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Timeless Fairy Tales #8
Sleeping Beauty
Briar Rose, a clever peasant girl, feels only pity for the mysterious Princess Rosalinda–the hidden princess who was cursed to prick her finger on a spindle and fall asleep until true love’s kiss awakens her. But her pity turns into horror when Briar learns she is the secret princess, and Isaia, her childhood friend, is really a Magic Knight sworn to protect her.
Briar reluctantly embraces her new life as a princess, and is reunited with her mother, father, and her grandfather–the king. But calamity strikes when Carabosso, the evil mage who cursed her as a baby, returns and plunders the countryside. Unfortunately, the king refuses to dispatch the Magic Knights to protect the people, and instead orders the knights to stay in the capital to guard Briar. But Briar is not the demure princess her family desires, and she vows to save her people if her parents and grandfather will not.
Will the curse consume Briar, or–with help from Isaia–can she beat Carabosso at his own game?
SLEEPING BEAUTY is a fairy tale retelling and the eighth book of the TIMELESS FAIRY TALES series. The books in this series take place in the same world and can be read all together, or as individual, stand-alone books. If you enjoy compelling characters, sweet romance, and magical jokes, download a sample or buy it today!
Briar reluctantly embraces her new life as a princess, and is reunited with her mother, father, and her grandfather–the king. But calamity strikes when Carabosso, the evil mage who cursed her as a baby, returns and plunders the countryside. Unfortunately, the king refuses to dispatch the Magic Knights to protect the people, and instead orders the knights to stay in the capital to guard Briar. But Briar is not the demure princess her family desires, and she vows to save her people if her parents and grandfather will not.
Will the curse consume Briar, or–with help from Isaia–can she beat Carabosso at his own game?
SLEEPING BEAUTY is a fairy tale retelling and the eighth book of the TIMELESS FAIRY TALES series. The books in this series take place in the same world and can be read all together, or as individual, stand-alone books. If you enjoy compelling characters, sweet romance, and magical jokes, download a sample or buy it today!
278 pages, Paperback
First published December 15, 2016
420 people are currently reading
1449 people want to read
About the author
K.M. Shea
120 books4,794 followersMy pen name is K. M. Shea, but my readers—I prefer to call them Champions—call me Kitty.
I love to write funny, clean stories with strong characters. Books like that are among my favorite to read so naturally I love writing stories like that as well. My philosophy is that life is tough, so books should be something that makes you relax and laugh!
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VISIT MY AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
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VISIT MY WEBSITE
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I love to write funny, clean stories with strong characters. Books like that are among my favorite to read so naturally I love writing stories like that as well. My philosophy is that life is tough, so books should be something that makes you relax and laugh!
VISIT MY FACEBOOK GROUP
https://www.facebook.com/groups/27090...
VISIT MY AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
https://www.amazon.com/K-M-Shea/e/B00...
VISIT MY WEBSITE
https://kmshea.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
February 9, 2017
This was disappointingly bad, in light of how much I usually like K.M. Shea's work.
The obstacles were mainly people being obstinately blind to facts or outright stupid just so they could stall the plot a bit.
Also, I couldn't see what heroine saw in the hero. He was so boring. It might also have been more meaningful if we'd been shown memories/ scenes from them growing up together to make us understand why they meant so much to each other, instead of just being told it was so.
The obstacles were mainly people being obstinately blind to facts or outright stupid just so they could stall the plot a bit.
Also, I couldn't see what heroine saw in the hero. He was so boring. It might also have been more meaningful if we'd been shown memories/ scenes from them growing up together to make us understand why they meant so much to each other, instead of just being told it was so.
February 6, 2020
Isaia was a noble and handsome, but also an honorable idiot. Still love him though
I have to say I loved Briar Rose and Isaia' s slow burn relationship ♡
I have to say I loved Briar Rose and Isaia' s slow burn relationship ♡
December 31, 2017
I enjoyed Sleeping Beauty, for the most part. I loved Lady Delanna, especially. Donaigh and Firra were funny and likeable and I loved the relationship the two had with each other and Briar. I liked Briar, she was a very down-to-earth, sensible girl. I just didn't connect with her like I did some of KM Shea's other heroines, like Rakel, for example. There was nothing wrong with Briar and I didn't DISLIKE her, she was just sort of meh.
Isaia... well, he rubs me the wrong way. I mean, come on! He selfishly let Briar, and everyone else in Ciane sleep for an ENTIRE year because he couldn't bare to kiss her and have to let her go. I can understand that a year was needed so the Timeless Fairy Tales timeline made sense. It just felt a little forced. And Isaia came off as self-centered and a little childish. To me, it didn't seem that he deserved to become a legendary knight. He and Briar didn't have any time to develop their relationship. They admitted their feelings and boom! They got married. It didn't feel right.
Briar's parents and grandfather were all right. I could understand where they were coming from and why they did what they did. Though I wish they had given Briar a chance to prove herself. They seemed to automatically write her off.
The plot was fine. I loved having Odette, Misha, and Nadia come in at the end. Odette, with the little time she had, was amazing as always. Angelique was perfect and we got to see some more of her oh-so mysterious backstory.
One thing I did love about Briar was her having to figure out how to reconcile her two halves. The learned princess and the farmer girl. The Misfit ;) theme was pretty prominent and I loved seeing her struggled with trying to please her family and staying true to herself.
Honestly, Delanna was the saving grace of this book. I loved that she eventually got to become a legendary knight and all that.
I guess my biggest problem with this book was Isaia. Overall though, it was enjoyable. It might not be my favorite of the Timeless Fairy Tales, but it deserves a place in the ranks.
Isaia... well, he rubs me the wrong way. I mean, come on! He selfishly let Briar, and everyone else in Ciane sleep for an ENTIRE year because he couldn't bare to kiss her and have to let her go. I can understand that a year was needed so the Timeless Fairy Tales timeline made sense. It just felt a little forced. And Isaia came off as self-centered and a little childish. To me, it didn't seem that he deserved to become a legendary knight. He and Briar didn't have any time to develop their relationship. They admitted their feelings and boom! They got married. It didn't feel right.
Briar's parents and grandfather were all right. I could understand where they were coming from and why they did what they did. Though I wish they had given Briar a chance to prove herself. They seemed to automatically write her off.
The plot was fine. I loved having Odette, Misha, and Nadia come in at the end. Odette, with the little time she had, was amazing as always. Angelique was perfect and we got to see some more of her oh-so mysterious backstory.
One thing I did love about Briar was her having to figure out how to reconcile her two halves. The learned princess and the farmer girl. The Misfit ;) theme was pretty prominent and I loved seeing her struggled with trying to please her family and staying true to herself.
Honestly, Delanna was the saving grace of this book. I loved that she eventually got to become a legendary knight and all that.
I guess my biggest problem with this book was Isaia. Overall though, it was enjoyable. It might not be my favorite of the Timeless Fairy Tales, but it deserves a place in the ranks.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2020
DNF: 42% Usually I like the retellings by K.M.Shea but this one is utterly boring...
January 26, 2018
Sleeping Beauty reads like a dream. It is whimsical and elegant. For those who love a soothing, beautiful faerie tale, this one is for you!
I was definitely more familiar with this faerie tale before reading. Sleeping Beauty was one of my favorite Disney movies. I even remember having read the Grimm's version of the tale, so there were few surprises left this time. That was not a bad thing though.
I loved Shea's version, as it was lyrical and enchanting. It had a bit of a slow start, but built in intensity and ended on a "happily ever after" note. It not only offered the moral of a slow building love, but also spoke volumes on the importance of friendship, kindness, and strong, educated, independent women.
In comparison to the last few books in the series, this one was a little softer. It took some time to build in to the story, and felt a little like dream walking. I honestly enjoyed this aspect, because it matched the "feel" of the original tale of Sleeping Beauty. How else would you have captured the essence of a story that involved the entire palace sleeping for 100 years?
Shea's version of Sleeping Beauty held her gorgeous writing style and vivacious world building. Even though the story was old and familiar, it felt new and vibrant. And, of course her characters were dynamic and lovable!
Princess Rosalinda, or Briar Rose, was another amazing Shea character. She was bold, intelligent, and clever. She was kind, caring, and obstinately true to her self. For someone who didn't find out she was royalty until she was 17, she was certainly a noble character.
I just loved lady Delanna. I know I've said this with each book in this series, but K.M. Shea has a talent for writing amazing friendships. Delanna was an amazing friend to Rose, as she was loyal, caring, and brave. She also had quite a hidden talent, that put a few of the knights to shame.
And, speaking of the knights. Isaia was a magnificently noble knight, and man. He was a friend, first and foremost, which spoke volumes on his character, but he was also fiercely loyal, loving, and strong.
After having read 7 books in this series, one would think I would have grown tired of the faerie tale retellings, but I have loved each and every one! This one was quite predictable, but still highly enjoyable and beautiful. It held friendship, beauty, humor, and a fight between good and evil. It offered an amazing "happily ever after" ending, and a surprise twist that left me smiling and wanting more! 4.5 stars.
Thank you to the author for sending me this free e-copy in exchange for my honest review, and as part of my Faerie Tale Friday posts.
I was definitely more familiar with this faerie tale before reading. Sleeping Beauty was one of my favorite Disney movies. I even remember having read the Grimm's version of the tale, so there were few surprises left this time. That was not a bad thing though.
I loved Shea's version, as it was lyrical and enchanting. It had a bit of a slow start, but built in intensity and ended on a "happily ever after" note. It not only offered the moral of a slow building love, but also spoke volumes on the importance of friendship, kindness, and strong, educated, independent women.
In comparison to the last few books in the series, this one was a little softer. It took some time to build in to the story, and felt a little like dream walking. I honestly enjoyed this aspect, because it matched the "feel" of the original tale of Sleeping Beauty. How else would you have captured the essence of a story that involved the entire palace sleeping for 100 years?
Shea's version of Sleeping Beauty held her gorgeous writing style and vivacious world building. Even though the story was old and familiar, it felt new and vibrant. And, of course her characters were dynamic and lovable!
Princess Rosalinda, or Briar Rose, was another amazing Shea character. She was bold, intelligent, and clever. She was kind, caring, and obstinately true to her self. For someone who didn't find out she was royalty until she was 17, she was certainly a noble character.
I just loved lady Delanna. I know I've said this with each book in this series, but K.M. Shea has a talent for writing amazing friendships. Delanna was an amazing friend to Rose, as she was loyal, caring, and brave. She also had quite a hidden talent, that put a few of the knights to shame.
And, speaking of the knights. Isaia was a magnificently noble knight, and man. He was a friend, first and foremost, which spoke volumes on his character, but he was also fiercely loyal, loving, and strong.
After having read 7 books in this series, one would think I would have grown tired of the faerie tale retellings, but I have loved each and every one! This one was quite predictable, but still highly enjoyable and beautiful. It held friendship, beauty, humor, and a fight between good and evil. It offered an amazing "happily ever after" ending, and a surprise twist that left me smiling and wanting more! 4.5 stars.
Thank you to the author for sending me this free e-copy in exchange for my honest review, and as part of my Faerie Tale Friday posts.
January 24, 2017
Too good for her knight
This is a fairly decent fairy tale retelling. Briar is a great heroine: smart, stubborn, and not magically endowed with the ability to fight. Isaia on the other hand, was a selfish idiot. He didn't trust Briar to know her own mind, and he was too mired in his own sense of inadequacy to act for the good of his country, this failing as both lover and Knight.
This is a fairly decent fairy tale retelling. Briar is a great heroine: smart, stubborn, and not magically endowed with the ability to fight. Isaia on the other hand, was a selfish idiot. He didn't trust Briar to know her own mind, and he was too mired in his own sense of inadequacy to act for the good of his country, this failing as both lover and Knight.
July 27, 2023
4.5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
I loved this retelling!! I love the message that you don't need to be a princess to be worthy of love or respect. Briar is an amazing character with so much heart! It's definitely not your traditional story, but it's really good!!! 4.5 stars! Clean romance 😍
I loved this retelling!! I love the message that you don't need to be a princess to be worthy of love or respect. Briar is an amazing character with so much heart! It's definitely not your traditional story, but it's really good!!! 4.5 stars! Clean romance 😍
December 16, 2016
Awww, that was so great! I kind of want to just hug this book, but it's on my Kindle, and that somehow just doesn't seem like it would have the same effect as if the book were paperback. xD
I was a little hesitant to buy this book already because I wasn't the biggest fan of the previous work (Swan Lake), but K.M. Shea's quality has been pretty high overall, so I decided to risk it. She did not disappoint. Sleeping Beauty is so sweet!
I could make little stylistic quibbles here and there about the story, but my only real complaint is picking on poor Isaia, and it is actually more my problem than a problem with the book. I didn't realize until Briar Rose did (practically the very end) that (Hiding it only because I didn't see until the end. More sensitive readers will probably pick up on it the first time they see the world from his PoV.)
But other than that, I have only good things to say. I loved all the many references to the other books in the series, although I'm pretty sure you won't be lost if you haven't read the other books. And this book also references what I'm hoping will be another mini prequel series like The Snow Queen series: the Queen of Hearts! ^__^ And Angelique plays a larger role in this book than in any other except perhaps Wild Swans.
I also loved the family dynamics in this book. We get both parents still alive plus a grandfather! And while the mother or a character like her will likely never star in a Shea book, I actually really adored her. (Maybe because she reminds me of an original character of my own before I turn evil incarnate on that character, as authors tend to have to do or end up with a boring story. xD) Also, I'm a big fan of the king/grandfather. He makes really, really terrible judgment calls throughout much of the story, but you can still see, when all's said and done, that he's a really good king (when he's not too worried about his granddaughter's future or potential lack thereof).
In other rambling, not-very-well-planned-out-by-me news, Briar is a great heroine. She's not perfect, either, and I don't agree with everything she does, but I can see her logic behind her every move and cheer her on anyways. She doesn't try to deny the obvious / sell herself short (cough, Odette, cough), but neither does she think she can handle everything herself. She doesn't slip into her new life as princess with ease, but neither does she scream at everyone that she hates them and can never trust them again for keeping the secret from her for 15+ years. And she has the very good sense to get offended alongside me on Isaia's behalf when people call him her dog.
Oh, and I should probably mention the Magic Knights. They're probably the biggest factor responsible for making me really feel that this world is real. I mean, I know it's not, but you know what I mean. They make up a large portion of the world-building in this book and have more than any other tactic Shea has used helped me to see how each country plays just one role in an increasingly interconnected continent with a long history. (Speaking of history, I was surprised to notice a supporting character from the Snow Queen mentioned by name. Other characters in other moments have made a point of mentioning how history has a way of distorting or hiding facts over time, but this one fact was just as clear and accurate as anything about the beloved Snow Queen herself.)
Shea has mentioned that this book is one of her longer ones in the series, and I'm grateful for that. I didn't get the impression that anything was rushed, although I do wish Briar and Isaia's relationship prior to her becoming Princess Rosalinda had been fleshed out a little more. We do get a couple scenes of them then, though, so I'm not going to complain too much. There are still a few unanswered questions (like how will everyone react when they find out about Delanna ?) that I'm hoping will be answered with short stories. And, of course, there are still questions about the overarching story of the series that probably will not be answered until Angelique's book. But overall, this book is a very well-done, self-contained story that I'm glad I bought.
I was a little hesitant to buy this book already because I wasn't the biggest fan of the previous work (Swan Lake), but K.M. Shea's quality has been pretty high overall, so I decided to risk it. She did not disappoint. Sleeping Beauty is so sweet!
I could make little stylistic quibbles here and there about the story, but my only real complaint is picking on poor Isaia, and it is actually more my problem than a problem with the book. I didn't realize until Briar Rose did (practically the very end) that (Hiding it only because I didn't see until the end. More sensitive readers will probably pick up on it the first time they see the world from his PoV.)
But other than that, I have only good things to say. I loved all the many references to the other books in the series, although I'm pretty sure you won't be lost if you haven't read the other books. And this book also references what I'm hoping will be another mini prequel series like The Snow Queen series: the Queen of Hearts! ^__^ And Angelique plays a larger role in this book than in any other except perhaps Wild Swans.
I also loved the family dynamics in this book. We get both parents still alive plus a grandfather! And while the mother or a character like her will likely never star in a Shea book, I actually really adored her. (Maybe because she reminds me of an original character of my own before I turn evil incarnate on that character, as authors tend to have to do or end up with a boring story. xD) Also, I'm a big fan of the king/grandfather. He makes really, really terrible judgment calls throughout much of the story, but you can still see, when all's said and done, that he's a really good king (when he's not too worried about his granddaughter's future or potential lack thereof).
In other rambling, not-very-well-planned-out-by-me news, Briar is a great heroine. She's not perfect, either, and I don't agree with everything she does, but I can see her logic behind her every move and cheer her on anyways. She doesn't try to deny the obvious / sell herself short (cough, Odette, cough), but neither does she think she can handle everything herself. She doesn't slip into her new life as princess with ease, but neither does she scream at everyone that she hates them and can never trust them again for keeping the secret from her for 15+ years. And she has the very good sense to get offended alongside me on Isaia's behalf when people call him her dog.
Oh, and I should probably mention the Magic Knights. They're probably the biggest factor responsible for making me really feel that this world is real. I mean, I know it's not, but you know what I mean. They make up a large portion of the world-building in this book and have more than any other tactic Shea has used helped me to see how each country plays just one role in an increasingly interconnected continent with a long history. (Speaking of history, I was surprised to notice a supporting character from the Snow Queen mentioned by name. Other characters in other moments have made a point of mentioning how history has a way of distorting or hiding facts over time, but this one fact was just as clear and accurate as anything about the beloved Snow Queen herself.)
Shea has mentioned that this book is one of her longer ones in the series, and I'm grateful for that. I didn't get the impression that anything was rushed, although I do wish Briar and Isaia's relationship prior to her becoming Princess Rosalinda had been fleshed out a little more. We do get a couple scenes of them then, though, so I'm not going to complain too much. There are still a few unanswered questions (like how will everyone react when they find out about Delanna ?) that I'm hoping will be answered with short stories. And, of course, there are still questions about the overarching story of the series that probably will not be answered until Angelique's book. But overall, this book is a very well-done, self-contained story that I'm glad I bought.
February 7, 2024
4.5
I love this series. This was a solid 4.5 star read, for me. The biggest reasons I didn't give it 5 stars are 1. The mom and the grandpa were mule headed and at times unbearably so and 2. I am really stingy with giving out 5 stars because when I give something 5 stars it is because it is really among my favorite books. In this rating system there is no place to go beyond 5 stars so I save it for the very best. I have given a handful of books in this series 5 stars because they are truly among my favorites. This one was great but not one of my favorites.
That sort of sounds negative, but it isn't. I still really enjoyed the book. I especially loved getting to know more about Angelique and even getting some from her perspective!! Also getting some interaction with Lord Enchanter Evariste was fantastic. I really hope to find out soon what Angelique's core magic is. We were teased with it in this book. Hopefully we wont have to wait too long to find out! After reading this book I realized I would love a whole book devoted to Angelique and Evariste. I don't know if that is in the plans but she should definitely get her happy ending and it would be fun to get it, not just in little tidbits throughout the other stories but to actually just get the full of it. But we shall see :)
I love this series. This was a solid 4.5 star read, for me. The biggest reasons I didn't give it 5 stars are 1. The mom and the grandpa were mule headed and at times unbearably so and 2. I am really stingy with giving out 5 stars because when I give something 5 stars it is because it is really among my favorite books. In this rating system there is no place to go beyond 5 stars so I save it for the very best. I have given a handful of books in this series 5 stars because they are truly among my favorites. This one was great but not one of my favorites.
That sort of sounds negative, but it isn't. I still really enjoyed the book. I especially loved getting to know more about Angelique and even getting some from her perspective!! Also getting some interaction with Lord Enchanter Evariste was fantastic. I really hope to find out soon what Angelique's core magic is. We were teased with it in this book. Hopefully we wont have to wait too long to find out! After reading this book I realized I would love a whole book devoted to Angelique and Evariste. I don't know if that is in the plans but she should definitely get her happy ending and it would be fun to get it, not just in little tidbits throughout the other stories but to actually just get the full of it. But we shall see :)
March 27, 2017
I just can’t get enough of this series! In the latest one, featuring Briar Rose or Princess Rosalinda, we get a strong, clever, brave heroine who it’s easy to root for.
It starts pretty much like the traditional story. The royal family has a new baby girl but an unexpected guest decides to throw a death curse into the mix to liven up the party. But Shea likes to weave all these fairy tales together into the story of a land that has been cursed so that everything that can go wrong, does go wrong. This one was great because not only did we get a wonderful main character, but we got to learn more about Angelique, the “enchantress in training” who’s been on hand to save the day numerous times.
It starts pretty much like the traditional story. The royal family has a new baby girl but an unexpected guest decides to throw a death curse into the mix to liven up the party. But Shea likes to weave all these fairy tales together into the story of a land that has been cursed so that everything that can go wrong, does go wrong. This one was great because not only did we get a wonderful main character, but we got to learn more about Angelique, the “enchantress in training” who’s been on hand to save the day numerous times.
February 21, 2018
Sleeping Beauty features Rosalinda who is a cursed princess from her magical christening. To avoid disaster, she is sent to live in the woods with a foster family, of magical knights, as Briar Rose. Briar grows up as a peasant girl who knows of the cursed princess but has no idea it is her. She grows up strong and educated, just not royal court educated, and surrounded by people who love her. Once the magic finds her she must return to her royal family and from there things get a bit sticky - she doesn't exactly fit in or have the same priorities as her long lost family. Luckily with some new friends and her very very reluctant love she is able to save the kingdom. This of course is much the surprise of her family, but not to those who know her well.
May 3, 2021
Engaging premise and I loved Briar as a protagonist.
Unfortunately, the plot relied too much on "Pointless assumptions and miscommunication" to function, and I never really felt the chemistry between her and Isaia as a result. Seriously, none of the men in Briar's life (except maybe her father) trust her to know her own mind, and so it drags things out painfully.
Doneigh and Firra were awesome, though. Would recommend the book just for their banter!
Unfortunately, the plot relied too much on "Pointless assumptions and miscommunication" to function, and I never really felt the chemistry between her and Isaia as a result. Seriously, none of the men in Briar's life (except maybe her father) trust her to know her own mind, and so it drags things out painfully.
Doneigh and Firra were awesome, though. Would recommend the book just for their banter!
March 13, 2020
Amazing story!
It was so good! Probably my favorite so far of K. M. Shea’s books! The author has such an amazing style and way about her books that just draw you in.
It was so good! Probably my favorite so far of K. M. Shea’s books! The author has such an amazing style and way about her books that just draw you in.
March 14, 2023
To be honest, the latest instalment in Timeless Fairy Tales was a bit of a disappointment for me. The love interest, Isaia, was just an idiot to be honest - I could not see why Briar Rose interested in him. A harmless idiot, but an idiot nonetheless.
So this, obviously, is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty. There isn't much divergence from the original
The characters were... meh. I didn't connect with Briar/Rosalina either, with her ultimate desire in life to marry someone rich so she doesn't have to do anything with too much responsibility. I think it was meant to make her seem down to earth, but it just made her unlikeable.
There were some side-characters who redeemed things a bit, particularly the magic users Donaigh and Firra. It was also fun having Odette, Misha and Nadia come in at the end from The Swan Princess - I'm enjoying the books all joining up, as well as getting some more backstory for Angelique. But this one was pretty flat.
Oh, I liked the magic knights of Sole but the King was incredibly selfish not allowing them to help anyone else in danger because he was too frightened for his daughter. Realistically, it was a curse - WHAT DID HE EXPECT THEM TO DO? (I know this isn't realism :P).
Meh. Having a break before the next one (now I've got to book eight, I feel like I have to finish the series because it will just annoy me otherwise).
So this, obviously, is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty. There isn't much divergence from the original
The characters were... meh. I didn't connect with Briar/Rosalina either, with her ultimate desire in life to marry someone rich so she doesn't have to do anything with too much responsibility. I think it was meant to make her seem down to earth, but it just made her unlikeable.
There were some side-characters who redeemed things a bit, particularly the magic users Donaigh and Firra. It was also fun having Odette, Misha and Nadia come in at the end from The Swan Princess - I'm enjoying the books all joining up, as well as getting some more backstory for Angelique. But this one was pretty flat.
Oh, I liked the magic knights of Sole but the King was incredibly selfish not allowing them to help anyone else in danger because he was too frightened for his daughter. Realistically, it was a curse - WHAT DID HE EXPECT THEM TO DO? (I know this isn't realism :P).
Meh. Having a break before the next one (now I've got to book eight, I feel like I have to finish the series because it will just annoy me otherwise).
August 22, 2017
The Hero is a Zero
This book started out well. The heroine was smart and likeable. The hero seemed really noble. But it turned out the "hero" was really cowardly, stupid and selfish.
The heroine isn't worried about her sleeping curse because she knows who her true love is and tells him to hurry and wake her even before she falls asleep. He doesn't.
He stands there while she sleeps refusing to kiss her. He stands by while every noble male age 10 and up in the kingdom slobbers on her and paws at her trying to break the curse. He says he wants to protect her not trap her. Instead of her first kiss coming from the man she loves he lets strangers and even men who insulted and threatened her maul her in her sleep.
He stands there as the government and royals fight and the country falls apart because he refuses to kiss her. He watches as the Enchantress drains herself dry of magic putting the town to sleep and building a wall of thorns around it all because he won't kiss her. He wants her to have choices. What choice can she have in a coma? If everyone is asleep who is supposed to kiss her except the "hero" who refuses?
Then our brainless coward cuts a tunnel through the thorns which he cuts regularly to keep a pathway clear for visiting princes to try kissing her. Also of course to make an easy way for the evil mage to get in with only one man to guard 24 hours a day.
He watches while princes waste their time traveling from other countries to try to wake her. He watches while the entire town lose over a year of their lives for no reason other than he is too stupid, selfish and cowardly to stop all the trouble, waste and insanity by kissing her. He could even just kiss her hand.
He thinks he isn't worthy or fit to be her royal consort. He's right.
I have positively loved most of the characters and books of this series. This one fell very short because of the cowardly, selfish weirdly named Isaia. Sadly too much of this book is his angsty, emo ramblings.
This book started out well. The heroine was smart and likeable. The hero seemed really noble. But it turned out the "hero" was really cowardly, stupid and selfish.
The heroine isn't worried about her sleeping curse because she knows who her true love is and tells him to hurry and wake her even before she falls asleep. He doesn't.
He stands there while she sleeps refusing to kiss her. He stands by while every noble male age 10 and up in the kingdom slobbers on her and paws at her trying to break the curse. He says he wants to protect her not trap her. Instead of her first kiss coming from the man she loves he lets strangers and even men who insulted and threatened her maul her in her sleep.
He stands there as the government and royals fight and the country falls apart because he refuses to kiss her. He watches as the Enchantress drains herself dry of magic putting the town to sleep and building a wall of thorns around it all because he won't kiss her. He wants her to have choices. What choice can she have in a coma? If everyone is asleep who is supposed to kiss her except the "hero" who refuses?
Then our brainless coward cuts a tunnel through the thorns which he cuts regularly to keep a pathway clear for visiting princes to try kissing her. Also of course to make an easy way for the evil mage to get in with only one man to guard 24 hours a day.
He watches while princes waste their time traveling from other countries to try to wake her. He watches while the entire town lose over a year of their lives for no reason other than he is too stupid, selfish and cowardly to stop all the trouble, waste and insanity by kissing her. He could even just kiss her hand.
He thinks he isn't worthy or fit to be her royal consort. He's right.
I have positively loved most of the characters and books of this series. This one fell very short because of the cowardly, selfish weirdly named Isaia. Sadly too much of this book is his angsty, emo ramblings.
July 11, 2017
Updated Review after re-read: This re-read reminds me why I love this Sleeping Beauty re-telling so much. Briar is such an active heroine, which can sometimes be hard to find in a Sleeping Beauty story, and she's clever. Love this book SO much.
Original review:
I read this book in one day, including reading while eating and doing other tasks around the house because I couldn't put it down.
There's just something about a KM Shea book. Spunky characters, action, adventure, funny banter...I just can't get enough of it. They are rarely super deep or anything but sweet and funny, but I wouldn't change that about them because that is exactly why I love them.
This book is no exception. Actually, it is one of my favorites. Briar is a great heroine and Isaia is such a sweet and loyal hero with one major flaw that causes a major plot point.
Sleeping Beauty is a hard tale to retell, especially with a clever, active heroine. But this book pulls it off with a twist that kept me guessing (at yelling at the hero for part of the book).
Once again, I wasn't disappointed, and I can't wait for the next book in this series!
Original review:
I read this book in one day, including reading while eating and doing other tasks around the house because I couldn't put it down.
There's just something about a KM Shea book. Spunky characters, action, adventure, funny banter...I just can't get enough of it. They are rarely super deep or anything but sweet and funny, but I wouldn't change that about them because that is exactly why I love them.
This book is no exception. Actually, it is one of my favorites. Briar is a great heroine and Isaia is such a sweet and loyal hero with one major flaw that causes a major plot point.
Sleeping Beauty is a hard tale to retell, especially with a clever, active heroine. But this book pulls it off with a twist that kept me guessing (at yelling at the hero for part of the book).
Once again, I wasn't disappointed, and I can't wait for the next book in this series!
June 1, 2017
I liked this series at the beginning. I thought the stories were really well told and the fairy tale aspects top notch. I also really liked that all the stories happened on the same world with the kingdoms interacting with each other and with an overarching story arch. However I feel like the latest stories of the series were just not as good as the first few. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what's wrong with them but I just feel like the quality of the writing isn't there anymore.
I still like the romance (I'm a sucker for romance) but it feels so forced a lot of the time and I don't think I can continue with the series unfortunately. I also have this thing where I really hate it when characters are stupid just to advance the plot line. I couldn't believe how Isaia was acting.
I still like the romance (I'm a sucker for romance) but it feels so forced a lot of the time and I don't think I can continue with the series unfortunately. I also have this thing where I really hate it when characters are stupid just to advance the plot line. I couldn't believe how Isaia was acting.
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May 10, 2019In truth, this is a decent addition but my least favorite of the series. I'm struggling in how to rate this book. It had a unique and strong heroine. It had good female friendships. I think my problem was in some of the character development.
First of all, the king was inconsistent. I didn't find him credible in how he seemed to switch how he reacted to things. His character felt a little like a bait and switch. Perhaps it is because we are not in his viewpoint but from the outside he didn't make sense in his arc. Secondly, Isaia was a hard character to really get to know. His nature was to be very much in his own head and not to show anything outwardly. The degree of his refusal to get what was obvious to everyone else for the length of time made him less relatable. It was too extreme. We do get small snippets of what's going on inside his head but it wasn't enough. Characters like this are tricky. In the Snow Queen Series we get a similar character in Farrin. However, that series involved two books and a series of short stories so I believe he makes more sense in his actions and being able to relate to him. I think partly Isaia suffers from not having enough time in his perspective.
I think ultimately this book felt like the characters got away from the base story tale. This made it feel like the characters wanted to veer differently from how they should fit into the tale and then were shoehorned into their actions/decisions. It wasn't bad by any stretch, just compared to the other books in this series was not quite as strong for me.
Side note, the term "purity" is mentioned in regards to men kissing a princess while she is asleep and possibly diminishing her purity. That may have made sense for the setting since it seems to reflect our victorian era thinking but it drove me batty. I hate the term and that the princess would be considered less "pure" because while she was asleep strangers kissed her. It drove me up the wall. Luckily this was a once mentioned idea but i wish it had never been brought up with the way it relates to current ideas. After all, Elizabeth Smart almost didn't try to escape because of the way purity culture affected her self worth.
I still enjoyed it however. I'd give it a 3 or 3.5 rating. Maybe it's lower than I would normally rate this book if it was the only one I'd read by this author but knowing what she's capable of I give it that rating by comparison with the rest of the books in the series.
First of all, the king was inconsistent. I didn't find him credible in how he seemed to switch how he reacted to things. His character felt a little like a bait and switch. Perhaps it is because we are not in his viewpoint but from the outside he didn't make sense in his arc. Secondly, Isaia was a hard character to really get to know. His nature was to be very much in his own head and not to show anything outwardly. The degree of his refusal to get what was obvious to everyone else for the length of time made him less relatable. It was too extreme. We do get small snippets of what's going on inside his head but it wasn't enough. Characters like this are tricky. In the Snow Queen Series we get a similar character in Farrin. However, that series involved two books and a series of short stories so I believe he makes more sense in his actions and being able to relate to him. I think partly Isaia suffers from not having enough time in his perspective.
I think ultimately this book felt like the characters got away from the base story tale. This made it feel like the characters wanted to veer differently from how they should fit into the tale and then were shoehorned into their actions/decisions. It wasn't bad by any stretch, just compared to the other books in this series was not quite as strong for me.
Side note, the term "purity" is mentioned in regards to men kissing a princess while she is asleep and possibly diminishing her purity. That may have made sense for the setting since it seems to reflect our victorian era thinking but it drove me batty. I hate the term and that the princess would be considered less "pure" because while she was asleep strangers kissed her. It drove me up the wall. Luckily this was a once mentioned idea but i wish it had never been brought up with the way it relates to current ideas. After all, Elizabeth Smart almost didn't try to escape because of the way purity culture affected her self worth.
I still enjoyed it however. I'd give it a 3 or 3.5 rating. Maybe it's lower than I would normally rate this book if it was the only one I'd read by this author but knowing what she's capable of I give it that rating by comparison with the rest of the books in the series.
November 12, 2022
I'm incredibly good at starting series. I'm a little less talented when it comes to finishing series. Especially when I get attached to the stories, the characters and the writing style. However, with every book this series is getting more and more exciting. I love how we get to see more and more glimpses of the bigger plot and I'm really excited about starting the next book in the series, knowing that from then on the books will really build on each other.
Sleeping Beauty is one of the most famous fairytales, but it's also one of the hardest to retell. Mostly because the heroine in the story spends so much time asleep. The author did a great job however retelling the tale and keeping the backbone of it, while also making sure that Briar Rose is still very much the heroine in her own fairytale. I don't want to give too many spoilers, but it's clear all the gifts she gets at her christening are well used.
However, her true love was a little more frustrating. Two chapters long I could almost throttle him! How stupidly stubborn can you be? How frustratingly idiotic can you be? I was incredibly happy that our heroine was sharing my sentiment and was really angry with him about it too. However, I have to admit that seeing everyone's reaction to what happened might have proved why he was so hesitant and doubted himself so much.
It was the ending though that really blew me away and mostly because of all the emotions, feelings and love our heroine eventually got from her family. Yes, this kingdom might have been a little old fashioned at times and they might not have been prepared for this kind of princess, my favorite kind, but I really loved how the explanations in the end really changed how I viewed some characters. Just like I loved how our princess kept on forcing change, if the kingdom was ready or not.
Sleeping Beauty is one of the most famous fairytales, but it's also one of the hardest to retell. Mostly because the heroine in the story spends so much time asleep. The author did a great job however retelling the tale and keeping the backbone of it, while also making sure that Briar Rose is still very much the heroine in her own fairytale. I don't want to give too many spoilers, but it's clear all the gifts she gets at her christening are well used.
However, her true love was a little more frustrating. Two chapters long I could almost throttle him! How stupidly stubborn can you be? How frustratingly idiotic can you be? I was incredibly happy that our heroine was sharing my sentiment and was really angry with him about it too. However, I have to admit that seeing everyone's reaction to what happened might have proved why he was so hesitant and doubted himself so much.
It was the ending though that really blew me away and mostly because of all the emotions, feelings and love our heroine eventually got from her family. Yes, this kingdom might have been a little old fashioned at times and they might not have been prepared for this kind of princess, my favorite kind, but I really loved how the explanations in the end really changed how I viewed some characters. Just like I loved how our princess kept on forcing change, if the kingdom was ready or not.
May 14, 2021
3.5 stars
Find all my reviews: https://jaynikkibelthoughts.wordpress...
Briar Rose grew up in a small village. She had her best friend Isaia and she was in search of an easy and carefree life. That is until she finds out she is the cursed princess and Isaia is really a Magic Knight of Sole. She is then whisked away to the palace to wait until her curse hits or if she can find her true love.
I didn’t like Briar at first. She seemed a bit annoying. But about halfway through I started liking her. I am not a fan of Isaia. I mean he was written great but compared to the other heroes in this series he just falls flat. Maybe it’s just me.
So far this is my least favorite of the series and it is based on my second favorite fairy tale. I am a little sadden by the thought. But on to the next in the series which is The Frog Prince which I am in love with Disney’s reimagine of the classic story.
Find all my reviews: https://jaynikkibelthoughts.wordpress...
Briar Rose grew up in a small village. She had her best friend Isaia and she was in search of an easy and carefree life. That is until she finds out she is the cursed princess and Isaia is really a Magic Knight of Sole. She is then whisked away to the palace to wait until her curse hits or if she can find her true love.
I didn’t like Briar at first. She seemed a bit annoying. But about halfway through I started liking her. I am not a fan of Isaia. I mean he was written great but compared to the other heroes in this series he just falls flat. Maybe it’s just me.
So far this is my least favorite of the series and it is based on my second favorite fairy tale. I am a little sadden by the thought. But on to the next in the series which is The Frog Prince which I am in love with Disney’s reimagine of the classic story.
March 28, 2024
loved this one!
This was an intriguing take on the classic sleeping beauty fairytale, and I gotta say I loved it and couldn’t seem to put it down. The characters were so well done, and you couldn’t help but root for Briar/Princess Rosalinda. She is smart and clever, with a snarky sense of humor and loads of courage to do what was right, even when no one else believed her. The storyline was so unique and I never quite knew what would happen next. The romance was a sweet slow burn, and I just loved it all!
This was an intriguing take on the classic sleeping beauty fairytale, and I gotta say I loved it and couldn’t seem to put it down. The characters were so well done, and you couldn’t help but root for Briar/Princess Rosalinda. She is smart and clever, with a snarky sense of humor and loads of courage to do what was right, even when no one else believed her. The storyline was so unique and I never quite knew what would happen next. The romance was a sweet slow burn, and I just loved it all!
November 17, 2017
i wish i hadn't discovered this series until it was finished, i have basically forgotten all the other books and the point of this whole world.. what is even going on? no idea, but i like the little retellings, and even though they are all pretty similar and follow the same formula, i enjoy them and will continue to read them.
May 16, 2019
Fantastic!
I love reading these stories, they are favorites re-told with such an adventurous spin! I look forward to the next adventure!
I love reading these stories, they are favorites re-told with such an adventurous spin! I look forward to the next adventure!
January 1, 2020
This was a charming take on Sleeping Beauty. Although it took me a few chapters to get into it, once I did I really enjoyed myself.
I loved Briar Rose and her journey. She was a kind, caring, intelligent character who desires to be true to herself but must reconcile who she really is with the princess she’s expected to be. I enjoyed her time at the palace learning how to be a proper princess and watching her experience this journey—of both growing into her princess role while remaining true to who she is rather than fitting a mold of what others expect her to be. This really resonated with me. As someone who's a bit atypical and who's been told by many well-meaning people to change myself in order to fit the ‘norm’, I really related to the struggle and difficulties Briar faced. She not only learned to embrace who she is, but she used her strengths in order to stand up for what’s right, regardless of the pressures around her, as well as taking her fate into her hands in order to do her best to help those she loved.
The hero, the Magic Knight Isaia, was adorable, but I tend to favor male leads who are quiet and serious but who possess hearts of gold. Isaia was so honorable and noble, a true friend to Briar who possessed a quiet devotion and loyalty. His flaw of not seeing his worth perfectly paralleled Briar’s journey of learning to be true to herself. I did get slightly annoyed how long it took him to kiss Briar after she’d fallen asleep, but it didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would based on the reviews that had warned me about this plot development. Perhaps it was because I greatly sympathized with Isaia’s feelings of not being worthy of the woman he loved, or perhaps it was because his delay allowed Briar to be asleep for a year like the original length. Regardless, the experience was a step in overcoming his feelings of being unworthy in order to grow. He and Briar made an adorable couple.
I really liked most of the secondary characters—the lady-in-waiting Delanna, as well as Briar’s parents, especially her father (although I wish they’d valued Briar’s uniqueness more and stood up for her). I really disliked the two mages, Firra and Donaigh, and actually found them and their banter annoying. (This seems to be a trend for me with K.M. Shea’s secondary characters.) I wasn’t too fond of the king for awhile, but luckily he redeemed himself.
As for the plot, I found most of it engaging—from Briar learning about her true identity and doing her best to become a princess, to the new relationships she makes with her family and friends, to her sweet romance with Isaia. Everything unfolded at a gentle, dreamlike pace. I disliked the parts with the evil mage and hated the battle at the end, but the adorable romantic confessions afterward made it all worth it.
Overall, Sleeping Beauty was a sweet, charming take on the fairy tale, one I enjoyed much more than I initially expected.
I loved Briar Rose and her journey. She was a kind, caring, intelligent character who desires to be true to herself but must reconcile who she really is with the princess she’s expected to be. I enjoyed her time at the palace learning how to be a proper princess and watching her experience this journey—of both growing into her princess role while remaining true to who she is rather than fitting a mold of what others expect her to be. This really resonated with me. As someone who's a bit atypical and who's been told by many well-meaning people to change myself in order to fit the ‘norm’, I really related to the struggle and difficulties Briar faced. She not only learned to embrace who she is, but she used her strengths in order to stand up for what’s right, regardless of the pressures around her, as well as taking her fate into her hands in order to do her best to help those she loved.
The hero, the Magic Knight Isaia, was adorable, but I tend to favor male leads who are quiet and serious but who possess hearts of gold. Isaia was so honorable and noble, a true friend to Briar who possessed a quiet devotion and loyalty. His flaw of not seeing his worth perfectly paralleled Briar’s journey of learning to be true to herself. I did get slightly annoyed how long it took him to kiss Briar after she’d fallen asleep, but it didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would based on the reviews that had warned me about this plot development. Perhaps it was because I greatly sympathized with Isaia’s feelings of not being worthy of the woman he loved, or perhaps it was because his delay allowed Briar to be asleep for a year like the original length. Regardless, the experience was a step in overcoming his feelings of being unworthy in order to grow. He and Briar made an adorable couple.
I really liked most of the secondary characters—the lady-in-waiting Delanna, as well as Briar’s parents, especially her father (although I wish they’d valued Briar’s uniqueness more and stood up for her). I really disliked the two mages, Firra and Donaigh, and actually found them and their banter annoying. (This seems to be a trend for me with K.M. Shea’s secondary characters.) I wasn’t too fond of the king for awhile, but luckily he redeemed himself.
As for the plot, I found most of it engaging—from Briar learning about her true identity and doing her best to become a princess, to the new relationships she makes with her family and friends, to her sweet romance with Isaia. Everything unfolded at a gentle, dreamlike pace. I disliked the parts with the evil mage and hated the battle at the end, but the adorable romantic confessions afterward made it all worth it.
Overall, Sleeping Beauty was a sweet, charming take on the fairy tale, one I enjoyed much more than I initially expected.
April 6, 2018
I honestly struggled with the rating on this one because while I really liked the concept and the story, there were two pretty important characters who drove me COMPLETELY crazy.
Isaia's false humility grated on my nerves at every moment, his constant refrain of "I'm just not good enough for her" blah blah blah when he was actually just being completely selfish and unwilling to put himself out there. He kept acting like it was all for Briar's sake, but it was actually all about him and his feelings, and I just kind of couldn't stand him for most of the book. HOWEVER he did somewhat redeem himself in the end when he actually admitted that he was a selfish jerk pretending to be selfless and heroic, so at least he recognized his faults and I could work with him going forward.
But Briar's grandpa was just absolutely obnoxious, and his explanation for his behavior at the end DID NOT CUT IT for me, like no, what you're saying makes no sense and you're actually just a selfish old stuffed frog.
Even Briar, who I mostly liked, still frequently took actions that made no sense to me. For instance, she repeatedly is saddened or hurt when people call her Rosalinda but... never says to her mom, "Hey, I would really prefer it if you would call me Briar Rose, because that would make me feel much more welcome and at home" or anything along those lines?? Like no, instead she just keeps being so noble and bearing the burden of people calling her by her formal name. There were multiple things like that, where she views herself as being incredibly strong for standing up under persecution or whatever, when she actually was just very bad at communicating her feelings.
All that ranting... why does this still get 3* for me? Because despite characters who really annoyed me a lot of the time, I still liked the story. I liked the interpretation of the story, and when Briar wasn't bemoaning how horrible it was that people expected her to be polite, she was a great character. This is definitely towards the bottom of the list of books in this series for me, but it was still a fun and engaging read, even when I wanted to wring Isaia's little self-righteous neck. Still recommended, although perhaps not the best place to start in this series.
Isaia's false humility grated on my nerves at every moment, his constant refrain of "I'm just not good enough for her" blah blah blah when he was actually just being completely selfish and unwilling to put himself out there. He kept acting like it was all for Briar's sake, but it was actually all about him and his feelings, and I just kind of couldn't stand him for most of the book. HOWEVER he did somewhat redeem himself in the end when he actually admitted that he was a selfish jerk pretending to be selfless and heroic, so at least he recognized his faults and I could work with him going forward.
But Briar's grandpa was just absolutely obnoxious, and his explanation for his behavior at the end DID NOT CUT IT for me, like no, what you're saying makes no sense and you're actually just a selfish old stuffed frog.
Even Briar, who I mostly liked, still frequently took actions that made no sense to me. For instance, she repeatedly is saddened or hurt when people call her Rosalinda but... never says to her mom, "Hey, I would really prefer it if you would call me Briar Rose, because that would make me feel much more welcome and at home" or anything along those lines?? Like no, instead she just keeps being so noble and bearing the burden of people calling her by her formal name. There were multiple things like that, where she views herself as being incredibly strong for standing up under persecution or whatever, when she actually was just very bad at communicating her feelings.
All that ranting... why does this still get 3* for me? Because despite characters who really annoyed me a lot of the time, I still liked the story. I liked the interpretation of the story, and when Briar wasn't bemoaning how horrible it was that people expected her to be polite, she was a great character. This is definitely towards the bottom of the list of books in this series for me, but it was still a fun and engaging read, even when I wanted to wring Isaia's little self-righteous neck. Still recommended, although perhaps not the best place to start in this series.
December 29, 2016
This write is amazing at fairytale re-tellings and this book was no exception. It was a sweet story from beginning to end and I really liked how it played out. Also glad it was offered as a kindleunlimited. Can't wait to read other in this series.
June 1, 2021
I liked this one more than the previous one. I seem to like friends to lovers/fears of unrequited love stories, so that’s part of it. Also Briar is largely responsible for herself-she’s not leading a group like Odette was. I lead a group at work. We all have the same, or similar goals. By and large I believe I am liked by all of my people. They do not all agree-on anything-nor do they sit and wait for me to proclaim things and then meekly carry them out. They are always individually pushing at me for this or that, and talking amongst themselves about what could be different or better. Anything done or given leads to appreciation, usually followed quickly by pushes for more. I think this lack of depth and conflict and diversity(not in the race/sexual orientation sense, though that’s missing too) of opinion inherently part of any functioning group of people that bothered me in Swan Lake...I should move this to that review, but am too lazy to do it now) and the contrast here isn’t that the writing is so much better, but that Briar acts independently most of the time and isn’t heading up a big group.
Even in this book though, Briar gets four Ladies in Waiting who apparently just all decide they like her and one another and we’re just waiting for her to show up so they can follow her meekly around? Three of them don’t get names because they aren’t distinguished enough as characters for Briar herself to remember their actual names.
Guiseppe’s a good king, then a bad king who’s going to ruin the country-this didn’t make a lot of sense in the Angelique book, but I thought it would’ve better explained here and it really wasn’t...I got the final conflict after Briar was awake, but not really why Alesia was so concerned so quickly when Briar was asleep...and if concerned for the country then, than why not later?
Anyway, I like these books for the escapism, the romance, the familiarity of the tales. I don’t expect a lot of them. I think Shea did well with Briar and Isaia’s relationship and I enjoyed learning about the Magic Knights and legendary weapons. I also think she did well with a fairytale in which the lead character is asleep for much of the time. That is difficult to write. If your main character is asleep they are not driving the plot forward.
Even in this book though, Briar gets four Ladies in Waiting who apparently just all decide they like her and one another and we’re just waiting for her to show up so they can follow her meekly around? Three of them don’t get names because they aren’t distinguished enough as characters for Briar herself to remember their actual names.
Guiseppe’s a good king, then a bad king who’s going to ruin the country-this didn’t make a lot of sense in the Angelique book, but I thought it would’ve better explained here and it really wasn’t...I got the final conflict after Briar was awake, but not really why Alesia was so concerned so quickly when Briar was asleep...and if concerned for the country then, than why not later?
Anyway, I like these books for the escapism, the romance, the familiarity of the tales. I don’t expect a lot of them. I think Shea did well with Briar and Isaia’s relationship and I enjoyed learning about the Magic Knights and legendary weapons. I also think she did well with a fairytale in which the lead character is asleep for much of the time. That is difficult to write. If your main character is asleep they are not driving the plot forward.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2025
The birth of Princess Rosalinda was not an easy one and the Veneno Conclave allowed for a large number of magical gifts to be bestowed on her. The christening ceremony started out well enough, if not a little uneventful, until Carabosso cursed her. The magic users were not able to lift the curse but were at least able to alter it so the princess wouldn't die when stuck by a spinning needle on her 18th birthday but would slumber and awaken with true loves kiss. Growing up Princess Rosalinda had multiple scares at the hand of Carabosso, it was decided she would be raised away from the palace and away from those who could do her harm. Now under the name Briar Rose, she grows up unknowingly under the care of the Magic Knights. With her 18th birthday this year, she is trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life. The person she wants to be with, her best friend Isaia, doesn't seem to see her in a romantic way and her foster mother doesn't seem to be giving her much in direction either. After being attacked by hellhounds, the secrets that the Magic Knights kept from her come to light. Now thrust into palace life, she struggles with the person she is, the person that she is expected to be, and the curse that looms over her head.
This is a brash, outspoken princess who has experienced the struggles of the average citizen. These experiences clash with the ideals that royalty and nobility is above and better than the citizens. The final arc of the story highlights the disconnect and proves why the dark mages are so effective in their crimes over the series. I liked how Rose respected Isaia's refusal of her romantic interests and kept him as a friend instead of trying to constantly win him over. That being said Isaia is an idiot but I can understand his concerns, selfishness, and cowardness. It just made me want to throw something at him. This was a well done retelling that gave it a fresh perspective.
This is a brash, outspoken princess who has experienced the struggles of the average citizen. These experiences clash with the ideals that royalty and nobility is above and better than the citizens. The final arc of the story highlights the disconnect and proves why the dark mages are so effective in their crimes over the series. I liked how Rose respected Isaia's refusal of her romantic interests and kept him as a friend instead of trying to constantly win him over. That being said Isaia is an idiot but I can understand his concerns, selfishness, and cowardness. It just made me want to throw something at him. This was a well done retelling that gave it a fresh perspective.
May 23, 2021
i think out of all timeless fairy tales series, this book is the most frustrating one and my least favorite one. mainly because Isaia was the most idiot, stupidest male character i've ever read. when he refused to kiss Briar to wake her up was only dragging the story a bit longer-.- very annoying and a waste of time to read.
this book got a lot of frustratingly shallow characters, like the king, Briar's parents, Isaia, the magic knights and even at one point, Briar too! I'm so glad when Briar, while there was nothing so special about her except her 'fiery' spirit, finally realized she didn't have to be the person everyone told her to be. Personally, i think Delanna was a more interesting female character because at least, there was something special about her that's apparent, which was her skill in archery (I LOOOOOOVEEEEEEE archery so it might cloud my judgment, but this is my review, my rules).
but there was also lots of characters that balance up the annoying ones like Firra, Donaigh, and Briar's ladies in waiting, they're the one who spiced things up in this book and made it more interesting. i think K.M. Shea need to give them more respect, she didn't even give us the ladies' names while they also played an important role in this book too! RUDE!
i think the plot could be better if they simplify some things (like maybe Isaia could kiss Briar faster?!) instead of pointlessly drag things longer. to be honest, it was rather a minus point for this book.
that bad things aside, i still enjoy this book, it was still fun and I can't wait to read the bigger picture and find out who is the 'mastermind' behind this darkness that caused such upheaval in the continent.
this book got a lot of frustratingly shallow characters, like the king, Briar's parents, Isaia, the magic knights and even at one point, Briar too! I'm so glad when Briar, while there was nothing so special about her except her 'fiery' spirit, finally realized she didn't have to be the person everyone told her to be. Personally, i think Delanna was a more interesting female character because at least, there was something special about her that's apparent, which was her skill in archery (I LOOOOOOVEEEEEEE archery so it might cloud my judgment, but this is my review, my rules).
but there was also lots of characters that balance up the annoying ones like Firra, Donaigh, and Briar's ladies in waiting, they're the one who spiced things up in this book and made it more interesting. i think K.M. Shea need to give them more respect, she didn't even give us the ladies' names while they also played an important role in this book too! RUDE!
i think the plot could be better if they simplify some things (like maybe Isaia could kiss Briar faster?!) instead of pointlessly drag things longer. to be honest, it was rather a minus point for this book.
that bad things aside, i still enjoy this book, it was still fun and I can't wait to read the bigger picture and find out who is the 'mastermind' behind this darkness that caused such upheaval in the continent.
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