Thank you to Netgalley and the author for allowing me access to this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

« Kayne Malkin. Her captor and tormentor. Her guardian. Her lover. »

Rating: 2 ⭐️
Genre: Dark Romance
Format: ARC Ebook
Pages: 377
Spice: 1 🌶️
POV: Double third POV
S/S: Fairy Tales From the Underworld #1
Check trigger warnings for any book

This definitely isn’t a romance. Nor would I consider it a love story, as I did not find any love whatsoever.

The beginning of the book was promising. The plot was there, there was tension, motive, and growth within the relationships…

But then we hit the 30% mark, and nothing happened. We stayed in the same scenario of « she’s intrigued, he’s intrigued, they hurt each other but have sexy time and the cycle starts again ».

Even if we just studied the relationships mentally, there was nothing. What loyalty? What growth? What attachment?

No act of devotion, or « love » at any point.

As for the writing, whilst enjoyable, I think we can summarize the total dialogue to about 10 pages. It was purely description.

Very disappointing.

Favorite quotes (MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS):

« No, he hadn’t saved her out of mercy. He’d saved her so he could be the one to make her beg and cry. So he could be the one to break her and savor her broken parts in all the unholy ways he craved. »

« Laura loved books more than anything in the world. »

« So you like nice guys. » « Well… yes. That’s pretty normal. » « You’d be surprised. »

« He was surprised at how fast he had claimed her as his. »

« It’s a funny feeling being taken under the wing of a dragon. It’s warmer than you’d think. »

« He wanted to get inside her head and invade her every waking thought, leaving no space unconquered: within her body, mind, and soul. »

« I may be a monster. But I’d fight for you. I’d kill for you. Go to war for you. If only you knew.. what your Monster would do for you. »

« She could handle the burn. She’d been forged in fire. »

« His Laura. His purple butterfly. »

« For as long as I’m your Monster, I will always find you. »

Leena - Leena.reader review - @leena.reader on tiktok and instagram

This book was a bit much for me. That being said I know tons of people that this one would fit perfectly. It's got a good story and great writing.

Thank you for letting me read a copy of this book!

This was supposed to be a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It was very dark to start off with and in mafia environment. I’ve read many retellings and I can say that something was missing for me.

There was a lack of consent, which wasn’t an issue for the MC and due to this, it could be quite unsettling for some peers when they read this book.

I haven’t noticed a trigger warning list anywhere in the book and I think it’s definitely needed due to the nature of the book.

Some peers might enjoy it a lot more and I might give it another read in the future.

Big thanks to LC moonand Netgalley for the eARCim in exchange for a review.

This was more of a mafia boss style book, and a little less beauty and the beast.
Consent was not always there but MC craved the lack of it.

It was pretty dark, with murder and betrayal.
In giving 3.5 stars. I think there was just too much 'is she, isn't she', 'will he won't he' that it took away from the plot.

This book is not your usual spicy and misunderstood character story. He is keeping her against her will with threats of harming her family. Their attachment is twisted and unhealthy but interesting to read. The surprising end seemed to come from no where but I look forward to the next book

This was a gothic, dark romantic read. I have read the blurb and it states it is a supposedly Beauty and Beast retelling. I have read a lot of retellings of various tales, both good and bad. Was this one a good one? It's hard to tell.

It was a slow-paced read with mafia, captive overtones. There are cliches and tropes that are expected with a forced- captivity read, so some things felt very contrived. While overall the book has that dark edge to it, I felt like the characters were pushed too much into their roles - Beauty, Beast; captive, captor for there to be too much growth beyond what the original tale/trope allowed. Felt like it was a down fall for the story.

Overall it wasn't a bad book and it had potential, but wished the author pushed past the obvious.

** Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion **

could completed only the first part and it was heavy as cautioned before but I really liked their conversation on literature and films and their similar interests and all the story building

I am devastated by this story.

I read it in one night, because I couldn't stop put it down.

I give it 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

For a few reasons:

1) the author warns that it is not a romance nor is it escapist and that is why you shouldn't expect sugary plots (so despite being uncomfortable with some scenes and some story paths, I know I'd been warned)

2) I'm probably not the ideal reader for this type of book 😢

3) I have strong opinions about the ending and I'm still in denial 👀

That being said...

The author is able to draw you into the story to the point that you can't help but read on.

Most of the couple's dynamics worked for me and the plot was well tied together.

Furthermore, she was bold in some narrative choices, and I applaud her courage and originality.

< SPOILERS >

Even though I didn't like the post-marriage betrayal (for me that was the deal breaker) it made sense for him to die in the end. Maybe he was just part of the character's coming-of-age arc like Tamlin was for Feyre.

Or it could be that he's not dead (one can only hope) and will need to go through a long redemption arc.

I will definitely read the next one ❤️

I was given access to this book for free in return for a honest review.

I will start by saying that the trigger warnings must be heeded, quite significantly. I have read a fair few dark romances, but this one was exceptional in that it that it made me feel physically ill.

Overall, the story is disjointed, trying to mix mafia, developing characters and BDSM, all at once.

To say that the protagonist in the book is not relatable in most ways is easy, as she almost immediately developed Stockholm syndrome. The trigger warning for this book includes “dubious consent”, and I would warn people away from this book specifically because “dubious” is consistently replaced with “complete lack of”.

Truly, this books premise, especially the first few chapters, are the things of most womens’ nightmares. Even if you are into kidnapping, the male ‘love interest’ does not functionally grow, or change, and the female protagonist is supposed to just deal with everything, no matter what it is.

The ending is a cliffhanger, but I do not feel any interest in additional abuse of women, which seems to be the only thing that moves the plot.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book!

This is very trigger happy, and I am happy that the triggers were listed, I do wish that they were listed accurately.

That being said, this is a reimagine of Beauty and the Beast. We are brought through a rollercoaster of trigger heavy emotions. From the very beginning, you hope that there is some sort of happy ending, until the idea is ripped to shreds. The two main characters held a lot of passion for one another, but you see how much of a façade it was as neither of them would change. The author was not kidding when they said that this book is not a love story, so keep that in mind. And the ending does leave you with a cliff hanger.

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for allowing me to read this ARC.
Please be warned that if you’re looking for a dark romance this is not that book. Ensure you check the trigger warnings before commencing.
When I tell you I managed to be completely shocked and broken by the end of this book. I mean I read the last chapter with my mouth agape in disbelief.
Of all the ways I expected this to end, even with the warnings, this was not it.
Long live the Monster.

To say I DEVOURED this book would be an understatement. Excellently written and draped in beautiful tragedy, it left me begging for more until it's very last page. Amazing characters, beautifully flawed and honest meet a captivating storyline. I couldn't put it down! I was more than willing to follow Laura into Kayne's underworld. This is the kind of book to make you laugh, cry, and want to fiercely confront your own monsters.

THE CLIFF HANGER?!

This is a 'tale as old as time', but this author did a good job at retelling it with their own dark twists. While the writing was predictable at some points (for me anyway, someone who has read many of these kinds of stories), it was still a good, easy read that I enjoyed.

Laura finds herself in the clutches of Kayne, a member of the mafia, who decides that instead of torturing her for information on her traitor brother's location, he wants to keep her for himself... So he does. In his private residence.

I felt like Laura went a little too easily, but then again, that sort of complacency and submission was in line with the character we got to know before these events. Kayne was a good morally-grey MMC. At points I wanted to strangle him and at other's I thought I was starting to like him.

The smut was really good, but I felt the romance could have had a bit more development; although I suppose a Stockholm vibe is very fitting for this tale.

Overall, it was a 3/5 for me!

A Betime Story by L.C Moon

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Laura is a girl with a past and some bad luck. On a night out, she gets ditched by her work colleague and finds that her purse has been taken. Then comes a tall, handsome stranger comes to her rescue and offers to take her home.

Only, she doesn't end home and ends up being held Captive by the 'monster' Kanye. Her brother stole something important from them, and they want it back and they want him to pay.

Laura is thrown into Kayne's violent and kinky world. She starts off a naive young woman and hopes she can turn the monster into a Prince Charming.

I managed to read this book in one sitting. It was very easy to read and I found I was wanting to know more at the end of each chapter.

I found myself at times, thinking that seriously not. These two will call it quits on their toxic relationship and at other times wanting to bang Laura and Kayne's heads together until they sorted themselves out.

Will I carry on the series when the next book comes out? Probably - Long live the Queen.

The chemistry in this book is great. There’s strong character development and it was hard to put down!

The ending wasn’t my cup of tea but I enjoyed the spice.

Had to DNF this one. Followed too closely to the Beauty and the Beast story buy felt like a poor work of fan fiction.

This was an intense read but I really enjoyed its complexity. Set in a somber fairy tale world, this book is not your typical romance, but a raw and psychologically driven story that explores the twisted love between two broken souls. Laura Spencer and Kayne Malkin, are both deeply scarred by their pasts. Laura, a child of the moon, uses fantasies to escape her harsh reality, while Kayne, a child of the underworld, has been molded into a ruthless member of the Russian Mafia. Their paths unexpectedly cross, leading to a dangerous dance filled with underworld intrigue.
Through beautiful and lyrical prose, Moon takes readers on a journey through the dark and untamed sides of love and humanity. The chemistry between Laura and Kayne is undeniable, but their love is far from conventional. As the story unfolds, we see how their past traumas and experiences have shaped them into the monsters they have become. Moon does not shy away from the dark and uncomfortable aspects of human nature, forcing readers to confront their own darkness. This introspection adds depth to the story and makes it a thought-provoking read.
The world-building is also well-done, with vivid descriptions that bring the somber fairy tale world to life. I highly recommend this book to fans of dark and psychological erotica, as well as anyone looking for a thought-provoking and unconventional love story.

Thank you to Netgalley and BookBaby for the Arc. This Dark re-telling of Beauty and the beast was well done. I enjoyed the Mafia romance more than I thought I would. The characters were written well and the spice was just right. Looking forward to more books by L.C. Moon.

Inspired by the fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast, "A Bedtime Story" involves Laura, captured by the Russian mafia and held captive by Kayne, a high-ranking member. The synopsis promises to take the reader on an exploration of trauma, identity, and cycles of abuse.

I did not get that out of this book. To be honest, I did not finish this book. I appreciated the idea the author had, but the writing was lacking. The characters didn't seem to have solid personalities, but rather fluctuated depending on what the scene needed. Different characters had the same way of speaking; I couldn't determine distinct voices that distinguished them from other speaking characters. The dialogue felt clunky and oddly formal at times.

I do enjoy a dark captured romance, but this book didn't hold my attention. I would not recommend it.

The story reads in a morally ambiguous world, where red flags are overlooked. The story, a blend of mafia romance and Beauty and the Beast, follows a woman unknowingly becoming a pawn in a dangerous game. Despite initial concerns about the balance between plot and intimacy, the book ends up being a page turner. The Fmc, Laura, undergoes profound growth amidst heartbreak and trauma. The dynamic between her innocence and the ominous allure of her captor, Kayne, adds depth. The tale is dark, gritty, and captivating, leaving readers emotionally entangled. The book concludes with a cliffhanger.
Thanks LC Moon and NetGalley for letting me read this book.