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3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was an interesting extension to the story of Beauty and the Beast. It was a decent read. I did not become too attached to the story, but it kept my interest throughout.
This was an interesting extension to the story of Beauty and the Beast. It was a decent read. I did not become too attached to the story, but it kept my interest throughout.
Rebel Rose has been one of my most anticipated reads of this year. I loved the idea of a continuation of Beauty and The Beast that focused on what would happen once the fairytale was over and in many ways this was definitely what I was hoping for, but it also wasn't.
If you're going into this book expecting a lot of romance between Lio (The Beast) and Belle, you might be a little disappointed. The romance is overtly present throughout the entire book to be sure, but their moments together are somewhat fleeting. Still, when they are together it is absolutely lovely and left me always wanting more.
Now - Belle is obviously the star of the show in this book. She's still searching for an adventure off in the great wide somewhere, the only difference is that now she's not alone. She has Lio, of course, and a few others.
There's also a revolution happening in France and at the end of the day, Belle is determined to make sure that Lio's people (and hers by default) are not in the same mindset. There were times when I was frustrated with how much Belle was lying to Lio because it didn't feel like something she would do, but in the end she was just as headstrong as always.
There was definitely something sentimental to seeing Mrs. Potts and Lumiere and Cogworths running about throughout the story that warmed my heart. I also found several of Theriault's main characters to be absolutely captivating, if not frustrating in their own right.
Overall, there were a few parts that I found a little slow going (or moving a bit too quickly) , but overall I absolutely enjoyed what I did get to read. Sadly the book expired on my app before I could finish the last few pages, but overall that just makes me more interested in buying the physically book.
If you're going into this book expecting a lot of romance between Lio (The Beast) and Belle, you might be a little disappointed. The romance is overtly present throughout the entire book to be sure, but their moments together are somewhat fleeting. Still, when they are together it is absolutely lovely and left me always wanting more.
Now - Belle is obviously the star of the show in this book. She's still searching for an adventure off in the great wide somewhere, the only difference is that now she's not alone. She has Lio, of course, and a few others.
There's also a revolution happening in France and at the end of the day, Belle is determined to make sure that Lio's people (and hers by default) are not in the same mindset. There were times when I was frustrated with how much Belle was lying to Lio because it didn't feel like something she would do, but in the end she was just as headstrong as always.
There was definitely something sentimental to seeing Mrs. Potts and Lumiere and Cogworths running about throughout the story that warmed my heart. I also found several of Theriault's main characters to be absolutely captivating, if not frustrating in their own right.
Overall, there were a few parts that I found a little slow going (or moving a bit too quickly) , but overall I absolutely enjoyed what I did get to read. Sadly the book expired on my app before I could finish the last few pages, but overall that just makes me more interested in buying the physically book.
I'm still trying to figure out how I felt about this. I liked it, but at the same time it didn't stick with me at all, and I didn't really connect with a single character. At this point I'm thinking three stars, but that may change the more I think about it.
I received an eARC from Edelweiss in exchange for a true review.
"Rebel Rose" was an exquisite retelling by Emma Theriault. To be perfectly honest, it wasn't a retelling so much as a continuation to the "Beauty and the Beast". Either way, it was historically accurate with the events that led up to the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror. I found it very interesting to see it from a neighboring countries point of view (despite Aveyon not really existing) on these two eras in France.
This book is honestly all about believing in yourself. Belle insisted that she was just a normal, peasant girl who was married to a king. She is constantly demoting herself, doubting herself, because she doesn't want to have power over others, and others control her because of this weakness. By the end of the book, she accepts that she can be queen and by being queen, she can use her power to help others far more than staying completely the simple girl she once was.
The story is very well done. It takes us on a trip to Paris because of Belle breaking the curse over the Beast (aka Lio) - they have to explain why he has been missing for ten years (no one remembers he got turned into a Beast besides those in the castle). In Paris, the sparks of revolution are being flamed and Belle accidentally gets caught up in it. She was "pulled" to a mirror shop and sees a terrible future for Aveyon if she and Lio don't return ASAP. They do so, and they think it best to crown Lio as King and secede from France. They crown Lio, and soon here whispers of someone plotting against Lio. Lio's cousin, Bastien, persuades Lio to take action by visiting Aveyon's nobles, to see if he (Lio) can root out the conspirators. While Lio's away, Bastien takes full control of Aveyon, and treats Belle badly. Belle mistrusts him greatly, but doesn't know what she can do to stop him. She wants to find out how the commoners of Aveyon feel about her and Lio, so she embarks on a journey to her old town of Pleasance. There, she finds the starts of a revolution led by LeFou. She barely escapes before someone calls her out, with help from Marguerite (a female friend). They return to the castle and find out that Bastien has been lying the whole time. The day of the ball following up to Belle's event, Belle overhears a couple of men talking about assassinating Lio. Someone catches her, and they bind/ blindfold her and take her to the deepest cellar. There, she understands that Bastien has been playing them the whole time - he has been planning to take down Aveyon. LeFou enters, and Belle and him discuss how Gaston fell off the tower by himself. LeFou admits that he loved Gaston, and Belle soothes him. LeFou frees her and they escape to the upstairs. They meet up with Marguerite and her brother, and they plan to stop the assassination. They find the evidence to prove that Bastien was behind it all, and they make their way to the location of the ball. There, Belle confronts Bastien and she saves the day!
This series is titled "The Queen's Council" which I didn't quite understand at first. This book seemed more like a standalone, which it is, in a way. However, the queen's council is actually a magic-user who "councils" queens who are in need, who store past queen's strengths, fears, and weaknesses to aid future queens. Her name is Orella, and she was the one who placed the curse on Lio (aka the Beast) in the first place because she foresaw that Belle would be the savior of Aveyon.
The one thing I found lacking was the way it was written. I felt that it needed to be more lyrical and a bit more dramatic to set in the time frame. Other than that, excellent job to Emma Theriault and her amazing book!
"Rebel Rose" was an exquisite retelling by Emma Theriault. To be perfectly honest, it wasn't a retelling so much as a continuation to the "Beauty and the Beast". Either way, it was historically accurate with the events that led up to the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror. I found it very interesting to see it from a neighboring countries point of view (despite Aveyon not really existing) on these two eras in France.
This book is honestly all about believing in yourself. Belle insisted that she was just a normal, peasant girl who was married to a king. She is constantly demoting herself, doubting herself, because she doesn't want to have power over others, and others control her because of this weakness. By the end of the book, she accepts that she can be queen and by being queen, she can use her power to help others far more than staying completely the simple girl she once was.
The story is very well done. It takes us on a trip to Paris because of Belle breaking the curse over the Beast (aka Lio) - they have to explain why he has been missing for ten years (no one remembers he got turned into a Beast besides those in the castle). In Paris, the sparks of revolution are being flamed and Belle accidentally gets caught up in it. She was "pulled" to a mirror shop and sees a terrible future for Aveyon if she and Lio don't return ASAP. They do so, and they think it best to crown Lio as King and secede from France. They crown Lio, and soon here whispers of someone plotting against Lio. Lio's cousin, Bastien, persuades Lio to take action by visiting Aveyon's nobles, to see if he (Lio) can root out the conspirators. While Lio's away, Bastien takes full control of Aveyon, and treats Belle badly. Belle mistrusts him greatly, but doesn't know what she can do to stop him. She wants to find out how the commoners of Aveyon feel about her and Lio, so she embarks on a journey to her old town of Pleasance. There, she finds the starts of a revolution led by LeFou. She barely escapes before someone calls her out, with help from Marguerite (a female friend). They return to the castle and find out that Bastien has been lying the whole time. The day of the ball following up to Belle's event, Belle overhears a couple of men talking about assassinating Lio. Someone catches her, and they bind/ blindfold her and take her to the deepest cellar. There, she understands that Bastien has been playing them the whole time - he has been planning to take down Aveyon. LeFou enters, and Belle and him discuss how Gaston fell off the tower by himself. LeFou admits that he loved Gaston, and Belle soothes him. LeFou frees her and they escape to the upstairs. They meet up with Marguerite and her brother, and they plan to stop the assassination. They find the evidence to prove that Bastien was behind it all, and they make their way to the location of the ball. There, Belle confronts Bastien and she saves the day!
This series is titled "The Queen's Council" which I didn't quite understand at first. This book seemed more like a standalone, which it is, in a way. However, the queen's council is actually a magic-user who "councils" queens who are in need, who store past queen's strengths, fears, and weaknesses to aid future queens. Her name is Orella, and she was the one who placed the curse on Lio (aka the Beast) in the first place because she foresaw that Belle would be the savior of Aveyon.
The one thing I found lacking was the way it was written. I felt that it needed to be more lyrical and a bit more dramatic to set in the time frame. Other than that, excellent job to Emma Theriault and her amazing book!
Maybe 2.5
I wanted to like this book more than I did!
There were some things I really wnjoyed about this book, like how the French Revolution was woven into it. But there were other parts that I think just didn't work as well as they could have.
I wanted to like this book more than I did!
There were some things I really wnjoyed about this book, like how the French Revolution was woven into it. But there were other parts that I think just didn't work as well as they could have.
Belle was quite flat and there was no chemistry between her and Lio (the former Beast). The villain was painfully obvious and the story was boring. I was so intrigued by the concept but the execution was lacking.
This is a continuation of beauty and the beast and shows belle and the Prince after the story we know. I didn’t really enjoy this and I found it a little predictable. I thought there were some aspects that were okay but I didn’t connect to the characters or the plot. A little disappointing.
Thanks to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for giving me the chance to read and review this E-ARC. I will publish this review on my blog (A Bookish Star), Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Instagram (@ABookishStar) closer to the publication date.
I loved this book! If you take anything from this review, then know that I adored Rebel Rose and I highly recommend it. It is essentially a sequel to Beauty and the Beast. It answers the question of what happens after the curse is lifted? This book combines history and fantasy. It is set during The French Revolution.
My favourite fairy tale and Disney movie are and will always be Beauty and the Beast. I can read countless retellings about Belle and the Beast and never grow tired of them. However, Rebel Rose is one adaptation that sticks out, and brings something new, amongst all the other retellings. It is the first retelling I have read that asks the question: What happens next? What happens when the fairy tale has ended? Does the relationship between the Beast and Belle survive? What challenges do they face next?
Theriault has created a heavily character-driven story. I love Disney's version of Belle in Beauty and the Beast. However, I love Theriault's version even more. Belle, in Rebel Rose, is coming to terms with her new life in the castle. She is struggling with the question of who is she? She is struggling between her identity as a person raised as a commoner and as a person married to a Prince. She feels she is in between two worlds without fully belonging to either one of them. I loved how Belle's character developed throughout the three hundred pages. I was easily able to pinpoint where she had started and how she has grown throughout the book.
Rebel Rose is a story about learning to trust oneself and others. Trust your instincts! Have confidence in your beliefs! It is a story about speaking up and not letting your voice be silenced or diminished.
I enjoyed the romance between Lio (the Beast) and Belle. I thought it was adorable, and I was always wanting more page time with the two characters. By the end of this novel, I was left craving more stories between Lio and Belle. I'm sad to know that future books in this series will not contain Belle and Lio.
The side characters and the antagonist were just as fleshed out as Belle. I felt the characters brought the world of Aveyon to life. I couldn't help but fall in love with Mrs. Potts, Chip, Cogsworth, Lumiere, and Marguerite.
Rebel Rose takes place around The French Revolution. I liked that the plot centred around the issues between the different classes around that time. The events of the story are a bit predictable. It wasn't hard for me to guess who the antagonist was in this story. However, all that being said, I like the overall message of this book. I liked how the author ended Rebel Rose. I think this book gives a good message to its readers.
Overall, I loved reading Rebel Rose. I think fans of Beauty and the Beast will not be disappointed with this take on the classic fairytale. I enjoyed the incorporation of history with fantasy. I felt that the characters brought this book and its world-building to life. I loved the message of trusting oneself and speaking up for what you believe in.
I loved this book! If you take anything from this review, then know that I adored Rebel Rose and I highly recommend it. It is essentially a sequel to Beauty and the Beast. It answers the question of what happens after the curse is lifted? This book combines history and fantasy. It is set during The French Revolution.
My favourite fairy tale and Disney movie are and will always be Beauty and the Beast. I can read countless retellings about Belle and the Beast and never grow tired of them. However, Rebel Rose is one adaptation that sticks out, and brings something new, amongst all the other retellings. It is the first retelling I have read that asks the question: What happens next? What happens when the fairy tale has ended? Does the relationship between the Beast and Belle survive? What challenges do they face next?
Theriault has created a heavily character-driven story. I love Disney's version of Belle in Beauty and the Beast. However, I love Theriault's version even more. Belle, in Rebel Rose, is coming to terms with her new life in the castle. She is struggling with the question of who is she? She is struggling between her identity as a person raised as a commoner and as a person married to a Prince. She feels she is in between two worlds without fully belonging to either one of them. I loved how Belle's character developed throughout the three hundred pages. I was easily able to pinpoint where she had started and how she has grown throughout the book.
Rebel Rose is a story about learning to trust oneself and others. Trust your instincts! Have confidence in your beliefs! It is a story about speaking up and not letting your voice be silenced or diminished.
I enjoyed the romance between Lio (the Beast) and Belle. I thought it was adorable, and I was always wanting more page time with the two characters. By the end of this novel, I was left craving more stories between Lio and Belle. I'm sad to know that future books in this series will not contain Belle and Lio.
The side characters and the antagonist were just as fleshed out as Belle. I felt the characters brought the world of Aveyon to life. I couldn't help but fall in love with Mrs. Potts, Chip, Cogsworth, Lumiere, and Marguerite.
Rebel Rose takes place around The French Revolution. I liked that the plot centred around the issues between the different classes around that time. The events of the story are a bit predictable. It wasn't hard for me to guess who the antagonist was in this story. However, all that being said, I like the overall message of this book. I liked how the author ended Rebel Rose. I think this book gives a good message to its readers.
Overall, I loved reading Rebel Rose. I think fans of Beauty and the Beast will not be disappointed with this take on the classic fairytale. I enjoyed the incorporation of history with fantasy. I felt that the characters brought this book and its world-building to life. I loved the message of trusting oneself and speaking up for what you believe in.
On paper, this had everything that would make me love it: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the French Revolution, a progressive Belle. But it just didn’t work for me. I couldn’t connect with the story or the characters. I was frustrated with the characters and their actions most of the time. It wasn’t terrible and I didn’t hate it, but it just wasn’t that great.
2.5 stars
2.5 stars
Rebel Rose takes place a few months after the curse is broken by the Beast and Belle. Belle does not want to take any titles and must find her way with the Prince. The Prince-Lio, and Belle go to Paris to meet with his cousin Bastien. Revolution is occurring in Paris. Will it escape into their kingdom?
I really liked the imagined world of what life would be like for Belle and Lio after the curse is broken. There is a lot of political intrigue in this novel. I guessed who the villain was very short in the story though.
I really liked the imagined world of what life would be like for Belle and Lio after the curse is broken. There is a lot of political intrigue in this novel. I guessed who the villain was very short in the story though.