What do you think?
Rate this book
Savage Beauty
Some inheritances are deadlier than others. Once upon a time, a beautiful queen was cursed by a dark faery. That curse, inherited by twin princesses, Aura and Luna, binds their lives in the strangest of ways. At an early age, the girls were more than sisters. They were the strongest of allies until a combination of jealousy, anger and dark magic tore their relationship to shreds. Aura took everything from her home, her family, and her love by murdering the prince who’d chosen her instead of Aura. Luna wants revenge, but she’s running out of time. She must sever the magical bond tying her life to Aura’s before their eighteenth birthday or be bound to her forever. In desperation, she seeks help from a dark fae prince, but the price is steep – a piece of her soul. Luna was willing to give up anything to stop her sister, until Prince Phillip of Grithim, the brother of the only man she’s ever loved, falls into her life. Neither of them can fight their attraction, despite their guilt. With Aura hell-bent on destroying everything she holds dear, Luna must decide whether she wants revenge or Phillip. She can’t have both, and in the end, this may be a battle both sisters lose. Savage Beauty is perfect for anyone who loves epic fantasy, and fairy tale retellings like those of C. J. Redwine and Marissa Meyer. Savage Beauty is a standalone novel, but there are three other fairy tale retellings set in the same world. If you enjoy this book, you may enjoy Riches to Rags (Cinderella), Unlocked (Rapunzel), and/or Brutal Curse (Beauty and the Beast meets Alice in Wonderland). All of these titles take place in the same world and some characters cross over into other books! “Cruelty and beauty mixed perfectly!” N.L. Greene, author of The MysticSeeker Series and Jill.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 2, 2018
202 people are currently reading
1354 people want to read
About the author
Casey L. Bond
62 books1,666 followersRONE Award-winning author Casey Bond lives on a rural farm in West Virginia with her husband and their two beautiful daughters. She writes phoenixes – gloriously flawed and morally gray characters that fiercely rise from the ashes of their circumstances.
Worldbuilding is one of her favorite pastimes. She thinks thunderstorms are better than coffee and that watching a meteor shower is the closest thing to magic you might ever see. She’s a firm believer that every amazing book needs a world you want to wrap yourself in, a character you want to win, and a love you would fight for.
Casey is the author of When Wishes Bleed, Gravebriar, House of Eclipses, and Where Oceans Burn.
@authorcaseybond on social media sites.
Worldbuilding is one of her favorite pastimes. She thinks thunderstorms are better than coffee and that watching a meteor shower is the closest thing to magic you might ever see. She’s a firm believer that every amazing book needs a world you want to wrap yourself in, a character you want to win, and a love you would fight for.
Casey is the author of When Wishes Bleed, Gravebriar, House of Eclipses, and Where Oceans Burn.
@authorcaseybond on social media sites.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
March 31, 2018
Savage Beauty was such a good book. It went by way too quickly for me and I feel kind of empty without it now.
It’s about two sisters who were two peas in a pod. Well until jealousy became a huge bitch to them. Aura doesn’t seem to know my good friend karma but Luna is going to make sure she does. This hook is a twist on a favorite fairytale with lots of revenge. I LOVE KARMA!
Okay, so Aura was basically super jealous of Luna. Why? She had everything in her eyes. The boy. The love. The fame. Well that shit turned around real quick when she took everything from her. I don’t know how I would feel if my sister killed the love of my life just because he chose me over her. I’d probably kill a Bitch. Well Luna had revenge on her damn mind and I was all for that!
Lose one love and find another one with his brother? HECK YEAH. sign me up for all of that shit. I’d take Phillip any day. Every day. Can I have him?
Overall, I LOVED THIS BOOK. Heck I want to reread it all over again and again. I don’t want it to be over right now. Can this become a movie or something??
It’s about two sisters who were two peas in a pod. Well until jealousy became a huge bitch to them. Aura doesn’t seem to know my good friend karma but Luna is going to make sure she does. This hook is a twist on a favorite fairytale with lots of revenge. I LOVE KARMA!
Okay, so Aura was basically super jealous of Luna. Why? She had everything in her eyes. The boy. The love. The fame. Well that shit turned around real quick when she took everything from her. I don’t know how I would feel if my sister killed the love of my life just because he chose me over her. I’d probably kill a Bitch. Well Luna had revenge on her damn mind and I was all for that!
Lose one love and find another one with his brother? HECK YEAH. sign me up for all of that shit. I’d take Phillip any day. Every day. Can I have him?
Overall, I LOVED THIS BOOK. Heck I want to reread it all over again and again. I don’t want it to be over right now. Can this become a movie or something??
December 20, 2019
DNF @50%. I don’t enjoy multiple 1st person povs, especially when they just recap the same events in a different pov, feels like a cheap filler to me when authors do that.
The premise was there but....halfway through and I still don’t care about the characters or the plot.
And the whole “Fae-Witch” things annoys me.
There are witches and then there are Fae. Faeries have magic because they are bleeding faeries. They don’t fly around on brooms and brew potions in cauldrons like a Disney witch. Nope. Doesn’t work for me. And I just can’t overlook it.
If you want real Fae see Clare, Black or Maas. If you can pretend this is just witches and that’s your thing and you like dark stories, like actually really dark and YA that’s more adult , then you may actually enjoy this.
The premise was there but....halfway through and I still don’t care about the characters or the plot.
And the whole “Fae-Witch” things annoys me.
There are witches and then there are Fae. Faeries have magic because they are bleeding faeries. They don’t fly around on brooms and brew potions in cauldrons like a Disney witch. Nope. Doesn’t work for me. And I just can’t overlook it.
If you want real Fae see Clare, Black or Maas. If you can pretend this is just witches and that’s your thing and you like dark stories, like actually really dark and YA that’s more adult , then you may actually enjoy this.
May 12, 2018
For the nth time, Casey L. Bond never fails to deliver a one-of-a-kind story, a retelling like no other, a tale as tall and high as Mount Everest. This time, with Savage Beauty, I am left in awe and wonder as I reminisced Sleeping Beauty's story, but more on the Grimm side. And what a wonderfully savage story this was!
I've read multitude of stories about twins having opposite personalities and growing up as enemies instead of loving sisters/brothers. But this is the first time I encountered twins who could only see each other through their dreams and are separated by night and day.
Luna has the power of fire and air, can talk to animals and creates potions, and sleeps during the day and awakens at night and hibernates all throughout the summer. Aura is her exact opposite, the twin who holds the power of earth and water, loves her garden of roses, can invade her sister's dream while the other one is unconscious, and sleeps all throughout the night and hates the winter season.
While Aura may be considered the beauty of the two, her heart is as black as the night. She kills everyone that Luna loves, including William the firstborn Prince of Grithim. This eventually leads to Luna staying away from the palace and confining herself in a small cottage in the deepest forest, and has vowed to sever her ties with her twin once and for all.
This has been the most intriguing and satisfying Sleeping Beauty retelling I've read in a long while. Luna flourished with love and desire while Aura thrived in jealousy and power. The characters were all very interesting, and the plot was marvelously outlined. You'd think gullible Luna was the one you should root for because of her being painted as the victim, but wait until you meet the real Aura , the unnecessary evil of the two. Oh and the twist! (I must admit though, I was right all along about Malex, hmmmm ..
I loved the book from beginning to end, and was left heaving a sigh of longing and contentment.
If you've read same stories as this before, good for you. Me, I am still basking in all these rosy and bloody glory of twin fae-witch princesses and I think it would take me some time again to pick another fantasy retelling as marvelous as this. I've also vowed to read each and every story that Casey Bond writes because she knows how to tickle my fancy. If you haven't picked a Bond book, you're clearly missing something in your life.
I've read multitude of stories about twins having opposite personalities and growing up as enemies instead of loving sisters/brothers. But this is the first time I encountered twins who could only see each other through their dreams and are separated by night and day.
Luna has the power of fire and air, can talk to animals and creates potions, and sleeps during the day and awakens at night and hibernates all throughout the summer. Aura is her exact opposite, the twin who holds the power of earth and water, loves her garden of roses, can invade her sister's dream while the other one is unconscious, and sleeps all throughout the night and hates the winter season.
While Aura may be considered the beauty of the two, her heart is as black as the night. She kills everyone that Luna loves, including William the firstborn Prince of Grithim. This eventually leads to Luna staying away from the palace and confining herself in a small cottage in the deepest forest, and has vowed to sever her ties with her twin once and for all.
This has been the most intriguing and satisfying Sleeping Beauty retelling I've read in a long while. Luna flourished with love and desire while Aura thrived in jealousy and power. The characters were all very interesting, and the plot was marvelously outlined. You'd think gullible Luna was the one you should root for because of her being painted as the victim, but wait until you meet the real Aura , the unnecessary evil of the two. Oh and the twist! (I must admit though, I was right all along about Malex, hmmmm ..
I loved the book from beginning to end, and was left heaving a sigh of longing and contentment.
If you've read same stories as this before, good for you. Me, I am still basking in all these rosy and bloody glory of twin fae-witch princesses and I think it would take me some time again to pick another fantasy retelling as marvelous as this. I've also vowed to read each and every story that Casey Bond writes because she knows how to tickle my fancy. If you haven't picked a Bond book, you're clearly missing something in your life.
February 3, 2018
This is the first fantasy book I have read by Casey L Bond. I usually read her RomCom or Contemporary Romance stories, however, this fantasy fairy tale retelling was amazing. I loved the twist she puts on fairy tales. It's a backwards way of thinking things with the retelling. I loved reading both POVs from the sisters and also the other characters involved. The world Casey L Bond built inside Savage Beauty is incredible, I don't know where she comes up with this stuff. What I do know is that Casey Bond is a magician when it comes to her writing and you can see it play out on the pages as you go along with the characters. Their adventures are your adventures, and when an author entrances you from beginning to end you know they have done a phenomenal job with weaving their words.
September 1, 2021
I think, if you have a look at my read books, it's not a secret that I love fairytale retellings. It's hard to pinpoint why I love reading them so much. Maybe it's because I have a strange sort of anxiety where sometimes things happening to characters can stress me out and the fairytale setting gives me at least some sort of hold. Or maybe it's just because fairytales are always magical. However, I loved the previous two fairytale retellings by Bond so I was totally ready to read another.
Bond has a real talent when it comes to writing fairytale retellings. All of her stories are incredibly original. Without taking away the essence of the original tale, without throwing away the common themes and lessons, she does manage to write a fresh and original story filled with twists, turns and surprises. Quite often sleeping beauty can be a slightly boring tale, since the princess is asleep during the most important part, but that's not the case in this story.
Apart from a thrilling adventure, Bond also wrote a very cute romance, another element that's not easily done in a sleeping beauty retelling. She lets her characters have conversations, she lets them get to know each other and she lets them discover that they truly have each other's best interests in mind. It's therefore quite easy to root for them to succeed, to find a way to be together, without fear and without prejudice.
I personally would have loved, however, to see a little more of Aura in this story. As a reader it's quite easy to connect with Luna, we spend a lot of time in her head, we see her through Philip's eyes and we know why she's doing what she does. Although Aura does have point of view chapters, it seems we never get to know her in the same way as we get to know her sister. Which is a pity, because it would make the finale even more thrilling and emotional than it already is right now.
Bond has a real talent when it comes to writing fairytale retellings. All of her stories are incredibly original. Without taking away the essence of the original tale, without throwing away the common themes and lessons, she does manage to write a fresh and original story filled with twists, turns and surprises. Quite often sleeping beauty can be a slightly boring tale, since the princess is asleep during the most important part, but that's not the case in this story.
Apart from a thrilling adventure, Bond also wrote a very cute romance, another element that's not easily done in a sleeping beauty retelling. She lets her characters have conversations, she lets them get to know each other and she lets them discover that they truly have each other's best interests in mind. It's therefore quite easy to root for them to succeed, to find a way to be together, without fear and without prejudice.
I personally would have loved, however, to see a little more of Aura in this story. As a reader it's quite easy to connect with Luna, we spend a lot of time in her head, we see her through Philip's eyes and we know why she's doing what she does. Although Aura does have point of view chapters, it seems we never get to know her in the same way as we get to know her sister. Which is a pity, because it would make the finale even more thrilling and emotional than it already is right now.
February 23, 2018
“Do you overreact to organized spices and kindness very often, or are you just cranky because you woke from your nap?” I snapped, immediately regretting the words. I wasn’t a coward, but neither did I want to die at the hands of a fae witch.
To my surprise, she didn’t gut me. Instead, a slow smile stretched over her lips, as brilliant as I’d imagined. Not that I’d imagined she had those small fangs...
Bravo for originality. I've enjoyed reading this fairy tale retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Loved the second half of the book more.
To my surprise, she didn’t gut me. Instead, a slow smile stretched over her lips, as brilliant as I’d imagined. Not that I’d imagined she had those small fangs...
Bravo for originality. I've enjoyed reading this fairy tale retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Loved the second half of the book more.
June 29, 2021
I really loved this story. As always, Casey Bond has an endless imagination and a gift for characterization!
July 15, 2019
Fueled by lust and sister/girl hate, with an unhealthy dose of petty arguments, this book is here.
The bulb was so exciting, but I wasn’t interested in the characters and thus not the plot.
The one thing I found fun was the magic as it was strange and fae-like even if it wasn’t explained and they all seemed either all powerful or weak as a fish.
The bulb was so exciting, but I wasn’t interested in the characters and thus not the plot.
The one thing I found fun was the magic as it was strange and fae-like even if it wasn’t explained and they all seemed either all powerful or weak as a fish.
February 4, 2018
Ahhh this review is hard for me to write. Let me explain my conflicting emotions. I had been anxiously awaiting this book since I finished the 1st in the series (Riches to Rags) which was a 5 Star read for me! I loved that book something fierce which was surprising given that I was never a huge Cinderella fan. But Sleeping Beauty was my absolute favorite AND the retelling has one of my FAVORITE eliments...Fairies!!! Needless to say, I had super high hopes.
Let me start with what I loved:
- Dark fairies
- Magic
- Wiches
- Princes and Princesses
- Mysetery
- Action
- Familars
- Strong Emotions
- Starts out with a BANG!
This story stole my attention from the 1st chapter and held it consistently. I was so enthralled that I forced myself to take breaks to slow down so it wasn't over too quickly. I was in love. It was a solid 5 Star read...Until the end.
Those of you who know me, know that I am a HUGE endings person. An ending can make or break a book for me. There was one thing I would have loved to be different, however, I understood the symbolic need for this to happen.
What I did not love:
- No epilogue
- No look into future
- Ended very abruptly
- Was more of a HFN (Happy For Now) instead of the HEA I was expecting (and what we got in 1st book of series)
- Kind of an "Open Ending" which I personally am not a fan of
So while I was anticipating a 5 Star rating, like the 1st book that ended spectacularly, I found myself disappointed 😔And given that endings make up a whole star for my rating, I'm gonna have to go with a solid 4 Star rating for this one.
Let me start with what I loved:
- Dark fairies
- Magic
- Wiches
- Princes and Princesses
- Mysetery
- Action
- Familars
- Strong Emotions
- Starts out with a BANG!
This story stole my attention from the 1st chapter and held it consistently. I was so enthralled that I forced myself to take breaks to slow down so it wasn't over too quickly. I was in love. It was a solid 5 Star read...Until the end.
Those of you who know me, know that I am a HUGE endings person. An ending can make or break a book for me. There was one thing I would have loved to be different, however, I understood the symbolic need for this to happen.
What I did not love:
- No epilogue
- No look into future
- Ended very abruptly
- Was more of a HFN (Happy For Now) instead of the HEA I was expecting (and what we got in 1st book of series)
- Kind of an "Open Ending" which I personally am not a fan of
So while I was anticipating a 5 Star rating, like the 1st book that ended spectacularly, I found myself disappointed 😔And given that endings make up a whole star for my rating, I'm gonna have to go with a solid 4 Star rating for this one.
May 14, 2018
SAVAGE BEAUTY is a dark twist on the classic fairytale Sleeping Beauty. Aura and Luna are sisters, but they're the complete opposite if each other. Luna is cursed to sleep all day, can control air and fire, and is strongest during the night. Aura is cursed to sleep all night, can control water and earth, and is strongest during the day.
Their sisterly bond has been fractured because Aura has taken so much from Luna, including William, a prince Luna loved. For this, Luna wants to sever the bond that connects them so she can finally remove her sister from the picture. Permanently. She must trust the words of a fae prince Malex who knows of a spell that can help her.
Luna is focused and won't be deterred from her goal. But when William's brother Phillip appears, Luna finds her heart stuttering in response. There's something completely about Phillip when compared to William. As the two spend more and more time together, Phillip finds himself wanting to help Luna however he can, but is destroying Aura really the answer to all of their problems?
SAVAGE BEAUTY is enchantingly written and the dark element is so alluring that I wanted to devour it in one sitting. Luna gave me a Maleficent feel which I absolutely love since she's one of my favorite characters. SAVAGE BEAUTY as it all: betrayal, love, magic, fae, princesses, princes, and curses. This is the first book I've read from Casey L. Bond and it certainly won't be the last.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this to fans of Maleficent, Sleeping Beauty, magic, curses, royalty, fae, and fairytale retellings.
Their sisterly bond has been fractured because Aura has taken so much from Luna, including William, a prince Luna loved. For this, Luna wants to sever the bond that connects them so she can finally remove her sister from the picture. Permanently. She must trust the words of a fae prince Malex who knows of a spell that can help her.
Luna is focused and won't be deterred from her goal. But when William's brother Phillip appears, Luna finds her heart stuttering in response. There's something completely about Phillip when compared to William. As the two spend more and more time together, Phillip finds himself wanting to help Luna however he can, but is destroying Aura really the answer to all of their problems?
SAVAGE BEAUTY is enchantingly written and the dark element is so alluring that I wanted to devour it in one sitting. Luna gave me a Maleficent feel which I absolutely love since she's one of my favorite characters. SAVAGE BEAUTY as it all: betrayal, love, magic, fae, princesses, princes, and curses. This is the first book I've read from Casey L. Bond and it certainly won't be the last.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this to fans of Maleficent, Sleeping Beauty, magic, curses, royalty, fae, and fairytale retellings.
January 21, 2018
Wow oh wow oh wow!!!!! I am virtually speechless. I don't know if this is a myth/fairytale retelling or not but it's one of my favorite books of 2018!!!!
Aura and Luna almost remind me of the twins in that horror movie One Missed Call....when the dark evil seeming twin had the golden heart whilst the golden twin has the dark soul.
Phillip was an interesting hero, especially when compared to his older brother, William. Though used as a pawn at times, I found his character stronger than the challenges in front of him.
Pieces/Peace the dove and Ember the cat were so realistic that I could clearly picture them in my mind and card about what would happen to them with each plot twist.
Like Ember, and partially Phillip, I didn't care for Malex. I wasn't sure what about him seemed more oily salesman to me than caring friend.....But I definitely didn't see his plot twist coming.
Add in that where most books have one major plot twist, there's at least three in this book and each made it harder to put the book down.
Aura and Luna almost remind me of the twins in that horror movie One Missed Call....when the dark evil seeming twin had the golden heart whilst the golden twin has the dark soul.
Phillip was an interesting hero, especially when compared to his older brother, William. Though used as a pawn at times, I found his character stronger than the challenges in front of him.
Pieces/Peace the dove and Ember the cat were so realistic that I could clearly picture them in my mind and card about what would happen to them with each plot twist.
Like Ember, and partially Phillip, I didn't care for Malex. I wasn't sure what about him seemed more oily salesman to me than caring friend.....But I definitely didn't see his plot twist coming.
Add in that where most books have one major plot twist, there's at least three in this book and each made it harder to put the book down.
June 17, 2018
**3.5 Stars**
Luna and her twin sister Aura have been in a feud for almost their whole lives, the sisters polar opposites, light and darkness, but both full of fey magic. Luna wants to get revenge on her sister for the horrorific death of William, the prince that she loved. Aura just wants to control her sister and gather more power, but Luna just won't cooperate! When William's brother finds his way to their kingdom, Luna vows to help him survive and return home. But she has no idea what she is really facing.
This is not your Disney fairytale, full of happiness and love, where goodness triumphs- instead, Savage Beauty is more like the original fairytales, like Grimm, with terror death and hard lessons to pave the way. I will admit that I was a little surprised at how dark I found the story to be, which I guess I should not have been. The book starts with a backstory of desperation and rape and quickly transitions to ripping people in half and a dangerous game of power struggle. Yep, beware that this was not a light read but it was an interesting one. And, truth be told, the heart of this story was love- be it familial or romantic, love helped to motivate the characters and the plot in a surprisingly positive way.
I was surprised by the direction that the plot took, and I would almost say that this is a happily ever after (ha, high five Disney!), as happily ever after as this plot could be (spoiler- there is death and betrayal floating through the book). I really enjoyed how Casey created such a unique storyline, mixing fairytale elements, the Fey, witches with potions and animal familiars, dysfunctional family dynamics and love. This happens to be my first adventure with Casey but I loved how her minds creates so I would love to check out more books written by her.
I Received this title for reviewing purposes. Review can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
Luna and her twin sister Aura have been in a feud for almost their whole lives, the sisters polar opposites, light and darkness, but both full of fey magic. Luna wants to get revenge on her sister for the horrorific death of William, the prince that she loved. Aura just wants to control her sister and gather more power, but Luna just won't cooperate! When William's brother finds his way to their kingdom, Luna vows to help him survive and return home. But she has no idea what she is really facing.
This is not your Disney fairytale, full of happiness and love, where goodness triumphs- instead, Savage Beauty is more like the original fairytales, like Grimm, with terror death and hard lessons to pave the way. I will admit that I was a little surprised at how dark I found the story to be, which I guess I should not have been. The book starts with a backstory of desperation and rape and quickly transitions to ripping people in half and a dangerous game of power struggle. Yep, beware that this was not a light read but it was an interesting one. And, truth be told, the heart of this story was love- be it familial or romantic, love helped to motivate the characters and the plot in a surprisingly positive way.
I was surprised by the direction that the plot took, and I would almost say that this is a happily ever after (ha, high five Disney!), as happily ever after as this plot could be (spoiler- there is death and betrayal floating through the book). I really enjoyed how Casey created such a unique storyline, mixing fairytale elements, the Fey, witches with potions and animal familiars, dysfunctional family dynamics and love. This happens to be my first adventure with Casey but I loved how her minds creates so I would love to check out more books written by her.
I Received this title for reviewing purposes. Review can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
June 29, 2020
Not only are Casey L. Bond's covers all amazing but her stories are always so engaging and also unique. I really loved the mystery of this book. As a reader, I was just riding along expecting one thing, only to be wrecked at the end by the plot twists.
We spend most of the story in Luna's POV. Luna is written as the obvious bad guy at first glance. She is the dark witch to her sister's light... however once we really get to know their personalities lines begin to really blur and we learn that Luna and her darkness are actually good, and her sister, Aura, with her beauty and light is actually written as the bad guy. The characters, are super engaging in their quests. I don't want to give any spoilers.. but Luna has made it her life's mission to take Aura out before their birthday or else they will be bound in their cursed lives forever. As more and more information comes to light the reader gets drawn in on the quest rooting for Luna, only to find that their powers being bound together forever may have a whole different meaning.
There are lots of twists and turns which flip and turn the reader. It was just really good. Haven't read anything by Casey yet that didn't just completely consume me.
We spend most of the story in Luna's POV. Luna is written as the obvious bad guy at first glance. She is the dark witch to her sister's light... however once we really get to know their personalities lines begin to really blur and we learn that Luna and her darkness are actually good, and her sister, Aura, with her beauty and light is actually written as the bad guy. The characters, are super engaging in their quests. I don't want to give any spoilers.. but Luna has made it her life's mission to take Aura out before their birthday or else they will be bound in their cursed lives forever. As more and more information comes to light the reader gets drawn in on the quest rooting for Luna, only to find that their powers being bound together forever may have a whole different meaning.
There are lots of twists and turns which flip and turn the reader. It was just really good. Haven't read anything by Casey yet that didn't just completely consume me.
June 9, 2019
⭐ 3.5
I got this book based off the summary in Ebook format. The summary sounded magical and captivating, and the story was. It showed the strong bond between two sisters (literally) and how even in the hard times they are always there for.
What I liked:
• The magic was cool. I've never read a book where the Fae was mixed with being a witch and being able to make spells. It was something new that I enjoyed reading
• Having the sisters split between the seasons and day. I thought that was so unique and different!
• The sisters. As the story goes, Luna hates Aura with everything in her. But as the story goes on, you get to read about the bond between sisters as if they were human and how far we would go to protect our family.
What I didn't enjoy:
• Randomly throwing in Malex's POV like four times in the book. I understand authors do that so the readers can get into their heads, but I'm not a fan of randomly thrown in POVs. Especially since there was already three.
• This is just my personal opinion, but I'm not an insta love trope fan.
I got this book based off the summary in Ebook format. The summary sounded magical and captivating, and the story was. It showed the strong bond between two sisters (literally) and how even in the hard times they are always there for.
What I liked:
• The magic was cool. I've never read a book where the Fae was mixed with being a witch and being able to make spells. It was something new that I enjoyed reading
• Having the sisters split between the seasons and day. I thought that was so unique and different!
• The sisters. As the story goes, Luna hates Aura with everything in her. But as the story goes on, you get to read about the bond between sisters as if they were human and how far we would go to protect our family.
What I didn't enjoy:
• Randomly throwing in Malex's POV like four times in the book. I understand authors do that so the readers can get into their heads, but I'm not a fan of randomly thrown in POVs. Especially since there was already three.
• This is just my personal opinion, but I'm not an insta love trope fan.
February 2, 2018
*voluntarily and honestly reviewed the ARC I received from Lady Amber's PR*
When I first read the blurb, it sounded a little too cliche (like they'd done it on purpose or something) but I really enjoyed the first book in this author's line of fairytale retellings, so I bypassed the good twin / evil twin thing and dove in. And. I. Am. So. Happy.
The thing kinda lays it out for itself but as I read, I found that I really loved Aura's character. Luna was strong and kind of a downer (but in a funny way) and Phillip was like, this optimistic guy that just came into the middle of them. Bond really takes a little of the old tale and makes it her own, so much so that it doesn't even seem like much of the original tale. It's awesome. The writing changed to fit the pace of each character's POV, and I love faeries so really anything with them and I'm all for it. It's a high recommend if you love fantasy and twists.
When I first read the blurb, it sounded a little too cliche (like they'd done it on purpose or something) but I really enjoyed the first book in this author's line of fairytale retellings, so I bypassed the good twin / evil twin thing and dove in. And. I. Am. So. Happy.
The thing kinda lays it out for itself but as I read, I found that I really loved Aura's character. Luna was strong and kind of a downer (but in a funny way) and Phillip was like, this optimistic guy that just came into the middle of them. Bond really takes a little of the old tale and makes it her own, so much so that it doesn't even seem like much of the original tale. It's awesome. The writing changed to fit the pace of each character's POV, and I love faeries so really anything with them and I'm all for it. It's a high recommend if you love fantasy and twists.
January 4, 2018
Once again, Casey Bond manage to reinvent a classic tale by putting her own magical spin on it. In Savage Beauty, Bond gives us a much different look at Sleeping Beauty. Instead of our beloved Briar Rose, Bond tells us of her two young daughters Aura and Luna. One guided by light, the other by darkness, these two sisters are left to fend for themselves after child birth takes their mother and their magical Fae father disappears. Left to cope with their witchcraft the sisters find themselves pitted against each other.
Throughout this story I wasn't exactly sure where Bond was going to take me. Having never been one for fae novels, I wasn't sure if I'd be interested. I'm happy to tell you that it's not the case. Bond mixed the right amount of magic, mystery and romance to leave me begging for more of her new take on this classic tale. Savage Beauty is as ruthless as it is romantic. I believe it's a must read for lovers of classic fairytales.
Throughout this story I wasn't exactly sure where Bond was going to take me. Having never been one for fae novels, I wasn't sure if I'd be interested. I'm happy to tell you that it's not the case. Bond mixed the right amount of magic, mystery and romance to leave me begging for more of her new take on this classic tale. Savage Beauty is as ruthless as it is romantic. I believe it's a must read for lovers of classic fairytales.
July 27, 2019
I was so happy when I saw this book on prime and I had to grab it up. I love retelling's of classic fairy tales and I was not surprised that this author did an amazing job with retelling Sleeping Beauty. We are introduced to Luna and Aura, both are twin sisters who were born with powers from an evil fae father. Though their powers are very unique and I loved that this was written in this way. Luna controls the night and Aura the day. Luna will try everything to rid herself of her sister yet you have to wonder if this is the best thing.
When Prince Phillip enters into Luna's life feelings will become known and it will drive Luna to do everything in her power to save him.
Aura is written a certain way to where you wonder what exactly is her end game with it all. Why does she do what she does with her killer roses? As we get towards the end of the book we secrets come alive and you have to remember who you can trust and who you can not.
When Prince Phillip enters into Luna's life feelings will become known and it will drive Luna to do everything in her power to save him.
Aura is written a certain way to where you wonder what exactly is her end game with it all. Why does she do what she does with her killer roses? As we get towards the end of the book we secrets come alive and you have to remember who you can trust and who you can not.
September 15, 2024
This book definitely had its highs and lows. There were some parts I lost track of what was happening only to be reminded what happened through the dual points of view. That got a little tiring but not enough to make me want to stop the book. There were also parts that had me on the edge of my seat with my mouth hanging open. I loved Luna and Aura as well as their familiars. Although we saw more of Ember. Phillip annoyed me sometimes with his constant need to put himself into danger. Malix? Is that how is name is spelt? I listened to the audio so I’m not sure, but I HATED him with a passion. He was just super sus the whole time. Great story. The ending was AMAZING.
October 1, 2019
Yuuuuuuck :(
So the main character is in a murderous rage the entire book, she tortures animals and people, the book is awash in violence and gore, and there's an explicit sex scene with a 17-year-old girl. Umm...is this supposed to be young adult? It's not even suitable for me. So why did I keep reading? The writing is engaging, even brilliant at times, and I was too eager to know how it ended. But it really wasn't worth it. The cat was the only character I really liked. Best to skip this one.
So the main character is in a murderous rage the entire book, she tortures animals and people, the book is awash in violence and gore, and there's an explicit sex scene with a 17-year-old girl. Umm...is this supposed to be young adult? It's not even suitable for me. So why did I keep reading? The writing is engaging, even brilliant at times, and I was too eager to know how it ended. But it really wasn't worth it. The cat was the only character I really liked. Best to skip this one.
February 13, 2018
Being an adult sucks because all I wanted to do was read and life wouldn’t allow it. I couldn’t out the book down. Carried my Kindle everywhere just in case I had a free moment I could attempt to read.
Savage Beauty is an amazing twist to our favorite fairy tale. The plot was magnificent, that I shared with my own twins, being that they too are complete opposites who constantly fight with one another, typical siblings. Anyways, it became predictable what was happening but regardless, the book is so well written and entertaining, though part of me was rooting for the villain, I’m just weird and proud of it.
I highly recommend Casey Bonds books. Incredible author and person.
Savage Beauty is an amazing twist to our favorite fairy tale. The plot was magnificent, that I shared with my own twins, being that they too are complete opposites who constantly fight with one another, typical siblings. Anyways, it became predictable what was happening but regardless, the book is so well written and entertaining, though part of me was rooting for the villain, I’m just weird and proud of it.
I highly recommend Casey Bonds books. Incredible author and person.
March 14, 2018
This was good, but it was missing something for me and I'm not sure what. Maybe the characters could have used a little more depth and a little less insta-lust. I did like the charcters though, especially Phillip. This book had fae witches! And dark fae princes. It was a unique take on sleeping beauty. The ending bummed me out a little bit, but it did add to the story and make sense.
March 19, 2021
She did an amazing job! One of my favorite authors
August 9, 2025
4 stars
I liked it. It was interesting and different from what I usually read.
I liked it. It was interesting and different from what I usually read.
January 9, 2018
Savage Beauty is a different retelling of Sleeping Beauty, totally different but still keeping with the faerie tale (see what I did there???) I’m not big on retelling novels however I enjoyed reading Luna’s and Aura’s tale. It’s twisted, dark and so did not see it ending the way it did. Reading both sisters POVs really helps connect with each sister in ways you won’t expect. Casey L. Bonds writing style is one of my favorites to read, it’s smooth, flows together and at the end satisfies but leaves me wishing for more.
Review by Raychel
Review by Raychel
February 20, 2018
Fantastic!
Best Fantansy I have read in ages!!
Best Fantansy I have read in ages!!
September 25, 2021
A dark and unique Sleeping Beauty retelling, this was a fantastic read. Usually, I'm not a fan of books where the plot is based purely on a misunderstanding, which if cleared right at the start, will lessen the amount of conflict. But, the story was so well written in this case, that I couldn't help but fall in love with it.
I've heard great things about the author's books, so I had high expectations, and I'm glad the book lived up to it. I like my characters morally grey, so Luna and Aura were just perfect. The thing I liked about Phillip was that he accepted Luna the way she was. Not once did he try to change her or feel his masculinity being threatened by her power.
Every single fantasy book I've read has always portrayed darkness as evil or something to be feared, while light is pure and good. As someone who finds darkness soothing and comforting, I couldn't connect with that concept. I'm a night owl, and I've always felt peaceful during that time, so when Luna, with her dark hair and affinity for the moon and night, was written as the main character and shown to be somewhat good, it made me extremely happy.
Her familiar was a black cat who reminded me of one that keeps coming near my window sometimes.
Luna has to prepare a potion to sever her bond with Aura, so she has to collect certain ingredients. I liked how unique each item was and the way she obtained it. These tasks were my favorite part of the story.
Though I had predicted the ending and the motives of a certain character halfway through the book, I still enjoyed the final showdown and revelation. I recommend this book to all dark fantasy and fairytale lovers.
I've heard great things about the author's books, so I had high expectations, and I'm glad the book lived up to it. I like my characters morally grey, so Luna and Aura were just perfect. The thing I liked about Phillip was that he accepted Luna the way she was. Not once did he try to change her or feel his masculinity being threatened by her power.
Every single fantasy book I've read has always portrayed darkness as evil or something to be feared, while light is pure and good. As someone who finds darkness soothing and comforting, I couldn't connect with that concept. I'm a night owl, and I've always felt peaceful during that time, so when Luna, with her dark hair and affinity for the moon and night, was written as the main character and shown to be somewhat good, it made me extremely happy.
Her familiar was a black cat who reminded me of one that keeps coming near my window sometimes.
Luna has to prepare a potion to sever her bond with Aura, so she has to collect certain ingredients. I liked how unique each item was and the way she obtained it. These tasks were my favorite part of the story.
Though I had predicted the ending and the motives of a certain character halfway through the book, I still enjoyed the final showdown and revelation. I recommend this book to all dark fantasy and fairytale lovers.
Want to read
April 28, 2019
The Seven Kingdoms
- Author suggested reading order:
#1. Riches to Rags ★½
#2 Savage Beauty
#3 Unlocked
#4 Brutal Curse
#1. Riches to Rags ★½
#2 Savage Beauty
#3 Unlocked
#4 Brutal Curse
June 15, 2019
I enjoyed reading Savage Beauty. I like the idea of fairy tales for adults and this book was my entry into this sort of book. It read like a fairy tale and kept me intrigued. I felt like this book could have easily been turned into a trilogy because it felt like there was room for more depth and more of a story to it.
February 7, 2018
Twin princesses, born of the curse of a dark faery, bound to each other as well as to the seasons, sun and moon. As girls, they were closer than most thought possible. The bonds to each other making them stronger when together and inseparable, or so they thought.
When a prince comes between the sisters, their jealousy and anger tear them apart. When Aura, princess of light and summer takes everything from Luna, princess of the night and winter, including the man she loves and murders him in front of her, their bonds of love are irrevocably torn apart even though they are still bound together through magic.
Luna now lives for revenge on her sister and vows to end her and her murderous sprees. When a dark faery prince offers his assistance, Luna is willing to pay whatever price he asks to be forever free of her bonds to her sister. Things begin to change for Luna, however, when Philip, brother to the only man she had ever loved, arrives at her cottage.
Though both are ruled by guilt, their feelings cannot be denied. However, are those feelings true or have they been manipulated by Aura so that she can exact her own revenge on Luna. Luna must decide what is more important to her . . . revenge on her sister or her love for Philip. And, in the end, will she be strong enough to win the battle before there’s nothing left to win?
While Savage Beauty is a retelling of the classic Sleeping Beauty, it is a completely unique and extremely complex storyline. The dichotomy of Aura and Luna is breathtaking. So blinded by jealousy and rage, they continually lash out at one another, unable to sever the bonds that force them together. As a reader, it’s easy to be drawn in and want to choose a side . . . it’s clear that Luna has been wronged by her sister. However, Casey L. Bond is such a master storyteller, that every time I thought I had things figured out, a new twist appeared pulling my feelings and emotions towards another desired outcome for these characters.
Luna’s relationship with Philip allowed her to grow in many ways. He’s completely unexpected and very different from the brother she loved and lost. They both know they cannot have a happy ever after, yet they both yearn for one. It’s gorgeous watching Philip do everything he can to support Luna in her quest and watching Luna learn what love really means.
Add in a Dark Fae Prince whose motivations for helping Luna are not as clear as they seem, two witch’s familiars that battle on their mistress’ behalves, a quest to sever a bond not meant to be broken and a handsome young prince caught in the middle and you have yourself an incredible fairy tale that will enthrall you page after page. 5 stars!
When a prince comes between the sisters, their jealousy and anger tear them apart. When Aura, princess of light and summer takes everything from Luna, princess of the night and winter, including the man she loves and murders him in front of her, their bonds of love are irrevocably torn apart even though they are still bound together through magic.
Luna now lives for revenge on her sister and vows to end her and her murderous sprees. When a dark faery prince offers his assistance, Luna is willing to pay whatever price he asks to be forever free of her bonds to her sister. Things begin to change for Luna, however, when Philip, brother to the only man she had ever loved, arrives at her cottage.
Though both are ruled by guilt, their feelings cannot be denied. However, are those feelings true or have they been manipulated by Aura so that she can exact her own revenge on Luna. Luna must decide what is more important to her . . . revenge on her sister or her love for Philip. And, in the end, will she be strong enough to win the battle before there’s nothing left to win?
While Savage Beauty is a retelling of the classic Sleeping Beauty, it is a completely unique and extremely complex storyline. The dichotomy of Aura and Luna is breathtaking. So blinded by jealousy and rage, they continually lash out at one another, unable to sever the bonds that force them together. As a reader, it’s easy to be drawn in and want to choose a side . . . it’s clear that Luna has been wronged by her sister. However, Casey L. Bond is such a master storyteller, that every time I thought I had things figured out, a new twist appeared pulling my feelings and emotions towards another desired outcome for these characters.
Luna’s relationship with Philip allowed her to grow in many ways. He’s completely unexpected and very different from the brother she loved and lost. They both know they cannot have a happy ever after, yet they both yearn for one. It’s gorgeous watching Philip do everything he can to support Luna in her quest and watching Luna learn what love really means.
Add in a Dark Fae Prince whose motivations for helping Luna are not as clear as they seem, two witch’s familiars that battle on their mistress’ behalves, a quest to sever a bond not meant to be broken and a handsome young prince caught in the middle and you have yourself an incredible fairy tale that will enthrall you page after page. 5 stars!
February 10, 2018
This is by far one of the best fairy tale retellings I’ve read! In fact, I’m a much bigger fan of this version than the original (although it would definitely be too scary for a Disney movie). It’s like Briar Rose and Maleficent were twins, they were both able to practice magic, and neither were even close to the people you grew up thinking they were – in fact, the complete opposite.
What I enjoyed the most about this story is that there was so much depth to it. There were layers upon layers of emotions, relationships, character development, beautiful story development…the list goes on. I was completely enthralled from the moment I started reading. My heart broke for Luna time and time again, as we learned more about her story and her life. Yet at the same time, I admired her strength in continuing to take was thrown at her from those she didn’t know all the way to those she loved the most. Even with a heavy curse looming over her, along with these burdens, she found a way to build a life where she may be able to be happy. She didn’t give up finding ways to save herself.
I really loved how many layers there were to every character we met – even down to each sister’s familiar. I really got a great understanding of what Luna was dealing with, because even as a reader I never knew who I could trust. Also because the story was written from several different character perspectives, you start to wonder if any of them have all the right information, and if there’s a possibility that some events were misunderstood. It makes you want to sit them all down in the same room and have a chat, but at the same time know that’s a VERY dangerous idea – hence Luna’s entire predicament.
Although I’ve already mentioned it, I can’t express enough how incredible the depth of this story is. This isn’t a story that was rushed through when it was written. It was well thought out, it was far from cut a dry, and because the relationships were so complicated, I was both happy and sad about the ending – and it was poetically beautiful. It was truly everything you would look for in a good story. It was way more than a fun fairy tale retelling. It was moving, it certainly wasn’t black and white, it was unpredictable, and it was a story that overall sucked me in from beginning to end.
What I enjoyed the most about this story is that there was so much depth to it. There were layers upon layers of emotions, relationships, character development, beautiful story development…the list goes on. I was completely enthralled from the moment I started reading. My heart broke for Luna time and time again, as we learned more about her story and her life. Yet at the same time, I admired her strength in continuing to take was thrown at her from those she didn’t know all the way to those she loved the most. Even with a heavy curse looming over her, along with these burdens, she found a way to build a life where she may be able to be happy. She didn’t give up finding ways to save herself.
I really loved how many layers there were to every character we met – even down to each sister’s familiar. I really got a great understanding of what Luna was dealing with, because even as a reader I never knew who I could trust. Also because the story was written from several different character perspectives, you start to wonder if any of them have all the right information, and if there’s a possibility that some events were misunderstood. It makes you want to sit them all down in the same room and have a chat, but at the same time know that’s a VERY dangerous idea – hence Luna’s entire predicament.
Although I’ve already mentioned it, I can’t express enough how incredible the depth of this story is. This isn’t a story that was rushed through when it was written. It was well thought out, it was far from cut a dry, and because the relationships were so complicated, I was both happy and sad about the ending – and it was poetically beautiful. It was truly everything you would look for in a good story. It was way more than a fun fairy tale retelling. It was moving, it certainly wasn’t black and white, it was unpredictable, and it was a story that overall sucked me in from beginning to end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews