Rebel Rose (Queen's Council #1) by Emma Theriault

Book Review Jan 15, 2023

My review

3/5 stars

I love a good retelling of a Disney tale and I spotted this new series in my local bookshop, so of course I had to give it a go. Rebel Rose is based on Beauty and the Beast, and they had another based on Mulan, so I've got that to read too.

My absolute favourite thing about this book is how the story that we know and love is seamlessly woven into real-life historical events of the time; in this case Belle and her Beast settle back into normal life against the backdrop of the French Revolution. It helped add some gravitas and grit to the story, making it feel more earthy and tangible.

I also enjoyed how the author had characterised Belle (and the Beast, for that matter). It felt totally plausible, and even expected, that slotting (back) into court life wasn't going to be straightforward or enjoyable given previous life choices. This is a woman who has spent her life on the fringes of society, and now has been plunged deep into it's noble core. The Beast, similarly, has spent years hidden away and missed out on a huge amount of social change, as well as undergoing a complete reset of his own character and how he views the world, so he won't be able to just rejoin his social groups with ease. The author addressed these challenges incredibly well, and with a sensitivity that suggests maturity beyond the years of the intended audience for the book. My only complaint about the Beast, and a minor one at that, is the fact that she gave his human form a different name than the widely accepted Adam - it's a tiny detail, but given how well-known the characters are, it was a little jarring. With Belle, my issue was slightly larger; despite the familiarity that the character had, and the talent with which her story had been continued, I struggled to connect wholly with her story. I can't tell you exactly why, but something felt missing from whatever it was that I was expecting.

Sadly, the author's insightful depiction of the two main protagonists did not extend to all of the well-loved characters who continued their stories in this book. Cogsworth, in particular, proved difficult reading for me. In the film adaptation, he is a stuffy, formal, uptight man with a hidden warmth and an abiding loyalty that verges on love. In this book, he had lost all of the warmth and charming loyalty, and appeared as just a stuffy, formal, uptight man. The loss of warmth, obviously, had a huge impact on how much I was able to enjoy the character throughout the story.

I also felt that the story was a little too predictable to be fully enjoyable. I appreciate that I am a woman approaching middle-age, reading a book intended for pre-teens, so I might be able to spot the clues in the plot a little earlier than the intended reader, but other parts of the book felt so mature and well-developed that it seems unintentional to take the foot off the proverbial pedal when it comes to pace and dynamism in the story.

A decent enough read, that I have lovingly passed on to my niece (who is the intended audience in terms of age) as I'm sure she'll adore it.

Book blurb

Torn between two worlds, neither of which she truly belongs...

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 broken the enchantress's curse, restoring the Beast to his human form and bringing life back to their castle in the principality 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. Now she finds herself living in a lush 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.