Day’s YA: FALLEN BEAUTY

FALLEN BEAUTY by Astrid Scholte
9781250394804
11/3/2026
Wednesday Books
Ages 13-18

E-galley available on Edelweiss and NetGalley

Thorelea Winyard has lived her entire life locked in a tower. She spends day in and day out forced to paint dead animals that have been left for her by her captors, never knowing why she has to, and dreaming of the world that could await her outside of the tower walls. Until one day, everything changes. While painting the portrait of a dead rabbit, the rabbit comes back to life, and she is promptly whisked away to the court. She is told she’ll be taken care of and protected, and she can have whatever she desires… except for her freedom. She is taken in by the king and queen, who are immortal and have ruled for centuries. But their immortality is gifted to them by the court painter, who can do so by updating their magical portraits. Thorelea is set up to be the new court painter now that she has proven her abilities, but it’s not long before the court reveals itself as a sinister and dangerous place.

She soon meets another mortal, Prince Kelter. Kelter is desperate to save his kingdom from the war, and wants nothing more than to become immortal so that he can join the battalion. The two strike a deal; Thorelea will secretly paint Kelter to make him immortal, and in return, he will help her escape the castle. Secret meetings and midnight rendezvous begin, but as the two grow closer together, the true dangers of Thorelea’s powers are revealed, and she may be forced to choose between her heart and her freedom.

This magical and dark fairytale story is perfectly described as Rapunzel meets THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY! With a gothic, eerie atmosphere and a chilling snowy setting, it’s a standalone fantasy that is made even more complete with a romance that hits all of the best notes. The magic system is unlike any I’ve seen before (magical art!), and I loved that Thorelea’s paintings played such a significant role in her powers. Plus, as someone who is completely obsessed with books and shows that involve court politics and ethics, this was absolutely a winner. With how dangerous the court seemed to be, I was constantly on edge while reading, trying to pick each character apart to gauge who was trustworthy and who to keep an eye on. The wicked games that the king and queen created also brought the horror side of this book to life, with some gruesome, action-packed scenes that showed just how evil the rulers could get. 

I also loved that this story is told in a dual POV! I loved getting to be in both Thorelea and Kelter’s head, learning their individual struggles, their shifting thoughts on one another, and the reasoning behind the choices they made. And truthfully, this romance was practically written for me. It’s a quiet yet powerful slow burn, full of simmering tension and forbidden feelings. Plus, Kelter gives all of the “who did this to you?” and “touch her and you’ll die” energy that is so loved in romantasy! Prepare for all of the best hurt-comfort vibes. 

If I’m being completely honest, I’m pretty tired from staying up too late all week to keep reading this, but it was most definitely worth it. FALLEN BEAUTY has the enemies-to-lovers romance of HEARTLESS HUNTER, the court intrigue of THE CRUEL PRINCE, and the darkly enchanting and twisty plot of ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART. It’s the perfect mix of fantasy, horror, and romance, and it seamlessly crosses over into the new adult genre, as well! If you like forbidden romances, fairytales with dark twists, and dangerous royalty, this will be a must read.

<3 Margo

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