On the surface, Cerys is a pretty traditional fantasy heroine: she’s got an unusual “special” gift, she doesn’t see her own worth or her own beauty, she has to overcome hurdles both external and internal, and is the only person who can save the world. Cerys alone is safe from the curse-although she doesn’t know why-and so it’s up to her to venture into the woods to seek the help of the Lady of the Woods. The horrors of the woods wreak havoc, spreading a curse through the people and turning them into monsters. Cerys has resigned herself that she’ll always live in Aloriya and eventually take over for her father, and she’s OK with that … mostly.īut then things go awry at the coronation of Queen Amwen, Cerys’s best friend. The crown keeps their nation safe and the horrors of the woods outside their borders at bay. I bet this cover designer had a lot of fun!Ĭerys is the daughter of the royal gardener of the kingdom of Aloriya, a prosperous, peaceful nation ruled by a royal family with magical gifts and a magical crown bestowed upon their line centuries ago by the Lady of the Woods. But looking closer, all of the imagery is created from natural elements-flower petals, bark, leaves, etc., which adds a whole other level of detail that bumps this from “it’s good” to “wow” territory.

It’s pretty and it says “this is a fantasy book” without much fanfare. At first glance, this is a lovely cover with a title treatment that reminds me a whole lot of the live-action Beauty and the Beast.

Among beasts and briars