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For centuries, the town of Lirinsholme has been haunted by the cursed Dragon Lord. Every few years he comes to claim his next bride. What happens to them, no one knows, but he’s come to claim one of the town’s maidens again.
Rhianne has always dreamed of being a painter and not hiding her skills behind her father’s name, but when her family is brought to shame and faces destitution, she volunteers to become the Dragon’s latest bride. Adjusting to her new life is not easy, though. The very monster that plagues her town is now her husband, and though he supports her painting and provides her everything she could ever have hoped for, life at the keep is isolating and the mystery of the Dragon’s brides and their downfalls remains. If Rhianne can’t find a way to unravel the mystery, she may just be the Dragon’s next victim.
Dragon Rose is a gothic retelling of Beauty and the Beast with similarities to the One Thousand and One Nights tale, with a touch of The Hunger Games’ reaping ceremony. Despite its slow pace and one-dimensional characters, I found the story to be a pleasant enough read. I enjoyed the author’s take on this age-old tale, though probably not enough to continue with the series.
Rated: Mild, for two uses of mild language. Many suicides from the past are mentioned. A husband and wife consummate their marriage, but details are glossed over.
