Five Enchanted Roses

by Anne Elisabeth Stengl (Editor), Kaycee Browning, Savannah Jezowski

Rediscover the enchantment

A ship bearing the souls of sinful sailors drifts upon a ghostly sea. An abbey looms as the final defense between mortals and ghouls of the underworld. In the stillness of a throne room, statues stand forever frozen in a moment of terror. Monsters and men stalk their prey deep in the jungle’s shadows. A rose blooms in the dead of winter, sheltered in the ruins of an ancient Scottish castle.

And only true love can free the Beast from his prison.

ESPRIT DE LA ROSE ~ WITHER ~ STONE CURSE ~ ROSARA AND THE JUNGLE KING ~ THE WULVER'S ROSE

Genres: Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Retellings, Romance, Short Stories, Beauty and The Beast, Fairy Tale Retellings

494 pages, Paperback

First published July 15, 2015

About the author

Anne Elisabeth Stengl makes her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, Rohan, a passel of cats, and one long-suffering dog. When she's not writing, she enjoys Shakespeare, opera, and tea, and studies piano, painting, and pastry baking. She studied illustration at Grace College and English literature at Campbell University. She is the author of the TALES OF GOLDSTONE WOOD, which currently includes seven novels and two novellas, with plenty more works due to release over the next few years. Her novels HEARTLESS, VEILED ROSE, and DRAGONWITCH have each been honored with a Christy Award, and STARFLOWER was voted winner of the 2013 Clive Staples Award.

Reviews

[Katrina Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!

I love this collection SO much - even more than Five Magic Spindles. I really, REALLY enjoyed those Sleeping Beauty stories, but something about these Beauty & the Beast ones drew me in even more. I stand in awe of these writers' extremely creative twists on the old fairy tale we all hold dear. <3

Mix pirates, omens, and a dashingly mysterious captain and you'll get Esprit de la Rose by Kaycee Browning, tied for my FAVORITE of the collection. Guys, I have no words for this story - well, very little words. All I can say is that the ocean setting, the incredibly unique magic, the stunning characters, and the breathtaking twists and turns - all of it blew my expectations out of the water (pun intended), leaving me itching to reread it!! And also to write a pirate story myself. :D

Mix ghouls, Lonely creatures, and a sentient castle and you'll get Wither by Savannah Jezowski. The dark, eerie vibe of this story was wonderful - I won't deny that I really like it when things get eerie. Not TOO eerie, though, and this certainly wasn't an extremely dark twist. Hope and light pervade the pages despite the ghouls and wraiths and the heart-pounding sense of impending doom, creating an odd contradictory mix that I loved. <3 The main character was admirable too - I was rooting for Lilybet from the start!

Mix stone statues, the "Witch of the Wood," and some hilarious one-liners and you'll get Stone Curse by Jenelle Schmidt. I found it difficult to connect with the writing style for this one, and overall it isn't one of my faves, but it was soooooo sweet, especially the ending! <3 <3 Seriously, this story gets the biggest pair of purple heart eyes. <3 <3 *huggles it*

Mix jaguars, a despicable villain, and a giant egret and you'll get Rosara and the Jungle King by Dorian Tsukioka. This seems to be one of the lesser liked of this collection, and I understand why. There was physical abuse (put in a bad light, don't worry) and some other disturbing scenes. But I absolutely ADORED this story. IT WAS AMAZING! I especially loved the writing style, the characters, and the setting. There were so many little things about it, from the subtle nods to the original B&tB tale, to Tupa's nickname for Rosara, that I couldn't stop smiling over. A precious, precious jungle adventure.

Mix a yellow rose, lots of... well, Scottish-ness :D, and an ugly scar and you'll get The Wulver's Rose by Hayden Wand. Basically, this story is the same as the original but with little additions here and there to make it much deeper and more complex, and it is tied with Esprit de la Rose for my favorite of the collection. By the ending I did NOT want to say goodbye to Bonnie and her family. My heart swelled with joy and comfort, and I just... I just can't with this story. From Bonnie's wonderful brother Calum, to the Scottish dialect, to the dreams about the yellow rose, to the mysterious Beast. I. Ate. This. Story. Up.

These five stories are gold, I tell you. GOLD.

[H.S.J. Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beauty and the Beast…my personal favorite fairytale, at least among those well known. So I was most thrilled to be able to read and review this second of the fairytale collections from the excellent Rooglewood Press. Every story was beautifully written and astonishingly unique. If you love fairytales or need convincing that a retelling can still surprise you, then this is an anthology you will not want to miss! :)

The collection opens on the treacherous seas. I never would have thought of a Beauty and the Beast retelling in a Davy Jones-esque setting, but it was actually quite apt. Vivid description brought everything to life (even if the most of the characters were deadish). Though so unique a tale, one could sometime pause and see a scene very similar to Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, which always brought a chuckle simply because it was in such a different setting.
Our Beast here is certainly a clever fellow, with a wit sharp enough to win any reader’s admiration. As to be expected with a pirate crew, the girl faces a number of violent threats, including rape, but there is no scene where this is close to being fulfilled. At first, I was a little concerned at how smoothly the love story was going (for whilst the captain is charming, he could hardly yet be considered a worthy husband), but the author did address this.
Although I enjoyed the story, I did feel it ended far too abruptly, leaving at least two glaring questions unanswered. But I understand the difficulty of writing an epic tale in a limited word count, so she wove her high seas romance well.

The second story is also an eerie tale in a land where ghouls and wraiths are spilling from the Netherworld, threatening the existence of humanity. However, despite the occasional creepiness, I wouldn’t call this a horror story, for it focused mainly on the uneasy friendship of our Beauty and the Beast and their mission to save the world.
To be sure, at the fourth chapter I mistakenly interpreted that our hero-to-be was sucking blood from our unconscious heroine, presumably from her neck. As it turned out, I should have read more carefully for he was only withdrawing poison from her arm. He had no blood-thirsty tendencies whatsoever and found that idea most disgusting.
The truth of our hero’s identity took me by surprise and interest. He was very likable, though I didn’t entirely agree with his reasoning on keeping secret the truth behind the Abby he lived at.
Though not a story I would have expected to like, it was very interesting, and the mysterious little side plot alluded to by the author is certainly meant for another book and one I shall probably go read.

I was quite delighted that in the third story our Belle is already part of the cursed kingdom, being a lady-in-waiting. I’d never thought of that twist, and it seemed very likely and endearing. The writing style was good, and the plot had more than a few surprises, but it didn’t develop to my hopes. For one, we had the climax from the perspective of a side character who I never felt the need for, even if he was fun. Another, I wasn’t convinced by the arc of our enchantress. But our heroine was very sweet, and the story was enjoyable.

The fourth undoubtedly has the most unexpected setting of all, an Amazon-esque jungle, with our Belle being a spirited young tribal woman in search of freedom from the threats of her brutal people. It was quite cool for our Beast to be such a different creature as is usually portrayed in retellings, and his attitude was awesome.
However, there was quite a bit of brutality in this story, the sort that makes my stomach turn. For one, our heroine is repeatedly threatened (and is beaten) by an evil man of the village who would force her to be his wife which is quite all right with the villages standards (though not all right with her family). Also, this man is said to beat his wives, and one of the wives is later found violently murdered (It was meant to look like an animal kill, but it was her husband).
I was rather irritated by some of the heroine’s decisions, which I found very foolish. Also, the supernatural system and the people’s response to it struck me as unhealthy. So yeah. I didn’t care for this one.

Happily, the collection ends with my very favorite of them all! :) This tale is very similar to the original Beauty and the Beast, but OH…with such a beautiful and heart-tugging twist that I never once considered for a retelling. And this time, our setting is Gaelic/Scotland 1750's, with a very authentic feel of accents and time period. I think this heroine might have been my favorite, with just the right balance of sweetness and pluck. And the dear, dear noble Beast! His plight is most moving. It was also wonderful to see the warmth and love of family here, and the small second Beauty and the Beast plot enchanted me!

Overall, it’s not a collection of fairytales for children. But then, the very original fairytales aren’t either. Any lover of fairytales of a mature teen age and up will no doubt be astounded by this excellent collection, full of such incredibly different retellings.

[Marquise · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent anthology, by far the best collection of Beauty and the Beast retellings I've read, and that allowed me to find two new favourite reimaginings of this tale.

With the edtiorial guidance of Anne Elisabeth Stengl, this little known collection (which should be more known) contains only 5 retellings, but it's not a slim volume at all. Because each of the stories is more a novella or a novelette than a short story, and each has properly numbered chapters (some even prologues and epilogues) ranging from 10 chapters for the shortest to 22 for the longest, all of which accounts for the book's bulk. These stories are:

ESPRIT DE LA ROSE by Kaycee Browning
5 stars
This is one of the most creative retellings ever, not just in this anthology but in general. The setting is a place reminiscent of the Caribbean in the 1800s, when a proper girl is travelling to Europe with her shady ship captain dad, and their ship is intercepted by supernatural beings that have a score to settle with the father. More I won't say, for fear of spoiling it, but it's a really surprising story. Never thought of Beauty and the Beast ever working mixed with pirates and high seas derring-do. But, oh my, does it work!

The hero in this one is . . . not exactly lily-white, let's say, but does grow on you with his charm, and the banter with the heroine is quite funny at times, although she often can't follow; proper girl lacking somewhat of a sense of humour and all that. This was my second favourite story in the anthology, and definitely the most creative. It should appeal to Regency fans also, as the style fits the one they're used to, sans le angst that plagues the genre.

Also, impressive how young the author is. A teenager, according to the bio, and already showing this much potential.

WITHER by Savannah Jezowski
4 stars rounded-up
This one I nearly rated lower, because I found the story was at risk of being spoilt by the obnoxious female protagonist. The typical temperamental, prone to violence, stubborn, rude, close-minded and I-always-get-my-way kind of character that appears to be some authors's idea of a Strong Female, when it isn't just their idea of what Spunky Girl means. Or both. Add to it Too Stupid To Live situations she survives, and you get the picture.

However, I'd have unfairly overlooked the plotline itself as well as the male protagonist. Plot-wise, I'd rank this story second in creativity, as it has a storyline and setting I'd never found in B&B stories before. It's about a horrendously deformed man living in a crumbling castle-like house with a life and mind of its own, in whose garden there are roses that are slowly being strangled by some strange magic (hence the title), and that, following the standard B&B plot, compels an unsuspecting merchant to give him his youngest and prettiest daughter for the rose he's stolen. Only that the middle sister, the tomboy one with the odious temperament, is adamant that her sister won't go, and disobeying her father and a town guardian, she goes to the house with intentions that are far from friendly.

And there is where the adherence to the fairy tale ends and the new creative spin on it begins. There are demons scheming to escape their prison and invade the world, and there's a guardian, the last of his kind, that has to prevent that. The story is one of the most twisty ones as well, and the one that has Horror elements, though nothing that non-fans of the genre wouldn't read.

STONE CURSE by Jenelle Schmidt
4 stars
A pretty straightforward tale, although not very close to the B&B tradition in the sense that the storyline isn't similar at all. It starts a bit halfway through the narrative arc, when the curse is already there, and we have to learn what happened in flashbacks. More than a B&B tale, it's one of chivalry, of a quest by hero and heroine and companion, and suffers a bit from exposition, from "let me tell you this and that" explanations, and a HEA that, although earned, is a bit too convenient. It's a sweet love story, though, for those who like them.

ROSARA AND THE JUNGLE KING by Dorian Tsukioka
5 stars
Another favourite of mine from this collection and in general. The plot is more an Animal Bride/Animal Bridegroom one than a "Beauty and the Beast" one, because of the shape-shifting jaguars. Really, this reads more like an Amazonian fable than a retelling. I should know because I have read some folk tales and legends from the jungles of South America that this story reminded me of.

It's a beautiful story, in my opinion the best crafted and best written, and with some of the better characterisation. There's love, sacrifice and tragedy in this one, as both characters have to work the hardest of all to earn their slice of happiness.

THE WULVER ROSE by Hayden Wand
4.5 stars
This one is the story that's most faithful to the original B&B, and although that makes it the least inventive and imaginative, the author's compensated for that aplenty with characterisation: this has both the heroine and the hero as good-tempered people, something uncommon in B&B retellings. It's set in 1700s Scotland, some time after the Jacobite rebellion, and the Beast is a Scottish lord cursed to live as a beast for reasons you'll have to find out by yourself reading this book. Thank the gods it didn't turn out to be one of those horrid Highlands romances purporting to retell B&B, where the Beast is merely some grumpy Scots that's gone too long without sex, ale and raiding and that has a token scar to justify being called a Beast, when it's not just that he's a "savage" in the eyes of the prim English lass he abducts.

Yes, I know I'm ranting. Anyway, there's enough novelty in this story as to forget how close to the tale it is; might even be that readers not familiar with the Villeneuve/Beaumont B&B originals won't spot the similarities. Goes to prove that it's not necessary to shoe-horn a wildly insane subversion of the basic plot to write a good B&B retelling! The hero in this novella was one of my favourites as well.

The generally even quality of all the stories is the characteristic I'm the happiest with concerning this anthology. In the several other anthologies I've read, the salient point in common was how uneven the quality of writing was: one story you'd rate 5 stars and the next you'd rate 1 star, etc. That's not happened with this anthology.

Certainly, some of the stories are better than the rest here as well, I wouldn't not acknowledge that. But the point is that this unevenness isn't abysmal: as you can see from my ratings for each, I've not found one to be superb and the next utter rubbish. Instead, it's been from good to very good to amazing for me. And that's definitely not something I, a veteran of B&B retellings, have encountered in any other anthology of fairy tales. Ms Stengl, the editor, sure did a good job as well as the jurors of the writing contest these tales were the winners of.

[Hayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do kind of have a rule about rating my own books...but since this one is really only 1/5 mine, I think it's okay to make an exception on that just once :)

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to be lazy and not do individual reviews for each of these five short stories, even though they all do deserve reviews.

Suffice it to say, this is a beautiful collection and I was quite impressed. Some of the stories are dark. Who am I kidding, ALL of the stories are dark, they just contain varying levels of darkness. None of them emphasized the enormous library, which was annoying (come on, what is Beauty and the Beast without a library!). But surprisingly enough, I loved each story in spite of, and even because of, those things. I'm totally in the market for more of these well selected fairy tale collections, and I'm off to do Amazon Kindle searches on the best authors featured. Perhaps I'll snap up some great books!

Happy reading and Happy New Year to everyone!

[Shantelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five Enchanted Roses is an interesting collection of five different retelling of The Beauty and the Beast, by five different authors. For the most part, it’s a memorable and enjoyable collection. But, unlike the first book, Five Glass Slippers, this collection seems to follow a theme (not as much variety perhaps?), with dark-ish and quite magic-filled stories . . .

ESPRIT DE LA ROSE by Kaycee Browning. A young woman is upon her father’s pirate ship only long enough to get to London. However, she doesn’t quite conclude the trip before meeting up with some strange creatures and finding an even stranger world or sorts. Is there hope for saving herself and the dark souls around her? Or is all lost because of the stealing of a mirror?
It isn’t where you usually expect to find yourself when starting a fairytale—on a pirate’s ship, that is. But it was an interesting and fun take on the classic tale of The Beauty and the Beast anyway! Though there were some slight creepiness/gross elements, it wasn’t an amount that would make me really dislike the story. There was also some magic, but I thought that was pretty tastefully done as well. There was an underlying allegory in Esprit De La Rose that I found to be intriguing and rather profound. The lessons learned were thoughtful and had depth. I really liked how Cecilia stood up and fought for goodness, nearing the end of the book.
My biggest complaint, actually, would be a short conversation between the main character and another character that felt irreverent to God. And that was never resolved. So I was just a bit disappointed that the characters would talk like that . . . I would have like to see more spiritual growth! But who knows . . . maybe there will be a sequel? It certainly could have a sequel to show us more of what happens after the story ends! *wink*
The beast’s dry humor kept me laughing! He was an interesting character for sure. The mysteriousness/suspense part kept you wondering and waiting. There wasn’t much for romance, but that’s totally alright! It worked out in a sweet and poignant way. Curly! I just want to hug him! I liked Cecilia too—she was a very nice “Beauty” character! So yes. I enjoyed this story! The epilogue was especially fun and lovely. I would just like to read more!!

WITHER by Savannah Jezowski. An abbey looms in the distance; and all sorts of foul stories of ghosts and a beast within its walls are whispered about in the village. When Lilybet’s father has a run-in with “the beast”, she makes a rash decision. But all is not as it seems. Will Lilybet come to realize that before it’s too late?
To be honest, I didn’t expect to like this story. Wraiths and ghouls—demons of the Netherworld—really not my thing. However, I was in for rather a surprise. Wither was written superbly. It had a fantastic twist on the classic relationship. Speaking of the relationship, I just ended up adoring how it came about. And the thoughts on love. This story had a poignancy and profoundness to it that I really liked. It also had an allegory, and spoke of the Ever Father and whatnot.
My complaints? Yes, it still had the ghouls, wraiths, and whatever else. Some descriptions were rather ghastly. It wasn’t really a story where you shiver in terror, but it still had the slight gruesomeness/element of darkness. Some of the themes reminded me of Frank Peretti’s children/YA books, which I’m not at all fond of. Trying to keep demons contained to the Underworld . . . just yeah. Seems weird.
But as I implied above, that doesn’t really consume the story. It focuses a lot on the relationship between “Beauty” and “the Beast”, and I found myself quite interested and thoroughly enjoying it. There was also an element of magic in this tale . . . some of it I felt was rather weird; but for the most part, it was done in an okay way, I thought. And again, I want to read more! These novellas definitely need sequels, *grins* And that’s not meant in a bad way.
So yes, this was really a lovely tale. If you can get over the dark twist, it’s quite intriguing.

STONE CURSE by Jenelle Schmidt. A former lady-in-waiting helps a couple servants look over the castle of Thorndale . . . where stone statues litter the throne room, and the prince roams about as a beast. Armed with a rose, Karyna seems to be the only one who understands the unpredictable, cursed prince. Will someone ever be able to find the enchantress and break the curse?
This was an intriguing storyline, and I liked that it centered on a lady-in-waiting. Karyna and Prince Barend were both likable characters, and I enjoyed their story. When I reflect back on reading it, it just leaves me with a pleasant feeling. It had a few surprising twists and turns, and a very sweet and wonderful ending.
One thing that made the story less likable for me, is how it started sort of in the middle of things. I guess I would have liked to see some more backstory. But that’s just personal preference I’m sure! :)
Stone Curse felt a little slower than the other stories perhaps, but it was still a good and enjoyable tale all in all. Not quite as much magic as the majority, maybe. It had a dark theme, but a very happy, satisfactory ending!

ROSARA AND THE JUNGLE KING by Dorian Tsukioka. Born amongst a rather brutal jungle tribe, where woman are taken as wives forcibly, Rosara long to escape. Especially since the man seeking to take her as his wife already has two wives and is noticeably challenging her father’s position as chief. Rosara meets a peculiar jaguar, and learns of a mystical answer to her problems . . . but is it a solution she will regret?
Though I feel this story was well-written, and it did keep your interest; it was my least favorite of the collection. The brutality/violence was a little much for me! And I just didn’t feel comfortable with the jungle spirits and even the whole jaguar thing. It felt somewhat like a fairytale, and then a lot like jungle tribes’ myths and magical legends or something like that.
Maybe you would like this tale. It has romance, action, and danger. But it just wasn’t for me.

THE WULVER’S ROSE by Hayden Wand. When misfortune strikes, a well-off family is forced to move to a humble cottage of Scotland. The youngest daughter, Bonnie, struggles with guilt and with the eerie mystery of a little girl crying out for help in her dreams. When a wulver demands a payment, who will deliver? And will Bonnie be able to save the ones who need her?
I quite enjoyed this tale! I was intrigued by the epilogue, and then fell into Bonnie’s story, feeling her pain and guilt! I liked the Scottish setting, the market day scene, the cottage, and all that. I feel the magic/fairytale element of The Wulver’s Rose as really well done! It was done in a way that I was pretty much completely comfortable with—and I loved the “light-is-stronger-than-darkness” theme, and how calling of the name of the Lord pushed away strong evil. All in all, it was a touching, sweet, and enchanting tale. I enjoyed both Bonnie and the Wulver. And Bonnie’s family was quite sweet as well!
I don’t really have any complaints for this tale! It was endearing and unique, yet still held lots of traces of the original The Beauty and the Beast story.

So yes. If you’re a fan a fairytales, you might want to give this collection a try! :) But do beware if you’re sensitive or don’t like magic. As I mentioned at the beginning of the review, all the stories seemed to have a pretty strong element of eeriness/darkness/magic. Some I was okay with, while others left me feeling a little leery.
But Five Enchanted Roses did have some lovely stories! Exciting retellings of The Beauty and the Beast!
Looking forward to seeing what the next collection of fairytales is like! ^__^

I received a copy of Five Enchanted Roses from the publishers in exchange for my honest review.

[Christine Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Review originally posted on Musings of an Elf]

Five Enchanted Roses is Rooglewood Press's second fairytale collection and features five Beauty and the Beast retelling novellas. I was so excited to start reading. After all, this had five different retellings of my absolute favorite fairytale. And, let me tell you, it did not disappoint. So much talent and creativity was put into every single story and my mind was blown again and again. I loved them ALL.

Esprit de la Rose by Kaycee Browning
Rating: 5 Stars

My goodness. This was the strangest Beauty and the Beast retelling I’ve ever seen. The tale starts us on the high seas in an unnerving storm and sweeps us into a world of sirens and ghost ships. Definitely not your every day B&B retelling. At first I was pulled if to rate this a 4 or 5 stars. See, I’m not an ocean person. I’m terrified of drowning and have no intention of ever getting on a boat. I do like pirates (come on, pirates are awesome), but I’m still always wary over any sort of swashbuckling stories solely for the fact of them being on the sea. I just don’t like water stories. And this whole story was set on the ocean. On a netherworld ocean with a cursed ship full of grotesque looking pirates that is. It very much reminded me of the second Pirates of the Caribbean movie where they’re on the Flying Dutchman and the men are cursed to stay there and work for Davy Jones. I don’t like that movie for those parts alone. It just grosses me out. So when I saw this novella had that vibe I was a little worried. But as I kept reading I ended up falling in love with the tale and decided it deserved every single one of those 5 stars. I wasn’t wild about the icky factor of the cursed men, but other than that this story was an amazing read. And you know what? It ended up being my favorite out of the whole, amazing collection. A huge applause to Kaycee Browning for making a dark, swashbuckling story I loved.
I think what really grabbed me was that there wasn’t a single dull or predictable moment. I never knew what would happen next. There was a strange and interesting surprise on every single page and I just had to know how it would all play out. Kaycee Browning’s beautiful writing style and vivid descriptions pulled me right into the chilling world and cursed ship, and her brave but unpredictable characters grabbed my heart and wouldn’t let go (and often had me laughing).
Cecilia, the heroine, kept her wits about her even after finding herself on the ghostly ship full of horrifying cursed men that had no good intentions toward her. I loved how she, even though terrified, kept her head high and wouldn’t let anyone get the best of her, not even the charismatic Captain Pepin. Which brings us to another reason I adored this story: Pepin. Our “beast” is the enigmatic, charming captain of the ghostly crew, full of danger and sarcasm. Really, what more would you want from a ship captain? Though he really was a horrible person, his cocky wit had me laughing through most of the story. I shamefully got caught up in his charms. The dialogue between him and Cecilia was always the best.
This was a story like no other and I loved it. It was creepy and chilling and all around bizarre, but that’s what made it great.
Warning: There were some mature implication of some things that could happen, though they never did, and due to its all around chilling factor I wouldn’t recommend it to a young audience.

Wither by Savannah Jezowski
Rating: 5 Stars

This story, though far different from the last, also has a rather chilling factor to it. Our heroine, Lilybet, finds herself leaving the safety of her village straight into the Netherworld—-a land crawling with ghoulish beings. What struck me most about this story was the world itself. It was so different and fascinating, I wanted to spend more time there. I can’t put this world into a category, it almost felt medieval with touches of modern technology and life. And then you have the whole land of the Netherworld which sets it into a completely unique category of its own.
The story itself follows along quite well with the original Beauty and the Beast fairytale. It’s like if you took the B&B story and set it in a chilling world of ghosts and wraiths you’d have Wither. Pretty cool idea, right? It felt like the classic story in a completely unique way, and I loved that about it.
The characters were also endearing. Lilybet was very down to earth. She’s used to taking on the heavy chores for her family, and as a result has grown strong and tough. She’s not exactly your normal damsel in distress, but she’s also not the “has-to-be-one-of-the-boys” type of heroines either. She was sweet and human and could hold her own when she had to. I found her a very refreshing protagonist. While our beast character, Corwin, though a bit temperamental, captured my heart almost immediately. Add in a frisky wolfhound and some invisible people and you’ve got yourself quite the great cast.
What I really loved about this story is how it managed to be somewhat dark, very witty, often humorous, and emotional all at once. It fascinated me, made me laugh, and tugged at my heartstrings. A perfect combination!
Warning: Though this story focused a lot on the characters and not the world, the world was very dark, full of ghosts and things. So take note of that if that’s not your thing. It did have mentions of an Ever Father though and felt allegorical to me. I was okay with how it was handled. Also there was this one scene where a character was sucking the blood out of another character and at first she thought he was drinking her blood but he was actually pulling the poison out of her. It was pretty icky though so do be warned.

Stone Curse by Jenelle Schmidt
Rating: 5 Stars

Ah, this story was beautiful. Tucked comfortably in the middle of the collection, Stone Curse provides a bit of a break from the more darker themes while giving us a sweet, but still exciting tale full of originality. This story felt like a fairytale in almost every way. It journeys the reader through an empty castle to a treacherous wood, steps through a calm village and cozy inn, and pulls us right to a ruinous castle covered in thorns. The perfect equation for a fairytale, am I right? The entire fairytale-like setting was one of my favorite parts of the story and I had a hard time leaving the beautiful little world when I came to the end. But the lovely setting is only one of the many great aspects.
This story is completely original and yet still holds to so many important Beauty and the Beast elements. It plops us in the eyes of a lady-in-waiting, Karyna our heroine, right in the middle of the story, and with each page we learn more and more why this castle’s throne room is full of stone people, and why a beastly looking prince roams the empty halls. I found the whole stone curse utterly enthralling. But there’s so much more than just a room full of stone people. Why did the curse turn the prince into a beast instead of stone? How did the curse even happen? These questions and more had me turning one page after another and cheering Karyna on as she bravely tries to put everything right.
Karyna herself was a wonderful protagonist, so sweet and courageous and loving. ALL the characters were completely endearing. Both the Prince Barend (the beast) and another character, Ritter, snagged my heart so hard I’m having withdrawal issues. These characters were just precious, and the friendships made me smile.
Really, the only thing I disliked about this story was that on occasion it felt like the writing ventured a little more into telling than showing. There were also a few little plot threads that kind of never got completely resolved or delved into as deeply as I had hoped. But it is a novella and I completely understand it had to be kept trimmed down to the word limit.
All in all, it was an absolutely wonderful tale. The twists! So many amazing twists. I got ecstatic at each new one revealed. I was literally zooming through the last few chapters I was so excited and intrigued. And the ending. . .perfection. Once I read the last sentence, I let out a sigh of contentment and just had to sit back and soak in all the beauty for a moment before I could return to normal life. I adored this story, I really did.
Warning: Though not as dark as the first two, this still held some creepy themes. There were two different fights that got pretty violent, though nothing was ever described with too much detail. I found it all handled quite well.

Rosara and the Jungle King by Dorian Tsukioka
Rating: 5 Stars

Whoa. This story was something different altogether. It took me on a wild, exciting ride, right from the start. We begin with Rosara hiding in the jungle from a cruel man of her tribe who seeks to make her his wife. Then we meet Tupa. . .a jaguar. . .who can talk. The tribes and jungle was quite a new turn from your usual medieval, fairytale setting. Though not exactly my favorite type of setting, I found it so interesting I got completely pulled in anyway.
What struck me right from the first sentence was Dorian Tsukioka’s seamless writing style. My goodness, the talent! Literally every single sentence was beautiful and smooth. The easy, fast-paced style had me turning pages effortlessly, except when I stopped to just admire the perfectly put together sentences. I found the writing flawless, I really did. Even if I didn’t like the story itself, the writing alone would have probably made me give it 5 stars. (I will warn you though, it’s written in first person, present tense which I know isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. I’ve gotten so used to that style at this point I hardly even noticed myself.) But I LOVED the story. It moves fast, without a dull moment in between, and had my heart beating nervously at each peril. It was so unpredictable I could never guess what danger Rosara would find herself in next. And she found herself in a lot, let me tell you.
Rosara was a great heroine, brave and sacrificial. . .if not a reckless, but that just made her human. Then we have Tupa and ooooh my. I fell in love the moment he opened his mouth and shocked Rosara when he talked, and from there my love only grew stronger. Both the characters were so sacrificial, so willing to do whatever it took to keep the other safe, which caused a lot of trouble for each of them, but left us with an exciting and satisfying ending. I read the whole thing without once getting up. I simply could not put it down. Dorian Tsukioka knows how to weave a tale! Unfortunately, there were a bunch of elements that almost forced me to bump it down to 4 stars, but it was so well written I couldn’t not give it a full 5 stars. But do read through the warnings. . .
Warning: Rosara is from a very brutal tribe where a man usually attains his wives (yes, plural) through, um, assault. That’s just a perfectly normal thing in their tribe. *shudders* There’s a scene where such a thing almost happens but the girl makes it out before it does, and everything is very much implied, never outright said, which I appreciated. The women are not treated well and there are a few mentions of abuse. But, I will say, the author did a good job handling it and nothing was ever exactly SAID, I think a lot of it would go over some younger readers’ heads. But still, I just wish it hadn’t been there at all. There was also a lot of violence that wasn’t always brushed over. The descriptions could get rather vivid. And, lastly, the characters believed and prayed to spirits of the forest, some spirits we even see. There were a lot of beliefs such as having to give someone a proper burial so their soul doesn’t wander in agony. Things like that. Those parts made me a bit uncomfortable, though the world was so magical and fantasy-esque it felt fictional enough to not completely deter me. But still, I DO NOT recommend this one for a younger audience. The overall themes were just too dark and disturbing. So proceed with caution.

The Wulver’s Rose by Hayden Wand
Rating: 4 Stars

I feel terrible giving this one a 4 stars when all the other stories snagged a 5 from me, but let me assure you, that does not mean this story was any less beautiful than the others. In fact, in the midst of all the dark magic and strange themes, it was a refreshing story to end with. This one was definitely the most mild compared to the wild tales of the others. It had a quiet beauty that I found so appealing.
From the opening of the intriguing prologue, I was pulled in. This story follows the tale of a Scottish family suddenly caught in debt and forced to move to the Highlands in a little cottage. The youngest daughter, Bonnie, blames herself for all their ill-luck, so when her father returns home one day claiming he encountered a legendary beast that demands Bonnie come to his castle, she leaves without hesitation in hopes of redeeming herself.
What I loved about this tale is how closely it followed the original Beauty and the Beast story. It was the closest match yet compared to the others, while still holding its own. I found it so interesting how it was set in Scotland. I LOVE all things Scottish and the like, so a B&B retelling in Scotland piqued my interest the moment I heard about it. It felt Scottish, with the accents and rolling green hills and sheep and livelihood of the characters. One could easily see Hayden Wand did her research.
Unfortunately, the overall plot didn’t wow me. As much as I enjoyed the Scottish setting, the whole first half of the story felt a little too much like a historical fiction more than a fairytale. Which is certainly not a bad thing, I just personally don’t like historical fictions (I know, I know, horrid!). I’m not one much for realistic, historical tales. They bore me. The first section of this tale didn’t feel quite as exciting as the others. BUT once we do get to the Beast’s castle and settle into the Beauty and the Beast-ness of the story, it definitely picks up.
The Beast, in his melancholy, quiet politeness, grabbed my heartstrings and wouldn’t let go. I could feel his pain, and really just wanted to give him a big hug. Bonnie, too. She, as well, is a little quiet and timid, but so willing to do whatever it takes to help her family. I love how this one so deeply delved into family. Instead of the normal spiteful older sisters, Bonnie’s sisters are loving and full of life. And her kindhearted father and brother play key roles in the story to spur Bonnie on her journey.
What really made the story shine was its theme of God’s light. Woven throughout we get glimpses of hope and God’s guidance as Bonnie prays for Him to light her way. I was happy to see this added to the storyline.
Though a little slow at times, this story still captured my heart with its sacrificial characters, beautiful setting, and hopeful themes. I was pleasantly surprised when I realized it didn’t feel like a novella. All the other stories sometimes seemed a little too fast and like I was missing something due to the short word count, but this one really felt like a full story. By the end I felt as if I had been on a long journey with Bonnie, making the ending even more satisfying. Hayden Wand has a gift for putting so much into so few words.
This precious story ends the collection with the message that resonates through all the stories, what Beauty and the Beast really means: Love redeems.
Warning: This was definitely the cleanest and most mild of the five stories. There’s one mention of druids and of course the use of magic, but it was actually portrayed as a very evil thing in this one. At the beginning there’s a fire and someone gets burned but Hayden Wand handled everything beautifully without ever getting too gory or dark.

Conclusion
This was one amazing collection of Beauty and the Beast tales. The time and effort these five girls put into their stories shone through every page, well deserving a spot in the collection. All the different ways they took a single story and twisted it into their own was fascinating. And the CHARACTERS. I loved all the characters, from every story. Each so unique but so lovable in their own way.

I was rather surprised at how dark the theme of the whole collection was. Five Glass Slippers, Rooglewood Press's first collection, had a much more lighthearted, family friendly set of stories, as well as a very broad mix. This one, though the stories were very different, still clung together with a specific dark feel, which I think may limit the audience. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone under 15 or 16 years old, especially Esprit de la Rose, Wither, and Rosara and the Jungle King. With that said, Beauty and the Beast tends to have a far darker feel than something like Cinderella, and I think each story fit the fairytale well. Fairytales, original fairytales that haven’t been Disney-fied, were always meant to be rather dark, and I like them that way. The higher the stakes, the more powerful the message comes across. The darkness in these tales only made the light of redemption woven in their pages glow brighter.

If you’re a fan of fairytale retellings that provide a bit of a shiver but touch the soul with messages of love found even in the darkest places, then the Five Enchanted Roses collection is for you.

All together I give the collection a shining 5 stars.

[Julia Bartel · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

How could you possibly go wrong with an anthology of Beauty and the Beast retellings? Answer: you can't, and this book proves it. Each story provides a little something different from the last, but each one still has the distinct flavor of Beauty and the Beast. I was so excited to read this, and now I'm so excited to share my review!

Esprit de la Rose launches the anthology into a strong start, with nonstop adventure, an engaging setting, and a full cast of truly captivating characters. They were probably my favorite part of the story – the headstrong Cecilia and the charming Captain Pepin are sure to steal your heart. They definitely made me giggle a lot! Not only does this story blow your mind with its creativity and heart, but there's also a fair share of wild plot twists that make this feel like the most immersive installment in the anthology. I can't even get my head around how well Kaycee Browning managed to take the completely outlandish premise – Beauty and the Beast plus pirates – and weave it into something so darn good. This review is a little less eloquent than my others will be; it's because I can't even put into words how much I loved this story. Just read it. Go now.

I don't think I've ever felt as much sympathy for the Beast as Savannah Jezowski's Wither made me feel – perhaps because she puts the reader into his head. Corwin is so easy to love, and his voice makes this story a delight to read. Not to mention the spooky thrills awaiting the brave, tenacious heroine, Lilybet, around each dark corner of Briarstone Abbey. Jezowski's formal diction made this story stick out to me – it gives the characters more authenticity. This story is the most mysterious, with delicious new discoveries unraveling each time the page is turned. It has plenty of creepy, exciting moments, and the plot builds up to an unforgettable climax. Also, this story might be the only one in the anthology that isn't a standalone; it's part of the Neverway Chronicles, a series I'm eager to read after noticing threads of a sideplot in this story...

Jenelle Schmidt's Stone Curse got off to a bit of a slow start in my opinion, but I quickly got wrapped up in the truly original plot, which follows a different formula than the rest of the stories. I don't want to say more for fear of spoiling it, but it's just so much fun! It has just the right amount of silliness, and eventually I found myself wishing that the story would never end. The characters are well-written and fun to read about, from the dashing prince Ritter to the somewhat less dashing (can you blame him? he's cursed!) prince Barend to the sensible young protagonist, Karyna. However, the best thing about this story is the ending, which is cute enough to bring a smile to my face even now.

I didn't know how badly I needed a sassy talking jaguar in my life until I got it in the form of Tupa, the romantic lead in Dorian Tsukioka's Rosara and the Jungle King. This story had me hooked from page one. Rosara is a strong heroine with a heart for adventure, and that is definitely reflected in the plot. Beauty and the Beast is a very romantic story with a slow build toward a climax. However, this story sped up the action and had me sitting on the edge of my seat throughout the whole thing – I was desperate to know what would come next. It's such a creative take on the classic legend, from the setting to the characters to the magic system to the plot. I can't say enough good things about it, and once again I will shoo you away so you can go read it right this instant.

The Wulver's Rose was the most atmospheric of all the stories. Set on the misty moors of eighteenth-century Scotland, it had just enough mystery to give me chills. However, it seemed like most of the story was exposition, and I'm wondering if that's why the eventual climax felt a little too rushed. Ah, well – in any case, the exposition was still well-written and had me completely intrigued. Plus, it gives the reader plenty of insight into the character of Bonnie, our leading lady. You will be swept away by the plight of the Alleway family, and the strength of their bond was just one of the many sweet things about this elaborate story. It truly is so lovely that you can almost feel the magic rising from the pages.

So those are my thoughts on this book! If you haven't figured it out already, I found it to be completely delightful. And the best thing about it is that if a particular story isn't floating your boat, you can just wait until the next one, which is bound to have something new and exciting. It's like a roller coaster thrill ride of fairy tale AWESOMENESS.

[Callie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Beauty and the Beast" is one of my favorite fairy tales; I love the Disney version with it's fun songs and characters, and classic storyline. When I heard that the next Five Something Somethings contest was going to be "Beauty and the Beast," I was so excited! Having now read the five winning stories, I was right to be. This new collection has a much different feel overall than Five Glass Slippers, but Five Enchanted Roses is no less amazing. I feel that these stories have a more serious air to them, perhaps because they deal with a more serious theme. While all the stories are completely, 100% unique, they are also completely recognizable as "Beauty and the Beast" retellings. Oh, and did I mention the gorgeous cover? And the amazing cover pages for each of the stories? Because they are seriously pretty, and help immediately set the mood of each individual story.

"Espirit de la Rose" by Kaycee Browning is a wonderful opening to the collection. It draws you in immediately, jumping right into the action. This story is set on a ghostly pirate ship filled with some unpredictable characters that keep you turning the pages to find out what will happen next. With this and "Rosara and the Jungle King," I was unsure how such different settings would work with a "Beauty and the Beast" story, but they certainly did, giving each one distinctive atmosphere.

Next comes Savannah Jezowski's story "Wither." This story was perhaps the most unpredictable one for me. With a sympathetic beast character and a headstrong young girl, this story kept me guessing until the end. It seems to follow the original story closely for a while, but the setting is so different that you never doubt for a moment it's a new story entirely.

"Stone Curse" was much different from the original. In starting at the castle and having to venture out, and bringing the beast along with her, Karyna shows her determination to break the curse from the very beginning. She isn't the traditional "Beauty" character that is hesitant to love the Beast, but is instead set on breaking the spell. Jenelle Schmidt created a cast of endearing characters in Karyna, Barend, and Ritter that had me laughing at their antics, nervous as they go on an adventure, and desperate to see how their story ended. Though I was able to see part of how the ending would turn out, another part of the story was a complete surprise to me.

Dorian Tsukioka's tale was perhaps the one I was most excited to read. "Rosara and the Jungle King" is set in the Amazon Jungle amidst local tribes, rivers, and jungle creatures. When I found out that one of the winning stories had such a unique setting, I immediately wanted to read it and find out how the author did it. the story did not disappoint my hopes for it. With unpredictable twists and turns, I followed Rosara through her quest to find happiness and escape the life laid before her. This story does perhaps have the most mature content, and while never explicit, it may be a read best left for older teens and adults. Still, the message throughout the book about sacrifice and love are good ones, and they remain true to the original "Beauty and the Beast."

Finally, the story that kept closest to the original material is Wulver's Rose. Set in Scotland, with lots of great accents to remind you whenever there is dialogue, Hayden Wand managed to somehow keep much of the original story-line while still making it her own. I think that if I had to pick a favorite from this collection, this story may be it. Bonnie is a relatable character trying to learn how to forgive herself, even after her family has forgiven her. And the Wulver has a motivation all his own, perhaps stronger than that of even the original Beast. It was a wonderful closing to a wonderful collection.

I recommend this book for lovers of fairy tales, but also those who love adventure, a little romance, and being surprised by the ending of a book. This collection has all of that and more. (Plus the beautiful cover :)) Anne Elisabeth and her team at Rooglewood did a great job compiling a collection that, in my opinion, is even better than the last. The author of each story did an amazing job at writing unique retellings that still capture the essence of the original.

[deborah o'carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Edited to include brief thoughts on the other stories, added after Stone Curse's review. I'm still rating this collection 5 stars for Stone Curse, though the other stories fell short of 5 stars for me. It's definitely worth picking up, if only for my favorite story, though! :))

***This review is for STONE CURSE by Jenelle Schmidt in the FIVE ENCHANTED ROSES collection***

As a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, STONE CURSE surprised me with its originality while still clinging to the familiar threads. The reader is plunged directly into several intertwined mysteries that it's wonderful to try to unravel. I predicted just enough of the answers of the mysteries to feel excited and elated whenever I was right, but there were more than enough surprises and twists to keep me on my toes, which I loved!

The writing was excellent and flowed beautifully in an effortless fairytale-ish way, and I loved the "feel" of the story and the world. It's exactly the sort of feel that I like best in the fantasy tales I read! I can't really describe it but it's gorgeous and makes me feel at home, while still keeping me on the edge of my seat about what will happen next, because even (or especially) the most lovely of fantasy worlds contain a measure of uncertainty and danger! Something about the feel reminded me of a couple other favorite authors of mine, especially Patricia C. Wrede. This makes me happy and I'm looking forward to reading more by Jenelle Schmidt.

I've decided I enjoy novellas. I was able to read this in a sitting but it felt more fulfilling than a short story, and yet it was close enough to a novel's depth, without the extra fluff, that it was extremely enjoyable.

It's a very fun adventure, with some banter and journeying through a gorgeous fantasy world, tangled woods, homely (and not so homely) inns, and dark mysterious crumbling castles surrounded by roses... (I almost felt like a couple other fairy tales were subtly hinted at as well as Beauty and the Beast, which of course only made it cooler.) And then it got so exciting and epic. Yes! I basically loved this story a ton and had such a great time reading it. (Also, Ritter's horse was cool. I think I want a horse now please. And a Beast like Barend too. Thank you.)

All of the characters were awesome and felt so very real. Characters are important to me and these definitely rank up with my favorites!

I actually loved the heroine! This may not sound odd to most people. But I'm notorious for disliking most female main characters, and even if I tolerate a heroine, it's extremely rare that I like her as much as I liked Karyna! She was so extremely sturdy and nice and determined and helpful and useful! It was marvelous how she always had that satchel of hers that she would pull things out of and fix someone up or do a bit of gardening or pruning. She's also so full of hope and won't give up, which I loved. I just adored Karyna.

Our Beast, Prince Barend, was fabulous! His story was unique and I so enjoyed reading about him! Like the best Beast characters, sure he had some problems but ultimately you love him. I loved his loyalty and protectiveness, bit of stubbornness, and his willingness to go so far for the one he cares about. Just... yes. Barend! He's so awesome. And he's a little uncertain and gruff and awkward but also determined, and was wonderful. I especially liked getting to see his thoughts from time to time, as well as Ritter's.

Much as I loved the other characters, I think I might have liked Ritter even better! He's my favorite. His endearing charm, quick tongue, humor and bravery. I just loved Ritter! Considering how much I loved both Karyna (unexpectedly) and Barend (of course), it's incredible that another character could surpass them and become my favorite, but Ritter definitely earned that place. I was super intrigued by him from the moment he entered the tale, and simply loved how he factored into the story. As soon as I figured out what was up with him I may or may not have actually made a squealing noise. I was also addicted to quoting his lines aloud. Ha! Quotable characters are the best, but he was also such a great all-around guy and one of my very favorites!

I'm always a big fan of humor and great dialog, and I loved the characters' journeying and interactions and banter! One of my favorite parts involved reminiscing about the mischief young royals got into as children. That was HILARIOUS. They're a really great cast of characters! I just love them all so much and they feel like my friends. I'm looking forward to reading this again to be with them once more and re-experience this wonderful story and its beautiful and shadowy world.

I do wish Princess Bellenya had been gone into more. Her part of the story wasn't as developed as I'd have liked, especially considering how it all ended up (which I really liked! I just... wanted more). I was okay with it, I just wish she'd been more delved into so I could understand her more or something? That being said, it's basically the only thing I have a complaint about in this otherwise fabulous tale!

The ending felt a tiny bit hurriedly wrapped up, but I didn't mind because it was still awesome. The final scene was absolutely perfect and made me cry. (I'm not much of a book-crier, but this was wonderful!) At the end, when I finished reading and sat back with a little sigh of happiness and wiped my eyes, with a smile on my lips that I couldn't seem to get rid of even if I'd wanted to, I would have hugged the book if it had been a physical copy. As it was, I settled for hugging my laptop which contained it.

Overall, I positively loved STONE CURSE and it left me with a happy, smiling, in-the-clouds feeling of contentment. I don't know what else I can ask of a fairytale! It had a little bit of everything.

I look forward to reading the other four novellas in this collection, but I can tell you that FIVE ENCHANTED ROSES is well worth picking up if only for this delightful story.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in return for my honest review. It was not required to be positive, and these opinions are entirely my own.]

This review originally posted on The Road of a Writer: https://deborahocarroll.wordpress.com...)

EDIT:

All the stories in this collection are extremely well written and thoroughly gripping and exciting. They are all very different. I enjoyed the collection as a whole by the end, but some of them were just not for me.

Brief thoughts on the other tales, in order:

Esprit de la Rose - 2 stars

It was just too icky for me, with the creepy mermaids and the gross sailors and... I don't know. It just wasn't for me. Which made me sad because I usually love piratey tales on the high seas in the eighteenth century. The captain, Pepin, did have some great moments and lines, so that's enjoyable, but that was the only thing, other than the gripping writing, that I really loved. I'm sure most will love this tale, but I just couldn't enjoy the story as a whole due to its icky creepiness. If there was a sequel, though, I would totally read it! Ha. ;)

Wither - 1 star

I'm sorry. I hate giving things 1 star and hardly ever do, and I know everyone loves this story except me so don't mind my opinion. But it was thoroughly creepy--I don't like stories of zombie-like things, they just creep me out. It had its moments, and like I said I couldn't stop reading and was gripped by the story, so it's definitely very well written, and I liked a few things (the dog; the characters were interesting; I loved the thing about the Abbey having a sort of consciousness, etc.), but it's just not my thing. The whole thing felt so hopeless (apocalyptic-type things with undead creatures do that for me). It was too creepy for me, and if that wasn't enough, I didn't like the ending at all. The ending made me sad and left me feeling empty and depressed and despairing, and if that's a happy ending then I don't want one. I just didn't like it and it made me sad and left me feeling empty, and I hate it when books do that to me. Empty is not something one wants to feel more than one has to. Horror and hopelessness are not things I like to read, so this story was not for me.

Stone Curse - 5 stars

As mentioned, I loved it so much!! *huggles story* For me, it's the reason to read this collection, and I plan to read it again very soon! <3

Rosara and the Jungle King - 3 stars

It was kind of violent and I really dislike first-person-present-tense, but I ended up enjoying this one okay. The imagery was vivid, the setting original, and I loved Tupa! He was amazing. If it wasn't so creepy and written that way, Tupa would probably have made the rating go up to 4 stars. And the ending made me happy.

The Wulver's Rose - 4 stars

I wish there hadn't been the epilogue/very beginning of the prologue because it made me sad. And the first part was also so sad and I wasn't sure I'd like it. Also, the mention of druids annoyed me. But once the actual Beauty and the Beast part of the story started happening, I enjoyed it very much, and ended up loving the Beast and his sadness and his Scottish accent. Some of the story was very beautiful and I ended up liking it a lot. The first part, before the castle, felt very different though, like a historical fiction novel, which is fine, it just didn't mesh very well with the awesome fairytale feel of the later part. That's probably just me though. I think this would have been 5 stars for me if not for the beginning and the way it's told as a story. But I still loved a lot of it and by the last part it made me happy. :)

[Sierra Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

((Original review found at https://26countlesspossibilities.word...)

For the past two years Rooglewood Press has had a writing contest based on a fairy tale. The first year was Cinderella re-tellings and this year is Beauty and the Beast. Would you love to be published? Next year they are doing Sleeping Beauty,here are more details for the contest.


I am sorry that the reviews are short and vague, but I don't want to give any spoilers!




Esprit de la Rose by Kaycee Browning 4/5 Stars


The setting Kaycee Browning created was very unique. I loved the spin on the Beauty and the Beast story! Mermaids? Creatures from the sea? Pirates? Definitely a different kind of Beauty and the Beast story than the norm!

My favorite character had to be Pepin. I felt like he was more developed than the main character, Cecilia. He has a French accent and every time he spoke I could "hear" the French.

The only reason I am giving this book four stars instead of five is because of the ending. I felt like the ending was left open for a whole other story, there wasn't enough closure. Also why Pepin acted the way he did was very confusing. He explained it but I didn't quite understand it.



Wither by Savannah Jezowski. 3/5 stars.


I found this story interesting at first. Then it all grew into a big mess of confusion!

I did enjoy the ending, something finally made sense.





Stone Curse by Janelle Schmidt. 5/5 stars.Sonte Curse

Oh my goodness!! I love this one sooo much!! It was dark to begin with but quickly turned into a light read.
I loved the devotion of Karyna and Barend. Even though he wasn't the man he once was she was still there for him, and he would protect her at any cost.





Rosara and the Jungle King by Dorian Tsukioka. 4/5 Stars.

Can I just give a big sigh? That ending though!!!

This was a different kind of Beauty and the Beast re-telling than I have ever read. A jaguar as the beast? Interesting...

I loved this story. I knocked off a star because I guessed the ending ;)





The Wulver's Rose by Haydin Wand. 4/5 Wulver's RoseStars. For this story I guessed everything that was going to happen... except for the roses. That part totally blew me away!

I enjoyed this sweet little tale a lot more than I expected.



Conclusion: I love this collection of short stories a lot more than last year's! I assume next year's will

**I received a copy of this book from the publisher (Rooglewood Press) in exchange for my honest review**

[R.F. Gammon · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW.

RTC.

[☆ serethiel ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Read/reviewed in autumn 2015.]

--

ESPRIT DE LA ROSE by Kaycee Browning

ESPRIT DE LA ROSE tells the story of an educated young woman called Cecilia, her father a privateer who quickly becomes indebted to the magical merfolk known as the Fee. In a hasty attempt to save her father, Cecilia is hurled into a grim underworld filled with ghostly pirates, each of them with their own curse. In a world so utterly terrifying, is it possible for the privateer's daughter to find love even among the harshest of souls?

♦

I had a BLAST reading this tale! I all-too-instantly fell in love with the mysterious Captain Pepin, and was very much intrigued by Miss Cecilia Lester. Many of the characters were dangerous and bewitching, allowing for Esprit de la Rose to be a true page-turner.

Overall, I believe this novella deserves five stars!

--

WITHER by Savannah Jezowski

In WITHER, a merchant's stubborn daughter named Lilybet crosses a land filled with the dreadful undead in an attempt to reach a beast's castle to save her sister. Lilybet receives much more than she bargained for, however. The beast lives a half-life as stone, and the palace in which he dwells is known as Briarstone Abbey. Cold and mystical, Briarstone stands as a barrier between the mortal world and the realm of the dead. It is only a matter of time before the wraiths behind it begin to seep free...

♦

WITHER was, I believe, my least-favourite novella in the Five Enchanted Roses collection. Though the writing was excellent and the characters very well developed, I found myself unable to relate to them. I did, however, find the setting dark and intriguing, causing the description of WITHER's world to be clearly etched into my mind.

Still, I think this story should earn three or four stars.

--

STONE CURSE by Jenelle Schmidt

What if the beast's curse was an accident? Jenelle Schmidt's STONE CURSE tells the story of Karyna, a young handmaiden living in a dreary castle with a court full of haunting statues, a fellow servant, and none other than the beast -- Prince Barend, himself. When rumors of a sorceress reach Karyna's ears, she is determined to set out and find the woman, in hopes of finding a way to free the prince from his curse. But surprises are in store for Karyna, along her journey. And is this tale of the sorceress just a myth? Or is there someone really lurking behind the shadows of that powerful title?

♦

STONE CURSE was a rather unexpected read, in such a darling way! Appreciating the characters was all-too easy! And the plot was such fun, too. It didn't take long for me to imagine gallivanting across the kingdom with Karyna and Barend, as well as their lovely friend Ritter.

Four stars!

--
ROSARA & THE JUNGLE KING by Dorian Tsukioka

Written in the style of Suzanne Collins's THE HUNGER GAMES, ROSARA & THE JUNGLE KING is the story of the beautiful Rosara, the daughter of her tribe's chief. Attempting to avoid a vicious suitor, she meets and quickly befriends the enchanted jaguar Tupa. But it is only a matter of time before a spell befalls Rosara, transforming her into a form like that of her new companion. Can the spell be broken? Or will Rosara and Tupa remain forever beasts?

♦

I did not expect to like ROSARA & THE JUNGLE KING, but I was in for quite the surprise. I was the princess of the jungle, racing through the vines with my new friend, the Jungle King. Rosara was incredibly easy and fun to relate to, and I felt as if Tupa and I had been friends for years.

Five stars!

--

THE WULVER'S ROSE by Hayden Wand

In THE WULVER'S ROSE, the young Bonnie ventures to a castle perched in the Highlands of Scotland to repay a debt to her family. But there is more to this castle than meets the eye: it is inhabited by a werewolf of sorts -- a creature called the Wulver, who is half-man, half-wolf. Not to mention there's the trapped child, a young girl who visits Bonnie in her dreams. When a wicked sorceress comes calling, Bonnie must save the Wulver, as well as this mysterious child. But what if it is Bonnie who must pay the price?

♦

I absolutely adored Hayden Wand's THE WULVER'S ROSE! It was probably my favourite in the FIVE ENCHANTED ROSES collection, by far. The setting was beautiful, the characters were outstanding, and the plot itself was altogether stunning! I am afraid there is little more I can say on the matter, except that The Wulver's Rose deserves five stars (or more, if such a thing is possible).

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairytales, so when I got the chance to read and review this collection, I was very excited. For the most part, my hopes weren't disappointed; as with Five Glass Slippers, Anne Elisabeth and the other judges chose an excellent, and unique, set of stories for this collection.

Esprit de la Rose: Pirates, mermaids, and a high-seas adventure? That’s more or less the last thing I’d expect in a Beauty and the Beast adventure . . . but it turns out to be quite the exciting tale! I enjoyed the very unique twist on the original story and the mystery of the Esprit de la Rose and her crew. Even though I know the original tale very well, I found myself eagerly wondering what would happen next. There were a few parts, particularly regarding the ending, which I felt could’ve been made clearer, but overall, I definitely enjoyed this unusual take on the classic story.

Wither: Oh, oh, oh. This story. It’s undoubtedly my favorite retelling in the collection, haunting creepy and filled with mystery, but sweet at the same time. Lilybet and Corwin are awesome. And then there’s the ending. Just, the ending. It’s like all the amazing of the rest of the story got tripled and then condensed in those last several chapters. I finished the story and then had to read the ending all over again because it’s so epic and amazing and beautiful, and then I reread it again when I edited this review. It’s wonderful. This whole story is wonderful; I can complain about nothing.

Stone Curse: I’d heard several of my friends getting excited for this story, and so expected to love it as much or more than Wither . . . but I’m afraid it fell a bit flat for me. The author’s version of the curse was interesting, but I didn’t really connect with the characters. Also, I was left with too many questions- particularly, how did the person who caused the curse get the ability to cause it in the first place?- and the ending seemed too convenient to me.

Rosara and the Jungle King: Like our first story, this is a highly unique version of the Beauty and the Beast story, this time set in a tropical jungle. From the first sentence, I was entranced by the author’s writing style and the main character’s voice. I loved Tupa as well, and his relationship with Rosara. There were one or two things I didn’t like- the ending fell a touch flat for me, and I’m not quite sure what to think of the karawara- but overall, I enjoyed this story.

The Wulver’s Rose: A delightful ending to the collection and my second favorite story from it, The Wulver’s Rose runs very closely to the original version of Beauty and the Beast, while still holding unique elements. I like just about everything about this story: the characters, the setting (Scotland, in the mid 18th century), and that the author included Beauty’s dreams, an element of the original often forgotten in retellings. The only reason this didn’t take first place, really, is that really getting into the story took me a few chapters. Otherwise, this is a lovely and sweet story.

Overall, I loved this collection of five lovely and unique Beauty and the Beast retellings. While a dark thread does run through all of them- and some more than others- that's understandable; Beauty and the Beast is a somewhat darker fairytale, and never does the darkness overwhelm the beauty of the stories. I would highly recommend this collection to teen lovers of fairy tales.

[Meredith Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beauty and the Beast is a beautiful tale with universal themes. One of my all-time favorite tales, the story addresses the idea that the unloved can encounter grace. I enjoy any retelling of this story, and Five Enchanted Roses presents marvelous reinterpretations of this classic. Set in such varied settings as an Amazonian-like jungle, a pirate's ship and a mysterious world where ghouls and wraiths prey upon the weak, this book will delight any discriminating reader. Below are my ratings and opinions of each story.

1. "Esprit De la Rose," by Kaycee Browning: My rating: 3 stars. I loved the creativity of having this story set on a pirate ship. The heroine is likable, and the undersea mermaids provided a creepy but compelling touch. I never felt like I truly connected with the "beast" character, but the story is fun and engaging.
2. "Wither," by Hannah Jezowski: My Rating: 5 stars. Set in a world where hungry ghouls and wraiths are seeking to gain dominance, this is a heartrending tale of one protector's desperate attempt to save that with which he's been entrusted. It is also the tale of a young girl with a fiercely loyal spirit determined to save her sister at all costs. I loved the characterization in this story, and the "beast" character is extremely empathetic. The world building is superb as well, and the chapters alternate between the "Beauty" and "beast" points of view. I found this writing technique to be very enjoyable.
3. "Stone Curse," by Jenelle Schmidt. My rating: 5 stars. This story recounts the tale of a kingdom trapped within a curse and of a visiting prince who is transformed through no fault of his own. I loved the twist ending to this tale and how the author examines what truly makes someone a beast. The tale is simple but beautifully written. One of my favorites.
4. "Rosara and the Jungle King," by Dorian Tsukioka. My rating: 4 stars. Set within a jungle where brutal men seek to ruthlessly claim what they desire, this story tells of forbidden love and a fight for survival. I loved Rosara's voice and the unique setting. I did feel that the characters' motivations were lacking, and the love story seemed too abrupt for my taste. However, this story has beautiful imagery, and I particularly loved the descriptions of the Karahara, or "jungle spirits".
5. "The Wulver's Rose," by Hayden Wand. My rating: 5 stars. By far my utmost favorite of this collection, this retelling is set in Scotland and most closely resembles the original tale both in tone and plot. However, there's more than enough surprises to maintain interest, and the "beast's" motivations in this tale moved me to tears. Filled with breathtaking imagery, authentic dialect and vivid characters, this story is worth the price of the book alone.

I encourage everyone to read this riveting collection of inventive takes on such a universal tale. You will not be disappointed. God bless you all.

[Grace Mullins · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Esprit De La Rose" by Kaycee Browning- The first story in this collection is one of the most unique retellings. Pirates and mermaids aren't what I think are usually associated with Beauty and the Beast, but the author proved that it can be done. My opinion is that I liked this tale well-enough. I found the wit of the "beast" character amusing, and the whole setting of a ghostly ship was fascinating. My problem with this tale, though, is that I think it would have been better if it had been longer. The pace was just too quick. I felt like the characters needed more time to get to know each other than they did. But overall it was an interesting enough read. The ending itself was different than one might expect, and leaves me wondering if the author plans to give us more of the character's lives in a future tale?

"Wither" by Savannah Jezowski- This retelling takes us to a world where creepy things haunt in the darkness, and one girl ventures into danger to save her family. I thought this was a pretty neat retelling. I liked the world, as well as the characters. I was surprised by some of the happenings, including the ending. Again, I feel this one, too, needed to be longer in some areas, but it was enjoyable none the less. Looking forward to reading the author's upcoming story that is also set in her fascinating world.

"Stone Curse" by Jennelle Schmidt- I'll just come out and say that this was my favorite of all the stories in this collection. It was the only story that I didn't feel needed more. The romance was realistic, and I like romances that aren't too-quick. Some of the story was a bit predictable, but not all. I also liked the cast of characters, and the way everything fit together showed the thought the author put into it. This was one of the stories that I was least interested in, but it stood out above the rest and I found it one of my favorite "Beauty and the Beast" retellings.

"Rosara and the Jungle King" by Dorian Tsukioka- Another fairly unique retelling, this story takes us to the wilds of a jungle. I loved that this story's POV was told in first person present, which is becoming one of my favorite point of views to read. As for my thoughts on this story, I'm overall satisfied with the short length of it. I did not find it very predictable, and I liked both the Beast and Beauty characters. Especially the Beast character- got to love a magical cat, right?

"The Wolver's Rose" by Hayden Wand- This was a well-written, interesting story. I quite liked all of the Celtic elements in it. This particular retelling reminds me the most of all in this book of what I think is the original Beauty and the Beast, but still different enough to keep it from being repetitively dull. While the beginning was a bit slow, I did find it an overall sweet read and found myself saying "Awwww" by the end.
............................

In conclusion, I found this a nice volume of "Beauty and the Beast" retellings, so I give "Five Enchanted Roses" by Kaycee Browning, Savannah Jezowski, Jenelle Schmidt, Dorian Tsukioka, and Hayden Wand a rating of four and recommend for mature teens and adults. Some of the content is a bit mature, so I don't this really isn't a fairy tale book to read aloud to children.

You may want to know- There is some kissing, violence, and content not suitable for young readers.

*Thanks to the publisher for a free e- Advanced Readers Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review.

[Jack Baillot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was asked to read and review Stone Curse by Jenelle Leanne Schmidt.

Beauty and the Beast is probably my favourite fairy tale. I love how Belle, or Beauty, falls in love with the Beast before he becomes a handsome prince. I love the idea of looking past a person's appearance to what is inside. So I was more than happen to read Jenelle's story, besides that I love her books in general.

Stone Curse is a beautiful retelling. It has all the themes I love in Beauty and the Beast, loving someone in spite of how they look on the outside, but it also had so many other things I loved.

First the writing style. It felt as if I were visiting an enchanted world, and I loved the names Jenelle used for the characters. Karyna, Ritter, Bellenya, and of course Berend the cursed prince.

I enjoyed the fact the four characters were childhood friends, and that Jenelle gave us a peek into their childhood. I enjoy stories which do that, I think it brings the characters to life even more.

Another thing I liked about this story was how Karyna didn't just sit back and wait for the curse to lift, but went out to do something about it. And how she was still saved by her prince. I especially liked that part.

Overall the story was just beautiful and I loved it.

[Clara Thompson]

It's taken me a while to review this book, but it is a thrilling group of stories from Rooglewood Press! While not all of the stories were completely fantastic (though they were very enjoyable!) one did manage to stand out from the rest.

It was eerie. It was romantic. It was unique. It was an instant classic.

Wither by Savannah Jezowski is dark, thrilling, and absolutely brilliant! I simply love the originality of this story, and was spellbound by the incredible, tangible, *realness* of the world she created. Within a few simple sentences, she had established a very real place firmly in my mind. So well done, and was unlike anything I had read before. Even if you don't fancy the rest of the stories in Five Enchanted Roses, you're sure to fall in love with Jezowski's short masterpiece. I can't wait to read more from this author! I'd say this collection is best enjoyed on a cool, rainy afternoon.

Also, I am publicly BEGGING for a book featuring my favorite side-character, who I actually loved even more than our hero or heroine. Please give me more from this world!!!

[Teri-K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story 1 - 3.5 stars. Interesting but felt disjointed and too preachy at the end. Written by someone who'd watched too many Pirates of the Caribbean movies perhaps? But I still liked it. The author clearly has potential - it could be that short stories aren't her best length as this felt like it needed to be a lot longer, and I think it was already the longest story in the collection.
Story 2 -4.5 stars I really enjoyed this story of a young girl who sacrifices herself to protect her sister. I loved her strength and independence. The setting outside the walls of her town felt different enough to be interesting, the beast was fascinating and clearly there's more to this world than this short story conveyed. The ending came too quickly, but I'd happily read more by this author, as I was entertained and intrigued.
Story 3 - 1.5 stars More Sleeping Beauty the B&B. The writing seemed to veer between stiff and formal and weirdly modern, with words like "hunch" thrown in when I wasn't expecting. Also it's a story where you don't really know what's going on until the end, and they only work for me if writing, characters and setting are excellent. They weren't here so I was bored.
Story 4 - 2 stars The jungle setting was a nice change from the usual and there were some twist in the MC's relationship that I thought were interesting, but in the end they weren't explored, which disappointed me. Does the fact that Beauty and the Beast fall in love always mean they have to end up together? Couldn't there be other happy endings? I thought this story might explore that but in the end it just settled for the usual and left me disappointed with a typical romance story.
Story 5 - 5 stars A fascinating twist on the traditional tale. I liked that there was an evil woman actively working against them, and I enjoyed the reason the beast lets her go home. Set in ancient Scotland, it felt like the traditional tale but had a freshness that was quite enjoyable. I don't think it could be improved at all.

NB - All of these writers are starting out on their careers and their stories are good enough that I'd read something else by each them, even if these selections aren't perfect. They have all been edited and polished and are worth reading for anyone interested in clean version of fairy tales or fantasy in general.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I try to read two or three novella collections every year, simply because I love the flow of a shorter story and the creativity that can be used in such a collection. After reading the Five Glass Slippers collection from last year, I knew that Five Enchanted Roses would need to be on my to be read list. Beauty and the Beast is my all-time favorite fairy tale, though I know it is also one of the most debated. So, let's get right into it and I'll tell you what I thought of this collection.
Esprit De La Rose was fascinating and confusing as I scrambled to keep up with what was going on, just like Cecilia, the heroine had to do. I loved the element of pirates and the amazing creativity the author had to come up with to form the unique story world for the novella. It's a great start to the collection, one that will press you to keep reading until the end.
Wither was...spell bounding. I couldn't predict a single thing that would happen in this novella. The Beast of this tale was complicated and who he ends up being was a surprise for me. I liked the heroine's spunk and the hero's noble cause. It's a story that will give you chills, yet also manages to attain the elements of Beauty and the Beast.
Stone Curse twists the original tale on its side and views the story from a new angle, one that kept me guessing and had me intrigued. Rather than have the 'beauty' come to the castle, we see that character already there and the beast is not entirely expected. Redemption would be the key word for this tale, for more than one character.
Rosara and the Jungle King was so much fun to read! The setting of the Amazon rainforest was awesome, the villain was truly terrible, and the beast intriguing. I wasn't quite sure how a happy ending would be attained, or if it would be, but the ending is satisfying and definitely worth the read.
The Wulver's Rose, the final novella in the collection, sticks closest to the original story yet still has its own unique elements to make it a good read. The use of the prologue and epilogue was excellent, and the motivation of Bonnie was well-done. I felt for the poor girl, as well as for the beast. In all, a good ending to the collection.
Rooglewood Press puts out another great fairy tale retelling collection, again bringing stories bursting with creativity that will keep the reader delighted and entertained, challenged and satisfied. I highly recommend this collection to lovers of fairy tales and the Beauty and the Beast story. In this collection, you'll find the story as you've never read it before.

I was given a review copy of Five Enchanted Roses from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my review. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Lucy Buller · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOK ONE
Espirit de la Rose by Kaycee Browning

This wonderful story was completely unique. I first wondered how all of it's elements would tie into the well-loved story of the Beauty and the Beast--pirates, mermaids. I really shouldn't have worried. Kaycee tied all of these elements in seamlessly. She brought in a vibrant beauty and a turmoiled beast. Although many strange elements could have taken away from the heart of the story, they didn't. They made it so much richer.
Four stars.

BOOK TWO
Wither by Savannah Jezowski

I loved this story! Savannah mixed something inherently paranormal with the beloved fairytale--and did it amazingly. Our heirone, Lilybet, wasn't easily swayed by everything she encountered, and was strong throughout the story. And, to add in something different, Lilybet dislikes roses. Though I didn't ship Lilybet and Corwin as much as I would have liked, it didn't draw away from my appreciation of the story.
Four stars.

BOOK THREE
Stone Curse by Jenelle Schmidt

Though this is my least favorite of the collection, I still enjoyed it. This is one of those stories that it's hard to explain what is good about it without spoiling the story itself. So I shall leave it as this, along with four shiny stars.

BOOK FOUR
Rosara and the Jungle King by Dorian Tsukioka

Of the whole collection, this story contains less of the Beauty and the Beast than the rest. But that does not diminish it. This is still the Beauty and the Beast. Dorian starts with a heirone that has a problem. Her problem is that a man wishes to claim her as his third wife. In a village where wives are taken by force, Rosara is forced to leave her home to go and marry a village chief's son. She manages to get away, however, and begs the jungle spirits to make it so that she cannot marry the man. However, her choice leaves repercussions. This is a tale you will not soon forget.
Four stars.

BOOK FIVE
The Wulver's Rose by Hayden Wand

It seems fitting that this book is last, for it is my favorite of the collection. It is written in a locale close to my heart--Scotland. I love the storytelling, the bonnie wee heroine, and the beast. I shipped our beauty and our beast quite a lot. This story perhaps remains the most true to it's inspiring fairytale, and I love it, perhaps even more than the original tale. This story was amazing, and heart-wrenching, and frighteningly real.
Five stars.

My overall rating for the collection is four and a half stars. Good job, Kaycee, Savannah, Jenelle, Dorian, and Hayden. And thank you to Rooglewood Press for generously allowing me to be an influencer for this amazing collection.

[April Erwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love fairy tales. I've lived and breathed them since I was a toddler. The originals are always good, but their strength is often shown in the many re-tellings. Like Shakespeare, fairy tales never age. Their theme's still speak to the heart of human nature today. I think that's why re-tellings are so popular. It allows us to connect to our childhood dreams and fantasies as well as find new ways to dream about and imagine our lives today. It's escape and therapy all rolled up in one.

Rosara and the Jungle King is one of the coolest re-imaginings I've read in a long time. A South American tribal spin on Beauty and the Beast is quite a step away from the original Grimm tale, yet the essential pieces that make it recognizable are all there. I loved that the beast was reflected in such a unique way. The Jungle King that saves Rosara isn't the only beast. (although he's probably the first beast I might just swoon a little over no matter which form he's in.) The allegorical reflections on what makes a beast truly a beast is clear and inspiring without being obvious. Instead, the action and emotions are strong and the story is fast paced. I loved it. In fact I'd even say brilliant and inspired.

After reading such a fantastic retelling, I had to read the rest of the novellas included in the Five Enchanted Roses. To my great happiness, every one of them was fun, unique and pretty much amazing in their creativity. If you only read one - don't miss Dorian Tsukioka's Rosara and the Jungle King. But trust me it's worth reading all five.

[Jemma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Espirit de la Rose
I liked this one for most of the book; pirates, mysteries, frenchmen - all a good combination. But the ending didn't work for me :( (ages:13+)

Wither
This one was interesting but rather dark, and the ending seemed incomplete. (ages:15+)

Stone Curse
Stone Curse was enchanting, I loved the deeper part of the story and the author has a way with words (ages:12+)

Rosara and the Jungle King
I fell in love with the characters immediately! They were very well written and the story was intriguing.
However there are a few themes that make this book unsuitable for younger readers. (ages:15+)

The Wulver's Rose
The Wulver's Rose was probably my favorite in the collection! It was beautiful and I loved it. (ages:10+)

[Bailey · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 For a collection of Beauty and the Beast short stories... that's a shot to the heart. I did all my usual tricks for turning a slow start into a reading rampage, but it soon went from me reading one story per day, to sloughing through six pages. Six pages felt like six hundred. It's not for lack of uniqueness-the stories ran the gambit from pirates, stone curses, jungle adventure, and we even get a location change from the typical French or English setting to Scotland. So... why the low rating? It's simple: the back blurb enticed me with a Gothic/dark flair to my favorite fairy tale, but it read like if Hallmark made Gothic t.v. movies. Also, they seemed to be saturated in Christian overtones, which is... fine. Most people forget the Grimm brothers and Hans Christian Anderson's tales often served as morality lessons for children. But these seemed hell bent (no pun intended) on evil being at the root of the beast/his curse (one of the stories literally finds the beast as a demon looking creature guarding a knock off Hell). The language was another flaw: nothing takes me out of story faster than modern language in olden days.
Three of the five stuck out to me (for better or worse)

"Espirit De La Rose" (AKA: The Pirates of the Caribbean/BATB crossover someone must've asked for)
-Again, very unique re-imagining, while tweaking some of the OG elements
*Cecilia doesn't mean to take her father's place, but instead falls through a magic mirror into a sort of purgatory pirate ship
*The father being an unscrupulous pirate himself is a nice change
-Couple of oddities though
*Pepin muses that Cecilia's beauty reminds him of his mother's and that makes him fall for her aesthetically. Umm.. What?
*The ending made it seem as though this was the first in a series, and the two don't really get together, making for a fake out pay off.

"Wither" (AKA: The Name and Language mix up)
-The Name Game
*The prologue says Haverly (Lilybet's/Belle's father) got a rose bush for his middle daughter, but the next chapter titled "Lilybet Haverly-The Merchant's Middle Daughter" opens with Lilybet lamenting that she hated roses and the stolen rose bush was for her younger sister, Sookie.
*Corwin (the Beast) calls Sookie Sunflower with a capital "S"; did he make this up because he was too far away to hear her real name, or was it another slip up? It's never explained.
-Loved the dinner scenes
* They really took me back to the Jean Cocteau version where Beauty is seated beside the Beast, draped in dresses to die for, and asked night after night if she'll marry him. All while trying not to look disgusted at the creature in her company.
-This was the one with modern phrases scattered throughout.

"Stone Curse" (AKA: The Goth that Got Away)
-The names
*Our MC is Karyna, our princess, Belleyna, and house maid/cook, Setella. Was that extra "a" really necessary for everyone? Made me trip up and roll my eyes, and the Beast, Barend, looks like someone typed "Bernard" wrong and just said, "Yes, Microsoft Word. I will add that to dictionary"
-Dashed hopes
* Karyna's dreams interspersed throughout the story gave off seriously Gothic vibes: blood dripping from thorn pricked fists, pent up anger released with a bark at the moon. I was here for it. Finally, that darkness boasted on the back blurb is finally here. But then, we went back to the safety of simple language
-"I'm not like other girls"
*Karyna decides to storm a nearby castle because in her dreams, the person responsible for the stone curse is hiding there. But early on we're told she was raised as a lady-in-waiting turned friend of princess. And after being asked point blank by Barend what she's got planned once she's there facing the enchanter, seeing as she has no powers or even knightly skill, she replies, "you can't stop me". Umm, I'm all for girl power, but this is chick is suffering a serious case of too stupid to live syndrome. And I thought I'd left that behind in my Old School romances... I just can't escape that.

The last two were kind of a blur: "Rosara and the Jungle King" was probably the most ambitious of the tales, balancing elements of physical abuse with a sort "Eyes of the Panther" by Ambrose Bierce vibe (Don't judge- it's a superficial final description of Tupa's fur coat cloaked in blood that makes me feel it). And "The Wulver's Rose" felt like a copy paste job of the OG story but with Scottish accents. Oh, it also tied into the first story.

I know this review sounds harsh, but I can't praise what I didn't enjoy. I'm sure the authors had fun and have gotten better (I'm assuming these were first time writers). But I can sum up my experience in two words: wasted potential. All of these had elements of Gothic/horror romance, but it's like they were afraid of the dark, so they rushed on over to the night light. When reading becomes a chore, it's time to fess up. I'm not continuing on with the quartet. I prefer a little darkness and subtlety in my stories.

[Cee Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://steelsparkleandscripture.blogs...

1. Five Enchanted Roses: A Collection of Beauty and the Beast Stories
By Kaycee Browning, Savannah Jezowski, Jenelle Schmidt, Dorian Tsukioka, and Hayden Wand

2. Genre and Reading Level

Fairy Tale Retellings – Fantasy and Historical

Teenage and up

3. My Summary

Five Enchanted Roses is a collection of Beauty and the Beast retellings. These are the five short stories:

Esprit de la Rose by Kaycee Browning

Beauty and the Beast splashes to new life with ships, mermaids, and pirates in this imaginative retelling. Life has never been easy for Cecilia, but when the Fee come to punish her privateer father for theft, they accidentally take her instead, and she is transported to another world where sailors, robbed of their human forms, suffer for the sins of their past. They, like her, are trapped on the ship of the fearsome but charismatic Captain Pepin, but she may just be the key to their freedom. The problem is, their return to the real world could come at a terrible cost for Cecilia.

Wither by Savannah Jezowski

Imagine a world where people must build walls and hire Spooks to keep their towns safe from ghouls and the living dead. Amid this dark and frightful world, there are still darker legends and rumors about Briarstone Abbey and the Beast who dwells there, so when the Beast demands gentle Sookie Haverly in payment for her father’s theft of a single rose, her sister marches in to take her place and save her life. However, Lilybet “Bet” Haverly never imagined exactly what Corwin really is or what has been doing in the Abbey, nor that her own priorities could be transformed.

Stone Curse by Jenelle Schmidt

After two years spent in a cursed castle, Karyna, lady-in-waiting to the missing princess, finally discovers a clue to breaking the curse. If she is right, then she may finally be able to free her father and the other courtiers who’ve turned to stone, rescue the lost princess, and even return Prince Barend to his human form. All she has to go on is a dream of another castle she and the princess visited together as children, but she sets off boldly, knowing all the while that ending the curse may cost her the easy friendship she has formed with the cursed prince. Meanwhile, another hero also seeks to end the curse, and a beast of another kind needs of redemption.

Rosara and the Jungle King by Dorian Tsukioka

A primitive village in a wild jungle may seem an unlikely place for a beauty and a beast to live out their story, yet Rosara and Tupa, the jaguar, experience their tale as old as time in the vibrant world of their jungle home. A violent and brutal warrior named Maor seeks to replace Rosara’s father as chief by forcefully claiming her as his third wife, but she finds an unusual ally in Tupa. Still, she cannot run forever, and her desperation leads her to seek the help of a mischievous jungle spirit.

The Wulver’s Rose by Hayden Wand

An old and evil magic exists in the highlands of Scotland. After a childish mistake drives Seònaid “Bonnie” Alleway and her family to the rugged moors, she senses the dark power in a nearby forest and begins experiencing dreams of an old castle, yellow roses, and a child’s plea for help. When a wulver demands young Bonnie come to this same castle after her father takes one rose, Bonnie immediately sets off for the monster’s home. She knows nothing of the curse placed upon Lauchlan and his daughter Róis, but she believes God has led her to the Beast and his castle for a purpose which she will need to uncover before it is too late.


4. My Opinion (With a rating)

Overall: 6 Stars

All five stories from Five Enchanted Roses truly are enchanting. The retellings hold true to the original fairy tale, but with unique twists, loveable characters, and vivid settings.
Steel, sparkle, and scripture are scattered throughout all five tales in varying amounts.

Esprit de la Rose by Kaycee Browning: 6 stars

This story is probably the most unusual in the set with a brave and sympathetic heroine and a suave pirate beast. The language is beautiful, and the plot is packed with suspense and adventure.

I’m still on the fence with the rating of this story because it is so close to a seven (it is really that good). There is plenty of Sparkle with witty banter, loveable characters, and fantastical creatures. The Scriptural theme is also strong and brilliantly executed. The only thing I would have enjoyed a bit more of is the Steel. Adventure is plentiful and stakes are high, but I wanted just a bit more depth. However, this was only a minor detail, especially in a short story. I loved it.

Wither by Savannah Jezowski: 6 stars

The world of this story is dark and foreboding. It is full of real grit and Steel, its heroine is a perfect match, both for the tale and for her beast. The Scripture aspect is also strong in the truth of Corwin’s duties at Briarstone Abbey. There is little Sparkle in the story, but it can be glimpsed here and there in the relationships between characters and in the beautiful ending.


Stone Curse by Jenelle Schmidt: 6 Stars

Karyna is daring, determined, humble and loyal, and Prince Barend will follow her to the ends of the earth, even if it means losing his mind and humanity. Their bond is the main source of Sparkle in this tale. Steel can also be found in their determination. The Scriptural side is a bit subtle, but it’s there, especially in the undeserved love of one hero for an unexpected beast.

Rosara and the Jungle King by Dorian Tsukioka: 6 Stars

This setting is another unique and yet appropriate twist for Beauty and the Beast. The characters are strong, the stakes are high, and the plot is magical. Some Sparkle can be seen in the easy relationship between Rosara and Tupa, in Rosara’s awe of her beloved and dangerous jungle, and in the final conclusion under the watchful eye of the seemingly mischievous jungle spirit. While there is certainly a redemptive quality to this tale as with the others, I did not feel an overly strong Scriptural connection in the story. However, the Steel is there in undeniable quantities with the wild dangers of the jungle, the volatile magic, and the even more brutal human enemy.

The Wulver’s Rose by Hayden Wand: 7 Stars

Amid a lovely collection of stories, this tale stands out as a particularly beautiful retelling. The plot very closely follows the original fairy tale but in a fresh way with a wholly new setting and characters who are both believable and admirable. They make mistakes, but they learn and grow from them. Bonnie carries a heavy guilt with her, but her faith grows as she learns to forgive herself. The Scriptural message of trust and hope is beautiful. At the same time, a witch’s dark intentions, the natural ruggedness of Scotland, and several debilitating accidents add a layer of Steel to the story. In addition, the reality of all the characters, especially kind Bonnie and her loving family, adds an element of Sparkle. All three aspects blend together perfectly into this beautiful little tale.


5. Who would love this book?


I think this book’s biggest fans would be fairy tale aficionados, particularly those who have a special love for the original Beauty and the Beast. However, I also think that fans of fantasy would love all the tales, and The Wulver’s Rose could also appeal to historical fiction fans.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beauty and the Beast, a favorite of many, is a story full of deep love, sacrifice, and beauty within. Five Enchanted Roses is a novel filled with five different variations of the classic tale and each one is incredibly unique.

The first story starts out fairly normal with a girl and her father sailing. But as you keep reading, it morphs into a tale full of strange seamen, enchanted ships, and betrayal. Our main character faces separation from her father, ghost pirates, and threats of all kinds (including rape, but there is no point at which this threat is even close to be carried out). The Beast we come to know is the swash buckling kind and will entertain anyone who happens across his story. Together they find a way to get her home, but as we see the relationship between them develop, things seem a bit too good to be true. Toward the climax, we do see the author address that detail. After we see everything resolve, I thought the ending was a little rushed and sudden. But the loose ends are tied and there is a happily ever after. The author does a fantastic job of weaving descriptions into scenes, making the story extremely life-like. Our characters are well developed and are interesting to get to know, and the concepts are original and ingenious! The main reasons I loved this story are because of the creativity that was invested, and Kaycee Browning’s writing talent that brought the story to life. I thoroughly enjoyed it and from page one, I was captured!
Savannah Jezowski is the talented writer of the second Enchanted Rose in which there are suspenseful encounters with wraiths, ghouls, and frightening creatures that stalk the forests. Lilybet, our main character, entangles herself in the dark story of the Beast. She goes in place of her sister because she knows what predators lurk in the shadows of the journey, monsters that her sister would never survive meeting. Surprisingly, our beast is only beast in form and not at heart, though you do not think so at first. At one point we are tricked into thinking he sucks the heroine’s blood. (That particular scene made me gag a bit. The details were rather gross.) We find out later that he was actually sucking poison from her arm to save her. My favorite element of this story was Lilybet’s personality. She was bold, and sacrificial, and witty (what could be better?). Her realistic characteristics can’t help but draw a reader’s admiration. On a negative note, the story was very dark. I wouldn’t say it was a horror story, but it definitely had plenty of the horror elements. I really hate giving negative feedback, especially on a story so well written, but I have to warn you if you are sensitive to dark and eerie tales. I felt pretty uncomfortable with almost the whole thing just because it was so well written and therefore a little too vivid. Even though I was apprehensive throughout the tale, I was captivated nonetheless. I wanted to see what was going to happen next. I wanted to see how the story bloomed. I was drawn into the story, into Lilybet’s adventure. I assure you, Mrs. Jezowski is one talented writer!
Our third tale is similar to the original in setting and atmosphere: the castle, the forbidden wing, cursed servants, and of course, the beast. However, the plotline takes on a twist when it begins from a servant girl’s perspective. I thought this angle to be a very pleasant change, and it gave me a fresh look at the story. It was a very sweet tale which I enjoyed thoroughly, though our ‘villain’ wasn’t quite as convincing as I would have liked and there were characters added in that I didn’t think were necessary. I enjoyed the development of the love story and there were some definite happy sighs involved. It was a sweet story with sacrificial love and loyalty. There’s not much to write on this one because it was lovely and that’s pretty much the only way to describe it!
Number four will take our readers into a jungle forest where our Belle is a woman of a rather savage tribe. I loved how the author took me into a completely different world, very different from the previous three. Our beast is also different than what I expected, and he was pleasantly interesting to get to know. I am sad to say that I was not happy with how much violence there was. There were a few scenes in which a man of the tribe beats our Belle and his wives harshly and another scene where a dead body is found brutally mutilated and murdered. Some of the foolish choices the main character made were also very frustrating to me and in the end, I wasn’t altogether satisfied with how everything worked out. The spiritual side of it was also a bit odd. But, the author definitely conveyed the tribal culture in the way she wrote. The style really added to the jungle-y feel, and created a unique polish to the story.
The final tale was my absolute favorite. I believe this one was closest to the original, but still had its own twists and turns. The culture was vivid, set in Scotland in the 1750s, and even the accents showed through. I loved Belle in this one. Bonnie, a girl plagued by guilt sets off to save her family from the beast. As it turns out, the beast is not the threat she originally thinks him to be. As time passes and the tale unfolds, Bonnie begins to understand his past and his character. The dialogue was fantastic. While some situations that Bonnie was placed in could have involved cheesy conversations, the author scripted it all so well and realistically. I enjoyed the development, and while reading, I could hear the thick Scottish accent in my head coming from the beast’s voice and it really made the story even more life-like than it already was.
All you authors did a fantastic job and I you each have such amazing talent! Thank you for these awesome stories!

[E.F. Buckles · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Five Enchanted Roses” is a collection of five Beauty and the Beast retellings, put together via the second annual creative writing contest hosted by Rooglewood Press.

Let me start by saying, that I have been very impressed with these collections from Rooglewood Press. The quality of writing has been excellent, and the creativity of the retellings is inspiring to me as an aspiring writer. I just think it’s amazing how five people can retell the same fairytale and yet end up with five totally unique and fun stories.

My thoughts on the individual stories:

“Espirit de la Rose” by Kaycee Browning was the first story in this collection. Who knew Beauty and the Beast retold with pirates could be so fun! Out of all the stories, I think this one was the most cinematic. Kaycee Browning described things in such a way that I could picture them like a movie running in my head. Her characters were wonderful as well. Our heroine, Cecilia, was brave and spunky, but also sweet, and Captain Pepin’s sharp wit was always entertaining. As for the story itself, I really enjoyed the pirate theme, as well as the occasional little references to the Beauty and the Beast movie. I also loved how surprising, but satisfying the ending was, and given that it left the door open for future stories, I hope that someday, Kaycee Browning will someday treat us to the continuing adventures of Cecilia and Captain Pepin. I would definitely read them!

The second story, was “Wither” by Savannah Jezowski. I have to be honest: If I had stumbled upon this story outside of this collection, I probably would have turned my nose up at it. I mean, Beauty and the Beast with zombies, ghouls, wraiths and Spooks? Blech! But I couldn’t have been more wrong! As soon as I started reading, this story had me completely engrossed. Though the basic bones of the retelling aren’t that different from the original story, the world in which it is set is so original that it makes everything feel fresh and new, and I found it especially interesting that every other chapter was actually written from the perspective of the “Beast”, Corwin, himself. (The rest of the chapters were from the perspective of “Beauty”, Lilybet Haverly.) And then there was the ending. Wow! I was actually worried for a little bit for both the Beast and our heroine, but the way things turned out was unexpected, but very satisfying. Again, the door was left open for more stories set in this world, but this time, I was delighted to discover that another story has already been written!* It has officially been added to my to-read pile!

Next was “Stone Curse” by Jenelle Schmidt. Probably one of the sweetest stories of the collection, “Stone Curse” was unique in that we actually start the story in the Beast’s castle. In fact, Beauty lives there, as opposed to being brought there as a prisoner, and we have to solve the mystery of why everyone in the throne room was turned to stone two years ago. My two favorite things about this story were the sense of mystery, and the characters themselves. Since I already mentioned the mystery part, I liked the characters because they were developed so well, and it was interesting and fun to learn more about them and their relationships with each other as the story went on. And while I did end up guessing what caused the curse long before it was revealed, I still found the ending of this story satisfying.

The fourth story, “Rosara and the Jungle King”, was definitely the most unique retelling, as it takes place in a jungle, with our “Beast” appearing in the form of a huge jaguar, and our heroine living in a village that reminded me of one of the native tribes of South America. While this retelling wasn’t my favorite, it was still very interesting, and I enjoyed seeing a retelling set somewhere other than the “typical” European setting. I also thought the author did a great job presenting the culture and beliefs of the native peoples authentically. The heroine and the “Beast” were also extremely likable characters. My only problem with this story was that it boasted what was probably the most outright evil and despicable, antagonist (liar, woman-beater, and murderer) of the entire collection. He was one of those characters you just want to be rid of already, but he just. Kept. Coming. Back! Gaaah! And yes, I know if he had been disposed of too quickly it would have destroyed the conflict and we would have had no story, but I just really didn’t like that guy. And while I mostly liked how the story ended, it did leave me with a few unanswered questions that I would have liked answered.

I actually read and reviewed the final story, “The Wulver’s Rose” by Hayden Wand several months before I bought this collection, when it was released by the publishers as a free e-book. My review of this story can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Conclusion: I liked this retelling collection from Rooglewood Press even better than the last one, and now I’m downright excited for the Sleeping Beauty retelling collection that is coming later this year! If you like well-written, fun, dramatic, and generally entertaining fairy tales and fairy tale retellings, these collections are definitely for you!

* The book written in the same world as “Wither” by Savannah Jezowski can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

[Ashley (Tiny Navajo Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Retellings

I’ve always been a fan of retellings and these are no different. I love that there are 5 different versions of Beauty and the Beast and while they all have the same notes, there is enough difference that each is unique as well.

[katayoun Masoodi]

decided not to read for now, didn't like the first one all that much and thought that i would start else

[Darla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rooglewood Press's second short story contest. KB' pirate twist: 3; SJ: paranormal version 3; JS: 3 who's the beauty, who's the beast 4; DT: Amazon adventure, cool inclusion of native cultures 3; HW: Scottish Disney remake 4.