Forget white knights, bring on the dark princes! This is a truly dark fairytale. I hope you have your magic wand at the ready… you’re going to need it! – Jade West, USA Today bestselling authorFrom USA Today bestselling author Isabella Starling writing as Fawn Bailey, a contemporary, dark fairytale trilogy filled with luxury, lies and seduction. Once upon a time, a prince stole my heart. But …
Once upon a time, a prince stole my heart. But that wasn’t enough for him. He wants to own me, and I’m more than eager to kneel for him. Being the heir to a kingdom, Prince Olivier Bellamy has all the gold I’ve ever dreamed of… and getting married to him is the only way for me to save myself and my loved ones.
Unfortunately, the battle for his heart won’t be easy. A royal competition for Prince Olivier means I’m going up against twelve other girls – and they are as beautiful as they are ruthless. But I’m not going down without a fight. I’m not Amber Jonathan, poor little girl from the wrong side of the tracks anymore. I’m finally ready to wear the crown. And I’ll do anything to get it.
But not everything is as it seems at the royal court. Dark secrets, castle intrigue and hidden twists await me on my journey to the throne. And soon enough, I realize Prince Olivier isn’t the only royal interested in my hand…
Someone else wants more than just his ring on my finger. The royal bast*rd, Bruno, will stop at nothing to put his heir inside me. And just when I think I have the money in my pocket, and Olivier wrapped around my little finger, the rules change… and the games truly begin.
Dark Castle is the first book in The Dazzling Court trilogy. Amber’s story continues in Wicked Prince and Ever After.
★★★★★ “Intense. Nail biting. Unpredictable. Every time I thought I had it figured out it changed direction. And I loved it!” ~ My Life Through Fiction Blog
★★★★★ “Loved every single second of this. If you love dark romance you need to read this!” ~ Jacinta, Goodreads reviewer
★★★★★ “Wow! What am I getting myself into with this series? I need more. I have no idea what is going to happen. My brain is a jumbled mess.” ~ Jessica, Goodreads reviewer
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WOW. This is an edge of your seat read. Prince Oliver is an arrogant, entitled, mean person. I am still not sure about Amber. Is she really that naive? Does she really lack self worth? Prince Oliver keeps saying he wants her to win the contest to become his wife but he does not say things that would make me feel good about myself. Even with my doubt about Amber I was on the edge of my seat reading this Hunger Games style contest to become Prince Olivers wife. It is packed with dark twists and turns making the pages practically turn themselves. I am on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book, Wicked Prince after the cliffhanger ending of this one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Holy freakin hot!! This book is full of sexy games, dark twists and turns and layers of mystery, intrigue, and deception. Author Fawn Bailey did an amazing job with this book and I loved the characters. The world building is incredibly done, the attention to detail is impeccable and the storyline is original, entertaining and unpredictable. I absolutely can not wait to read what happens next especially after that unexpected ending!
I couldn’t stop myself from turning the pages of this one as fast as I was doing it! I was dying to know what was going to happen next, where would the drama arise and how the situation with Olivier, Bruno and Amber would develop.
I could say that this was a dark and twisted version of The Bachelor. I really enjoyed it! Every detail was vivid and most of the characters were as real as it gets.
Quick, steamy and intriguing.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Didn’t see this coming in this dark and filthy romance.
Could this still be called romance? It’s so dark, intense and filthy. I’m so lost for words. It was intense and twisted that right now I have no idea what to expect in the next part. The ending just made me questioned everything that I read till the last page. I can’t imagine how this will unravel. The cliffhanger is killing me but the story line couldn’t be better. If you love the twisted stories with not obvious plot and that made you question who is good and who is bad over and over again this story is for you and you just need to read it.
I heard all the fuss about this newest release and they were right! This was a yummy deliciousness that was dark, naughty and will keep you wanting more. Although this has a cliffhanger it is worth the wait. The characters surprisingly just mesh together. The twist and surprises that the author gives just keeps you reading. I can’t wait to find out what happens next and defiantly recommend this read!
After reading the prequel, my thoughts were that this series looked very promising. Book one delivers on the promise of being a series to capture your attention and not let you go. Prince Oliver is tasked with finding a wife. In “The Bachelor” fashion, there are 13 women vying for Prince Oliver’s attention. Instead of roses, non eliminated ladies are given a stone to add to the collar they must wear around their necks. Early on it is clear, to anyone who can see, that he only has eyes for Amber. It’s also clear that Amber is considered bottom-of-the-barrel trash by Oliver’s mother, the Queen. Will they be able to survive the Queen’s obvious distaste for Amber, the other girls’ cattiness, and a royal subject named Bruno? There are a few twists throughout, but the one at the end was a real doozy. Right after that last twist was revealed, the book ended…. on a cliffhanger. Be forewarned, you’ll be itching for more. I just finished and am already craving the next book!
*I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. This is my honest review.*
Dark Castle was an intriguing and addictive pageturner. After the little tease of Amber and Olivier in Rich Man’s Toy I couldn’t wait for this book and with the new addition of Bruno Dark Castle was well worth the wait. I enjoyed the storyline and the amazing characters quickly captured my attention. The twists and turns this story took kept me on the edge of my seat eagerly anticapting what would happen next. I can’t wait to see what the next book in this riveting new series brings.
I was blown away by this book. It was dark and twisted with romance thrown in. I loved the characters, all of them were well developed and seemed to have their own place as a potential lead. The story line is flowing effortlessly. I am intrigued and cannot wait to continue with the next installment
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Olivier’s dark past plays into his future
This is my 3rd book by Fawn and I love an author who writes in dual point of view. This is a sequel to Rich Man’s Toy where we met Amber and Olivier. Olivier plays the game to choose his queen from the contestants to which Amber was added at the last minute. But Bruno, Olivier’s stepbrother attracts Amber as well. Will the prince end the game to choose Amber or is there more at play? You have to read to find out and you won’t want to put the book down.
This was a fantastically twisted and hot read.
Amber and Oliver met months ago at a party thrown by Thorn and her best friend, Rose. She is now going to see the prince and compete with twelve other women to be his wife. This is like Bachelor/Hunger Games (without the killing)/Survivor, all rolled into one, royalty style. Oliver has already made his choice, he is just doing the competition because of a promise. All the other ladies know this and it casts a spotlight on Amber. But Oliver is not the only one who wants her. Bruno does, too. Not everything is as it seems in the castle. This has darkness, jealousy, deception, secrets, backstabbing, drama, suspense and some twists I didn’t see coming. OMG!! I am a jumbled mess. My mouth dropped to the floor at the end. I can’t wait to continue with Amber, Oliver and Bruno. This is one I highly recommend reading. It will hold your attention from beginning to the end and leave you wanting to find out what will happen.
I both love and hate this author. Every time I come to the end of one of her works, I’m a mess. My mind has been turned inside out and tortured into a pile of goo. I was prepared that there would be more going on in this story than appeared on the surface, but I wasn’t expecting how much more was happening behind the scenes. This is a dark and twisted place we’re being asked to walk through, and I love it!
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author.
Hold on tight people because after reading book one of this series you know it’s going to be one twisty, jaw dropping ride! To start the writing is superb and the plot and pacing keeps you on the edge of your seat, while you steal every extra moment you can to “just read one more page”. The characters of Oliver, Amber and Bruno are complexly created and inspire intense emotions in the reader. Both good and bad ones as your own emotions go on a roller coaster ride with each new detail, twist or discovery. The book offers lots of scorching heat, emotional intensity, drama, twist and darkness. It does end on a cliffhanger in preparation of book two. Also there is a prequel to this series called, Rich Man’s Toy I highly recommend you read that first to get introduced to Amber and Oliver and some extra juiciness! I absolutely can not wait for book two!!
OMFG! Fawn Bailey NAILED this story! Dark Castle is an original story with unforseeable twists that will have you BEGGING for more!
This book is compelling and addictive. I was incapable of putting it down. It completely eclipsed anything else that was going on.
Naughty, carnal and ruthless this page-singeing, panty-melting story has me feeling completely drunk on it.
Amber started out as a meek mouse but as the story progressed, her defiance of the Queen made me giddy. I found her naive and materialistic but I know her character will grow.
Olivier is still a mystery to me. I have a feeling there is a dark side we have yet to see. I’m on tenterhooks to see his true character.
Bruno intrigues me and I cannot wait to see how is character develops and how it relates to the overall plot.
Amazingly written, bold and thrilling Dark Castle will captivate and titillate until the very last word.
I’m downright begging for the next book.
Be forewarned that this book ends on a cliffhanger.
I received an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Dark Castle is a dark romance centered around royalty. Prince Olivier must choose a princess in order to ascend to his position as king. In the prequel to Dark Castle, Olivier encounters Amber and consumes her, taking her virginity. In Dark Castle, he has positioned it that Amber is a contestant in his Hunger Games-style contest to choose his future queen. Amber must compete against some of the wealthiest and royal contestants in the world. However, Olivier makes it quite clear that Amber is his choice, but he is honoring the crown’s traditions by engaging in this competition. The story ends with a cliffhanger which will pick up in Wicked Prince, and the end of this story is shocking.
This story is dark. Fawn Bailey commented that she was seeking to write something that would give her butterflies. And this story does that WELL. I found myself reading a chapter or two and taking a break. Partly, this had to do with Olivier. Holy crap! He is evil. He would wax poetic about Amber as his choice, but in the next breath, he would comment on the beauty of the other contestants. The other reason I had to take breaks is Olivier’s relationship with Amber. It is dark, erotic, and out of control (that’s my opinion). These two aspects of the novel kept my stomach feeling like I was on a roller-coaster. I’d like to think that makes Bailey happy…and it made for a compelling read. I was torn between not wanting to put it down and feeling anxious about Olivier’s treatment of Amber.
I can’t wait to read Wicked Prince. That cliffhanger left me on the edge of my seat, and I am hoping there might be some kind of happily-ever-after. Maybe…
What a great start to a new series, this will have you on the edge of your seat as Amber faces the traditions and the games for her place with Prince Olivier and it is not easy but very intense as the girls and the Queen herself are horrible, and then we throw Bruno in the mix and things are going down and serious these two men are off the charts demanding and they take what they want. This was so good its hard to write about you have to read it and I promise you wont regret it, the writing and the character development is perfection and you get a whole lot of hotness.
I have to say that this book might be my favorite from Fawn Bailey to date. Dark Castle is dark, sexy, intriguing, cutthroat, and quite the page turner. Amber and Olivier have a special connection but she must take part in the selection process to be paired with Olivier as his queen. The competitions during this selection process are not your typical challenges and will leave your jaw wide open after reading them! And as with every good dark and twisty novel we have a bit of a surprise at the end that will leave us wanting the next book right away. I cannot wait for the next Dazzling Court installment.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review……..
When Isabella Starling started writing under the pen name of Fawn Bailey, her dark alter ego, I thought there is no way she can do both genres really well. Boy, was I wrong!! This new series has more twists and turns, surprises, sizzle, and heat. If you are a fan of dark suspense romance, this is a great series….don’t miss it!!
Make sure to read the prequel to this series, Rich Man’s Toy. Also be aware this is a series and this book does end in a huge twisted cliffhanger.
After being a rich man’s toy and then being put up for auction, Amber is trying to recover from her night with Prince Olivier. She’s sad and feeling down until she gets an invite to become a participant in the competition to become Prince Olivier’s wife. She’s ready to go and win this competition, especially since she feels has a leg up on the other participants. (I mean she’s given the Prince a priceless gift already and she believes he has feelings for her.) This book takes us through some of the challenges and eliminations in the competition. It also brings Bruno, Olivier’s half brother, into the story and these two can’t stand each other. It is a wonderfully written, beautifully twisted story that takes a huge twist at the end to leave you gasping and begging for more. I loved this book and I am so looking forward to book two in this series, Wicked Prince.
I will tell you go ahead and grab your favorite beverage, settle in your favorite place to read and tell everyone you are unavailable for the next little bit! This book will have you so engrossed it is like time is standing still. When you finally put it down as you have finished the last word you will be amazed at how the time seems to have flown by. The characters are sublime and their interactions with each other keep you glued to their story. Their chemistry, desires. urges and demands have you biting your lip as you wait to see if they act on them. The twists leave you begging for more. I can not wait to get my hands on the next book. A must read book!! I am voluntarily leaving my review after reading an advance reader copy of the book.
Okay first thought after I read this story was WTF did I just read! Holy hell did that just happen? What the eff with the ending? I thought my kindle was broken because it was not turning any more pages and I wanted no Fawn made me need more. My head was whirling with everything that happened and the secrets and lies and twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen.
Amber is one of 12 girls vying for the position to be the one who captures the heart of Oliver and be his wife. Amber knows she wants Oliver and will do anything she has to do to have him by her side. She deals with the catiness of the other girls and she has to fight off another royal who wants her. Bruno Oliver’s brother wants Amber but she is not interested and he is pursuing her like no ones business.
Just when things start to heat up there is a monkey wrench thrown in there and shizz starts to pop off. Oh and that ending lord that ending had me like WTH Fawn really you are going to leave the readers hanging like this needing no wanting book two like ASAP!