Stella does not believe in monsters. Not the kind that suck blood, or the ones who allegedly transform under the full moon. The only monster she’s sure of is the man who has her imprisoned in his castle.
Stella is a baker’s granddaughter, hungrier than ever—not for the sweet rolls she makes—but for adventure. When her grandmother’s disappearance leads her to a castle obscured by mist, her dreams of traveling the world shatter.
Thane has given up trying to find a way to break the curse that will claim his humanity before the year comes to an end. But when a stubborn young woman breaks into his home and demands he release the old hag who tried to kill him, hope begins to rekindle against his will.
Her only way to regain her freedom is to win the heart of a monster.
His only way to break his curse is to be worthy of her love.
Can two unlikely people learn to love not only each other, but themselves, before time runs out?
Rachel Rodilosso writes fantasy and romance, featuring characters who—no matter the odds—overcome the obstacles in their way. She is a strong believer that good will always prevail.
Rachel’s time is split amongst two rambunctious children, two wild dogs, and too many stories to count. When she isn’t nose-deep in a book or lost in her world of storytelling, she can be found with her children in their garden, with her flock of hens, or meandering around the local zoo.
Rachel dreams of bringing hope and magic back into your life one book at a time. If you’d like to join her for what is sure to be a magical journey creating worlds out of words, you can find her at AuthorRachelRodilosso.com or @AuthorRachelRodilosso on social media.
I received a free ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
All I can say is wow! I did not want to put this book down. You can see the progress of the author's writing from her first book, and I can't wait to see how she continues to make progress with her books to come!
Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney princess movie/story, and while this has its nods to that story, it definitely has its own unique twists! I love how the characters all have their own unique flaws and personalities, but they are not over the top. They are relatable and likable and have growth within the story.
The interactions between the individuals were all quite interesting and endearing. While I wish there had been more in-depth discussions or back story or world building it wasn't necessary for the main story. I think the point of this story was to be whimsical, cute, a little perilous, and to the point. No extra fluff, just a great story. And sometimes, a shorter cozy/fun read is what is needed.
I can't say too much without adding spoilers, but if you love a slow burn romance, vampires, cute nicknames, and baking/gardening, you will love this book! It definitely left me wanting more stories of what happens next, and I hope it will for you, too!
ARC Review: If you were caught between wanting to live your own life and fulfilling a promise to a loved one what would you choose? Would you trade your life with someone else’s to pay their debts? Would you go against everything you believe to save someone you love?
The first few chapters were a bit slow, but Bitten by the Beast quickly picked up pace. I was blushing and giddy over the banter and tension between Thane and Stella. I love a spunky FMC and a MMC with a soft side and this had both. I can’t say much more without giving spoilers, but I would 100% recommend this as your next read.
I would say that Bitten by the Beast is a Beauty and the Beast meets Twilight. Vampires & Werewolves & Hunters, OH MY!
I had the opportunity to read this book ahead of its office release and it's fantastic. It's a fresh take on the classis Beauty and the Beast tale with just the right twist to make this story feel original and compelling. The author does a wonderful job drawing you in and keeping you interested in the story throughout the entire book. The characters are well thought out and the ending is a satisfying "Once upon a time..." fairytale finish.
Such a fun beauty and the beast retelling with a twist!
A grumpy 400+ year old vampire who’s all but given up on breaking his curse until a beautiful young woman who doesn’t believe that monsters even exist enters his life!! While there’s no talking or dancing dishes or furniture there are two other welcoming, sassy vampires who make sure she’s taken care of and are hopeful she’s the one to break the curse!
It’s got perfect banter! Found family! Character growth! And true love with a HEA!!
So glad I had the opportunity to get an ARC copy!!
This was a super interesting read. I love a good beauty and the beast retelling and this book also had vampires? The best combination! Stella was a fun FMC, she's strong, witty, grows in confidence as the story goes on. And Thane is just the broody, sarcastic, but highly loveable MMC that we all love. His story is a sad one and it's so good to see him kind of open his heart to those around him.
This book made me cry !! I love fairy tail retelling and this one is a definite all star and will be a repeat read for me.
Beauty and the beast retelling with vampires and werewolves, and monster hunters
Our FMC is a spunky girl who wants more than the simple life of a baker but feels obligated to help her grandmother who raised her.
She doesn’t believe in the tails of monsters so finds her grandmothers warnings silly.
Our MMC is a lost soul a man who through sins from his past and fear of a curse has hidden himself and two others away in his castle and given up hope of ever being able to break free of it
Then Stella enters his world bringing light back into it
Bitten by the Beast was such a fun and heartfelt read! It gave me all the fairytale vibes with a darker, emotional twist. I loved how the relationship slowly grew from enemies to something real. The banter, the tension, and the sweet moments made their connection feel genuine. The story had just the right mix of magic, romance, and self-discovery. It’s not just about breaking a curse, it’s about learning to love yourself and others despite the past. If you like Beauty and the Beast retellings with depth and heart, this one’s definitely worth reading.
This was so good! It was fast paced and easy to read, the perfect length. I loved it and couldn’t put it down. The characters have their own personalities and own motives and it was well written. The intrigues was well executed with some clues while exciting plot twists One of my favourite vampires book. It put me in a reading lump
*thank you the author for sending me this amazing ARC, it didn’t influence my review*
Bitten by the Beast is a standalone novel that follows Stella and Thane.
I love a good Beauty and the Beast retelling! What I loved about this one was that it includes Vampires! Rachel does a great job with the writing of this story as it was captivating and original.
Stella was always told that monsters exist but she never believed it to be true. That is until she finds herself saving her grandmother and taking her place as Thane’s prisoner. She soon finds out that monsters do truly exist. She is kind, sassy, curious, brave, and thoughtful. I love that baking is her love language and she constantly makes new treats for everyone to try.
Thane has been a vampire for a very long time and thinks of himself as a monster. To break the curse set upon him he must find someone willing to love him. At the point we meet him he has given up finding someone to love him, that is until a pretty blonde is brought into his world. He is a bit of a grump at first but we soon find out that he is a complete cinnamon roll. He is also broody, kind, funny, caring, and sweet. This man made my heart swoon at times!
This book is a closed door which is not typically what I read anymore and I knew it going into the story but let me tell you the sexual tension between the characters was not lacking! There were times my heart melted from their actions towards each other. The banter was also hilarious between all of the characters and I loved the addition of Lucy and Fletcher!
I am looking forward to seeing what Rachel writes next!
You will enjoy this book if you like the following: - Beauty and the Beast retelling - Vampires - Found family - She teaches him how to bake - He tends to her wounds - He falls first - Slow burn, no spice romance
Thank you so much, Rachel Rodilosso for the gifted copy.
HANDS DOWN my new favorite Beauty & the Beast Retelling!
From the moment I heard ‘Beauty & the Beast x vampires’, I knew I would be obsessed. Rodilosso pulled me into her new world from page one and I could not put it down!
Caught between duty to her family & the yearning to live her own life, Stella is so relatable. She’s intelligent and resourceful, and I loved watching her grow, even when everything she thought she knew was flipped on its head.
She finds her match in Thane, who’s not just a brooding vampire MMC. He’s mysterious and guarded, but for good reason. He’s got depth and a soft side I fell head over heels for, because when he loves someone, it’s fiercely and forever.
Plus, their banter had me kicking my feet and giggling, and the fight scenes were epic!
Do yourself a favor and pick up this book if you love: ❤️ A brooding vampire MMC with depth 🖤 A sassy & smart FMC ❤️ He BAKES with her 🖤 She brings the castle back to life, one plant at a time ❤️ He calls her Starlight
This was a cute, easy beauty and the beast retelling.
I really loved Stella as an FMC. She was the perfect mix of plucky heroine and feminine damsel. Even if I was absolutely baffled that this dude shows up with red eyes and she literally thinks nothing of it. Fletcher might have been my favorite character in this story. I loved the relationship between him and Thane.
I had a good time with this, but there wasn't necessarily anything that wowed me or knocked me off my feet. The writing is good but not mind bending, and there were opportunities for things that could have packed more of a punch, and I felt like the pacing was maybe a little slow and then rushed at the very end.
The romance was a great slow burn with a ton of yearning and that relationship and the relationships between the side characters definitely kept me here for the story.
Beauty and the Beast meets Twilight—minus the glitter skin— but with a twist.
This was so much fun to read and was hard to put down once I got into it.
In a world where Monsters are real, hunters track them down, and everyday people just try to make a living, Stella, the granddaughter of the towns local baker finds herself risking her life to save her grandmother. What she finds instead is the family she always wanted, unconditional love, and the freedom to choose for the first time in her life.
A beautifully dark and emotional Beauty and the Beast retelling with vampires, werewolves, and monster hunters. Stella is a spirited, grounded heroine whose presence brings warmth to a cursed castle and its brooding master. The slow-burn romance is full of longing, with strong dynamics between both leads and side characters, especially Fletcher, a standout favorite. The pacing is quick and engaging, though the ending felt slightly rushed. Still, the writing is solid, the twists are well-placed, and the characters thoughtfully developed. A repeat read for sure.
This is fast read, so easy to follow! Would have read this sooner but life kept coming on my way! Beauty and the beast is one of my favorite stories! And you can see the affect of that movie here!
Stella is fun FMC! Actually liked her much! Thane, well he is a vampire so that makes him hot! Also loved hes character! Very lovable MMC Flecher and Lacy are so funny, liked them too!
This is good story and i really liked this a lot! Amazing writer and i can’t wait more from her!
Oh, Stella, didn't your parents ever warn you about the monsters under your bed or locked away in castles? Such a sweet, well-written retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Stella and Thane need each other, but can they help each other? Thane needs help to break the curse that has him bound to the castle. And Stella just wants her grandmother back. She needs to win his love and he needs to be worthy of her love. Great read and I love this story so much! I received an advance review copy at no cost and am leaving this review voluntarily.