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That Time I was Kidnapped by the Fae King
Bryn Carlisle exists within a fantasy of her own making. She consumes Fae romances faster than the coffee she makes and loves it.
Her actual love life is pretty much dead.
When her best friend Cassandra decides she needs to get out of the house and maybe talk to some non-fictional men, she ends up at the ren faire for a cosplay contest starring the Fae King of her favorite book. There she meets one in particular who promptly kidnaps her.
When Ezra Rose, the man who kidnaps her, turns out to be an actual Fae King, Bryn has to survive in his world, while also trying to not fall in love with him. Even though she absolutely wants to.
Her actual love life is pretty much dead.
When her best friend Cassandra decides she needs to get out of the house and maybe talk to some non-fictional men, she ends up at the ren faire for a cosplay contest starring the Fae King of her favorite book. There she meets one in particular who promptly kidnaps her.
When Ezra Rose, the man who kidnaps her, turns out to be an actual Fae King, Bryn has to survive in his world, while also trying to not fall in love with him. Even though she absolutely wants to.
- GenresFae
225 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 11, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 25, 2025
Bryn gladly opts to lead a quiet existence of being single and reading her smut in unbothered peace. She gets dragged to the Ren Faire to gnaw on some steak-on-a-stake and watch the cosplay contest of hot faerie men, which is enjoyable until she’s kidnapped and taken to the desolate castle of a grump with crystalized fingers.
Ezra is a Fae King with color changing eyes and a body that’s slowly being eaten by quartz. His social skills are scarce, which is no surprise considering his one friend is an ex-human now blackbird who misses having a penis, but otherwise enjoys avian life. Ezra needs a plan before he fully turns to stone, but time is running out and distractions abound when the human hostage looks hot in his clothes.
Can Bryn help Ezra break his rocky curse? What happens to the single condom she brought with her? And will there be a sequel to A Court of Sex and Stabbing? This was a fun and creative retelling of Beauty & the Beast, filled with relatable moments for anyone who fantasizes a stocked library, minimal human interaction, and steamy relations with a possessive, hot Fae who enchants your body before bringing you coffee in bed.
Ezra is a Fae King with color changing eyes and a body that’s slowly being eaten by quartz. His social skills are scarce, which is no surprise considering his one friend is an ex-human now blackbird who misses having a penis, but otherwise enjoys avian life. Ezra needs a plan before he fully turns to stone, but time is running out and distractions abound when the human hostage looks hot in his clothes.
Can Bryn help Ezra break his rocky curse? What happens to the single condom she brought with her? And will there be a sequel to A Court of Sex and Stabbing? This was a fun and creative retelling of Beauty & the Beast, filled with relatable moments for anyone who fantasizes a stocked library, minimal human interaction, and steamy relations with a possessive, hot Fae who enchants your body before bringing you coffee in bed.
March 11, 2025
Disclaimer: I beta read this book, so when I rave about it, know that the newest version of this book has only gotten better than what I read! I can't wait to see how the story has evolved.
To start, romantasy isn't my common go to for book choice (not because of dislike of the subgenre, just because I always seem to grab something else), but that didn't stop me from wanting to devour this story from start to finish. The pacing, the characters, the snippets of worldbuilding all came together in a glorious stew of literature.
The story trucked along at a comfortable pace, not feeling too rushed or too slow. Interactions felt naturally placed, and everything seemed to evolve naturally.
The characters! My goodness, the characters! They were wonderful! I loved everyone from the main pair, to every supporting character. The enemies were as hateable as the protagonists were loveable. I rooted for the relationship every step of the way, growing quite irritated with each terrible tease. JUST KISS YOU DORKS!
And the worldbuilding is so fun with this. You see bits and pieces, it's certainly not the focal point, but it's weaved in so well with the story the world seems to effortlessly form around you as you're reading.
This book is perfect for fans of romantasy who enjoyed Beauty and the Beast (or even those who didn't because I'm not a big fan of that one), enjoy well crafted characters in an interesting portal fantasy, and want to have a damn good time yelling at a pair of knuckleheads finding love in the strangest places.
Five crystal thumbs out of five.
To start, romantasy isn't my common go to for book choice (not because of dislike of the subgenre, just because I always seem to grab something else), but that didn't stop me from wanting to devour this story from start to finish. The pacing, the characters, the snippets of worldbuilding all came together in a glorious stew of literature.
The story trucked along at a comfortable pace, not feeling too rushed or too slow. Interactions felt naturally placed, and everything seemed to evolve naturally.
The characters! My goodness, the characters! They were wonderful! I loved everyone from the main pair, to every supporting character. The enemies were as hateable as the protagonists were loveable. I rooted for the relationship every step of the way, growing quite irritated with each terrible tease. JUST KISS YOU DORKS!
And the worldbuilding is so fun with this. You see bits and pieces, it's certainly not the focal point, but it's weaved in so well with the story the world seems to effortlessly form around you as you're reading.
This book is perfect for fans of romantasy who enjoyed Beauty and the Beast (or even those who didn't because I'm not a big fan of that one), enjoy well crafted characters in an interesting portal fantasy, and want to have a damn good time yelling at a pair of knuckleheads finding love in the strangest places.
Five crystal thumbs out of five.
February 16, 2025
“I need to drown in you. I want to break apart in your grasp. I want to shatter against the stone, crumble, turn to dust. I want you to pick up the pieces and fix me. Then I want to break all over again. I need all of you.”
I absolutely devoured this book! It was so good, and I loved it! Plus, the cover is so pretty! Ezra and Bryn were so cute together, and who doesn't love a good grumpy x sunshine couple?? This book was such a unique Beauty and the Beast retelling. I liked the traditional imagery and elements of the original story that was weaved together with a unique world and magic system. Plus, every reader dreams of getting whisked off to a magical world filled with Fae kings, so it was so fun to read that. Also, I loved Agel!! He was so funny, and maybe there's a potential for a spinoff? 👀 I liked the LGBTQ+ and mental health elements included in the book (TW: mentions of past suicide attempts and self harm). Also, the spice was soooo good, and I loved their chemistry! Can't wait to read more of Azshure Raine's books!
I absolutely devoured this book! It was so good, and I loved it! Plus, the cover is so pretty! Ezra and Bryn were so cute together, and who doesn't love a good grumpy x sunshine couple?? This book was such a unique Beauty and the Beast retelling. I liked the traditional imagery and elements of the original story that was weaved together with a unique world and magic system. Plus, every reader dreams of getting whisked off to a magical world filled with Fae kings, so it was so fun to read that. Also, I loved Agel!! He was so funny, and maybe there's a potential for a spinoff? 👀 I liked the LGBTQ+ and mental health elements included in the book (TW: mentions of past suicide attempts and self harm). Also, the spice was soooo good, and I loved their chemistry! Can't wait to read more of Azshure Raine's books!
February 25, 2025
***I received an ARC and this is my honest review***
This book was a blast.
I don't usually read romantasy or retellings, but this book was irresistible and so. much. fun. It took a story I love (Beauty and the Beast) and turned it into something entirely new by twisting the predictable beats in interesting ways. Not only was it hilarious, but it also had me kicking my little feet from the to-die-for cute romance between Bryn and Ezra, and of course, the spice was *sexy*. Bryn is a sweet ray of sunshine and Ezra is a grump—what isn't there to root for when it comes to curse breaking? Speaking of our Beast's curse, that climax (and the twist to THAT) with the caster??? I'm still not over it.
If you like twisty and fun retellings, spicy romantasy that focused more on the characters and plot than the spice, and a main couple you can scream at (affectionate, my emo Fae King), then I can't recommend this book enough.
This book was a blast.
I don't usually read romantasy or retellings, but this book was irresistible and so. much. fun. It took a story I love (Beauty and the Beast) and turned it into something entirely new by twisting the predictable beats in interesting ways. Not only was it hilarious, but it also had me kicking my little feet from the to-die-for cute romance between Bryn and Ezra, and of course, the spice was *sexy*. Bryn is a sweet ray of sunshine and Ezra is a grump—what isn't there to root for when it comes to curse breaking? Speaking of our Beast's curse, that climax (and the twist to THAT) with the caster??? I'm still not over it.
If you like twisty and fun retellings, spicy romantasy that focused more on the characters and plot than the spice, and a main couple you can scream at (affectionate, my emo Fae King), then I can't recommend this book enough.
July 24, 2024
Whitty, charming, and oh-so spicy! This is easily the romantasy book of the year.
Bryn is a perfectly relatable heroine—a spicy book-loving barista who’s mostly shy and guarded, for good reason. Then, our crystal-wielding Fae king Ezra nabs her in a “deal” to save her best friend, and Bryn gets everything she wanted (a love interest right out of a book). Though, it’s not exactly as romantic as she hoped, and there’s a lot more at stake than just her freedom.
And shout out to my favorite supporting character—Agel!!
While this is a retelling, the world building is masterful. Every time I thought the plot would take a cliche turn and follow the typical BatB storyline, I was surprised with a unique twist. I cannot wait to have a physical copy of this on my shelf!
Bryn is a perfectly relatable heroine—a spicy book-loving barista who’s mostly shy and guarded, for good reason. Then, our crystal-wielding Fae king Ezra nabs her in a “deal” to save her best friend, and Bryn gets everything she wanted (a love interest right out of a book). Though, it’s not exactly as romantic as she hoped, and there’s a lot more at stake than just her freedom.
And shout out to my favorite supporting character—Agel!!
While this is a retelling, the world building is masterful. Every time I thought the plot would take a cliche turn and follow the typical BatB storyline, I was surprised with a unique twist. I cannot wait to have a physical copy of this on my shelf!
January 13, 2025
A fun re-telling of the classic fairytale, Beauty and the Beast with Az's unique and refreshing twist.
Broody and lonely Ezra meets his Beauty in an unconventional way, and piece-by-piece, quartz-by-quartz, she breaks him down and helps him rebuild.
At times, this was hilarious. At times, it was heartbreaking. I didn't intend to go in Feeling my Feelings but I'm glad I did.
The villain is Villainous (wonderfully. I could gush about her but I don't want to hurt Ezra), the bestie is Glorious, and AGEL. My sweet summer child, Agel. Best Boy was made for him.
This was totally charming. A bite-sized but filling meal. Highly recommend.
Broody and lonely Ezra meets his Beauty in an unconventional way, and piece-by-piece, quartz-by-quartz, she breaks him down and helps him rebuild.
At times, this was hilarious. At times, it was heartbreaking. I didn't intend to go in Feeling my Feelings but I'm glad I did.
The villain is Villainous (wonderfully. I could gush about her but I don't want to hurt Ezra), the bestie is Glorious, and AGEL. My sweet summer child, Agel. Best Boy was made for him.
This was totally charming. A bite-sized but filling meal. Highly recommend.
March 18, 2025
What’s not to love with this sugary sweet, wrench the tears from your eyes while making your heart melt BatB retelling? If you’re still not sold, what if I told you there were some throwbacks to the Princess Bride, Howl’s Moving Castle, & the Neverending Story?
Bryn is the champion to all us bookish babes who just want a baby boy LI with just the right amount of growl to ruin your underwear.
Enter said BB…Ezra is our drama-scarred hot fae king who is in dire need of a hug, stat! Thank goodness Ezra had Agel or else our scarred hot fae king would have never left the house.
Speaking of Agel. I’d love to read his back story, because our adorable little plot pusher has some SECRETS and I wanna know them all.
Lastly, the epilogue! No spoilers, but I am anxious to find out more about what was going on there. As in proper Az style, the plot thickens and we are left wondering just how deep this rabbit hole goes.
Final thoughts: Kidnapped is a great palate cleanser if you need a break from all those shadow daddies and dark romance angst.
Mascara rating: 💧💧💧
(Had I been wearing mascara while reading the sadder scenes, it would need a touchup!)
Bryn is the champion to all us bookish babes who just want a baby boy LI with just the right amount of growl to ruin your underwear.
Enter said BB…Ezra is our drama-scarred hot fae king who is in dire need of a hug, stat! Thank goodness Ezra had Agel or else our scarred hot fae king would have never left the house.
Speaking of Agel. I’d love to read his back story, because our adorable little plot pusher has some SECRETS and I wanna know them all.
Lastly, the epilogue! No spoilers, but I am anxious to find out more about what was going on there. As in proper Az style, the plot thickens and we are left wondering just how deep this rabbit hole goes.
Final thoughts: Kidnapped is a great palate cleanser if you need a break from all those shadow daddies and dark romance angst.
Mascara rating: 💧💧💧
(Had I been wearing mascara while reading the sadder scenes, it would need a touchup!)
April 8, 2025
Oh my goddess where do I begin!? This is just too good! Thank you for this beauty and the beast retelling which has somehow stolen my soul!
Bryn- just the average fae smut loving coffee barista who just wants to stay home with her books. Fictional men are much better than those of the real world who only use her to get into her sister’s bed.
Cassandra- fellow barista and smut lover who wants Bryn to get out of the darn house and go off to a renaissance faire!
Elizabeth- beautiful smart sister who also wants Bryn out of the house more often.
Ezra- fae king cursed to never love by a mother who couldn’t love him. How will he break this curse? Perhaps his self isolation is a good thing. No one could love him or save him.
So when a certain cursed bird tells Ezra to go out and drags him to a certain faire? Haha! No spoilers here.
This book will send vines into your heart and make you fall in love with not only the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast but also a certain Ice Queen as well as many other elements.
Bryn- just the average fae smut loving coffee barista who just wants to stay home with her books. Fictional men are much better than those of the real world who only use her to get into her sister’s bed.
Cassandra- fellow barista and smut lover who wants Bryn to get out of the darn house and go off to a renaissance faire!
Elizabeth- beautiful smart sister who also wants Bryn out of the house more often.
Ezra- fae king cursed to never love by a mother who couldn’t love him. How will he break this curse? Perhaps his self isolation is a good thing. No one could love him or save him.
So when a certain cursed bird tells Ezra to go out and drags him to a certain faire? Haha! No spoilers here.
This book will send vines into your heart and make you fall in love with not only the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast but also a certain Ice Queen as well as many other elements.
May 5, 2025
I read this book in two sittings, so that should tell you how engrossed I was.
That Time I Was Kidnapped By The Fae King is a fast paced, Beauty and the Beast retelling. It has fae (obviously), magic, curses, a slow burn, 🌶️🌶️ scenes that will leave you wanting, and a manifestation on when we all want our fantasy books to become real...or for us to step into its pages. Raine crafts flawed and emotionally complex characters. You root for them, want to help them, want to know more about that damned Agel (but you'll get to that). Overall, this is a book for all the Fae and fairytale lovers who are looking for their King. Or Queen. Or sassy bird.
That Time I Was Kidnapped By The Fae King is a fast paced, Beauty and the Beast retelling. It has fae (obviously), magic, curses, a slow burn, 🌶️🌶️ scenes that will leave you wanting, and a manifestation on when we all want our fantasy books to become real...or for us to step into its pages. Raine crafts flawed and emotionally complex characters. You root for them, want to help them, want to know more about that damned Agel (but you'll get to that). Overall, this is a book for all the Fae and fairytale lovers who are looking for their King. Or Queen. Or sassy bird.
May 12, 2025
This book knows what it is and it plays into that.
This is a beauty and the beast retelling with a few twists, our fmc is from the modern world and gets taken to the fairy realm after chasing a hunky cosplayer at the ren faire, or is he actually a real like Fae?
Not really a spoiler, he is Fae and cursed.
Where this one gets interesting is that it’s actually his birth mother that cursed him instead of a random enchantress, and this chick is delulu!
Overall a really well done retelling and I loved the twists and the sexual tension and ultimate romance did not feel forced.
Great story
This is a beauty and the beast retelling with a few twists, our fmc is from the modern world and gets taken to the fairy realm after chasing a hunky cosplayer at the ren faire, or is he actually a real like Fae?
Not really a spoiler, he is Fae and cursed.
Where this one gets interesting is that it’s actually his birth mother that cursed him instead of a random enchantress, and this chick is delulu!
Overall a really well done retelling and I loved the twists and the sexual tension and ultimate romance did not feel forced.
Great story
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2025
Cute Fae book. I enjoyed the twists and updates to the classic Beauty and the Beast meets Fae fantasy book.
Felt it was a little overwhelming-a bit too much going on, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I’d recommend this as a light read, palate cleanser, and great change of pace.
Characters were awesome, loved Ezra’s innocence and Bryn was so unique!
Felt it was a little overwhelming-a bit too much going on, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I’d recommend this as a light read, palate cleanser, and great change of pace.
Characters were awesome, loved Ezra’s innocence and Bryn was so unique!
April 19, 2025
4.5 stars
"Is what she felt love or lust?"
That Time I was Kidnapped by the Fae King by Azshure Raine is a Beauty and the Beast retelling with spicy scenes, curses, and delicious cups of coffee.
Bookworm and barista, Bryn lived her life buried in books, particularly the fae kind. That is until her world takes a turn when she ends up making a deal with a dark, brooding, and growling fae named Ezra.
This is my first time reading a book from this author. The story picks up particularly fast. Bryn and Ezra’s relationship is a soft insta-love but it builds at a healthy pace. Actually, I enjoyed how the story teased several times of a spicy scene unfolding only for me to end up holding my breath because it was interrupted. The transitions towards the end felt a little muddled but that was probably because the cast got big.
As a slow, mood reader, this probably has been one of my fastest reads! One of my favorite scenes was the goodbye scene towards the end because it did what every goodbye scene should do and that is to kick my heart into an alleyway and punch it repeatedly. Ezra’s POV at the end regarding the mural was such a foreboding treat!
Favorite quote that had me laughing:
"It didn’t help that she smelled like plastic and anxiety..."
August 28, 2026
it was a good, simple read but unforunately i struggled to finish it because it seemed abit to much like beauty and the beast so it was extremely predictable.
Its not a bad book at all but just not one that i connected with
Its not a bad book at all but just not one that i connected with
March 16, 2025
A story inside of a story. A slow burn romance. Beauty and the Beast. A heroic save. And a happily ever after!
April 15, 2025
Beauty and the beast retelling . Now I’m not one for the retelling type stories, but I gave this one a shot/ and I’m so glad I did!!!
For all of us book girlies who dream of being taken away from our mundane lives, this book is exactly that. She and her friend who are baristas at a hooters type coffee shop, have an interesting encounter when they go to a renaissance faire! I could not put this one down. And I’m tempted to check out her other retelling too!!
For all of us book girlies who dream of being taken away from our mundane lives, this book is exactly that. She and her friend who are baristas at a hooters type coffee shop, have an interesting encounter when they go to a renaissance faire! I could not put this one down. And I’m tempted to check out her other retelling too!!
March 14, 2025
💗👑That Time I Was Kidnapped By The Fae King👑💗
✍🏼: Azshure Raine
(ARC)
📍Ratings
3⭐️
1🌶️
0.5🖤
📍ARC Review
Hello hello my girly girls!
This book has been a light read. I felt like it was good to finish getting out the remnants of the reader's slump that I got into at the end of February.
I would like to point out that this book is a slow burn and you could even say it doesn't have a lot of spicy, however, it wasn't a deterrent to the enjoyment of the book.
The characters were certainly fun to read and you could even say refreshing. I absolutely loved that the FMC was a passionate fantasy reader with a somewhat shy personality, and that the MMC was the complete opposite of her by sheer force of what he went through in the beginning.
When I went into the book I was going in with an idea of what the outcome of the book would be like, but the author made me realize that my theory was completely wrong and I was met with an unexpected ending that certainly left me with my mouth wide open.
📍 Do I Recommend it?
If you are looking for a light read, you like fantasy and why not, maybe with a touch of curses and a FMC determined to break them to get her biggest dream. No doubt this is the book for you.
So don't wait any longer and order "That Time I Was Kidnapped by the Fae King" and when you have it, come back and tell me.
Isn't Ezra the cutest?
✍🏼: Azshure Raine
(ARC)
📍Ratings
3⭐️
1🌶️
0.5🖤
📍ARC Review
Hello hello my girly girls!
This book has been a light read. I felt like it was good to finish getting out the remnants of the reader's slump that I got into at the end of February.
I would like to point out that this book is a slow burn and you could even say it doesn't have a lot of spicy, however, it wasn't a deterrent to the enjoyment of the book.
The characters were certainly fun to read and you could even say refreshing. I absolutely loved that the FMC was a passionate fantasy reader with a somewhat shy personality, and that the MMC was the complete opposite of her by sheer force of what he went through in the beginning.
When I went into the book I was going in with an idea of what the outcome of the book would be like, but the author made me realize that my theory was completely wrong and I was met with an unexpected ending that certainly left me with my mouth wide open.
📍 Do I Recommend it?
If you are looking for a light read, you like fantasy and why not, maybe with a touch of curses and a FMC determined to break them to get her biggest dream. No doubt this is the book for you.
So don't wait any longer and order "That Time I Was Kidnapped by the Fae King" and when you have it, come back and tell me.
Isn't Ezra the cutest?
March 6, 2025
I got this book as an Arc Reader.
This book is a fun Beauty and the Beast retelling but it takes your standard Shadow Daddy Fae Man and turns him into a Sparkly Crystal Half Feral Fae Man. Its a wonderful change and honestly I enjoyed this book a lot! There are elements of Howls Moving Castle( mostly the house being much larger than initially thought with the magic door and all).
Bryn, Beauty, our leading lady is a relatable character in that she actually is like most other girls! She is a coffee loving, averagely pretty, bookish, nerd. I found her relatable and her insecurities to be well written and realistic in their portrayal.
Ezra, Beast, is our Sparkly Crystal fae king who as you might have guessed it, is cursed! He is also incredibly relatable and well written. The range of emotion that is portrayed with his character is exactly what is needed to give the nuances that most male leads lack.
I only rated this 4 stars because there were points where it felt like the author was fighting with the direction they wanted to take the story. That they had a frame work set in their mind even as it felt like the narrative was trying to grow beyond it. Still looking forward to its release as it has earned a spot on my shelf in a physical copy.
This book is a fun Beauty and the Beast retelling but it takes your standard Shadow Daddy Fae Man and turns him into a Sparkly Crystal Half Feral Fae Man. Its a wonderful change and honestly I enjoyed this book a lot! There are elements of Howls Moving Castle( mostly the house being much larger than initially thought with the magic door and all).
Bryn, Beauty, our leading lady is a relatable character in that she actually is like most other girls! She is a coffee loving, averagely pretty, bookish, nerd. I found her relatable and her insecurities to be well written and realistic in their portrayal.
Ezra, Beast, is our Sparkly Crystal fae king who as you might have guessed it, is cursed! He is also incredibly relatable and well written. The range of emotion that is portrayed with his character is exactly what is needed to give the nuances that most male leads lack.
I only rated this 4 stars because there were points where it felt like the author was fighting with the direction they wanted to take the story. That they had a frame work set in their mind even as it felt like the narrative was trying to grow beyond it. Still looking forward to its release as it has earned a spot on my shelf in a physical copy.
March 14, 2025
That Time I Was Kidnapped by the Fae King is an absolute delight—part farce, part fairytale retelling, and entirely entertaining! Azshure Raine’s take on Beauty and the Beast is refreshingly unique, blending humor, whimsy, and fantasy in a way that had me laughing out loud more times than I can count. The story never takes itself too seriously, yet still delivers a captivating and magical adventure.
The characters are vibrant, the banter is sharp, and the romance unfolds in a way that keeps you hooked from start to finish. It’s the perfect balance of humor and enchantment, making it one of the most fun fairytale retellings I’ve read in a long time. I can’t wait to dive into more books from this series—if they’re anything like this one, I know I’m in for a treat! I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.
The characters are vibrant, the banter is sharp, and the romance unfolds in a way that keeps you hooked from start to finish. It’s the perfect balance of humor and enchantment, making it one of the most fun fairytale retellings I’ve read in a long time. I can’t wait to dive into more books from this series—if they’re anything like this one, I know I’m in for a treat! I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.
March 16, 2025
Amazing from start to finish! I haven’t read a fantasy novel in a while that I loved this much! Everything about this book fit together so perfectly. All the characters were amazing, the plot line, the action packed events, the passion between Bryn and Ezra was wrote beautifully!
The ending was my favorite because everything was tied together so wonderfully. The way Bryn and Ezra’s relationship grows as the story progresses was emotional and genuine. The growth of Ezra’s character was beautiful as well as he began to realize he was in love with Bryn.
Such a great book!
The ending was my favorite because everything was tied together so wonderfully. The way Bryn and Ezra’s relationship grows as the story progresses was emotional and genuine. The growth of Ezra’s character was beautiful as well as he began to realize he was in love with Bryn.
Such a great book!
March 7, 2025
Bryn is a barista, loves to read smutty fae romances, and has decided that her Mr. Right doesn’t exist. An outing to a local Ren Faire with her best friend takes an unexpected turn when one of the costumed attendees reminds her, somehow, of her very favorite fae character in her favorite book. Determined to meet the man, Bryn and her best friend start searching for him in the woods. Not only do they find him, Bryn and her best friend start searching for him. Not only do they find him, but Bryn will also have to agree to her own kidnapping in order to save her best friend. Ezra Rose an actual fae king has Bryn in his home, but he isn’t sure he can convince her to stay, or even if he should.
This is a wonderful fae romance with some steam and some interesting twists in the plot. Fascinating characters looking for love, but due to circumstances beyond their control and an unfortunate curse, they could find themselves alone again. A must-read.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC I received from Hidden Gems.
This is a wonderful fae romance with some steam and some interesting twists in the plot. Fascinating characters looking for love, but due to circumstances beyond their control and an unfortunate curse, they could find themselves alone again. A must-read.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC I received from Hidden Gems.
March 10, 2025
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily!
Wow, what a ride that was! I was immediately intrigued because I love the author’s previous books and thus does exactly what I want—great new approach but all the things about the writing style I love still in tack.
Characters? Yep. We’ve got a Sunshine/Grump pairing here and that never gets old. The swoony lines? “I need to drown in you.” Yes, please. The spice…ooh, there’s some jalapeños in here, folks!
The twists? And I do mean twists as in plural. I’m always down for a fairy tale retelling, especially a Beauty and the Beast one. This story takes that tale and blends it with something like “Erlkönig” giving us a story equal parts light and dark.
The romance here is done so pitch perfectly and will leave you wanting more in the best ways yet still feeling utterly satisfied. It’s a rare rose of a story well worth revisiting
Wow, what a ride that was! I was immediately intrigued because I love the author’s previous books and thus does exactly what I want—great new approach but all the things about the writing style I love still in tack.
Characters? Yep. We’ve got a Sunshine/Grump pairing here and that never gets old. The swoony lines? “I need to drown in you.” Yes, please. The spice…ooh, there’s some jalapeños in here, folks!
The twists? And I do mean twists as in plural. I’m always down for a fairy tale retelling, especially a Beauty and the Beast one. This story takes that tale and blends it with something like “Erlkönig” giving us a story equal parts light and dark.
The romance here is done so pitch perfectly and will leave you wanting more in the best ways yet still feeling utterly satisfied. It’s a rare rose of a story well worth revisiting
March 14, 2025
I enjoyed reading this fantasy story. This is a newer author for me which I enjoyed reading. I enjoyed how the author was able to pull me into the story from the start. The characters are connectable and creative. This is a story about Bryn and Exra. He kidnapped her and she is trying not to fall for him. I enjoyed these characters and how connectable they are. I enjoyed watching their growth throughout and their attraction is great. Their story is fast paced, hard to put down engaging story. I really enjoyed reading this book and I highly recommend this book.
March 16, 2025
**I got this book as an ARC reader**
A Beauty and the Beast retelling, in which a mortal bookworm makes a deal with a fae king to save her bestfriend.
I absolutely loved this and would love to read more stories set in this realm from this author! I'm particularly hoping Beauty's sister gets her own story!
A Beauty and the Beast retelling, in which a mortal bookworm makes a deal with a fae king to save her bestfriend.
I absolutely loved this and would love to read more stories set in this realm from this author! I'm particularly hoping Beauty's sister gets her own story!
March 10, 2025
This book was a blast. It was a fast paced, refreshing version of a story I love and will always search new ways to enjoy.
I enjoyed Bryn as a FMC. I thought she was relatable and her friendship with Cassandra make me laugh aloud a couple of times. I thought Ezra as a MMC was great, too. He was interesting, his curse unique, and the whole story felt very David Bowie in a delightful way, if that makes any sense.
I saw someone else comment that there are areas where it feels like the author had framework and the characters wanted to move beyond the framework and I entirely agree. This could have been a massive chonker of a book and I would have read every single word of it! But I enjoyed this very much nonetheless. A cute book with interesting magic and an easy world building experience that I would recommend to anyone breaking into reading romantasy.
thank you for the ARC!!
I enjoyed Bryn as a FMC. I thought she was relatable and her friendship with Cassandra make me laugh aloud a couple of times. I thought Ezra as a MMC was great, too. He was interesting, his curse unique, and the whole story felt very David Bowie in a delightful way, if that makes any sense.
I saw someone else comment that there are areas where it feels like the author had framework and the characters wanted to move beyond the framework and I entirely agree. This could have been a massive chonker of a book and I would have read every single word of it! But I enjoyed this very much nonetheless. A cute book with interesting magic and an easy world building experience that I would recommend to anyone breaking into reading romantasy.
thank you for the ARC!!
March 12, 2025
As I dove into this story I was immediately intrigued with the premise and world building the author did. Bryn and Ezra’s story was one that held my attention from start to finish with its twists and the building tension between the two. It’s a loosely retelling of Beauty and the Beast which made it even more enjoyable for myself. Ezra, with his broodiness and curse would melt your heart one second and the next want you to slap him to realize what he has in front of him. Bryn was a strong character that didn’t realize just how incredible she truly was and when push came to shove, she was willing to anything it took to save Ezra. I truly enjoyed this story and hope for more to come.
July 24, 2024
Sugar crystals and spice and everything naughty & nice.
Make no mistake, from the opening pages of this book, you'll be reeled in on a line coated in chili peppers. And it's delectable.
Bryn is the self-conscious, introverted beauty working at Tits & Beans, a coffee shop Hooters variation. But while her shy nature tends to get in the way of the tips her outgoing coworkers nab up, she knows there must be more than this provincial life.
With a dreamy far off look, and her nose stuck in a book, Bryn fantasizes of the day that she might meet a Fae King to take her away from it all.
Thing is, she doesn't expect it to happen, nor for it to occur in such a bestial manner.
Like others who have read this gem, I CANNOT WAIT TO HOLD IT IN MY HANDS!
Make no mistake, from the opening pages of this book, you'll be reeled in on a line coated in chili peppers. And it's delectable.
Bryn is the self-conscious, introverted beauty working at Tits & Beans, a coffee shop Hooters variation. But while her shy nature tends to get in the way of the tips her outgoing coworkers nab up, she knows there must be more than this provincial life.
With a dreamy far off look, and her nose stuck in a book, Bryn fantasizes of the day that she might meet a Fae King to take her away from it all.
Thing is, she doesn't expect it to happen, nor for it to occur in such a bestial manner.
Like others who have read this gem, I CANNOT WAIT TO HOLD IT IN MY HANDS!
March 10, 2025
This is a delightful fae romance with comedy and angst both. Bryn is a barista that works at a hooters styled cafe called Tits and Beans and is unlucky in love, so much so that she spends most of her down time with her nose stuck in fae smut books (a girl after my own heart XD). Our fae "king" is broody mcbrooderson, Ezra whose mom cursed him because she's a bitch like that. For once Bryn's the older one even though Ezra's the fae. Much of the book takes place in his tiny "castle" with them trying to break his curse while slowly falling in love. It's a fun beauty and the beast retelling, a bit of a parody but lovingly so and spicy (three peppers?).
May 17, 2025
"I need to drown in you. I want to break apart in your grasp. I want to shatter against the stone, crumble, turn to dust. I want you to pick up the pieces and fix me. The I want to break you all over again. I need all of you." (SWOON!!!!)
This book, holy... I devoured this book. It was a really good and unique retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It was witty and charming and has some spice. All that makes for a book that will live in my head rent free. I really like Erza and Bryn together. This is the perfect book to read after all those shadow daddy books you've read and need to cleanse your palette.
This book, holy... I devoured this book. It was a really good and unique retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It was witty and charming and has some spice. All that makes for a book that will live in my head rent free. I really like Erza and Bryn together. This is the perfect book to read after all those shadow daddy books you've read and need to cleanse your palette.
March 11, 2025
4.5 stars
I didn't realise it at first but this was kind of based on Beauty and the Beast and I really really enjoyed reading this rendition, the author did a great job! There was just the right amount of slow-burn love in the beginning that turned into the kind of spice that I had a good time reading.
The trope of "I can fix him" was done in a more realistic manner in terms of the relationship progress and the way characters behaved. This was a good read!
I didn't realise it at first but this was kind of based on Beauty and the Beast and I really really enjoyed reading this rendition, the author did a great job! There was just the right amount of slow-burn love in the beginning that turned into the kind of spice that I had a good time reading.
The trope of "I can fix him" was done in a more realistic manner in terms of the relationship progress and the way characters behaved. This was a good read!
February 21, 2025
I am so very glad Azshure Raine ran with the idea of a bookworm being kidnapped by a Fae. This book was smart, funny, heart-wrenching, sweet, and oh, so sexy. It didn't take itself seriously, and yet was serious when it needed to be.
A twisted retelling on a favorite classic, Kidnapped is a must-read for fans of Beauty and the Beast, stories about Fae, and happily ever after (or at least, happy for now).
A twisted retelling on a favorite classic, Kidnapped is a must-read for fans of Beauty and the Beast, stories about Fae, and happily ever after (or at least, happy for now).
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