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Horrific Fairy Tales #1
Rotting Beauty
This true love's kiss will wake a horror...
You know the story. Once upon a time, a princess was cursed to sleep for a hundred years. When the curse was broken, the princess woke and discovered that everyone in her kingdom had become rotting, flesh-eating, corpse-like monsters.
...Maybe you don't know this story.
Newly awakened, Princess Briar is the only one in her castle unaffected by the mysterious rotting. She suspects her kingdom is suffering a curse, likely cast by the same fairy who bewitched Briar herself. Accompanied by the two (yes, two) princes who woke her, Briar sets out to discover the truth and save her people.
But then she begins to experience frightening inexplicable bruises, memory loss, and, oh, yes, an uncontrollable urge to devour her friends. Suddenly, Briar's quest to save her kingdom becomes a race to save herself, before she joins the ranks of the undead.
And when information comes to light about what really caused this rotting curse, a truth is revealed... one with the power to break Briar. Now she must make a terrible choice - and discover what really makes a monster.
For fans of Marissa Meyer and Erin A. Craig, Rotting Beauty is a twisted fairy tale as ghastly and grisly (and just a little wacky) as it is enchanting.
You know the story. Once upon a time, a princess was cursed to sleep for a hundred years. When the curse was broken, the princess woke and discovered that everyone in her kingdom had become rotting, flesh-eating, corpse-like monsters.
...Maybe you don't know this story.
Newly awakened, Princess Briar is the only one in her castle unaffected by the mysterious rotting. She suspects her kingdom is suffering a curse, likely cast by the same fairy who bewitched Briar herself. Accompanied by the two (yes, two) princes who woke her, Briar sets out to discover the truth and save her people.
But then she begins to experience frightening inexplicable bruises, memory loss, and, oh, yes, an uncontrollable urge to devour her friends. Suddenly, Briar's quest to save her kingdom becomes a race to save herself, before she joins the ranks of the undead.
And when information comes to light about what really caused this rotting curse, a truth is revealed... one with the power to break Briar. Now she must make a terrible choice - and discover what really makes a monster.
For fans of Marissa Meyer and Erin A. Craig, Rotting Beauty is a twisted fairy tale as ghastly and grisly (and just a little wacky) as it is enchanting.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published September 26, 2023
12 people are currently reading
10829 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth K. King
5 books70 followersELIZABETH K. KING is a fantasy and horror writer. Over the years, she has nurtured her love of monsters through TV shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural, and Grimm. She spends her time writing in her gothic study and roaming the Shire (her backyard) with her cocker spaniel, Blue. She lives in Houston, Texas.
You can find Elizabeth online at www.elizabethkking.com, on Instagram @elizabeth_k_king, and on her Facebook page, Elizabeth K. King, Author.
You can find Elizabeth online at www.elizabethkking.com, on Instagram @elizabeth_k_king, and on her Facebook page, Elizabeth K. King, Author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
September 27, 2023
First off this book has such a unique premise that is so appealing!
The story revolves around a fairytale retelling of sleeping beauty with zombies…
This is a YA fairytale based love triangle with a gruesome and gory twist. The zombie attacks have some body horror and give some gory visuals for the reader at times!
This is clean romance and targeted at younger readers and I think it hits that well. The protagonists are all 15/16 and as long as the gore doesn’t put off younger readers, it’s safe in terms of being clean to read!
Briar is an endearing lead who despite having a somewhat sad and sheltered upbringing is still a very selfless individual and thinks of others whilst making choices in her life.
This book is action packed with multiple action scenes and various interesting characters who we hear from during the story. The fairy tale elements reoccur with a myriad of paranormal creatures entering the chat to assist or hinder the group as they move towards the resolution at the end of the book. It had a bittersweet ending and from the looks of things we will be getting interconnected stories based on other fairy tales from this same universe.
For me personally as a reader I found the pace slow as the story was mainly progressed by narrative and not being described by a narrator. Long periods of narrative for me tend to slow down the story progression and it’s not my preferred reading style. This is why my rating is lower in comparison to other books I’d rate at a 4. I’d give this a 3.5 if I could!
I’d recommend this to younger readers who want to try the book for the unique premise, who enjoy a longer read with lots of story threads and characters!
I received an arc of this book and this is my honest review, thank you to the author for the arc!
The story revolves around a fairytale retelling of sleeping beauty with zombies…
This is a YA fairytale based love triangle with a gruesome and gory twist. The zombie attacks have some body horror and give some gory visuals for the reader at times!
This is clean romance and targeted at younger readers and I think it hits that well. The protagonists are all 15/16 and as long as the gore doesn’t put off younger readers, it’s safe in terms of being clean to read!
Briar is an endearing lead who despite having a somewhat sad and sheltered upbringing is still a very selfless individual and thinks of others whilst making choices in her life.
This book is action packed with multiple action scenes and various interesting characters who we hear from during the story. The fairy tale elements reoccur with a myriad of paranormal creatures entering the chat to assist or hinder the group as they move towards the resolution at the end of the book. It had a bittersweet ending and from the looks of things we will be getting interconnected stories based on other fairy tales from this same universe.
For me personally as a reader I found the pace slow as the story was mainly progressed by narrative and not being described by a narrator. Long periods of narrative for me tend to slow down the story progression and it’s not my preferred reading style. This is why my rating is lower in comparison to other books I’d rate at a 4. I’d give this a 3.5 if I could!
I’d recommend this to younger readers who want to try the book for the unique premise, who enjoy a longer read with lots of story threads and characters!
I received an arc of this book and this is my honest review, thank you to the author for the arc!
November 9, 2023
A really very different retelling of "Sleeping Beauty", which I think is a good start to the author's series with retellings.
The writing style is good - there are quite a few descriptions that depict the setting and thoughts of the characters very deeply and in detail. But at some point they come a little too much to read and make it difficult to get through the pages quickly.
The book begins directly with action – it is not delayed. At first, the pace of the story seemed quick to me, but I assumed it was so that the author could get the reader into the story which will help building a complete picture of what was happening. After that, however, the dynamics slowed down so much that even the sudden attacks of the zombies failed to fix it and did not feel like much of an action.
It was a slow read to me, on one hand because of my disinterest in the characters, who, even if are built greatly and deeply, failed to touch me much. On the other hand, I lacked something that would grab my curiosity and keep my interest. For most of the book, I felt like the plot didn't have a clear purpose, and it was just that things were happening wherever the story dragged them going.
✨"We lose little pieces of ourelves. Every day, probably. But that doesn't mean those memories never meant anything. That doesn't make your love for her any less."✨
I really liked the few points of view through which we got to know the characters better, seeing and perceiving what is happening through their eyes, refracted through their thoughts and experiences.
Surely Garrett and Briar were my favorites as a couple - I felt the chemistry between them more natural and real. Demetri did not make much impression on me. I felt him as a very spineless character.
The climax wasn't bad, there was more action through it than through the rest of the book, so I felt it. Unfortunately, the tension during the peak was spoiled because of the too much talking right at it.
I liked the ending. I have to admit it to the author, it was greatly written.
~~~
Rating: 3/5⭐
✨This ARC was provided to me by NetGalley for my honest opinion.✨
The writing style is good - there are quite a few descriptions that depict the setting and thoughts of the characters very deeply and in detail. But at some point they come a little too much to read and make it difficult to get through the pages quickly.
The book begins directly with action – it is not delayed. At first, the pace of the story seemed quick to me, but I assumed it was so that the author could get the reader into the story which will help building a complete picture of what was happening. After that, however, the dynamics slowed down so much that even the sudden attacks of the zombies failed to fix it and did not feel like much of an action.
It was a slow read to me, on one hand because of my disinterest in the characters, who, even if are built greatly and deeply, failed to touch me much. On the other hand, I lacked something that would grab my curiosity and keep my interest. For most of the book, I felt like the plot didn't have a clear purpose, and it was just that things were happening wherever the story dragged them going.
✨"We lose little pieces of ourelves. Every day, probably. But that doesn't mean those memories never meant anything. That doesn't make your love for her any less."✨
I really liked the few points of view through which we got to know the characters better, seeing and perceiving what is happening through their eyes, refracted through their thoughts and experiences.
Surely Garrett and Briar were my favorites as a couple - I felt the chemistry between them more natural and real. Demetri did not make much impression on me. I felt him as a very spineless character.
The climax wasn't bad, there was more action through it than through the rest of the book, so I felt it. Unfortunately, the tension during the peak was spoiled because of the too much talking right at it.
I liked the ending. I have to admit it to the author, it was greatly written.
~~~
Rating: 3/5⭐
✨This ARC was provided to me by NetGalley for my honest opinion.✨
September 20, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Elizabeth K. King for providing me this intriguing ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Although I’m not the intended audience for this novel, the incredible cover and the summary: Sleeping Beauty and zombies, immediately grabbed my attention. It’s a unique premise and the author utilitizes it well with horrifying results.
The story doesn’t shy away from grisly deaths and disturbing body horror, but it also does not take them to an unnecessarily gratuitous level.
The main characters of Rotting Beauty-Briar, Demetri and Garrett-were engaging and flawed individuals. While the male protagonists in some YA novels seem virtually interchangeable, Demetri and Garrett were portrayed with their own characteristics and their own arcs to overcome.
Briar was also an excellent protagonist and dealt with the particular horrors of her current situation-along with the neglect of her past-as best as she was able to while not becoming cynical.
The main villain was appropriately terrible and the secondary villains/antagonists added to the darkness of the story. I was also pleasantly surprised by the ending, as I almost expected one of the more sanitized “fairy tale happy endings,” and received something more bittersweet and unusual.
Rotting Beauty did drag slightly towards the middle of the novel and the ending did leave more than a few questions remaining. But as I’ve seen that there will be a second book in the series, I’m hoping that these answers may end up being revealed eventually.
Although I’m not the intended audience for this novel, the incredible cover and the summary: Sleeping Beauty and zombies, immediately grabbed my attention. It’s a unique premise and the author utilitizes it well with horrifying results.
The story doesn’t shy away from grisly deaths and disturbing body horror, but it also does not take them to an unnecessarily gratuitous level.
The main characters of Rotting Beauty-Briar, Demetri and Garrett-were engaging and flawed individuals. While the male protagonists in some YA novels seem virtually interchangeable, Demetri and Garrett were portrayed with their own characteristics and their own arcs to overcome.
Briar was also an excellent protagonist and dealt with the particular horrors of her current situation-along with the neglect of her past-as best as she was able to while not becoming cynical.
The main villain was appropriately terrible and the secondary villains/antagonists added to the darkness of the story. I was also pleasantly surprised by the ending, as I almost expected one of the more sanitized “fairy tale happy endings,” and received something more bittersweet and unusual.
Rotting Beauty did drag slightly towards the middle of the novel and the ending did leave more than a few questions remaining. But as I’ve seen that there will be a second book in the series, I’m hoping that these answers may end up being revealed eventually.
September 27, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book! First off, I LOVE retellings. This one however, was so different than other retellings I’ve read. You’ve got Briar, sleeping beauty if you will. She’s fierce, loyal, and stubborn as hell. Then you throw corpses into the mix. I mean, genius idea. This book was amazing. The story telling was spot on for me. I was a tad bit disappointed by the ending, but not enough to make me rate this book lower than a 5 star. I just wish everything would have been taken care of instead of half way. However, for a first book by King, bravo. I am extremely excited to read the next book coming out in February.
November 6, 2023
received a copy from netgalley
Rotting Beauty would have been a great spooky read, sadly it just wasn't as enjoyable as I had thought it would be. It started in the middle of action which was great but I felt that the more the story progressed, the slower it paced. The writing was pretty but I found it over-descriptive at times which toned down the action.
As for the characters, they didn't feel like...a group. Their individual stories were interesting but when all three of them were in the same scene, something didn't work out. Garett was explored better than the other two but what I found dumb was how quick he was to dismiss the existence of djinns, ghouls etc when he's already met fairies and witches AND when it's already stated that Garett has faced "...man-eating beasts, sea monsters, fire-breathing necromancers." I know he's supposed to be the 'rational' one in their trio but, sir, really? After eveything that you've seen you're still sceptical?
Because the story started in media res, and because we hadn't had the chance to get to know Briar's life pre-curse, her wanting to save her kingdom and her people when we haven't actually seen her interact with them in any way wasn't as impactful as it could have been.
Speaking of supernatural creatures, I felt that they weren't as explored as they should have been. We know they exist but it didn't feel like they clicked together, they're just there.
Overall, I could see the author's love for the story through the writing but it might have needed a better execution
Rotting Beauty would have been a great spooky read, sadly it just wasn't as enjoyable as I had thought it would be. It started in the middle of action which was great but I felt that the more the story progressed, the slower it paced. The writing was pretty but I found it over-descriptive at times which toned down the action.
As for the characters, they didn't feel like...a group. Their individual stories were interesting but when all three of them were in the same scene, something didn't work out. Garett was explored better than the other two but what I found dumb was how quick he was to dismiss the existence of djinns, ghouls etc when he's already met fairies and witches AND when it's already stated that Garett has faced "...man-eating beasts, sea monsters, fire-breathing necromancers." I know he's supposed to be the 'rational' one in their trio but, sir, really? After eveything that you've seen you're still sceptical?
Because the story started in media res, and because we hadn't had the chance to get to know Briar's life pre-curse, her wanting to save her kingdom and her people when we haven't actually seen her interact with them in any way wasn't as impactful as it could have been.
Speaking of supernatural creatures, I felt that they weren't as explored as they should have been. We know they exist but it didn't feel like they clicked together, they're just there.
Overall, I could see the author's love for the story through the writing but it might have needed a better execution
April 26, 2024
I am so sad this story is over. This was such a fantastic debut. Oh my goodness that was adorable and wacky and fun and so, so unique!
I was completely engrossed by the setting, the characters, and the plot. I'm excited to experience more of the world of horrific fairy tales Elizabeth King introduces.
I was completely engrossed by the setting, the characters, and the plot. I'm excited to experience more of the world of horrific fairy tales Elizabeth King introduces.
May 7, 2024
◦ I've received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ◦
⮞ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 ⮜
I enjoyed almost all the characters, minus Demetri. I found him annoying, and I legit thought the book could've just gone without him anyway because I didn't feel him adding anything to the story. However, Garrett and Briar were so perfect together and I thought they were so good, especially since Garrett was the one to wake her up and all that twist.
⮞ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝-𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 ⮜
The world-building isn't a big part of the story. I did enjoy the fact Briar loved building things and they were advancing in the world and I loved the fact when Briar woke up things were indeed changed and she needed to catch up with what happened, learn new things like new devices and so on. Overall the world-building gives you enough information to know where you are, how things look, and what they're using from guns to transport and so on.
⮞ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝/𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 ⮜
I felt the pace to fluctuate quite a lot. One moment things were happening quickly but that "climax" would go down pretty quickly leaving you a bit meh because right when things were starting to catch up, the pace started to die down quite quickly. The story did entertain me and I loved the Sleeping Beauty retelling and the gruesome things, I just felt the pace to be a bit off and also the fact that until halfway through the story (if I remember right) I legit had no clue how old is everyone other than Briar so I just felt weird because in general, I do want to know the age of the characters, especially if it involves kissing and stuff like that. Even tho nothing adult happened in the story, the fact I didn't know how old everyone was bothered me a bit. But overall the story is interesting and has a happy ending. I actually liked the way the story ended and made me feel that even things aren't perfect, you can still make the best of them.
⮞ 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞/TW ⮜
The story is 1 Pepper Flame where all that happens is a kiss, hand holding, and/or butterfly/mixed feelings. Nothing adult happened in the story, and unless you're grossed out by zombies the story I'd say is intended for the age of 15 ~ 18. I didn't got triggered by anything happening in the story.
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⮞ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 ⮜
I enjoyed almost all the characters, minus Demetri. I found him annoying, and I legit thought the book could've just gone without him anyway because I didn't feel him adding anything to the story. However, Garrett and Briar were so perfect together and I thought they were so good, especially since Garrett was the one to wake her up and all that twist.
⮞ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝-𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 ⮜
The world-building isn't a big part of the story. I did enjoy the fact Briar loved building things and they were advancing in the world and I loved the fact when Briar woke up things were indeed changed and she needed to catch up with what happened, learn new things like new devices and so on. Overall the world-building gives you enough information to know where you are, how things look, and what they're using from guns to transport and so on.
⮞ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝/𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 ⮜
I felt the pace to fluctuate quite a lot. One moment things were happening quickly but that "climax" would go down pretty quickly leaving you a bit meh because right when things were starting to catch up, the pace started to die down quite quickly. The story did entertain me and I loved the Sleeping Beauty retelling and the gruesome things, I just felt the pace to be a bit off and also the fact that until halfway through the story (if I remember right) I legit had no clue how old is everyone other than Briar so I just felt weird because in general, I do want to know the age of the characters, especially if it involves kissing and stuff like that. Even tho nothing adult happened in the story, the fact I didn't know how old everyone was bothered me a bit. But overall the story is interesting and has a happy ending. I actually liked the way the story ended and made me feel that even things aren't perfect, you can still make the best of them.
⮞ 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞/TW ⮜
The story is 1 Pepper Flame where all that happens is a kiss, hand holding, and/or butterfly/mixed feelings. Nothing adult happened in the story, and unless you're grossed out by zombies the story I'd say is intended for the age of 15 ~ 18. I didn't got triggered by anything happening in the story.
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September 16, 2023
rotting beauty
net galley ARC
a rewriting of a fairy tale but make it halloween ? i’m in ! i loved this book, it was really addictive and the characters were amazing ! the vibes were spooky and perfect for halloween season… the writing was very fairytale like, and the plot was also giving these kind of vibes. our main character, princess briar, was pretty iconic and i loved how her character evolved ! i also fell for the two boys, garett and demetri <3 the characters were overall complex and endearing. i felt like the worldbuilding was really good, easy to understand but logical, and the plot was interesting and entertaining!
this isn’t a horror book, and i was happy about that because these aren’t really my thing, but it had some gruesome elements that added to the retelling’s interest. honestly, it wasn’t the most groundbreaking retelling, and the story wasn’t the most unpredictable, but it didn’t bother me and i had a good time reading it. it’s the kind of addictive and easy to read book, that won’t be emotionally or intellectually invasive, which we all need to read at every now and then. what i want to say is that it is the perfect cosy read for a stormy fall evening, under a plaid and a hot chocolate !
net galley ARC
a rewriting of a fairy tale but make it halloween ? i’m in ! i loved this book, it was really addictive and the characters were amazing ! the vibes were spooky and perfect for halloween season… the writing was very fairytale like, and the plot was also giving these kind of vibes. our main character, princess briar, was pretty iconic and i loved how her character evolved ! i also fell for the two boys, garett and demetri <3 the characters were overall complex and endearing. i felt like the worldbuilding was really good, easy to understand but logical, and the plot was interesting and entertaining!
this isn’t a horror book, and i was happy about that because these aren’t really my thing, but it had some gruesome elements that added to the retelling’s interest. honestly, it wasn’t the most groundbreaking retelling, and the story wasn’t the most unpredictable, but it didn’t bother me and i had a good time reading it. it’s the kind of addictive and easy to read book, that won’t be emotionally or intellectually invasive, which we all need to read at every now and then. what i want to say is that it is the perfect cosy read for a stormy fall evening, under a plaid and a hot chocolate !
September 12, 2023
"Rotting Beauty" is a ya fantasy, with horror overtones, written by Elizabeth K. King. The book is a sort of dark retelling of the fairy tale of "Sleeping Beauty".
The story follows Princess Briar, cursed to fall into a sleep for a hundred years upon reaching her sixteenth birthday. A fate from which she cannot escape and which plunges her into oblivion. When the curse is broken eighty-two years later, Briar awakens to find that everyone in her realm has become rotting, flesh-eating, corpse-like monsters. Newly awakened, Briar is the only one in her castle unaffected by the mysterious rotting. She suspects her kingdom is under the influence of a curse, probably cast by the same dark fairy who bewitched Briar herself. Accompanied by the two princes who awakened her, Briar sets out to discover the truth and save her people. But then she suddenly begins to experience frightening symptoms: inexplicable bruises, memory loss, and an uncontrollable urge to devour her friends. Briar's quest to save her realm thus becomes a race to save herself before she joins the ranks of the undead. When information about what really caused the rotting curse comes to light, a truth with the power to break Briar is revealed. She will have to make a terrible choice and discover what really makes a monster.
I loved the premises of this book! A retelling of "Sleeping Beauty" with horror overtones and the presence of zombie-style monsters?! Wow, I jumped right in! It was a gripping, dark, macabre and fun read! I admit some things didn't convince me, I perceived several flaws, but overall it entertained me a lot!
I found the writing quite captivating, effervescent and fluent, characterized by a fast pace and the presence of short chapters. Evocative in its descriptions, it fascinated me quite a bit. I really enjoyed the horror tints of the story, in my opinion well handled. And what about the more macabre aspects? Simply fantastic! Seriously, many compliments to the author, because in certain creepy scenes she managed to make me shiver and laugh at the same time! The book in fact presents ironic tones, at times decidedly absurd, which are skillfully mixed with the more macabre ones. Yes, speaking of zombies there are slightly cruder scenes, but these are mitigated by the liveliness of the text. In short, it is prose that I really loved!
The world building seemed to me to be rich in potential, unfortunately little explored. The story takes place on a continent made up of five kingdoms. More specifically, the book is set in the Mountain Kingdom, the kingdom of Briar, previously plagued by the sleeping curse and now plagued by a rotten curse. Not much information is given about these realms, just the bare minimum necessary to avoid groping in the dark. There are fairies, djinn and witches, among other things, but notions about these creatures and magic in general are really scarce. I don't know, I felt a certain shallowness in the world building that left me slightly confused and disappointed.
The plot proceeds briskly and light, full of action and events. Overall I enjoyed it, but I admit that I perceived numerous convenient situations, plot holes and naivety. Some issues, often even important ones, for me were resolved too hastily. Nevertheless, it still entertained me quite a bit! I also appreciated the fact that the story is interwoven with other fairy tales, themselves modified!
Briar, Demetri and Garrett, protagonists with their respective third person povs, satisfied me. Or rather, I liked Briar and Garrett, while Demetri did not convince me much. Briar is the princess of the Mountain Kingdom, cursed to fall into a deep sleep, lasting one hundred years, upon her sixteenth birthday. Powerless, she is unable to escape her fate and sinks into deep oblivion. Only to be awakened, eighty-two years later, in a realm invaded by rotting, flesh-eating, corpse-like monsters. Briar is a character who has really been through a lot! Growing up with the knowledge of being doomed, she spent her first sixteen years confined to the castle, shunned by her parents and the court. Briar never saw the world, never had any real friends, until the arrival of young Prince Demetri, her betrothed. Until the curse hit her, changing everything. Briar is a determined, brave and loyal person with a brilliant and decidedly logical mind. Passionate about inventions, she loves to study the mechanisms behind various devices. Despite her difficult situation, Briar is a cheerful and witty girl who is not easily discouraged. Beneath the tough and ironic facade, however, lies deep fears and insecurities. Briar has been marked by the curse, by waking up alone in a new world full of monsters, even if she tries to hide it so as not to cause worry. She is a character that I liked a lot, with very good characterization and a beautiful evolution
Garrett is the prince of a neighboring kingdom, an adventurer constantly seeking adventures and dangers to face. Easygoing, wry and extroverted, he is a character who captured me right away! Scarred by a painful past, he hides his suffering under a carefree attitude.
Demetri, Briar's best friend and himself a prince, is the character who convinced me the least. I found him little depth, which is a pity considering the great potential derived from his particular situation.
All in all, I found it an enjoyable ya fantasy horror, albeit with its flaws, that I recommend to lovers of ya fantasy and dark fairytale retellings!
Thank you to NetGalley and Elizabeth K. King for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows Princess Briar, cursed to fall into a sleep for a hundred years upon reaching her sixteenth birthday. A fate from which she cannot escape and which plunges her into oblivion. When the curse is broken eighty-two years later, Briar awakens to find that everyone in her realm has become rotting, flesh-eating, corpse-like monsters. Newly awakened, Briar is the only one in her castle unaffected by the mysterious rotting. She suspects her kingdom is under the influence of a curse, probably cast by the same dark fairy who bewitched Briar herself. Accompanied by the two princes who awakened her, Briar sets out to discover the truth and save her people. But then she suddenly begins to experience frightening symptoms: inexplicable bruises, memory loss, and an uncontrollable urge to devour her friends. Briar's quest to save her realm thus becomes a race to save herself before she joins the ranks of the undead. When information about what really caused the rotting curse comes to light, a truth with the power to break Briar is revealed. She will have to make a terrible choice and discover what really makes a monster.
I loved the premises of this book! A retelling of "Sleeping Beauty" with horror overtones and the presence of zombie-style monsters?! Wow, I jumped right in! It was a gripping, dark, macabre and fun read! I admit some things didn't convince me, I perceived several flaws, but overall it entertained me a lot!
I found the writing quite captivating, effervescent and fluent, characterized by a fast pace and the presence of short chapters. Evocative in its descriptions, it fascinated me quite a bit. I really enjoyed the horror tints of the story, in my opinion well handled. And what about the more macabre aspects? Simply fantastic! Seriously, many compliments to the author, because in certain creepy scenes she managed to make me shiver and laugh at the same time! The book in fact presents ironic tones, at times decidedly absurd, which are skillfully mixed with the more macabre ones. Yes, speaking of zombies there are slightly cruder scenes, but these are mitigated by the liveliness of the text. In short, it is prose that I really loved!
The world building seemed to me to be rich in potential, unfortunately little explored. The story takes place on a continent made up of five kingdoms. More specifically, the book is set in the Mountain Kingdom, the kingdom of Briar, previously plagued by the sleeping curse and now plagued by a rotten curse. Not much information is given about these realms, just the bare minimum necessary to avoid groping in the dark. There are fairies, djinn and witches, among other things, but notions about these creatures and magic in general are really scarce. I don't know, I felt a certain shallowness in the world building that left me slightly confused and disappointed.
The plot proceeds briskly and light, full of action and events. Overall I enjoyed it, but I admit that I perceived numerous convenient situations, plot holes and naivety. Some issues, often even important ones, for me were resolved too hastily. Nevertheless, it still entertained me quite a bit! I also appreciated the fact that the story is interwoven with other fairy tales, themselves modified!
Briar, Demetri and Garrett, protagonists with their respective third person povs, satisfied me. Or rather, I liked Briar and Garrett, while Demetri did not convince me much. Briar is the princess of the Mountain Kingdom, cursed to fall into a deep sleep, lasting one hundred years, upon her sixteenth birthday. Powerless, she is unable to escape her fate and sinks into deep oblivion. Only to be awakened, eighty-two years later, in a realm invaded by rotting, flesh-eating, corpse-like monsters. Briar is a character who has really been through a lot! Growing up with the knowledge of being doomed, she spent her first sixteen years confined to the castle, shunned by her parents and the court. Briar never saw the world, never had any real friends, until the arrival of young Prince Demetri, her betrothed. Until the curse hit her, changing everything. Briar is a determined, brave and loyal person with a brilliant and decidedly logical mind. Passionate about inventions, she loves to study the mechanisms behind various devices. Despite her difficult situation, Briar is a cheerful and witty girl who is not easily discouraged. Beneath the tough and ironic facade, however, lies deep fears and insecurities. Briar has been marked by the curse, by waking up alone in a new world full of monsters, even if she tries to hide it so as not to cause worry. She is a character that I liked a lot, with very good characterization and a beautiful evolution
Garrett is the prince of a neighboring kingdom, an adventurer constantly seeking adventures and dangers to face. Easygoing, wry and extroverted, he is a character who captured me right away! Scarred by a painful past, he hides his suffering under a carefree attitude.
Demetri, Briar's best friend and himself a prince, is the character who convinced me the least. I found him little depth, which is a pity considering the great potential derived from his particular situation.
All in all, I found it an enjoyable ya fantasy horror, albeit with its flaws, that I recommend to lovers of ya fantasy and dark fairytale retellings!
Thank you to NetGalley and Elizabeth K. King for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 14, 2024
This book was great. It's a retelling of "Sleeping Beauty" with zombies. The writing style is good, with detailed descriptions of the setting and characters' thoughts, but it can be overwhelming at times. The story is slow and lacks a clear purpose for most of the book. However, the female characters, Briar and Isabelle, are interesting and bring depth to the story. Briar's character as an inventor was unexpected and enjoyable. The zombie attacks are gory and provide some body horror for the reader. Overall, it was an interesting concept with a great ending.
Total percentage: 89%
Total stars:⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Spoiler free review*
Total percentage: 89%
Total stars:⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Spoiler free review*
September 12, 2023
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A dark fantasy Sleeping Beauty with zombies! This was an interesting concept, but the female characters were what really made it great. Briar and Isabelle are both very interesting, science-minded girls. Briar (Sleeping Beauty) being a fantastic inventor was an unexpected character trait, and I loved how excited she was about seeing all the things invented while she was asleep.
There is a love triangle that seems more-or-less solved by the end of the book, but I found both guys lovable.
The worldbuilding was a bit amusing - the Kingdoms have rather simple names, but at least they are easy to remember. I liked the lore surrounding fairies and djinns, though, and the twist about the nature of the curse.
CW: a lot of gore and body horror. identity issues, violence, blood, zombies, etc
A dark fantasy Sleeping Beauty with zombies! This was an interesting concept, but the female characters were what really made it great. Briar and Isabelle are both very interesting, science-minded girls. Briar (Sleeping Beauty) being a fantastic inventor was an unexpected character trait, and I loved how excited she was about seeing all the things invented while she was asleep.
There is a love triangle that seems more-or-less solved by the end of the book, but I found both guys lovable.
The worldbuilding was a bit amusing - the Kingdoms have rather simple names, but at least they are easy to remember. I liked the lore surrounding fairies and djinns, though, and the twist about the nature of the curse.
CW: a lot of gore and body horror. identity issues, violence, blood, zombies, etc
October 1, 2023
I absolutely loved this! The premise is unique and memorable. The characters are interesting and suck you right into the story. This is a well-done retelling. This was fantastic and I would HIGHLY recommend this! Special Thank You to Elizabeth K. King and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2024
I really enjoyed this retelling. I liked the horror elements and the zombieness of the curse. I thought the characters were well flushed out and the setting was very interesting. I liked how everything was revealed and the set up to creating such an extensive world. I am so excited to continue on with the series! The story itself was well thought out and so enjoyable and I liked meeting the new characters and how they added even more to the book. I would definitely highly recommend this to people and especially those who love the fairy tales!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2025
An alternative Sleeping Beauty sees two princes come to rescue her from her slumber but first they must fight the zombie hordes in the castle. It was fun escapism.
Read
October 19, 2023I am not a person who usually reads or engages in media with zombies. But I decided to give this book a chance and I was pleasantly proved wrong. I think this book is perfect for lovers of the tv show IZombie or the novel, “Beautiful Creatures.” I am giving the book 4 stars only because the pickup was a tad slow for me, but once you get into the book you’re taken on a wild journey full of twists and turns. I LOVED that I couldn’t guess what was going to happen. I can tell the author put in great effort to create a unique and new take on a beloved fairytale.
October 6, 2023
I'm grateful to have received this book as an ARC through NetGalley!
I liked this book!! Such a unique plot idea. I did feel like there was some back story that was missing, but we piece it all together as the book progresses. One instance is when Garrett begins talking about Snow. I did not like the time jumps that occurred in the plot. I know that everything doesn't need to be written, but I felt they could have been smoother. I did like that there were 3 points of view but the switch made sense and wasn't jarring.
I liked this book!! Such a unique plot idea. I did feel like there was some back story that was missing, but we piece it all together as the book progresses. One instance is when Garrett begins talking about Snow. I did not like the time jumps that occurred in the plot. I know that everything doesn't need to be written, but I felt they could have been smoother. I did like that there were 3 points of view but the switch made sense and wasn't jarring.
September 12, 2023
📚A grotesquely-twisted sleeping beauty retelling📚
Briar knows she is cursed to sleep for 100 years on her 16th birthday and she had accepted her fate. But when she's awakens 18 years early with two prince's there to save her and corpse monsters trying to eat them she knows that happily ever after is not within reach. Briar, Prince Garrett, Prince Dimitri, and their soldiers flee to safety with most of their body parts attached. This fairy tale is filled with corpses come to life, fairies, and curses.
I loved the complexity of the fairy tale world King built. Its similar to Once Upon A Time with different fairy intertwined within each other but its more sublet and the characters deal with the consequences instead of finding a way to make them disappear.
I loved how this story focuses on what happens after sleeping beauty's curse is broken - well one of them anyway - instead of focusing on before the curse. It was a refreshing perspective on the fairy tale.
The characters, while recognizable, dont keep to the mold of their stereotypes. I liked that they had more of a 3 dimensional shape by having some grayness to them. They weren't black and white, or right and wrong, they were people handling and dealing with life and their problems the best way they knew how. If that means killing a fairy no matter how wrong it is, it's going to save everyone then that's what they are going to do.
I do wish that I got more moments with characters relationships. They interact with each other but I wanted just a little bit more details surrounding the love triangle. I guess I wanted it to be highten and have more of a role within the main story.
Briar knows she is cursed to sleep for 100 years on her 16th birthday and she had accepted her fate. But when she's awakens 18 years early with two prince's there to save her and corpse monsters trying to eat them she knows that happily ever after is not within reach. Briar, Prince Garrett, Prince Dimitri, and their soldiers flee to safety with most of their body parts attached. This fairy tale is filled with corpses come to life, fairies, and curses.
I loved the complexity of the fairy tale world King built. Its similar to Once Upon A Time with different fairy intertwined within each other but its more sublet and the characters deal with the consequences instead of finding a way to make them disappear.
I loved how this story focuses on what happens after sleeping beauty's curse is broken - well one of them anyway - instead of focusing on before the curse. It was a refreshing perspective on the fairy tale.
The characters, while recognizable, dont keep to the mold of their stereotypes. I liked that they had more of a 3 dimensional shape by having some grayness to them. They weren't black and white, or right and wrong, they were people handling and dealing with life and their problems the best way they knew how. If that means killing a fairy no matter how wrong it is, it's going to save everyone then that's what they are going to do.
I do wish that I got more moments with characters relationships. They interact with each other but I wanted just a little bit more details surrounding the love triangle. I guess I wanted it to be highten and have more of a role within the main story.
September 27, 2023
Book Review 📚
Rotting Beauty by Elizabeth King - 4.5/5 ⭐
Cannot think of a better time then near Halloween for a sleeping beauty retelling.. hang on, a sleeping beauty retelling at Halloween? Normally that would sound very strange - but come on now guys, just take a look at the cover. This is NOT a normal retelling. It's better!
Firstly. King is awesome. Fantastic. Amazing. Superb. Brilliant. Ok, you get it. She's phenomenal 😌 from start to finish the book has this sinister and eerie vibe, that honestly, sets the mood for the entire story. On top of that King describes in so much detail, that it's really not hard to imagine the scene. What a writer!
Briar - I LOVE HER. She is the perfect FMC. She's strong, determined and unbelievably brave. I hadn't been easy for her knowing what was coming and to become an outcast because of the sleeping curse. She is truly inspiring to her people and her kingdom. Her love triangle with Dimitri and Garrett was perfect! An incredible addition to the story. I like to think that all the characters were perceived exactly as they should be - with love for a lot and hate for some.
From start to finish - there was an insane amount of description keeping it fresh in your imagination as you read on. The characters developments were flawless and intriguing, and the world building was phenomenal. I cannot wait for another book by King, if it's anything like Rotting Beauty then we're in for another perfect retelling!
Thank you to NetGalley and Elizabeth King for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.
Rotting Beauty by Elizabeth King - 4.5/5 ⭐
Cannot think of a better time then near Halloween for a sleeping beauty retelling.. hang on, a sleeping beauty retelling at Halloween? Normally that would sound very strange - but come on now guys, just take a look at the cover. This is NOT a normal retelling. It's better!
Firstly. King is awesome. Fantastic. Amazing. Superb. Brilliant. Ok, you get it. She's phenomenal 😌 from start to finish the book has this sinister and eerie vibe, that honestly, sets the mood for the entire story. On top of that King describes in so much detail, that it's really not hard to imagine the scene. What a writer!
Briar - I LOVE HER. She is the perfect FMC. She's strong, determined and unbelievably brave. I hadn't been easy for her knowing what was coming and to become an outcast because of the sleeping curse. She is truly inspiring to her people and her kingdom. Her love triangle with Dimitri and Garrett was perfect! An incredible addition to the story. I like to think that all the characters were perceived exactly as they should be - with love for a lot and hate for some.
From start to finish - there was an insane amount of description keeping it fresh in your imagination as you read on. The characters developments were flawless and intriguing, and the world building was phenomenal. I cannot wait for another book by King, if it's anything like Rotting Beauty then we're in for another perfect retelling!
Thank you to NetGalley and Elizabeth King for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.
September 25, 2023
“You are Princess Briar?” “I didn’t wake up the wrong sleeping princess, did I?” ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆
Thank you Author Elizabeth K. King and Net Gallery for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars
Sleeping Beauty retelling but with a zombie twist? Count me in. I absolutely loved the direction the book took with the original plot and the zombie/corpse’s parts intrigued me a lot! It was especially perfect for the fall season and it’s perfect to read with a warm cup of coffee while it rains.
I really loved the characters especially Briar she was the highlight of the book for me! I loved how headstrong she was despite the fact that she had been in cursed sleep for 82 years and how she handled everything that was thrust upon her. Not to mention the parts with her having an actual intriguing hobby was also great to see since I haven’t seen many YA female leads as inventors and you know what it was amazing!
Now onto the male leads, Rotten Beauty features a love triangle and I loved the take on it here. Garett and Demitri were easily distinguishable and I enjoyed their different character arcs. I especially enjoyed their banter and how they supported each other’s decisions throughout. It was great to see their friendship.
Also the djinn and fairies plot line was so mysterious and it kept me on the edge of my seat, all I have to say is that I will be most definitely reading the sequel!
Thank you Author Elizabeth K. King and Net Gallery for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars
Sleeping Beauty retelling but with a zombie twist? Count me in. I absolutely loved the direction the book took with the original plot and the zombie/corpse’s parts intrigued me a lot! It was especially perfect for the fall season and it’s perfect to read with a warm cup of coffee while it rains.
I really loved the characters especially Briar she was the highlight of the book for me! I loved how headstrong she was despite the fact that she had been in cursed sleep for 82 years and how she handled everything that was thrust upon her. Not to mention the parts with her having an actual intriguing hobby was also great to see since I haven’t seen many YA female leads as inventors and you know what it was amazing!
Now onto the male leads, Rotten Beauty features a love triangle and I loved the take on it here. Garett and Demitri were easily distinguishable and I enjoyed their different character arcs. I especially enjoyed their banter and how they supported each other’s decisions throughout. It was great to see their friendship.
Also the djinn and fairies plot line was so mysterious and it kept me on the edge of my seat, all I have to say is that I will be most definitely reading the sequel!
October 8, 2023
saw this on NetGalley and fell in love with the cover, just had to request it. am very glad I did.
a curse, magic, fairies, gore and a love triangle, what more could one want? A horrormance in October hits different. This was jam packed full of mystery, vengeance and violence. There wasn’t an ounce of boredom in my body whilst reading. It certainly had a uniqueness to it.
we hear chapters from three different characters view points which was a nice change. definitely adds more to the story that way. I also liked it was written in third person.
Briar is a stubborn, intelligent, fierce girl boss who you can’t help but fall in love with. Demetri is a kind but dark, mysterious character who loves hard and ultimately deserved better; hopefully we get another book on his journey after. Garrett is an adorable, adventurous golden retriever who is a joy to read about. I honestly really loved all the characters in the book, there was a hell of a lot but they all had an impact.
the ending was tied up very well, I could kind of expect how it was gonna go but I’m not disappointed about it. I liked how it concluded.
if you’re a fan of ‘the cruel prince’ or ‘the bone spindle’ then this is 100% for you!
thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review:)
a curse, magic, fairies, gore and a love triangle, what more could one want? A horrormance in October hits different. This was jam packed full of mystery, vengeance and violence. There wasn’t an ounce of boredom in my body whilst reading. It certainly had a uniqueness to it.
we hear chapters from three different characters view points which was a nice change. definitely adds more to the story that way. I also liked it was written in third person.
Briar is a stubborn, intelligent, fierce girl boss who you can’t help but fall in love with. Demetri is a kind but dark, mysterious character who loves hard and ultimately deserved better; hopefully we get another book on his journey after. Garrett is an adorable, adventurous golden retriever who is a joy to read about. I honestly really loved all the characters in the book, there was a hell of a lot but they all had an impact.
the ending was tied up very well, I could kind of expect how it was gonna go but I’m not disappointed about it. I liked how it concluded.
if you’re a fan of ‘the cruel prince’ or ‘the bone spindle’ then this is 100% for you!
thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review:)
September 24, 2023
**ARC Review**
This book is phenomenal! It's a new retelling of Sleeping Beauty but with a Zombie twist. It is YA but is still very enjoyable as the characters are relatable and endearing, and the love triangle uses communication skills you rarely find in adults. The main characters are all 15-18 and male and female alike have hard/traumatic pasts that help you as the reader to connect with them. The love triangle aspect also doesn't take away from the characters and their individual identities as can happen in some romances. It played an important part in their development but wasn't the sole focus of the story. Speaking of the story, this retelling was new and exciting! King took the original Sleeping Beauty and added elements of different magical creatures that added a nice spin. Learning about each creature and the world-building were not difficult and everything made sense as a reader. There were nice twists that made it unpredictable to an extent so you don't fall into a lull. With zombies comes the aspect of gore and death and I believe King did a great job at making it be just enough so you knew the extent of these creatures powers, but it wasn't overwhelming enough to make you not want to read or get squeamish.
This book is phenomenal! It's a new retelling of Sleeping Beauty but with a Zombie twist. It is YA but is still very enjoyable as the characters are relatable and endearing, and the love triangle uses communication skills you rarely find in adults. The main characters are all 15-18 and male and female alike have hard/traumatic pasts that help you as the reader to connect with them. The love triangle aspect also doesn't take away from the characters and their individual identities as can happen in some romances. It played an important part in their development but wasn't the sole focus of the story. Speaking of the story, this retelling was new and exciting! King took the original Sleeping Beauty and added elements of different magical creatures that added a nice spin. Learning about each creature and the world-building were not difficult and everything made sense as a reader. There were nice twists that made it unpredictable to an extent so you don't fall into a lull. With zombies comes the aspect of gore and death and I believe King did a great job at making it be just enough so you knew the extent of these creatures powers, but it wasn't overwhelming enough to make you not want to read or get squeamish.
September 25, 2023
Did I just read one of my top-favorite books of the year?
Absolutely.
The synopsis was so engaging and unique: a fairy-tale-esque story with zombies? And at this time of the year? Yes.
And I am definitely not disappointed. From the beginning, the story has an eerie, macabre, sinister atmosphere and I adored it. The author did not spare any graphic detail throughout the novel and I loved that, it made the story even more gruesome and I am a sucker for horror movies, so I was thrilled.
The characters are actually very likeable, even within the spookiness. I very much appreaciated Briar (which is something to point out, I usually do not like main characters that much); she is brave and is aware of her responsabilities towards her people. Garrett and Demetri are also interesting to follow and they are quite different but they both care about Briar. They’re not toxic guys and I loved it.
The story itself is mysterious and well-paced. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. The characters have to endure a lot of suffering and I liked the fact that resolving the mystery was not easy for them. It made the book even more appealing to me.
I really want to thank Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this novel in exchange for a honest review.
Absolutely.
The synopsis was so engaging and unique: a fairy-tale-esque story with zombies? And at this time of the year? Yes.
And I am definitely not disappointed. From the beginning, the story has an eerie, macabre, sinister atmosphere and I adored it. The author did not spare any graphic detail throughout the novel and I loved that, it made the story even more gruesome and I am a sucker for horror movies, so I was thrilled.
The characters are actually very likeable, even within the spookiness. I very much appreaciated Briar (which is something to point out, I usually do not like main characters that much); she is brave and is aware of her responsabilities towards her people. Garrett and Demetri are also interesting to follow and they are quite different but they both care about Briar. They’re not toxic guys and I loved it.
The story itself is mysterious and well-paced. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. The characters have to endure a lot of suffering and I liked the fact that resolving the mystery was not easy for them. It made the book even more appealing to me.
I really want to thank Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this novel in exchange for a honest review.
September 16, 2023
Rotting Beauty
Horrific Fairy Tales #1
Fantasy, Horror, YA
Elizabeth K. King
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book is a Sleeping Beauty retelling with elements of horror and zombies mixed in!
The pacing was ok. I found the action and fighting scenes more interesting than the other parts in-between. Sometimes the scenes with lots of dialogue or too many descriptions slowed the pacing down for me and I found myself skimming paragraphs to find the action again.
There was some nice world building but I think the kingdoms and the fairies/magic could've been explored some more.
I liked the witty banter between Briar, Garrett and Demetri. I also liked Kinsley, the solider, and Isabelle. They had a good sense of humour and handled strange situations very well.
The ending was ok but I wanted to find out how life went on after the curse was ended and how the people dealt with the consequences.
*Thank you to @Netgalley and the publishers for providing this ARC. This is my own opinion and an honest review, which I am leaving voluntarily *
Horrific Fairy Tales #1
Fantasy, Horror, YA
Elizabeth K. King
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book is a Sleeping Beauty retelling with elements of horror and zombies mixed in!
The pacing was ok. I found the action and fighting scenes more interesting than the other parts in-between. Sometimes the scenes with lots of dialogue or too many descriptions slowed the pacing down for me and I found myself skimming paragraphs to find the action again.
There was some nice world building but I think the kingdoms and the fairies/magic could've been explored some more.
I liked the witty banter between Briar, Garrett and Demetri. I also liked Kinsley, the solider, and Isabelle. They had a good sense of humour and handled strange situations very well.
The ending was ok but I wanted to find out how life went on after the curse was ended and how the people dealt with the consequences.
*Thank you to @Netgalley and the publishers for providing this ARC. This is my own opinion and an honest review, which I am leaving voluntarily *
October 6, 2023
Actual rating: 3,5 stars
The promise of Rotting Beauty immediately caught my attention. The idea of fairy tales revisited with a touch of horror is wonderful and the execution was almost perfect! The horror elements were there and delivered perfectly, but despite being quite action packed, I felt like the story was a little too slow at times.
The characters were all very well written! You can easily tell that the author spent time making each one unique without falling into stereotypes and I loved the way they interacted with each other despite a love triangle that could have been avoided and that ultimately did not add much to the story.
I also would have loved to have had more world building, but overall Rotting Beauty was a very solid debut and I'm already looking forward to reading the next books in the series!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
The promise of Rotting Beauty immediately caught my attention. The idea of fairy tales revisited with a touch of horror is wonderful and the execution was almost perfect! The horror elements were there and delivered perfectly, but despite being quite action packed, I felt like the story was a little too slow at times.
The characters were all very well written! You can easily tell that the author spent time making each one unique without falling into stereotypes and I loved the way they interacted with each other despite a love triangle that could have been avoided and that ultimately did not add much to the story.
I also would have loved to have had more world building, but overall Rotting Beauty was a very solid debut and I'm already looking forward to reading the next books in the series!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
September 25, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and ElizabethK. King for proving me this ARC.
This was such a good read for the FALL SPOOKY vibes. Think Fairy Tale meets Halloween.
It brings an exciting new twist to the classic story Sleeping Beauty by adding the gruesome plot twist of zombies. I liked that while it is based of this classic love story, the love story didn't overshadow the rest of the plot. I felt that it was a good mix between the love and the action and found that the amount of romance was just right for the intended YA audience.
Briar is a complex character trying to work through the challenges of what her life has become due to the curse as well working through her past . It really makes you want her to win!
I cant wait to see what twist get added to other classic fairy tales in the future.
This was such a good read for the FALL SPOOKY vibes. Think Fairy Tale meets Halloween.
It brings an exciting new twist to the classic story Sleeping Beauty by adding the gruesome plot twist of zombies. I liked that while it is based of this classic love story, the love story didn't overshadow the rest of the plot. I felt that it was a good mix between the love and the action and found that the amount of romance was just right for the intended YA audience.
Briar is a complex character trying to work through the challenges of what her life has become due to the curse as well working through her past . It really makes you want her to win!
I cant wait to see what twist get added to other classic fairy tales in the future.
October 31, 2023
I really enjoyed this, it isn't very often that I'm actually able to binge read a book in a day but I did it!!
I found this to be unputdownable, I was hooked and I love a good retelling, Rotting Beauty was based on the fairytale Sleeping Beauty and there were mentions of other fairytales in the world too but they all have a twist, with Rotting Beauty it was in the name, our main character Briar, our sleeping beauty, Cursed to prick her finger on her sixteenth birthday to sleep for a hundred years, except everyone around her also slept but they were rotting.
A zombification of Sleeping Beauty and I am here for it. I was entranced into this story and I'm really looking forwards to reading book two, which I think is Beauty and the Beast so I can't wait! Perfect read for Halloween I think this was!
I found this to be unputdownable, I was hooked and I love a good retelling, Rotting Beauty was based on the fairytale Sleeping Beauty and there were mentions of other fairytales in the world too but they all have a twist, with Rotting Beauty it was in the name, our main character Briar, our sleeping beauty, Cursed to prick her finger on her sixteenth birthday to sleep for a hundred years, except everyone around her also slept but they were rotting.
A zombification of Sleeping Beauty and I am here for it. I was entranced into this story and I'm really looking forwards to reading book two, which I think is Beauty and the Beast so I can't wait! Perfect read for Halloween I think this was!
September 23, 2023
I received my copy of this book as an ARC from Netgalley.
I enjoyed this novel and found it extremely easy to get into and stay into. I fell sick in the middle of reading it and once the brain fog lifted, I picked up right where I left off no problem. The premise was intriguing and I found the execution to be straightforward while still maintaining enough twists and turns to keep it interesting. The three main characters are well developed and I appreciate that despite the whole “fairy tale/true love/zombies” themes, Briar has a passion for science and logic that really grounds the story when things are very fantastical. Overall I found this novel to be an interesting read and I look forward to reading the next book when it’s released.
I enjoyed this novel and found it extremely easy to get into and stay into. I fell sick in the middle of reading it and once the brain fog lifted, I picked up right where I left off no problem. The premise was intriguing and I found the execution to be straightforward while still maintaining enough twists and turns to keep it interesting. The three main characters are well developed and I appreciate that despite the whole “fairy tale/true love/zombies” themes, Briar has a passion for science and logic that really grounds the story when things are very fantastical. Overall I found this novel to be an interesting read and I look forward to reading the next book when it’s released.
September 25, 2023
This was such a good read for the FALL SPOOKY vibes. Think Fairy Tale meets Halloween.
It brings an exciting new twist to the classic story Sleeping Beauty by adding the gruesome plot twist of zombies. I liked that while it is based of this classic love story, the love story didn't overshadow the rest of the plot. I felt that it was a good mix between the love and the action and found that the amount of romance was just right for the intended YA audience.
Briar is a complex character trying to work through the challenges of what her life has become due to curse as well working through her past . It really makes you want to her to win!
I cant wait to see what twist get added to other classic fairy tales in the future.
It brings an exciting new twist to the classic story Sleeping Beauty by adding the gruesome plot twist of zombies. I liked that while it is based of this classic love story, the love story didn't overshadow the rest of the plot. I felt that it was a good mix between the love and the action and found that the amount of romance was just right for the intended YA audience.
Briar is a complex character trying to work through the challenges of what her life has become due to curse as well working through her past . It really makes you want to her to win!
I cant wait to see what twist get added to other classic fairy tales in the future.
September 26, 2023
I was given this to read as an ARC and I'm giving my honest review.
This is horror fairy tale which I really enjoyed. The cover is eye catching and draws you in. The zombies and sleeping beauty retelling also really grabbed my attention.
The plot had loads of twists which I didn't see coming. It's not your usual fairy tale which I thought made it even better. Where you would think Fairies were nice, however in this book they are villians.
The main characters weren't also your typical fairy tale ones. No damsel in distress which I loved. There is also a love triangle which you know by the end who she ends up with. However, I loved both of them and felt they were both perfect.
I would definitely recommend this book if this is your kind of thing 😊
This is horror fairy tale which I really enjoyed. The cover is eye catching and draws you in. The zombies and sleeping beauty retelling also really grabbed my attention.
The plot had loads of twists which I didn't see coming. It's not your usual fairy tale which I thought made it even better. Where you would think Fairies were nice, however in this book they are villians.
The main characters weren't also your typical fairy tale ones. No damsel in distress which I loved. There is also a love triangle which you know by the end who she ends up with. However, I loved both of them and felt they were both perfect.
I would definitely recommend this book if this is your kind of thing 😊
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