I was given an arc of this book from NetGalley and I want to thank the author and publisher.

This book had a really interesting concept. The fae element and the sleeping beauty esque idea was strong. However, the execution was just..meh. If you have an enemies to lovers trope, make it enemies to lovers. Give me more angst and more tension.

This book really was a letdown due to the writing that seemed really juvenile. Especially when it came to the character’s actions. The only time the book actually seemed targeted for adults was the very basic sex scenes. If you’re going to go smutty, go smutty. Don’t just write a bland sex scene

An amazing Sleeping Beauty retelling. I loved the main characters and it was a fun and action filled read. The romance felt genuine and sweet which I appreciate reading. I loved that this retelling had the princess be a dragon shifter and that she overcame obstacles to fully accept herself.
I'll be posting a review on Instagram as well.

Review:
👑 Crown of Slumber 👑
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

“Why do you do this to me? You worked your way into my heart, and now, I cannot exist without you haunting me.”

This Sleeping Beauty retelling pulled me into the realm of Valora instantly. The details throughout were incredible.

The banter (and well everything) between the strong FMC, Aurelia and stubborn MMC, Fenn was quite amazing. I love books with a FMC full of fire! At some points in their adventures, I may have even cried a little 🫣

If you love fast paced, action packed reads.. full of fae, dragons, witches, and some SPICE 🥵, then I highly recommend. & of course, the enemies to lovers ⚔️ is always a favorite for me 🫶🏽

This absolutely hit's the spot, it had everything I was craving all in one spot.

Feisty FMC who immediately draws you in from the first page.
Dragons.
Rakish MMC who delivers witty banter and charm from the get go.
Dragons.
Fairytale retelling of sleeping beauty.
Dragons, did I mention those?

Not only this but, all of it is set in a richly populated, constructed and explored world that really gripped me, and had me really desperate to continue reading. I hate when people say this but I really couldn't put it down.

The dragons in the book are sentient, which I love. They aren't just fire breathing weapons they have personalities which is navigated well by Perez and really adds some depth to the story.

My only criticism, is the writing though impeccable throughout the majority of the book is immaculate, towards the conclusion it does speed up rather quickly. I feel as though this could easily have been a Duology and an excellent one at that so perhaps a missed opportunity. That said, the ending is satisfying and did round up the story well.

I would highly recommend this one for any one who is a fan of fairytale retellings (obviously) fantasy romance, sleeping beauty, DRAGONS and (slow burn)enemies to lovers. For those looking for an exciting, spicy and tensions filled bit of escapism get this one on the TBR I know you will love it.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to read this ahead of release I will most definitely be purchasing this for my shelf.

I first want to thank Netgalley and the author for the ARC that I received. But lets get started with my review:

This book is a Sleeping Beauty retelling infused with dragons, a captivating enemies-to-lovers dynamic, and a feisty, strong FMC.

I particularly enjoyed the dual-POV narrative - it felt harmonious and propelled the story forward seamlessly. The FMC, Aurelia, is utterly devoted to her dragons, and I absolutely loved that aspect. She’s a powerful female character, anything but helpless, and though she sometimes seems to pick fights with Fenn, it feels perfectly in character and adds to the story. Fenn, on the other hand, comes across as the classic 'bad-boy' MMC, but his POV quickly reveals deeper layers to his character.

Since the book is a standalone, the story dives straight into the action without spending much time on world-building upfront. Yet, the author weaves in the world-building throughout the story, making it easy to visualize the beautiful settings. The pacing is relatively fast, which didn’t bother me at first. However, the last 30-40% felt a bit rushed. That said, I think it partially felt that way because I wasn’t ready to leave Aurelia and Fenn’s world just yet.

There are a few aspects I wish had been explored in more detail, but I understand the limitations of a standalone book.

Something I also want to add is my favorite scene of the book, which is the meeting of the two main characters. It felt very untypical and I really loved it, it made the story even more captivating, right from the beginning.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely be recommending it in the future.
Overall rating: 4.5

A Sleeping Beauty retelling that ACOTAR fans will definitely enjoy. Slow burn, enemies-to-lovers, a dash of spice. I’d definitely recommend giving this a go!

This is a sleeping beauty retelling that had dragons, witches, and fae, and is very reminiscent of A Court of Thorns and Roses.
I was a little hesitant in the first 50ish pages, but as I hit the 100 page mark I really started to enjoy it and took all of my assumptions back.
While being a retelling, there was enough deviation from the classic storyline that the plot felt fresh and unique. I also really enjoyed the section at the end explaining exactly where inspiration came from.
The romance in this book was definitely a strong point. The enemies to lover trope felt natural, and you could really see why the two characters fell for each other. Sometimes in romantasy the romance can feel unbelievable and unnatural, and you don't really understand why two people are together, but this book did this relationship really well. Valid reasons to hate each other as well as to love each other.
Spicy, but not overly spicy- there was only one scene that I didn't really think was necessary or made too much sense (which is part of the reason I didn't rate it higher)- but I won't go into too much detail as to avoid spoilers. Iykyk.
I love a good nickname, and 'firebird' is one of my favourites so far. Fenn (the MMC) had some definite rizz with that one, and does so often throughout this book.
Overall, cozy, heartfelt, solid, easy read.

Eh, it was okay. I kept waiting for it to be great.

Before I go any further in my review, I want to remind everyone that I gave "Carved in Ice and Glass" 4 stars a few months ago. I love how fresh, witty, and innovative the author is with that retelling. I’m bringing this up because I’m going to sound undeniably ranty, and I want to establish that I have nothing against the author.

This book has all the ingredients for a fantastic romantasy: witches, dragons, fake relationships, and a spicy enemies-to-lovers romance. Plus, it’s a Sleeping Beauty retelling! And can we take a moment to admire its beautiful cover and stunning map? I couldn’t wait to start reading... until I got to the first page.

At first, I thought there’d been a mistake. Maybe the publisher sent me the outline rather than the final book? I couldn’t think of any other explanation for the words splashed across the page. We’re talking choppy paragraphs saturated with info-dumpy material.

And if you don’t believe me, here’s a paragraph from the first page:

“I was the eldest daughter and next in line for the throne of the Summer Court. Father would be stepping down soon. In truth, he was quite healthy; but I knew Mother was anxious to retire with him. He was reluctant, but he knew it was best for the kingdom. I couldn’t blame my mother for wanting to step back. I wanted the same thing, after all. To live in the forest with my clan of dragons was my fantasy. I didn’t mind court politics. But solidifying my position as queen with a union with another fae court sickened me. I had to pretend to be flattered by the suitors who only saw me as a pretty ornament attached to their arm when in reality, I wanted to retch.”

This opening paragraph is problematic because it TELLS the reader what the main character is feeling rather than SHOWING it. Unfortunately, this is a recurring theme throughout the book.

I also have a few issues with the plot and the characters. There are several minor inconsistencies (the MMC is described as having tanned skin despite living in a kingdom with no sunlight, the FMC tells a lie despite being fae, etc.), but some of the plot holes are more extensive. I can usually look past plot holes if I like a book’s characters, but that isn’t the case here. I could go into detail about why I didn’t connect with the FMC, but I feel like this review is already harsh enough.

Moving on to what I did like, I really enjoyed the MMC. Prince Fenn comes across as a rake, but he’s actually really soft at heart. I love it when characters have multiple layers, and I think the author does a wonderful job balancing Fenn’s aloof royal persona with his clever and compassionate sides. I also loved getting to know the dragons! Any retellings that include sentient dragons are a win, in my opinion.

I also think this book is easy to get into. The plot is straightforward, and there’s a lot of action that will keep readers turning the page. I believe this book would be a great fit for someone who loves a high-stakes adventure and lots of romantic tension.

While I didn’t love this retelling as much as I did the author’s other work (definitely check out "Carved in Glass" if you haven’t already), I still think "Crown of Slumber" will be well-received by romantasy readers. I can see people who like spicy fairytales devouring this retelling. Overall, I’m rating it 3/5 stars and recommending it to people who enjoy those genres.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and Netgalley; all opinions are my own.

Netgalley!!
A great retelling and I really enjoyed it. ACOTAR fans will love this one for sure.. Loved the retelling, slow burn romance, Fantasy and mythical creatures. It was a wonderful read in one sitting. Thankyou Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC. Looking forward to get my physical copy..!!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The worldbuilding is definitely the best part—it had me hooked from the very first page! The author creates an awesome fantasy world packed with dark fae magic, dragons, and a court full of secrets.

Even though I found the book to be a super quick read, I did find the writing style a bit on the juvenile side at times, especially during some of the spicier moments.

The plot can be a bit predictable, and the romance felt a little too much like insta-love for my taste. I would have enjoyed seeing more tension and rivalry before the characters dove into their relationship. Plus, the FMC I found to be a bit bratty at times which annoyed me and just made me feel bad for the MMC.

Overall, I had a great time reading Crown of Slumber and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for their next romantasy fix. It’s an easy, light read—not super deep, but a fun escape!

THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING!!!! I absolutely love this book and I highly recommend it. The story in this is so entertaining and I couldn't put it down. I loved all of the characters and all of the mysteries in this book. The dragons were one of the best parts and I loved the part they played in the plot. This is such a unique take on Sleeping Beauty. it takes the Aurora character and turns her into such a strong and powerful girl who can do anything. GO READ THIS!!!!

Wowee! Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. Strong and powerful FMC that has a little sass but is compassionate and loyal to her people. Enemies to lovers. Fae. Magic. Sprinkle of spice. DRAGONS! There is so much to love in the book. The incredible imagery Perez uses takes you right into the Aurelia's kingdom. You feel her excitement and pain. And be prepared to fall in love with the charming Fennick! There is just enough world building to transport you to a different place but the character's journey is the focus and the story moves smoothly following a dual POV. Highly recommend for readers who want to see them fall in love in just one book :D Brb just downloading more of Perez's work!

4.5/5 stars
4/5 spice

At first this book felt YA, the plot was simplistic, the characters a bit one dimensional. And then everything changed. The characters had more depth. There were back stores, secrets, heartache, mysteries.

The plot went a bit off the rails for me around the 3/4 mark, but it worked out in the end, mostly.

I feel like this book will be a wildly successful sensation. Excellent take on a fairytale.

Thank you to Willow Haven Press and NetGalley for this ARC copy

Crown of Slumber by R.L. Perez is a sleeping beauty retelling. The story begins with introducing the main characters in this Fae world, Aurelia (the Summer Princess), and Fennick (the Midnight Prince). In this enemies to lovers story, both need something from each other and decide to work together for the good of their kingdoms.

This book has it all, Fae, witches, DRAGONS (I could stop there and we would all agree this is probably a good read). There are strong characters and seamless world building so if someone is new to fantasy fiction this would be a good one to start with. There is spice throughout the story which needs to be taken into consideration before reading. Aside from that, the action in the story was thrilling and takes you on an emotional roller coaster. It’s a book that will keep you guessing and you won’t figure it out until the last half.

NetGalley ARC Review✨

Crown of Slumber
By R.L. Perez
Pub Date 9/15/24

👑Crown of Slumber is a romantasy retelling of Sleeping Beauty. It's different enough from the original story to stand on it's own though.

Aurelia is the Princess of the Summer Court and is next in line for the throne. Her connection to the dragons is strong and she has power that is locked inside her. When the people of her realm fall into a slumber state, she must find a way to awaken them to save her kingdom and protect the dragons.

Prince Fenn of the Midnight Court must find a way to get dragon fire to save his kingdom from the unseelie. He goes to the one Court that has dragons...his enemy court, Summer.

Aurelia and Fenn make a deal that will save both of their realms. Their plan is not fool proof and they have a lot of hurdles to face along the way. Dealing with witches, unseelie, rival courts are just a few of the issues they have to overcome.

Will Aurelia be able to unlock her hidden powers and save her realm? Will Aurelia remember her past in time to save the people she loves?Will Fenn's feelings be reciprocated? Will their kingdoms be enemies no more?

This book took me on a journey and once I hit the halfway mark, I couldn't stop reading. This is my first R.L. Perez read but will be diving into her other books ASAP! This is a book for people who enjoy fairytale retellings, dragons, witches, court politics, flirty banter, and complicated families.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🌶🌶🌶/5
Tropes:-
(Kind of) Enemies to Lovers
Kingdom Feuds
Forced Proximity
Shared Bed
Fake Courtship
Dragons and Witches
Fae FMC and MMC
He falls first ❤‍🔥
Secrets 🤫

Thank you netgalley and the author, the publishers, for approving me for this amazing book's ARC.

This was my first ARC read and I enjoyed it every much. I am so thrilled to have been able to read this book ❤‍🔥

This book was such a fun and amazing read✨. I was absolutely captured by the story. I just couldn't put it down for even a second. The need to know what's going to happen next?! what is the secret about the FMC.?! It just kept me on the edge and I read fast. It was a fast paced story but the romance between the FMC and MMC was slow burn 🔥.

The tension between them was amazing. I loved Aurelia, and how much she loved her dragons and the way she realized her feelings for Fenn was 💕

I loved how strong 💪 both the characters were. I loved Mal ( the dragon) 😭💕

When I read the blurb of this book, that it was a sleeping beauty retelling and dragons were involved I knew I had to get approved for this 😭❤‍🔥. Who doesn't love dragons right?!
The world building was amazing, strong FMC and smirking playful strong MMC.
I loved when Aurelia remembered everything and claimed her powers again "Dragon Queen"❤‍🔥
I loved how hard Fenn fell for her. The little flirting, playing, caring evolved then both.⭐ How supporting he was 😭⭐👑

I would recommend this book to everyone who loves dragons, ACOTAR💕

While it was fun for the most part, there were moments that I found more entertaining than others, but will definitely check out future books in the series.

Thank you NetGalley, author & publisher for this ARC, for my honest review.


If you love a clever twist on a "Sleeping Beauty" re-telling, look no further. Crown of Slumber has "Sleeping Beauty" vibes but with Fae, Dragons, magic & witches. You have great world building, spice & the characters are developed well. The FMC is strong & independent. The MMC is not your total hunk but has more to him. I LOVE how they meet & how their relationship comes to be. I will say, my favorite character is Mal, the dragon. Seriously, I loved how R.L. Perez put a lot of thought in the dragons characters and their relationship with the FMC. It worked out so well in the plot.

I do feel like the last 40 percent was rushed. I understand this can be read as a standalone, but if the book was split into a duo logy with more support on the back half; it would be so much better.

For readers who enjoy spice, this has it and it doesn't overwhelm the plot.

Overall, it was a unique & clever story with "Sleeping Beauty" vibes.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Willow Haven Press for approving me as an ARC reader for this book!

Crown of Slumber was a fast-paced and action-packed Sleeping Beauty retelling turned on its head. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book- the writing, the plot, the characters- all of it. It had me hooked from line one right up until the end; I was just turning page after page with no realization as to the world around me. This book has everything a lover of fantasy (and romantasy) loves and more- from dragons, fae, witches, and magic to witty banter that's sure to have you crying with laughter and giddily kicking your feet while giggling. I will, without a doubt, be reading more from this author!

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I really enjoyed this book!!!the sleeping beauty retelling was very good and was a spin that I was not expecting! I found this such an easy read, I read over half of it in one sitting without realising!
It has loads of the tropes I love:
Enemies to loves
Forced proximity
Dragons
Dual POV
The tension that was built between the main characters I thought was very good and the book had just the right amount of spice!!! More spicy fairytale retellings please!