Book Review: Among the Beasts & Briars by Ashley Poston

So I want to start by saying that I looove fairy tales.  I often find myself seeking out different retellings, contemporary, anything to scratch that itch.  So when I came upon Among the Beasts & Briars by Ashley Poston, I KNEW I had to check it out.  Plus, have you seen that gorgeous cover?! 

I actually received my copy via November Owlcrate (if you haven’t tried them, I definitely recommend!), so my copy was slightly different.  I had read other novels by Poston, namely the fantastically fun Geekerella, so I knew I would most likely enjoy this new novel of hers as well.  

The novel takes place in a small kingdom known as Aloriya where you meet Cerys, the royal gardener’s daughter and her feisty companion, Fox.  Several centuries before, a young king “born with fire in his blood” braved the forest and its monsters to reach the magical city Voryn and meet the Lady of the Wilds and seek protection for his people.   The Lady took pity on the young king and, for his bravery, gifted him a magical crown that would help his kingdom.  Since then, the crown has passed down through the royal family line and the kingdom prospered.

Among the Beasts & Briars has a soft, classic fairy tale vibe following Cerys’ quest, alongside Fox and a gray bear by the name of Vala, through the woods to save her friends and family from the curse that had been plaguing the surrounding Wood of her home over the centuries. You have talking animals, terrifying monsters that bring to mind Eldritch creatures from a Lovecraft novel, curses, lost princes, a forgotten city, dark, atmospheric woods hidden in fog, and wild, elemental magic.  I especially loved the magic aspect of the novel and I wish it had been explained more thoroughly.

I also especially enjoyed Cerys’ companion, the pesky Fox, who brought charming wit and humor to the pages; his inner monologue especially provided a more well-rounded development to his character. And the nicknames, such as Daisy, were very sweet.

While I loved the imagery and the world-building (I would’ve loved to learn more about this world), I did find the constant repetition of certain phrases to be tedious.   

“But I wasn’t made for this quest – I was a gardener’s daughter.  I did not thrive where my roots did not grow.”

Several times, we, the reader, were reminded that Cerys was “just a gardener’s daughter” or how her companion was only a cowardly fox over the course of the story; probably more than necessary. 

There was also victim-blaming that I found to be slightly jarring, especially since the characters were only children at the time.  My final complaint was with the rushed ending that left me with more questions than answers.

Other than a few, minor disappointing issues, I thought this was a fantastic, refreshing story that really drew me into this lush, magical world and I completely recommend reading this if you love fantasy, fairy tales, or just a fun young adult novel.♥