A Ruin of Roses (Deliciously Dark Fairytales Book 1)

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The edge of my dagger slid against the hard leather of its sheath hanging from my hip. I stepped lightly and carefully, aiming for springing ground and avoiding anything that might snap or crinkle. It was easy now, still in the village. Once I passed that tree line, it would be a whole lot harder. A whole lot deadlier. His life—their lives—also belong to me. I will forgive their trespassing and theft if you cooperate.” Finley is a suppressed shapeshifter (as are all shapeshifters) but this side of her nature begins to speak to her during this book. You do not know what kind of shapeshifter she is. Finley is tough and capable, but also extremely loyal and caring towards her family. She has a strong interest in medicinal use of herbs and flowers. She discovers a way to slow down the progression of an illness affecting many people in the kingdom that resulted from the demon king’s takeover.

There were other kingdoms, of course, near and far. A few faerie kingdoms with their court politics and intrigues. Hideous goblins with their heaps of stolen treasure. The land of night, ruled by the vampires. And, of course, the cunning demon king who was slowly cutting down all of his competition. Within each kingdom, various villages and towns housed the hardworking people, usually all the same magical type—shifters lived in a shifter kingdom, faeries in a faerie kingdom—but occasionally a star-crossed lover would move in for a little magical diversity, sacrificing sameness for their love. That, or they’d escape beyond the veil to the human realm, disguising themselves within the mundane, often never to return. The pressure in the air increased. The weight inside of my middle flipped over, and more fire leaked out. My core tightened as his gaze slowly lifted to mine. Hunger flashed in those golden eyes. Lust. Dominance.

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Letting my mind wander, I glanced at the brilliant sapphire sky above. Only two puffy white clouds puttered across the wide expanse.

I eyed the grass ahead while listening. The birch finally settled down, leaving a gaping absence of sound in its wake. No movement caught my ear. No screeches. They go at high noon, I guess. The least dangerous time. They sacrifice the potency of the leaves in the elixir for the safety of the kids.” beauty and the beast retelling | dark fairytale | enemies to lovers | fated mates | fantasy romance | dragon shifter | humorous | cliff-hanger | spicy He nodded with a smile, showing a large gap between his front teeth. “Well, hello, Finley. Lovely day, isn’t it?” However, don’t go give her shit for finding there is too much cussing or too much sex in the book. You’ve been warned many times that it is sexy and smutty and full of all sorts of cussing. For the habitués: think Darkness, but even sexier. My verdictI gave the shivering birch a wider berth, thankful when it stopped moving. The night fell quiet once again, the screaming imposter taking a break for a moment. The field lay before me, coated in moonlight.

He nodded, but the pep talk apparently wasn’t done. “There is only one beast,” he said. “That’s the main concern. You’ve confronted the other creatures in that wood and come out swinging.” Finley and Nyfain might be the main characters, but they would be nothing without an array of great secondary characters, starting with Finley’s siblings: Hannon, Sable, and Dash, who make for a great and united family. All of them are at times funny and insightful. Little Sable, for instance, is wise beyond her years and an amazing little kid. All of them bring something to the story, making it both fun and touching. The world building and story that is slowly unfolding about the curse is quite unique and intriguing. I have a feeling this will go in a direction I won’t be expecting. I can’t wait to see Finley continue to grow into her own strength, Hadriel get himself into ridiculous (and perverse situations) and Nyfain try and fail to resist what we all know is meant to be.The cool of the library washed over me as I pushed through the door. Once inside and thankfully out of the public eye, I stood still for a moment and let the tension in my body unwind. Jedrek had really thrown me for a loop. He’d shoved me completely out of my game…in as much as I had one.

I scooped up the books in the living room and headed to my favorite sycamore tree at the edge of the village, facing the Forbidden Wood. With the daylight burning bright, keeping all the demon’s creatures at bay, and that invisible barrier keeping the beast put, it was safe. I settled down on the ground against its trunk and spread out the books in front of me, deciding which I wanted to read right now. And when will it be your turn?” she asked, her gaze dipping to my flat stomach. “You’re a pretty girl. Maybe the demon king will make an exception for you and sneak in your window. I hear he’s an excellent lover.” The leaves are the most potent when harvested at night,” I said, “and we are on borrowed time, like you said. No time like the present.” He gave a flawless smile as he stepped a little closer. “Because we are the most desirable people in this village. It’s only natural that we mate.” Summoning my courage, I pushed up to a crouch in the darkness, looking out at the starless night. Trees rose all around, and the ground was a tangle of weeds and brambles. Nothing moved. Could the beast have moved on?You created this elixir?” I couldn’t tell whether he was incredulous, but I could definitely tell he was sneering.