Author: Rhiannon Thomas
Series: Book One
Published By: HarperTeen (Februrary 24, 2015)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: Fantasy/Retelling
My Rating: 3 Stars
Book Description:
Rhiannon Thomas's dazzling debut novel is a spellbinding reimagining of Sleeping Beauty and what happens after happily ever after.
One hundred years after falling asleep, Princess Aurora wakes up to the kiss of a handsome prince and a broken kingdom that has been dreaming of her return. All the books say that she should be living happily ever after. But as Aurora understands all too well, the truth is nothing like the fairy tale.
Her family is long dead. Her "true love" is a kind stranger. And her whole life has been planned out by political foes while she slept.
As Aurora struggles to make sense of her new world, she begins to fear that the curse has left its mark on her, a fiery and dangerous thing that might be as wicked as the witch who once ensnared her. With her wedding day drawing near, Aurora must make the ultimate decision on how to save her kingdom: marry the prince or run.
Rhiannon Thomas weaves together vivid scenes of action, romance, and gorgeous gowns to reveal a richly imagined world … and Sleeping Beauty as she’s never been seen before.
What is Sleeping Beauty didn't want to end up with the prince? What if there was no happily ever after, or at least none the story books told of?
What if things were more sinister than singing maidens and broken curses. What if nothing was how it was told? What if the queen and king were just as wicked as the one who put a curse on the princess and no one was really what they seemed.
I loved that rather than a retelling, this is more of a continuation of the story. A story that takes place after the princess wakes up and sees that all is not right with the world, that in fact, that very world is nothing like what she remembers.
So much happens in this story. So many arcs to the storyline and so much that is still left to say and to tell.
I had no idea this wasn't a stand alone when I picked it up and that is okay because like I mentioned, there is a lot left undone. My the end of the book in fact, it felt more like the real story, the guts of the wickedness, was only just beginning.
I am not sure I loved Aurora, she was a very naive girl that saw the world threw rose colored glasses, at least at first. I did warm up to her however and I couldn't help but be intrigued by Finnegan, Celestine, and of even Tristan, however, it was Isabelle and Rodric that stole the show for me. I couldn't help but love their kindness and goodness.
I have no idea where this story will go from here, no idea at all but I think it would be fun to see where it does go.
This was so much different than what I thought it would be that I still haven't quite gathered all my thoughts and feelings about it together and have been able to put them into words but this was an interesting read. It was entertaining and I do want to see what the sequel will hold.
*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*