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Cover of A Ruin of Roses

A Ruin of Roses

by K.F. Breene

🌶️🌶️mild·Deliciously Dark Fairytales #1·✓ Series Complete
2.0 on MoodReads (1 rating)3.8 on Goodreads (64,603)

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Ending

reveal ending

Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?

K.F. Breene took Beauty and the Beast, made the Beast a dragon shifter prince, cranked the spice to max, and somehow made it hilarious—the FMC's internal monologue is comedy gold while the captive-to-lovers tension and curse-breaking plot keep you devouring pages.

Synopsis

A spicy new twist on an old classic - a deliciously dark Beauty and the Beast reimagining. I could save him, but he would ruin me. The beast. The creature that stalks the forbidden wood. The dragon prince. He has suffered a fate worse than death. We all have. A curse put upon us by the mad king. We are a kingdom locked in time. Shifters unable to feel our animals. Stuck here by a deal between the late king and a demon who seeks our destruction. The only one keeping this kingdom alive is Nyfain, the golden prince to a stolen throne. The last dragon shifter. He’s our hope. He’s my nightmare. When he catches me trespassing in the forbidden wood, he doesn’t punish me with death, as he’s entitled. He takes me, instead. Forces me back to the castle as his prisoner. Seeks to use me. Apparently, I can save him. I can save the whole forgotten kingdom, locked away by the demon king’s power. But it would mean taming the monster beneath his skin. It would mean giving myself to him. It would mean my ruin. _ _ _ _ _ _ This is a dark and sexy Beauty and the Beast retelling, featuring a strong heroine, a dangerous anti-hero, and a humorous supporting cast. It is a full-length novel at 80k words and suitable for 18+. This is the beginning of a trilogy and ends on a cliffhanger. Buckle up. The author was let off her leash.

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

Book 1 of Deliciously Dark Fairytales (6 books, series complete). KU exclusive. The humor is the secret weapon here—Breene's FMC narration is unhinged in the best way. Contains a kinky dungeon party scene that readers either love or weren't expecting. The curse plotline drives the fantasy arc while the captive romance drives the spice. Dragon shifter elements become more prominent in later books. Brutal cliffhanger—have book 2 ready.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

3.80 ★ (64.6k)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

386 pages

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

2021

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

Romantasy

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

M/F

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

First Person

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

Medium Burn

CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.

reveal ending

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

Yes

FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.

Single Narrator (female)

NarratorThe voice in your ears.

Tillie Hooper

Narrator Count

Single

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
beauty and the beastfairytale retellingcaptive romancedragon romancefated matesdark romancecursed love interestforced proximityshifter romance
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

darkromanticintensehumorousmagicalferalsteamyadventurous

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

wittyhumoroussharpimmersivebanter-heavyseductive

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

medium

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

heavy

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

medium

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

Beauty and the Beast retellingmonster boyfriend vibescursed kingdomkinky dungeon partyunhinged humor

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

healersnarky/sarcasticsurvivorreluctant chosen one

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

dragon shiftercursed MMCpossessive alphabeast / monster MMCbrooding princeanti-hero

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

enemies to loverscaptor/captivepossessive love interestferal devotionhe falls firstpush and pull

Spice Details 🌶️

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
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Spice Level 2

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

intense / passionaterough / aggressive styledominant vibeskinky / adventurouspossessive / claiming styledirty talk heavy

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

growling / possessive soundsmine declarationsteasing controltensionanticipationrough but consensual

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

dominancerough/aggressive intimacybonding/claiming/markingBDSM elementsexhibitionismpossessive
Browse more books by spice level →
This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (6)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
violencegraphic violencekidnappingcaptivitydubious consentblood
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

high fantasy

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

royal court / palaceforest / wildernesssmall town / village

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

dragonsshiftersdemons

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

addictive readtension finally satisfiedferal brain activatedbook hangover incoming

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

autumn

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

at nightcozy eveningvacationcamping tripin naturecan't sleep

Deliciously Dark Fairytales

A Ruin of Roses

#1 A Ruin of Roses

A Throne of Ruin

#2 A Throne of Ruin

A Kingdom of Ruin

#3 A Kingdom of Ruin

A Queen of Ruin

#4 A Queen of Ruin

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Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️🌶️mild
PagesHow long the commitment is.386
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2021
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.3.80 ★ (64.6k)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

Deliciously Dark Fairytales #1
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