This didn’t really do it for me. It wasn’t awful but it was just very predictable. I do like fairy tale retellings and this one had a nice twist!

The writing is good, but just not unique. I felt like the MMC was very soft and the whole thing with dragons was basic. Maybe I’ve been reading too much romantasy lately 😵‍💫

Sleeping Beauty is my favorite princess and I look to find any retellings of her I can. I thought the story was well thought out and R.L. Perez really took the right things from the original and made it something new. I was so excited that my favorite scene of the movie was incorporated into the book! I'm super intrigued to see where the story goes from here and who we'll be introduced to next!

I received this Digital ARC through NetGalley

A romantasy sleeping beauty retelling with dragons, fae & witches and a Solar/Seasonal court system due to be released on 15th Sept.

This is a standalone book about Aurelia & Fenn and has many popular tropes, one bed, fake dating etc. I liked that Fenn wasn’t your usual grumpy MMC or an alphahole and Aurelia surprised me at points. There were also some twists I didn’t see coming, it was a good standalone and an enjoyable read!

Review submitted on GoodReads on 7th Sept 2024

Aurelia, the princess of the Summer Court, is about to ascend the throne to become Queen before a sleeping curse descends upon their kingdom. Fennick, the prince of the Midnight Court, arrives just as the curse is setting in and loses his traveling party to the curse as well. The two enter into a hesitant truce to find a way to free her kingdom and save his - all because she has a strange connection to dragons.

Mal, Aurelia’s favorite dragon, is basically her familiar and is one of my top favorite characters in this story. I loved seeing Aurelia’s love and compassion for the dragons as well as watching Fenn learn to love them like she does. His awe when surrounded by dragons was magnificent.

Fenn and Aurelia enter into a bargain to help both kingdoms that involves their fake engagement and an exchange of goods. However, Aurelia has a mysterious power and they keep running into trouble along the way.

This book was well written and the story line was very interesting. It’s a Sleeping Beauty retelling except the FMC isn’t helplessly waiting on her true love’s kiss- she’s fighting viciously every step of the way. She is willing to sacrifice anything for her kingdom and her dragons.

Fenn and Aurelia’s relationship was very fun to see develop. Their banter was fantastic and written so well and watching them blossom together was truly wonderful. I deeply enjoyed myself while reading this one. This story brought this traditional fairytale to light in a very new, fresh, and unique way. I highly recommend checking this one out. Besides, look how pretty the cover is!

I enjoyed this retelling of Sleeping Beauty! This book has a strong FMC, great banter, some spice, and dragons. To be honest I wasn’t sure about the book in the very beginning but it definitely pulled me in. The ending was perfect. It’s a great stand alone. If you love forced proximity, fake relationship, enemies to lovers, magic, dragons, self discovery and shapeshifting then I suggest reading this book! But I do recommend reading the trigger warnings before starting.
I look forward to reading more books written by R.L. Perez!

The Summer Princess finds her family under a deadly sleeping curse and her dragons in danger. The Midnight Prince needs to save his court from the creatures that lurk in the shadows. Together they form an unlikely alliance before embarking on an adventure and fake engagement fueled by fae bargains, dragons, and the need to save both their kingdoms.
Is the Summer Princess ready to trust the charming prince? Is the Midnight Prince really as he seems?

With plenty of obstacles in their way and their own feelings becoming more than they bargained for, they work together to save both courts and keep the dragons safe. Fate has other plans though with warring courts, deadly deception, unknown dark fae magic, and unexpected villains doing whatever it takes to stop them both from getting what they need to fulfill their bargain. Will they succeed or will two courts fall.

Written as a Sleeping Beauty retelling, this book is feels like a classic, but never like you are rereading the same old tale again. A beautifully written spicey slow burn-enemies to lovers romantasy.
if spice is not your thing, I still think you may enjoy it, as there are only 3 scenes you could easily skip. *There is a description of SA that happened in the past, not in detail. If this is a possible trigger then read with caution, however the description is presented carefully as a vulnerable moment.
The main characters were my favorite! You read from both POV’s. The spoken banter & inner dialog between the two of them helped build the enemies to lovers plot here. They had their own backstories that play a major role in the story and unpredictable ending.

I really enjoyed this book and will have a hard time waiting a whole year for book 2!
R.L Perez is definitely on my list of favorite authors after this read! Writing this review was hard because there is so there is so much I want to talk and rave about but I also want to keep it short and give zero spoilers for other readers.
I highly encourage all of my fellow romantasy lovers to go read it asap!

Thank you Willow Haven Press and NetGalley for allowing me to arc review this book for an honest review.

In the second installment of R.L. Perez's 'Crowns of Fae' series comes a tale of fueding kingdoms and stopping at nothing to protect those you love.

Crown of Slumber is a dark Sleeping Beauty retelling where you meet Aurelia who just wants to be able to spend time with her sister and her dragons, especially Mal. She longs for the freedom of the forest and the open skies on top of her dragon. But she is thrust in to battle of dark magic, witches, a peculiar sleeping curse and an enemy prince who just happens to be super attractive....nothing could go wrong right?

Will Aurelia be able to set aside her differences with an opposing kingdom to save those she loves? And is she ready to meet the countless dark and terrifying creatures along the way?
----------------------------------------
This book is definitely one of my favorite of the year so far and I absolutely could not put it down. It's full of all of the things I love most in a fantasy and I'm sure this will be a book that I would wish to read again for the first time. If you like fae, dragons, witches and magic, this book will be right up your alley of steamy romantasy to binge!

Thank you to NetGalley and R.L. Perez for the chance to read the arc of this amazing book!

This book, a Sleeping Beauty retelling, I must say I enjoyed reading this book.

The Princess of the Summer Court (Aurelia) one day realises everyone in her court has been cursed, being made to sleep and never to wake up... unless she finds a way to break the spell. Fortunately enough, with the Prince of the Midnight Court (Fenn) by her side, they embark on a journey across courts in order to save her kingdom, and also his... since it turns out his court, too, is in dire need of help. And they decide to make a blood bargain, to help one another out. They had what the other person needs in order to save their kingdoms. Aurelia grows suspicious of Fenn since he turns up just before her court has been put to sleep. But during this journey, they go through experiences that strengthen the bond between them, and maybe.... just maybe... they'll fall in love? They may as well since they're pretending to be betrothed, in order to make their journey together not to look so suspicious (since these kingdoms have always been hostile towards each other), and it also helps them carry out the journey to save their peoples. Do they end up saving one another's people? Will Aurelia and Fenn actually get married? Who put the people in the Summer Court to sleep and why? Why doesn't Aurelia have any fae powers... unless she's hiding them? You'll end up having all of these questions answered, and more if you decide to read the book!

I found it easy to get hooked on the book, however I did start losing my interest approaching the middle of the book. I found the relationship between Aurelia and Fenn to be immature at points, which was putting me off a bit. But I was soon again hooked approaching 3/5th of the book, since there was more action involved, and more secrets spilled, and some questions being answered. It was keeping me entertained til the end, and I ended up loving the book as a whole. The story is one of self discovery, trust, magic, DRAGONS, and sadly some betrayal. I find Aurelia's past very interesting, and I hadn't saw it coming. I thoroughly enjoyed the interactions with the dragons and Aurelia, it was so wonderful. Overall, I think parts of it reads like a YA, but like I said, I found myself really enjoying the book by the end. How they end up saving themselves and their kingdoms, I found engaging and exciting! I'd love to read the next book!

I dnf'ed this one at 48%... let's talk about it.

I was given this ARC courtesy of NetGalley. All opinions are my own. I was not told to give a positive review.

Triggers: mentions of sexual assault, graphic sexual content, mild language

If this book hadn't been marketed as a "Sleeping Beauty" retelling, the plot would have been almost impossible to follow. Even with that premise as the backdrop, I found it incredibly hard to get into. The elements I loved from the original fairytale felt poorly handled in this "retelling," and I often had to remind myself which scenes were supposed to echo the original story.

The writing was another major issue. It's heavy on telling rather than showing, which made me feel like the author thought I wouldn't piece together even the most obvious details. She also used the same adjective phrases and hardly ever switched them up, so it was pretty easy to deduce what was being talked about... But the author lays it out for us as though we can't figure it out. For example, the same three-word phrase — "pine and mint and the fresh scent of waterfalls" — is repeatedly used to describe the smell of Fennick (the prince). During a scene where the protagonist wakes up next to him, the author uses this exact phrase again to describe the scent, as if readers couldn't figure out who was there:

<blockquote>When my eyes opened, registering the faint fuschia and amber glows of sunrise filtering through the curtains, I found myself encased in warmth. It pressed close to my skin, wrapping me in a cocoon of <i>pine and mint and the fresh scent of waterfalls</i>.</p><p>"Mmm." I burrowed further into the warmth.</p><p> Only to realize it wasn't a blanket or fur.</p><p> It was a person. </p><p> <i>Fenn.</i></blockquote>

<i>Of course</i> it's him — the same. exact. adjectives. are used every time. And this kind of redundancy wasn't the only frustration I had with the writing.

The first-person past tense narration also felt awkward. It's not that first-person past tense is inherently bad, but it often creates a sense of detachment, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. This approach seems more suited for third-person narratives or flashbacks, not an entire novel where sensory engagement and emotional depth are essential.

Beyond the writing style, I found the handling of sensitive topics — particularly sexual assault — to be troubling. Aurelia (the Aurora character) is sexually assaulted by her former betrothed, and every time it’s mentioned, it feels like she’s begging those around her to ask her about it, and she opens her mouth, then shuts it, thinking better than to spill the tea so early on in the book... About halfway through the book, she shows little signs of trauma beyond a head shake to rid the thoughts that she doesn't want to think about. She doesn't seem triggered by any touch from Fenn, who later disrespects her in front of hundreds of people. Despite this, she quickly transitions to begging him to bed her after he describes what he wants to do to her in graphic detail.

The sexual scene, described in other reviews as "tasteful," felt tasteless to me and lacked realism. The chemistry between Fenn and Aurelia is supposed to be there, but their relationship swings wildly from hate to instant passion without any acknowledgment of fear, mistrust, or flashbacks from Aurelia’s trauma. This aspect, among others, ultimately made me put the book down. I regret not stopping sooner when the first signs of my disappointment crept in.

Overall, this book felt like a missed opportunity. The writing was lackluster, and the story seemed to be caught between wanting to be a faithful retelling and trying too hard to be original. The insensitivity in handling serious topics made it difficult for me to continue. Once I put the book down, I found I had little desire to pick it up again.

I received this ARC of Crown of Slumber by R.L. Perez from NetGalley and am so thankful! I absolutely adored this retelling of the classic Sleeping Beauty. I loved the world building and character development. The plot never got lost in the details but it was still a very atmospheric and enjoyable read. This is a perfect read for anyone who adores the romantasy genre. There was a bit of spice too, I’d personally say about a 3/5 amount of spice. It was all tastefully done and made you really love the characters and their journey. I loved this book so much, I’ll still be purchasing a physical copy for my bookshelf because it belongs there 💗

Crown of Slumber: A sleeping Beauty Retelling

5/5

I really couldn’t put this down. If you’re into fantasy and romance with a Disney twist - this one is for you!

The world building was well done. Enough detail to get me invested without it dragging on.

This is also how you write a gorgeous enemies to lovers story. From the initial meeting I was squealing at my Kindle! The development of the two main characters and their love is magically done. I cannot wait to pick up more stories by this author because it was such a great and smooth read.


Goodreads review is posted. Instagram to be posted September 14.

First things first, I am a cover ready and so when I saw this on NetGalley I knew I had to apply.

But I was blown away by how much I loved this book. A fantasy romance that keeps you guessing the hole time. I did not find any "down time" or slumps (even though I will probably be in one now after this book).

This book is an absolute gem for anyone who loves fantasy romance with mysterious twists and turns.

I loved that the ‘drama/action’ started early on in the book and was kept consistent throughout (no boring bits, thank god). The twists were genuinely surprising, so much so that I couldn’t even guess how it would end!

I loved the small references to Sleeping Beauty without copying the story completely, the author did a great job at making it feel fresh and captivating. The romance was beautifully woven into the plot (I’m in love with Fenn!!!) and the world-building was fun however wish we could of seen a bit more of it.

Downloading her other books right now!! Highly recommended for fans of fantasy who enjoy a bit of romance and unpredictable storytelling!

Crown Of Slumber worked for me as someone who struggles to follow more dense and intricate fantasy stories. It started really strong with me flying through the first quarter, though my excitement waned as the story went on. I wasn’t crazy about where the plot ended up but I was entertained.
I saw room for improvement in the writing and dialogue, but it was easily read and the depiction of dragons as beloved violent flying pets is always welcome in my home.

I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed *Crown of Slumber*. If you’re a fan of *ACOTAR* and love enemies-to-lovers with a good slow-burn romance, this book is definitely for you!

The romance is what really hooked me. Enemies-to-lovers is always a favorite of mine, and this book delivers on that slow-burn tension. But I have to say, Fenn felt a bit too boyish and even whiny for the first three-quarters of the book. It kind of pulled me out of the romance at first, but luckily it got better as the story went on and Fenn started to mature.

One of my biggest gripes was the pacing. It moved way too fast, which is unusual for me to say! I wanted more world-building, more character depth, and more insight into the witches and dragons. The book had so much potential that I honestly could’ve read 100+ more pages if it meant diving deeper into all of that.

All in all, *Crown of Slumber* is a great read for fantasy romance fans, especially if you’re into enemies-to-lovers and slow-burns. Despite a few issues, it’s definitely worth picking up if those are your thing!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“You are a firebird,” I whispered to her. “Magnificent and fierce. No one will quell your flame.”

🐉 Sleeping Beauty Retelling with a Twist
👑 Feuding Kingdoms
🐉 Deadly Court Schemes
👑 Fae, Witches & Dragons
🐉 Forced Proximity
👑 Enemies to Lovers

Overall Enjoyment: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
World Building: 🌎🌎🌎🌎
Romance: ♥️♥️
Characters: 👤👤

“I loathe you more intensely than a thousand burning suns.”
“So what you’re saying is… you have strong feelings for me?”

I was instantly drawn to this book with its twist on the Sleeping Beauty fairytale, and Crown of Slumber did not disappoint. You’ll instantly find yourself swept up in fae politics, dragons who will steal your heart, and a romance that had the perfect balance of tension and banter.

“Dragons made much better company than fae nobles.”

With a first line like this you bet I was hooked from the first page. I too would prefer a dragon. Especially with how Perez writes hers, they are giant affectionate puppy like terrors and I loved every scene they were in! They definitely tugged on your heart strings while also adding great comedic moments. Who doesn’t love dragons?

“I find your sour attitude quite endearing, little firebird.”

I will never get enough of the banter that accompanies the enemies to lovers trope. I loved how prickly they could be with each other while still slowly letting down their walls. They are complex characters with intense history’s and their relationship was done in a very believable way. Even if I wanted to knock their heads together a time or two

“It was easy to don the mask everyone expected me to wear. But I had grown accustomed to taking off that mask for her.”

This was a great standalone and introduction to this world and I’m really glad I had the chance to read it!

An amazing retelling of Sleeping Beauty! I loved the take on it! There were elements I definitely wasn’t expecting and I love it!! I loved the banter between the characters, it was easy to imagine. The FMC was strong yet still vulnerable. I any recommend this book to enough people. The romance and the entire book really is well written. I liked the alternating POVs. For my spicy lovers I’d give this a 2/5 chili pepper rating, but those point are just *chefs kiss*

Thank you NetGallery for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’m such a sucker for a fairytale retelling and when I hear that this was a sleeping beauty retelling mixed with flipping dragons AND fae I was sold. Straight away I loved it. I am OBSESSED with dragons at the moment and I loved the begging of the book, I was hooked the moment the author wrote about Aurelia and her bond with her dragons.

I really enjoyed the romance in this book and how it was written. I liked how this was truly a retelling but it was also loyal to the original fairytale. I feel like this was a really really good way of doing the story justice.

I loved the twist and I didn’t actually predict that it was going to be what it was. I feel like it kept me on my toes and I loved that about this book.

My only issue which is so tiny and probably my fault, was that I was really confused with the dual POV and who was who but then I realised it literally tells you at the start. Loved the dual POV and the short chapters. It really kept me enticed.

I loved this retelling of the magical sleeping beauty.

Crown of Slumber is a romantasy based around Princess Aurelia (Princess of Summer Court) and Prince Fenn (Prince of the Midnight Court), who together tackle a sleeping curse that has befallen over Princess Aurelia's family and court.
The whole story is very captivating, and the world building is amazing. I truly felt like I could picture everything. The MFC is strong and independent whilst the MMC was witty and charming.

The playful banter between the two characters was great, and their slow burn romance was sweet.

Overall a GREAT book!

Don't forget to check out the authors note at the end of the book to see all the little 'nods' the original fairy tale.

What an action packed book. I thought the pacing was great and kept me at the edge of my seat. Aurelia and Fenn were great MCs. I was invested in their relationship from the beginning and although it is a bit of a slower burn. It develops pretty quickly. Also the magical aspects are so fun even though the book was a little on the darker side. I definitely recommend it.