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Wicked Beasts

by Shelley Leigh Crane

Book 1 in A Lament Princess Collection

A remote manor, a forbidden wing, and two dangerous brothers give this one its gothic bite. The fun is letting the house get worse while Amara keeps making choices every sensible friend would side-eye.

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goodreads 3.55/5 120 ratings

Quick fit

Is this story right for you?

A decision-first view of the reading experience.

Think twice if…

Content warnings: Sexual content, Dubious consent, Drug use, Alcohol use, Needles / medical procedures, Drowning, Physical abuse, Suicide, Blood, Violence, Murder, Injury detail, Death, Self-harm, Suicidal ideation, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationships, Attempted murder

Length547 pages

Series statusOngoing series

Spice4/5 · Passionate / intense

PacingMedium

Story profile

What the story promises

The strongest reviewed signals about romance, fantasy, and the reading experience.

Romance promise

Forbidden love
Male/female pairing (M/F)
Instant attraction
High
Passionate / intense
Adrenaline rush

Mysterious stranger
Push and pull
Taboo / forbidden
Book hangover incoming
Morally gray
Power imbalance
Power dynamic
Tension finally satisfied
Dark/tortured soul
Desperate / urgent
Cursed
Tension
Anticipation
Eye contact intensity
Possessive/protective

Fantasy promise

Paranormal romance
Beauty and the beast
Manor house / estate
Paranormal
Ghosts
Forced proximity

Coastal / island / beach
Contemporary
Spirits
Gothic
Love triangle
Haunted house romance
Hidden past revealed

Reading experience

First person
Medium
Dark
Atmospheric
Moderate
Artist/creative

Eerie
Cinematic
Innocent / sheltered
Mysterious
Lush
Survivor
Seductive
Suspenseful
Beauty and the Beast retelling
Forbidden desire
Cliffhanger warning
Morally complex
Slow descent into darkness

Similar in ways that matter

Matched by the most important shared story signals, with the tradeoffs made explicit.

323 pages Completed

Darkhouse

Karina Halle

Similar because

Coastal / island / beach · Eerie · Hidden past revealed

Different because

Spice is lower (1/5 vs 4/5). A shorter read (323 vs 547 pages).

258 pages Completed

Illusions of Grandeur

Kathryn Ann Kingsley

Similar because

Instant attraction · Eerie · Paranormal romance

Different because

A shorter read (258 vs 547 pages).

384 pages Completed

The Auction

Sadie Kincaid

Similar because

Beauty and the beast · Beauty and the Beast retelling · Innocent / sheltered

Different because

Spice is higher (5/5 vs 4/5). A shorter read (384 vs 547 pages).

Book details

Length: 547 pages
Publisher: Steely Co. Publishing
Language: English
Format: Book