Unraveled: A Gothic Fantasy Romance (A Kingdom of Beasts and Ruins book) by Abbey Fox

Unraveled: A Gothic Fantasy Romance (A Kingdom of Beasts and Ruins book)
by Abbey Fox
Sept 9, 2025
Genre: Gothic Beauty and the Beast Retelling in Fantasy Setting

• Enemies to lovers
• Found family
• Forced proximity
• Touch her and die
• Female friendships
• A Beauty and the Beast retelling
• Slow-burn
• Morally Gray MMC

Some micro-tropes:

• His familiar/pet loves her more
• Feisty FMC
• Bookish FMC

Everyone knows to never look a fae in the eyes, yet no one warned me he would hide behind the mask of a beast.

Death awaits those who get caught in the Wild Hunt, and only a magical veil protects the people of Penumbra from the monsters coming for them. So when a beast threatens to destroy the veil, Mia Clementine must break her vows of sorcery and use her magic to fight him, or risk losing everyone she loves.

But the beast isn’t what he seems, and now the fae king owns her soul. Dragged into his mythical land, she must unravel the curse that turned him into a monster in order to regain her freedom—or die trying.

The longer she stays in his world, the more irresistible her feelings for him become. Hate turns into passion, and newly discovered truths test her loyalties, forcing her to choose to save her people or the fae world she’s grown to love.

If you like Howl's Moving Castle and ACOTAR, then you will love this gothic Beauty and the Beast retelling in a fantasy setting.

Triggers:
It contains strong language; explicit, consensual sex scenes; and violence typical for the genre. There is also a bit of a horror element, manipulation and kidnapping.

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About the Author:
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Abbey Fox loves to write action packed Fantasy Romance stories, with ass-kicking heroines, swoon-worthy heroes and a healthy dose of spice. Sometimes, when she should be crafting new worlds and putting her characters' lives in danger, she is tending to her plants and painting her favorite characters. 

To connect with Abbey, you can follow her in her Instagram account @abbeyfoxauthor or subscribe to her newsletter for all the latest info. 

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Excerpt: A Curse of Shadows and Ice: A Beauty and the Beast Retelling by C.A. Maura

A Curse of Shadows and Ice, an all-new steamy and magical fantasy standalone romance from USA Today bestselling author Catharina Maura writing as C.A. Maura is available now!

A Curse of Shadows and Ice: A Beauty and the Beast Retelling 

by C.A. Maura  

September 2, 2022

From USA Today Bestselling Author Catharina Maura comes a Beauty and the Beast retelling featuring a cursed emperor, a princess who possesses forbidden magic, and a marriage that could save them all.

Princess Arabella of Althea is left no choice when Felix Osiris, the Shadow Emperor, threatens to overthrow her country unless she agrees to marry him.

When she learns his empire is cursed and she’s destined to set them free, they come to an agreement: help him minimize the curse’s effect on his people, and he’ll let her go.

As Felix teaches Arabella how to control her forbidden and volatile magic, her feelings for him turn from hatred to passion… and she realizes that she must break the curse, or she’ll lose him forever.

Fall in love today!

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Excerpt
“Help me undress,” I tell her, turning to face her. I might have told her that I won’t exercise my rights, but I have every intention of tempting her into touching me.

She glares at me, but her cheeks are crimson and her eyes are roaming over my exposed chest and abs. She takes a step closer, her hands trembling as she grabs the lapels of my uniform and pushes it down my shoulder.

I watch her closely, wondering what she’s thinking. Does she find my body repulsive? Most people do, yet somehow I find myself wishing she’s different. My jacket falls to the floor and she moves her hand lower, placing it on the waistband of my trousers. Fates. Her touch is affecting me more than I expected. I’d only intended to antagonize her a bit, but it looks like it’s me that’s suffering now.

“Go check the bath’s temperature,” I tell her instead. She pulls her hands away and I let my eyes fall closed, praying for composure. Would this have been easier if she wasn’t so beautiful? If that chemise wasn’t sheer in the candlelight?

“The temperature is fine,” she tells me as I finish undressing, unable to hide my desire from her. Her eyes widen as she watches me step into the tub, and I sigh in relief once I’m hidden from her. Is that what the priests refer to as karma? Is this instant punishment for trying to entice my wife?

“Come here,” I tell her, not willing to admit defeat.

She kneels beside me, her breathing uneven and her face a deep crimson. It only makes her more beautiful. It makes me wonder what she’ll look like underneath me.

I hand her the bar of soap, and she takes it with shaking hands. I expected her to refuse and walk out, but there’s more curiosity in her eyes than anything else. If I’m not mistaken, there’s a hint of desire too. It’s faint, but it’s there. For me.

I thought she’d run the bar of soap over my skin, but instead she lathers it in her hands before putting it down. I’m tense as she places her hands on my shoulders, taking her time to massage in the soap.

“You’ve done this before?” The mere thought of her touching another man has me seeing red.

“Not for anyone but you, but I’m quite familiar with the concept of bathing.”

I bite back a smile, hiding the fact that I tremendously enjoy her wit. I doubt she realizes that no one would ever dare joke around with me. I thought I’d find being married a nuisance, but it fills a void I didn’t realize existed.

“Join me,” I murmur.

Her hands pause their movement, and I turn toward her, wrapping my hands around her waist and lifting her in before she has a chance to decline. She gasps when her body is submerged in the water, her white chemise rapidly becoming see-through.

“Felix!” she shouts, and I force myself not to smile at the outrage on her face.

“It’s easier for you to clean me when you’re in here with me,” I tell her, keeping my face carefully blank. She stares at me, as though she’s trying to ascertain if I’m being truthful, and I feel bad instantly. This is new to her. It’s not just me, and marriage, but this entire environment. She takes away the loneliness I’ve always felt, but in return I’m only giving her misery and discomfort.

“I apologize,” I tell her. “You needn’t do this.”

She rises to her knees between my legs and shakes her head. “You’re my husband,” she whispers. “I want to be the one who does this for you. I don’t believe you’re quite the monster you think you are, despite the viciousness that continues to leave your lips.”

Her words disarm me, and I lean back to watch her. She places her hands on my chest, palms flat, her wet chemise sticking to her body and outlining her magnificent body. I can’t remember the last time I desired a woman as much as I do my wife.

I wrap my hands around her wrists, keeping them in place. “I…” I’m not sure what I’m even trying to say.

I’m not like most men, Arabella.

I’ll hurt you.

Run, while you still can.

Don’t let me in.

I let my eyes roam over her face, her body. She’s perfect. I didn’t realize it when I first saw her in the Mirror of Pythia, but she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Her long dark hair and those honeycomb eyes. Those lips that I want another taste of. She’s beautiful, but it isn’t just her looks. It’s the energy she exudes. I’ve never met anyone quite so pure. It makes me want to corrupt her. Own her. Defile her.

I lean in, and her eyes fall closed, her breathing a little more rapid. Her chest rises and falls, her hard nipples on display for me.

I had no intention of trying to break this curse through love. It sounds ridiculous to me — it always has. But with Arabella, I find myself hoping for the impossible.

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Catharina Maura Amazon-Goodreads
C.A Maura Amazon-Goodreads
USA Today Bestselling Author Catharina Maura writes Paranormal Romance and Fantasy as C.A. Maura, and Contemporary Romance as Catharina Maura.

She has a weakness for fated mates, true love, fairytale retellings, and happily ever afters. Cat currently lives in Hong Kong, and you can find all her latest updates here: https://hi.catharinamaura.com/bio

Q&A: PNR Author J.A. Wynters + giveaway

Can you, for those who don't know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?

I live in Australia with my three kids, husband and fish called Fish face. (trust me if you saw him you’ll know how appropriate that name is – also just assuming it’s a boy… No way to check…) I have always written collecting words is one of my favourite pass times.

What is something unique/quirky about you?

I play roller derby even though my knees are shot and I had surgery on the right one less than eight months ago. I speak four languages – I’m also fluent in sarcasm.

What are some of your pet peeves?

They’re / their/ there – I mean how hard is it??

Also, people that can’t use their F***** indicator!!

If you knew you'd die tomorrow, how would you spend your last day?

I’d tell everyone what I really thought of them – I’ll go blow all my cash on men and booze and drugs and dance till dawn.

What kind of world ruler would you be?

Fair – I think – that doesn’t necessarily mean kind – just fair – everyone should get what they deserve..

What are you passionate about these days?

Writing reading and the army of three minions I have created.

What do you do to unwind and relax?

Watch Netflix while simultaneously playing Fishdom.

How to find time to write as a parent?

I usually wait until my kids are in bed and write till 12 – 1am.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

After my first book Guarding Gabriel got such great reviews and people asked for more.

Do you have a favorite movie?

That’ a hard one I do like a lot of movies – die Hard is definitely up there so is the Princess Bride.

Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?

They are all a little gritty around the edges so not sure – although I would love to see Guarding Gabriel in film.

Beast
by J.A. Wynters

February 14, 2020
199 pages

Genre: Fairy Tale Retelling, Paranormal Romance 

Falling out of a window didn't hurt as much as falling for her.

Tove Savage.

When the most beautiful girl in the world treats you like her dirty little secret, you’re reminded that beasts are meant to live in the dark.

Tove used me to get back at her boyfriend, breaking something inside that left a scar far deeper and uglier than the one marring my face.

Three years later Tove arrives at my hospital broken and without her memories.

So, what am I meant to do? Try to forget how much I love her or exact my revenge?

BEAST is a twisted Beauty and the Beast retelling.

Beauty is more than skin deep.

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Jane Wynters doesn't quite know how to answer the question of "where are you from?" She's moved from place to place like a snowflake on the wind always searching for a safe place to land. She loves meeting new people and exploring new places. She loves reading, writing and conjuring new worlds from her imagination. 

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Excerpt: Taken by the Beast (The Conduit #1) Conner Kressley & Rebecca + giveaway

Taken by the Beast (The Conduit #1)
Conner Kressley & Rebecca Hamilton
April 29th 2018
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Retelling, Romance
It’s not until a missing girl is found chained up in Abram’s home that this beauty realizes one of her romantic interests is a beast.

When I took this job at New Haven’s first ever Night Club, it was just to try to get on my own two feet. I hadn’t expected to fall for my boss.

Now, I can’t seem to stay away, despite all the warning signs he’s hiding something from me. It’s not until I find a missing girl chained up in his home that I realize he’s a beast. And by then, it’s too late.

Magic is real, and I’m really in trouble. My boss might chain me up next, and I think I’d like it.

This hot alpha male shifter is sure to be your new favorite book boyfriend in this scorching hot beauty and the beast retelling! See what fans of Celia Kyle, Ilona Andrews, and J.R. Ward are calling their latest paranormal romance addiction.

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EXCERPT:
I shook my head. I didn’t want to stay here, in some place where they spun tales tall enough to make your best friend sleep with a gun under her pillow.

I didn’t want to be that person, not for anything. And something told me that if I stayed here long enough, I wouldn’t be able to help it.
No, I would go to sleep, wake up, collect the supplies I needed from town, and fix the stupid fence. Then I would get a job, save up like crazy, and make a break for it. Maybe I could call my (former) agent and beg him to take me back.

Hell, the Sears Catalog always needs models.

I punched my pillow, trying not to think about this ridiculous place, about all it had seen me lose.

“Idiots,” I muttered, climbing into bed. “They turn their town into a pressure cooker and then they make monsters out of thin—”

A sudden howling cut off my words.

Tensing, I threw off my covers and lurched for the window.

The sound was nothing. A dog, or something. I would prove that to myself.

I glared out into those goddamn woods. See, nothing. Absolutely—

A shadow moved between the trees, hulking and burly, but also tall. Too tall to be an animal.

I blinked hard, once, and then again. When I looked back, there was nothing there.

Stop it, Char.

This place would drive me crazy if I let it. It was nothing. An animal.

I got back in bed, trying to feel more New York and less New Haven.

But somewhere in the back of my mind, I couldn’t let go of the howl…or the markings…or the dead girl who looked just like me.

About the Authors: Rebecca Hamilton

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New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Hamilton writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance for Harlequin, Baste Lübbe, and Evershade. A book addict, registered bone marrow donor, and Indian food enthusiast, she often takes to fictional worlds to see what perilous situations her characters will find themselves in next.

Represented by Rossano Trentin of TZLA, Rebecca has been published internationally, in three languages: English, German, and Hungarian.

Conner KressleyWebsite-FB-Twitter
Conner Kressley is a USA TODAY Bestselling Author. He is an avid reader and all around lover of storytelling. He's been obsessed with mythology, magic, and all the things that go bump in the night since he could remember. Also, pizza. But who isn't obsessed with pizza?

When he's not writing (or even when he is), Conner can be found in the western Texas watching old movies, geeking out over books (comic and otherwise)He loves hearing from his fans. So please, feel free to reach out on Facebook or through his website at connerkressleybooks.weebly.com

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Release Day: Kingdom of Mirrors & Roses: A Limited Edition of Beauty and the Beast Retellings + giveaway

Kingdom of Mirrors & Roses: A Limited Edition of Beauty and the Beast Retellings
by A.W. Cross, Anna Santos, Anne Stryker, Clara Winter, D.L. Pitchford Jacque Stevens, Kelly. N. Jane, R. Castro, Angelique S Anderson

August 1st 2019
Genres: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, New Adult
Beauty and the Beast, but not how you remember it

Deep in the forest, a castle hides. No one knows who lives there, but rumors of a beast keep people away.

Cloaked in shadows, hidden from view, a prince destroyed by a curse shuts himself away from the world, ashamed of the beast he’s become.

And in the village, a beautiful girl with her nose in a book, yearns for something more.

True love is the only thing that can break his curse. True love is the one thing she’s looking for, but how can they find true love when neither knows the other exists?

Find out if love really can defy all odds in this set of thirteen captivating retellings of the classic fairytale, filled with love, hope and the strength of two people willing to do whatever it takes…

One click now for your happily ever after.

Other books in the Kingdom of series…

Kingdom of Glass and Ashes (Cinderella retellings)

Kingdom of Salt and Sirens (Little Mermaid retellings)

Kingdom of Sand and Wishes (Aladdin retellings)

Kingdom of Mirrors and Roses (Beauty and the Beast retellings)

Kingdom of Thorns and Dreams (Sleeping Beauty retellings) coming soon

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Book Review: Beauty and the Beast: Classic Tales About Animal Brides and Grooms from Around the World by Maria Tatar + giveaway

Beauty and the Beast: Classic Tales About Animal Brides and Grooms from Around the World

Edited by Maria Tatar
March 7, 2017
234 pages
Publisher: Penguin Classics
One of our most beloved and elemental fairy tales, in versions from across the centuries and around the world—published to coincide with Disney’s live-action 3D musical film starring Emma Watson, Ian McKellen, Ewan McGregor, Audra McDonald, Kevin Kline, Stanley Tucci, and Emma Thompson

Nearly every culture tells the story of Beauty and the Beast in one fashion or another. From Cupid and Psyche to India’s Snake Bride to South Africa’s “Story of Five Heads,” the partnering of beasts and beauties, of humans and animals in all their variety—cats, dogs, frogs, goats, lizards, bears, tortoises, monkeys, cranes, warthogs—has beguiled us for thousands of years, mapping the cultural contradictions that riddle every romantic relationship.

In this fascinating volume, preeminent fairy tale scholar Maria Tatar brings together tales from ancient times to the present and from a wide variety of cultures, highlighting the continuities and the range of themes in a fairy tale that has been used both to keep young women in their place and to encourage them to rebel, and that has entertained adults and children alike. With fresh commentary, she shows us what animals and monsters, both male and female, tell us about ourselves, and about the transformative power of empathy.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Can’t get enough of Beauty and the Beast?

Harvard fairytale scholar Maria Tartar and Penguin Classics brought together many different variations of the Beauty and the Beast theme and put them in one book. Pretty neat huh? Some of the stories are recognizable like Cupid and Psyche (At least to me that one was recognizable) but some of them were completely new to me like the Lithuanian story The Peasant and Zemyne.

The book itself isn’t very long as most of these tales are very short but there are quite a few of them sorted into four categories including one for animal grooms and one for animal brides. I honestly loved all the stories even though some of them didn’t end with “And they lived Happily Ever After.” Heck, some of those stories were more warnings than fairy tale but no less interesting. I loved reading other culture’s versions of a very popular theme and I couldn’t put it down once I started!

Overall, I highly recommend Beauty and the Beast: Classic Tales About Animal Brides and Grooms to not only fans of the Beauty and the Beast story they know but all fairy tale fans. All the stories combine make for an intriguing, entertaining read.

Sheep Rating: 4 Sheep

Adria Reyes

About the Author:

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Maria Tatar teaches folklore, children's literature, and German cultural studies at Harvard University. She chairs the Program in Folklore and Mythology. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

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Spotlight: Charred Tears (The Heart of Fire Series) by Lizzy Ford Blog Tour + giveaway

CHARRED HEART Heart of Fire series, #1
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Release date: November 21, 2013
Published by: Lizzy Ford
 GuerrillaWordfare
Cover by: Sarah Hansen
Cover model: James D. Magnussen

**Contains adult situations. Recommended for ages 18+**

Modern day retelling of “Beauty and the Beast.”

For a thousand years, Chace has searched for a way to break the curse placed on him by a jilted lover. He’s a dragon shifter, one who can’t control when the magic will force him into a different form. He’s already lost everyone he ever cared about a few times over and doesn’t know how much longer he’s meant to suffer.

At his wit’s end, he makes a deal with a mysterious figure that offers him what he wants most – an end to his misery – in exchange for everything that’s his: His life, his power. His heart.

The next day, he meets Skylar, a modern day dragon slayer whose mission is to cage him – or kill him. Sexy, witty and brave, she is the yin to his yang, the woman destined to break the curse, balance his magic and make his broken heart whole.

Except it’s too late. Not only has he sealed his fate, but an innocent one-night-stand with Skylar has dragged her into the middle of a deal with the devil, one she won’t escape, if he can’t convince her that dragon shifters aren’t her enemies.

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CHARRED TEARS
Heart of Fire series, #2
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Release date: December 16, 2013
Published by: Lizzy FordGuerrillaWordfare
Cover by: Claudia McKinney, Sarah Hansen
Cover model: James D. Magnussen
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**Contains adult situations. Recommended for ages 18+**

Skylar is being hunted by the very people she used to trust. Stung by Chace’s betrayal, she struggles to keep one step ahead of the slayers while digging deeper into the past she doesn’t remember for answers. Her heart belongs to Chace, but she won’t be fooled by him again, not when the price of trusting him could cost more than their lives.

Chace got what he wanted – freedom from the curse – only to discover he’s given up much more than the power he didn’t want. He’s lost the woman who holds the other half of his heart. Exiled and powerless, he’s all that stands between her and the danger tracking both of them. To save her, he must prove himself worthy of her heart and trust and find a way to recover the magic he traded to become human.

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CHARRED HOPE 

Heart of Fire series, #3 

COMING 2014 

About the Author:
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Lizzy Ford is the author of over twenty books written for young adult and adult paranormal romance readers, to include the internationally bestselling “Rhyn Trilogy,” “Witchling Series” and the “War of Gods” series. Considered a freak of nature by her peers for the ability to write and release a commercial quality novel in under a month, Lizzy has focused on keeping her readers happy by producing brilliant, gritty romances that remind people why true love is a trial worth enduring. Lizzy’s books can be found on every major ereader library, to include: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Sony and Smashwords. She lives in southern Arizona with her husband, three dogs and a cat.

12/23/13 - 1/11/14 Lizzy Ford's CHARRED TEARS Blog Tour 

12/23 Bitten By Romance (Series Spotlight)
http://www.bittenbyromance.com/
12/23 TBQ’s Book Palace (Spotlight)
http://tbqspersonalbookpalace.blogspot.com
12/24 Book Monster Reviews (spotlight)
http://www.bookmonsterreviews.com/
12/24 Charlene Blogs (spotlight)
http://charleneawilsonblog.blogspot.com/
12/27 True Story Book Blog (Series Spotlight)
http://www.truestorybookblog.com/
12/28 A_TiffyFit's Reading Corner (Review)
http://tiffyfit.blogspot.com
12/29 Mythical Books (Series Spotlight)
http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/
12/30 My Book Addiction (Series Spotlight)
http://mybookaddiction.com
12/30 Offbeat Vagabond (Interview)
http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/
1/1 Kristina's Books & More (Series Spotlight)
http://kristinasbooksandmore.blogspot.com/
1/1 Mad Hatter Reads (Interview)
http://madhatterreads.com
1/3 paranormal book club (Series Spotlight)
www.paranormal-bookclub.com
1/5 Inner Goddess (Guest Post)
http://www.InnerGoddessForum.com
1/8 RomanceJunkies.com (Interview)
http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/
1/9 Bitten by Books (Interview)
http://bittenbybooks.com
1/9 Coffee Talk Writers (Spotlight)
http://coffeetalkwriters.com
1/9 I Smell Sheep (Guest Post)
http://www.ismellsheep.com/
1/10 Lily Pony Reads (Review)
http://lilypondreads.blogspot.com/
1/10 Victoria's Gossip (Interview)
http://victoriasgossip.com/blog
1/11 Dalene's Book Reviews (Series Spotlight)
http://dalenesbookreviews.blogspot.com/
1/11 Literal Hotties Naughty Book Reviews (Guest Post)
http://literalhottiesnaughtybookreviews.blogspot.com/
1/11 Mama's Reading Break (Spotlight/Review)
http://mamasreadingbreak.blogspot.com
1/11 Who’s Reviews (Spotlight/Review)
http://whosreviews.wordpress.com/

TOUR GIVEAWAY DETAILS: 

GRAND PRIZE: Kindle Fire 

RUNNERS-UP: Two (2) runners-up will each receive a prize packs consisting of a Lizzy Ford tote + a Charred Heart paperback + Charred Tears paperback. 

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