Roses
By G.R. Mannering Book Review by Miranda Fraser ISBN: 9781620879887 Oh. My. Goodness. This book was strange from the very beginning. And I don't mean that in a bad way. Let me just clarify that Mannering has written the most unique take on Beauty and the Beast that I have ever read! And while she made it her own story (one I discovered is sort of a series) I did not fail to notice the similarities that almost all these stories hold dear. In most versions of this story magic is fairly uncommon, only talked about in fairy tales, that is until Beauty finds her Beast and his enchanted castle. However in this world Magic is prevalent and magical beings are looked down on and attacked by non-magical beings. Years ago there was a war in which the Magic Bloods won, but some would say the war was never really over. So where does a Beauty and a Beast fit into all this? Let's start with Part One. The story starts off with the birth of an unusual looking baby. In fact, she is so unusual that the nurse and doctor find her hideous and wish to be rid of her immediately. Her mother vanishes after giving birth to her and she is left orphaned upon the doorstep of a woman who holds the same family crest as was left with the baby. The House of Rose. Now, before I get too far ahead of myself let's back up and discuss why Beauty is so different from other versions. She is born with pale silver skin, violet eyes, and white hair. Yeah. Not exactly the version of Beauty we're all used to seeing *cough* Disney *cough*. So everyone fears this child to be a demon of some sort but regardless all believe she is of magical decent somewhere in her bloodline. Everyone is cruel to this little girl, her keeper, her nanny, the maids in the mansion, etc. She eventually is presented to society as a charity act, a street-walkers child, and nothing special, just strange looking. People come to gawk and stare at her as if she is a circus act. And while Ma Dane, the woman's whose doorstep Beauty is left upon, keeps her fed and alive, she is not permitted to leave the grounds, get an education, play with Ma Dane's child, or have any life really. And by the end of Part One Beauty has been given her name as a taunt and she is sent away BUT NOT before finding out that Ma Dane is her aunt. Her own flesh and blood treated her so awful her entire life. What I do have to say is that after reading the ORIGINAL Beauty and the Beast (review on that can be found under 'Fairy Tales' as well) having Beauty appear as a magical being is even more clever since the original states that she is the daughter of a fairy. Now, Part Two only goes slightly better. I say Part One was sickening because I hated how she was treated. But Part One was also fascinating because it really helped lay the groundwork for a woman in need of true companionship the same way the Beast is. Beauty is sent away with the only servant who ever treated her kindly. He adopts her as his own and vows to protect her. Owaine is a horse trainer and from a land quite far from where Beauty was raised. He takes her to the Hillands to be a part of his village, but not much is different there. The townsfolk are unwelcoming and scream that she is a devil sent to walk among them, her 'father's' daughter hates her and treats her with damning cruelty day in and day out, and even when Beauty proves herself to be helpful to the village she is kept at arms length. This is where the author begins to really incorporate classic details from other Beauty and the Beast stories. Beauty is loved dearly by her 'father' and unlike her sister she does not ask for lavished possessions and so he would give her anything. Now in Part Two we also get to meet our story's, '"Gaston", if you will. Not all of these stories incorporate a bad guy, as it is generally implied the father is bad for giving her away, or the beast is the villain for taking her, but in some there is a man who wants her hand in marriage whether she is willing to give it or not. In this case you've already met him in Part One but now he is grown and far crueler than anyone might have suspected. When Beauty's father leaves on a business trip he brings her back a rose. Of course, as all stories go, this rose will cost him his life. And so Beauty rushes to find the keeper of the roses and beg for her father's life. Consequently this is where Part Three of the story begins and so does our Beauty and the Beast. She agrees to take her father's place and stay in the castle forever, the Beast not being used to visitors has trouble adjusting to her company and constant questions, and unsurprisingly his temper scares her greatly. Unlike in other versions the Beast insists that he controls nothing in the castle and is as much as a prisoner there as anyone else. There are also magical servants included in this version though they are seen as ghostly outlines that move about preparing things and guiding her around. And as Beauty was never permitted to read, the library is useless to her. But the Beast, trying hard to show her he cares takes on the task of teaching her to read and write and thus they spend their days bonding together, getting to know the other. In the end the Beast will always sacrifice everything for Beauty, for he loves her, and she must either leave him to die or save him. Interestingly enough the author also has a great prophecy written for our unique Beauty. She has the gift of sight, something members of House Rose seem to have. And thus when she dreams something it comes true. I also enjoyed this addition to the story as the original has Beauty dream of her prince every night. It's fascinating how dreams were such an important element in Beauty and the Beast and yet this is the only author I've discovered so far to keep that detail in some way. Later in this story she discovers that her birth-father is a sorcerer and she is supposed to be able to wield a magic that will lead and save the Magic Bloods in the new war. The Beast's curse and the importance of the roses is also extremely interesting. I really enjoyed the new take on an old classic. There is so much more to be talked about and plot twists to unravel but then, there is more to be read. As I said this book appears to be sort of a series. What I do not know is if it is a completed one or if there is another book yet to come out. If you look it up it says, "The Tales Trilogy #1", there is a #2 that is also written, but not a third. However there is a #1.5 so I am not sure if that is supposed to be counted in as the trilogy or not. If I find the answer to that I will be sure to update it! In the meantime I suggest looking for this book and giving it a shot. As I said Part One is a little gloomy because of how Beauty is treated but it also serves it's purpose as far as who Beauty is to become. As always the links to the author's pages will be listed below!
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