Betrothed To The Zombie Prince: A Peculiar Fairy Tale Retelling

by Gentry Lee Burke

A dark and peculiar Beauty And The Beast retelling...In a world overrun by the undead, where chaos and fear reign, a strange and enchanting love story unfolds, blending the apocalyptic horror of a zombie invasion with the timeless charm of "Beauty and the Beast."As the fragmented remnants of society struggle to survive, an unlikely pair finds solace in each other's arms. Maeve, a fierce young woman with a heart untouched by the desolation surrounding them, and Prince Alaric, a cursed soul trapped in a monstrous form. Amidst the ruins of civilization, their paths cross, and an unexpected connection sparks.In a dystopian landscape where trust is a rare commodity and survival is a constant battle, this strange and sweeping romance weaves a tale of resilience and rediscovery. As the relentless hordes of the feral undead close in, the beauty within the beast begins to emerge, challenging the very definition of humanityYet against all odds, Maeve and Alaric’s love blossoms, defying the darkness that threatens to consume everything in its wake—including Maeve. Will Maeve and Alaric’s connection withstand the treachery of the world around them, or will the relentless onslaught of feral zombies tear them and their respective worlds apart?

Genres: Fantasy, Romance

278 pages, Paperback

Published May 27, 2024

Reviews

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Picture a world where zombies rule, and civilization is on the brink, yet within this grim reality, an unexpected and mesmerizing love story takes root. 'Betrothed to the Zombie Prince' weaves together the eerie chaos of a zombie apocalypse with the enchantment of a fairy tale. Maeve's journey is filled with unexpected twists, and the mistrust she faces from every corner only adds to the tension.

As danger looms, Prince Alaric begins to reveal a depth and humanity that makes you question the true nature of being human. It's an intense, emotional ride that captivates with its mix of horror, romance, and a richly crafted world you won’t want to leave."

[Traci Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I was given an advanced copy. My review is my own.
This story is a fairytale in the realm of terror and intrigue! The FMC embarks on a journey to protect those she loves and right the wrong done to innocents while also navigating self-discovery and newfound world views! During all this, she also finds love in the most unlikely of places that challenge all she has ever been taught. There's so much this FMC had to go through, and her personal growth was amazing to read as she found her inner strength to meet every challenge head-on! I can not wait to read more of her resilience! Please note any triggers before reading.

[Summer Seeds · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. My issue is that this is a book about the least zombie like zombies I have ever seen. Why even bother making them zombies? The insta-love also put me off, because, again, he is a zombie and she isn’t. I don’t know, I just didn’t vibe with this one.

[Kit Scarlott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing and I loved how it was written! Full of suspense and such interesting characters and romance!

Zombies usually aren’t part of my typical reading, but I absolutely loved this. The characters are so interesting, I found myself falling in love with the story from the beginning. Needless to say, I’m excited for the next one!

[April coats · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Maeve and Alerics story! It was such a great original story. Zombies and true love .

[Maria · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a DNF. I don’t even know where to begin with this one… it has so many metaphors and similes it made my eyes cross. The amount of time “perhaps” or Maeve’s “fiery red hair” was mentioned made me want to punch a wall. Who the fuck ends every chapter or bridge/break in a chapter with an ending sentence straight out of a 1930’s drama film? And you’re telling me Maeve goes one chapter lamenting about how she can’t trust Alaric (male protagonist) and how she hope to sneak away back to her family waaaay before consummation of the marriage is required, yet not two chapters later she’s throwing herself at him? At 17 years old? Talking about how she wants him “as much as any woman could want a man?” Sweetie, you’re SEVENTEEN. Then she discovers something shady in a tower that is disturbing, tells a character she’s known for a few days about what she saw, then is shocked he tattles on her to another member of the zombie “court?”

I could not for the life of me enjoy this book nor move forward. It’s like reading in a circle, the flow of the writing, content, metaphors, and machinations of the main character never change, even though the protagonist’s voice is closer to that of a 13 year old, not someone who is almost 18. It’s frustrating. Maybe I’ve outgrown books like these, and maybe the second book Maeve finally develops a frontal lobe, but I don’t care enough to stick around and find out.

[Char ღ Denae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betrothed to the Zombie Prince, was one of the most unique dystopian romance novels I’ve ever read. The whole falling-in-love-with-a-zombie trope is not very appealing as the MMC is, well, a zombie. A Beauty and the Beast retelling with suspense, mystery, and unexpected twists, I found this book extremely entertaining and I am so looking forward to the next one.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betrothed to the Zombie Prince is an interesting Dystopian read of Zombies both sentient and feral. Two generations have passed since the time known as The Harrowing , an experiment gone wrong leaving the undead to overrun the world, and what is left of society in a struggle for survival.
Into this multi faceted chaos a surprising and unique connection will soon be made between one of those sentient beings, Prince Alaric and still human Maeve.
A love story of uniqueness and differences, a new kind of fairytale to teasingly tantalize the reader’s senses with its captivating writing and world building the narrative flows through pages filled with adventure, subterfuge, passion, and mesmerizing characters.
This tale of two very different worlds attempting to become one was a very entertaining read that will continue Alaric and Maeve’s story in the next book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betrothed to the Zombie Prince: Book 1 of The Zombie Aristocracy
A Peculiar Fairy Tale Retelling
By Gentry Lee Burke

In an apocalyptic world of zombies, both feral and sentient, survival is always a challenge. This Beauty and the Beast retelling is a dark and fascinating version that holds your interest from beginning to end and leaves you wanting more!
Alaric, Prince of the sentient zombies rescues Maeve from certain death. This is just the start of their adventure and relationship and the road to romance is never easy and their differences make it even harder.
Alaric’s world is far more luxurious than Maeve has ever seen, but danger lurks and trying to navigate the many perils takes a strong mind and body which makes her all the more appealing to Alaric. Feelings grow and before she knows it Maeve is Betrothed to the Zombie Prince!
Jump into their world and enjoy the romance and adventures! You won’t be sorry!

[Kris Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chaos, fear, and feral zombies—this book throws you straight into a world where survival isn’t guaranteed, and trust is a rare commodity. Maeve is a fierce and determined heroine, and Prince Alaric? Let’s just say he’s not your typical fairytale prince. Their connection is unexpected, tangled in danger, and filled with just the right amount of beauty and the beast vibes.

Maeve’s journey of personal growth was compelling—she’s not just surviving; she’s becoming. The suspense kept me flipping pages, the side characters added depth, and the romance? A perfect mix of tension and tenderness. And as someone not well-versed in zombie lore, this take felt fresh and unique (or at least, unique to me!)

There are twists you won’t see coming, beautifully written moments amid the chaos, and a love story that refuses to be buried beneath all the doom. If you like high-stakes romance with an edge of the undead, this one’s worth picking up!

[Sarah D]

DNF at 30%. It was kind of dull and I found myself skimming, hoping it would get to something good.

There were some weird inconsistencies. Fiona says she was stolen by ferals as a child, and the old lady says she was the sole survivor of her village… but then a page later she says they were both Tributaries.

The FMC was way too cool with marrying a zombie she met two days ago. I also feel like her entire family has zero survival instinct. How do people survive multiple generations in a zombie apocalypse, but still have kids who run into the woods?

There’s a lot of mysterious warnings with no detail. “Avoid the west tower” “do what the prince tells you… or else” “trust no one” “don’t eat the food until the poison taster tastes it, but only at dinner… breakfast in bed is fine” but then the humans are also like “this place is great and they take great care of us!”

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars

Nopeity nope nope nope. The premise is brilliant but the writing is overwrought, everything that happens is sooooo dramatic, and half of the world makes no sense.

Further reasons this is not for me:

*Somehow, Maeve's door locks both from the inside AND the outside depending on whether she wants to keep people out or other people want to keep her in.

*Ugh...instalove.

*Apparently the human is cool with boning the Zombie even though she still believes Zombies are maybe like monsters and all it would take is a bite or a scratch (but apparently not semen?) to turn her.

Content notes: Several highly dramatized sexual encounters, including one instance of rape.

[Amy Hricko · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give anything to be able to read this again for the first time. A beautiful Beauty and the Beast retelling, but with zombies! Is it something that you think could work? No. But did it work? 100%!

Maeve, our FMC, is strong, endearing, and heroic. When her life is turned upside down, she is forced to face trials and tribulations galore. But you know what? She does it. You can’t help but to want to see her succeed.

If you need some fantasy, Romania’s, fairy tales and zombies in your life, this book hits all the marks. Please do yourself a favor and read it!!!

[S K · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolute stellar book! I loved everything about it! Such wonderful writing, plot, and had immaculate depth to the characters and world that pulled me deep into the story and never let me go. It kept me turning the pages. I couldn’t stop had to see how it all ended. Man I can’t wait to read more by this talented author!

[Karen Liebel · Rating 2 out of 5]

So many unnecessary words to describe everything. The story didn't even get good until the last 3 chapters, and we're still not for sure why she's feeling ill. Is she anemic or really turning into a zombie? And if she got scratched by a zombie, why DIDN'T she turn?? So confusing 😕. Hope book 2 is better.

[Nicolle Persoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great lovestory between Maeve, human and compassionate, and Alaric, zombie and prince of his own fairy tale enspired court.

Together they vow to bring the human and zombie world together.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Trish Laubacker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I completely loved this story. The author created a vivid, and sometimes frightening world. Can't wait for the next one.

[Irma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice retelling of beauty and the beast with zombies recommend

[Jennifer Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was intrigued with the premise of a Zombie as the main love interest and it didn't disappoint!

[Mary Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even with zombies, who are not like any zombie I ever read or saw before, it’s just yet another Beauty and the Beast retelling. I was hoping for something more original.