Synopsis:
Six Deities. Six Kingdoms. Each monarch gifted one of the Maker’s abilities…
But one heir is desperate to rectify a devastating mistake.
Vivienne suffers through perilous transitions from woman to bear, a burden forced on her as the future Queen of Belmur. She juggles her time between the two forms, grieving the loss of her mother, and relying on her twin sister, Marian, to help create a tonic to reduce the excruciating shifts. But when a failed experiment gets out of hand, her entire kingdom is forced to evacuate while she seeks to find a remedy.
King Beauvais of Torgem, Vivienne’s lifelong friend, is quick to step in and offer her support. But the king and Vivienne have a long history—a history of love, secret and forbidden, that weaves through their very souls. And when betrayal comes from a place Vivienne least expects, she fears that saving her kingdom and her family will come at a great cost
Can Vivienne push her boundaries and her heart? Or will she be forced to rely on the beast within?
Review:
This is not your typical Beauty and the Beast retelling, though it does draw some inspiration from it.
Vivienne is preparing to become the future queen, doing her best to live up to her responsibilities while staying true to herself, and trying to meet her father’s expectations. She also carries a dangerous secret: magic, which has her turn into a beast. Each kingdom hides its magic from the others as a form of protection, believing secrecy is the only way to stay safe. Vivienne has spent years fighting her own magic, enduring the consequences of doing so.
When an attack forces her to seek help from another kingdom, Vivienne is reunited with her childhood friend, Bo, for whom she has always had feelings. Her father holds Bo responsible for her mother’s death, making their reunion even more complicated. As Vivienne and Bo grow closer again, she must hide both her magic and their renewed connection.
While reading the first book in the series isn’t required, I was glad I had done so, as it provided helpful background on the characters and their relationships. I especially appreciated that women are at the forefront of the story, portrayed as strong and capable leaders, with partners who fully support them. Vivienne’s journey towards accepting her magic felt like an important and meaningful step in her personal growth.
Bo is the kind of partner who would give up everything for her without hesitation, and I enjoyed seeing that level of devotion portrayed so openly. The letters they exchanged over the years added depth to their relationship and reinforced their strong emotional bond.
Did some parts feel a little too drawn out for me? Yes. Was the spice level higher than I personally prefer? Also yes. Still, I enjoyed the book overall. Having listened to the first instalment as an audiobook, I felt better prepared for this story, and even came to appreciate the background music during certain scenes.
🌙 Recension: Beast and Remedy (The Last of the Heirs #2) by L.L. Riley
📚 Genre: Romance, Fantasy
📅 Release Date: May 4, 2026 (Audiobook)
📖 Publisher: Mythical Gems Media,LLC
📱 Read as: Audiobook
📗 available in various formats – included in Kindle Unlimited
💸 I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Length: 18 hours 24 minutes
⭐️ 4/5
Interested in more?
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