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

This book is an absolute masterpiece, offering a refreshing and bold take on magic and human emotion. It goes far beyond the typical fairy tale, diving into the complexities of power, pain, and identity without relying on the usual tropes. The story delivers depth and richness, focusing on personal transformation and resilience in a way that feels raw and real.

What truly sets this apart is its ability to explore dark themes without losing hope, weaving magic into the narrative as a force of nature rather than a whimsical element. The characters and their struggles felt so vivid that I wasn’t just reading, I was living every moment alongside them.

This isn't just a story, it's an experience. An extraordinary, unforgettable read that I’d easily give five stars! Thank you Willow Haven Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

Sleeping Beauty retelling. This book was a good read… I just felt like it wasn’t for me… slow, repetitive, very lacking of emotions… and felt a bit idk rushed maybe that’s not the right term for it. I just couldn’t get into this one. There was a lack of character development and I felt like Fennick and Aurelia was an attempt at enemies-lovers but it just wasn’t really that. At least that’s not what I would consider it as when compared to other enemies-lovers tropes I have read before.

I do believe others will enjoy this book but it was not for me. It took me awhile to get into this book. I did put it down for a few days then picked it back up to finish.

This is an ARC read via NetGalley 🤍—Reviews/Opinions are honest and my own. I will review on TIKTOK after release date- @abbi.dawn2

Release Date- September 15, 2024

Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for the ARC.

Crown of Slumber has a well-thought-out plot, and I appreciated the realistic emotions and motivations of the characters. The Sleeping Beauty retelling was enjoyable, though I wish the plot twist had been better foreshadowed. While the emotional depth could have been explored more by "showing" rather than "telling," the romance, including the spicy moments, was beautifully written and a definite highlight. Overall, a solid read & very entertaining, with room for more depth. (3.75/5)

I love a good retelling, and was excited to see this one was Sleeping Beauty! I loved the take on it! Dragons! There were elements I definitely wasn’t expecting, and I truly enjoyed them. The banter was definitely bantering! The world building really worked for me, and it was easy to imagine myself there. The FMC was strong yet still vulnerable. I can't recommend this book to enough people. The romance and the entire book really is well written. I really like the alternating POVs. The whole story wasn't spicy, but hoo boy, that spice was hot when it was there.

Rating : 5/5
Spice Level: 3/5

Enemies to lovers meets sleeping beauty meets fake dating in this royal fae romance. Princess Aurelia must find a husband to become Queen and align herself with another kingdom to provide strength and safety to her people. However, every suitor just wants to mansplains politics and see her dragons. Aurelia simply wants a betrothed that will respect and protect both her people and dragons. Then Prince Fenn from her kingdom's enemy shows up and Aurelia's kingdom has fallen under a sleeping curse. The only way to break the curse is obtaining stardust, a rare substance produced in Prince Fenn's kingdom. Aurelia is suspicious but desperate and strikes a deal with Prince Fenn. They will pretend to be engaged and he will help her break her kingdom's curse.

I absolutely love this book and that is coming from a person who hates sleeping beauty retellings. This book was exciting and kept my attention throughout with every twist and turn. And I loved the main characters. Princess Aurelia is wild and strong. She is fiercely protective of her kingdom and I loved how even as the relationship between her and the MMC started forming she reminded herself of her people. I get so frustrated in some romantasy novels when their world is falling apart and they are just playing footsie with their new love. The MMC is what I would call a good bad boy which are honestly my favorite type. He has his flaws but he defends the FMC ferociously and reminds her of her strength. Their banter is amazing. Their relationship feels realistic as it builds over time with many setbacks. I enjoyed every part of this book and highly recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me a copy of this arc! All thoughts in this review are my own.