3.5 ⭐️

• Slow Burn
• Enemies to Lovers
• Angst

Not a big fan of the FMC in this one. Gwen just came off as a whiny girl who seemed very immature. She also cannot make a single decision, just constantly going back and forth. And this story only takes place in less than a week… How Mordred fell in love with her is beyond me. His broodiness and banter was entertaining though.

The King Arthur/Camelot references were interesting. It actually made the world more intriguing and the end definitely leaves you wanting to know what happens next.

**Netgalley ARC in exchange for honest review**

This book is dark, fun, and easy to read. The FMC getting dropped into this world had the vibe of Whoopi in a Knight in Camelot. I love enemies to lovers and dark morally grey MMCs but sometimes they and their stories can be cringy. This one is not at all! The moral dilemmas and relationships were perfect. I'm 100% continuing this series.

The way that Kathryn Ann Kingsley writes is so captivating and the world-building so enchanting that she has easily jumped onto my auto-buy list in the past few years.

+ Slow Burn
+ King Arthurian Retelling
+ Talking Animal Companion
+ Transported to Another Realm
+ Enemies to Lovers

Gwen's luck seems to be down as she spends her evening at her family home after a devastating breakup with her cheating boyfriend. All she wishes for is a different life than this. After her seemingly normal cat sets fire to her home, creating a portal to another realm in the process, Gwen finds herself teleported to a once magical world.

While I am obsessed with Mordred, I felt disconnected from Gwen. I know that this was not aimed at the same audience as her normal writing, so I did not let that take away from the story. The writing of To Charm a Dark Prince makes the novel incredibly accessible, even if you are new to the genre. The world-building never becomes too convoluted or confusing, but still complex enough to keep you from being bored if you are a seasoned fantasy reader.

Gwen is incredibly passive, and there's not much that I could tell you about her other than she is normal and from Kansas. She did have her funny moments that made her more relatable, and I was thankful for those.

In contrast, Kathryn creates the most compelling and complex villains that you cannot help but fall in love with and Mordred is no exception. He is not the villain for the sake of being evil, but with motivation that he believes to be correct and right. He is a warlord in all sense of the word, but it is to protect his people. His decisions might be "bad," but they are with good intentions.

The banter between the two main characters was entertaining and kept me engaged. Even Gwen had quippy one liners that kept me from wanting to breeze past her dialogue. There is just a way that Kathryn does slowburn that keeps her relationship building as one of my favorites ever.

If you like authors like Holly Black or Grace Draven, but have never picked up Kathryn Ann Kingsley, I HIGHLY recommend picking this or any of her works up! I will definitely be picking up book 2!

To Charm a Dark Prince seemed to be right up my alley -- Arthurian retelling, enemies to lovers, villain gets the girl, Cruel Prince vibes... Unfortunately this just didn't hook me like I had hoped. Gwen's character is a little bland, and I just didn't connect with her at all. I really did love Mordred though, of course.

I really tried to like the book but Gwen felt to much like a whiney weak girl. I had hoped of more world building and more character growth. There were to many modern slange used in the book, so sadly I had to dnf it at 60 percent through.

The idea of a Arthurian Legend retelling is a great concept, but I feel like this retelling just fell flat for me. I have recently read another series by a different author who did a brilliant Arthurian retelling so I had really high expectations going into this book.
Mordred is a morally grey prince and love interest for our FMC Gwen. I did enjoy a bit of the banter between Mordred and Gwen but again these two and the whole love triangle with Lancelot just felt rushed and lacked and not believable.

This book was an interesting read and a series I’ll keep up with. The only reason I give 4/5 is due to the writing style but overall the storyline was unique and kept my attention which is hard to do!

I enjoyed the fact it has a lot based around King Arthur and the Knights of the round table. Calling the grumpy cat Merlin had me laughing as well.

The romance was rather quickly paced but it still made sense and had a good amount of spice even though it was brief.

I didn’t expect the ending to result in the crystals being destroyed but I’m kinda hoping for a hunter/pray situation in the next book between Gwen and Mordred as this man clearly loves a good chase.

** I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review **

A Beauty and the Beast and Legends of Camelot-infused story is always an automatic sign-me-up moment. Gwendolyn, our 19-year-old main character, gets the adventure she has been dreaming of when her mangy barn cat opens a portal and drops into a world of myth and legend. The mangy barn cat is none other than the legendary wizard of old, Merlin. He has a bad attitude and high expectations but none of the mentorship I'd have expected.

Gwen is rather a flat character but shows moments of spunk and a spine. She is presented with a lose-lose situation and is forced to choose a side. While reading I kept hoping a third middle-ground option would present itself, but alas that was not meant to be. Despite being a relatively flat character I still really enjoyed her. Her naivety is endearing while not being overly annoying. Her love of animals and the need to help all people makes her more real to me. Her back story is a little contrived and overdone but it doesn't make her as jaded as you'd expect.

Mordred, the Prince in Iron, I like him. He's flawed with a strong belief in his duty to Avalon. It clearly weighs heavy on him and this book only beings to explore the why. The final line in the book hit me hard, in a cliffhanger sort of way. It made me rethink everything I had just read and look at it and him in a new light. He's described as the monster and the villain but I'm not sure the role actually falls to him. I truly cannot wait to see his growth as the series continues.

I love all things Camelot and this definitely scratched an itch for me. I was a little sad that King Arthur and Morgana didn't have a role in the story but the glimpse into the knights was a lot of fun. It was a good take on the knights and their roles after Arthur. The story also had some good elements of Beauty and the Beast that I enjoyed almost as little easter eggs throughout. I finished the book and was immediately sad that I will have to wait for the next book to be written; I cannot wait to see what is in store for Modred, Gwen, Merlin, and Lancelot!

Happy Reading!

I absolutely LOVED this book and hope there is more soon. I would give this ten stars if I could!!! I will be recommending this to everyone who sees my monthly review posts on TikTok and Instagram

This might've got off on the wrong foot with me but honestly by the end of it I was really impressed with the slow burn of not just the romance, but the story as a whole. I can completely see the trajectory of this story in my mind and it makes me very excited for the future of the series. ARTHURIAN LEGEND FANTASY ROMANCE!!!!!!!!

To Charm A Dark Prince follows Gwen in her adventure in the world of Avalon where magic and powerful beings called "elementals" have been entrapped in an Iron Crystal which was created by our other mc Mordred, the Prince in Iron. The reason that Mordred has been keeping the magic entrapped is because hundreds of years before, elementals had become much too powerful and reckless with their magic, wreaking total destruction on the world. While maintaining this sort of prison within the crystal keeps Avalon relatively "safe", it's become a quite miserable existence with no vibrancy, no joy, and a super precarious relationship between the people of Avalon and Mordred being kind of a tyrant with his rule. Gwen is wrapped up in all of this by accident? fate? definitely a meddling Merlin who escaped Mordred's entrapment in Avalon years before and had been latched onto Gwen in her backwater Kansas world for a decade. Cheating boyfriend, house on fire, magical portal opened, Gwen crashes into Avalon as a fire elemental... someone who could potentially pose a threat to Mordred's tyrannical reign and the iron-clad control he exerts over the land, the people, his fellow knights, his iron creations, and all the souls desperate to escape the crystal.

LISTEN!!!! THE FACT THAT I CAN EVEN SUMMARIZE THIS NOVEL AT ALL AND ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND THE FANTASY OF IT ALL IS A TESTAMENT TO THE AUTHOR'S COMPETENT WORLD-BUILDING AND SUPER ACCESSIBLE WRITING STYLE!!! swear to god I barely understand ANY fantasy I ever read, despite it being one of my favourite genres lol.

The key secondary characters in the story were super enjoyable to get to know, pretty unique, and all have very distinct roles to play in supporting Gwen and/or Mordred. I adored Galahad being like a gentle and wise father-figure to Gwen and a kind of reluctant ally to Mordred, even though their relationship/history is complicated. I loved Lancelot being a smarmy little bitch but kind of in a cute way and just a "good guy" foil to Mordred because fr, we love Mordred for being a brutal, controlling, sharp-edged warlord... we love him for being a very atypical villain or very atypical hero, depending on how you look at it. GWEN WAS FUCKING ANNOYING IN THE BEGINNING I'LL GIVE U THAT, I definitely had to suspend my judgment and push through the "real world" beginning...I feel the author's storytelling strength is in the medieval setting NOT the modern setting. So please do note, the beginning was a bit boring and ridiculous and set Gwen up to come across as super fucking naive and annoying BUT there was growth for her!!! there really was... I gave her more chances and I wasn't disappointed lol.

I recommend this to readers who enjoy ACOTAR and TOG, as well as the Naomi Novik girlies out there!!!! The magic and characters are giving Uprooted and Spinning Silver whereas the drama and the setting are giving SJM.

IN CONCLUSION, KIND OF INTERESTING AND I FEAR THE SPICY SCENE AT THE VERY END WAS UTTERLY SCINTILLATING AND WILL CERTAINLY HAVE ME RETURNING FOR THE SEQUAL!!!

*this review is based off an e-arc provided by netgalley*

This book was.. something.

The main female character faints at every inconvenience.. and the phrasing is so annoying. I can not finish this book.

Here are some quotes from the Gwendolyn (FMC)

“Can.. we get something out of the way, like, first?”

“Um….”

“Kinda.”

“This sucks!”

And a lot of more questions that have “like” in the middle.

I love a good fantasy romance, but the phrasing and immaturity of Gwen, is extremely off putting for me. 🤷‍♀️ this one is not for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for allowing me to read the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me access to this arc.

4 stars / 5 stars

Things I loved:
Loved that it was a quick and fun read, was able to read it in a few hours
Fantasy romance one of my fav themes
Slow burn was good
Loveeee the villain/lover
Things I didn’t loved:
It was written in a younger tone
Not a lot of depth


I am excited to see where the story will go

“I must make her betray me. I must, so that I can put her in the Crystal and be done with her.
I must. Because I love her.”


Gwen, a girl from Kansas, finds herself staying behind while her friends and boyfriend go off to College. While on the farm, she discovers her boyfriend had cheated on her. Wishing for a new life, she never thought her house would catch on fire or for her cat, Merlin, to open a portal to a land called Avalon. What happens when Gwen gets captured by the dangerous dark Iron Prince of Avalon, Mordred? Will Gwen fight to escape or will Mordred be the death of her?




⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I would like to give a thank you to the author, Second Sky, and NetGalley for providing me an Arc in exchange for an honest review!

I’ve been interested in novels that focused on Arthur Retellings and I couldn’t put the novel down. I was so engaged in the world of Avalon and what it had become with Mordred in power of the Crystal and Elementals.

I was also very happy that the author depicted the main character to have panic attacks becayse mental illness and disabilities are not spoken enough in novels. I enjoyed how the author portrayed Gwen as someone like me, who suffers with anxiety/panic attack disorder!

“To Charm a Dark Prince” is a slow burn story leaving you wanting more. With sexual tension, frustration, betrayal and much more! You will not be able to put it down!

o Charm A Dark Prince
Publishing August 8, 2023

🔥 Arthurian Reimagining
🗡️ Morally Gray Characters
🔥 Elemental Magic
🗡️ Dual POV

✨ My Thoughts ✨
Kathryn Ann Kingsley is the queen of writing morally gray male love interests! And of books that you will read in one sitting.

I absolutely devoured To Charm A Dark Prince. I loved how the author recreated the tale of Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and completely made it her own.

Mordred (the main male character) is such a complex character, and my feelings towards him changed so much as I read. I never knew which characters to trust or not, and reading this kept me on my toes.

This was such a quick, fun read! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy romance.

Spice - 🌶️ .5

3.5 ⭐️!!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc, here’s my non-biased review! 🤸‍♀️🤣

"To Charm A Dark Prince" is an engaging tale set in a dangerous yet magical world. The relatable anxiety and panic attacks of Gwendolyn, our FMC, add depth to the story, while the morally gray character of Mordred is intriguing. The captivating lore and the concept of magic users being trapped in a giant crystal make for a fascinating backdrop. The story's pacing is occasionally uneven - I found myself struggling to stay invested at times. Also character development could be stronger - maybe this will solve itself in the next few books!! but overall, it's an enjoyable read with room for more tension and chemistry, pretty please. 🤣

To Charm A Dark Prince
The Iron Crystal #1
Fantasy
Kathryn Ann Kingsley
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I've read other books by Kathryn Ann Kingsley and I usually love them and her writing style, however, I have to admit that I struggled a bit with this book.

The plot is a very slow burn and I found myself putting this book down and reading something else multiple times. I did keep coming back to it though.

The world building was ok and I liked the King Arthur/Camelot references.

I really liked Mordred as a character. He isn't a "misunderstood" villain, he does exactly what he wants, when he wants, no matter what other people think. He's not a good guy and doesn't pretend to be. I wasn't keen on Gwen, even though she's only 18/19, she still seemed very immature.

The pacing was slow and so was the plot. It started to get better after around 50% and the last 25% of the book was the best part, for me.

The ending was great. Things finally started to happen and although it was a little predictable, I liked what Gwen chose to do.

I think I would continue this series just to see what happened to Gwen and the rest of Avalon.

*Thank you to @Netgalley and the publishers for providing this ARC. This is my own opinion and an honest review, which I am leaving voluntarily*

The dialogue and storyline came across extremely cheesy and obvious. Merlin the cat? King Arthur? Idk just not my kind of book.

Mixed feelings - still unsure how I feel overall about this book.

If you want a slow burn, sexual tension, kinda love triangle, 19 year old fmc and a centuries old misunderstood villain/hero,set in an interesting world of magic and knights of the round table. This will do nicely.

It’s the start of a series which has a lot of potential, the world is interesting, the depictions of elementals and knights is beautiful crafted. The cute sexual tension between Gwen and Mordred is refreshing and I like the fact they don’t fall into bed together straight away.

I’m not sure however that I agree with some of the twists and turns and the ending choice, but maybe it has a purpose that will become clear in the next instalment? Maybe it’s about showing how naive Gwen is and how she needs to be stronger for Mordred? I’m not sure. I feel maybe this is a part 1 of 2 book. Like something is just missing off the end but I still look forward to reading the next one.

Don’t read if you looking for a quick HEA or heavy spice.

Do read for some interesting world building and a quirky slow burn style romance with lots of subterfuge.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC copy.

Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a quick, fun read. It was reminiscent of the Cruel Prince to me, and I loved the world. I have never read a book set in Avalon or based of the legend, so I was excited to pick this up. This book had a lot of tropes I liked. Grumpy sunshine, portal fantasy, and a grumpy talking cat. There is a lot of positives here to keep a reader interested.

The writing was digestible, but somewhat young in tone. The characters also felt young, especially Gwen, the main character. She was insufferably talkative and definitely a damsel in distress, but not in a good way. I would have liked to see the characters a bit more fleshed out. Having said that, the banter was pretty good.

Overall, I would recommend this to anyone looking for a plot-focused quick read, or a younger audience. If you go into this not expecting a lot of depth, I'm sure you'll like it.

I didn’t end up finishing this. I really like the premise of this. But the writing is too juvenile for this to be an adult book. I stopped about 20% through and just could not finish it. So I can’t speak to the last 80% of the book.

Grammatically - There didn’t seem to be any errors.

There wasn’t much backstory. It almost started out like a fan fiction and the FMC was very childish even for a 19 year old. All in all I wasn’t a fan.


Thank you Netgalley and Second Sky for allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.