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3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
🔥3.5
Tropes:
đź’‹ Stalker
đź’‹ Enemies to Lovers
đź’‹ Beauty & The Beast Retelling
Think high society, with a touch of mafia, centered around social media conglomerates - and add some magical elements, an inclusion of synesthesia and a dark obsession to describe the vibes of this book!
There are four families who compete with their social media presence. Each platform is used to power certain crystals/gems that provide the families with long, healthy lives. Alana and Thorn are in opposing families, but circumstances bring them together - going from foes to allies, they must work as a team to save, not only their families livelihoods, but the lives that are at stake as well.
I did enjoy the aspects that made this book so unique, but I do wish I had some clarification or more details on how the “magic” worked. The crystals/gems are these magical items that contain power and are able to be manipulated by certain people - but there isn’t much of an explanation as to how or why the energy flows in the way that it does. Since this is the first installment of the series, I have high hopes that we will get more details on this in later books.
Somehow, when I decided to read this book - I did not catch that it was a Beauty and the Beast retelling. I absolutely loved my surprised realization as I was reading! I feel like Rebecca did an amazing job capturing the essence of the fairytale while definitely making it her own. I can’t wait to read the next installment - One Dark Kiss!
Tropes:
đź’‹ Stalker
đź’‹ Enemies to Lovers
đź’‹ Beauty & The Beast Retelling
Think high society, with a touch of mafia, centered around social media conglomerates - and add some magical elements, an inclusion of synesthesia and a dark obsession to describe the vibes of this book!
There are four families who compete with their social media presence. Each platform is used to power certain crystals/gems that provide the families with long, healthy lives. Alana and Thorn are in opposing families, but circumstances bring them together - going from foes to allies, they must work as a team to save, not only their families livelihoods, but the lives that are at stake as well.
I did enjoy the aspects that made this book so unique, but I do wish I had some clarification or more details on how the “magic” worked. The crystals/gems are these magical items that contain power and are able to be manipulated by certain people - but there isn’t much of an explanation as to how or why the energy flows in the way that it does. Since this is the first installment of the series, I have high hopes that we will get more details on this in later books.
Somehow, when I decided to read this book - I did not catch that it was a Beauty and the Beast retelling. I absolutely loved my surprised realization as I was reading! I feel like Rebecca did an amazing job capturing the essence of the fairytale while definitely making it her own. I can’t wait to read the next installment - One Dark Kiss!
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So hard to rate. Fantasy in the modern time is always cringy to me but it wasn't too bad in this book. That being said, this was a very different retelling of beauty and the beast which made this book very hard to put down. I needed to know how it ended. BUT chapter 28 ( i think, the part with the belt) was the awful and hated it so much i skipped that part. I could never recommend this book to another person's face but i did finish it in one day. So dirty
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is part of the Grimm Bargains series, a dark retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and dives into Thorn and Alana's romance.
I loved this book and devoured every page quickly! I have a soft spot for Fairytale Reimaginings, and Zanetti wrote this one beautifully! There was plenty of banter between our main characters. The spice was well placed, and a little mystery and danger thrown in kept me hooked until the last page. I did not want to put this book down! This is perfect for fans of Luna Mason and H.D. Carlton. As always, make sure you check the trigger warnings before you delve into this dark romance and enjoy every delicious scene.
I can't wait until One Dark Kiss comes out to continue this series!!
I loved this book and devoured every page quickly! I have a soft spot for Fairytale Reimaginings, and Zanetti wrote this one beautifully! There was plenty of banter between our main characters. The spice was well placed, and a little mystery and danger thrown in kept me hooked until the last page. I did not want to put this book down! This is perfect for fans of Luna Mason and H.D. Carlton. As always, make sure you check the trigger warnings before you delve into this dark romance and enjoy every delicious scene.
I can't wait until One Dark Kiss comes out to continue this series!!
kinda my fault cause I read it without even looking it up but I was not expecting that
Not my cup of tea, friend recommend it and it was just too much for me. The knife part is what got me. The writing was simplistic and the story was fast pace and interesting but the "dark romance" just not my thing even thought yhis was market as a fantasy. My SIL is into this but not me. She loved this book.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is NOT your average Rebecca Zanetti read.
**Check your trigger warnings**
Abuse
BDSM
Knife play
Graphic violence
Childhood trauma
Wow….
I’ve been a Rebecca Zanetti fan for YEARS, almost since the beginning of her career. She is a versatile author, can write just about any genre. Rebecca’s character development is top notch and her storytelling is best of the best. And now she’s dipped her proverbial toe into the dark romance genre with One Cursed Rose.
After I finished One Cursed Rose, I feel I have to side-eye Rebecca and wonder where she pulled THAT out of her bag of author tricks. There were some parts of the book that did make me uncomfortable so I’ll say again, check your trigger warnings before reading.
One Cursed Rose is a dark and twisted retelling of Beauty and the Beast. In this world, depravity and immorality run rampant, vengeance is just, and power is the ultimate prize and the greatest equalizer. If you’re looking for a Disney prince to save you, you’ve come to the wrong place.
Alana is a multifaceted woman with so much strength and passion. I really like her. Thorn is sinfully decadent and a mystery the readers need to unravel for themselves. The secondary characters are complex and mysterious and absolutely kept me engaged in the story until the very end. The book left me wanting to know ALL their stories.
I do have mixed feelings about One Cursed Rose. The story is solid and entertaining. But the relationship that develops between Alana and Thorn is a dark and twisty mess, leaving me with confused and uncomfortable feelings I’m still trying to process.
I would recommend the book to those that truly enjoy reading dark romances. Check your trigger warnings and be prepared. I’m looking forward–hesitantly–to the next Grimm Bargains tale.
**Thank you to Kensington for a free copy of the book**
**Check your trigger warnings**
Abuse
BDSM
Knife play
Graphic violence
Childhood trauma
Wow….
I’ve been a Rebecca Zanetti fan for YEARS, almost since the beginning of her career. She is a versatile author, can write just about any genre. Rebecca’s character development is top notch and her storytelling is best of the best. And now she’s dipped her proverbial toe into the dark romance genre with One Cursed Rose.
After I finished One Cursed Rose, I feel I have to side-eye Rebecca and wonder where she pulled THAT out of her bag of author tricks. There were some parts of the book that did make me uncomfortable so I’ll say again, check your trigger warnings before reading.
One Cursed Rose is a dark and twisted retelling of Beauty and the Beast. In this world, depravity and immorality run rampant, vengeance is just, and power is the ultimate prize and the greatest equalizer. If you’re looking for a Disney prince to save you, you’ve come to the wrong place.
Alana is a multifaceted woman with so much strength and passion. I really like her. Thorn is sinfully decadent and a mystery the readers need to unravel for themselves. The secondary characters are complex and mysterious and absolutely kept me engaged in the story until the very end. The book left me wanting to know ALL their stories.
I do have mixed feelings about One Cursed Rose. The story is solid and entertaining. But the relationship that develops between Alana and Thorn is a dark and twisty mess, leaving me with confused and uncomfortable feelings I’m still trying to process.
I would recommend the book to those that truly enjoy reading dark romances. Check your trigger warnings and be prepared. I’m looking forward–hesitantly–to the next Grimm Bargains tale.
**Thank you to Kensington for a free copy of the book**
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think this book suffered from some over-editing. This world seems so interesting and I wish there wasn’t more explanation about the crystal origins, how they get their power, and the strengths of each stone.
I am sad that Alana and Thorn do not get a second book focusing on them, because we just did not get enough of them in this book.
I am sad that Alana and Thorn do not get a second book focusing on them, because we just did not get enough of them in this book.