A haunted castle under a harrowing curse. A beast who can't win his beauty. An unseen servant whose heart could save the kingdom or doom it.

Young royal chef Zare Kelhand dreamed of finding a soulmate until he died in a fiery accident. The lonely cook still searches for a soulmate in his afterlife, but not for himself. To free his kingdom from dark magic, Zare must convince an obstinate maiden to love his best friend and king, the Beast of Roseal Castle.

Zare fears all is lost when his matchmaking ploys and the Beast's unfolding affection don't change her mind. He realizes with guilty hope that the bold belle has fallen for him instead.

The curse's terms have no room for a ghost. If Zare nurtures his blooming attraction, he'll betray his dearest friend and beloved country. Can this unseen servant find a new way to defeat the horrible spell, or will pursuing love end them all?

Bound by Briar is the first book in Deep Within Fairytales, an interconnected series of fantasy fairy tale retellings that can be read alone or together. If you like a heartwarming tale with clean slow-burn romance and hard-won happy endings, you can't miss this story.