Ashley Poston, acclaimed author of Heart of Iron, returns with a dark, lush fairy tale–inspired fantasy for fans of Sara Raasch and Susan Dennard.
Cerys is safe in the Kingdom of Aloriya. Here there are no droughts, disease, or famine, and peace is everlasting. It has been this way for hundreds of years, since the first king made a bargain with the Lady who ruled the forest that borders the … ruled the forest that borders the kingdom. But as Aloriya prospered, the woods grew dark, cursed, and forbidden.
Cerys knows this all too well: When she was young, she barely escaped as the woods killed her friends and her mother. Now Cerys carries a small bit of the curse—the magic—in her blood, a reminder of the day she lost everything.
As a new queen is crowned, however, things long hidden in the woods descend on the kingdom itself. Cerys is forced on the run, her only companions a small and irritating fox from the royal garden and the magic in her veins. It’s up to her to find the legendary Lady of the Wilds and beg for a way to save her home.
But the road is darker and more dangerous than she knows, and as secrets from the past are uncovered amid the teeth and roots of the forest, it’s going to take everything she has just to survive.
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Heart of Iron is one of my favorites by Poston, so I was super stoked when I saw she was writing a straight up fantasy book! Her imagination was so on point with this one that I wanted to scream my joy!
I loved Cerys AKA Daisy. You’ll know why she has the nickname when you read it! So adorable! Then there was Fox, my sly and scared yet brave little fox! I loved him so incredibly much, and I also thought the connection between him and Daisy was perfect. My one pitfall, which I have with every Poston book I read, is that I want to see more angst and sexiness between the couples along with the sweet and adorable! More kissing and touches please!
Poston had some pretty cool twists in this one, and I think this is a stand alone but I could definitely see it as a series too! The writing was flawless and the dialogue banter scenes were so entertaining! A page turner to no end! Loved it!
I immediately fell in love with Among the Beasts & Briars when I saw its cover. It’s simply magical: a fox, a crown of roses, a fairytale-like font…
I have to admit though that this book rather confused me. It’s a dark fairytale, filled with humour and young love. It’s not new, of course, that a fairytale has a darker side, but, sometimes, the descriptions felt a bit too wannabe horror and surreal for my tastes. It reminded me a lot of the TV series Grimm.
But what really surprised me was that as of page 1, no, even as of seeing the cover, I was convinced that this would be a modern version of Beauty and the Beast. There are indeed several elements (e.g. the font on the cover, the roses, a girl and a beast, not to mention the almost literal quotation “But can you imagine? Me, dancing with that boorish, brainless..”. You’re immediately tempted to continue with “Madame, Gaston, can’t you just see it?”, no?) but the storyline itself never comes close to the original fairytale. Very strange.
My favourite part was without a doubt the Fox. Delightful. Such a nice character and the dynamics between him and Cerys are very funny and entertaining.
I didn’t easily finish the book, though. The further I got, the more I liked it and I really wanted to know the end. I didn’t think the writing style flowed though, apart from the dialogues, and I wasn’t fully convinced of the combination of Disney and Grimm either. But the story is definitely entertaining and the looks of the cover are enough to consider it a gem. Will you see the grand finale coming? Absolutely. It couldn’t have been more obvious if she would have added a giant neon arrow to point at the clue. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the story and the book will receive a nice place in my library.
This book absolutely reads like a fairy tale. It’s enormously fun, mysterious, and often cute.
Fox and Daisy go through a lot, but I love how the story comes together for them. There are trials and loss, realization and acceptance, and a lovely happy ending.
I loved every second of this, read it in 1 day, and strongly recommend if you need a lighter read or a pick-me-up. It left me so happy.
Wow, what an amazing story. This book is so good, it’s impossible to put it down.
The characters are amazing, Daisy is such a powerful character, Fox it’s extremely funny, Seren has the best humor ever… The settings are so well described and full of life and magic.
It’s really interesting seeing the evolution of the characters, their relationships, their surroundings… It’s on of those story packed with new events, there’s always something happening… And that ending made me read more about these characters
Listened in two days. What work? Screw that. This book completely captivated me. So cute! It wasn’t hard to figure out where the story was going but I liked that more than I thought I would. I couldn’t wait to see how all the loose ends were wrapped up.
Among the beasts and briars is the first book that I was reading of Ashley Poston and I’m not disapointed. I really loved this book.
Ceris lives in the kingdom of Alorya. For hundreds of years there’s no droughts, disease, or famine and peace is present. The king back them had made a bargain with the Lady that rules the forest on the kingdom borders. But since then, the forest have become darker and cursed.
When Ceris was younger, she barely escape the forbidden woods, but her mother and her friend where killed. Come the next queen to be crowned, force once hidden in the forest descend on Alorya and Ceris is will be on the run, with a little fox thats always with her. She need to find the Lady of the Wild and ask her to save her home, again. It will be a dangerous quest, and secrets long hidden will go back on the surface.
Beauty and the Beast + Lord of the Rings + The Walking Dead
Cerys has had a hard life. Her mother and friends disappeared into the woods when she was little. She was the only one who came out of the woods and her blood had had the power to grow flowers since (Coincidentally, her father is the king’s gardener). After an unthinkable turn of events at her best friend’s coronation, she, the irritating fox she once saved, and a strange bear must go on a quest to stop the madness once and for all.
I ADORED this!! Since Wicked came out 25 years ago, retellings has been my favorite genre because I find a lack of fairytales. But Ashley Poston has brought them back with a bang! THIS is what a fantasy should be. Not those high fantasy books that make you feel stupid because you have no idea what is going on or half the words mean. But a beautiful, lush world with talking animals snd magic. The characters were great, humans, animals, and others alike.
And THAT COVER!!
Buy this for yourself or for anyone who loves a lush, rich fairytale. If you’re twisted, get it for someone who believes they’re too old for fairytales.
Book 289 for the year! 4/5 stars for this YA Fantasy! Love the cover! It seemed like a quick read for a YA Fantasy for sure! Good story, great villain! Narration wasn’t my favorite, but still enjoyable! Definitely give it a shot if you want a standalone retelling!
Are you looking for some serious fairytale vibes, some monsters, some magic, and a quest?
Among the Beast and Briars was a lovely fantasy read, and I hope there is more written in this world. There is a magic crown, a cursed wood, some magic powers, and an adorable fox and a bear for companions. Cerys is just a gardener’s daughter, who was cursed with strange blood magic the day that she lost her friends, including the prince of Aloriya, and her mother to the Ancients of the woods.When her best friend is crowned Princess, evil descends from the woods, and Cerys is forced to run to try to find some way to save her friends, family, and home. It will not be an easy journey, and there is lots to enjoy following along on her harrowing quest.
I loved all of the characters, especially Fox, and I found this easy to read, to pick up and put down, and to have a discussion with other readers about it. I definitely felt clever having seen some of the twists coming, but it didn’t feel heavy handed or overly obvious, at least to me. I did see other reviews suggesting it was VERY OBVIOUS, so maybe it was just me. The romance was a very typical YA fantasy romance plot line, but I overall enjoyed it, and it didn’t feel as insta-love as it otherwise might’ve, which made me like it more.
First the cover for this book is amazing. The story did not disappoint either. Cerys and Fox are great characters. The Magic in the story was really neat. I loved this. I highly recommend this book!
A huge thanks to Harper Collins for providing me a copy of this to review! All thoughts are mine alone.
It is far safer to admire the forest from a distance. If you get too close, it might claim you. This was the initial feeling when I stepped into kingdom of Aloriya. Cerys, an 18 year old young woman, introduces us to the world around her as the royal gardener’s daughter. You immediately learn about the magical royal family that inherits the power of fire and that they are the only ones who can wear the royal crown. A crown which was given to them 300 years ago from the Lady of the Wood with a very important agreement attached to it.
The surrounding woods of Aloriya are haunted with secrets and unknown dangers, so everyone stays far away from them. But a chance afternoon many years ago has Cerys, the prince and princess and their guard Seren drawn into the woods where everything has been set in motion. With the prince now missing and presumed dead, the king dead and only the princess Wen at a ripe 18 years old to take the crown, a coronation brings about a huge set of events that take Cerys and her fox, a little troublesome guy that has been with Cerys for years, on a journey to save the kingdom.
“We’ll find a way. I’m with you, Daisy. To the very end. I go wherever you go, because when I’m with you, I forget I don’t want to be human.”
One of the aspects that really drew me into this story was the interaction with the fox. Cerys originally met the fox a few years back when his paw was stuck in a trap and she helped him escape. Ever since then, he is always following her around and being a little bit of a trouble maker. As she embarks on a dangerous journey, he is her constant companion. The fox is by far one of my favorite characters, but you’ll have to read the story to really understand why his role is as important as it is.
“I needed some space to clear my head. I needed to forget his fingers twining into my hair, how warm he felt against me, how he smelled like lavender and sandalwood – and most of all, I needed to remember that whatever I felt, it wouldn’t last.”
You’ll love how easily you can get swept up into this world that Poston creates and enjoy every little aspect about it. There is a significant emphasis on nature and Cerys carries a curse within her from the woods where she can grow plants, in a very symbiotic kind of way. The power just kind of lives inside of her. I was easily lost in the story because of these whimsical elements and how attuned Cerys is with her surroundings.
The kingdom of Aloriya and surrounding kingdoms that are introduced, as well as seen on the map, allude to a much wider aspect of the world building that Poston may go in to with subsequent books. I know I for one would enjoy revisiting Voryn or any of the other kingdoms we learn about.
I almost forgot to mention it, but Poston also does a great job at including all sorts of LGBTQ+ elements where people in these societies love whoever they love and there is no judgement or cynicism from any of the characters points of view. This was a refreshing take on relationships, because usually there is some kind of forced emphasis – whether it be against or acceptance of – that was just as normal as everything else in their lives. This made it seem completely natural and comfortable which I haven’t come across it written in such a way before. It was a very unique quality of her writing and done in such a way that I really enjoyed it.
A fantasy reminiscent of a fairy tale, Among the Beasts & Briars is a thrilling, action-packed novel about the cost of power.
Amazing Concept & Storytelling
Among the Beasts & Briars is a fantastic concept. It follows Cerys, the daughter of the royal gardener. On the night of the royal coronation of her best-friend, creatures from the dark woods come and wreak havoc, sending her, an enchanted crown, and fox deep into the forest to find the lost city of Voryn, a place said to be magical.
It has the makings of a great story because of how it unfolds. There are many twists and turns within the plot that make it enchanting. Some bits are just verging on the predictable, but nothing is. Poston keeps the reader engaged with the evolution of the story and how she keeps the pacing up.
The momentum here is incredible. Following Cerys, Fox, and Vala (a great bear they encounter in the woods) through these treacherous woods is action-packed. They do not have a moment to decompress and try to figure out their situation. They have one goal in mind, and they have to survive. However, with Bone-Eaters and former friends hunting them, the dark magic of the woods keeps the energy of the novel from faltering.
Even when they reach Voryn, they discover everything they know is a lie. Poston tells us this right initially, but unfolding these lies, using that one line, in the beginning, to offset this adventure engages with the reader. It helps to anchor all the plot twists, weaving them into the story in a fantastic way.
Characterization
Cerys is a great character. What makes her relatable is the fact that she is just a gardener with a hidden talent. Cerys has magic to make wildlife grow and change, connecting her to the woods. However, that is where she finds her power to break this 300-year-old curse. Moreover, her magic came by her accidentally.
Even by the end, there is no clear explanation as to why she has this magic, but it still fits within the story, as if the woods came alive and said, “okay, this girl will be our salvation.” However, again, it makes her compelling because she does not know how to harness this power; she only ever used it to make plants grow.
Cerys has compassion, she is strong-willed, but she has much self-doubt. It is that doubt that makes her more than just a character and someone worth following on this adventure.
Then there is Fox. Fox is exactly what one would imagine a fox turned human would be like. He is charming, makes horrible and funny puns, and grows throughout the novel. He is charming in his own devilish way, but not cliché.
Final Thoughts
It was great to see this story evolve from that opening tale of the crown to the adventure and magic. Among the Beasts & Briars is an incredible fantasy fairy tale that will keep you enchanted until the very end.
Among the Beasts and Briars is a story of transformation and development, about embracing yourself flaws and all, about having self-worth and taking risks. Cerys is the daughter of the royal gardener and destined to replace her father when he retires. Years ago, she and her best friends, the prince and princess, were involved in a terrible tragedy, and only the princess and Cerys survived. The prince, their guard, and Cerys’ mother perished to the woods by which they lived. However, Cerys has constant reminders of that fateful day, including the scar on her neck and new magical powers, which enable her to enhance nature.
On the princess’s coronation day, the wood monsters from their past reemerge and destroy everything that Cerys loves. Her only choice? To run into the cursed woods that she escaped from years before. With the help of her trusty fox and a brave bear, Cerys decides to travel deep into the mysterious and deadly woods to find the lost city of Voryn, where she hopes to find a way to help her friends, family, and kingdom.
This is an easy story to get lost in. From the first pages, Poston immerses the reader into this fantastical world where royalty has power, wild woods are dangerous, animals seem to know more than humans, and monsters lurk around every corner. The story is fluid and well-paced, and the writing is beautiful. I love the vivid descriptions that drew me into a fantastical and frightening world.
The characters are another highlight of the novel. Cerys is a smart and resilient protagonist who doesn’t realize her own power. Her fear of the outside world and the unknown battles with her desire to explore and have freedom of choice. She repeatedly alludes to the fact that she is insignificant, easy to forget, and bound for a dull future, which conflicts with her desire for adventure and her true nature. She is a loving daughter, a true friend, and a kind person who feels and loves deeply, and her interactions with others, as well as her actions, show just how remarkable and memorable she is.
Cerys underestimates herself many times, but what I like is that, as she goes on this physical quest, she also goes on an emotional journey. She learns to trust her instincts and have more faith in herself, and I love that! Though they spend much of their journey fleeing and frightened, it is also on this journey that Cerys and her friend Fox learn more about themselves than they ever expected.
Fox is my favorite character in the novel. Funny, sassy, and clever, Fox goes through so many obstacles. His most difficult is trying to adjust to life as a human. Having feelings, walking on two legs, feeling uncomfortable in his own skin, dealing with the ramifications of his actions, and facing his fears are just a few of Fox’s struggles. He is a flawed character, often acting on impulse and behaving selfishly, but he learns, and he changes. Plus, his witty banter, especially with Cerys and the bear, is fantastic!
My other favorite part of the story is the romance. I don’t want to reveal too much, but the way that this couple feels about each other is so lovely and genuine. I just love the budding feelings that this couple experiences, and their reactions to their growing feelings are priceless. Though they are not without their problems, they have a strong connection, and they are stronger together than they are apart.
Among the Beasts and Briars is a great standalone story that will appeal to YA fantasy readers who enjoy immersive worlds and amazing characters. With a well-paced plot, suspenseful action, fantastic characters, a unique setting, and great morals, this book is a treat to read. Thanks so much to Netgalley and Harper Collins Children’s Books for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.