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mollywolfie's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
222184116's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
3.25
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review
4.0
The moment I heard about this book I knew I needed to have it. I'm one of those people loving both the fairytales, even the cheesy ones, and the ugly periods of history. I can enjoy Beauty and the Beast (although it's far from my favorite fairytale) and I can enjoy Les Miserables. So, I pre-ordered this book as soon as I could and then I waited impatiently until it arrived and then...I read other books and not this one. Time to finally rectify this.
This book was exactly what I had hoped and expected it to be though. I started reading and I just couldn't stop anymore. I read the book, literally, in one sitting and I enjoyed each chapter and each line. I understand that the book is not everyone's cup of tea. There is little action, apart from in the last part of the story, and most of the plot consists of planning, scheming and plotting. Basically Belle does what she does best: She's using her mind.
I also understand that people might miss the fairytale vibe in this story. There is a little magic in there, but it's not very prominent and not overwhelming. This book mostly shows us an important time in the history of France, and Europe in general. We learn a lot about the life of the royals, their attitude and how they saw the people begging for an affordable piece of bread. However, acting like this is only a story of the past, would be ignoring contemporary politics. In that way this book is the perfect way to learn a lot about politics and humanity, neatly wrapped up in an interesting story following Belle and Lio at the start of their happily ever after.
And although Beauty and the Beast has never been my favorite fairytale, and Belle has never been my favorite princess, I really liked the version of Belle and the version of Lio we saw in this book. Belle's inner conflicts and doubts make her interesting, especially combined with her curious nature and her sharp mind. Lio might not be perfect, he has a lot to learn and a lot of growing to do, but that also makes him realistic, a product of his historic time. I also really loved how the relationship between Belle and Lio took work, and talking, and forgiving and growing.
I really hope we'll get more books in this series. I would love to see more fairytale princesses struggling with the real life world!
This book was exactly what I had hoped and expected it to be though. I started reading and I just couldn't stop anymore. I read the book, literally, in one sitting and I enjoyed each chapter and each line. I understand that the book is not everyone's cup of tea. There is little action, apart from in the last part of the story, and most of the plot consists of planning, scheming and plotting. Basically Belle does what she does best: She's using her mind.
I also understand that people might miss the fairytale vibe in this story. There is a little magic in there, but it's not very prominent and not overwhelming. This book mostly shows us an important time in the history of France, and Europe in general. We learn a lot about the life of the royals, their attitude and how they saw the people begging for an affordable piece of bread. However, acting like this is only a story of the past, would be ignoring contemporary politics. In that way this book is the perfect way to learn a lot about politics and humanity, neatly wrapped up in an interesting story following Belle and Lio at the start of their happily ever after.
And although Beauty and the Beast has never been my favorite fairytale, and Belle has never been my favorite princess, I really liked the version of Belle and the version of Lio we saw in this book. Belle's inner conflicts and doubts make her interesting, especially combined with her curious nature and her sharp mind. Lio might not be perfect, he has a lot to learn and a lot of growing to do, but that also makes him realistic, a product of his historic time. I also really loved how the relationship between Belle and Lio took work, and talking, and forgiving and growing.
I really hope we'll get more books in this series. I would love to see more fairytale princesses struggling with the real life world!
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review
2.0
2/5
This book was slow, I’m not going to lie. I felt like throughout the book Belle wasn’t able to fight on her own. The only character that stood out to me was the enchantress because her character was at least somewhat new and different and I didn’t need to read other the same names I grew up with. I guess what I’m saying is that I found out while reading this book that I prefer retellings of fairytales to be like the original story but change it up to make it different to the point of new characters in place of the old ones.
This book was slow, I’m not going to lie. I felt like throughout the book Belle wasn’t able to fight on her own. The only character that stood out to me was the enchantress because her character was at least somewhat new and different and I didn’t need to read other the same names I grew up with. I guess what I’m saying is that I found out while reading this book that I prefer retellings of fairytales to be like the original story but change it up to make it different to the point of new characters in place of the old ones.
brittster622's review
5.0
Rebel Rose follows Belle after "The Beast" has become human and resumes his role as a political leader in France. She is in the time of the French Revolution and is having to navigate trusting lords and ladies, and becoming a political leader herself. This is the story we have all been waiting for that we didn't know we needed.
It is full of nods to the original story while providing such a fulfilling, complex, and truly robust world. Belle is nuanced and strong and likable. I loved that rather than a "retelling", this story continues where we left off with the original story. I wish I could express how satisfying this book was, but alas, I do not a have a way with words like the author of this enchanting tale. The author also does an excellent job of incorporating true French culture that is relevant to the book's setting. The combination of the true historical elements and the familiar and magical Disney fairy tale elements, make this story exquisite.
Beauty and the Beast has never been one of my favorite Disney stories, but I adored this book. I cannot wait for more books in this series and I truly hope they tackle as many of our beloved Disney tales as possible.
It is full of nods to the original story while providing such a fulfilling, complex, and truly robust world. Belle is nuanced and strong and likable. I loved that rather than a "retelling", this story continues where we left off with the original story. I wish I could express how satisfying this book was, but alas, I do not a have a way with words like the author of this enchanting tale. The author also does an excellent job of incorporating true French culture that is relevant to the book's setting. The combination of the true historical elements and the familiar and magical Disney fairy tale elements, make this story exquisite.
Beauty and the Beast has never been one of my favorite Disney stories, but I adored this book. I cannot wait for more books in this series and I truly hope they tackle as many of our beloved Disney tales as possible.
marieintheraw's review
3.0
Overall, a solid fairytale history, but the Beast makes this need a second glance.
I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
betharanova's review
4.0
Belle and the Beast may have broken a decade-old curse, but now it's time to face... the French Revolution! This is a fun, grown-up sequel to my favorite Disney movie. It's got history, politics, love, and an ominous hint of magic.
When the curse vanished, most everyone in the French principality of Aveyon suddenly remembered the prince and forgot the Beast, left with hazy memories of their prince's absence. The happy couple is deeply in love yet not entirely healed from prior events. After a few months, they travel to Paris so that the prince can re-establish himself at court, with the help of his worldly cousin, Bastien. But no one has to worry about King Louis' regard for very long, because that's precisely when the revolution breaks out. Belle, the prince, and Bastien flee back to Aveyon to secure the land against growing unrest—even as Belle is haunted by lingering magic and the prince by rumors of betrayal.
The characters' precise voices did not survive the collision with real French history. Everyone reads differently, more like an adult character. This affects the prince especially. But can you hear Robby Benson's Beast voice talking about reforms and wanting to sleep with his wife? I can't. So I'm inclined to forgive the maturing of character voices for the sake of the novel. (Besides, now the prince reads like Tamlin, and I love it.)
Maturity doesn't necessarily mean complexity, however. The villain severely lacked pizzazz or mystery. Toward the end, we briefly veered toward the woo-woo end of feminism to present the moral, which was simply that Belle should trust her instincts. Actually, it's presented as if Belle should trust her gut over investigation or figuring things out, and excuse me, but I thought stubborn curiosity was Belle's whole thing?? She has brain cells in this book, but it's as if the story wants her to use magical women's intuition instead. The star off is legitimately just for this point. Miss me with that. Thankfully, the annoying parts of this are fairly brief.
I had a good time with everything else: revisiting Aveyon on a grander scale, my lifetime otp as an imperfect but loving married couple, the added sense of reality to all the other characters I loved. And following Belle through her journey was great. That's my girl! She's finding a new meaning to the adventure she wanted! She's making her way in a new world! This book really does add a novel depth to the world of Beauty and the Beast.
When the curse vanished, most everyone in the French principality of Aveyon suddenly remembered the prince and forgot the Beast, left with hazy memories of their prince's absence. The happy couple is deeply in love yet not entirely healed from prior events. After a few months, they travel to Paris so that the prince can re-establish himself at court, with the help of his worldly cousin, Bastien. But no one has to worry about King Louis' regard for very long, because that's precisely when the revolution breaks out. Belle, the prince, and Bastien flee back to Aveyon to secure the land against growing unrest—even as Belle is haunted by lingering magic and the prince by rumors of betrayal.
The characters' precise voices did not survive the collision with real French history. Everyone reads differently, more like an adult character. This affects the prince especially. But can you hear Robby Benson's Beast voice talking about reforms and wanting to sleep with his wife? I can't. So I'm inclined to forgive the maturing of character voices for the sake of the novel. (Besides, now the prince reads like Tamlin, and I love it.)
Maturity doesn't necessarily mean complexity, however. The villain severely lacked pizzazz or mystery. Toward the end, we briefly veered toward the woo-woo end of feminism to present the moral, which was simply that Belle should trust her instincts. Actually, it's presented as if Belle should trust her gut over investigation or figuring things out, and excuse me, but I thought stubborn curiosity was Belle's whole thing?? She has brain cells in this book, but it's as if the story wants her to use magical women's intuition instead. The star off is legitimately just for this point. Miss me with that. Thankfully, the annoying parts of this are fairly brief.
I had a good time with everything else: revisiting Aveyon on a grander scale, my lifetime otp as an imperfect but loving married couple, the added sense of reality to all the other characters I loved. And following Belle through her journey was great. That's my girl! She's finding a new meaning to the adventure she wanted! She's making her way in a new world! This book really does add a novel depth to the world of Beauty and the Beast.
clairecreativecorner101's review
4.0
My favourite genre of book is fairytale/fantasy and I really enjoy retellings of famous fairytale stories and so I was really excited to discover this new series: The Queen’s Council which takes on the famous Disney princesses and retell’s their stories in a historical setting and when I found out the first book Rebel Rose was Beauty and The Beast themed I had to pick it up.
Rebel Rose follows Belle after the curse has been broken and she is married to the prince and it is set in France during a time where it is on the brink of revolution. So Belle has to battle with her new role and also her past life before she married the prince.
I really liked the way the well known characters were developed in particular Belle having to decide to take up her new role and it was great seeing the servant characters in the book as well. I loved the developed relationship between Belle and the prince, you can see that they do really love each other but he is still haunted by the curse. Also it was really nice to see the link backs to the original story with moments from the film so it still felt like the Original story.
The new characters were good as well and it was nice to see Belle have a female companion as a friend and she had her own secret which I wasn’t expecting.
My only issue with the book there was a lot of french words used a lot through the book and the various french names were quite difficult to keep track off but that was my only issue with it.
Overall if you are a Disney fan and you like fairytale retellings give this book a try and I can’t wait for more books in this series
Rebel Rose follows Belle after the curse has been broken and she is married to the prince and it is set in France during a time where it is on the brink of revolution. So Belle has to battle with her new role and also her past life before she married the prince.
I really liked the way the well known characters were developed in particular Belle having to decide to take up her new role and it was great seeing the servant characters in the book as well. I loved the developed relationship between Belle and the prince, you can see that they do really love each other but he is still haunted by the curse. Also it was really nice to see the link backs to the original story with moments from the film so it still felt like the Original story.
The new characters were good as well and it was nice to see Belle have a female companion as a friend and she had her own secret which I wasn’t expecting.
My only issue with the book there was a lot of french words used a lot through the book and the various french names were quite difficult to keep track off but that was my only issue with it.
Overall if you are a Disney fan and you like fairytale retellings give this book a try and I can’t wait for more books in this series
killerkakez1224's review
4.0
This book is a slow burn, quiet and simmering until the finale. While it was a struggle to find my stride, I'm glad that I stuck it out.