thenovelbook's review
3.0
If you're in the mood for something that's rather more fairy tale than historical fiction, this novella might do it for you. It's inspired by Snow White. It's sweet and simple, and you'll be rooting for the heroine to be happy and see her enemy vanquished. It may strain credulity at times, but that's what fairy tales do!
bookswithnopictures's review
4.0
When you have Disney on the brain, Aunt Prudence wasn't quite evil enough, there was no deep sleep, no poisoned apple, and no dwarves. The best part though? The focus was on her character. Despite her beauty, Rose was beyond sweet and positive. She's a great example for ceaselessly looking for the good in others and turning the other cheek.
lisajo85's review
5.0
Very cuter and sweet fairy tale story. Loved these characters and thoroughly enjoyed reading this tale.
ghumpherys's review
4.0
I loved this series of fairy tale retellings in a Regency setting! This first story was loosely based on Snow White - it is always fun to look for the similarities between the two.
jenmikesmith's review
5.0
This was a delightful weekend read. I enjoyed the characters and the fairytale twists were fun too.
sonny's review
3.0
SLEEPING BEAUTY RETELLING [no sleeping]
- Hmm, I do not get how this is like Sleeping Beauty, but, hmm, okay. Way-too short.
It felt as if a lot of storytelling was missing because I was looking for clues that would seem familiar to Sleeping Beauty...well, the ones I know.
We have an Evil Aunt who is cruel to Rose, our female MC - like Cinderella's Stepmother "cruel"-level.
She likes to wander and walk in gardens and stumbles upon an old Duke who used to be an old intended/ex-love of her mother.
Anyway, our male MC is the Duke's son who grows to admire and love Rose, as she does much the same.
Rose has never been allowed to look at her reflection as Evil Auntie doesn't allow any mirrors or reflective items in her household to see how beautiful she looks.
There is one moment where the Evil Aunt attempts to harm Rose with an extremely tight whale-bone corset...and hmm, there was an apple orchard which I thought would deliver on her eating a poisoned apple, but nah...okay, whatever.
This story had good fairy tale elements but kept weaving and bobbing around the whole "sleeping beauty" aspect, possibly trying to re-write a newer tale inside the Regency bubble.
- Hmm, I do not get how this is like Sleeping Beauty, but, hmm, okay. Way-too short.
It felt as if a lot of storytelling was missing because I was looking for clues that would seem familiar to Sleeping Beauty...well, the ones I know.
We have an Evil Aunt who is cruel to Rose, our female MC - like Cinderella's Stepmother "cruel"-level.
She likes to wander and walk in gardens and stumbles upon an old Duke who used to be an old intended/ex-love of her mother.
Anyway, our male MC is the Duke's son who grows to admire and love Rose, as she does much the same.
Rose has never been allowed to look at her reflection as Evil Auntie doesn't allow any mirrors or reflective items in her household to see how beautiful she looks.
There is one moment where the Evil Aunt attempts to harm Rose with an extremely tight whale-bone corset...and hmm, there was an apple orchard which I thought would deliver on her eating a poisoned apple, but nah...okay, whatever.
This story had good fairy tale elements but kept weaving and bobbing around the whole "sleeping beauty" aspect, possibly trying to re-write a newer tale inside the Regency bubble.
shadrachanki's review
3.0
I like fairy tale retellings, and I enjoy Regency romances, so I was excited when I heard about the Once Upon a Regency series. Each book will be drawing from a different fairy tale for inspiration; this one uses Snow White. Because of my familiarity with the fairy tale, I cannot say there were any real *surprises* in this story, but I wasn't reading for shocking revelations and twists. I wanted a pleasant, enjoyable, and entertaining read, and this delivered admirably. I enjoyed seeing how the various fairy tale elements were woven into the story, and also guessing how things would tie together.
3.5/5
3.5/5
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