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lumiluma's review against another edition
5.0
I love it. Got confused why they changed the beast name from Adam to lio. Same goes for Lefou why give him a first name.
almeyer_16's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
z_bookfluencer's review against another edition
4.0
Take a moment to admire the cover, for it is exquisite.
I want to start out by saying, though this is inspired by Disney's version of Belle, and there are more than one, the author made a different character of Belle. Also, I wrote down my thoughts throughout reading this novel, and my review reflects this.
Firstly, I don't understand how Belle renounced the title of Princess when she married into it; the concept is abstract and baffling.
We explore Belle's growing insecurities. I feel Disney Belles, had insecurities of their oddities because it made them wonder if it made them lesser, while the Belle in this book, I feel is questioning her worth of how she can help others. The feeling of her not truly belonging has not changed.
We enter an aristocratic world.
The 'Beast' and Belle's relationship is clearly complex, and they navigate their relationship by ignoring their problems instead of talking them out. I feel like they made mistakes and were not there for each other.
There is some magic.
Lio's character is put through the ringer, and we see the outcome of him being put into the society that had a hand of his upbringing, one of wickedness, selfishness, and vanity.
There is a scene where a mob takes a turn for the worse.
There is clear villains, blurred questionable villains, and surprising villains.
A majority of the book, the Beast and Belle have to navigate turmoil alone, through their own choosing, for they let others make the decisions for them. And sometimes, when they make their own decisions, it is not always for the better. It is perplexing that these two head strong characters, are turned into characters that are easily influenced by their peers, instead of marching to the beat of their own drum.
We continue to see small influences of magic.
Reaching about 72 percent of the book, the plot has not necessarily climbed, but stood still, setting up potential for character growth and revolutions. This book I feel is NOT plot driven, but more so character driven. Yes, the characters go places. Yes, the characters act. It has not led to anywhere as of yet; it's like a pilot light is on, waiting for more gas to feed it, nothing more. Writing plainly; the story has so far been of this character said this and that character said that, and how those characters act upon what they hear and/or see.
If you think that this is a romance, because of Belle, you are wrong. This is NOT a romance. You see snipets of affection shared between Belle and Lio. They are brief and tastefully done. No smut in this book. I feel like they don't relish in each other's company despite the affection shared, but Belle does miss Lio when he is gone. We also see how the Beast does still need Belle, and maybe wants her for a reminder of his humanity and that he can be cared for. This book is not an exploration of their romance, but how others and events affect their relationship, though this is not the underlying theme.
They are both happy to see each other again when they are together again.
A backstory of the original enchantress is revealed.
The slow building was necessary, leading up to the finale. Which was fantastic! The high arch of the plot it towards the latter of the book, and well worth it.
The narrative is smooth and we follow Belle on her journey of trying to protect others, and rediscovering her voice.
Finally, after everything, the main couple does talk and begins to make amends with each other, starting by recognizing that it is okay to share their burdens, use their voice, and learn to listen.
They also learn to accept that in their position, it is okay to make the decisions they feel is right, and to trust their gut.
Overall, very well written.
I want to start out by saying, though this is inspired by Disney's version of Belle, and there are more than one, the author made a different character of Belle. Also, I wrote down my thoughts throughout reading this novel, and my review reflects this.
Firstly, I don't understand how Belle renounced the title of Princess when she married into it; the concept is abstract and baffling.
We explore Belle's growing insecurities. I feel Disney Belles, had insecurities of their oddities because it made them wonder if it made them lesser, while the Belle in this book, I feel is questioning her worth of how she can help others. The feeling of her not truly belonging has not changed.
We enter an aristocratic world.
The 'Beast' and Belle's relationship is clearly complex, and they navigate their relationship by ignoring their problems instead of talking them out. I feel like they made mistakes and were not there for each other.
There is some magic.
Lio's character is put through the ringer, and we see the outcome of him being put into the society that had a hand of his upbringing, one of wickedness, selfishness, and vanity.
There is a scene where a mob takes a turn for the worse.
There is clear villains, blurred questionable villains, and surprising villains.
A majority of the book, the Beast and Belle have to navigate turmoil alone, through their own choosing, for they let others make the decisions for them. And sometimes, when they make their own decisions, it is not always for the better. It is perplexing that these two head strong characters, are turned into characters that are easily influenced by their peers, instead of marching to the beat of their own drum.
We continue to see small influences of magic.
Reaching about 72 percent of the book, the plot has not necessarily climbed, but stood still, setting up potential for character growth and revolutions. This book I feel is NOT plot driven, but more so character driven. Yes, the characters go places. Yes, the characters act. It has not led to anywhere as of yet; it's like a pilot light is on, waiting for more gas to feed it, nothing more. Writing plainly; the story has so far been of this character said this and that character said that, and how those characters act upon what they hear and/or see.
If you think that this is a romance, because of Belle, you are wrong. This is NOT a romance. You see snipets of affection shared between Belle and Lio. They are brief and tastefully done. No smut in this book. I feel like they don't relish in each other's company despite the affection shared, but Belle does miss Lio when he is gone. We also see how the Beast does still need Belle, and maybe wants her for a reminder of his humanity and that he can be cared for. This book is not an exploration of their romance, but how others and events affect their relationship, though this is not the underlying theme.
They are both happy to see each other again when they are together again.
A backstory of the original enchantress is revealed.
The slow building was necessary, leading up to the finale. Which was fantastic! The high arch of the plot it towards the latter of the book, and well worth it.
The narrative is smooth and we follow Belle on her journey of trying to protect others, and rediscovering her voice.
Finally, after everything, the main couple does talk and begins to make amends with each other, starting by recognizing that it is okay to share their burdens, use their voice, and learn to listen.
They also learn to accept that in their position, it is okay to make the decisions they feel is right, and to trust their gut.
Overall, very well written.
serinde4books's review against another edition
2.0
I love Beauty and the Beast as a result I wanted to love this book. But I didn’t, all of the things I love about Belle were taken away from her in this book. I refusal to take her title comes across as selfish and childish. The belle from beauty and the beast was self-sacrificing for her loved ones she was intelligent, and moral. The bell in this book was the beast before his transformation. She was selfish, she used her commoner background as an excuse, and it started to grate on me as if it was arrogance. She would continuously spout her love for Lio and the people of Aveyon, yet she was unwilling to truly embrace her role and do the duties they needed from her. She rejected both the title and the obligations and hurt Lio each time she did so. That is not how the Belle from the fairytales I know acts.
This book was slow and my anger at Belle did not help, by chapter 10 I was seriously considering putting the book down. I’m too stubborn though and I hate not finishing what I start.
This was supposed to be a continuation of the story, but in reality I feel like it was a retelling with Belle and the Beast’s roles reversed.
This book was slow and my anger at Belle did not help, by chapter 10 I was seriously considering putting the book down. I’m too stubborn though and I hate not finishing what I start.
This was supposed to be a continuation of the story, but in reality I feel like it was a retelling with Belle and the Beast’s roles reversed.
thisdadreads's review against another edition
1.0
“Rebel Rose” essentially (officially??) serves as a sequel to the CLASSIC Disney film “Beauty & The Beast”. If you’ve read my introduction post, I was a child during this era & BATB is easily in my top 5 Disney movies.
“Rebel Rose” picks up mere months after Belle and the Beast (now officially named Lio) have married and places characters old and new right into the thick of the French Revolution. In a nutshell the plot revolves around Belle and Lio’s relationship amidst political turmoil, a class war and a magic ghost who won’t leave them alone.
All the ingredients were there but unfortunately due to poor pacing and structure, I couldn’t wait to put this one down. Theriault admittedly had a pretty daunting task at hand. I can’t imagine the pressure to take such beloved characters and work them into basically a YA historical fiction novel. One of my biggest qualms is that by the end of every chapter I wasn’t eager to find out what happens next, there was no sense of plot urgency. I could tell that things were being setup early on and knew they’d pay off eventually but again, this time, the destination wasn’t worth the journey. Also the magic element seemed tacked on and out of place, jarring given the otherwise reality-based plot happenings.
I will say that the character of Belle remains as strong as ever and I found myself wanting her to come off even stronger. Sure she’s in a whole new world (see what I did there?) and figuring things out as a commoner married to royalty, but it took her way too long to come into her own and take a stand – maybe that’s what the rest of the Queen’s Council series will take on, unfortunately I won’t be around to find out if that comes true.
I’m going to say this next part as carefully as possible: one thing that struck me as especially “off” about this book is that it’s too….French. HEAR ME OUT. Yes the original BATB takes places in France but aside from a few French phrases (“Bonjour!”) and Lumiere’s accent, there’s not much else that distinguishes it as French. “Rebel Rose” quite often uses French words that I never bothered to look up and spoke of cultural specifics that frankly I didn’t care enough to go research. It just seemed like a misstep and struck me as off in regards to its relationship with its source material.
All that said I think I just simply had my expectations too high for this one which, for me, is a tale as old as time.
Rating: 1
“Rebel Rose” picks up mere months after Belle and the Beast (now officially named Lio) have married and places characters old and new right into the thick of the French Revolution. In a nutshell the plot revolves around Belle and Lio’s relationship amidst political turmoil, a class war and a magic ghost who won’t leave them alone.
All the ingredients were there but unfortunately due to poor pacing and structure, I couldn’t wait to put this one down. Theriault admittedly had a pretty daunting task at hand. I can’t imagine the pressure to take such beloved characters and work them into basically a YA historical fiction novel. One of my biggest qualms is that by the end of every chapter I wasn’t eager to find out what happens next, there was no sense of plot urgency. I could tell that things were being setup early on and knew they’d pay off eventually but again, this time, the destination wasn’t worth the journey. Also the magic element seemed tacked on and out of place, jarring given the otherwise reality-based plot happenings.
I will say that the character of Belle remains as strong as ever and I found myself wanting her to come off even stronger. Sure she’s in a whole new world (see what I did there?) and figuring things out as a commoner married to royalty, but it took her way too long to come into her own and take a stand – maybe that’s what the rest of the Queen’s Council series will take on, unfortunately I won’t be around to find out if that comes true.
I’m going to say this next part as carefully as possible: one thing that struck me as especially “off” about this book is that it’s too….French. HEAR ME OUT. Yes the original BATB takes places in France but aside from a few French phrases (“Bonjour!”) and Lumiere’s accent, there’s not much else that distinguishes it as French. “Rebel Rose” quite often uses French words that I never bothered to look up and spoke of cultural specifics that frankly I didn’t care enough to go research. It just seemed like a misstep and struck me as off in regards to its relationship with its source material.
All that said I think I just simply had my expectations too high for this one which, for me, is a tale as old as time.
Rating: 1
dmax16's review against another edition
3.0
It was a cute book - and well written, but it didn’t feel like “Belle”. The woman in this book was afraid to speak her mind - which Belle never was. In fact that’s what sets her apart from everyone else in her story - that she was always willing to speak her mind and stand up for what she felt was right. They also talked about the prince being “the beast” as if he wasn’t in his right mind during that whole time. Like the curse changed him internally as well as externally almost as if he didn’t have control over who that person was - which I never saw that to be the case - he was always the same person, just grew as he learned to love. Anyway. If it’s on your TBR -read it! It’s not a love story, there’s barely any interaction between Belle and the beast to be honest, other plots take precedence.
moonbites's review against another edition
3.0
I FINISHED THIS DAMN BOOK
I have such a love-HATE relationship with this book, but let me make it clear that I do not claim this version of Belle whatsoever! Let me preface this review by saying I am an adult Disney nerd, so I may have been a little too invested in this book. Belle is also my favorite Disney princess so I am was extremely hopeful and excited, because this isn't just one of the million retellings out in the wild, it's a what happens next with Disney's stamp of approval since they helped publish this. So my feelings of excitement I feel are more than justified.
I actively hated on and simultaneously was enthralled by this book, that's why my rating is smack dab in the middle. Belle's character was literally the only thing I hated in this book. And I mean HATED. Which was a huge let down, because 1) I picked this book up because of Belle & 2) The story is ALL about her so...
Many other reviews have echoed this, but she was extremely selfish and self-centered. I get that maybe she needed to grow, but her growth did not have to be so out of left field. The story revolves around the theme of listening to your instincts especially if you are a woman being told no. That's awesome, and headstrong is good (that's Belle) but self-centered is bad (Belle in this book).
I highlighted passage after passage of instances where Belle was so dislikable. I think it was especially evident because of the juxtaposition between her character and Lio (aka the Beast). Lio was kind and supported Belle above anyone else. Like he makes some decisions and listens to Bastien (who wants to help and has knowledge about the court might I add unlike Belle) that some may argue he didn't always listen to her. BUT, IF she said "No listen to me I have a feeling about this," he would have dropped everything and been like "OK." Some quotes will be added at the end of my review if you would like to review the receipts.
When Belle doesn't extend those same supportive courtesies it's off putting. Towards the last 80% of the book she starts becoming a bit more supportive of Lio, but I wonder where was that energy in the beginning of the book??? I mean if she would acknowledge her lack of support at the end, then maybe I would be singing a different tune but she doesn't really. I mean they are married and supposed to be in love. So, if Lio is giving his 100% to her why is she only giving 50%. So frustrating. She also keeps secrets and is so whishy washy.
She is the single handed most annoying character in the book. I also rewatched the Disney movies to see if she was like this and guess what...NO. She is headstrong sure, she does things how she wants but she is still kind and thinks about others i.e. her father, the beast, and the people in the castle (Lumiere, Cogsworth, etc).
The whole book is about her not wanting to be royalty. Despite marrying Lio and living in the damn castle she refuses a title because of the responsibility and this feeling that it will cage her. Lio supports her and let's her do what she wants. That's all fine and dandy, but then Belle has the audacity to call the kingdom hers... like what???
One last thing I was thrown off by... why the fuck was the dog called Chou in here? The dog's name is Frou Frou. Was that a teaser for Mulan and the Chou/Zhou dynasty? If so why did you name THE DOG Chou. So offensive in my opinion. But, I may be blowing that way out of proportion because I am not Chinese, so I would like to know if anyone else cares.
OK here are the things I liked about this book, that saved it from being a 1 star:
-Bastien is awesome he is so damn dynamic and I loved reading about him
-Lio is a supportive and kind and that made him down right sexy in my opinion
-Marguerite is badass and a true example of being strong and independent
-The library
-The historical elements were FANTASTIC, loved the French Revolution making up the conflict of the story
-The writing. I will admit Emma Theriault is a damn good writer...baaaaad judge of character(read in the Grinch voice)
- The overall theme of being true to your self and following your instincts to meet your goals
-The last 20% of the book
OK rant over read further for quotes that PISSED ME OFF
(Spoilers mostly redacted only some story stuff added for context no major plot points)
"Lio still looked princely standing there among them, shooting her apologetic glances when he could, knowing she was probably tallying all the absurdities she’d been made to endure thus far. He owed her. She had half a mind to demand he present her with another library for her troubles." - She was at a party. I get it I am an introvert too but really...a library??? Also, the next day she refuses to go with him to Versailles despite him practically begging her.
"She despised the artifice of it all. Celebrating the [REDACTED] with members of Europe’s aristocracy did not feel like a step toward protecting her kingdom." There she goes saying it's her kingdom
"Maybe it was time to be honest with Lio about everything she had done and seen in his absence. Maybe she was ready to tell him about[REDACTED]. Maybe she was ready to ease the burden from her shoulders so they could share it, as they had shared everything else. It wasn’t right to assume he couldn’t handle it. Lio had handled much worse, and together they had defeated the curse once before." Spoiler...She DIDN'T... another instance of being whishy washy.
"Belle was assuaged by that, though she bristled at the thought of merely being Lio’s voice. And yet she couldn’t explain her reaction. She had rejected the titles that might have given her a voice of her own, but that didn’t mean she was powerless." So she is cognizant of being this way but really doesn't change her tune, whishy washy
"She faked a cough in Bastien’s direction as she left the room, relishing the way he flinched from her." Petty AF and CORONA makes me so disturbed by this
"Lio wouldn’t see her point of view, especially not when he valued Bastien’s counsel over hers." She literally thinks this when he has never given her any reason to doubt him
Here is Lio's sexiest line & moment:
“Belle can do whatever she pleases. If anyone has a problem with her, they can answer to me.” She was sure no one else would notice how, in anger, his voice still slipped into something akin to a growl"
“We have been forced to lie to the world; we cannot lie to each other.” “I know,” she started, but lost the words when he brought his hand to her cheek. “You have seen my darkest moments; don’t ever try to spare me yours.” He sat beside her on the mattress. “Come, tell me everything.”
Even Bastien was speaking facts to Belle, making her look like a total ass:
“I recommend walking this earth burdened by the notion that most anyone can surprise you. It will make your life easier."
“I’d caution you not to judge a whole group based on the actions of the violent minority."
THE END
I have such a love-HATE relationship with this book, but let me make it clear that I do not claim this version of Belle whatsoever! Let me preface this review by saying I am an adult Disney nerd, so I may have been a little too invested in this book. Belle is also my favorite Disney princess so I am was extremely hopeful and excited, because this isn't just one of the million retellings out in the wild, it's a what happens next with Disney's stamp of approval since they helped publish this. So my feelings of excitement I feel are more than justified.
I actively hated on and simultaneously was enthralled by this book, that's why my rating is smack dab in the middle. Belle's character was literally the only thing I hated in this book. And I mean HATED. Which was a huge let down, because 1) I picked this book up because of Belle & 2) The story is ALL about her so...
Many other reviews have echoed this, but she was extremely selfish and self-centered. I get that maybe she needed to grow, but her growth did not have to be so out of left field. The story revolves around the theme of listening to your instincts especially if you are a woman being told no. That's awesome, and headstrong is good (that's Belle) but self-centered is bad (Belle in this book).
I highlighted passage after passage of instances where Belle was so dislikable. I think it was especially evident because of the juxtaposition between her character and Lio (aka the Beast). Lio was kind and supported Belle above anyone else. Like he makes some decisions and listens to Bastien (who wants to help and has knowledge about the court might I add unlike Belle) that some may argue he didn't always listen to her. BUT, IF she said "No listen to me I have a feeling about this," he would have dropped everything and been like "OK." Some quotes will be added at the end of my review if you would like to review the receipts.
When Belle doesn't extend those same supportive courtesies it's off putting. Towards the last 80% of the book she starts becoming a bit more supportive of Lio, but I wonder where was that energy in the beginning of the book??? I mean if she would acknowledge her lack of support at the end, then maybe I would be singing a different tune but she doesn't really. I mean they are married and supposed to be in love. So, if Lio is giving his 100% to her why is she only giving 50%. So frustrating. She also keeps secrets and is so whishy washy.
She is the single handed most annoying character in the book. I also rewatched the Disney movies to see if she was like this and guess what...NO. She is headstrong sure, she does things how she wants but she is still kind and thinks about others i.e. her father, the beast, and the people in the castle (Lumiere, Cogsworth, etc).
The whole book is about her not wanting to be royalty. Despite marrying Lio and living in the damn castle she refuses a title because of the responsibility and this feeling that it will cage her. Lio supports her and let's her do what she wants. That's all fine and dandy, but then Belle has the audacity to call the kingdom hers... like what???
One last thing I was thrown off by... why the fuck was the dog called Chou in here? The dog's name is Frou Frou. Was that a teaser for Mulan and the Chou/Zhou dynasty? If so why did you name THE DOG Chou. So offensive in my opinion. But, I may be blowing that way out of proportion because I am not Chinese, so I would like to know if anyone else cares.
OK here are the things I liked about this book, that saved it from being a 1 star:
-Bastien is awesome he is so damn dynamic and I loved reading about him
-Lio is a supportive and kind and that made him down right sexy in my opinion
-Marguerite is badass and a true example of being strong and independent
-The library
-The historical elements were FANTASTIC, loved the French Revolution making up the conflict of the story
-The writing. I will admit Emma Theriault is a damn good writer...baaaaad judge of character(read in the Grinch voice)
- The overall theme of being true to your self and following your instincts to meet your goals
-The last 20% of the book
OK rant over read further for quotes that PISSED ME OFF
(Spoilers mostly redacted only some story stuff added for context no major plot points)
"Lio still looked princely standing there among them, shooting her apologetic glances when he could, knowing she was probably tallying all the absurdities she’d been made to endure thus far. He owed her. She had half a mind to demand he present her with another library for her troubles." - She was at a party. I get it I am an introvert too but really...a library??? Also, the next day she refuses to go with him to Versailles despite him practically begging her.
"She despised the artifice of it all. Celebrating the [REDACTED] with members of Europe’s aristocracy did not feel like a step toward protecting her kingdom." There she goes saying it's her kingdom
"Maybe it was time to be honest with Lio about everything she had done and seen in his absence. Maybe she was ready to tell him about[REDACTED]. Maybe she was ready to ease the burden from her shoulders so they could share it, as they had shared everything else. It wasn’t right to assume he couldn’t handle it. Lio had handled much worse, and together they had defeated the curse once before." Spoiler...She DIDN'T... another instance of being whishy washy.
"Belle was assuaged by that, though she bristled at the thought of merely being Lio’s voice. And yet she couldn’t explain her reaction. She had rejected the titles that might have given her a voice of her own, but that didn’t mean she was powerless." So she is cognizant of being this way but really doesn't change her tune, whishy washy
"She faked a cough in Bastien’s direction as she left the room, relishing the way he flinched from her." Petty AF and CORONA makes me so disturbed by this
"Lio wouldn’t see her point of view, especially not when he valued Bastien’s counsel over hers." She literally thinks this when he has never given her any reason to doubt him
Here is Lio's sexiest line & moment:
“Belle can do whatever she pleases. If anyone has a problem with her, they can answer to me.” She was sure no one else would notice how, in anger, his voice still slipped into something akin to a growl"
“We have been forced to lie to the world; we cannot lie to each other.” “I know,” she started, but lost the words when he brought his hand to her cheek. “You have seen my darkest moments; don’t ever try to spare me yours.” He sat beside her on the mattress. “Come, tell me everything.”
Even Bastien was speaking facts to Belle, making her look like a total ass:
“I recommend walking this earth burdened by the notion that most anyone can surprise you. It will make your life easier."
“I’d caution you not to judge a whole group based on the actions of the violent minority."
THE END
luciedelomez's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
califrey99's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
storiesatstarfall's review against another edition
3.0
Star Rating: 3
This book had the hallmarks of something I should love: Belle, a fairytale remixed with historical context, and a whiff of magic. But this book suffered from such a glaring error that I could not manage a more favorable rating: characterization.
If you are looking for the cast of Disney's Beauty and the Beast that you know and love, then you will not find them here.
This Belle is not that Belle. The brave, bold, outspoken, independent young woman we know that fiercely fought for those she loved is not present here. This meek, passive, insecure, unconfident character is no one I know. The only vague connection to the original is the enjoyment of books and some glimpses of cleverness. But that is it. The name of the Beast was also changed, for inexplicable reasons. I do not know these characters as they are presented, and I cannot recognize them. If the Belle that is known in the Disney canon had been present, majority of this plot would not have happened—and that is where my frustration lies.
The writing and content on the whole was suitable for the younger YA crowd, the readers that need to be reminded to trust their instincts, have a healthy self-confidence, and not to be afraid of greatness or its responsibilities. It was a fair amount of telling over showing.
Honestly, the greatest problem is that this book tried to tell me this was a character I was supposed to know, and I feel this story would have benefitted heavily from being completely separated from the Disney canon. If the author had been given free reign to write a story of a reluctant commoner on the cusp of queenhood in a brink-of-bloody-revolution world that was not one readers are marketed to know, then this review would probably be more favorable for the actual story told.
Thank you NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for an advanced copy for review.
This book had the hallmarks of something I should love: Belle, a fairytale remixed with historical context, and a whiff of magic. But this book suffered from such a glaring error that I could not manage a more favorable rating: characterization.
If you are looking for the cast of Disney's Beauty and the Beast that you know and love, then you will not find them here.
This Belle is not that Belle. The brave, bold, outspoken, independent young woman we know that fiercely fought for those she loved is not present here. This meek, passive, insecure, unconfident character is no one I know. The only vague connection to the original is the enjoyment of books and some glimpses of cleverness. But that is it. The name of the Beast was also changed, for inexplicable reasons. I do not know these characters as they are presented, and I cannot recognize them. If the Belle that is known in the Disney canon had been present, majority of this plot would not have happened—and that is where my frustration lies.
The writing and content on the whole was suitable for the younger YA crowd, the readers that need to be reminded to trust their instincts, have a healthy self-confidence, and not to be afraid of greatness or its responsibilities. It was a fair amount of telling over showing.
Honestly, the greatest problem is that this book tried to tell me this was a character I was supposed to know, and I feel this story would have benefitted heavily from being completely separated from the Disney canon. If the author had been given free reign to write a story of a reluctant commoner on the cusp of queenhood in a brink-of-bloody-revolution world that was not one readers are marketed to know, then this review would probably be more favorable for the actual story told.
Thank you NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for an advanced copy for review.