Happy release day to this stunner!
Thank you Grey’s Promotions for the gifted ebook copy and having me on the tour!
THE BEASTLY CROWN – Ines Johnson (Released May 1st, 2025)
Now available for download and on Kindle Unlimited
Book Description:
She was only meant to make the royal wedding gown, not wear it.
Belle never dreamed of ballrooms or crowns—she dreamed of seams and silks, of becoming the most sought-after dressmaker in all of Solmane. But when the fae princess flees her arranged marriage, Belle is left holding the wedding gown. As the fearsome Beast Prince prowls towards her looking to collect his bride, it’s either pretend to be the fairy princess so her dress gets a chance to be seen by potential new clients or get sent back home poor and empty handed. She only has to hold the lie while the guards hunt down the runaway. But standing before the Beast Prince with his powerful form and disarming mix of gruffness and vulnerability, Belle discovers something she didn’t bargain for: a heart that might finally understand hers.
Born cursed in a partial shift between man and beast, Prince Adom of Pridehaven has resigned himself to a marriage he never wanted. Marrying the fae princess chosen by the moon god is the only way to break his family’s curse and rid the land of the trolls that plague them. Love has no place in his life. But the woman standing before him is nothing like he imagined—spirited, sincere, and entirely captivating. Against all odds, Adom’s frozen heart begins to thaw.
Too bad secrets have a way of unraveling even the most carefully stitched plans. Belle isn’t the real princess, and marrying Adom won’t break his curse leaving the fate of his kingdom and both their futures at stake.
On Lunaterra, fate is a cruel matchmaker—binding enemies, forging impossible alliances, and turning betrayal into desire. When kingdoms fall, curses rise, and war looms, love is the most dangerous game of all.
My Thoughts: 5/5 stars
A fairytale retelling and the Beast doesn’t turn into a prince at the end? Sign me up! This was my introduction to Ines Johnson, and I can tell you right now, I’ll be back for more! At only 200 pages, this little book packed a bunch of stunning world building and developed characters you grew invested in without it feeling like an overwhelming information dump. Some books boarding on novella length can sometimes do that and it bogs down the overall story, and thankfully, that isn’t the case here!
Belle is a seamstress and is making the wedding gown for the fae princess – a real opportunity for her work to be seen by all as she marries Prince Adom, a lion shapeshifter stuck between forms. When the princess runs away, Belle is faced with a choice. Either leave home with the gown or take the place of the princess until they can track her down. The Prince is relying on this marriage to help break the curse plauging his family and to save the kingdom. Obviously, Belle isn’t the actual Princess and this will become evident when none of that happens.
I loved seeing their relationship blossom and the growing conflict that Belle is facing. She never imagined actually beginning to fall for the shapeshifting Prince, but it’s proving to complicate things as she is not the one meant for him to save the kingdom. Their chemistry was unmatched and I’m still amazed at how much story we got in this novella. If you want a Beauty and the Beast retelling where the beauty isn’t necessarily a Princess and the Beast we fall in love with doesn’t change, then this is one that you NEED to pick up.
About the Author:
Lover of fairytales, folklore, and mythology, Ines Johnson spends her days reimagining the stories of old in a modern world. She writes books where damsels cause the distress, princesses wield swords, and moms save the world.
Connect with Ines:
Website — Goodreads — Amazon — Facebook — Facebook Group — Instagram — Bookbub — Newsletter
Jessicamap Reviews 