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.
This isn't quite what I was expecting. For one thing, I'm not sure whether it's based more on the cartoon or the live action, or a combination of both; the descriptions of Cogsworth and Lumiere don't match their live action actors, but other details lean more towards the live action. It doesn't matter a great deal, it just threw me a couple of times.
The story itself is very enjoyable, with plenty of twists as Belle adjusts to her multiple new roles. I loved all the news characters, and LeFou's part was very well thought out and integrated, rather than being shoved in for the sake of a cameo. Tying the story into history was fun, too (although I did have to look up some of the French terms! But then I flunked French, so I'm sure that wouldn't be a problem for most people.)
This is very much Belle's story. I would have liked some more insight into what Lio was thinking, but I understand that this was all about Belle, and she carries the story flawlessly. I very much enjoyed watching her find her power and her strength.
I'm really looking forward to reading more in this series, even if the actual Council wasn't what I expected...I won't say more for spoilers!
Rebel Rose publishes on the 10th November, 2020.
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