Books like 'The Curse of Beauty: The Story Behind the Myth'
Readers who enjoyed The Curse of Beauty: The Story Behind the Myth by Lauren Lee Merewether also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical young adult paranormal fantasy ancient times angst m-f forbidden love friends to lovers hurt-comfort
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All The Young Dudes - Volume One: Years 1 - 4 by MsKingBean89
MsKingBean’s “All The Young Dudes” has been divided into three volumes. This first book covers Years 1 - 4. This specific cover art is by Tilly Beavon. -
Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
From Tamora Pierce, the first book in the Song of the Lioness Quartet, honored with the Margaret A. Edwards Award. “From now on I’m Alan of Trebond, the younger twin. I’ll be a knight. ”. And so young Alanna of Trebond begins the journey to knighthood. Alanna has always craved the adventure and daring allowed only for boys; her twin brother, Thom, yearns to learn the art of magic...Categorized as:
m-f military political-intrigue aristocratic heroine magic fantasy strong heroine royalty -
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Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 2 Apprentice Shrine Maiden Volume 2 by Miya Kazuki
Rated: 4.61 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsAs Myne continues her busy life as an apprentice blue shrine maiden, some good news changes everything: Her mother is pregnant! Naturally, Myne immediately sets out to make a picture book for her future little sibling. But there's still so much she doesn't know about the temple that doing anything is a struggle...Categorized as:
pregnancy disabilities and marks fantasy magic young adult high fantasy historical paranormal -
わたしの幸せな結婚 2 [Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon 2] (My Happy Marriage (Manga) #2) by Akumi Agitogi, 顎木あくみ
はじめて知った、人の“やさしさ”…。異能の家系に生まれながら、その能力を受け継がなかった娘、斎森美世。親にも愛されず、誰にも必要とされない彼女は、冷酷無慈悲と噂される、同じ異能を持つ家系の久堂家に嫁ぐことに。贅沢からは程遠い、名家の令嬢らしからぬ美世の様子に、当主の久堂清霞は興味を惹かれ、やがて美世を大切に想うようになる。けれど、異能の才のない美世は、嫁としての資格がなくて…。和風ファンタジー×嫁入り。奇跡のシンデレラストーリー。. -
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A Prince of Song and Shade by Lisa Cassidy
The darker the night…. Emboldened by the effect Talyn Dynan had on the humans of Mithranar, the Shadowhawk is working harder than ever to make a difference for those struggling to survive on the streets of Dock City...Categorized as:
military m-f slow burn political-intrigue war aristocratic heroine sweet-hero fantasy -
A Tale of Stars and Shadow by Lisa Cassidy
Dumnorix princess and born warrior, Talyn Dynan was the finest fighter of her generation. With her Callanan partner at her side, she was invincible, reckless, a death-knell to their enemies. But after her partner is torn away from her, Talyn is left broken, wracked with guilt and unable to regain the confidence she once had...Categorized as:
military m-f slow burn political-intrigue tortured heroine aristocratic heroine sweet-hero mystery -
Who Made Me a Princess Vol. 1 by Spoon, 스푼
The story of Athanasia, forsaken princess of the Obelian Empire, ends with her execution at the hands of her own father--or does it? Her tragic tale is the plot of the novel The Lovely Princess... -
Who Made Me a Princess Vol. 3 by Plutus, 스푼
In this full-color fantasy comic/webtoon, a modern woman is reincarnated as the doomed princess in a romance novel—and reaches out to grab a new future with both baby fists! The story of Athanasia, forsaken princess of the Obelian Empire, ends with her execution at the hands of her own father--or does it? Her tragic tale is the plot of the novel The Lovely Princess...Categorized as:
m-f political-intrigue fantasy historical magic young adult paranormal length-medium -
Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek
A girl with dangerous magic makes a risky bargain with a demon to be free of her monstrous power in this young adult fantasy perfect for fans of An Enchantment of Ravens and House of Salt and Sorrows. Liska knows that magic is monstrous, and its practitioners are monsters. She has done everything possible to suppress her own magic, to disastrous consequences... -
A Stepmother's Marchen Vol. 1 (The Fantasie of a Stepmother (Novel) #1) by Spice&Kitty
A full-color fantasy comic/webtoon of romance, drama, and second chances... -
Ghost Hunter by Michelle Paver
Her cry rips the souls from your marrow. With her spear she snares them. She devours them. Eostra truly is an eater of souls. Winter is coming. Souls' Night draws near. Eostra, the Eagle Owl Mage, holds the clans in the grip of terror. Torak must leave the Forest and seek her lair in the Mountain of Ghosts, while Renn faces an agonizing decision... -
Court Duel by Sherwood Smith
Young Countess Meliara swears to her dying father that she and her brother will defend their people from the growing greed of the king. That promise leads them into a war for which they are ill-prepared, which threatens the very people they are trying to protect. But war is simple compared to what follows, in peacetime...Categorized as:
political-intrigue war aristocratic heroine magic fantasy young adult royalty medieval -
My Happy Marriage 01 (My Happy Marriage (Manga) #1) by Akumi Agitogi
A "Cinderella"-inspired slow-burn historical romance with a paranormal twist set in Taisho-era Japan! A browbeaten and mistreated daughter is cast out of her home and sent to audition as a bridal candidate for the heir to one of the most powerful families in the land…... -
Sacrifice by K.M. Shea
Sacrifice: the thrilling conclusion to the Snow Queen series! Rakel, once feared and exiled for possessing magic, is now hailed a hero. Leading resistance forces against the Chosen—an army of magic users that invaded her homeland—she is granted everything she has longed for: acceptance, a home, and the love of her friends. But the battle for her country has just begun... -
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Breaking Legacies by Zoe Reed
In a land impoverished by a war that started before she was born, Kiena has provided for her mother and brother by becoming one of the best hunters in the kingdom. But when a lifelong friend with connections recommends her to the king to track down a runaway princess, her life gets turned upside down. Finding the princess is easy...Categorized as:
angst forbidden love friends to lovers slow burn betrayal military war political-intrigue -
Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith
Young Countess Meliara swears to her dying father that she and her brother will defend their people from the growing greed of the king. That promise leads them into a war for which they are ill-prepared, which threatens the very people they are trying to protect. But war is simple compared to what follows, in peacetime...Categorized as:
war slow burn political-intrigue m-f military survival sweet heroine aristocratic heroine -
The Second Blind Son by Amy Harmon
A lost girl and a blind boy discover their greatest strength is their bond with each other in a beguiling fantasy by the New York Times bestselling author of The First Girl Child. An insidious curse is weakening the Norse kingdom of Saylok, where no daughters have been born in years. Washing up on these plagued shores is Ghisla, an orphaned stowaway nursed back to health by a blind cave dweller... -
The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye
Along with Wit, Charm, Health, and Courage, Princess Amy of Phantasmorania receives a special fairy christening gift: Ordinariness. Unlike her six beautiful sisters, she has brown hair and freckles, and would rather have adventures than play the harp, embroider tapestries . . . or become a Queen... -
Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli
A steamy game of cat and mouse between witch and witch-hunter, played out against a backdrop of opulence, secrets, and bloody history. On the night Rune’s life changed forever, blood ran in the streets. Now, in the aftermath of a devastating revolution, witches have been diminished from powerful rulers to outcasts ruthlessly hunted due to their waning magic, and Rune must hide what she is... -
To Green Angel Tower by Tad Williams
The evil minions of the undead Sithi Storm King are beginning their final preparations for the kingdom-shattering culmination of their dark sorceries, drawing King Elias ever deeper into their nightmarish, spell-spun world. As the Storm King’s power grows and the boundaries of time begin to blur, the loyal allies of Prince Josua struggle to rally their forces at the Stone of Farewell... -
Namesake by Adrienne Young
Welcome to a world made dangerous by the sea and by those who wish to profit from it. Where a young girl must find her place and her family while trying to survive in a world built for men. With the Marigold ship free of her father, Fable and the rest of the crew were set to start over. That freedom is short-lived when Fable becomes a pawn in a notorious thug’s scheme... -
The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig
This is the story of Hazel, a young healer navigating a ruthless court to save the life of the king, grappling with a pantheon of gods with questionable agendas as she fights for agency and true love in her own life as the goddaughter of none other than Death himself. All gifts come with a price. Hazel Trépas has always known she wasn’t like the rest of her siblings...Categorized as:
tortured heroine m-f forbidden love political-intrigue war sweet-hero horror young adult -
The Lotus Empire by Tasha Suri
The Lotus Empire brings Tasha Suri’s acclaimed Burning Kingdoms trilogy to a heart–stopping close. As an ancient magic returns to Ahiranya and threatens its very foundations, Empress Malini and priestess Priya will stop at nothing to save their kingdoms—even if it means they must destroy each other...Categorized as:
angst forbidden love political-intrigue survival sweet heroine aristocratic heroine war queer -
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh
Deadly storms have ravaged Mina’s homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair...Categorized as:
m-f slow burn political-intrigue friends to lovers sweet heroine sweet-hero fantasy magic -
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The Villainess Turns the Hourglass, Vol. 1 by Antstudio, SANSOBEE
Aria Roscent mercilessly bullied her stepsister Mielle and paid the ultimate price for her misdeeds―but not before Mielle revealed that she’d manipulated Aria into harassing Mielle in the first place! Instead of dying, Aria is sent back in time and gifted a strange hourglass with mysterious powers. Now, Aria’s just got one to embrace her role of villainess and utterly destroy Mielle’s life!Categorized as:
m-f slow burn betrayal political-intrigue survival tortured heroine aristocratic heroine sweet-hero -
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree, spends the first years of her life under her aunt's guidance learning to communicate with animals...Categorized as:
war aristocratic heroine sweet heroine sweet-hero betrayal political-intrigue m-f contemporary -
The Queen's Resistance by Rebecca Ross
The highly anticipated sequel to The Queen’s Rising! Finally, Brienna is a mistress of knowledge and is settling into her role as the daughter of Davin MacQuinn, a disgraced lord who returned to Maevana to reclaim his house. Though she’d just survived a revolution, one that will finally return a queen to the throne, she faces another difficult challenge... -
The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon
The day my mother was killed, she told my father I wouldn’t speak again, and she told him if I died, he would die too. Then she predicted the king would trade his soul and lose his son to the sky. My father has a claim to the throne, and he is waiting in the shadows for all of my mother’s words to come to pass. He wants desperately to be king, and I just want to be free... -
From Darkness Won by Jill Williamson
Achan steps into his role as Crown Prince and prepares for war. But war against whom? Could Esek still be alive? Has Lord Nathak taken Esek’s place? Or is the mysterious Hadad the true enemy Achan must confront? Vrell has her own agenda of serving Prince Oren as a healer, but when she is stormed and lost to the Veil, Achan does all he can to bring her back... -
The Seer and the Sword by Victoria Hanley
Legend states that there exists a mighty sword that makes its possessor invincible to his enemies. But there is a curse on anyone who lifts the sword for conquest. King Kareed of Archeld goes after this sword anyway, winning it from the King of Bellandra. When he returns home from battle, he brings his daughter, Princess Torina, two special gifts...Categorized as:
war friends to lovers slow burn political-intrigue m-f betrayal aristocratic heroine contemporary -
To Darkness Fled by Jill Williamson
Achan, Vrell, and the Kingsguard Knights have fled into Darkness to escape the wrath of the former prince. They head for Ice Island to rescue two of Sir Gavin's colleagues who were falsely imprisoned years ago. Darkness is growing and only one man can push it back. Achan wanted freedom, not a crown. His true identity has bound him more than ever... -
This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi
To all the world, Alizeh is a disposable servant, not the long-lost heir to an ancient Jinn kingdom forced to hide in plain sight. The crown prince, Kamran, has heard the prophecies foretelling the death of his king. But he could never have imagined that the servant girl with the strange eyes, the girl he can’t put out of his mind, would one day soon uproot his kingdom—and the world... -
First Rider's Call by Kristen Britain
Karigan G'ladheon had been a Green Rider, one of the king of Sacoridia's elite magical messengers...Categorized as:
forbidden love slow burn political-intrigue contemporary fantasy mystery strong heroine medieval -
To Ride the Wind: A Retelling of East of the Sun and West of the Moon by Melanie Cellier
Charlotte has always longed to be accepted by her older sisters. She would gladly exchange her vaunted beauty for their friendship. But they ask a far higher price. Pushed into marriage with a stranger, Charlotte is left betrayed and alone. All she knows of her new husband is that he has secrets—and that her heart beats a little faster whenever he calls her Lottie... -
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Lullaby of the Dawn, Vol. 1 by Ichika Yuno, ユノイチカ
Super gifted up-and-coming author Ichika Yuno’s debut manga! “I’ll be by your side forever. ”. “You’re a cruel brat. ”. Elva is a warrior priest whose life is eroded every time he fights against monsters coming from the dark sea. When he learns this, boy Alto is enraged and vows to stay by his side to look for a way to save him. After eight years, Alto has grown into a fearless young man... -
Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross
The epic conclusion to the intensely romantic and beautifully written story that started in Divine Rivals. Two weeks have passed since Iris Winnow returned home bruised and heartbroken from the front, but the war is far from over. Roman is missing, and the city of Oath continues to dwell in a state of disbelief and ignorance...Categorized as:
secret-relationship slow burn war tortured heroine sweet-hero m-f disabilities and marks military -
Dragon Flight by Jessica Day George
The second book in New York Times bestselling author Jessica Day George's charming, light-hearted fantasy series. With the Dragon Wars over, Creel finds herself bored with life as a seamstress. Then word comes that a bordering country has been breeding dragons in preparation for an invasion... -
The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima
Times are hard in the mountain city of Fellsmarch. Reformed thief Han Alister will do almost anything to eke out a living for his family. The only thing of value he has is something he can't sell—the thick silver cuffs he's worn since birth. They're clearly magicked—as he grows, they grow, and he's never been able to get them off...Categorized as:
war slow burn aristocratic heroine angst political-intrigue m-f love triangle witches -
Solstice of the Drowned Empire by Frankie Diane Mallis
Lord Rhyan Hart, Heir Apparent to the Arkasva, High Lord of Glemaria, Imperator to the North hates everything about his title. Its length, its pretentiousness, and the fact that it connects him directly to his father, the sadistic violent man he hates more than anyone in Lumeria... -
Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
A captivating debut fantasy inspired by the legend of Chang'e, the Chinese moon goddess, in which a young woman’s quest to free her mother pits her against the most powerful immortal in the realm. Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the feared Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality...Categorized as:
friends to lovers m-f sweet-hero ancient times betrayal political-intrigue war military -
My Gently Raised Beast, Vol. 1 by Early Flower, JunJun Kim
The orphaned Blondina lives a tough life on the streets, left only with a memento from her late mother—one that proves she is the child of the emperor of Ates. From the streets, Blondina moves into the royal palace where she lives a lonely existence…that is until she befriends a brash and surly cat named Amon... -
Royal Captive by Heather Frost
A DECOY trapped in a dangerous lie. A SERJAH searching for the truth. A PRINCE caught in a deadly game. A WORLD choked by secrets. Abducted during a devastating ambush, Clare is now the captive of ruthless mercenaries. Dragged through the wilderness while grieving heart-rending loss, she must maintain the illusion that she is the princess...Categorized as:
friends to lovers war political-intrigue fantasy young adult christian new adult medieval -
Sacred Heart by Celeste Baxendell
An ambitious mage. A warrior priest. A divine power… they would both rather her die than let her keep it. Nadiya has been told countless times her ambition to become the first no-name mage to hold a commander’s position amongst the Runai would get her killed... -
House of Ashes by Cate Corvin
No one burns for revenge like a dragon. I lost everything when my mother and I were sentenced to exile by my own father. My home, my throne, my promised prince… all of it stolen for a crime I didn’t commit. Now my father is dead without a lawful heir, and the dragon Houses are at war for the vacant throne... -
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Reflection by Elizabeth Lim
What if Mulan had to travel to the Underworld? When Captain Shang is mortally wounded by Shan Yu in battle, Mulan must travel to the Underworld, Diyu, in order to save him from certain death. But King Yama, the ruler of Diyu, is not willing to give Shang up easily...Categorized as:
friends to lovers caretaking military sweet heroine fantasy young adult magic paranormal -
Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto
In a world ruled by fierce warrior queens, a grand empire was built upon the backs of Phoenix Riders legendary heroes who soared through the sky on wings of fire until a war between two sisters ripped it all apart. Sixteen years later, Veronyka is a war orphan who dreams of becoming a Phoenix Rider from the stories of old... -
My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton
The comical, fantastical, romantical, (not) entirely true story of Lady Jane Grey...Categorized as:
slow burn war friends to lovers m-f betrayal political-intrigue aristocratic heroine paranormal -
A Swift and Savage Tide by Chloe Neill
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsChloe Neill's bold, seafaring heroine Captain Kit Brightling sets sail for high seas and high sorcery in this swashbuckling fantasy series. Captain Kit Brightling is Aligned to the magic of the sea, which makes her an invaluable asset to the Saxon Isles and its monarch, Queen Charlotte... -
The Gatekeeper's Secret by Eva Pohler
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsWhen Zeus invites Therese and Thanatos to a party on Mount Olympus in their honor, they and the other gods who have formed the Athena Alliance are immediately suspicious of a trap. They fear Zeus has learned of their desire to free Metis and Cybele and to stand up for all the women he has wronged... -
Go the Distance by Jen Calonita
What if Meg had to become a god? After Hercules proves he's a true hero and regains his godship, all seems right in the world. That is, until Zeus tells Meg that she can't be with Hercules because she's, well, mortal. Luckily, Hera has a solution, offering Meg a chance to prove herself worthy of a spot on Mt. Olympus--as a god. All Meg has to do is complete a mysterious quest...
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