Let me be perfectly clear, I would follow author K.F. Breene to the ends of every world that she creates in that beautiful, talented brain of hers. That being said, it’s an absolute crime that this series isn’t splashed on every social media site available. Well, Ms. Breene, allow me to be your hype girl.

Raise your hand if, when you watched Beauty and the Beast, you were disappointed when the Beast turned into a human at the end. Mmm, yeah, me too. The Deliciously Dark Fairytales series will quench that thirst for you. And after you meet Daddy Nyfain (as the community fondly calls him), I can assure you with absolute confidence, that your thirst will need quenching. Again. And. Again.

* Expels long breath*…ANYWAY…the flow of this book is one of my favorites in that our perspective on the world starts as small as a pinprick and slowly expands wider until we see the entire world. We are living in this world post-curse by the mad king. Demons rule the land. Shifters’ animals have been suppressed for so long that generations of people only know life as human.

After an enticing flashback scene, where the main character, Finley, at 15 years old, is being chased through the forest by an unseen, terrifying creature, we awake in a shack-like house in a desolate village. Finley is the warrior of the family; the hunter, gatherer, and, most importantly, the potions master. Her knowledge of plants allows her to create medicinals that extend the life of her terminally ill father. Years ago, her mother died, so she and her older brother have fallen to the caregiver role for their younger siblings. And this illness? It’s killing everyone. The plants to make the medicine? In a forbidden forest…where…you guessed it…the Beast roams. And this Beast? Oh yeah, that’s Nyfain, the golden prince and last dragon shifter, who has been forced to bow to the will of the Demon King.

One night, Finley slips into the forbidden wood to take some more Everlass plant, from which she makes her tincture to combat the cursed illness. She’s about to leave when she’s just about to get attacked by a creature when, what do you know, here comes Nyfain to save the day. And what does Finley do as a thank you? She stabs him with her knife! Nyfain. Is. All. About. It. So what does he do about it? He steals her, of course. A few nights later, he all, but puff, puff, and blows the house down. To save her family, Finley takes off running to lure the dragon shifter away from the house. But, oops, Nyfain scoops her up and takes her to his castle and plops her right in the tower. Oh nos! Locked up in the tower of a ferocious, delicious, royal, morally grey, dragon shifter? Twist. My. Arm.

This book also has one of my favorite side characters I’ve read. He is laugh out loud hilarious, sarcastic, self deprecating, and, ultimately, fiercely loyal. The first time we meet him, he’s wearing, “a furry purple sort of…costume thing that [makes] him look like a silly mock-up of the beast. His shaggy pants [end] in black shoes that [resemble] hooves…costume opened up to bare the torso, exposing a couple of hairy nipples…two stuffed horns curled up from his head.” Amazing. Everyone needs a Hadriel in their lives.

K.F. Breene has a large back catalog. I’ve read another of her series, Demigods of San Francisco, which, I will be honest, hurt my feelings big time. But, honestly, I think that’s a testament to her incredible storytelling talent. Regardless of the emotional element, the story is incredible, so well developed, and will keep you engaged over six books, which is not easy to do. Check out these and the rest of her works on her website linked here.

Let me know if you end up reading the Deliciously Dark Fairytales series or any other K.F. Breene books. I would love to hear your thoughts!