Article contributed by Yakira Goldsberry
Emma Theriualt’s novel is an interesting new twist on the tale of Beauty and the Beast. Following the tale of Belle after her marriage to Prince Lio (Beast) and their struggles to keep the princedom of Aveyon safe on the brink of the French Revolution.
Rebel Rose is not your typical retelling. In Theriault’s tale, Belle is haunted by magic, and Lio by nightmares. This gives a darker, more grown-up feel to the overall story, as well as the tension in France with the impending revolution. Belle wants to change the world, and to find adventure beyond the walls of the castle, where she lives as the wife of the prince, but not as a princess. But Lio’s cousin, Bastion, seems to put her down at every turn, undermining her decisions and she isn’t sure if she should trust him or not.
I liked how Theriault explored the positive sides of marriage and how a couple must work together in order to live a fulfilled life. While nothing too romantic or steamy ever happens, it is evident how much Belle and Lio loved each other with the way Belle thought of him and how she was the only thing that could comfort him in his sufferings. I appreciated how Theriault kept their love strong and didn’t bring them down a path many other authors (and films) choose where their love seems to die, and they end up fighting all the time. Keeping that pure and simple love between them was a big point for me.
I found the pacing of the book to be slower than I would have liked. Theriault takes her time exploring the story world and the characters and brings in the threat of war but only as background noise through most of the novel. Despite this, there were many subtle plot threads that led me along, wanting to know just what would happen next. One being Bastion. He was a puzzle of a character and I enjoyed his seemingly fluid loyalties and mysterious behaviour.
“I don’t want a crown. I never wanted one.”
Belle’s story had more of a spiritual journey to it, than a physical one, as she struggled internally with what exactly her place was in the castle, and how she could better help her people. There were many lessons she had to learn that I can’t say for fear of spoilers, one of which was whether or not she wanted to take her rightful title as queen. I felt that, while Theriault did capture some of Belle’s best qualities, she wasn’t able to portray Belle in exactly the way that Disney did. Which is okay, as Belle is has a unique personality, but at the same time, it made her feel less than she could have been.
The same goes for Lio. According to Disney, the Beast’s name is Adam, so him being named Lio threw me off and had me painting the picture of someone else in my mind, not the somewhat awkward and impulsive Adam. However, Theriault was able to capture is kindness and protectiveness, while also giving him some unique quirks as a result of his long captivity in the curse.
Rebel Rose has earned a 7/10 for me, for its complexity, historical setting, and new twist on beloved characters. Theriault’s rendition of what happens after happily ever after is one that I would call compelling and intriguing, showing the many facets of married life, as well as the different ways women can be strong without wielding a sword or an immense power. So I would recommend this book to anyone who loves classic fairytales but with a more adult theme with a dash of history.
Rebel Rose is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | 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.
