Part Arthurian retelling, part Beauty and the Beast, and part 90s fantasy romance anime, ‘To Charm a Dark Prince’ is whimsical and indulgent in ways that will appeal to fans of the parallel universe romance format the likes of Inuyasha and The Cat Returns.

If you ignore anyone who tries to tell you this books is spicy (it’s not, but there will be sequels, so there’s time) and you don’t need your enemies to truly hate each other, just be fundamentally opposed: you’ll be able to appreciate the flirtatious nature of these enemies to lovers, the true slow burn, and the fact that the mmc doesn’t lose all semblance of original characterisation immediately after getting it in.

Madeline Pell’s narration of the audiobook is crisp and succinct, though not particularly wide-ranged in emotions. In Pell’s defense though, Gwen isn’t a terribly deep emotional well of a character, so that could be to blame instead.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Second Sky Books, Bookouture Audio, and Kathryn Ann Kingsly for the opportunity to listen to an advanced listening copy of ‘To Charm a Dark Prince’ in exchange for an honest review.

To Charm a Dark Prince by Kathryn Ann Kingsley was a fun and fast paced story. It's the first book I've read set in Avalon and it was really interesting. This is definitely written for a younger audience. The tone of the writing and main character really stand out as young adult. This story had some pretty great tropes like grumpy x sunshine and forced proximity. The magic talking cat was probably my favorite character. I'd love to read more by this author in the future.

Thank you to @bookouture @kathrynannkingsley @netgalley for this alc in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio, and Second Sky Books for the ARC.

19yo Gwendolyn finds herself thrown into the mists of far different Avalon than the legends ever foretold after an environmental disaster drops into an interdimensional portal. Mordred is the prince of the island, and he rules with an iron fist--quite literally--and she is quickly captured and under his control. There's dark magic afoot, and Gwen is torn between many people telling her snippets of truth, giving her two options: betray Mordred & save Avalon or stay at his side and save Avalon The answer would seem easy since she's his captive, but the prince doesn't appear as dark as he seems--or at least not in a way that isn't appealing to her--but she can't make it back home without choosing a side.

I'm not a fan of the dark romance genre a lot of the time (it's so very often romanticized abuse), and this book is definitely bordering on that. I think that the novel should have been centered around characters who were closer in life experience, if not age. Edward and Bella had a more reasonable relationship in comparison. This is a story that definitely should have been written for adults in mind--not barely-legals coming into their identity and critical thinking skills.

Outside of that, the relationship development between Mordred and Gwen was off (too much mutual flirting right off the bat), but I think that is simply due to the mental state of the target audience: it's something that would appeal to a lot of new adults, I believe.

I don't recommend it to anyone but 25+yo would probably hate it.

To escape a fire in her home Gwen jumps into a portal to Avalon, ruled by Mordred, the Prince in Iron.
Unable to find a way home and held prisoner by Mordred Gwen must charm the dark prince, to not only save herself but the entire realm.
To Charm a Daek Prince is Arthurian retelling combined with beauty and the beast elements.
I enjoyed the slow-burn relationship and banter between Gwen and Mordred, but it didn't feel like true enemies to lovers imo..
The world building and magic system were both really interesting but I did feel the pacing was a bit off in the middle.
However if you enjoy a fantasy romance with a dark morally grey lead, you'll probably enjoy this.

I was transported into the captivating world of Avalon alongside Gwen, a young woman suddenly trapped in this magical realm. The story revolves around Gwen's struggle to unravel her newfound powers and navigate the complex dynamics of Avalon's court, ruled by the enigmatic and powerful Mordred. As Gwen strikes a deal to secure her freedom, a delicate dance of desire and danger ensues between her and the tyrant prince. Inspired by Arthurian legends, the plot offers an engaging blend of magic and intrigue. While the writing style and character depth lean towards a younger audience, the banter and plot-focused narrative keep the story compelling. Madeline Pell's narration in the audiobook brings the world and characters to life, enhancing the experience. This is a quick and entertaining read, particularly suited for those who enjoy plot-driven fantasies set in enchanting realms like Avalon.

It's a Knight's of the round table retelling sure, but also beauty and the beast.

And I enjoyed this no pointless filler and drawn out romance just cut and dry and that's such a breath of fresh air because I feel like everything now and days is miscommunication trope and it annoys me.

I started this audiobook with my almost 18 year old niece in the car. She is also an avid reader and listens to audiobooks regularly. She only listened to the first hour, but she was hooked. She said she liked how the FMC talked like she did, and that she used curse words. If new adults are the target audience, I think the author did her job well.

I am not a definitely not new adult, but I also enjoyed the book. It was a fun and easy listen and the narrator did a fantastic job.

Thank you Netgalley for the audio ARC of this book.

Yay new fantasy romance series!!!
Ok so first off this is a slow burny, King Arthur influenced, portal to another dimension fantasy romance. It has a regular 19 year old named Gwen whose mysterious cat sets fire to her house and opens a portal to a magical place. Or formerly magical place. Gwen only real character trait is she is a normal person, which kinda left her feeling flat sometimes. I wanted to like her, she had some great one liners. But other than being from Kansas I don’t feel like we had a lot to go on.
Our villain/love interest on the other hand was *chefs kiss* Not only is he the bad guy but it makes sense! He isn’t trying to change anyone’s mind, he’s doing what he thinks is right even if no one agrees. If you love a villain love story, here ya go.
I will say I enjoyed the lack of a clear path for our characters , you spend the book wondering what choice Gwen will make without there being a front runner.
Also there is a dog, so bonus points
I will definitely be continuing on with the series

Solid 4.75.

Let me tell y’all about the chokehold this book has had over me today.

SWOOOOON! I am OBSESSED with this brooding & untrusting Dark Prince. He is an iconic villainous hero. I deeply appreciated the panic attack rep in this book. I loved how gentle & patient Mordred is with Gwen whenever she is dealing with a panic attacks or anxiety.

The tension for this slow-burn IS INSANE. LIKE WOWIE WOW WOW. GIMME MORE. The entire time I was screaming, “JUST KISS ALREADY.”

The ending was rushed & I felt a little unfulfilled. Luckily, book 2 comes out in November!

Amazing narrator for the audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & Second Sky for the copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

An interesting and lively fantasy story with characters that keep you listening and is narrated well ..

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

If you like steamy romance and fantasy, you'll like To Charm a Dark Prince. It reminded me of some of the Eliza Raine books that I've read before (but with fewer characters and world-building explanations). This was my first time reading/listening to Kathryn Ann Kingsley and it was an interesting story. She does know how to capture your attention and I finished the book in less than 3 days. The narrator of the audiobook also did a good job. I'm curious for the next installment, since there is a cliffhanger at the end and I'll probably grab the second title of this collection as soon as it's released.

On the other hand, there were some aspects that annoyed me, specially because this is 2023 after all. For instance, I can't count how many times Gwen said/though "I'm just a dumb girl from Kansas" (which is annoying per se), but then Mordred, the Prince in Iron, who is IDK how many centuries years old, thinks she's smart (but now wise). All of the "I don't know what to do" scenes were tiresome as well, specially because she made up her mind on whether or not she would betray Mordred after having 1 conversation with a character that barely appeared in the story.

3 stars.

3.5 ⭐️

This book offers a twist on the classic portal fantasy, with Arthurian aspects and a sassy, magical cat named Merlin! It’s also the first in a new romantasy series, which I always love. I enjoyed the push and pull of Gwen’s relationships with the two MMCs. But would I truly call this a slow burn? Definitely not. Did Gwen feel like a 19 year old in the year 2023? No, she was fully written by a millennial (of which I am one—I can recognize a “doggo” from miles away). And despite being a fantasy, it felt pretty stereotypically trope heavy. Depending on the summary of the second book, I can see myself picking it up, but my expectations are curbed.

This is a king Arthur retelling and it’s is awesome!! Could not put it down! Has everything I love in a fantasy. This is of the story of King Arthur had a if it had a baby with the Dark Crystal!! Phenomenal! Narration on this book was wonderful she an amazing job on it. So beyond curious what the next book is going to be like and the story from here on out, I am forever a fan!!

oh man... I struggled with this one and honestly should have DNF'd it.

This is an Arthurian retelling and there was not one thing I liked about this? I didn't feel drawn in by the plot nor the characters. The magic system was not well explained and everyone was just miz.

The audio narration was well done, but otherwise, I will not likely continue on in the series.

The anxiety and panic attacks seems like it hasn't been researched alot .
I've listened 🎶 in audio and read the ebook in tandem.


Merlin makes me laugh that stubborn feline . He's a sarcastic cat that makes me laugh

Gwen has been transported into magical realm of Avalon its a slow burn romance with fantasy elements

Iron Prince

Though it's said it's an adult fantasy it's reads more of a YA It appears that Mordred, the Prince in Iron, has imprisoned the elemental magic of the kingdom in an iron crystal since the Avalon she sees is considerably grimmer than the stories describe. Mordred believed that taking such harsh measures was the only way to prevent Avalon from devolving into eternal war and, finally, total devastation. The stasis that Mordred has brought about, in the opinion of the remaining Knights of the Round Table, is worse than any conflict.

3.75 round up to 4 stars

#ToCharmaDarkPrince #NetGalley

Oh, Fire Fly what have you done :( - that is a BIG sad sad face!! I mean, I need the second book now. I AM GUTTED! I need to know what happens. Fire Fly has broken my heart, but I am also worried now that Eod is on the hunt -this is not going to end well.

Another fantasy book which has piqued my interest and the audiobook is awesome. The narrator has done a wonderful job with all the characters, and much loved ones from Arthurian times! I mean a book with Mordred, Lancelot, Galahad and Merlin - hello I am there!!

Merlin is just the best and had me chuckling, we swooned with Lancelot, learned from Galahad and had a lot of emotions to work through with Mordred!

Gwen is thrust into this world of Avalon, unceremoniously by her cat and she now has powers! Her journey was a fascinating one, and even though the tone at times was more YA, I felt that Gwen acted in the most realistic way I have seen portrayed in a book for a long time! I was intrigued, like her, to discover the history and power that has caused these ruins. A world where we have no comprehension and I fear for what her actions may have now done. I literally can't wait to read the next book, I am so excited!!!! I devoured this audiobook as much as I could, it's always difficult listening to it on my phone, rather than web-based so it took me longer than I would like, but devour it I did! Gah!

I want to jump straight back into the book. The author has created some head-spinning characters as you separate fact from fiction, and she has created a world we can be immersed in. I loved it all!!

Mordred is a character who annoyed me and caught my eye equally. He is a troubled soul and I hate how things have worked out for him, however, he doesn't really help himself, and with the end of this book, I fear he will step into his name full throttle. I loved the romance, and a hint of romance with him, and the softer side. He is most definitely a character with many layers, and I can't wait to peel more off him.

This book is such an easy read and one you can lose yourself in without getting bogged down in things. Everything was explained and in a way, you felt like you knew it already. We learned with Gwen and watch her become more comfortable in a strange land. Now, well... I can't say anymore.

I am just looking forward to the next adventure!

Ahh-mazing. Utterly amazing. I could not, did not put this down once i started to read it and the audiobook has made me love this story more. The voice was just right, it gave the emotions and had the story come to life more than when I read it.

A magical slow burn that everyone needs to hear. I loved the knights of the round table twist this gives off. If you love fantasy romance, surprise kiss, tension, magic, read this. I am melting with excitement for the next book.

Book: To Charm a Dark Prince
Author: Kathryn Ann Kingsley
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Book Review:

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to listen to the unedited ARC audiobook.

To Charm a Dark Prince is the first book in the fantasy series Iron Crystal by Kathryn Ann Kingsley. This series is a twist on the myths of Avalon, magic, the legend of King Arthur, Gwendolyn and other beloved characters. The first book's story focuses on Gwen, Merlin, Mordrad and the island of Avalon in a state of disarray for a millennium. Mordrad is an anti-hero, morally grey, brooding dark prince of Avalon and Gwen is an unexpectedly human that finds herself in Avalon after a series of unfortunate events in her life. The plot is filled with grear banter and suspense. The relationship between Gwen and Mordrad made it difficult to finding a good stopping point. I wanted to keep the story going!

There were many twist and turns along this slow burn romance adventure and an unexpected ending that left me wanting Book 2 immediately!

#netgallery #netgalleryreviewer #tocharmthedarkprince #kathrynannkingsley #Morallygrey #Slowburnromance #willthevilliangetthegirl #suspense #kingarthur #darkbroodingprince #spice 🌶️🌶️

Thank you so much to @netgallery for the arc for provide my honest opinion and thoughts on this book.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an easy listen. While it is not YA, it does read as YA.

If you enjoyed aspects of Alice In Wonderland, I think this could align with you. Gwen & her talking cat find themselves falling through a portal to another land- Avalon. I’m not familiar with the story of Avalon, so I appreciated the authors attention to detail.

Gwen slowly begins to understand that she’s in a world filled with elementals. & the only one walking free is the Prince of Iron (& her). The others are locked in a crystal on the pretenses of power balances and safety in their world.

While the tropes were something I enjoy, slow burn somehow felt like insta love for me.

I wish Gwen would’ve grown on me more. Overall, I felt her character fell flat for me. The Prince of Iron balanced out my dislike for Gwen and kept me reading.

Overall, To Charm A Good Prince was a fun intro to this series.

I’m finally finished with the audiobook, yeayy!!! I read both through e-arc and audiobook, and while the story itself is interesting, i found that the audio version offers a better experience for me. It’s fun, the narrator able to convey each emotions from different POV’s. I love audiobook version of this book!!

If you're like me, who enjoy and LOVE Arthurian retelling you should pick this book!!!

Gwen got dragged by her talking cat into a magical portal to save herself after Merlin set her house on fire. The portal leads her to Avalon, which Modred rules. This Avalon is full of magic and wonder and I'm so excited for this.

The banter between Gwen and Merlin somehow makes me laugh every time, because I imagine Merlin (a 10-years old cat) like my grumpy cat, which looks so adorable when he's angsty. I actually like Gwen a lot, she's a fun character, and her development throughout the book is good I like her personality, she's bubbly and sunshine-y. The other characters were also quite fun and exciting. It does feel a little bit lacking in the romance aspect, the attraction and tension is there but it's under-develop so I feel like I'm forced to like their chemistry that isn't there yet, but there's potential.

I'll still visit book two because usually, the first book was a bit lacking in foundation because of the info dump and build-up of character for the next plot, so let's see.

Thank you to Second Sky, Kathryn Ann Kingsley, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.