By Maizah Javed
Edited by Reilly Nelson
What happens when a girl who has spent her life trapped in a tower crosses paths with a prince who is desperate to save his kingdom? In Fallen Beauty by Astrid Scholte, paintings, dark fairytale, and a looming threat from the Fallen Army come together in a world where nothing is quite as it seems. When Thorelea Winyard and Prince Kelter encounter each other at the ball on the First Red Reaping, their stories begin to intersect. But with a kingdom under threat and secrets waiting to be uncovered, their meeting may be more than just a chance encounter.
RELEASE DATE: November 3, 2026
BEFORE WE DIVE IN…
Before you start, expect a dark fairy tale with magic, secrets, a kingdom in danger and a bit of slow-burn romance.
Genre: YA literature, Dark Fantasy, Romance, Fiction
Age Group: Recommended for ages 13-18
Content warnings for the following described on page: Violence and Murder
Spice Level: Mild 🌶️🌶️
Series: Standalone
ABOUT THE BOOK
Thorelea Winyard spends her life in isolation from the outside world in the walls of a tower. It is only around the age of eighteen when she discovers the extraordinary power behind her art; her portraits can grant immortality. This ability draws her into the affairs of the High Court of Lagonia, whose king and queen have ruled for centuries through the power of immortality. During the month of the Red Reaping, when killings take place each night, Thorelea is tasked with painting portraits for the High Court, allowing its members to return to life as immortals. Meanwhile, Prince Kelter has a plan of his own. Determined to kill the king of the Fallen Army of Hetchnik, he seeks immortality through a portrait of his own. However, when his parents refuse to allow it, Kelter tries to convince Thorelea to paint him in secret. As they meet night after night, the two begin uncovering secrets while their relationship gradually evolves. What starts as a secret arrangement soon becomes more complicated as they navigate the dangers, mysteries, and ambitions surrounding Lagonia's royal court.
READER PROFILE
This might be for you if:
You grew up loving Rapunzel but always wanted a darker, more unsettling take on the fairytale, with secrets hidden behind the walls of a tower.
You were fascinated by the relationship between art, beauty, and life in Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray and want to explore similar ideas through a dark fantasy lens.
You love fantasy worlds where magic can turn something as ordinary as a painting into something extraordinary—and where the consequences might be far more complicated than they first appear.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Internationally bestselling, award-winning fantasy author Astrid Scholte published her debut novel, Four Dead Queens, in 2019. Her other books include The Vanishing Deep and the League of Liars duology. Outside writing, she works in film and animation production, with credits on Avatar, Lilo and Stitch, and Wicked. She lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband.
WHAT READERS THINK
“This book was dark, tragic, bloody, and romantic in a way that had me feeling EVERYTHING. The obsession, the desperation, the impossible choices, and the way love becomes tangled in something so monstrous. There was so much depth to Thorelea, and watching her navigate her powers, her freedom, and her heart broke something in me. And Kelter? The yearning, the secrets, the stolen moments. I was rooting for them so hard. ”—Alyx Gough via Goodreads
“This was very wishy-washy. The characters changed their minds about each other every other page, the worldbuilding was nonexistent (I had so many questions about the 200 year timeline that should have occurred to anyone in this world and would have sent the whole charade tumbling down), and none of the characters were consistent or believable? I think Scholte was trying to say something about privilege, but it didn’t really land because none of the atrocity felt real; neither Thorelea nor Kelter look closely at the impacts of the war or the Red Reaping beyond what it looks like in the moment (what does it MEAN to burn books or to murder all of the other cities’ best and brightest or never ever let people catch a glimpse of the ruling class?). Even Zhea, our outsider, doesn’t give us any baseline to compare to.”—Laura (crofteereader) via Storygraph
BOOK REPORTER’S REVIEW
One thing that stood out to me while reading Fallen Beauty was its intriguing storyline, which reminded me of Tangled, my personal favourite movie. I really enjoyed the world-building and the magic system. The gothic, eerie, and oddly comforting vibes made it a delightful read, especially at this time of the year. Coming to the main characters, I would have loved to see a little more depth in their characterisation. Their relationship felt a little forced at first, in my opinion, but it developed as the story progressed, and I enjoyed seeing that. I also wish the author had explored Thorelea’s character more after she came out of the tower. Her adjustment to the outside world felt a little abrupt, and I would have loved to see more of her curiosity, reactions, and internal monologue as she experienced things beyond the tower for the first time. The main characters had great chemistry overall, though. I appreciate the casual mention of menstruation, something I rarely come across in fantasy novels. It’s a small detail, but I liked seeing an ordinary part of life acknowledged in a genre that often focuses on magic, romance, and political intrigue. Something that kept this from being a five-star read for me was the slow pacing. I understand that fantasy novels often need time to establish their worlds, but some parts still felt slower than I would have liked. That said, I appreciate that Fallen Beauty is a standalone, and its premise was enough to hook me into the story. Lastly, Thorelea’s situation at the beginning, being locked away in a tower because of her powers, reminded me of Juliette from the Shatter Me series, who is confined to an asylum because of her abilities. I found the parallel interesting, especially in how both characters’ powers contribute to their isolation.
My favorite (spoiler-free!) quote:
“Don’t worry, Thorelea. I won't tell anyone.”
“Tell anyone what?” I croaked, my voice rough with sleep.”
“That you don't really hate me.”
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for providing an eARC of Fallen Beauty by Astrid Scholte in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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