Tainted Beauty

All That Glitters #1

by Alesha Adamson

A dragon’s curse, a deadly touch, a maiden tainted by beauty… can they break the curse—or will it consume them?

Aurelius has lost everything. Desperate to regain his worth, he accepts a gift from a dragon, but it comes at a terrible price. Now, the beast within him is out of his control—and it’s too late to undo the damage he’s caused.

Then he meets her.

The most enchanting maiden he’s ever seen.

Melora is trapped in a life she never wanted, sold off to the highest bidder to pay her father’s debts. But, when his greed takes things too far, she sacrifices herself to save her sister from a monstrous dragon.

Swept away to the dragon’s gilded domain, Melora finds Aurelius. He is arrogant, proud, and infuriatingly persistent—but there’s a side to him that calls to her, that makes her feel valued in a way she’s never known before.

Captive in this glittering world, Melora is surrounded by secrets that threaten to destroy them. Why won’t he touch her? What lies behind the forbidden door?

As the days pass, their time is running out. Will they break the curse before it’s too late, or will the glint of gold taint everything?

Tainted Beauty is a reimagining of “Beauty and the Beast” intertwined with “King Midas.” Fly away with a dragon shifter in this thrilling and swoony fairytale romance, part of the All That Glitters series—a collection of twelve books brimming with Tales of Treasure and True Love. Each book is written by a different author and can be enjoyed in any order, so pick a new favorite and discover that not all that glitters is gold.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Beauty and The Beast, Retellings, Fairy Tales, Young Adult, Fairy Tale Retellings

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 3, 2025

About the author

Contrary to what hundreds of authors have experienced, Alesha did not love reading from an early age. Battling dyslexia, she mostly avoided the written word, instead spending hours and hours creating her own stories with dolls, stuffed animals, or even beaded lizards. Copying movies and tv would not do, she insisted upon creating her own stories usually involving romance and insurmountable odds. In the end good would prevail and everyone would receive their happily-ever-after.

Then, with the dedicated help of family and loved ones, she discovered that books were not simply letters on a page, they were amazing stories full of romance, magic, adventure and so much more. It wasn’t long before she was hooked, then—almost accidentally—found herself writing her very own stories.

Once she started creating stories, she couldn’t stop. The ideas kept flowing and she is excited to continue writing more fairytales, adventures, fantasies and especially romances all with their own happily-ever-after.

Reviews

[Rosalyn Nightshade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been waiting so long for this book and I am so blessed that I got to receive an ARC from the author! I've read all of Alesha's previous books before and I was desperately waiting for her next release. This story was amazing and definitely did not disappoint! I could honestly feel all of the emotions the characters were feeling, as well as the time crunch at the later end of the book. It kept me hooked all the way through. Melora is such an awesome person. Honestly, when I first came across her in The Wolf's Golden Deception (BTW, it was AWESOME seeing Rafe again) I thought that she was just a random noblewoman trying to throw herself at Rafe, but it turns out that the actual story is SOOO different from that. I really enjoyed it. I went into it with this pre-conceived notion of who Melora was and I definitely did not expect her real character. The book was awesome and caught me by surprise so many times. I felt for Aurie. He was so sweet and kind, but the lies his father had filled his head with and the mistakes he made consumed him with self-loathing. I just wanted to go there and tell him that he is definitely worthy. I can't wait for Alesha's next installment in this series 'cause I love it so much!

Disclaimer: I received an ARC copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I chose to review and rate this book on my own because I feel like it is worth sharing and more people need to know it!

[Olivia Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing!

Language: None

Sexual content:
No spice just kisses. The main male character is naked after shifting from his dragon form but he is covered by a blanket immediately.

This book kept me entertained the whole time. I am not usually a fan of Beauty and the Beast retellings but this was great! I love the pairing of Midas and Beauty and the Beast. It was brilliant.

The characters had good chemistry and Melora's sister wasn't annoying or pointless like I've seen in other stories.

I love the ring that Melora was given, a nice nod the original story. 😊

I loved the betrayal of the dragon in this book. I never understood before why people liked dragons so much in their books but I think I get it now. 😅

I received an ARC and all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you so much Alesha!

[Chelsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read Alesha's previous three books, I've been anxiously waiting for this newest installment to her world. Even more exciting, this one is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, which tends to be my favorite fairytale. This book was no exception, I couldn't put it down! I had no idea that the Midas touch legend myth would blend so well with the fairytale's themes. The characters were enchantingly written and believable, and I loved both Alesha's references to and twists from to the original.

Thank you to Alesha Adamson for sending me an ARC to read and review.

[Martha Braebuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so unique and compelling! I loved how Alesha Adamson combined King Midas with Beauty and the Beast. She meshed the tales together so well! I loved how the beast, Aurelius, had to learn how to let go of his belief that wealth was everything. His love for gold turned him into a monster, until he almost lost his humanity. I also loved how Alesha Adamson wove in themes of redemption and love, showing how Aurelius finally managed to let go of his love of gold and how he began to realise that gold and wealth did not define him. Melora was also so sweet and such a perfect match for Aurelius! Alesha Adamson did a really good job in writing out their love story, making it so sweet and heartfelt. I loved Melora's inner beauty: even though everyone who met her defined her based on her outward beauty, she didn't become vain, instead valuing inner strength and beauty more. She's also so caring and loving towards her younger sister and I loved how she was immediately ready to sacrifice herself for Nerissa. The plot was also really intriguing and the overall tone wasn't too dark or too light, conveying the stakes very perfectly while still making it a really enjoyable read. This was truly an incredible book with an incredible plot, incredible characters, and incredible writing.

I received an ARC copy from the author. All opinions are my own.

[Ariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first ARC book, so I am a little nervous. Tainted Beauty by Alesha Adamson was really good. It is a Beauty and the Beast meets Midas retelling.

I love a good Beauty and the Beast retelling, and I think this one did a good job. I am not a fan of love at first sight, and there was not a little bit of that, which I loved. There was attraction at first sight, which is much more realistic. Aurie and Melora’s love story really had them get to know each other. There was also a lot of miscommunications and misunderstandings throughout the book between them, but it only strengthened their relationship.

I am not overly familiar with the story of Midas, but I actually loved how that was weaved into the story. It added a nice depth. As someone who is touch averse, I really enjoyed the fact that Aurie couldn’t touch people because of the curse. This book did make me wish there were book characters that were touch averse. While Aurie couldn’t touch people, he did want to.

There was a dual POV and, as always, I think it was that much better because of it! We got to see both sides of interactions and how they were both feeling. We got to see Aurie become less obsessed with material possessions (though I do wish this was focused on a little more) and Melora become more self-assured and confident.

I will say that sometimes the chapters felt a little long. I am a short chapter person, so these longer chapters were a little bit of a struggle.

I also loved the subtle religious undertones. I loved that when she was struggling, Melora prayed, and it helped calm her. I think we need more of this in books, where it is not super, throw it in your face, religious messaging, but the parts where you can see how much it is in your life. On this topic, since the characters did seem to belief in Christianity with the Great Creator, I am a little confused why some of their curses were Styx or Hades, which are Greek mythology. I mean it wasn’t a big deal; I was just a little confused.

I also really enjoyed how Melora was taken for a reason, and the reason is actually good! I won’t spoil, but it is much better than the reason for Belle being taken in Disney’s movie.

I loved the dragon in this book. Part of Aurie’s curse is to turn into a dragon when overly emotional. I think this book also makes Aurie more human and realistic than you typically see of the “Beast” in other versions.

I actually hope there is a sequel to this book. I want to see them after the events of this story.

Tainted Beauty is a wonderful Beauty and the Beast retelling perfect for anyone looking for a clean, fantasy romance, with wonderful twists on a classic!

*I received an ARC copy from the author and all opinions are my own.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ARC from the author and I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased review

Tainted Beauty was such a cute and fun read! Alesha Adamson takes inspiration from both Beauty and the Beast and the story of King Midas, blending them into a fairytale retelling full of heart, magic, and just the right touch of mystery.

I really liked Melora as a main character—she had so much spunk and inner strength, and I was rooting for her the whole way through. The dynamic between her and Aurelius had just enough tension to keep me turning pages, and I was genuinely curious about how everything would unfold. I also enjoyed how the magic system was woven into the story—it felt fresh while still staying true to the fairytale vibes.

Honestly, I got so swept up in the story that I barely took notes, which says a lot about how engaging it was. And the ending? Absolute perfection. It wrapped everything up in a satisfying and emotional way that made the journey worth it.

This was a very enjoyable read—great for fans of fairytale retellings, dragon lore, and slow-burn romance with zero spice. If you love a good curse-breaking tale with emotional beats and magical twists, Tainted Beauty is worth picking up!

[Coralie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept for this mash up was intriguing. We don't see a lot of Midas stories. To mix Midas with Beauty and the Beast is a neat idea. Throw in dragons and I'm hooked!

I will confess I didn't read the blurb beforehand (just some of the graphics and marketing material) since I like to be surprised in retellings and the mash up already had my interest. Because of that, I for some reason had it in my head that the MC was the daughter of Midas (spoiler alert, she's not - and if I'd read the blurb, I'd have realized the beast WAS Midas XD). So, that was a fun discovery! I thought the concept of the beast was really clever. I loved that what made him Midas is what made him beastly. And the dragon was a cool take on the traditional enchantress role.

Unfortunately, the concept of the beast and the twists on the original stories were my favorite parts of the book. I've definitely read worse books, but I've also definitely read better. This one just didn't captivate me or keep me thoroughly engaged. It was easy to put down and I got bored a couple of times. There were several repetitions of the thinly veiled themes that I got tired of hearing. The themes were beautiful, don't get me wrong. But after the umpteenth time Melora says she's worthless over something silly and the beast insists he's worthless without the gold (after directly thinking perhaps not), I just got annoyed. I completely understand the toxic, persistent lies we have beating in our heads, but I got tired of seeing no progress as they each clung to the lies in spite of the progress of the story and the interactions they had with others. Their arcs just felt like someone flipped a switch in the end when they finally just agreed with the truth.

But truthfully, I didn't love the characters for more than their stubborn self-hatred. I liked parts of them, to be fair. Melora cared for her sister (but spent 90% of the plot completely not doing anything to go back for her). She was noble-hearted and incredibly hard working, which is so admirable. She has endured her father's abuse, which is sympathetic and relatable. I understood why she believed what she did about her worth; I just wished she showed marginal change over the course of the story rather than clinging to the lies for 95% of the story before suddenly understanding and fully believing that she had value. This showed in a few other areas, too. She'd be angry with Aurelius one moment, then suddenly simpering over him. It was just very whiplashy.

Aurelius, on the other hand. Aurelius had an interesting background and the whole predicament that led to his curse was interesting. The spiral down into gold-fever made sense, but then through the rest of the story he, like Melora, refused to believe anything good about himself (other than that he was wealthy). He also felt into the insta-love camp. While Melora took some time to come around, Aurelius was wholly in love with Melora almost from the beginning. To his credit, he did say that he saw more than her beauty and seemed to fall more in love with her as the story deepened, but I wished there had been more of Melora displaying those inner traits he lauded to show him falling in love with her and to show her character in deeper ways.

My biggest irritation was that the characters almost seemed to willfully misunderstand one another. They overreacted to everything (both in the positive and the negative), which contributed to the whiplash feeling.

Life is messy. But this story had so little nuance. The moral lessons (while good and true) were so black and white and obvious. But real people aren't so easy. I missed the nuanced, messy reality of people with real depth. I wanted to watch the story unfold, but I felt like I was told what to believe about who these characters were, rather than allowed to judge for myself based on their actions and words. It's such a hard thing to do as a writer, so I sympathize. But as a reader, I felt preached at rather than invited to participate.

All that said, the plot was interesting and I wanted to enjoy the story more, despite the pacing, blunt themes, and the somewhat flat characters. And although the story wasn't my favorite cup of tea, it does have it's merits and other readers may enjoy it far more than I did.

Also, I should note that I thought the nods to the original stories were really fun. The rose garden, the way the servitude to the beast occurs, the "enchanted" castle, and the tension between the beast by day boy by night vibe were clever and definitely made my fairytale heart smile. Additionally, I feel like I have to admit that Sir Calix was quite possibly my favorite character. He was a fantastic Gaston character. I admittedly enjoyed everything he did. Great villain.

It's a story that upholds what is good and true in the midst of what is not. We need more stories where good is good and bad is bad. It's a story that's clean and appropriate for younger readers (I'd recommend 15+) with no swearing, only some mild fantasy violence, and a non-explicit romance (there are a few implications of immodesty; situations that could have led to an assault, but didn't; and the tension/desire to physically touch but inability to do so due to the Midas curse, etc.). It was a cute fairytale, and again, I'm sure there will be many readers who enjoy it.

Note: I was graciously given an advanced copy from the author (thank you!). The above are my voluntary and honest thoughts on the read.

[Mystery Rose Writer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 star

I received this book as an ARC and all thoughts are my own.

An interesting combination of Midas and The Beauty and The Beast. It was nice to see Melora finally stand up to her father, and I liked the cameo from the other book. Personally I think the word 'posthaste' was a little overused.

[Mimi · Rating 1 out of 5]

this was painful to read. the best part of this book is marking it as read so i never have to read or think about it ever again

[Lisa Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tainted Beauty by Alesha Adamson is the first book in the All That Glitters series and the last book for me to complete after receiving ARCs of every other book before I got to it. Ending with the beginning, this series has now come full circle for me. Tainted Beauty is a combined retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" and "King Midas." Both stories are blended equally with no bias toward one or the other. It is a sweet romance with lots of magic and dragon lore. Among the All That Glitters series, this story shares the most similarities to Rapunzel's Gambit by Mary Mecham, but it still stands out as a unique and original dual fairy tale adaptation.

Aurelius seeks the aid of a dragon to restore his family's fortune. The ability to turn anything he touched into gold sounded like a great idea at first, until he accidentally froze his mother in a gilded prison, turning the blessing into a curse. Soon, he realized that he was a threat to anyone he encountered and decided to cut himself off from society. He receives some solace in the ability to transform into a dragon once a day, rendering the curse null and void in his transformative state. However, this power comes with its own limitations, especially after he rescues the kind-hearted Melora from an arranged marriage and is afraid to tell her his true identity for fear that she will only see him as a monster.

Melora's stay at the castle is split between her time with Aurelius in his glittering human form and with the dragon, without realizing they are the same person. Though she cares for both of them, it isn't until he can be honest with her about who he is and come to terms with his past that a romance can start to blossom. The usually unassuming and humble Melora is not put off by the ostentatious display of gold surrounding her caretaker. Instead, she is more offended by Aurelius's refusal to touch her, even when she needs assistance, due to her ignorance of his curse. Overall, the biggest theme of the story is self-acceptance.

I never would have come up with the idea of combining "Beauty and the Beast" with "King Midas" on my own, yet it works quite well. Melora escapes an abusive father and fiancé to a world of glittering splendor. After a lifetime of being forced to earn her keep, it takes time for her to realize that Aurelius wants her to be comfortable in his domain. The book also incorporates one of the sisters from the original "Beauty and the Beast" fairy tale in a more positive light. Melora has a sweet bond with her little sister, Nerissa, and her desire to protect her from their father's abuse extends to the indomitable protection of Aurelius in his dragon form.

Tainted Beauty by Alesha Adamson is a glittering retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" and "King Midas," expertly blending the two classic tales into a unique narrative. With its sweet romance, magical world-building, and themes of self-acceptance, this book is a must-read for fans of fairy tale adaptations. The dual perspective of Aurelius and Melora adds depth to the story, and their bond is both tender and compelling. If you're looking for a fresh take on beloved fairy tales, Tainted Beauty is definitely worth adding to your reading list.

[Adena Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a creatively brilliant mashup of the King Midas legend and the Beauty and the Beast fairytale. I would not have thought to use the Midas touch as the curse afflicting the Beast, but boy, does it work. The work-arounds that Aurelius had to develop to live with his curse make his side of the story so realistic, almost as realistic as Melora's suffering under the abuse of her father, which makes this tale relatable for me. I highly recommend this to fans of Celeste Baxendell, the Once Upon a Prince series of retellings and the Enemies Ever After series of retellings.

I received an ARC from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Annelise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greek myths and fairytales and DRAGONS—oh my! What a great start to the All That Glitters series ✨

🎧 now playing: house of gold by twenty one pilots

*****content ratings at the end*****

“With his curse he was a monster. Without it, he was nothing”

You know a book is good when it makes you want to read more by the author—and that’s how I feel about Tainted Beauty. I immediately looked up Alesha Adamson’s book list and was heartbroken to discover only a small handful of other books for me to devour… keep writing, girl! We love it! 🫶🏼

tropes—
⚱️ friends to lovers
⚱️ touch her and die
⚱️ obsessed hero
⚱️ dragon shifter
⚱️ found family

characters in one sentence each—
👤 Melora: Hard working, determined, sassy, and loyal maiden who wishes people would see her as more than just a pretty face.
👤 Aurie: Broken yet charming young man still trying to live up to his father’s ideals.
👤 Lyra: Spunky ladies maid—somebody make sure she gets all the fashionable dresses she desires!
👤 Galen: The truest brother 😤 with mad skills 🎻
👤 Sunniva: Everybody’s mother—in a good way 💜

likes—
❣️ creative combination of tales
❣️ high stakes
❣️ adorable romance

dislikes—
🕳️ a bit too much exposition
🕳️ mopey hero
🕳️ a few minor typos

I was hooked from the beginning! The only reason it took me so long to read this was real life getting in the way 😆

I love the combination of King Midas and Beauty and the Beast! It was so cleverly done and the story flowed so well. I really had to reach to think of anything that would’ve made this book better. As an ARC, I know this book was a bit rushed with the editing deadline, so I think maybe if that hasn’t been the case, this book would’ve been 100% perfect!

As it is, this book is such a cozy retelling 💛 I sometimes get a bit bored by cozy books, but this one had plenty of action and mystery to keep me hooked. The stakes were high and the obstacles seemed insurmountable—and the love story was so adorable 🥰

“Behind the pretty mask they all wanted to see, a woman of substance and fire ached to be released.”

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I would highly recommend it to lovers of Greek myth retelling, fairytale retellings, dragon lovers, and anyone looking for a cozy love story with good morals 💛 This book has a heart of gold!

*****
spice: 🌶️/5
violence/gore: 🩸/5
language: 0/5

content considerations: abuse, neglect, manslaughter

-Kisses, longing for physical touch, embracing. There is some nudity, but it is non graphic/appears modest and quickly covered. There is some violence and mentions of scrapes or blood etc, but nothing graphic. One instance of accidental manslaughter. No language, though there are some fun made up ones, such as “Valhalla!” Abuse and neglect aren’t described much—a few instances of hair pulling, lots of verbal abuse, and being locked up.
*****

Thank you to the author for a free copy of this book! The opinions in this review are honest and entirely my own 🫶🏼

[Kortnee - The Closed Door Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Language 🤐: Clean (made up swear said a few times, or something like drat possibly)

Spice ❤️‍🔥: Kisses only (There is a dragon transformer and it does hint when he transform that he has no clothes he's always covered immediately)

⚠️ Abusive parents, Harassment⚠️

Tropes/Micro Tropes

• Exiled MMC who’s father recently passed away
• beauty and the beast
• Mention of prayer to the Great Creator
• Midas touch
• Cursed by a dragon or blessed
• Dual POV
• She wears his clothes
• Love at first sight
• Calling her beautiful when she’s referring to the scenery
• Him being a bumbling fool as just trying to impress her in all the wrong ways
• Teaching her to paint and enjoy life/hobbies
• Paint fight
• Him finding the joys in his circumstances and situations because of her


This was my first book I've read by Alesha Adamson, it will most definitely not gonna be my last one! I found out one of the characters mentioned early in the book Lord Rafe has a book about him and I will definitely be picking that one up as his story was hinted at in the book and I'm so happy to be right about there being one written with him in it! I really enjoyed this story so much! It was such a fun Beauty and the Beast retelling. I loved watching as Aurelius and Melora grow together.

Aurelius is exiled and his title as a Lord is stripped from him by the greedy king of his land. He feels that all his worth is tied up in the worth that he is able to demonstrate through wealth as this is what was drilled into him by his father. Desperation draws him to make rash decisions that cause him to ask to be cursed with a gift which he believes is a blessing to begin with. He then finds that he has truly lost everything and no longer know what to do.

In enters Melora who is always striving to make her sister and her own life better keeping them from the wrath of a father who sees them as nothing but an inconvenience. Aurelius and Melora's encounter is not necessarily what one would call the perfect fairytale encounter but is so great 😂 There are so many interactions with her and Aurelius that had me laughing and then smiling like a fool.

This book is for you if you like Beauty and the Beast, Fairytale retellings, Dragons, great character growth. A couple who actually grows together and supports one another to become better! I fully enjoyed this book and hope that you do to!

Thank you to the Author for allowing me to read this ARC. The thoughts and opinions shared above are all my own!

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reader’s Notes:

– this is part of a series, but meant to be read as a stand-alone

– this is told from Aurie (Aurelius) & Melora’s points of view

-Melora has an unwanted suitor who is determined to have her at any cost

-there is a little bit of fantasy violence and death (one death)

Review:

I really enjoyed this mashup of Beauty and the Beast with King Midas! I loved the underlying themes of self worth and what we should hold worth in compared to what isn’t good to put your worth in. I loved getting to know Aurie and see how things went in his thought processes as he was learning to be a better person and where his worth lie. I loved getting to know Melora and see why she was upset over certain things that happened/was said. I also loved that Melora was someone who couldn’t sit still and do nothing both when she had the opportunity to and when there was a need for help.

I can’t wait to get to more of this series!

Summary:

Aurelius is left destitute soon after his father’s passing and thinks that the only thing worth pursuing is gaining more wealth. So he visits a dragon for help and the dragon offers Aurie a gift that Aurie believes will fix all of his problems. But not everything is as it seems and soon Aurie discovers that the gift comes with a price…

Melora lives under her father’s thumb and is to be sold to the highest bidder as a wife to pay off her father’s debts. But one day her father takes his greed a step too far and Melora has to step in to save her sister from a monstrous dragon as a result. The dragon brings Melora to the dragon’s gilded home and meets Aurelius. Aurelius sees things about Melora that makes her feel seen and loved in a way that no one else has. But Aurelius and the dragon are both keeping secrets from her, secrets that could destroy everything. Melora will have to make hard decisions moving forward if she is going to reclaim her life for herself. Especially when it comes to deciding if she’ll still want Aurie or dragon to be a part of it…

[Anna (Crochetsavetheday) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tainted Beauty is a fairytale retelling of Beauty and the Beast with a touch of Midas(Haha).The main characters are both fighting their own problems in their lives. Aurie is a struggling young man who wants to impress his father and keep his wealth growing. Wealth is not the answer he thinks it is, or is it? Melora is a beautiful young woman who works hard to keep her sister safe.
Aurie is put under a terrible curse and has to keep his secret while trying to protect Melora from her troubles.
Love blossoms but secrets stand between it. I recommend this book for anyone in the mood for a different spin on familiar stories! This story is no spice but the characters quickly find tension between them.

Book blurb:
A dragon's curse, a deadly touch, a maiden tainted by beauty... can they break the curse-or will it consume them?

Aurelius has lost everything. Desperate to regain his worth, he accepts a gift from a dragon, but it comes at a terrible price. Now, the beast within him is out of his control-and it's too late to undo the damage he's caused.

Then he meets her.
The most enchanting maiden he's ever seen.
Melora is trapped in a life she never wanted, sold off to the highest bidder to pay her father's debts. But, when his greed takes things too far, she sacrifices herself to save her sister from a monstrous dragon.
Swept away to the dragon's gilded domain, Melora finds Aurelius. He is arrogant, proud, and infuriatingly persistent—but there's a side to him that calls to her, that makes her feel valued in a way she's never known before.

Captive in this glittering world, Melora is surrounded by secrets that threaten to destroy them. Why won't he touch her? What lies behind the forbidden door?
As the days pass, their time is running out. Will they break the curse before it's too late, or will the glint of gold taint everything?


Tropes:
🐉dragon
🐉 fairytale retelling
🐉damsel in distress
🐉no-spice romance

[Allen Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

The following review is a part of the ‘All That Glitters’ project. I have been pleased to be a part of a review team to promote this project. I thoroughly recommend the authors and their works.

My review;

‘Everything was gone.’ Adversity and Injustice had rocked the life of Lord Aurelius of Sovia. Banished to the furthest reaches of Bannwood Forest, all titles, lands and wealth revoked the future was bleak.

Where else does one turn but to magic and Dragons for a solution. So unfolds this delightfully engaging reimagining of the myth of King Midas and the Beauty and the Beast, albeit with quite a few tweaks and twists.

Aptly entitled, ‘Tainted Beauty’ the extended metaphor examines false aspirations of happiness, wealth, dragons, social status and self-worth. Not surprisingly, at its heart, it is a romantic tale of how true love has the power to shatter false illusions and is greatest expression of true wealth and happiness.

It’s a thoroughly enjoyable story filled with goodies and baddies, shape-shifters, magical events, twists and turns, romance and a happy ending, to warm the heart.

[Marissa Rissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy from the author but my thoughts and opinions are my own!

Tainted Beauty was a delightful surprise for me! Such a beautiful combination of Beauty and the Beast and the tale of King Midas. Also for those that have read/watched Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis there are some similarities there!

I loved the overall arching message that even those things that can be necessities, if desired too much, can be a poison to the person you are and destroy you from the inside out! Melora was such a beautiful character but for me Aurelie was one of the most important characters as many of us can become or have been him at one point or another.

The romance was beautiful and wonderfully clean which is something I always will appreciate!

Overall this was an amazing tale and it’s just waiting for you to pick up and read!

[withlucylane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely work of Clean fantasy romance.

Personal rating: 4/5
Content:
Spice - 1/5, kisses only
Plot - 5/5
Language - 0/5

Personal thoughts:
I personally love beauty and the beast and this retelling by Alesha Adamson is no exception.
Melora and Aurelius are so cute it hurts my heart and I just loved how Melora loved the dragon and the man, she embraced all parts of Aurelius without even knowing and that was really sweet.
Dragon was just such a gentle giant so it’s not hard to see how Melora grew to love him also.

All in all, the plot was amazing and the story inasmuch as it was a retelling had its own unique touch.


Thank you to the author, Alesha Adamson, for an ARC of Tainted beauty. All opinions are my own.

[Nicole Lehr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ARC from the author and enjoyed the book! It was very intriguing to have the Midas curse with Beauty and the Beast, mixed with a dragon. I really enjoyed that twist! Aurie’s growth in this book took the cake for me cause he grows in his love for Melora was just the sweetest cause she helped him to grow. Melora also started to see the man behind the goal for Aurie. If you want a twist on Beauty and the Beast then this is definitely the book for you! Such a sweet book and I always enjoy Alesha Adamson’s books.

[Aubrey Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was sweet, enchanting, and kept me up til 2 am to finish it!
I loved how the author meshed Beauty and the Beast with King Midas in this no spice fantasy romance.
I loved the dynamic between the main characters. There was quite a bit of awkwardness and hurt feelings in the beginning, which felt very realistic and human, and I liked how the characters eventually worked through that and over came their personal struggles.
Highly, highly recommend!

I did receive an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got an ARC copy of this book for my honest review. This book was clean read and cleaver mix of King Midas and Beauty and the Beast. I really enjoyed how they portrayed the beast in this book and how he brought his curse upon himself because of his greed after losing his wealth. Having a golden touch was an ingenious way to portray his curse while turning into a dragon was the result of valuing wealth more than people. The “bad guys” were her despicable father and her so-called fiancée, the man her father “sold” her off to pay his bad debts. Her sister was the reason she left the “beast” and returned home. The portrayal of magic in the story was fun and different. Truly enjoyable and one my teenage daughters will love reading.

[Jacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alesha Adamson wrote a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but she added King Midas to the mix!
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I love how seamlessly Alesha blended the two stories into one. And to make it even better there is a dragon! The ending felt a bit rushed to me, but I really enjoyed this book. I like the differences in this book that made it stand out. If you like Beauty and the Beast retellings as much as I do, you'll enjoy this book!
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This book releases May 3, 2025. I received an ARC from the author, all thoughts are my own.
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#forcedproximity #beautyandthebeast #kingmidas #dragonshifter #meetawkward #obsessedhero #cleanromance #nospiceromance

[Ami Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This magical tale had a mix of King Midas and Beauty and the Beast! It even had a dragon or two with their hoards of gold! I loved how the story unfolded and progressed, and I enjoyed following along. The world and character building were phenomenal! There were adventures and danger, villains and heroines, and the ending was so satisfying!

[Kirsten Alley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this is a great read!

No-spice magnetism? ✅🥰
Yearning? ✅🔥
A fun twist on Beauty and the Beast? ✅📚
Character growth✅❤️
Well-written ✅❤️

[emeraldragonlady (Maddie) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was addicting. I read it in 2 sittings cause my kids wouldn’t let me read it in one lol. This was an amazing mash up of King Midas & Beauty & the beast! I love this fresh new take for these stories.

[Abebi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that this might be one of my favorite Beauty & the Beast retellings that I have ever read. I enjoyed the pacing, the story, and the relationships within it. <3

[Ysabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this! Beauty and the Beast has always had a special place in my heart and this retelling/mashup was excellent. I can’t get enough of this author! 😍

[The Swoony Awards]

This book has been nominated for a 2025 Swoony Award, to vote for it click here: Swoony Awards.

[Natasha Beagley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clean romantasy. Closed door. No language. Spice level 1 with only brief kisses.

An intriguing beauty and the beast retelling that is unique enough it took me a minute to recognized the comparison. The dragon is a gentle teddy bear of a beast. The two different sides of him as he interacts with the FMC as man and as beast made the story fun. Throughly enjoyed the journey of the book.

[Anna Bourassa · Rating 5 out of 5]

European and Greek fairytales collide in this clever and magical reimagining: Tainted Beauty: All That Glitters. A combination of King Midas and Beauty and the Beast, it’s a clean romantasy that reminded me of Melanie Dickerson’s fairytale series—only with magic instead of medieval history.

Melora, the main character, lives under the oppressive control of her abusive, gambling father—a man who views his daughters as little more than a commodity to be sold into marriage. Melora is your classic fairytale protagonist: beautiful and "good," but also the modern heroine who insists she doesn’t need a man (if she would just be more consistent to speak up for herself, dang it!). Having suffered long under her degenerate father’s rule, Melora learns to survive by keeping quiet—don’t upset Father, and definitely don’t upset the suitor he chooses. When the chance comes to speak up, her mouth goes dry. 🤦🏻‍♀️

But then she meets Aurie, and everything changes. Her boldness grows, and she begins to crave being heard and known, rather than just seen for her beauty. She becomes quite the spitfire—though unfortunately she tends to direct her anger at the one man who’s actually trying to help her.

Aurie wanted to gain back his lost wealth for his mother’s sake but goes too far. He falls into a curse and becomes a dragon. When in human form, his touch turns everything, both living and inanimate, into gold. Mesmerized by Melora’s “goodness” and beauty from their very first meeting, he tries to help her without dooming her to a life as a gold statue, but Melora, uninformed of his curse, is repeatedly hurt and frustrated by his fear of touching her. She even overlooks the way he tried to save her modesty by covering her with the golden jerkin, thinking, meh, that gift was JUST to protect my modesty and not because he wanted to give me something special. Girl, that WAS a special gift. You have a total of zero gentlemen in your life—let’s have a little appreciation for this guy’s kindness.

Together, the two battle their way through hardship, misunderstanding, and literal curses to find their happily ever after.

All That Glitters is packed with classic fairytale tropes and is a clean read appropriate for mid-teens and up. There’s no adult content—just villains being villainous and heroes being heroic. That said, I will share a few things that frustrated me as I was reading:

1. Aurie's mom tries to tell him that he shouldn't try to please the king who exiled him. However, her "wisdom" to him is too simplified to actually be effective: “you can't base your worth off anything or anyone...” Then what DO you base it off of, Mom? Because just being ourselves isn't gonna make the world a brighter place.

2. Halfway through, Aurie starts worrying that if he loses his ability to produce gold, Melora may no longer value him. This doesn’t quite track with how he otherwise sees her—as inwardly beautiful and morally good. Would she still be a good person if she devalued him for no longer being as wealthy as a king? Something’s not adding up.

3. Melora’s sometimes inconsistent behavior… one moment she’s looking down at the floor, waiting to be hit, and the next she’s all fired up again, enraged that Aurie should DARE suggest they watch a sunrise together. I was like, Girl, I can’t keep up with your mood swings!

It’s been several years since I’ve written a book review, but I hope this helps future readers decide whether this story (or the whole fairytale collection alongside it) is for them. As I mentioned, it’s a clean read that reminded me of Melanie Dickerson’s books. If I were still 18, this would’ve been right up my alley. Side note: I found this book through the author’s Instagram page quite randomly. I like when authors are interactive with their readers on Insta – that’s why I initially gave it a try. Plus... that cover! It's gorgeous. Thank you, Alesha Adamson, for blessing our bookshelves with a clean romantasy!