Princess Eve has spent her life training to defeat the Knight, a powerful sorcerer who has plagued Queen’s Bridge for years. With her unique magic—summoning weapons from nature—she is ready for battle. But as her seventeenth birthday nears, Eve’s mother, Queen Regina, begins acting strangely, whispering to a mysterious mirror each night. When a young man claiming to be the Knight’s messenger reveals shocking truths about Eve’s past, she is forced to question everything she knows. As betrayals and dark secrets unravel, Eve must fight not just for her family and queendom, but for the truth itself.

Sleep Like Death is a dark, thrilling twist on Snow White that absolutely took me by surprise. Kalynn Bayron weaves a grim, violent, and unpredictable fairy tale where no one is safe, and I mean no one. The story starts at a slower pace, setting up the eerie and bleak world of Queen’s Bridge, but once the second act hits, everything ramps up to a hundred and doesn’t stop. The world-building is unique, the queendom ruled by two queens is such a cool and badass touch, and the twists and turns had me completely hooked. While Bayron keeps the essence of Snow White, she twists it into something fresh and new.

Eve, our protagonist, is reckless, arrogant, and at times frustrating, but it fits both her character and the story. She’s been raised to fight, but when the truth about her past starts to unravel, everything she believes is thrown into question. I never once guessed the full extent of the secrets surrounding Eve’s family, the Knight, and their tangled history. The romance was an unexpected but welcome addition, bringing a bit of sweetness amidst the relentless tension. And the villain? Absolutely chilling. The mystery surrounding his identity and motivations kept me guessing until the very end.

This book reminded me of all the best parts of Once Upon a Time—fairy tale magic mixed with darkness, shocking betrayals, and twists that make you question everything. Bayron doesn’t hold back on the brutality, making every moment feel high stakes. The final act is an absolute whirlwind, full of reveals and heart-pounding action. Sleep Like Death is a must-read for fans of dark fairy tale retellings who love a story that keeps them on edge, never knowing who will make it out alive.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5