This was a thoroughly enjoyable dark fae retelling. It is a fast paced fantasy romance with smooth, easy to follow world building, coupled with dragons, political intrigue, and truly passionate moments. The relationship between Aurelia and Fenn created a captivating and enchanting love story. Listening to the audio book took this to a whole new level and was an effortlessly absorbing experience. The narrative of this one was fun, but kept me fully engaged all the way until the final sentence.

The enemies-to-lovers trope was executed seamlessly, with their playful banter being both delightful and spirited. Fenn is such a wholesome character, meanwhile Aurelia’s free-spirited nature and strong personality made her an excellent female protagonist.

A truly great dark fae retelling of Sleeping Beauty, sure to awaken dormant things and whisk you off on an entirely new journey. Crown of Slumber will keep you engaged and entertained from start to finish.

Please check the trigger warnings!

Thank you NetGalley and the author for a copy of this audio! Here are my thoughts -

Story:
I actually really enjoyed this story. I don't think I've read a sleeping beauty retelling before so this felt fresh in that scense. I was immediately drawn into the story and the world building and really enjoyed that aspect throughout the story. The romance between the MCs felt a little off at times - but it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the story. The pacing of the story was kind of up and down as well, but again, not enough to take away from my enjoyment. I think my favorite aspect was how unpredictable this story felt, I was never quite sure where it was going to go and that kept me invested.

Narration:
These were both new to me narrators and I really enjoyed their work! This is dual narration and both narrators excelled at bringing these characters' personalites to life. I also think their voices and narration styles complimented each other well and worked really well as a collaboration. The narration helped with some of the pacing issues within the story for me, so I'm happy I did the audio for this story.

I would definitely recommend this one to anyone needing a quicker romantasy read that doesn't feel like every other story out there - I definitely suggest the audio!

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc. This is an honest review. this was a fun ride from start to finish However, at times the story really drug. I really enjoyed the characters banter, and the narrators did quite a good job on this one. I feel the ending was a bit rushed, and I feel like pieces in the middle could’ve been cut out to make the ending a little bit longer and not feel quite as rushed all in all I really enjoyed the story.

This Sleeping Beauty retelling was a pleasant read. I enjoyed both the male and female main characters and their PoVs, and I liked how the world building developed, particularly the exploration through the courts and the politics. I feel like the romance element came through too quickly, however, with the two characters expressing feelings for each other barely a third into the book. The fact that the narratives continued to push that they were enemies and disliked each other took away from the story’s stronger elements. Furthermore, the smutty aspects of the story came at times in the plot where it didn’t make sense. I believe the story could have benefitted from better timed explicit scenes at the very least. But overall I enjoyed reading, and I hope to continue reading Perez’s work in future.

This was an interesting premise a sleep and beauty retelling where the fmc needs start dust from the mmc from the enemy kingdom to heal her dragon and the mmc needs dragon fire to protect his kingdom. I had high hopes at the start and was enjoying the dual POV and fast pace of the story.
There were lots of typical enjoyable romantasy tropes. Rivals forced proximity on a quest etc . However as it went on and more plot was added I found myself enjoying it less

I’m not sure if the narrators were putting on the British accents but it sounded a bit fake and threw me abit,
The miscommunication between the characters started to become annoying and back and forth with sporadic spice scenes which I didn’t feel made sense

I just wanted to finish in the end and was grateful it was a stand-alone and wrapped up in this book

I love a fairytale retelling so will potentially check out the authors other stories just not as audiobooks and this felt very cheesy for a romantasy especially with the dark covers.

Thank you for the opportunity to listen to the book

This is my first Sleeping Beauty retelling and I devoured it. Evelyn Rose and Tim Paige are new-to-me narrators, but I was absolutely captivated by their performance. As in most fantasy worlds, anything can happen! The unpredictability is my favorite thing about this book, and, combined with the amazing story telling talent of the author and the performance of these narrators this is an absolute 5 star read for me!

I loved the premise and the plot. Two rival kingdoms coming together in a rivals to lovers fashion will never get old to me. Essentially, both kingdoms need something from the other to survive. So despite being enemies they decide to make a bargain to help each other and threw a fake engagement in there…..who doesn’t love a fake engagement?! I like the plot and the magic system was interesting and really made the book for me. But the pacing seemed a little off. It was like an all or nothing thing. Not sure how to elaborate with out giving too much away. The romance also was a little flat for me. It wasn’t instalove but was? While I enjoyed the banter it seemed like just all of a sudden they were in full on love…..


Anyways….i do recommend reading it because overall the it was enjoyable. And while it was similar to other romantasys it was different enough to make it stand out.

I Enjoy this book the audio was really well done .It was a great take on the classic tale .If your a fan of witches and dragons this one's for you .I would recommend this if your a fan of fourth wing.

This is a retelling story about sleeping beauty.
In the world of Valora, Adult fairytale.
This story takes you on an adventure with Fen & Aurariel who set on bringing peace to their kingdom.
It's filled with dragons, Witches, Fae & unworldly creatures. Their interaction highlighted love, bravery, loyalty & betrayal.
The writing is so vivid. I was hardly able to stop reading. It's easy to lose yourself in the storyline as it takes you on this magical journey.It was such a delight to read for anyone who loves fairy tales & fantasy with a touch of Morden twist.
This is my first read from the author but wouldn't be the last and would definitely recommend this book.

I really.didnt.love this. It felt very flat and the characters didn't feel like they were fully realized at times. Nothing about the MMC screamed "midnight prince" and was very surface level.

It definitely has good bones but I just wanted more from it.

Thank you NetGalley for the audio version of Crown of Slumber!

A duel perspective story, this is action packed and fast paced. Lots of twists and turns. I went into this not knowing a lot about the story and I think that’s the best way. Hit play or open the page and go along with the ride! The FMC and MMC are likable with both having secrets they are unwilling to share which adds to the twists and turns.

My only (silly) 👎🏼 about the book was the use of the word: spew. 😝 With this story set in mid evil times with talks of courts, kingdoms, etc. spew seemed out of place to my ears in comparison with the other choice of language used.

This was a great story and I enjoyed the vast array of characters and beasts in it!

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️


This Sleeping Beauty retelling really hit all the marks for me! The plot was great and had twists I didn’t see coming, even though I have seen the story it is based on. The characters were well developed and intriguing. Princess Aurelia was a refreshing strong FMC who knew how to take care of business and was willing to do whatever she had to to save her kingdom and family. Prince Fenn was the perfect playboy turned obsessive MMC. Fenn falling first for Aurelia and confessing those feelings was a highlight for me, especially when Aurelia truly gave into her own feelings. The plot moved along at a consistent pace and ai did not feel many areas where it seemed to slow. This is one romantasy that has a little bit for everyone- Fae, Dragons & Witches! I am truly looking forward to the next installment in R.L Perez’s fairytale retellings- especially as it is based on my personal favorite Disney movie!

The narrators were excellent and I thought they brought their characters to life and I could feel the chemistry between them.

Tropes:
Fake relationship
Enemies to lovers
He falls first
Fairytale retelling
Slow burn
Touch her and die


Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ALC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion

A Sleeping Beauty retelling with fae, dragons and witches. I thought it was a unique spin on the old tale. As an audiobook, the narrators were perfect. They balanced each other well and their voices matched the personality of characters.

However, I found the FMC a bit annoying, judgemental and self-consumed. I appreciate that it was part of her character arc but she would say things that got on my nerves. I thought it unnecessary for the FMC to constantly say “he was the midnight prince”… it was a bit much. The MMC on the other hand I thought was lovely in a Cassian sort of vibe. I loved how he supported and gave our FMC agency. He was a dream.

In all, I did like the story and liked the listening experience. I’m unsure whether I would have felt the same if I read it.

Wow. This book is absolutely incredible. The world building, the characters, the romance; I really loved every single bit of it. When I first saw it was a retelling of sleeping beauty, I was skeptical. I was worried this would be just another dark version of the same story, but that it was not. It was a legit romantasy with a lot of twists and turns and the chemistry between the two main characters was obvious. This is well written and a book I didn’t want to put down.

Thanks much to NetGalley and Willow Haven Press for my advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

A fantasy romance that pulls you in with its intoxicating mix of court intrigue, dark fae magic, and an enemies to lovers dynamic that crackles with tension. A journey of deception, shifting loyalties, and slow burning attraction. Aurelia and Fenn’s dynamic is electric, filled with sharp banter and undeniable chemistry. Fenn is the perfect morally gray prince, roguish, secretive, and entirely too charming for his own good. As Aurelia peels back his carefully constructed facade, she’s forced to question whether she can trust him with more than just her kingdom’s fate. And when she uncovers the dark secrets lurking in his court, the stakes become even higher.

The world building is lush, with an ethereal quality that makes the magic feel both beautiful and dangerous. The court politics add a layer of tension, keeping the plot moving at a steady pace, while the romance simmers in the background until it explodes in all the best ways. And, of course, there are dragons, which is always a win.

The audiobook only enhances the experience. The narrators breathe life into Aurelia and Fenn, perfectly capturing her stubborn resilience and his dangerously smooth charm. Their chemistry is even sharper in audio form, with every barb and lingering pause making the enemies to lovers tension even more immersive. The pacing is well balanced, keeping the intrigue and romance engaging without dragging, and the narration adds depth to both the action and emotional beats.

That said, while I love dual POV and male female narrators, I cannot stand when male narrators try to imitate female voices, especially during spicy scenes. It is incredibly cringey and instantly takes me out of the moment. If you know, you know.

If you’re torn between reading and listening, the audiobook is absolutely worth it. It brings the court scheming, fae magic, and slow burning romance to life in a way that makes it impossible to stop listening. Whether you’re here for the political intrigue, the forbidden attraction, or the morally gray prince who might just steal your heart, Crown of Slumber delivers.

Special thanks to @NetGalley and @WillowHavenPress for ALC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.75 🌟 Fans of storybook retellings, dragons, and fae courts will love this book. My favorite aspects were the feisty banter between the FMC and MMC, the dual POV, and the FMC’s fierce dedication to her dragons. As other reviewers, I think one particular scene was odd timing wise. But overall I had an enjoyable time with Crown of Slumber.
👑 🐉✨

Thank you to NetGalley and Willow Haven Press for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance audiobook of Crown of Slumber. What a fantastic retelling of Sleeping Beauty! I haven’t read a retelling before, so I didn’t know what to expect, and I can now say that I can’t wait to read others. I absolutely loved the narration by Evelyn Rose and Tim Page. It was audiobook perfection!

The story was easy to follow without cumbersome world-building. But there was political intrigue, magic, and unexpected twists. There was a fake dating trope that was so well done that you can’t help but fall in love with Aurelia and Fenn. It was more like allies to lovers than enemies to lovers, which is my preference. It’s like the best combination of a fairy tale with Fae and dragons! It’s got all the key elements to make anyone who loves Romantasy fall in love. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it – especially the audiobook!

What a breath of fresh air. A fairytale retelling, fae courts, and dragons might make you feel worn out in every new romantasy book but don't give up just yet, Crown of Slumber is the romantasy for you. I was refreshed when I listened to this audiobook. Yes, it is a fairytale retelling romantasy with fae courts, dragons and a dashing, male love interest. But it doesn't try to be something it isn't, and that's why I liked it so much.

I got to listen to the audiobook and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I love a dual POV and the audiobook gets the chance to immerse you further by using two narrators. The narrator's voices are so lovely. The wrong narrator for a character can completely ruin the audiobook, but this was not a problem here. The voice for Aurelia was perfect and the narrator for Fenn fit the character so well. I would highly suggest listening to the audiobook version of this story.

The magic is easily understandable and the characters are enjoyable. The characters never felt like too much of one thing. I loved the chemistry of Aurelia and Fenn. It was funny, sweet, suprising and just what it was. I didn't feel overwhelmed by weird magic systems, or annoyed by the characters and since it was a sleeping beauty retelling, it was familiar enough to jump right in. Although it is a sleeping beauty retelling, it does it so well that it wasn't that obvious either.

I obviously would suggest this book to others and I'm excited to see where else this series will go.

Thank you to Netgalley, Victory Editing, and Willow Haven Press for the audio ARC. I will be posting my review on goodreads 3/6/2025.

⭐️3.5 Stars⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read Crown Of Slumber! This was a really fun Sleeping Beauty retelling! I loved how creative this story was and the authors writing style. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the narrators who did the audiobook, I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was different people and I didn’t like the main female character. I feel like she would have her good moments but the rest of her moments kinda frustrated me especially with how mean she would be for no reason or how clueless she would be at times. I liked the main guy character though! I think if you love retellings, fae, dragons and romantasy then I think this book is for you! Thank you again to NetGalley for the ARC!💕📚

This book was a super fun play off of the classic Sleeping Beauty retelling. It took pieces of the beloved fairytale and flipped them upside down by adding dragons, fae, more court intrigue, and complex magical powers. I enjoyed the immersive world building and complex relationships between the fae courts and these two elements took the cake for me.

Aurelia was definitely a girl boss main character. I loved that despite her being a princess, her true love was watching over her dragons and ensuring they were able to live freely. Fenn on the other hand was your classic fantasy rakish love interest, but I enjoyed seeing his feelings for Aurelia deepen into something real much to his surprise. My only complaint with this book is that I just didn’t fully feel the chemistry between these characters. Some of the spicy scenes had me flipping through the pages because their relationship was so hot and cold most of the time.

Overall, this was a book with some amazing world building and such an interesting premise. The dragon aspect of this book was the perfect touch, and I was happy with how it all wrapped up. I wish I would’ve been a little more sold on the love between the main characters, but perhaps they just weren’t for me!