What do you think?
Rate this book
Once Upon a Curse #2
Withering Rose
What if Beauty was cursed, and the Beast was the only one who could save her? Don't miss WITHERING ROSE, a dystopian romance from bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis that reimagines the classic fairy tale of Beauty & The Beast.
"As the heat finally disappeared, I felt the bloom blossom in the very core of my soul, a rose just like my name--a ticking clock hidden behind a façade of beauty. From that moment on, my life would become a countdown, and all I could do was wait and watch as the petals of time slowly started to fall."
Omorose Bouchene has a secret--magic. There's only one problem. At the age of seven, an earthquake struck, catapulting her into a new world. A land made of skyscrapers and cell phones. Fast cars and fluorescent lights. A land where magic isn't supposed to exist and anyone who wields it is the enemy.
But after ten years of hiding, she's desperate to find a place where she can be free. Because all magic comes with a curse, and her curse is time--every ounce of power she uses strips days off of her life. The clock is winding down, and the only option left is to escape to the realm of the Beast. But the king of monsters isn't what he seems. And the more Omorose opens her heart, the more she comes to realize that the only person she may need to fear is herself.
*This is the second book in Once Upon A Curse, a series of interconnected stand-alone novels all set in the same fantasy universe.
"As the heat finally disappeared, I felt the bloom blossom in the very core of my soul, a rose just like my name--a ticking clock hidden behind a façade of beauty. From that moment on, my life would become a countdown, and all I could do was wait and watch as the petals of time slowly started to fall."
Omorose Bouchene has a secret--magic. There's only one problem. At the age of seven, an earthquake struck, catapulting her into a new world. A land made of skyscrapers and cell phones. Fast cars and fluorescent lights. A land where magic isn't supposed to exist and anyone who wields it is the enemy.
But after ten years of hiding, she's desperate to find a place where she can be free. Because all magic comes with a curse, and her curse is time--every ounce of power she uses strips days off of her life. The clock is winding down, and the only option left is to escape to the realm of the Beast. But the king of monsters isn't what he seems. And the more Omorose opens her heart, the more she comes to realize that the only person she may need to fear is herself.
*This is the second book in Once Upon A Curse, a series of interconnected stand-alone novels all set in the same fantasy universe.
210 pages, Unknown Binding
First published May 17, 2016
98 people are currently reading
1500 people want to read
About the author
Kaitlyn Davis
51 books1,714 followersBestselling author Kaitlyn Davis writes young adult fantasy novels under the name Kaitlyn Davis and contemporary romance novels under the name Kay Marie. Publishers Weekly has said, "Davis writes with confidence and poise," while USA Today has recommended her work as "must-read romance."
To learn more about her contemporary romance novels, visit her Goodreads author page for Kay Marie here: https://www.goodreads.com/Kay_Marie
Always blessed with an overactive imagination, Kaitlyn has been writing ever since she picked up her first crayon and is overjoyed to share her work with the world. When she's not daydreaming, typing stories, or getting lost in fictional worlds, Kaitlyn can be found playing fetch with her puppy, watching a little too much television, or spending time with her family. If you have any questions for her--about her books, about scheduling an event, or just in general--you may contact her at: KaitlynDavisBooks@gmail.com
Sign up for Kaitlyn's newsletter to stay up-to-date with all of her new releases and more! http://bit.ly/AuthorNewsletter
Like her on Facebook here: Facebook.com/KaitlynDavisBooks
Follow her on Instagram here: Instagram.com/kaitlyndavisbooks/
To learn more about her contemporary romance novels, visit her Goodreads author page for Kay Marie here: https://www.goodreads.com/Kay_Marie
Always blessed with an overactive imagination, Kaitlyn has been writing ever since she picked up her first crayon and is overjoyed to share her work with the world. When she's not daydreaming, typing stories, or getting lost in fictional worlds, Kaitlyn can be found playing fetch with her puppy, watching a little too much television, or spending time with her family. If you have any questions for her--about her books, about scheduling an event, or just in general--you may contact her at: KaitlynDavisBooks@gmail.com
Sign up for Kaitlyn's newsletter to stay up-to-date with all of her new releases and more! http://bit.ly/AuthorNewsletter
Like her on Facebook here: Facebook.com/KaitlynDavisBooks
Follow her on Instagram here: Instagram.com/kaitlyndavisbooks/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
June 24, 2016
When Omorose Bouchene was seven an earthquake hit and sent her out of her own world and off to Earth where she's had to hide the fact that she can do magic. Those that can do magic have been hunted in order to eradicate all trace of it. After ten years of hiding who she is Omorose decides to run away to the realm of the Beast where she'd be able to be herself and practice magic.
Withering Rose is the second book in the Once Upon A Curse series but can be read as a standalone novel. This particular book in the series is a Beauty and the Beast retelling. It does have a bit of a life of it's own bringing magic into the story and Omorose being the one that is cursed due to her use of magic. This story was an OK read, I liked the way the story brought new things into the mix but felt there was a lot that could have been done a little better to make me truly fall in love with the book though.
The story really could have used a bit better world building in the beginning to explain Omorose's land and use of magic earlier on. I found it a bit strange that Omorose seemed to be more worried about her not being able to practice magic instead of just being thankful she's alive or worried about anyone else of her kind being hunted but again I think that goes with the lack of understanding in the beginning.
Overall, an OK Beauty and The Beast retelling. Not without it's faults but fans of retellings will probably find enjoy this read.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Withering Rose is the second book in the Once Upon A Curse series but can be read as a standalone novel. This particular book in the series is a Beauty and the Beast retelling. It does have a bit of a life of it's own bringing magic into the story and Omorose being the one that is cursed due to her use of magic. This story was an OK read, I liked the way the story brought new things into the mix but felt there was a lot that could have been done a little better to make me truly fall in love with the book though.
The story really could have used a bit better world building in the beginning to explain Omorose's land and use of magic earlier on. I found it a bit strange that Omorose seemed to be more worried about her not being able to practice magic instead of just being thankful she's alive or worried about anyone else of her kind being hunted but again I think that goes with the lack of understanding in the beginning.
Overall, an OK Beauty and The Beast retelling. Not without it's faults but fans of retellings will probably find enjoy this read.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
September 5, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours for giving me this book to review.
Withering Rose is the very enjoyable sequel to Gathering Frost, which is a unique twist on the classic Beauty and the Beast story. This story is fast paced, has good world building and an easy read. Also there is romance and a nice fairy-tale story.
Omorose is quiet and timid which makes her an unusual YA heroine, but she is also caring and kind. To begin with Cole is secretive and has a temper, but he is also sweet and very lonely.
The ending of this book gives clues to what is going to happen in the next book Chasing Midnight and I am looking forward to reading it. I would recommend Withering Rose to those who enjoyed the first book in the Once Upon A Curse series Gathering Frost.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
Withering Rose is the very enjoyable sequel to Gathering Frost, which is a unique twist on the classic Beauty and the Beast story. This story is fast paced, has good world building and an easy read. Also there is romance and a nice fairy-tale story.
Omorose is quiet and timid which makes her an unusual YA heroine, but she is also caring and kind. To begin with Cole is secretive and has a temper, but he is also sweet and very lonely.
The ending of this book gives clues to what is going to happen in the next book Chasing Midnight and I am looking forward to reading it. I would recommend Withering Rose to those who enjoyed the first book in the Once Upon A Curse series Gathering Frost.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
May 24, 2017
Whew am I glad that is over! Withering Rose and I did not get along. Book 1, Gathering Frost, was sooo much better than this one.
I think the issue with Withering Rose is that it stuck too close to its Beauty and the Beast roots at times (and at other times when I wanted it to stick to the original story it didn't). For example, when you have the opportunity to describe one of the most famous fictional libraries ever don't you exploit it?! Apparently not, as Kathryn Davis decided not to...
There was a lot of random babbling in this book, less focus and with no scenery changes (everything happens in the castle) it got dull fast. It didn't help that some passages were just annoying.
"Glimmering silver. Stormy gray. Sharp steel.”
I get it, his eyes are grey. Moving on...
Oddly I'm still excited to read the next book when it comes out because I love the smashed together worlds Davis has created for this series. In this book as learn more about how magic works, why some have it and others don't, as well as get some exposure to "natural" magic versus "stolen" magic. Very interesting and I can see the complexities of the magic system really starting to build.
All in all I would say read/skim this one just to get through it (assuming when book 3 comes out it's as good as book 1). It wasn't bad enough that I want to ditch the series or author; it was just missing something (action, plot, adventure, characters, engaging dialogue...) that made book 1 so memorable and enjoyable.
Read this and more of my book reviews at: Epic Reading & Reviews
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
I think the issue with Withering Rose is that it stuck too close to its Beauty and the Beast roots at times (and at other times when I wanted it to stick to the original story it didn't). For example, when you have the opportunity to describe one of the most famous fictional libraries ever don't you exploit it?! Apparently not, as Kathryn Davis decided not to...
There was a lot of random babbling in this book, less focus and with no scenery changes (everything happens in the castle) it got dull fast. It didn't help that some passages were just annoying.
"Glimmering silver. Stormy gray. Sharp steel.”
I get it, his eyes are grey. Moving on...
Oddly I'm still excited to read the next book when it comes out because I love the smashed together worlds Davis has created for this series. In this book as learn more about how magic works, why some have it and others don't, as well as get some exposure to "natural" magic versus "stolen" magic. Very interesting and I can see the complexities of the magic system really starting to build.
All in all I would say read/skim this one just to get through it (assuming when book 3 comes out it's as good as book 1). It wasn't bad enough that I want to ditch the series or author; it was just missing something (action, plot, adventure, characters, engaging dialogue...) that made book 1 so memorable and enjoyable.
Read this and more of my book reviews at: Epic Reading & Reviews
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
June 5, 2020
These book just seem to fly by and I'm really digging them.
Withering Rose is a Beauty and the Beast retelling. We are in the same world that the first book was in - just in a different place. In this, you meet Omorose who is currently cursed and is trying to pull an Elsa. Conceal, don't feel. If she doesn't use her magic.. then there's hope that she wont die. Yet, she knows that it won't last forever because her curse is death.
Along the way she runs into Cole. They are both pretty secretive and I really wanted to know what happened to all these places after the first book. We all know there was an earthquake and then things pretty much went to shit after that. So, this whole take on Beauty and the Beast was pretty interesting. They were both cursed and in the end they are trying to still be together.
Of course this had some drama and I really liked getting to see Asher and Jade again. Their whole relationship brings me joy and everything that happened in this book with them made me smile. I'm intrigued to see what is going to happen in the next book with her little sister.
Withering Rose is a Beauty and the Beast retelling. We are in the same world that the first book was in - just in a different place. In this, you meet Omorose who is currently cursed and is trying to pull an Elsa. Conceal, don't feel. If she doesn't use her magic.. then there's hope that she wont die. Yet, she knows that it won't last forever because her curse is death.
Along the way she runs into Cole. They are both pretty secretive and I really wanted to know what happened to all these places after the first book. We all know there was an earthquake and then things pretty much went to shit after that. So, this whole take on Beauty and the Beast was pretty interesting. They were both cursed and in the end they are trying to still be together.
Of course this had some drama and I really liked getting to see Asher and Jade again. Their whole relationship brings me joy and everything that happened in this book with them made me smile. I'm intrigued to see what is going to happen in the next book with her little sister.
June 28, 2017
No. Just no. Holy hell I want two days of my life back.
I don't know if there was one thing I enjoyed about that.
That was literally one of the worst books I've ever read. Any time a heroin goes from hating someone to falling in love with themin literally five minutes I'm not kidding, it's over.
This book had thicker cheese than a Wisconsin pizza.
I don't know if there was one thing I enjoyed about that.
That was literally one of the worst books I've ever read. Any time a heroin goes from hating someone to falling in love with themin literally five minutes I'm not kidding, it's over.
This book had thicker cheese than a Wisconsin pizza.
May 4, 2016
For those who have read the first book in this series, you will recall that an Earthquake struck and combined the world of Magic and Fairy tales with Earth and those who fell through the cracks into earth had to live with a world that hated and hunted Magic . Omorose was one of those Magical beings, before the Earthquake struck she was on her way to a neighbouring kingdom to marry the Prince even though they were both only seven years old. The Earthquake then struck and Omorose and her father were transported to Earth. During this time Omorose felt her mother die, which meant that the family's magical powers of nature were passed on to her. This power though came with a curse that every time she used it - a part of her soul would die. The faster her power went, the quicker she faded away. Hoping for help with her magic when she was now 17 years old , Omorose headed into the forest to sought out the "Beast" but what will happen when she arrives at the Castle and all is not what it seems ? One of my favourite themes to read about is renditions of fairy tales and classic stories which is where Withering Rose comes in as it is a reversal version of Beauty and the Beast which is #2 on my list of Favourite Fairy tales. Can the Beast help break Omorose's curse ? Or will she like in the movie Frozen realize the only way to save the ones she loves and cares about and to break the curse is to self-sacrifice herself ?
Find out in this awesome fairytale rendition of Beauty and the Beast - "Withering Rose" by Kaitlyn Davies.
Find out in this awesome fairytale rendition of Beauty and the Beast - "Withering Rose" by Kaitlyn Davies.
June 16, 2016
This was so much fun! I'm so glad I gave this book a chance. I haven't read a fairytale retelling in a really long time and this didn't disappoint. The novel had the perfect mix of originality and old legend. I'm definitely going to be continuing with the series. Full review to come!
*Thank you to Netgalley, Kaitlyn Davis, and Xpresso Book Tours for the ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review!*
*Thank you to Netgalley, Kaitlyn Davis, and Xpresso Book Tours for the ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review!*
June 24, 2016
5 Amazing Stars!
Amazing I love this book! The series is great! I love everything about this series. I have to say I like this book a little bit better than the first book. I thought it went in more detail then the first book did. I am happy to ready this series, but I am really sad it is over.
Amazing I love this book! The series is great! I love everything about this series. I have to say I like this book a little bit better than the first book. I thought it went in more detail then the first book did. I am happy to ready this series, but I am really sad it is over.
January 28, 2025
"All I can think as my consciousness slips away is how infinitely sad it is that I've never felt more precious in my life than I do in this moment, wrapped in the arms of an invisible stranger."
I really enjoyed this version of Beauty and the Beast with a twist in WITHERING ROSE. It was a unique world to be in and I adored our leads Cole and Omorose. Both so lonely but are able to heal and find love when all seems lost. I read book two first but I'm going to go back and read book one since that couple appeared in this book and their story intrigued me.
Reread #3 1/16/25
"He takes my hand and interlaces our fingers, gripping firm enough to hurt. But I stay quiet because I know he needs it, and I know I can take this little bit of pain if it means he can let go of some of his."
I really enjoyed this version of Beauty and the Beast with a twist in WITHERING ROSE. It was a unique world to be in and I adored our leads Cole and Omorose. Both so lonely but are able to heal and find love when all seems lost. I read book two first but I'm going to go back and read book one since that couple appeared in this book and their story intrigued me.
Reread #3 1/16/25
"He takes my hand and interlaces our fingers, gripping firm enough to hurt. But I stay quiet because I know he needs it, and I know I can take this little bit of pain if it means he can let go of some of his."
July 8, 2020
Thoughts with side commentary (Since I finished this book a few weeks ago, I can't quite remember everything I wanted to say so I might update it later)
.
🌹"Beauty and the Beast" retelling
🌹Lots of kissing👌
🌹Broody protective male alert!
🌹Even though we meet different characters in each book, they do all meet up towards the end of the book
🌹The origin of their magic is really interesting although it did sound a little confusing
.
🌹"Beauty and the Beast" retelling
🌹Lots of kissing👌
🌹Broody protective male alert!
🌹Even though we meet different characters in each book, they do all meet up towards the end of the book
🌹The origin of their magic is really interesting although it did sound a little confusing
September 3, 2018
Review also posted on Samodivas
1.5 star
I received a free eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What first drew me in about this book was the cover, I’m not going to lie. While it’s not the best book cover I’ve seen, it still captivated me enough to pique my interest. Then I read the synopsis and was even further intrigued. What is more, the fact that this book is part of a series but it can be understood without having read the first one was a huge bonus, because I haven’t, in fact, read the first installment.
Withering Rose is a Beauty and the Beast retelling turned on its head. This time around, it’s Beauty that is cursed and the Beast is the only one who can help break her free. After a horrific earthquake that manages to break the boundaries between Earth and a fantasy world filled with magic, Omorose is thrust into our own modern day. Except, in this version of Earth there are people dedicated to destroying all magic. Because of that, Omorose’s father forbids her of using her own lest she is found out and killed. When the pressure becomes too much, Omorose flees with the hope that the mythical Beast that lives in the fringes where the borders between worlds meet can help her.
Quite honestly, I went into this book with pretty low expectations. Perhaps the cause of this was the fact that I checked the ratings and reviews before requesting it. There really was no other way but up. Or at least, I thought there wasn’t. This book is supposedly a cute retelling with a modern twist that people might enjoy on a nice day out in the sun, but for me it’s a let-down.Read more...
There is not enough world-building. The world and the magic are not developed to the extend that I wish they are, but maybe that’s because this is the second book in a series and since I haven’t read the first one, it’s my own fault for not understanding enough. Still, I found the setting to be lacking. What is more, Omorose and the Beast’s magic abilities are hardly explained throughout the novel – we’re simply told they have Powerful magic that didn’t seem all that powerful at all. The whole book is pretty vague on the things that are supposed to carry the most weight.
Omorose is quite the annoying character, not going to lie. You’d think that with the way she grew up, she’d be a bit more appreciative of the fact that she’s alive, but all she does is complain that she can’t use magic (that will eventually get her killed if she does use it, so I’m not really getting her frustration.) The Beast is really only there to further the plot, not a fully-fleshed out character. He’s also kind of creepy and too impulsive and adding the fact that he turns into an animal whenever he can’t control his Temper, he makes for the perfect guy to stay away from. But not really, because he’s actually a Softie, somewhere Deep Down.
The romance happens in a blink. One page she’s afraid of him, the other they’re holding hands. I don’t know, it hardly seems like the Natural thing to do when you meet someone whose reputation is based on their savagery. Not at least until after they take you to dinner and you get to know them. But he’s a Bad Boy with a Heart of Gold, so why not jump into it right away? I cannot get on board with their love story as the novel failed to convince me of its probability.
My biggest issue might be the writing. It’s very choppy and chunky and every other sentence is on a new line.
Like this.
And this.
There’s also a lot of Captain Obvious statements that I feel have been written by Uzma, right before she turns Kuzco into a llama. The narrative reminds a little bit of a derailed train – the reader gets lost every other line because the chain-link is broken into a thousand little ones. I found it very hard to follow, and also very difficult to read, not only because of the broken-up pieces of narrative, but also because the author’s choice of phrasing felt too unnatural to actually be considered a train of thought in the first place.
Overall, I was incredibly dissatisfied with this story. Withering Rose might be a joy to read for some, but for me it was a pain. There are just too many things that irked me, and I’m not sure if that’s because I’m overly critical or because they’re actually irritating. Nevertheless, this book is definitely not for me and I do not care enough to return for the next installment.
May 23, 2016
I really enjoyed this retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Omorose is an unusual YA Fantasy heroine because she’s not feisty and gutsy or kickass in anyway. Instead she’s quiet and withdrawn and has learned to hide herself so well she’s almost afraid to live. Because she has magic, the kind of magic that is beautiful and life giving, but that kills her a little more each time she uses it – and if any of the people surrounding her in the base she lives in, they’ll kill her without question.
It’s certainly not the usual situation Beauty finds herself in, as Omorose flees from the base, hoping that the Beast will save her. What she gets instead is a young man not much older than herself, with a bit of a temper, the power to shapeshift into various animals and a habit of scaring her, not to mention a castle full of wolves. Cole doesn’t trust her, she’s sort of frightened of him, but I loved how their friendship changed and developed as the story progressed.
I liked Omorose. Yes, at first she is rather timid and a little cowardly, but she has her reasons and I really liked how she grew and changed throughout the book. I liked Cole too, with his secrets and wolves. They’re a cute couple and I liked how good a team they made when the secrets were finally out in the open. I also liked the explanation for how Omorose’s curse came to be – and why other fairytale kingdoms suffer from similar magical problems. It did leave me wondering if it was connected to the earthquake that shattered Omorose’s old world and led to her arrival on Earth, but maybe that’ll come out in the next book.
Overall I found this an easy, enjoyable read, making steady progress as Omorose and Cole get to know each other, before extra troubles start to interfere. The romance was strangely muted, making me think more went on than was ever stated, but I liked them as a couple and the heat rating is tepid/sweet. If you’re new to this series, this stands alone perfectly well, but there are a few recurring characters to connect the tales together, and the link to the next book definitely has me intrigued.
If you liked the last book, you should certainly enjoy this one, or if you’re a fan of retold fairytales that put intriguing twists on old tropes, then give this a try. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
It’s certainly not the usual situation Beauty finds herself in, as Omorose flees from the base, hoping that the Beast will save her. What she gets instead is a young man not much older than herself, with a bit of a temper, the power to shapeshift into various animals and a habit of scaring her, not to mention a castle full of wolves. Cole doesn’t trust her, she’s sort of frightened of him, but I loved how their friendship changed and developed as the story progressed.
I liked Omorose. Yes, at first she is rather timid and a little cowardly, but she has her reasons and I really liked how she grew and changed throughout the book. I liked Cole too, with his secrets and wolves. They’re a cute couple and I liked how good a team they made when the secrets were finally out in the open. I also liked the explanation for how Omorose’s curse came to be – and why other fairytale kingdoms suffer from similar magical problems. It did leave me wondering if it was connected to the earthquake that shattered Omorose’s old world and led to her arrival on Earth, but maybe that’ll come out in the next book.
Overall I found this an easy, enjoyable read, making steady progress as Omorose and Cole get to know each other, before extra troubles start to interfere. The romance was strangely muted, making me think more went on than was ever stated, but I liked them as a couple and the heat rating is tepid/sweet. If you’re new to this series, this stands alone perfectly well, but there are a few recurring characters to connect the tales together, and the link to the next book definitely has me intrigued.
If you liked the last book, you should certainly enjoy this one, or if you’re a fan of retold fairytales that put intriguing twists on old tropes, then give this a try. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
December 23, 2016
**I received a copy of this book free from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
I love fairy tale retellings. I'm a big fan. Most of the time, they are so-so. The Lunar Chronicles are an example of fairy tale retellings/revamps that are done right. So are the Once Upon A Curse Novels by Kaitlyn Davis.
I do recommend now that I've finished book two that you read book one, Gathering Frost, first. I didn't, and though it didn't confuse me or ruin the experience of book two, once I read the description of the first book I realized that it would've been better to go in order. But, NetGalley had this as a selection, and I loved the description, so I bought the first book once I finished Withering Rose to get the whole experience. I will read it next. Book three (2017 unfortunately) will continue with a different story, but they are all connected, just like the Chronicles. They are all related, though this CAN be a stand alone if need be.
I enjoyed the story of Omorose and the idea that Earth and the magic realm have collided into one planet: it's like a dystopian fantasy fairy tale (once again, reminding me of Marissa Meyer's collection), but very true to the original Beauty and the Beast. I think Davis has a knack for story-telling, and she can describe a scene without going overboard on details. The book was never boring. A nice, easy read with just enough mystery and magic. I enjoyed it immensely, though I am a soft touch when it comes to romantic fantasy fairy tales. I think Davis has real potential to be a common household name like Meyer.
A fresh take on an old tale, Davis made me smile. I give it ★★★★★ easily.
I am eagerly awaiting book three, and will start reading book one to get the whole picture of this interlocking fairy tale adventure.
I'd read another book by Davis anytime. I'm grateful to places like NetGalley, who introduce new authors to readers and give them a chance against big publishing houses. They allow people like me to read amazing literature...I might never have come across Davis's books without their help. Now I have a new favorite book and author.
I love fairy tale retellings. I'm a big fan. Most of the time, they are so-so. The Lunar Chronicles are an example of fairy tale retellings/revamps that are done right. So are the Once Upon A Curse Novels by Kaitlyn Davis.
I do recommend now that I've finished book two that you read book one, Gathering Frost, first. I didn't, and though it didn't confuse me or ruin the experience of book two, once I read the description of the first book I realized that it would've been better to go in order. But, NetGalley had this as a selection, and I loved the description, so I bought the first book once I finished Withering Rose to get the whole experience. I will read it next. Book three (2017 unfortunately) will continue with a different story, but they are all connected, just like the Chronicles. They are all related, though this CAN be a stand alone if need be.
I enjoyed the story of Omorose and the idea that Earth and the magic realm have collided into one planet: it's like a dystopian fantasy fairy tale (once again, reminding me of Marissa Meyer's collection), but very true to the original Beauty and the Beast. I think Davis has a knack for story-telling, and she can describe a scene without going overboard on details. The book was never boring. A nice, easy read with just enough mystery and magic. I enjoyed it immensely, though I am a soft touch when it comes to romantic fantasy fairy tales. I think Davis has real potential to be a common household name like Meyer.
A fresh take on an old tale, Davis made me smile. I give it ★★★★★ easily.
I am eagerly awaiting book three, and will start reading book one to get the whole picture of this interlocking fairy tale adventure.
I'd read another book by Davis anytime. I'm grateful to places like NetGalley, who introduce new authors to readers and give them a chance against big publishing houses. They allow people like me to read amazing literature...I might never have come across Davis's books without their help. Now I have a new favorite book and author.
May 9, 2020
The author/publisher provided a free copy of the book for review purposes - thank you! Receiving a review copy does not guarantee a positive review and therefore do not affect the opinion or content of the review.
Once Upon a Curse is quickly becoming one of my favorite series of all time – and it's not just the fact that it's a retelling (although that is definitely a bonus). Back in book one, Gathering Frost, Davis first introduces us to her world of fairy tales with a dystopian twist – and I enjoyed every second of the first book.
In Withering Rose, the next book to her series, Davis brings us back to her world of fairy tales – this time with Beauty and the Beast, and I enjoyed every second of it. The world of Once Upon a Curse has been twisted enough that it is almost like another world all by itself – I don't even think that it's a retelling unless I really sit back and think. Kaitlyn Davis definitely meets up to expectations in this sequel, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with in the next installment.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts.
Once Upon a Curse is quickly becoming one of my favorite series of all time – and it's not just the fact that it's a retelling (although that is definitely a bonus). Back in book one, Gathering Frost, Davis first introduces us to her world of fairy tales with a dystopian twist – and I enjoyed every second of the first book.
In Withering Rose, the next book to her series, Davis brings us back to her world of fairy tales – this time with Beauty and the Beast, and I enjoyed every second of it. The world of Once Upon a Curse has been twisted enough that it is almost like another world all by itself – I don't even think that it's a retelling unless I really sit back and think. Kaitlyn Davis definitely meets up to expectations in this sequel, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with in the next installment.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts.
April 26, 2016
A great addition to the series. This book is a retelling of beauty and the beast. I enjoyed the story but was a little disappointed in the ending. I loved a action packed on the edge of your seat books. The first one did pretty good at that this one was a little slower for me. I'm definitely interested in what happens next and can't wait to read the next book.
June 19, 2021
How much did you like Twilight ? I ask because I think your enjoyment of this book is directly proportional to how much you enjoyed impassioned, torrid yet chaste romance as seen in the one with sparkly Mormon vampires.
I'll give Davis this: her premise is a fairly original one. And Omorose has a personality to match her unique moniker; she's definitely not a self-insert. Unfortunately the same can not be said of her brooding, moody, I'm-so-damaged-and-so-hot love interest.
While there were definitely parts I liked, and moments that I couldn't stop reading no matter how late it got, my biggest complaint is that it is simultaneously too much Beauty and the Beast and not enough Beauty and the Beast. What do I mean? That can only be explained with spoilers:
I'll give Davis this: her premise is a fairly original one. And Omorose has a personality to match her unique moniker; she's definitely not a self-insert. Unfortunately the same can not be said of her brooding, moody, I'm-so-damaged-and-so-hot love interest.
While there were definitely parts I liked, and moments that I couldn't stop reading no matter how late it got, my biggest complaint is that it is simultaneously too much Beauty and the Beast and not enough Beauty and the Beast. What do I mean? That can only be explained with spoilers:
June 12, 2020
Requesting the Raven and the Dove on Netgalley was one of my best decisions ever. Not only because that book was amazing and I'm now counting down the days until the second book comes out. But mostly because I discovered Kaitlyn Davis as an author. She writes how I wanna write and therefore also how I wanna read. Every book I read by her so far had been such a joy, such perfectness and therefore I just couldn't start another book today. I had to read this one.
And once more I enjoyed the writing style so incredibly much. Davis writes from the heart. She doesn't focus on the action of the story, although it's there and there's totally something happening, but she focusses on the emotions of her characters. Every sentence breathes whatever emotion is rushing through the main character's veins and therefore I feel that same emotion rushing through mine. For me that's what reading is about, that's why I dive into stories. I want to feel something.
It also helps that both Cole and Omorose are amazing characters! They share a few traits with their fairytale counterparts, but they are mostly unique. I could especially identify myself with Omorose. How she has so much power and bravery flowing through her, but how somehow she freezes when other people are around. How she puts others before herself. And how she is willing to learn and grow and change her mind. But, although Cole is not my type, I really liked his character too! I loved how his upbringing and personality were connected. It was so easy to understand where he came from, why he acted the way he acted, why he was the way he was.
And last but not least, in an amazing and original way Davis turned the plot from Beauty and the Beast into a story that fitted her world and managed to show us more of it along the way. I had certain assumptions when going into the story and most of those were wrong. I loved how all the well known elements of the Beauty and the Beast story was there, but how they were not in your face or obvious, how they were twisted and used differently.
Aaaah! There are so many more things I wanna say! The relationship building is great, the pacing is perfect, the character growth is wonderful. I was crying a few times. AND THAT ENDING! IS IT NEXT WEEK ALREADY? I WANNA READ THE CINDERELLA ONE!
And once more I enjoyed the writing style so incredibly much. Davis writes from the heart. She doesn't focus on the action of the story, although it's there and there's totally something happening, but she focusses on the emotions of her characters. Every sentence breathes whatever emotion is rushing through the main character's veins and therefore I feel that same emotion rushing through mine. For me that's what reading is about, that's why I dive into stories. I want to feel something.
It also helps that both Cole and Omorose are amazing characters! They share a few traits with their fairytale counterparts, but they are mostly unique. I could especially identify myself with Omorose. How she has so much power and bravery flowing through her, but how somehow she freezes when other people are around. How she puts others before herself. And how she is willing to learn and grow and change her mind. But, although Cole is not my type, I really liked his character too! I loved how his upbringing and personality were connected. It was so easy to understand where he came from, why he acted the way he acted, why he was the way he was.
And last but not least, in an amazing and original way Davis turned the plot from Beauty and the Beast into a story that fitted her world and managed to show us more of it along the way. I had certain assumptions when going into the story and most of those were wrong. I loved how all the well known elements of the Beauty and the Beast story was there, but how they were not in your face or obvious, how they were twisted and used differently.
Aaaah! There are so many more things I wanna say! The relationship building is great, the pacing is perfect, the character growth is wonderful. I was crying a few times. AND THAT ENDING! IS IT NEXT WEEK ALREADY? I WANNA READ THE CINDERELLA ONE!
May 30, 2016
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I'm pretty sure I just read my wish fulfilment Beauty and the Beast fantasy. I am still giddy with all the fuzzies I felt while reading Withering Rose.
Ok, let's take a step back. Withering Rose is the follow-up to Gathering Frost, which I reviewed a couple of weeks ago. While the blurb suggests that the stories are standalone, which can be interpreted as you not needing to read the first to read the second, I disagree. You need to read the first to appreciate this story. So let's just get that straight.
While Gathering Frost was very loosely based on Sleeping Beauty, Withering Rose is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and it's tied a lot more to the original. We have Omorose, a princess before her world and ours collided. In a heartbreaking moment, she's given powers, ones that come with a curse. The more she uses her powers, the more they strip away from her. But magic isn't welcome in this new world that's been created, and she's forced to hide hers to stay alive. When hiding becomes too much, she seeks out the Beast in his isolated animal kingdom that survived the earthquake. But where she finds the Beast, she also finds the truth about her magic, and she learns even more reason to rid herself of her curse.
This book was better than Gathering Frost. Both books were a fun form of escapism, but Withering Rose fed into a personal love I have for Beauty and the Beast. It also fed into my love of animals, and I was yearning to be Rose in the story, playing with wolf cubs and snuggling up to snow leopards. There were moments of pain (I almost cried at 4%) and moments of giddy glee (like the omelette scene). The introduction of certain characters two-thirds of the way in had me dancing around in my seat with joy. While Gathering Frost was mildly fun, Withering Rose was a blanket of comfort and happiness, just what I wanted to read right now.
While the connection to Beauty and the Beast was stronger than Gathering Frost to Sleeping Beauty, I found Withering Rose's ending harder to guess at. I couldn't figure out how they'd break the curse while I was reading, whereas I had a pretty good idea from the start with the first book. This kept me on my toes while I read, the middle bits somewhat predictable due to how they followed the pattern of the original tale. The result was a story with a good mix of comfortable familiarity and unexpected turns.
Omorose and Cole had a wonderful chemistry. Like with the original story, their relationship developed slower than that of Jade and Asher's in the first book. They both had reasons to fear each other, but they brought out feelings and courage in each other over time. There were some truly heartwarming moments between them, as well as some shivery toe-curling ones. (Though nothing too risqué, I promise.) I honestly wanted them to find their happiness, and I was rooting for them throughout.
As with the end of Gathering Frost, the focus of the next book in the series (coming in 2017) was introduced towards the end of Withering Rose, and I'm very eager to get my hands on it!
All in all, I recommend reading this series if you like fairytale retellings. They're not exactly bold, daring and dangerous like some retellings are, but they're perfect for when you just want something to wrap yourself up in on a lazy morning.
I'm pretty sure I just read my wish fulfilment Beauty and the Beast fantasy. I am still giddy with all the fuzzies I felt while reading Withering Rose.
Ok, let's take a step back. Withering Rose is the follow-up to Gathering Frost, which I reviewed a couple of weeks ago. While the blurb suggests that the stories are standalone, which can be interpreted as you not needing to read the first to read the second, I disagree. You need to read the first to appreciate this story. So let's just get that straight.
While Gathering Frost was very loosely based on Sleeping Beauty, Withering Rose is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and it's tied a lot more to the original. We have Omorose, a princess before her world and ours collided. In a heartbreaking moment, she's given powers, ones that come with a curse. The more she uses her powers, the more they strip away from her. But magic isn't welcome in this new world that's been created, and she's forced to hide hers to stay alive. When hiding becomes too much, she seeks out the Beast in his isolated animal kingdom that survived the earthquake. But where she finds the Beast, she also finds the truth about her magic, and she learns even more reason to rid herself of her curse.
This book was better than Gathering Frost. Both books were a fun form of escapism, but Withering Rose fed into a personal love I have for Beauty and the Beast. It also fed into my love of animals, and I was yearning to be Rose in the story, playing with wolf cubs and snuggling up to snow leopards. There were moments of pain (I almost cried at 4%) and moments of giddy glee (like the omelette scene). The introduction of certain characters two-thirds of the way in had me dancing around in my seat with joy. While Gathering Frost was mildly fun, Withering Rose was a blanket of comfort and happiness, just what I wanted to read right now.
While the connection to Beauty and the Beast was stronger than Gathering Frost to Sleeping Beauty, I found Withering Rose's ending harder to guess at. I couldn't figure out how they'd break the curse while I was reading, whereas I had a pretty good idea from the start with the first book. This kept me on my toes while I read, the middle bits somewhat predictable due to how they followed the pattern of the original tale. The result was a story with a good mix of comfortable familiarity and unexpected turns.
Omorose and Cole had a wonderful chemistry. Like with the original story, their relationship developed slower than that of Jade and Asher's in the first book. They both had reasons to fear each other, but they brought out feelings and courage in each other over time. There were some truly heartwarming moments between them, as well as some shivery toe-curling ones. (Though nothing too risqué, I promise.) I honestly wanted them to find their happiness, and I was rooting for them throughout.
As with the end of Gathering Frost, the focus of the next book in the series (coming in 2017) was introduced towards the end of Withering Rose, and I'm very eager to get my hands on it!
All in all, I recommend reading this series if you like fairytale retellings. They're not exactly bold, daring and dangerous like some retellings are, but they're perfect for when you just want something to wrap yourself up in on a lazy morning.
See this review in its natural environment, Dani Reviews Things.
June 9, 2017
Withering Rose Review
Book Rating: 5 stars out 5
Story Line: 5 stars out 5. Beauty has a curse. Every time she uses her magic she loses a little bit of life. Her curse is very dangerous. When she goes on the mountain to escape the people that don't have magic there she meets Cole. Cole is the King of Beasts! At first Omorose and Cole didn't get along. As the story went on their love starts to blossom. There were really some heart melting scenes. I loved this one so much better than the first one. Jade and Asher do make an appearance in this book. Some of the scenes in this book made me laugh because I loved Omorose and Cole's relationship. The ending was unexpected and I really cannot wait for the last book. 2017 needs to hurry up! I need more! (Now that it's 2017 I really need the third book soon! I can't wait anymore! Please release the third one soon. I beg you. Please.)
Characters: 5 stars out of 5. Omorose is the main character. She was shy, witty, and charming. I loved when she was actually happy. It hurt my heart to see her sad. I felt bad for her a lot in this book. People shouldn't have treated her as horribly as they did. They made fun of her for no reason. I also love the way that she describes Cole.
Cole made me laugh and angry at the same time. He has a bad attitude, but it's not his fault because he is a beast! He is the King of Beasts really. He was also lonely. He didn't really know how to deal with people. It was fun seeing him start to change.
Writing Style: 5 stars out 5. Nice easy read. Didn't take me as long to read. I loved the characters in this more!
Book Rating: 5 stars out 5
Story Line: 5 stars out 5. Beauty has a curse. Every time she uses her magic she loses a little bit of life. Her curse is very dangerous. When she goes on the mountain to escape the people that don't have magic there she meets Cole. Cole is the King of Beasts! At first Omorose and Cole didn't get along. As the story went on their love starts to blossom. There were really some heart melting scenes. I loved this one so much better than the first one. Jade and Asher do make an appearance in this book. Some of the scenes in this book made me laugh because I loved Omorose and Cole's relationship. The ending was unexpected and I really cannot wait for the last book. 2017 needs to hurry up! I need more! (Now that it's 2017 I really need the third book soon! I can't wait anymore! Please release the third one soon. I beg you. Please.)
Characters: 5 stars out of 5. Omorose is the main character. She was shy, witty, and charming. I loved when she was actually happy. It hurt my heart to see her sad. I felt bad for her a lot in this book. People shouldn't have treated her as horribly as they did. They made fun of her for no reason. I also love the way that she describes Cole.
Cole made me laugh and angry at the same time. He has a bad attitude, but it's not his fault because he is a beast! He is the King of Beasts really. He was also lonely. He didn't really know how to deal with people. It was fun seeing him start to change.
Writing Style: 5 stars out 5. Nice easy read. Didn't take me as long to read. I loved the characters in this more!
Read
June 15, 2016I gave it 3.5 stars
I didn't fall in love with GATHERING FROST, but I liked it enough to be interested when I saw that WITHERING ROSE was available for review.
Davis introduces a new take on Beauty and the Beast in WITHERING ROSE. Omorose is from the magic side of things and is forced to keep her magic under lock and key to keep herself safe, but she can't do it anymore and heads to the only place she can think of that will let her be herself, the realm of the Beast. I found Omorose very determined despite her fears. She didn't give up and didn't let herself be pushed into doing things even though it would have made things easier. Cole was pretty gruff, but quickly grew on me. He is very protective of his people and Omorose quickly become one of them and more to him. Together the pair fit and complimented each other. The romance was sweet and the relationship ended strong.
Some will be happy to know that Jade and Asher from book one made an appearance in WITHERING ROSE. Those that know my reviews know that I love seeing past main characters throughout a series. Book three—which will be a Cinderella retelling—will feature someone related to Omorose, so I hope that we get to see all of the characters together at some point during it. I enjoyed WITHERING ROSE more than I did GATHERING ROSE and I hope that book three brings my enjoyment up even more.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't fall in love with GATHERING FROST, but I liked it enough to be interested when I saw that WITHERING ROSE was available for review.
Davis introduces a new take on Beauty and the Beast in WITHERING ROSE. Omorose is from the magic side of things and is forced to keep her magic under lock and key to keep herself safe, but she can't do it anymore and heads to the only place she can think of that will let her be herself, the realm of the Beast. I found Omorose very determined despite her fears. She didn't give up and didn't let herself be pushed into doing things even though it would have made things easier. Cole was pretty gruff, but quickly grew on me. He is very protective of his people and Omorose quickly become one of them and more to him. Together the pair fit and complimented each other. The romance was sweet and the relationship ended strong.
Some will be happy to know that Jade and Asher from book one made an appearance in WITHERING ROSE. Those that know my reviews know that I love seeing past main characters throughout a series. Book three—which will be a Cinderella retelling—will feature someone related to Omorose, so I hope that we get to see all of the characters together at some point during it. I enjoyed WITHERING ROSE more than I did GATHERING ROSE and I hope that book three brings my enjoyment up even more.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2016
I thought this was a nice sequel to the series that features fairy tale retellings, all interconnected in a way. This time, we’re looking at a Beauty and the Beast retelling (which is my favorite kind, to be honest). I didn’t like it quite as much as the first book, but enjoyed it nonetheless. Withering Rose is a quick read that combines the fantastical and real world in the same dimension after an earthquake that brought them together.
Main review to come at One Way Or An Author"!
Main review to come at One Way Or An Author"!
July 1, 2016
Actual rating 2.5
While predictable, fluffy, silly and demanding many eye rolls, I did enjoy Withering Rose. It certainly wasn't anything special and I wouldn't go out of my way to get a copy, but if you happen to find a free version and have nothing else to read, it's a decent time waster!
While predictable, fluffy, silly and demanding many eye rolls, I did enjoy Withering Rose. It certainly wasn't anything special and I wouldn't go out of my way to get a copy, but if you happen to find a free version and have nothing else to read, it's a decent time waster!
September 15, 2022
Omorose got her magical powers when she was 7 years old and her mother died in an earthquake. For ten years now she's been hiding her powers, because everyone with magic is hunted. Omorose longs to be free and to be who she's meant to be, and the only solution she can find is to go into the Beast's territory. There she could use her magic without getting caught. But how many of the rumours about the Beast are true?
A retelling of the Beauty and the Beast, but here it's the Beauty that is cursed and the Beast that can save her! I'll admit that I wasn't completely fond of Omorose in the beginning. She acted mostly like a deer caught in the headlight. But as she starts to trust in herself I start to enjoy her company. Cole, the Beast, is of course very unkind to begin with, and doesn't trust her. He's a shapeshifter and usually takes the form of a bear. There are no other people in the castle, only wolves. As they get to know each other they open up, but Omorose doesn't tell Cole about her biggest secret: that each time she uses her magic her own life is shortened... (no spolier, it's revealed in the beginning of the book!)
This is the second book in the series Once Upon a Curse, but they can be read as stand alones. We get to see Asher and Jade from the first book, Gathering Frost (a retelling of Sleeping Beauty), but it doesn't matter if you've read it or not.
I've been listening to the audiobook and I find the narrator a bit too teatrical at times, but if you're okay with that I recommend the audio!
A retelling of the Beauty and the Beast, but here it's the Beauty that is cursed and the Beast that can save her! I'll admit that I wasn't completely fond of Omorose in the beginning. She acted mostly like a deer caught in the headlight. But as she starts to trust in herself I start to enjoy her company. Cole, the Beast, is of course very unkind to begin with, and doesn't trust her. He's a shapeshifter and usually takes the form of a bear. There are no other people in the castle, only wolves. As they get to know each other they open up, but Omorose doesn't tell Cole about her biggest secret: that each time she uses her magic her own life is shortened... (no spolier, it's revealed in the beginning of the book!)
This is the second book in the series Once Upon a Curse, but they can be read as stand alones. We get to see Asher and Jade from the first book, Gathering Frost (a retelling of Sleeping Beauty), but it doesn't matter if you've read it or not.
I've been listening to the audiobook and I find the narrator a bit too teatrical at times, but if you're okay with that I recommend the audio!
February 22, 2018
This was not my favorite Beauty and the Beast retelling. It isn't as bad as A Court of Thorns and Roses was to me, but it had certain elements that were similar to that book. Cole also reminded me of Tamlin. The first book was definitely better in this series for me.
This one was kind of a "rebound book" since I am trying to get back into a relationship with books again. It wasn't terrible, but it didn't surpass my expectations on it from the first one.
There's nothing really wrong with Ms. Davis's writing style either, it just wasn't for me.
This one was kind of a "rebound book" since I am trying to get back into a relationship with books again. It wasn't terrible, but it didn't surpass my expectations on it from the first one.
There's nothing really wrong with Ms. Davis's writing style either, it just wasn't for me.
February 25, 2017
Another fun fairy tale retelling! This one was about Beauty and the Beast. The author does a good job of intertwining the stories and I'm looking forward to reading the next one (about Cinderella) when it comes out.
June 22, 2016
I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
If you've stuck around with me for a while, you might have noticed that I have a thing for retellings. I even recently binge read the Lunar Chronicles, and I really enjoyed that series. As for Beauty and the Beast retellings, one of my favorites is Stacey Jay's Of Beast and Beauty.
Now, let me introduce you to Withering Rose, a book I dove into with -I gotta admit- low expectations, but walked away from feeling quite satisfied as a bookworm.
My Thoughts
Rocky beginning
I went into this book reading it as a standalone, since I hadn't read the first book. So at first, I was a little confused about what was happening. Because I didn't remember the synopsis very well either. That little detail that an earthquake meshes together Earth, with the magical, kingdoms/kings/faeries filled world the protagonist comes from.
Suspension of disbelief was hard at this stage. I even considered quitting for a moment, but I pushed on, and I'm glad I did.
Omorose just wasn't cutting it for me. First, I didn't even like her name. Rose is common, but bearable, but Omorose is asking too much. Secondly, she was meek, and miserable, and that's depressing-understandable, of course since according to what she described, there's a rose inside of her that's basically counting the time until she dies. ( I still don't get that rose thing. Is it a metaphor? Or literally, there is a flower in her chest? o_0 Will never know.)
Depressing anyway.
The intrigue
When our brave Omorose *giggle* Okay, when our brave Omorose embarks in her adventure and ends up in a strange, foreign castle, finally I was hooked. Maybe it was the sense that this new environment she was in was more medieval-like, and something I was familiar with, not the half and half world I'd been reading about before. But the thing is, that things got better from there.
Th beast
*heart eyes* Some people might not like that there are some scenes that are so very much like the Disney animated version the The Beauty and the Beast, but I loved them! I don't want to spoil anything so I'm just going to say the romance is so heart-warming, and I'm happy with it, but I also wish it'd taken up a teensy bit more of page time because I just loved it so much!
Final thoughts
In spite of its many sins, I enjoyed Withering Rose and I would really recommend it. :3
Read Withering Rose if:
*You're a beast ;)
*You're beautiful
*You don't give a damn ;)
*You want to be a rainbow unicorn
*You like character development
*You like fairy tale retellings
*You like series
*You like standalones
*You like omelet (You'll get it when you read it XD)
Find this review and others at A Writer's Tales
If you've stuck around with me for a while, you might have noticed that I have a thing for retellings. I even recently binge read the Lunar Chronicles, and I really enjoyed that series. As for Beauty and the Beast retellings, one of my favorites is Stacey Jay's Of Beast and Beauty.
Now, let me introduce you to Withering Rose, a book I dove into with -I gotta admit- low expectations, but walked away from feeling quite satisfied as a bookworm.
My Thoughts
Rocky beginning
I went into this book reading it as a standalone, since I hadn't read the first book. So at first, I was a little confused about what was happening. Because I didn't remember the synopsis very well either. That little detail that an earthquake meshes together Earth, with the magical, kingdoms/kings/faeries filled world the protagonist comes from.
Suspension of disbelief was hard at this stage. I even considered quitting for a moment, but I pushed on, and I'm glad I did.
Omorose just wasn't cutting it for me. First, I didn't even like her name. Rose is common, but bearable, but Omorose is asking too much. Secondly, she was meek, and miserable, and that's depressing-understandable, of course since according to what she described, there's a rose inside of her that's basically counting the time until she dies. ( I still don't get that rose thing. Is it a metaphor? Or literally, there is a flower in her chest? o_0 Will never know.)
Depressing anyway.
The intrigue
When our brave Omorose *giggle* Okay, when our brave Omorose embarks in her adventure and ends up in a strange, foreign castle, finally I was hooked. Maybe it was the sense that this new environment she was in was more medieval-like, and something I was familiar with, not the half and half world I'd been reading about before. But the thing is, that things got better from there.
Th beast
*heart eyes* Some people might not like that there are some scenes that are so very much like the Disney animated version the The Beauty and the Beast, but I loved them! I don't want to spoil anything so I'm just going to say the romance is so heart-warming, and I'm happy with it, but I also wish it'd taken up a teensy bit more of page time because I just loved it so much!
Final thoughts
In spite of its many sins, I enjoyed Withering Rose and I would really recommend it. :3
Read Withering Rose if:
*You're a beast ;)
*You're beautiful
*You don't give a damn ;)
*You want to be a rainbow unicorn
*You like character development
*You like fairy tale retellings
*You like series
*You like standalones
*You like omelet (You'll get it when you read it XD)
Find this review and others at A Writer's Tales
June 3, 2016
On the day the earthquake stuck Omorose Bouchene only seven years old loses almost everything that she holds dear to her. Her home and life as she knows it is ripped from her and she ends up in a place that she has never been before; a place with fast cars and cell phones among other things. Omorose and her father were on their way to visit a prince whom she is engaged to and has visited a couple of other times in her life.
Before she reaches the prince’s home the earthquake strikes and she is in this new place called Earth and on this day she receives her magic. She knows in that very instance that her mother and little sister are both dead. Omorose’s magic has a secret attached to it one that she holds close to her heart. This secret is the reason her father is always telling her not to use her magic. He is afraid of losing her.
Magic is not allowed to be used on Earth and anyone caught using it will be killed. So Omorose is taught by her father that she can’t use her magic and risk being found out by the humans. But it is hard for Omorose not use her magic even with knowing what it cost her.
One day Omorose decides she can’t take it anymore living amongst the humans and hiding her magic so she confides in her father that she has to leave and that she is going to find the Beast that everyone is so afraid of and hopefully he knows of a way to break her curse so she can live a normal life like everyone else.
Omorose has never had any friends and the only thing she has ever really wanted was to be accepted for what she is. She has just wanted a place to belong to or someone to belong too. She just wants someone to accept her the way she is and for who she is.
Omorose has given her decision of leaving a lot of thought and has come to the conclusion that this is the only safest thing to do. She will head into the mountains to find the Beast that everyone is so afraid of and hopefully tame him into helping her if she can that is.
Will Omorose find the Beast? Will she find a way to break the curse? Will she find the love that she is looking for? What will Omorose find in the mountains? Will she finally be accepted for who she really is? Can she find the peace that she is looking for? Will she survived the snow, cold, frozen mountains and make it to find the Beast? What is in store for Omorose?
To find out all the answers pick up your copy of Withering Rose to find out. I don’t think you really have to read the first book Gathering Frost in the Once Upon a Curse before read the second book Withering Rose but I would definitely advise that you do so that you will understand more about Omorose and her curse and I know you don’t want to miss out on another fantastic story now do you? So pick up a copy of both books Gathering Frost and Withering Rose.
Both will grab a hold of you from the very first word and will not let go until you have reached the end. The only thing that will come between the two of you is that thing that is called life. Once Upon a Curse will enthrall you from the very beginning to end. I can’t wait for the third book in the series Chasing Midnight the classic fairy tale of Cinderella gets retold; coming in 2017!
Before she reaches the prince’s home the earthquake strikes and she is in this new place called Earth and on this day she receives her magic. She knows in that very instance that her mother and little sister are both dead. Omorose’s magic has a secret attached to it one that she holds close to her heart. This secret is the reason her father is always telling her not to use her magic. He is afraid of losing her.
Magic is not allowed to be used on Earth and anyone caught using it will be killed. So Omorose is taught by her father that she can’t use her magic and risk being found out by the humans. But it is hard for Omorose not use her magic even with knowing what it cost her.
One day Omorose decides she can’t take it anymore living amongst the humans and hiding her magic so she confides in her father that she has to leave and that she is going to find the Beast that everyone is so afraid of and hopefully he knows of a way to break her curse so she can live a normal life like everyone else.
Omorose has never had any friends and the only thing she has ever really wanted was to be accepted for what she is. She has just wanted a place to belong to or someone to belong too. She just wants someone to accept her the way she is and for who she is.
Omorose has given her decision of leaving a lot of thought and has come to the conclusion that this is the only safest thing to do. She will head into the mountains to find the Beast that everyone is so afraid of and hopefully tame him into helping her if she can that is.
Will Omorose find the Beast? Will she find a way to break the curse? Will she find the love that she is looking for? What will Omorose find in the mountains? Will she finally be accepted for who she really is? Can she find the peace that she is looking for? Will she survived the snow, cold, frozen mountains and make it to find the Beast? What is in store for Omorose?
To find out all the answers pick up your copy of Withering Rose to find out. I don’t think you really have to read the first book Gathering Frost in the Once Upon a Curse before read the second book Withering Rose but I would definitely advise that you do so that you will understand more about Omorose and her curse and I know you don’t want to miss out on another fantastic story now do you? So pick up a copy of both books Gathering Frost and Withering Rose.
Both will grab a hold of you from the very first word and will not let go until you have reached the end. The only thing that will come between the two of you is that thing that is called life. Once Upon a Curse will enthrall you from the very beginning to end. I can’t wait for the third book in the series Chasing Midnight the classic fairy tale of Cinderella gets retold; coming in 2017!
May 28, 2016
3.5 stars
Aptly named, ‘Withering Rose,’ is a tale about a girl named Omorose whose magic sometimes forces its way out of her, costing her a bit of time off her life expectancy with each outburst. Set in the same universe as Kaitlyn Davis’ ‘Gathering Frost’ retelling of Sleeping Beauty, ‘Withering Rose’ tells the re-imagined tale of Beauty and the Beast.
Omorose and her father are left stranded in the ‘real world’ as a result of the same earthquake that affected members of the Fairytale kingdom in ‘Gathering Frost.’ For ten years, she has carefully hidden her magic from those who would cause her harm if they knew, but when we meet Omorose, she has had enough. She leaves the relative safety of a military base and flees to the Beast’s kingdom, seeking other magic wielders and freedom from hiding.
Beauty and her Beast, here named Cole, enjoy a slow building friendship which turns to romance. Characters from ‘Gathering Frost’ appear in ‘Withering Rose’ and set us up for the third entry in this series, expected in 2017.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Read more reviews! http://dreamerjbookreviews.blogspot.com
Aptly named, ‘Withering Rose,’ is a tale about a girl named Omorose whose magic sometimes forces its way out of her, costing her a bit of time off her life expectancy with each outburst. Set in the same universe as Kaitlyn Davis’ ‘Gathering Frost’ retelling of Sleeping Beauty, ‘Withering Rose’ tells the re-imagined tale of Beauty and the Beast.
Omorose and her father are left stranded in the ‘real world’ as a result of the same earthquake that affected members of the Fairytale kingdom in ‘Gathering Frost.’ For ten years, she has carefully hidden her magic from those who would cause her harm if they knew, but when we meet Omorose, she has had enough. She leaves the relative safety of a military base and flees to the Beast’s kingdom, seeking other magic wielders and freedom from hiding.
Beauty and her Beast, here named Cole, enjoy a slow building friendship which turns to romance. Characters from ‘Gathering Frost’ appear in ‘Withering Rose’ and set us up for the third entry in this series, expected in 2017.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Read more reviews! http://dreamerjbookreviews.blogspot.com
May 18, 2016
Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairy tale, so I was very excited to read this story! It did not disappoint. I thought the world building was done very well, and I could visualize everything clearly. The romance was also nice, developing at a good pace with the story.
Omorose has magic that allows her to bring life to the earth. She can grow flowers, trees, vines, etc. But when she was 7 years old, her world and the human world collided, and she had to suppress her magic. The human world greatly feared magic and would have destroyed her. Fast forward ten years, and she is still struggling to keep her magic in check. When she finally can't stand the pressure and pain any longer, she leaves and seeks out the one person in the human world who might accept her as she is - the Beast. The Beast is a young man named Cole, who is very much like the fairy tale Beast. He's surly, often hairy, and he roars a lot. But he knows why Omorose's magic hurts so much, and together they must work to return magic to its rightful place.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fairy tales! It was a wonderful retelling, and it appears to be leading to more books in the series. Very excited to read them.
**I received a free copy via NetGalley for an honest review.**
Omorose has magic that allows her to bring life to the earth. She can grow flowers, trees, vines, etc. But when she was 7 years old, her world and the human world collided, and she had to suppress her magic. The human world greatly feared magic and would have destroyed her. Fast forward ten years, and she is still struggling to keep her magic in check. When she finally can't stand the pressure and pain any longer, she leaves and seeks out the one person in the human world who might accept her as she is - the Beast. The Beast is a young man named Cole, who is very much like the fairy tale Beast. He's surly, often hairy, and he roars a lot. But he knows why Omorose's magic hurts so much, and together they must work to return magic to its rightful place.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fairy tales! It was a wonderful retelling, and it appears to be leading to more books in the series. Very excited to read them.
**I received a free copy via NetGalley for an honest review.**
July 13, 2016
A retelling of Beauty and the Beast, this is the story of what happens when the enchanted realm of happily ever after meets our world.
There is an earthquake and quite suddenly Omorose Bouchene finds herself in a world of steel and guns. A world that blames magic for all that has gone wrong there. With the help of her father, she hides her power but the magic longs to be free. When she heads into the enchanted land controlled by the Beast, she is afraid. Certain she will be killed or destroyed. But that's not what happens.
Cole rules over a kingdom under a curse. When the beautiful girl shows up he wants to trust her but he trusted a lady like her before, someone who placed his world under the dark magic that now controls it. But Omorose is kind and good. He can trust her, right?
Great retelling of this classic fairy tale. Not brilliant or rock your world great but very enjoyable.
There is an earthquake and quite suddenly Omorose Bouchene finds herself in a world of steel and guns. A world that blames magic for all that has gone wrong there. With the help of her father, she hides her power but the magic longs to be free. When she heads into the enchanted land controlled by the Beast, she is afraid. Certain she will be killed or destroyed. But that's not what happens.
Cole rules over a kingdom under a curse. When the beautiful girl shows up he wants to trust her but he trusted a lady like her before, someone who placed his world under the dark magic that now controls it. But Omorose is kind and good. He can trust her, right?
Great retelling of this classic fairy tale. Not brilliant or rock your world great but very enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews