Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it

I really enjoyed reading this retelling of sleeping beauty! I love a retelling that reimagines the story in a really creative way. And this story really hit that mark for me. I liked that the main character was the heroine that had to save her family from a sleeping curse instead of being the one affected. I thought it was such a compelling and interesting take on a beloved classic.

Aurelia was a great main character that I found myself rooting for from the start! She was tough and didn’t let anything stand in her way to save her family. It was a nice break from the Woe is Me female main characters that sometimes appear in fantasy.

Another troupe that I loved in this story is enemies to lovers with the added bonus of a fake engagment. But I did feel like it lacked a tiny bit for me. While Fennick and Aurelia have some good banter through out it is mostly one sided from Aurelia’s side. I wish they had been a little more of a traditional enemies to lovers story but I did enjoy both of there characters and the romantic reprieve from the main story line.

All and all I really enjoyed this retelling and think it had some wonderful creative ideas.

*Thank you to NetGalley, Willow Haven Press and E. L. Perez for sending me a copy of this book to review. All thoughts are my own.*

I will be honest when I first recieved the arc of the book i DNFed it. I do not like to dnf books at all and I can also be a mood reader that can contribute to a book just not viking well with me during a certain time so time so I decided to go back and give this book another shot. I am very glad that I did!
This is another take of the sleeping beauty story.
It's slow burn, with just the right amount of spice I'm. It's the but doesn't overwhelm the story.
I liked the fake dating/"betrothal" aspect spin to the story.
My one critique was if was a little predictable in some areas

Sleeping Beauty collides with the fae world in this interesting spin from R. L. Perez.

I loved how Fenn wasn't your regular ultra manly alphahole. It was kind of refreshing to see a male character who is coming into his own and learning to be more assertive and find his place.

Aurelia had some wide character growth as well. I enjoyed watching her overcome her trauma and insecurities and discover how powerful she truly is.

The whole storyline with the Dream Mage and sleeping curse was interesting and seeing the old classic be reborn was awesome. Not a ton of spice, maybe 2 🌶.

Overall an excellent read and one I would definitely recommend to a friend

I devoured this book!!!

I love that while it is described as a Sleeping Beauty retelling - it is far from just that!

Our FMC is feisty, the MMC is cheeky. There is banter, spice (tasteful spice might I add - not just there for spice sake), and dragons. Fairytale retellings always say that love conquers all, and while the characters do achieve that, it never takes over the main plot of the book.

There are also plot twists and unexpected moments sprinkled throughout that will keep you on your toes and not wanting to put this down!

I really loved the dragons, world building and overall characterization. There was no innocent hero here and the MMC wasn’t your typical dark, brooding hunk either. It was so refreshing to read characters that broke away from those tired old tropes.

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!