// Quick Review // I put off reading Rebel Rose until last week, and unfortunately? I was quite disappointed with this novel. Despite it not being my cup of tea, this Beauty and the Beast ‘retelling’ is a sure favorite for fans of the classic fairy tale.
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"The happenstance of someone’s birth should not determine whether or not they are impoverished. It is up to those of us with power in whatever form to work to make the lives of everyone better, starting with those less fortunate than us…"
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// Other Information // Publisher: Disney-Hyperion Page Count: 352 pages Release Date: November 10, 2020 Series: The Queen’s Council #1 Genre: Fiction, Young adult, Fantasy, Retellings, Historical fiction, Fairy tales, Romance, Beauty and the beast
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// Book Description (via Goodreads) // Happily ever after is only the beginning as Belle takes on the responsibility of becoming queen and learns to balance duty, love, and sacrifice, all while navigating dark political intrigue—and a touch of magic.
It’s 1789 and France is on the brink of revolution. Belle has finally broken the Enchantress’s curse, restoring the Beast to his human form and bringing life back to their castle in the province of Aveyon. But in Paris, the fires of change are burning, and it’s only a matter of time before the rebellion arrives on their doorstep.
Not so very long ago, Belle dreamed of leaving her provincial home for a life of adventure. But now she finds herself living in a palace, torn between her past as a commoner, and her future as royalty. While Belle grapples with her newfound position, there are those who would do anything to keep her from power.
When she stumbles across a magic mirror that holds a dire warning, Belle wants nothing more than to ignore the mysterious voice calling her to accept a crown she never desired. But violent factions of the revolution may already be lurking within her own castle, and doing nothing would endanger everything she holds dear. With the fate of her country, her love, and her life at stake, Belle must decide if she is ready to embrace her own strength–and the magic that ties her to so many female rulers before her–to become the queen she is meant to be.
Rebel Rose is the first in the Queen’s Council series, an empowering fairy tale reimagining of the Disney Princesses-and the real history behind their stories-like you’ve never seen before.
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// Characters // Rebel Rose tells the story of Belle, my favorite Disney princess, and her life after the events of Beauty and the Beast. To be honest, the characters in this novel were my least favorite part of the novel.
It seemed as if the author didn’t spend enough time figuring out and creating authentic characters. First off, the characters are drastically different from the classic tale. Which I would be all for if the characters themselves were well-written. Since the novel is marketed as a retelling, it would have been nice to see a fresh twist on the characters. However, this was not the case.
I had no emotional attachments to the characters and frankly could not have cared less about their journeys in the novel.
The only bright side to the characters is the LGBTQ+ representation. I thought that Emma Theriault actually represented her queer characters very well. Rather than using her characters as tokens, their sexuality is integrated very well into the plot and story. Hercule Garoutte (aka LaFou) is gay like he is in the live-action 2017 Beauty and the Beast. However, rather than making him a stereotype like the movie, the author dove deeper into the reasoning behind his love for Gaston. Another character, Marguerite, is lesbian; her sexuality is also handled well.
The one thing that this novel does well with its characters is its representation. Despite taking place during the French Revolution, Emma Theriault authentically represents LGBTQ+ characters.
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"They could have stood there forever, twined together and perfectly still in the midst of the chaos that had engulfed the castle, and she would have been happy."
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// Writing and Setting // One of the best parts of this novel is the writing and setting. I found the author’s way of writing beautiful and perfectly descriptive.
I also was intrigued by the way the author grounded the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast in a more realistic world. I found this aspect to be the most exciting for me, as it was a brilliant way that the author attempted to put a spin on the story.
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// Plot // The story started off very promising, but as the story continued I became less and less sucked into the novel. The story seemed to drag for a long portion of the story.
However, I did find it interesting how Belle must conquer her struggles in a time when chaos is emerging across the country. ---
"I told you once before to trust your instincts. You've suppressed them for so long you no longer recognize them for what they are - a warning."
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// Overall Review // I will most likely not bother reading the rest of the series, as I didn't enjoy most of the novel. However, there are some positive aspects to the novel that makes it a worthwhile read for lovers of the well-known tale.