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!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Publishers, and R.L. Perez for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was fine, wasn’t the best book I have ever read nor was it the worst. I felt the premise pulled me in and was very promising. I’m very much drawn to classic fairytale retellings. I look forward to seeing how each author adds their twist/reimaginings to the stories we all know and love. I am a lover of books involving the fae, so both aspects hooked me into reading this book.

To be honest I had a very hard time getting into the story. I kept putting it down and coming back to it. I wanted it to just click for me so I could dive in and read it through without having to keep stopping. Can’t quite put my finger on it why I felt this way. I did find some of the dialogue to be a bit juvenile, there were moments where I read I either made a face or rolled my eyes.

I did really enjoy the dragons aspect of the story. It was nice to have the connection as it made me think of the animated Disney movie of Sleeping Beauty that also had a dragon in it. The dual POV was another part of the book I liked as I enjoy seeing the story unfold through two different characters.

Overall this book was fine, but I could see how some people will absolutely love this book.

While this is a hefty beefy book, it felt like I just couldn't get enough! Have you ever sat down to read a book and you get completely lost and end up forgetting that you are even reading? That's how I felt with this book. I'm also a massive sucker for a retelling, so that certainly helps! I loved the story, characters, plot, and romance.

What an incredible story! I love the plot, the characters, the courts, dragons, and the twists, this book was so unique, combining fae and dragons in such a way I haven’t quite encountered before - and I loved it! From the meet cute in the beginning to a love story, I was excited to watch these characters grow. Sometimes growing an attachment to characters can be difficult and not always executed effectively, however this book had the perfect combination of mystery and character building! Highly recommend this book!

Oh my stars, if you’re like me and love a spicy fairy tale retelling, you must dive into R.L. Perez’s take on Sleeping Beauty! 💖✨ Princess Aurelia is a fierce queen who rides dragons and has a heart full of fire! Talk about girl power! 🐉🔥

Sure, there are a few moments where the story slows down, but hey, sometimes you need to pause for dramatic effect, right? And can we just swoon over the beautiful bond between Aurelia and her dragons? It’s like a magical friendship that warms your heart!

The plot kicks off with a wild curse that sends everyone into a deep snooze, leaving our brave princess and a gorgeous stranger to figure things out. A blood bargain to save her kingdom? Yes, please! It’s like a recipe for adventure with a dash of danger! 🌙💫

If you’re craving more adult fairy tales that are equal parts enchanting and spicy, this is a fabulous place to start. Grab your favorite cozy blanket and prepare for a delightful read! 📚✨

I loved this! We have all the things I enjoy in a book - great characters, enemies to lovers, dragons and amazing banter. Will be recommending this and adding to our library.

Thank you NetGalley and R.L. Perez for the ARC of Crown of Slumber! I loved this book!! It had all the trophes I love: Dragons, Enemies to Lovers, Fairytale Retelling, you name it!! I can’t wait to read more of R.L. Perez!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5

Thank you so much R.L Perez for letting me read the ARC for this book from Netgalley!

I absolutely adored this book! It was such a great romantasy read, it had all the elements I love

✅Dragons
✅Enemies to Lovers
✅Fairytale Retelling


Im a big Disney/Fairytale fan, so when I saw this was a sleeping beauty retelling I requested it straight away and it did not disappoint !!! I need my own dragon like Mal now 🥹! Thank you again for letting me read this ARC 🖤

Fantasy
Sleeping Beauty Retelling
Spicy
Strong FMC
Dragons


This is truly a great twist on a classic fairy tale. The author really did this one justice and I loved all the new elements.

Princess Aurelia loves her dragons so much that she refuses to part with any of them. The other courts try their best to acquire them through any means possible but Aurelia’s special bond with the dragons has her holding on to them at all costs.

When a strange curse befalls her Kingdom leaving everyone in a deep sleep except for Aurelia and a handsome stranger, Aurelia has to make a blood bargain in order to save her Kingdom.

If you enjoy adult versions of children’s fairy tales then this a very good place to start.
I really enjoyed this quick read and recommend it to anyone who loves a good action packed romantasy.

Please note that this book does contain trigger warnings so please read those before reading the book.



I voluntarily read and reviewed a free advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for this e-arc.

I like the retellings where the there are elements that remind me of the original story (little details, not the main storyline), but the events are different. This book managed to capture exactly that, using Sleeping Beauty as an inspiration.

Now, this story is filled with many many things people love: fae, magic, dragons, handsome guys and so on, but it's not only a mix of troupes, the characters are actually well written and I like the way they interact and how their decisions (individually taken or together) affect everybody else. Not to talk about her past and how she delt with everything. There is also a plot twist and it's quite unexpected, but not non-sensical.

Personally I enjoyed the book, I can't way it was mind-blowing, but it was something I'm sure many people would enjoy and also something that could (if it isn't already) be easily found on booktok as a recommendation. So, that's a strong 4.5/5 stars for me, rounded up