to keep from being discovered. Those who come from Earth are often assassinated or placed in a chamber where their powers are utilized and they are isolated.

Gwen, however, seems to capture the interest of Mordred who makes it clear he can't have a romantic relationship with anyone, especially not her. Because if things don't go right, he'll have to shackle her.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The narration for the audiobook wasn't bad. Its wasn't the best or worst - - it was somewhere in the middle.

Thank you to NetGalley for the early copies of both the ebook and audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving this ARC, and this doesn't influence my review. I love books with the tropes that this book has, and it didn't disappoint. I definitely recommend! However, it's a double POV which I didn't like.

Thank you to Netgalley and Second Sky for the opportunity to read an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book wasn't for me. I had a hard time connecting with the characters or the world. The FMC doesn't seem to have much of a personality, besides being from Kansas and having anxiety (I do love the uncontrolable anxiety representation). She also reads very young, and of annoying at times.

What threw me off the most, was the almost instant trust the FMC has in the MMC. It felt like she automatically just accepted this new world she was in, and even after being warned about the evil prince that everyone hated and feared, she very quickly went along without a fight. She was so confortable the whole time, making it unbelievable, even for a fantasy.

Oh, and she seems to have no problem with the fact that she might be trapped in the realm forever. She even thinks at one point that it wouldn't be so bad to never go home...But in the very beginning of the book, she seems to have a great relationship with her parents.

There were some parts I liked, when I looked past all of this. The banter was nice, the way the knights and guards were portrayed was different and interesting, and the doggos were the best.

I think this is a book a lot of people could love, and I think that is amazing. And I would recommend it to anyone who loved the Cruel Prince series, or anyone who enjoys retellings with a very YA feel to them. It, unfortunately, just wasn't for me.

I give this book a 3.5. It was a lot of fun, and I did really enjoy the characters. At first, I found Gwen just a tad too . . . personable? Relatable? I don't know how to describe it but she just felt like she was written to be the quirky everygirl that all readers could relate to, which I guess is the point but I didn't love. But as the story went on, her voice became more endearing and I did end up really liking her. (view spoiler)
I've read a few other books from this author and her descriptions of spice scenes have been some of my favorites, but this one lacked in that department a little bit. That being said, I am really excited to see where this story goes and will definitely be reading the next one. I'm hoping for the best for our dear Mordred and Gwen!

OMG, okay wow this book was totally not what I was expecting but oh boy did it deliver.

Literally, right from the moment our two main characters meet, the tension between Gwen and Mordred was playful and sweet and just *Chef's kiss*. I have never related to anyone as much as I do to Gwen in my entire life.

I really enjoyed all the Avalon and Arthurian legends throughout the book. I found the concept of the plot to be unique and super intriguing, I didn't really know where we were going or what was going to happen but I was living for every minute of it.

There were moments where I was a little confused, I think mainly due to not really knowing much about Arthurian legend but I think I got into it the more I read and also our lovely main characters really made the book worth while.

Definitely will need to check out the next book in the series!

When Gwen is transported to an Avalon trapped in crystal by Mordred, the Prince in Iron, she sees little means to escape. Striking a deal to get home, she joins Mordred's court intending to ruin his plans. The two have an instant attraction, complicating everything.

To Charm a Dark Prince is the first book in the Iron Crystal series, and is an enemies-to-lovers romance in a fantasy realm. Gwen is a nineteen-year-old living on a farm in Kansas with anxiety and panic attacks that leave her passing out when she stops breathing. She curses a lot and has few prospects for her future, but a fire in the house has her jumping through a portal into an Avalon devastated by war. Arthur was once a real king, and the Knights of the Round Table were real as well, and Avalon was an island realm that was kind of a pit stop between other ones. It sometimes infuses people with magical power, making them an elemental. Unfortunately, it's random and didn't help Arthur. Instead, Mordred was infused with power, and he can control iron. This is one of the few things that can inhibit magic, so he created an iron crystal to hold all of the elementals of Avalon so they would stop capriciously waging war with each other.

Gwen is now a fire elemental, and the first novelty on Avalon in hundreds of years. Magic changed her shape to be just about irresistible to Mordred and Lancelot, so she's caught in the middle of old rivalries and the factions that want the crystal broken and Mordred's desire to keep it intact to protect the very people that revile him. She sees both sides of this argument but is also stricken by how inflexible and absolute Mordred's rule is. Given this is the first book of a series, we know that it won't end in a neat way.

For all that Mordred is hundreds of years old thanks to magic, and so are the remaining Knights of the Round Table, they all act like high schoolers with their first crush. It's a bit off-putting for me because I found Mordred's behavior too inconsistent. Then again, he and the other Knights lived in something like stasis for those hundreds of years, with nothing new or challenging to help them grow. He's emotionally on the same level as Gwen, so at least their mutual attraction made sense. I'm not sure who to root for, because this is an Avalon that's lost much of its luster and is full of misery. I can only hope that whatever the ultimate outcome in the series, it will be better for the changes that are coming.

In To Charm a Dark Prince, Kingsley transports readers to the Avalon. In this version of Avalon, King Arthur is dead and Mordred, the Prince in Iron, rules. The people of Avalon fear Mordred, but not in a good way. He imprisoned Elementals, hence entrapping magic. He had good reason to do so, as the Elementals became reckless thus creating chaos. However, this action led to Avalon becoming a desolate and depressing city.

He faced opposition from many angles, one of which came from Gwendolyn, a nineteen-year-old from modern day Kansas. The manner in which Gwen got caught in this whole scenario was quite hilarious. I will not go into many details, but I will say this much. It involved a cat and fire.

It was interesting getting to know Mordred. The story portrays him as controlling, a tyrant, and brutal. However, it seemed he had a bit of a soft spot for Gwen, which may lead to his downfall. Also, there were times throughout the story when I kept wondering if Mordred was really the villain. Sticking to his convictions and not being easily swayed was his most admirable trait.. Some readers may find Gwen’s behaviour annoying. However, given the sheltered life she lived, it came as no surprise. She shows some growth as the story progressed, but there is room for improvement.

Mordred and Gwen’s interactions reeked of sexual tension and humour. It was quite interesting, given the circumstances. Mordred doesn’t trust her, and with good reason. 

The world Kingsley created fascinated me and fed my desire for everything Arthurian. The story started out slow, and it took sometime for it to pick up. This was mainly because of the author introducing readers to the new Avalon, and providing information as it relates to the reasons for Mordred’s actions.

To Charm a Dark Prince delivered a fun start to The Iron Crystal series. I am curious to learn if Gwen will succeed in her mission to bring down Mordred, or will they join forces? So many questions, especially with that explosive ending.

'To Charm a Dark Prince' by Kathryn Ann Kingsley is a dark fantasy re-telling of the Arthurian legend that focuses primarily on Mordred and Gwen. Other familiar names do make appearances, but the characters are definitely a modern take on their 'could-be' place in Avalon.

Mordred is tasked with a heavy burden, which of course leaves him generally grumpy and overall kind of intriguing. He's powerful and a bit oppressive, which makes him fun to read.. and he's definitely not lacking in the looks department either.

For me, he was the best part of the book. Gwen I found to be just okay, moderately annoying and sometimes coming across rather clueless. The bones of the story are interesting. There are lots of neat concepts strewn throughout the pages, but the writing could use some development.

The book is recommended for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Elisa Kova, and Danielle L. Jensen, but in my opinion it's far more Kova than Maas. If you liked Kova's A Trial of Sorcerers, this one is for you.

This was a very interesting re-telling of Camelot with a combination of both the modern and fantasy world. Honestly this type of specific fantasy isn't really my gig, which is probably why it wasn't my favorite, but I thought the world building was interesting and I enjoyed the creative new takes on Merlin and Mordred and how seeing how Gwen and his relationship slowly developed despite the strong chemistry between them. All in all an interesting read!

Wow - what a brilliant first book in a series that is new
With Avalon, knights and decisions about what to do!
Magic, elementals, powers and much more
A fantasy romance with this new world to explore.

Gwen escapes a fire by following Merlin, her cat,
Down through a portal, not sure where she's at.
With a burning new ability and mystery, too,
She has so many choices about just what to do.

With tales of Arthur and so many of his knights
Magic and mystery, and putting wrongs to rights.
There's potential romance, attraction, too,
But can they trust to the feelings to be true?

If you enjoy the tales of King Arthur and his knights
Then this book with its added magical mystery and plights
Could well prove to be the brilliant read
That you decide next you'll need!

The narrator is great, expressive and clear,
Bringing to life the drama, dilemmas and fear,
As in this fantasy your knowledge is grown
A pleasure to listen to or to read on your own.

For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
I throughly enjoyed reading it and this is my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! It has exactly what you need in a book! Thank you to Netgalleyand the publisher for allowing me early access to this title

Rating: 3.4/5⭐
Spice Level: 1.5/5

Tropes: Arthurian Legends, Love Triangle, Dark Fantasy Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Slow Burn

Special thanks to Netgalley & SecondSky for the ARC! This one was a pretty easy read, a quick-paced fantasy romance that you could knock out in a single reading session. It is the first in a new series and there is a cliffhanger, just a heads up!

FMC Gwen is recently graduated from high school, and ends up falling through a portal into Avalon where she is (1) now a fire elemental and (2) a prisoner to MMC Prince Mordred, who is the ruling tyrant. Avalon is essentially wasting away and Gwen needs to figure out whose side she's on in the Avalon political sphere.

Of course, you can't have an Arthurian inspired story without Arthur's knights (including Galahad, Lancelot and Percival), who help fill out the small roster of characters. Mordred himself is very morally gray, and I am torn on whether I'm Team Mordred or not. I feel like Gwen (and myself as the reader), didn't get enough context or worldbuilding in order to really have an informed opinion on his actions. I'm definitely intrigued enough by the overall story and the cliffhanger to check out the sequel though.

Spice was decent, though not quite as explicit as I typically go for. Definitely slow-ish burn and good chemistry between Gwen and Mordred. There is a bit of a love triangle, but I never took Lancelot seriously as a contender, so it's a very minor one.

Overall, a solid read! It is pretty short and fast paced, so it's an not a massive commitment to check it out, especially if you love Arthurian inspired stories/retellings. I'll be reading the sequel for sure.

A strong start to a new series, To Charm a Dark Prince is an Arthurian-inspired tale following Gwen, who falls through a portal into Avalon. Her only way home is through destroying a crystal; however, Mordred, the Prince of Iron and the dark, broody figure who created the crystal, stands in her way. Gwen has to choose whether to trust Mordred or betray him.

Between the tension, the banter, and the pacing, To Charm a Dark Prince was a quick read for me. Mordred’s magical abilities are unique, especially the ability to create beings. Gwen seems somewhat naïve and sheltered despite being 19, yet there is a lot for her to parse through as she decides which path is the right one for her.

It’s hard to know what is wrong and what is right for the realm of Avalon. I look forward to seeing how the story unfolds in the next book in this series!

*Grumpy sunshine
*Morally gray villain
*Enemies to lovers
*Slow burn
*Arthurian legend
*Surly, talking black cat

3.5 stars.

To Charm a Dark Prince was a delightful start to a new series by Kathryn Ann Kingsley. It's a fantasy romance set in an Arthurian world, which I found interesting as I'm not overly familiar with the story of King Arthur.

The story follows Gwen, a human who gets transported into the magical world of Avalon, and Mordred, a tyrant prince and overall morally grey character. I enjoyed the premise, world building, and many of the secondary characters, but struggled a little to connect with the two main characters. I think the disconnect was simply because To Charm a Dark Prince is book one in the series so there is so much more to learn about these characters. Also the events in this book spanned a short period of time; so much so, that I didn't realise how quickly I read the book when I came to the last page.

That being said, I loved the fantasy elements! I've been reading more fantasy romance lately, and To Charm a Dark Prince absolutely hit the spot! It also ended on a mountain of a cliffhanger and I cannot wait to see how the events of book two unfold.

This is the second book by Kathryn Ann Kingsley that I've read, and I really enjoy her writing style. It's very easy to follow and the stories are well-detailed. To Charm a Dark Prince was a great start to what I believe will be a fantastic romantasy series, and I cannot wait for more!

Disclaimer: I received an ARC.

To Charm A Dark Prince is a Camelot inspired fantasy romance. The female lead, Gwen, gets transported to Avalon via a magical cat that starts a fire in her home...guess we're not in Kansas anymore and Toto is a jerk cat. But I digress. Gwen, is told by said jerky cat that she needs to destroy the crystal that the Prince in Iron has created to trap all elementals and magical beings. Naturally, our leading lady is caught by said Prince and thus commences the captured to lovers plot. I'm not intimately familiar with the original Camelot plot, so I can't say how heavily inspired it is or whether it's accurate, but I knew enough to be entertained. I enjoyed the full cast of characters, though they could've used a tad more development. At times, the characters took actions to serve the plot, rather than something that was consistent for their character. The slow-burn romance was good, but the climax felt rushed. Fair warning, this one ends on a mild cliffhanger into the next book, which I will happily read. If you want a dark-ish fantasy romance that doesn't take itself too seriously and isn't overly complicated, this book is for you. Overall, I gave this book 3.5 stars (rounded to 4) because I had a great time while reading it.

My thoughts on this novel are conflicted. I did enjoy it but, I disliked how distrustful Mordred was. However, I can’t help but like his morally grey dark and brooding nature. Gwen on the other hand I have zero faults with she is amazing in my opinion and completely relatable. This book is part 1 in a 4-book series. It is a slow burn book filled with magic and another world apart from ours and I can’t wait for the next instalment.