Mixed Feelings on a Bold Retelling

Evelyn Flood’s Briar, the fourth installment in the Forbidden Fairytales series, is a provocative, dark, and morally gray reimagining of Sleeping Beauty that doesn’t shy away from controversial themes. While the series is designed, so each book can be read as a standalone, there are small nods to the third book, Wonder, which returning readers may enjoy—but newcomers won’t be left confused if they jump in here.

My life has already been mapped out. Every milestone, every important moment, clearly defined and placed into a pretty little box, courtesy of my father and my apparent fiancé.

They want me to be perfect. They want me to fold, over and over, until there’s nothing left of me but what they tell me I should be.

When River, Jenson and Kai stroll into my life, it feels like a detonation. As though my veins are alight with fire. For the first time in my life, I’m awash with feeling.

But then they offer me a deal. It’s indecent. It’s wrong. It goes against everything I’ve ever been told.

But if it’s so wrong… why is being theirs the first time in my life that I’ve felt right?

Briar is a why choose, morally grey re-imagining of Sleeping Beauty. It contains themes not suitable for younger readers.

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Opinion

Of the four books so far, Briar was the weakest or better most uncomfortable for me—not because of its plot, which is surprisingly solid, but due to the execution of some of its darker elements. The core story follows Briar, a young woman suffocating under the weight of an arranged life crafted by her father and future fiancé. She’s not just stuck—she’s imprisoned in a gilded cage, her autonomy stripped away by people who are supposed to protect her. This foundational conflict is one of the strongest parts of the book, and Briar‘s inner turmoil and eventual growth are where Flood’s writing shines most.

Briar’s character development is both believable and empowering. Even before the male leads are introduced, she is already seething with suppressed rage and aching for freedom. She doesn’t need the three men—Jensen, River, and Kai—to validate her emotions or spark her rebellion. Rather, they serve more as accelerants to a fire already burning within her. Her journey toward reclaiming her agency feels personal and authentic, and that made me root for her even when the narrative veered into uncomfortable territory.

And here’s where my main criticism lies: the erotically charged scenes—particularly those involving Briar under heavy medication—were difficult to digest. While the sexual content is framed by a consensual contract, and Briar herself is never coerced, there’s a recurring fetishization of her being unconscious during sex acts. Personally, I found this unsettling. Even with consent being clearly outlined beforehand, the idea of someone being used sexually while incapacitated is a sensitive one, and not every reader will be able to get past that.

That said, the individual relationships between Briar and each of the MMCs are well-crafted and develop at a reasonable pace. There’s no sense of “nsta-love or forced chemistry; Flood gives each connection time to grow and breathe. River, Jensen, and Kai are distinct in personality, and though I didn’t find the triad dynamic strictly necessary for Briar’s personal arc, it did offer interesting emotional interplay and some genuinely tender moments. The romance, once it veers away from the more extreme scenes, feels genuine and, at times, even sweet.

Flood’s writing style is as lush and lyrical as ever, with vivid emotional beats and compelling dialogue. The world building is kept fairly minimal, in line with the series’ character-focused approach, but it’s effective enough to create a sense of place. The tension between societal expectation and personal freedom is the novel’s emotional core, and that theme is handled with clarity and care.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Briar will appeal to readers who enjoy dark romance, morally complex characters, and taboo themes—but it’s definitely not for everyone. For me, it was a mixed experience. I appreciated Briar’s growth and the thoughtful emotional arcs, but the nature of some intimate scenes left me uncomfortable. If you’re a fan of the series and know what to expect in terms of content, you may find this a compelling addition. But for readers more sensitive to issues of power dynamics and consent, consider approaching with caution.

About Evelyn Flood

Evelyn Flood is addicted to books.
She writes in different subgenres including contemporary romance, reverse harem, mafia, fairytales and omegaverse – but you’ll always find a main course of angst with a side dish of uncontrollable sobbing in every book she writes.
She used to be a tea drinker, but developed an addiction to coffee and can now be found at the nearest coffee shop when she should be writing.
On weekends, she likes to dance and drink espresso martinis.
Find her on Facebook in her readers group, The Evelyn Flood Collective.

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• By Evelyn Flood
• Forbidden Fairytales Series
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