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Claimed by the Beast King: A dark gothic romantasy
Every shifter, man, and fae has a beast living inside them. Scratching for survival, to be heard, to be loved.
Delphi's beast is about to meet its master.
In the shadow of the cursed Mistwood, where magic bleeds through ancient trees and mist devours the unwary, Delphi hides her forbidden magic behind healing tonics and herbal remedies. She's survived her father's cruelty, poverty's bite, and the constant threat of burning at the stake—all while dreaming of escape to a life of books and freedom.
But the Mistwood has been watching. And its king has been waiting.
Tenebrys isn't just a beast—he's vengeance wrapped in fur and fangs, imprisoned for thirty years by those who feared his power. When Delphi's father offers her as payment for his own dark bargain, she becomes the key to the Beast King's freedom... and the target of his obsession.
Trapped in a crumbling château where shadows breathe and magic pulses through every stone, Delphi discovers that her captor isn't the real monster she should fear. Ancient fae are stirring. Witch hunters are closing in. And the fire burning in her veins calls to the darkness in his.
He claims she belongs to him. She swears she belongs to no one. But when desire meets destiny in a world built on blood and magic, even beasts can become saviors, and queens must learn to rule.
A dark, spicy Beauty and the Beast retelling for readers who morally grey beast kings, enemies-to-lovers tension, powerful heroines discovering their magic, fated mates, and gothic romance that burns as hot as witch fire.
Forced proximity • Beast/monster hero • Forbidden magic • Touch her and die • She tames the beast • Dark fae • Possessive alpha
Content This gothic fantasy romance contains mature themes, dark elements, and steamy scenes intended for adult readers.
Delphi's beast is about to meet its master.
In the shadow of the cursed Mistwood, where magic bleeds through ancient trees and mist devours the unwary, Delphi hides her forbidden magic behind healing tonics and herbal remedies. She's survived her father's cruelty, poverty's bite, and the constant threat of burning at the stake—all while dreaming of escape to a life of books and freedom.
But the Mistwood has been watching. And its king has been waiting.
Tenebrys isn't just a beast—he's vengeance wrapped in fur and fangs, imprisoned for thirty years by those who feared his power. When Delphi's father offers her as payment for his own dark bargain, she becomes the key to the Beast King's freedom... and the target of his obsession.
Trapped in a crumbling château where shadows breathe and magic pulses through every stone, Delphi discovers that her captor isn't the real monster she should fear. Ancient fae are stirring. Witch hunters are closing in. And the fire burning in her veins calls to the darkness in his.
He claims she belongs to him. She swears she belongs to no one. But when desire meets destiny in a world built on blood and magic, even beasts can become saviors, and queens must learn to rule.
A dark, spicy Beauty and the Beast retelling for readers who morally grey beast kings, enemies-to-lovers tension, powerful heroines discovering their magic, fated mates, and gothic romance that burns as hot as witch fire.
Forced proximity • Beast/monster hero • Forbidden magic • Touch her and die • She tames the beast • Dark fae • Possessive alpha
Content This gothic fantasy romance contains mature themes, dark elements, and steamy scenes intended for adult readers.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 4, 2026
84 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Alessa Thorn
49 books976 followersAlessa Thorn believes that all monsters and villains deserve their happy endings. She prefers her clothes black, eyeliner winged and books full of hot romance. She thinks heroes are boring, so her first series 'The Court of the Underworld' centers around dark gods, monsters and villains from her favorite Greek Myths.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Alessa Thorn writes it? I'm going to read it and love every word. It's that simple.
February 12, 2026
Warning!
This book will consume your life until you have finished it. It is that good. The world, the magic, the badA leading lady, the sexy beast (literally), and the storyline… they all drag you in and make you want more and more. It is an all consuming sort of experience in reading that you only get with creative excellence and quality writing. Alessa Thorn continues to deliver this experience again and again. I cannot wait to read more in the *hopefully near* future. Until then, I will have to settle for the mediocrity of a different author, as I have already read the entirety of the Alessa Thorn catalogue twice… Although, I guess I wouldn’t mind reading everything a third time. 😘
This book will consume your life until you have finished it. It is that good. The world, the magic, the badA leading lady, the sexy beast (literally), and the storyline… they all drag you in and make you want more and more. It is an all consuming sort of experience in reading that you only get with creative excellence and quality writing. Alessa Thorn continues to deliver this experience again and again. I cannot wait to read more in the *hopefully near* future. Until then, I will have to settle for the mediocrity of a different author, as I have already read the entirety of the Alessa Thorn catalogue twice… Although, I guess I wouldn’t mind reading everything a third time. 😘
February 5, 2026
Alessa has been an auto-buy author for years and lemme tell you, this book does NOT disappoint! It is not your classic Beauty and the Beast retelling but thats one of the reasons I loved it so much! It had all the elements you wanted from the classic story with lots of steamy spice and fae magic. I really hope we get to see more of this world because she's jumped into monster/shifter romance and I'm here for it!
February 5, 2026
Fantastic Beauty and the Beast Retelling
This was an incredible read with the perfect blend of magic, plot twists, and romance. Delphi has an incredible amount of strength to survive in such a harsh world. Can't wait for the continuation of the story.
This was an incredible read with the perfect blend of magic, plot twists, and romance. Delphi has an incredible amount of strength to survive in such a harsh world. Can't wait for the continuation of the story.
February 6, 2026
OBSESSED
Absolutely loved it. It was everything I wanted out of a beauty and the beast retelling. A powerful woman, revenge, beastly *appendages*, a magical castle. Crossing my fingers for more because there’s so many options for more stories!
Absolutely loved it. It was everything I wanted out of a beauty and the beast retelling. A powerful woman, revenge, beastly *appendages*, a magical castle. Crossing my fingers for more because there’s so many options for more stories!
February 6, 2026
Loved it!
Another amazing book by one of my favorite authors! Loved the fierce and protective dynamic of the leading couple plus the acceptance this book emphasizes! Can't wait for book two hopefully if in the works
Another amazing book by one of my favorite authors! Loved the fierce and protective dynamic of the leading couple plus the acceptance this book emphasizes! Can't wait for book two hopefully if in the works
February 9, 2026
Wicked fun
A little darker than Thorn's usual books, but not nearly as dark as many dark romances out there - on the 1 sweet vanilla to 10 seriously-messed-up scale, it is probably a 6, but still very entertaining. Read in a day, couldn't put it down.
A little darker than Thorn's usual books, but not nearly as dark as many dark romances out there - on the 1 sweet vanilla to 10 seriously-messed-up scale, it is probably a 6, but still very entertaining. Read in a day, couldn't put it down.
February 15, 2026
I love Alessa Thorn. She writes it, I’ll read it!
I loved Delphi, such a strong young woman. I loved Tenebrys’ possessive traits. I enjoyed the plague and curse storyline. I loved how we learn about how her magic works at the same time as Delphi. My only negative thought? I want MORE in this world!!! I want to see more of the cursed shifters and how the fae will retaliate!
I loved Delphi, such a strong young woman. I loved Tenebrys’ possessive traits. I enjoyed the plague and curse storyline. I loved how we learn about how her magic works at the same time as Delphi. My only negative thought? I want MORE in this world!!! I want to see more of the cursed shifters and how the fae will retaliate!
February 5, 2026
Delightfully beastly
I love everything Alessa Thorn and this is no exception. A beast king. A witch. Enemies. Fated mates. Curses. Magic. Revenge. What could go wrong?
I love everything Alessa Thorn and this is no exception. A beast king. A witch. Enemies. Fated mates. Curses. Magic. Revenge. What could go wrong?
February 10, 2026
Dark Beauty and the Beast
I loved this dark Beauty and the Beast retelling. If you love shifters (that stay a little beastly) and 🪢 then this is for you!
I loved this dark Beauty and the Beast retelling. If you love shifters (that stay a little beastly) and 🪢 then this is for you!
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February 13, 2026DNF at 7%
ew fast burn, get it away from me.
ew fast burn, get it away from me.
February 14, 2026
Will an ARC review ever be honest? Probably not. Lucky for you, this is not an ARC review. Do not recommend. Y’all need to stop lying. I hear it’s a sin.
February 15, 2026
excellent read
I was hooked from page one. Couldn’t put it down. It has everything, I laughed, cried, raged. Would recommend.
Well done Alessa Thorn.
I was hooked from page one. Couldn’t put it down. It has everything, I laughed, cried, raged. Would recommend.
Well done Alessa Thorn.
February 13, 2026
Stars: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️/5
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️ 🌶️/5
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️ 🌶️/5
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews