This is such a unique retelling and the concept really hooked me, however it ended up falling a little flat.

I think that was mainly because the romance was a little lacking for me, I didn’t really connect with the characters and so wasn’t too interested in their stories.

I do think this would work for so many people though, it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the arc. 🫶🏻

I was totally hooked reading this Sleeping Beauty retelling and completely lost in the best way possible in the enchanting world the author has created. I really couldn't put the book down. It felt light and fun. My boyfriend even read for me in the night before falling asleep, because I kept on reading while it became more late each page, and I more tired, but I just wanted to read further but couldn't anymore, so he did for me instead, haha. The characters were amazing, both individually and together. It was so lovely seeing their romance slowly unfold. And I loved that we got dual POV so we could get glimpses of how they were thinking about each other and how each one of them made each other feel and it was just so cute and aahhh!! I was rooting for them from the beginning of the book 'til the end. Besides the romance, the story is packed with adventure, dragons, drama, wonderful worldbuilding, excitement, slow reveals, and all the whimsicalness and fairytale vibes.

Such a fun version of this fairy tale! I really enjoyed it and stayed up way too late to finish it. However, the romance did feel a little off to me. Besides that I thought this was a great story!

I was totally hooked by this version of Sleeping Beauty; I couldn’t put it down and finished it in just a few hours. The characters were fantastic, and I really enjoyed watching them grow both individually and together. Each chapter offered a fresh perspective, which I thought was really cool. It had all the elements—drama, magic, romance, a bit of spice, excitement, and adventure. The slow build of the romance was so satisfying, and I was cheering for the main characters from the start. I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

❋arc read❋

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
••••
two feuding kingdoms. one unbreakable curse
••••

i finished this a couple weeks ago but needed to sit on it before i wrote up a review. i didn’t fully like it but i also didn’t not like it. ya feel me? this book is a far retelling of sleeping beauty. now sleeping beauty is not my favorite princess but when a book has dragon, count me in. i 100% didn’t see the twist coming with the fmc. there were too many moments that i couldn’t put the book down but then ones i found were a slight drag. nonetheless, i did enjoy the book but not one i’d do a re-read of

One thing I love is a good fantasy I love a book that can make me forget what's going on in the world and go into an imaginative world where the impossible happens and you meet characters and creatures you would never meet for real and this book had ot all

Hmm well that was interesting. I had a lot presumptions as to how the story would unfold but not a lot of them happened. It turned out to be a lot more twisty and turning than I originally anticipated. The fmc Aurelia was very in depth, she was definitely the shining star, her background and life were a big focal point which was fine cause it was quite interesting. He wasn’t as greatly described and his background wasn’t like capitalised on much at all. He was still a very fun character, he had a lot of cocky aspects that made him interesting to read about. Their journey was also pretty cool and I definitely didn’t expect some of the things that happened. The resolutions were all pretty cool and thought out too. It didn’t like suck me in thou and I didn’t find myself like craving to keep reading. The couple had good chemistry but it wasn’t super fantastic for the way it ended with love. I think love was a bit far fetched. I also had no idea it was meant to be a sleeping beauty retelling till like near the end when the spinning wheel appears, nothing in it really points to that story at all. Without that spinning wheel references I never would have seen it as a retelling. In terms of spice, there was some throughout it wasn’t much I think it was like 3 scenes in the 500 pg book and only one of them was full complete sex so it wasn’t greatly frequent at all. It was described fairly well. I’m going to put it at like a 2.5/5 in terms of spice. Overall, it was alright, it didn’t like wow me or anything. I was intrigued by the different twists and turns but that was about it. I have to say it’s about a 3.5/5 for me.

Loved the book. This has been a fun read but felt like the romance was kinda forced between the characters. Other than that the character growth was great in this book along with the fantasy!

"Are you not also a brilliant living creature who doesn't deserve to be caged?"

3.65/5 stars

Crown of Slumber begins with the wild, precocious and stubborn Princess Aurelia, tending to her dragons. The Summer Court, where she presides, happens to be the only place they are located. While her parents think she's too focused on the creatures, wishing for her to get married, she wants nothing more than to spend her days flying on their backs. One of her dragons falls ill, and she learns that she requires a substance called stardust that is only available in the rival Star Court.

Meanwhile, in the Star Court, there is a similar struggle - the court has run out of the Nightfire that they use to light their eternally dark lands. One way to get their lamps burning again? With the fire of a dragon, of course.

The rakish Star Court Prince, Fenn, shows up on her grounds to attempt to barter a deal for one of the dragons. While she's speaking with him (unbeknownst to her), her family falls under a curse that sends them into a deep sleep. Quickly, she is put into a tough situation - Fenn claims he can help her, but this requires her to trust him to leave her kingdom unguarded.

As one can imagine, chaos ensues, and... These two fall in love.

In general, I thought this was a fun, light read! I can't explain it, but there were parts of this book, especially towards the beginning, that sort of gave me YA vibes. I can't find a better way to explain it, but if you know, you know.

I liked how this book explored the concept of SA and trauma via Aurelia's relationship to her ex - the Autumn Prince, Tyrone. It's not often that a work of fiction explores SA within a relationship, and the representation was nice. One caveat to this, for me, was Aurelia's use of sex with Fenn to sort of smooth over her triggered feelings when she has to see Tyrone again. It just rubs me the wrong way and felt a little "he can fix her!" Again, if you know, you know.

I also wasn't a huge fan of the way Aurelia's beast form was described/explored - it felt a little silly, but was interesting nonetheless.

Overall, Fenn and Aurelia's chemistry was my favorite part of this book. There was plenty of cute banter that had me giggling and kicking my feet. I don't have particularly strong feelings about this book, but I definitely liked it and wanted to come back for more.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I was given an ARC of Crown of Slumber in exchange for an honest review


Being a Disney child, I was excited to read an unconventional retelling of The Sleeping Beauty.

Perez certainly did not disappoint. Crown of Slumber has it all - slow burn romance, mystery and intrigue, politics of kingdoms and alliances, as well as human emotion and shortcomings.

I found myself drawn into The Summer court, investing into the characters with genuine anticipation as to the next move.

I loved the character development and self awakening of the Summer Princess Aurelia. Perez encompasses all the feels in her retelling, and I am genuinely looking forward to picking up the next in the series.

If I had to be picky, I'd say the world building felt a bit lacking but the over vibe is a cosy read that didn't require too much scrutiny to engage with the plot and twists that were revealed.

#NetGalley #sleepingbeauty

I really struggled with this book I couldn’t connect to the characters or the story, I could see the potential here however it wasn’t exactly as I was hoping, it felt rushed and sloppy

Crown of Slumber by R.L. Perez is a Sleeping Beauty retelling/inspiration with a FMC that has dragons and needs to save her family from a sleeping curse. This has rather juvenile writing and the plot is not conceptually sound. It cannot decide if it will stick to the story of Sleeping Beauty or just use it as inspiration. I have read many book able to do this, some even based off the same fairytale, but this one does not hit the mark. I will not be reading further in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this ARC.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5 stars)

Crown of Slumber serves up a seductive twist on the classic Sleeping Beauty tale, and let me tell you, if you're here for the spice, you'll be pretty happy! The chemistry between Princess Aurelia and Prince Fenn absolutely sizzles. I mean, these two are practically fighting sparks whenever they’re in the same room. The “fake betrothal” setup is perfect for the slow burn, and watching them go from wary allies to something a lot steamier is definitely satisfying.

The story itself blends fantasy with a hint of darkness, as Aurelia dives into a world full of curses, stardust, and court intrigue. There’s more at stake than just a sleeping curse—Fenn’s court hides some twisted secrets that keep the tension high. R.L. Perez does a great job of building a mysterious world without overwhelming us with too many details, which kept the pace steady and the focus on the romance.

My only critique? Some of the plot felt a little predictable, and while Fenn’s brooding-yet-charming attitude is undeniably hot, a few twists with his character would’ve made him even more unforgettable. But honestly, if you're here for the romance (and let’s be real, the steam), this book is fun, spicy, and just dark enough to keep you on your toes. Perfect for those nights when you’re in the mood for a fairy tale with a lot more heat!

A sleeping spell has befallen the people of Princess Aurelia’s court. In order to reverse the spell, she has to seek out the help of Prince from an enemy court. Prince Fenn is known for being a womanizer and nothing else but his court had the only cure; stardust. When Prince Fenn travels to Aurelia’s court to ask for aid for his court, they strike a bargain. They will pretend to be betrothed in order to gain what each party needs.

As they travel back to his court and get to know each other, Aurelia learns that Fenn isn’t what he seems. Through his persona is a person who cares deeply for his people and will do anything to protect them. On their journey, they learn a dark secret about each other’s court and about each other. Will Aurelia be able to look past his secrets and will Fenn be able to look past hers?

I thought that this was a really interesting Sleeping Beauty retelling. Both Aurelia and Fenns secrets were interesting. I think this story went beyond the classic Sleeping Beauty story and made it its own. While I wish the courts were better explained and I would have liked a map to see where each were, it’s not the most important thing.

I did think that this book had some similar aspects to another book series but it’s not a direct copy and paste so I personally didn’t mind it. I’m looking forward to the next book as I’m curious about what fairy tale will be next! I think it would be fun to do a fairy tale that’s less popular as it might be one that I don’t know as well. I’m definitely going to keep an eye out on this series and author!

Excellent book, love it! Looking forward to more from this author! Apologies for the lateness of my review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review for "Crown of Slumber" by R.L. Perez

Crown of Slumber is a captivating Sleeping Beauty retelling that breathes new life into the classic tale. With a fresh twist on the story, R.L. Perez blends magic, intrigue, and romance seamlessly, making it an enchanting read. The world-building and character development drew me in, and I loved the way familiar elements were reimagined with a unique spin. If you enjoy fairy tale retellings with a bit of darkness and depth, this one’s for you!

There were aspects of this book I really loved. Love the fairy tale retelling aspect of it even including the meeting with a dance in the forest from the film version. I loved the dragons and the intrigue. The romance was sweet. However, overall the writing felt very juvenile to me, so the characters felt the same I found my attention wandering as the suspense just wasn’t there. I wasn’t sure I really felt the desperation to solve the mystery of the sleeping kingdom. I’m still curious enough to continue the series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️

Stars above this was a read 🤩 The concepts were so fun esp full blooded Fae not being able to lie, It was so unique. I loved the different kingdoms, dragons, witches, fae, & more!! This book really had it all on top of a crucial quest to save their kingdoms. It’s always something about an Autumn Court 🤣 I also see why some readers did not enjoy that one 🌶️ scene, but I also wasn’t too bothered by it. So it didn’t really effect my rating on this overall fun retelling of The Sleeping Beauty!!
Highly interested in the “Crowns Of The Fae” series now esp it being in a series of stand-alone novels.

A fresh take on the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty,bringing magic,warmth and pure entertainment .
Princess Aurelia is a dragon riding force to be reckoned with. After a curse descends on the kingdom,it’s up to her to save the kingdom. Enter the prince, Fennick As the prince and princess work together their relationship blossoms into a very believable romance.
With its dual narrative, the story had a rich plot and the addition of fae and dragons made this a fantasy story that I thoroughly enjoyed. The characters and the romance in this book were so vivid that I felt as if I was along side them.
My favorite aspect was the way little parts of the original sleeping beauty tale were added in throughout- namely,the spinning wheel.
This stand alone retelling is definitely a romantasy I recommend for anyone who loves fairytales and fantasy and a bit of spice.

I definitely flew through this book and was not disappointed. A sleeping beauty retelling done beautifully. I am so excited for the next book!!