Beauty and the Beast: Not Quite the Fairy Tale, Volume 3

About This Audiobook

May Sage’s *Beauty and the Beast: Not Quite the Fairy Tale, Volume 3* isn’t your grandmother’s fairy tale—it’s a snarky, steamy, and surprisingly tender paranormal rom-com that flips the script on the classic trope. Aiden, the fallen prince-turned-Beast, isn’t brooding in a castle; he’s navigating modern life with a sharp tongue, a cursed past, and a refusal to play the victim. The chemistry crackles with wit, and the worldbuilding—where magic feels like a stubborn roommate rather than a grand destiny—keeps the stakes high without drowning in angst. Narration by Christian Fox and Lucy Rivers is a masterclass in dual performance: Fox’s gravelly, dry delivery sells Aiden’s jaded charm, while Rivers’ playful timing makes the heroine’s banter land like a well-aimed dart.

What sets this apart from the crowded fairy-tale-retelling shelf? The humor. Sage leans into absurdity (a cursed prince dealing with modern bureaucracy? Yes, please) without sacrificing emotional weight. The audiobook’s pacing is tight—no meandering subplots—just 3.5 hours of razor-sharp dialogue, slow-burn tension, and a romance that earns its happy ending. It’s perfect for listeners who want their fantasy with a side of sarcasm and their love stories with teeth. If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at a ‘damsel in distress’ trope, this one’s for you."

"review": "I’ll admit, I groaned when I saw *another* Beauty and the Beast retelling—but *Not Quite the Fairy Tale, Volume 3* won me over in the first 10 minutes. The narration is a huge part of that. Christian Fox’s Aiden is a revelation: imagine a grumpy, cursed prince who sounds like he’s two seconds from snapping *or* laughing at his own misery. His timing is impeccable, especially in the scenes where Aiden’s sarcasm clashes with the heroine’s refusal to be intimidated. Lucy Rivers matches him beat for beat, her performance laced with warmth and a hint of mischief. Together, they make even the most trope-y moments feel fresh.

The story itself is a delightful mess of magic, bureaucracy, and *actual* character growth. Aiden isn’t just ‘cursed and sad’—he’s actively terrible (in a fun way) and forced to confront his past mistakes. The romance builds naturally, with banter that doesn’t rely on miscommunication for drama. That said, the middle act drags slightly with a subplot about a magical artifact that feels less compelling than the core dynamic. And while the humor lands 90% of the time, a few jokes veer into *too* modern anachronism for my taste (a cursed prince referencing memes? Really?). But these are minor quibbles. The production quality is crisp, the chemistry electric, and the ending—without spoilers—strikes the perfect balance between sweet and satisfying. If you love rom-coms with bite, paranormal romance that doesn’t take itself too seriously, or just *really* good narration, this is a gem."

"tags": [
"paranormal rom-com audiobook