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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
2.5-2.75 Stars
A steamier retelling of Beauty and the Beast but with shapeshifters. I enjoyed the steamy parts but the rest of the novel was just ok. Some parts fell flat and lacks oomph. It's not the worst I've read but also not the best.
A steamier retelling of Beauty and the Beast but with shapeshifters. I enjoyed the steamy parts but the rest of the novel was just ok. Some parts fell flat and lacks oomph. It's not the worst I've read but also not the best.
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Pros:
- there are none
Cons:
- I wanted to forgo logging that I read this book because it was so bad.
- too much urban fantasy, too much smut
- there are none
Cons:
- I wanted to forgo logging that I read this book because it was so bad.
- too much urban fantasy, too much smut
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
“Deliciously dark” has never been more appropriate. This book was so good!
Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairytales. I read the original version, I watched the Disney movie a thousand times, and one of my favorite series ever begins as a Beauty and the Beast retelling. Needless to say, when this book crossed my path, I was immediately intrigued—even more so when I was told it was going to lean on the smuttier side.
GAAAH IT WAS AMAZING!
Fangasm moment aside, let’s dive into the elements I enjoyed about this story like the professional reviewer I pretend to be.
We’re eased into the worldbuilding without long passages of info-dumps. We piece it together by following the protagonist, Finley, through her everyday life in a village of a cursed kingdom. I was immediately intrigued by the curse, the demons, and the infamous beast lurking the woods. And it certainly helped that I loved Finley. She’s strong, capable, intelligent, and she has a very ironic voice that made reading things in her perspective fun. I also adored her interactions with her siblings, especially her older brother.
As far as the story goes, A Ruin of Roses is that type of retelling that I love above all else: the ones where you can actually tell what story is being retold. These days, books are marketed as retellings but they hold little to nothing to the original fairytale. Here we have a totally unique story with elements that echo the original tale: the beast, the castle, the curse, some pivotal plot points. It’s the little details that will make me say “I loved A Ruin of Roses!” whenever someone on Instagram asks about retellings.
And then, of course, there’s the romance. There’s instant chemistry, there’s tension, banter and several toe-curling moments. Nyfain singlehandedly blasted through my ovaries. Dragon shifters, what a blessing!
So should you read this? If you’re into romance like me, then absolutely! This is a fast, intense, spicy read and a perfect fairytale retelling. Read it now and thank me later.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy. Opinions are my own.
Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairytales. I read the original version, I watched the Disney movie a thousand times, and one of my favorite series ever begins as a Beauty and the Beast retelling. Needless to say, when this book crossed my path, I was immediately intrigued—even more so when I was told it was going to lean on the smuttier side.
GAAAH IT WAS AMAZING!
Fangasm moment aside, let’s dive into the elements I enjoyed about this story like the professional reviewer I pretend to be.
We’re eased into the worldbuilding without long passages of info-dumps. We piece it together by following the protagonist, Finley, through her everyday life in a village of a cursed kingdom. I was immediately intrigued by the curse, the demons, and the infamous beast lurking the woods. And it certainly helped that I loved Finley. She’s strong, capable, intelligent, and she has a very ironic voice that made reading things in her perspective fun. I also adored her interactions with her siblings, especially her older brother.
As far as the story goes, A Ruin of Roses is that type of retelling that I love above all else: the ones where you can actually tell what story is being retold. These days, books are marketed as retellings but they hold little to nothing to the original fairytale. Here we have a totally unique story with elements that echo the original tale: the beast, the castle, the curse, some pivotal plot points. It’s the little details that will make me say “I loved A Ruin of Roses!” whenever someone on Instagram asks about retellings.
And then, of course, there’s the romance. There’s instant chemistry, there’s tension, banter and several toe-curling moments. Nyfain singlehandedly blasted through my ovaries. Dragon shifters, what a blessing!
So should you read this? If you’re into romance like me, then absolutely! This is a fast, intense, spicy read and a perfect fairytale retelling. Read it now and thank me later.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy. Opinions are my own.
Beauty in the Beast is a tale as old as time—pun intended. It’s been retold countless times, and yet it always offers something new. A RUIN OF ROSES’s take on the story is raunchy, unapologetic, and humorous. Let me tell you a bit about it.
After a mad king made a deal with demons and subjected the entire kingdom to a terrible curse, Finley has to buckle up to guarantee her family’s survival. Not only has the curse locked down everyone’s shifter forms, but it caused a mortal sickness slowly decimating the population. Finley’s mother has already died from it, and now it risks killing her father, too. Through trial and error, Finley devises a tonic that helps slow down the sickness. Downfall? The plant she needs is the Forbidden Woods, guarded by a terrible beast. When the beast catches Finley, he takes her away to his castle instead of killing her. It turns out the beast is a man: Prince Nyfain, the last of the dragon shifters. Finley soon realizes the curse affecting the kingdom is far more complicated than she imagined, and in the midst of her heated bickering with Nyfain, she discovers she may be the only one who can help him break the curse, and the price could very well ruin her. What happens next? Well, you’ll have to read the book to find out!
A Ruin of Roses had a winning combination of fast plot, entertaining dialogue and fun characters. The language was at times a bit “mature”, but I didn’t particularly mind it, especially since it’s written in first person and I found Finley’s outspoken and unapologetic attitude endearing. I immediately clicked with her, and enjoyed getting to spend some time with her and her family before being thrust into the heart of the story. The world-building was delivered little by little as we followed Finley in her journey, without excessively long and verbose passages, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It helped to set the story apart from the retelling, though the original story remained recognizable through some key elements, characters and events presented through a very original lens.
The castle scenes were probably my favorite. We’re presented with a cast of comical secondary characters, an abundance of interesting supernatural activity, and quite a bit of debauchery. Spice levels were extremely high in this book, and this reflected perfectly in the relationship between Nyfain and Finley. The attraction between them moves very quickly, which doesn’t mean they’re quick to profess eternal love to one another. We’re talking lust, and lust doesn’t know slow burn. I do think I would have liked a few more key scenes between them, especially toward the ending, but if you like spicy couples, then you need Nyfain and Finley in your life.
Overall, an amazing read! I had a lot of fun reading this book, and recommend it to lovers of retellings and fast-paced, spicy adult reads.
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy to review. All opinions are my own.
After a mad king made a deal with demons and subjected the entire kingdom to a terrible curse, Finley has to buckle up to guarantee her family’s survival. Not only has the curse locked down everyone’s shifter forms, but it caused a mortal sickness slowly decimating the population. Finley’s mother has already died from it, and now it risks killing her father, too. Through trial and error, Finley devises a tonic that helps slow down the sickness. Downfall? The plant she needs is the Forbidden Woods, guarded by a terrible beast. When the beast catches Finley, he takes her away to his castle instead of killing her. It turns out the beast is a man: Prince Nyfain, the last of the dragon shifters. Finley soon realizes the curse affecting the kingdom is far more complicated than she imagined, and in the midst of her heated bickering with Nyfain, she discovers she may be the only one who can help him break the curse, and the price could very well ruin her. What happens next? Well, you’ll have to read the book to find out!
A Ruin of Roses had a winning combination of fast plot, entertaining dialogue and fun characters. The language was at times a bit “mature”, but I didn’t particularly mind it, especially since it’s written in first person and I found Finley’s outspoken and unapologetic attitude endearing. I immediately clicked with her, and enjoyed getting to spend some time with her and her family before being thrust into the heart of the story. The world-building was delivered little by little as we followed Finley in her journey, without excessively long and verbose passages, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It helped to set the story apart from the retelling, though the original story remained recognizable through some key elements, characters and events presented through a very original lens.
The castle scenes were probably my favorite. We’re presented with a cast of comical secondary characters, an abundance of interesting supernatural activity, and quite a bit of debauchery. Spice levels were extremely high in this book, and this reflected perfectly in the relationship between Nyfain and Finley. The attraction between them moves very quickly, which doesn’t mean they’re quick to profess eternal love to one another. We’re talking lust, and lust doesn’t know slow burn. I do think I would have liked a few more key scenes between them, especially toward the ending, but if you like spicy couples, then you need Nyfain and Finley in your life.
Overall, an amazing read! I had a lot of fun reading this book, and recommend it to lovers of retellings and fast-paced, spicy adult reads.
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy to review. All opinions are my own.
Es malo a conciencia. Me ha costado dios y ayuda acabarlo y era solo para poner la valoración.
A Ruin of Roses is the adult fantasy romance you never knew you needed! With an intriguing magical system and a cast of lovable and hilarious supporting characters, this series will have you hooked from the first page. The FMC is a fierce and experienced leader who knows her strengths and isn't afraid to use them, and her love and selflessness will have you rooting for her every step of the way. Also, there are some wild nights in a castle filled with sex demons and (mediocre) castle staff who are just looking for new ways to fill their time. If you're looking for a spicy and wild adventure, look no further than A Ruin of Roses. And the best part? The series is completed and available for free on Kindle Unlimited, so you can binge-read to your heart's content without any cliffhangers to worry about. Oh, and Hadriel is the name of your new BFF.