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A review by danaslitlist
The Language of Roses by Heather Rose Jones
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Thank you to Netgalley and Queen of Swords Press for allowing me to read an advanced digital copy in exchange for a honest review!
Once upon a time a rich merchant got lost on his way home and sought refuge in the great manor. After he had his fill of food and took his rest, he plucked a single rose from the garden. But this rose came with a price and now Alys, his eldest daughter, has taken the place of her father's punishment and come to live the Beast and his sister. What will she discover in this abandoned castle with unseen servants and the mystery of a girl who disappeared long ago from the very place Alys now lives.
Once upon a time a rich merchant got lost on his way home and sought refuge in the great manor. After he had his fill of food and took his rest, he plucked a single rose from the garden. But this rose came with a price and now Alys, his eldest daughter, has taken the place of her father's punishment and come to live the Beast and his sister. What will she discover in this abandoned castle with unseen servants and the mystery of a girl who disappeared long ago from the very place Alys now lives.
Growing up I was obsessed with the story of The Beauty and the Beast in any shape or form I could get my hands on. So when I saw the cover for The Language of Roses and read the premise I was excited to hear how this story played out. The retelling of fairy tales is a not by any means a new idea, but the way that Heather Rose Jones retells the story of The Beauty and the Beast certainly stood out from any other retelling I have ever read before.
Let's start with the characters and how Ms. Jones managed to make me fall in love with them even with such a short story. The cast of characters is diverse, but also very complex. For example; the Beast in this story is considered both charming and cruel even in his cursed form. It was a very clever way of stating a common misconception about what an toxic or abusive individual looks like. It's clear that the author crafted her characters with purpose and put a lot of thought in the way she wanted to have them interact and parallel one another. I applaud Ms. Jones for being able to depict growth that felt realistic and worked for despite the book only being around one hundred and thirty pages.
I would be remiss to not mention how it warmed my heart to have a beautiful gay couple in this retelling. Their story is center stage and not overshadowed or used for merely a plot device. In truth it is the core of The Language of Roses. Being able to see a relationship that resembles my own idea of love in a fairy tale (and my favorite fairy tale at that) was truly a gift that I can't say thank you for enough.
Next let's discuss the prose. My very first note I made during my initial read of The Language of Roses was on the author's prose. Heather Rose Jones so clearly chooses her words with care and arranges them to form sentences with intent. It was as if I was looking at a beautiful painting and for every minute I observed the painting the more details I found. She's an artist with her words and so I found myself reading in earnest.
By far, however, my favorite part of The Language of Roses was the plot and the way that Heather Rose Jones retold the story. It seems an obvious thing to say that one enjoyed the plot of a book, but in this case I think it requires an expanded explanation as to why. The author is such a clever storyteller and from the beginning of the book makes sure to leave breadcrumbs for the reader so that when plot points are revealed you are able to trace your way back to find those foreshadowing moments.
She utilizes the changing points of view with talent and ease in order to deliver details and expand on character's thoughts and feelings. There's a beautiful weaving of the original story's core into the book while maintaining the lessons and ideas Heather Rose Jones wants to share. She does not remained tethered to outdated ideas nor do the changes made come across as artificial. Heather Rose Jones manages to pay respect to the original story while staying true to her own inspiration.
She utilizes the changing points of view with talent and ease in order to deliver details and expand on character's thoughts and feelings. There's a beautiful weaving of the original story's core into the book while maintaining the lessons and ideas Heather Rose Jones wants to share. She does not remained tethered to outdated ideas nor do the changes made come across as artificial. Heather Rose Jones manages to pay respect to the original story while staying true to her own inspiration.
The only critique that I can think to mention isn't necessarily a critique. I simply wish the story was longer. If there was more I feel that the plot could have been slowed to allow for even more details and lore. However I think that Ms. Jones does a beautiful enough job in the short story format.
I look forward to buying a physical copy of this book and sharing it with others!
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse