I've been of fan of Jessica s Taylor's books and this one sounded yet again like a unique story. It was too, I don't know that I've ever read a fantasy romance with this set up. I loved the gothic manor full of secrets and the soul shades were really cool. I especially loved the cat soul shade. However, this story just didn't work for me. I didn't feel any chemistry between the characters. Odessa was a really annoying character. I got tired of hearing her whine about keeping her promise to her mother when her siblings didn't even love her. The ending was quite lackluster and the audio narration didn't draw me into the characters. It got a low 3 star from me.

I enjoyed this audiobook! The narrator did a great job and was easy to listen to. However it was a little "YA" to me. And I wish we got more of the gothic atmosphere promised to us in the synopsis. But the storyline kept my attention and was well paced, the magic was interesting, the romance was good.

This is a captivating read for fans of dark, atmospheric fantasy romance, particularly those who delight in gothic settings, masquerade balls, and forbidden passions, and are drawn to stories of rare magic, treacherous romance, and the struggle between heart and duty.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.

I went into this not really knowing what to expect. I mean, a gothic romantasy inspired by Edgar Allan Poe? Would it just be dark and gloomy? A little bloody? Ghosts?

What if I told you it was all of that and so much more.

After her mother passes, Odyssa goes to the castle where the prince -- who, by the way, is literally the worst -- is holed up throwing lavish parties while his people languish from a plague. There she meets Tallon and what ensues is a haunting story with forbidden romance and secrets upon secrets. I loved the tattoo magic, and the morally grey Tallon is absolutely 100% amazing in every way.

If you're looking for a light and sweet romance, this is not it. There's a lot of heavy themes, a lot of gore (I mean come on, the plague in this is horrible), ghosts, nightmares, and an evil as hell prince who would sooner see his people suffer and die instead of doing a single unselfish thing. The romance was fantastic, Tallon was a cinnamon roll wrapped in tattoos and danger, the spice was excellent (there's not a lot, but it was excellent nonetheless), and Odyssa was totally badass.

Plus, the audio narration was well done, and the narrator does an excellent job bringing this book to life. 10/10 would recommend this.

Odyssa Duhiva contracted the blood plague and did not die. Her family members are also starting to come down with the disease and she is working to take care of them because she cannot get sick again. After her mother dies and makes her promise to care for her brothers she asks for help to support the family and her brother refuses and she is forced to go work for the prince in his kingdom.

Odyssa is starting to see things when she is in the castle and learns that they are soul shades trying to attack her at every turn. She meets Tallon at one of the nightly palace parties and learns that he is the Prince’s right hand man. Odyssa starts running into Tallon at every turn and he is always there to save her from the soul shades. Odyssa makes a bargain with Tallon to help save her brother’s lives as well as the rest of the kingdom. They decide to try to steal the cure for the blood plague right out from under the nose of the prince.

Out of all the fantasy books I read this year, this was not my favorite, but I did enjoy it. I found the FMC Odyssa hard to relate to because the writing wasn’t very descriptive. Without the details and background I was hoping for, I didn’t feel connected enough to her to be waiting on the edge of my seat to see what would happen next. It just felt like the book was missing something when there was so much potential to begin with.

With that being said, I didn’t hate this book and I felt like it was a unique take on gothic romantic fantasy. I would recommend it to you if you liked these themes.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Jessica S. Taylor, and DreamScape media for making it possible for me to listen to the audiobook ARC of this book.

Audiobook Narrator: Engaging and easy to understand and comprehend

Darkly atmospheric and utterly enchanting, Beyond Those Gilded Walls delivers a haunting blend of gothic fantasy, forbidden romance, and courtly intrigue. Odyssa’s courageous quest to save her family unfolds against a backdrop of eerie opulence, cruel secrets, and a prince shrouded in perilous mystery. Stefanie Kay’s narration brings every stolen whisper and treacherous scheme to vivid life, immersing listeners in the novel’s lush, Poe-inspired setting. With its chilling magic, haunting twists, and a richly layered cast, this audiobook is a thrilling, spellbinding journey you won’t want to miss.

This story takes place in Veressia where there is no leader to help those dying from the blood plague. Odyssa is on a journey to save her family from more devastation and keep her mother’s promise, even with awful brothers who don’t appreciate her. She takes a job at the castle after her mom dies and she plans to infiltrate the castle and get the cure to the plague, but she enters the castle, she starts to understand it is much more complicated than she imagined.

She gains the attention of the prince’s second in command (Tallon) and wants to trust him as he shares he is trying to overthrow the prince, but can she truly trust him?

Cool connections to Edgar Allen Poe. I enjoyed the world, the plague aspect hasn’t been a super common trope from what I’ve been reading, so I liked the difference here. Some nice disability representation here.

It was a nice read, beautiful writing for those highly emotional moments. First half kind of dragged on me, but worth the read. Said it was a stand alone, but ended in a way it could definitely continue.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Audio out on 12/31/24!

This book is perfect for spooky season! It gave all the right gothic fantasy vibes and the slow spiral into madness. The vibes were perfect. ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR RIGHT NOW!

I want to give Odyssa a huge hug. I loved watching her journey and the growth that she had throughout this book.

I just want to scream about Tallon! New book. boyfriend alert! You just need to read this book to know what I mean.

Stefanie Kay did an amazing job with all the different voices. She really brought out each character with her skills.

Highly recommend this in audiobook format.

This was very "YA" to me, however I can see many of my library patrons enjoying it. I did feel like the beginning circumstances of the protagonist was a little heavy handed, but I Iiked the over all story.

I absolutely loved the audiobook for this fantasy.
I enjoyed every bit of this story, it's not overwhelming on the fantasy side, the world building is simple but very good and enjoyable.
I completely fell in love with Tallon and all the mystery that surrounded him.
Theys attraction and connection was so well done.
Everything in this story had a closure and it was a fantastic book to listen to.

I enjoyed this audiobook! The narrator did a great job and was easy to listen to. The storyline kept my attention and was well paced. I look forward to reading more books from this author!

Wow. Those brothers were the worst kinds of people. I literally shouted out loud “LEAVE THOSE ASSHOLES TO DIE!” in the car. Multiple times. I was wishing for them to meet a painful death the whole time.

It was actually quite nice to read a stand alone fantasy book. That doesn’t seem to happen very often, they’re always a 3-6 book commitment and I just don’t need that in my life right now. Having everything all wrapped up was nice, though I am sure they could definitely turn it into a series if they wanted to.

I think I just needed a bit more of… something. Like we had these big elaborate parties every night but there wasn’t really a point to them? The FMC would just serve food/drinks and then almost get killed when she inevitability bumped into someone… every night… and they were looking for a cure, but they weren’t really. Were they?

Thanks to #netgallery, the author and publisher for a copy of this book.

Genre: Romance/fantasy
Format: Audio
POV: Single
Tropes: Pandemic, royal courts, little wolf, mysterious masked men, psychotic rulers just murdering a whole bunch of people for no reason, magic.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ /5
Ending: HEA
Age suggestion: 18+

I loved the interactions of Odyssa & Talon & I loved the narrator. I was not as enthralled by the plot, but it was still entertaining. Her brothers definitely got what they deserved. I absolutely detested the way they treated Odyssa. I wanted to slap her every time she said she was doing it all for her brothers. I did like the little twist at the end of who she really is. That was nice. No cliffhanger, just a lead up into what will start the next book. Slow burn. Mild spice that was very nicely written.

Beyond Those Gilded Walls was such a phenomenal listen. The narrators were fantastic. They read the story in a way that made me not want to walk away. I highly recommend listening!

Jessica S. Taylor’s Beyond Those Gilded Walls is a captivating fantasy that immerses readers in the crumbling kingdom of Veressia. The story follows Odyssa, a young woman burdened by her family’s scorn and the weight of her mother’s dying wish. With her kingdom ravaged by plague and her prince abandoning his duty, Odyssa risks everything to infiltrate the castle and uncover the truth. What she finds is a world of power plays, forbidden passions, and dark secrets that push her to the brink of survival and force her to make impossible choices.

Taylor weaves a clear and engaging storyline that balances emotional depth with moments of intrigue and suspense. The pace of the book starts steady but quickly picks up, taking readers on an emotional roller coaster filled with twists and turns. The dynamics between Odyssa and the mysterious advisor she allies with are particularly compelling, as their growing connection adds layers of tension to an already complex narrative.

While the book is enthralling, the ending feels abrupt. It’s clear that it’s leading into a sequel, but the conclusion left me wanting more closure. Despite this minor frustration, the story is excellent, and I’m eager to see what happens next in this richly imagined series.

The narration by Stefanie Kay adds another dimension to the book. Her performance is outstanding, bringing emotional depth to the characters, particularly Odyssa. Kay’s ability to convey Odyssa’s determination, fear, and passion pulls listeners even further into the story and enhances the overall experience.

Overall, Beyond Those Gilded Walls is a gripping start to a promising series. Fans of fantasy with emotional stakes and intricate plots will find much to love here. I highly recommend it and look forward to the next installment.

The narration of this audiobook was great. I was hooked from start to finish. It has all my favorite tropes.

* Enemies to lovers
* Slow Burn Romance (so worth the wait)
* Shadow Magic
* Morally grey MMC
* Touch her and die
* Forced Proximity
* Strong FMC
* Villain Prince
* Death Magic - Blood Plague

My favorite characters are Odyssa (a.k.a. Little wolf) and Tallon. Their individual stories are so good and the two together are amazing. I am hoping for a second book. This is my first book by this author but certainly will not be my last.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media, Jessica S. Taylor and Netgalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the gothic fantasy romance aspect.
I will say every conflict was solved or moved past too fast...
I am looking forward to the next book.

Publisher's summary
In a kingdom drowning in blood, all Odyssa Duhiva wants is to save her family. But the price of salvation may be higher than she ever imagined.
The kingdom of Veressia has been forsaken by its prince, who has chosen instead to drown out the screams of the dying. Trapped in a kingdom without a leader and blamed by her brothers for her mother’s death, Odyssa has little hope of ever succeeding at honoring her mother’s dying wish.
Driven by desperation, Odyssa ventures into the heart of the barricaded castle, masquerading as a servant amidst the prince's nightly opulent parties. But as she delves deeper into the castle’s secrets, she uncovers a sinister connection between the coward prince and the devastating plague.
After attracting the attention of the prince’s most trusted advisor, Odyssa finds herself entangled in a dangerous game of power and deceit. With each step closer to the truth, she realizes that her fate—and the fate of her family—rests in the hands of the handsome stranger whose true intentions for betraying his prince and helping her seem content to remain shrouded in mystery.
As forbidden passions ignite, tentative alliances are forged, and dark secrets are revealed, Odyssa must choose between following her heart or sacrificing it for the promise of salvation.

Thanks to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for the ALC of this book!

Beyond Those Gilded Walls
By: Jessica S. Taylor
Narrated by: Stefanie Kay
Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins
Release date: 12-31-24
Publisher: Dreamscape Media

You can’t go wrong with a haunted sentient castle m, Gothic romantasy vibes, and a ghost cat. Yes, a ghost cat. Instant win.

The world, plagued by illness, hit a little too close to home at times (hello, Covid flashbacks). And i didn’t realize until afterward that this book was inspired by Edgar Allan Poe. Once I made the connection, however I felt the Poe vibes with the haunting atmosphere and the tragic undertones.

If you’re into mysterious castles, brooding vibes, and a sprinkle of Poe-inspired spookiness, this one’s for you. Bonus points if you love ghostly feline sidekicks!

“Beyond those gilded walls” was such a disappointment for me. It included a lot of elements I typically enjoy such as:
- a protagonist with nothing to lose
- immediate life or death stakes
- a mysterious MMC
- a malevolent haunting
- will they won’t they
- a bargain
- powerful gods

However, I thought the book failed for me in plot and execution. The MMC had no personality and the stakes he fought against were both too high and too low. He “loved” the FMC, but didn’t know anything about her and didn’t really care to learn. The FMC was insufferable. She caused most of her problems herself by being dumb, clumsy, or brutish. I felt that she was impossible to root for. I fear this may be the prime example of beloved tropes begging strung together to form incoherent fluff. The storyline was crazy repetitive, and I never felt personally invested in any of the characters success.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Jessica S. Taylor, and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted to GoodReads check out my profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863 and it will be posted to my bookstagram account https://www.instagram.com/tinynightingales/ and booktok https://www.tiktok.com/@tinynightingales?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

This book is easily one of my top reads of the year! Absolutely loved how easily this story flowed, and Stephanie Kay always does a fantastic job of helping a story move smoothly. Her voices are all great.

The character development that our main character goes on is fantastic. I saw so much of myself in her, and how she learned to not always be the “fixer.” The romance was so well done and perfectly balanced with the plot so that it served to bolster the story, not overwhelm or push it aside.

Will be rereading this via audio again!