This review contains affiliate links, which earn me a small commission when you click and purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business and allowing me to continue providing you a reliable resource for clean book ratings.
The year is 1789. Belle has finally broken the Enchantress’s curse, restoring the Beast to his human form, and bringing life back to the province of Aveyon. But mere months after their wedding, Belle and Leo discover a Paris on the brink of revolution. How long until the French Revolution finds its way to their small kingdom? And is there anything they can do to stop it?
Belle always dreamed of leaving her provincial home for a life of adventure, but now she feels like a prisoner, trapped in a palace and torn between her past as a commoner and her future as the wife of a new king. Belle seeks more than anything to make a difference in her land — to find a way to listen to the people and make the world a better place — but even as she grapples with her new position, someone seeks to keep her powerless and silent.
I didn’t love this book; I didn’t hate it, either. Rebel Rose is more of a continuation to Disney’s live-action fairy tale than a retelling in and of itself. All the familiar characters I loved from the original cartoon are there — Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts — but don’t be fooled. They’re not the characters you think you know. Instead of coming across as as courageous, stubborn, and caring, the Belle from Rebel Rose comes across as somewhat selfish, reluctant, and petulant. Also, Leo — AKA the Beast — is surprisingly absent for most of the story, taking backstage to his cousin, Bastien.
However, I appreciated that the author thought to explore the tentative trust between Belle and Leo as newlyweds who are still unsure of themselves, as well as Leo’s lingering PTSD from the curse. Also, the incorporation of historical events was an outstanding concept, and while I still found myself wishing that I had been given more of a glimpse into the time period and the French Revolution, I’m interested to see where the author takes it in the sequel.
Rated: Mild, for around 12 uses of mild language and two uses of moderate language. There is violence, and even a beheading among a Paris mob, but it remains non-descriptive.
