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The Rose Gate
Alternate cover edition of ASIN B07RJTFXRJ
Once upon a time, a girl from our world found a gate to the Faerie realm...
Once upon a time, a girl from our world found a gate to the Faerie realm...
All Isobel wants is a quiet place to read, but apparently that's too much to ask. She only needs to make it through one last summer with her broken family before she can leave for university and get on with her life. At least she has her books and the solitude of the woods.
But there are wolves in these woods.
Caught out in the forest after dark, Isobel is pursued by a disturbingly intelligent pack of wolves. When the grizzly bear who rescues her turns out to be a cursed fae prince, she realizes her life isn’t the only thing in danger. She could lose her heart.
Trapped by the wolves at the prince’s home in Faerie, Isobel tries to unravel the mystery behind the surly prince’s scars. Because time is running out for the castle’s inhabitants, and if Isobel can’t find a way to break the spell and save the prince from the Unseelie Queen, she may lose everything she’s come to love.
If you love magic, adventure, and a clean romance, try The Rose Gate. This is a stand-alone story that kicks off the Faerie Tale Romances series
** The e-book edition does not include the illustrations done for the paperback edition**
283 pages, ebook
First published June 20, 2019
265 people are currently reading
3739 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 274 reviews
June 29, 2019
Well I certainly enjoyed this! I hear other girls talk about fun and fluffy reads, but I normally can't find too many that suit me. This one did.
The story opens with our heroine's snarky humor and practical worldview, immediately letting you know that this girl has some sense and sass in her head. Unlike most fairy-tales I read, this one begins in a contemporary setting. I knew about this beforehand, so I wasn't thrown off as I otherwise might have been. Instead, I enjoyed the fresh, relatable flavor. Bel isn't trying to be "not like other girls--" she just feels exactly like a girl you know.
This deftly took some of the problems with The Beauty and the Beast tale and chucks them out the window. Beast forces dad to give him his daughter? Nope! Beast traps girl in castle against her will until she falls in love with him? Nope! No Stockholm Syndrome to be seen here!
I adored the castle staff, the prince was a nice fellow, the humor was wonderful, and the hints of future characters ahead had me wiggling with glee (Yes, High Prince of the Seelie Court, I'm talking about YOU--gimme your book.)
The visuals in this book are truly delightful! The descriptions of setting, food, dress...
...not to mention the illustrations and beautiful formatting! I am so excited this author did her own cover, map, and illustrations. She is seriously talented and makes this a book you have to own in person.
Content Review:
Violence: A few mentions of blood and death, nothing descriptive.
Sexual: A few mildly described kisses in the latter portion of the story. An evil queen desires to possess handsome young men. A (hilarious) scene with a girl in awe of a well-muscled shirtless man.
Language: A few uses of cr-p.
Spiritual: A few mentions of church and praying to God, though this wasn't as explored as I'd hoped it might be.
Magic: Basic faerie magic and curses. The girl looks at books in her own library about witchcraft in an attempt to figure out how to break the faerie curse.
Other: A rebellious sister is engaged in underage drinking and heading off to parties.
Overall, this was a read that made me laugh a lot and feel good and I'm eagerly looking forward to the next story (cause there's this copper-haired, freckled Seelie Prince of Sass that I want to know more about, you see....)
The story opens with our heroine's snarky humor and practical worldview, immediately letting you know that this girl has some sense and sass in her head. Unlike most fairy-tales I read, this one begins in a contemporary setting. I knew about this beforehand, so I wasn't thrown off as I otherwise might have been. Instead, I enjoyed the fresh, relatable flavor. Bel isn't trying to be "not like other girls--" she just feels exactly like a girl you know.
This deftly took some of the problems with The Beauty and the Beast tale and chucks them out the window. Beast forces dad to give him his daughter? Nope! Beast traps girl in castle against her will until she falls in love with him? Nope! No Stockholm Syndrome to be seen here!
I adored the castle staff, the prince was a nice fellow, the humor was wonderful, and the hints of future characters ahead had me wiggling with glee (Yes, High Prince of the Seelie Court, I'm talking about YOU--gimme your book.)
The visuals in this book are truly delightful! The descriptions of setting, food, dress...
...not to mention the illustrations and beautiful formatting! I am so excited this author did her own cover, map, and illustrations. She is seriously talented and makes this a book you have to own in person.
Content Review:
Violence: A few mentions of blood and death, nothing descriptive.
Sexual: A few mildly described kisses in the latter portion of the story. An evil queen desires to possess handsome young men. A (hilarious) scene with a girl in awe of a well-muscled shirtless man.
Language: A few uses of cr-p.
Spiritual: A few mentions of church and praying to God, though this wasn't as explored as I'd hoped it might be.
Magic: Basic faerie magic and curses. The girl looks at books in her own library about witchcraft in an attempt to figure out how to break the faerie curse.
Other: A rebellious sister is engaged in underage drinking and heading off to parties.
Overall, this was a read that made me laugh a lot and feel good and I'm eagerly looking forward to the next story (cause there's this copper-haired, freckled Seelie Prince of Sass that I want to know more about, you see....)
June 19, 2019
Actual: 4.5/5 - I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I will willingly devour all things Beauty and the Beast so when I started learning more about The Rose Gate I was sold - hook, line, and sinker. xD And this book did not disappoint! (Plus, it made me SO hungry, lol!)
Hanna takes the classic fairy tale we know and turns it sideways, giving us a contemporary look at a story that's usually quite heavy. She polished the romance into a sweet slow-burn, and I really felt like the characters lived up to their "original" counterparts . . . while still managing to breathe fresh and unique life into their stories. Even when I thought I knew what was going to happen, she managed to flip it around so that it felt new.
And the cameos of other known characters was adorable. ;)
I did dock half a star, only because there were some small pacing/POV things that pulled me out here and there. But the story was so good I didn't even think it was worthy of a whole star deduction. Seriously, I zipped through this book. :3
______________
TL;DR - Hanna's light, sweet take on the familiar classic will leave Beauty and the Beast fans absolutely satisfied. I look forward to more from this talented debut author! <3
I will willingly devour all things Beauty and the Beast so when I started learning more about The Rose Gate I was sold - hook, line, and sinker. xD And this book did not disappoint! (Plus, it made me SO hungry, lol!)
Hanna takes the classic fairy tale we know and turns it sideways, giving us a contemporary look at a story that's usually quite heavy. She polished the romance into a sweet slow-burn, and I really felt like the characters lived up to their "original" counterparts . . . while still managing to breathe fresh and unique life into their stories. Even when I thought I knew what was going to happen, she managed to flip it around so that it felt new.
And the cameos of other known characters was adorable. ;)
I did dock half a star, only because there were some small pacing/POV things that pulled me out here and there. But the story was so good I didn't even think it was worthy of a whole star deduction. Seriously, I zipped through this book. :3
______________
TL;DR - Hanna's light, sweet take on the familiar classic will leave Beauty and the Beast fans absolutely satisfied. I look forward to more from this talented debut author! <3
August 21, 2024
A fun and sassy Beauty and the Beast retelling with a contemporary twist.
Isobel is a very practical young woman from a broken family, who's eager to leave for university and get on with her life as soon as the summer holidays are over. The days spent at the library reading fairy tales out loud to little kids are practically the only thing she has going in the small little town her family moved into. That, as well as her books and the solitude of the woods.
Not that I would love her type of storytelling, if I may be honest here, because her tales are the very practical kind.
"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess. ... She was also resourceful, creative and very good at math."
And she expects the prince and princess to get married ONLY AFTER they got to know each other properly and she went to university for at least four years to complete a bachelor's.
Tales aside however, our practical Isobel is real fun to be around. She loves going for walks in the woods and finding sunny rocks to read on, like a lizard, and she's perfectly content with being a healthy happy hermit.
Until the day she's caught out in the forest after dark and pursued by a disturbingly intelligent pack of wolves, only to be rescued by a grumpy grizzly bear and find herself waking up in a fairytale like castle with a big beast of a man hovering over her.
With half his face sliced with old scars from top to bottom, the left eye fully gone and a mane of tangled hair full of twigs and dirt, he was quite a shocking sight. But it was the talking racoon berating him that made our Isobel completely loose it, in such a way that her shrieking startled even the beastly man.
And that is how Isobel's very own practical contemporary tale begins. With a castle full of talking animals and a grumpy bear man who turns out to be a cursed fae prince.
Trapped by the wolves at the prince’s home in Faerie, Isobel tries to unravel the mystery behind the surly prince’s scars. Because time is running out for the castle’s inhabitants, and the prince's plans are downright terrible. He obviously need a better one and Isobel is determined to find it.
She'll find a way to break the spell and save the prince from the Unseelie Queen, not only because she's grown to love the furry little inhabitants of the castle, but because loosing her grumpy bear is an absolutely unacceptable option.
Sweet, fun and sassy, light and fluffy, this beauty and the beast retelling is one you won't be able to set down. It captures the heart of the original tale and gives it an original contemporary spin that is bound to take any reader by surprise.
Beautiful wordbuilding and a narrative that's a pleasure to read, a slow-burn romance as sweet as it gets, snarky retorts, fun-filled moments and downright adorable characters -this tale has it all.
If a racoon bustling won't make your lips quirk up in a smile, the interactions between our Bel and her bear are bound to do the trick.
"Where are you going?!" he bellowed. "Sit down!"
I bristled at his tone. "No."
"We're having a nice dinner. I shaved!"
"And your cheekbones are fantastic. Have a lovely evening!" - she retorts while snagging an extra pastry from the table and rushing out of the room. :D
A scarred fae prince -half his face the ruin he believed himself to be and a sassy beauty determined to save her sorrowful grizzly bear by breaking the curse he's under. Because she knows he needs her more than he'd ever admit it. Family, friendship, love and a lot of sass, all of it and more in a light and fluffy read for the heart.
I absolutely adored it and highly recommend it to all fairy tale fans out there.
"Stories change a little every time they're told. They can't help it."
This one here is MAGICAL!
Happy reading everyone
and always remember:
'It's never too late to decide who you want to be.'
Find this review and more on my book review and cover art blog The Magic Book Corner
Isobel is a very practical young woman from a broken family, who's eager to leave for university and get on with her life as soon as the summer holidays are over. The days spent at the library reading fairy tales out loud to little kids are practically the only thing she has going in the small little town her family moved into. That, as well as her books and the solitude of the woods.
Not that I would love her type of storytelling, if I may be honest here, because her tales are the very practical kind.
"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess. ... She was also resourceful, creative and very good at math."
And she expects the prince and princess to get married ONLY AFTER they got to know each other properly and she went to university for at least four years to complete a bachelor's.
Tales aside however, our practical Isobel is real fun to be around. She loves going for walks in the woods and finding sunny rocks to read on, like a lizard, and she's perfectly content with being a healthy happy hermit.
Until the day she's caught out in the forest after dark and pursued by a disturbingly intelligent pack of wolves, only to be rescued by a grumpy grizzly bear and find herself waking up in a fairytale like castle with a big beast of a man hovering over her.
With half his face sliced with old scars from top to bottom, the left eye fully gone and a mane of tangled hair full of twigs and dirt, he was quite a shocking sight. But it was the talking racoon berating him that made our Isobel completely loose it, in such a way that her shrieking startled even the beastly man.
And that is how Isobel's very own practical contemporary tale begins. With a castle full of talking animals and a grumpy bear man who turns out to be a cursed fae prince.
Trapped by the wolves at the prince’s home in Faerie, Isobel tries to unravel the mystery behind the surly prince’s scars. Because time is running out for the castle’s inhabitants, and the prince's plans are downright terrible. He obviously need a better one and Isobel is determined to find it.
She'll find a way to break the spell and save the prince from the Unseelie Queen, not only because she's grown to love the furry little inhabitants of the castle, but because loosing her grumpy bear is an absolutely unacceptable option.
Sweet, fun and sassy, light and fluffy, this beauty and the beast retelling is one you won't be able to set down. It captures the heart of the original tale and gives it an original contemporary spin that is bound to take any reader by surprise.
Beautiful wordbuilding and a narrative that's a pleasure to read, a slow-burn romance as sweet as it gets, snarky retorts, fun-filled moments and downright adorable characters -this tale has it all.
If a racoon bustling won't make your lips quirk up in a smile, the interactions between our Bel and her bear are bound to do the trick.
"Where are you going?!" he bellowed. "Sit down!"
I bristled at his tone. "No."
"We're having a nice dinner. I shaved!"
"And your cheekbones are fantastic. Have a lovely evening!" - she retorts while snagging an extra pastry from the table and rushing out of the room. :D
A scarred fae prince -half his face the ruin he believed himself to be and a sassy beauty determined to save her sorrowful grizzly bear by breaking the curse he's under. Because she knows he needs her more than he'd ever admit it. Family, friendship, love and a lot of sass, all of it and more in a light and fluffy read for the heart.
I absolutely adored it and highly recommend it to all fairy tale fans out there.
"Stories change a little every time they're told. They can't help it."
This one here is MAGICAL!
Happy reading everyone
and always remember:
'It's never too late to decide who you want to be.'
Find this review and more on my book review and cover art blog The Magic Book Corner
April 7, 2022
''Trust me, you are not someone to leave.''
If you are searching for a quick , original and warm/cozy read, then this might be right up your alley! I picked it up knowing I wasn't going to adore it. Don't get me wrong, I liked it but it wasn't mind-blowing or incredible that I would fangirl about. Even so, the story captivated my atention and made me feel all cozy, which says a lot. Any book that makes you feel that deserves a mention.
Anyway, my favorite aspect of the book were the enchanted, talking animals- all the Narnia vibes! I loved we had a sweet motherly otter (Instead of Mrs. Potts) and so many other kind and unique animals.
The MC was nice and I found her interesting (except some scenes were she exasperated me eek). Also, the ''Beast'' was one of my fav characters but I feel the author could have helped us to know him better - he still had a lot of potential for further development.
This story revolves a disfunctional human family of three sisters and a drunken/neglectful father.I wouldn't consider the scenes with him descriptive but I just wanted to mention that.
There is also the mention of one of the sisters casualy drinking (she's underage but it's only mentioned in like two sentences). Also the kisses are non descriptive. There is mention of the MC praying and about having a pastor.
Overall, a nice cozy read inspired by Irish folklore that is perfect as a autumn or winter read. Loved the elf and fairy aspect to it combinad with portals and magic mirrors :)
If you are searching for a quick , original and warm/cozy read, then this might be right up your alley! I picked it up knowing I wasn't going to adore it. Don't get me wrong, I liked it but it wasn't mind-blowing or incredible that I would fangirl about. Even so, the story captivated my atention and made me feel all cozy, which says a lot. Any book that makes you feel that deserves a mention.
Anyway, my favorite aspect of the book were the enchanted, talking animals- all the Narnia vibes! I loved we had a sweet motherly otter (Instead of Mrs. Potts) and so many other kind and unique animals.
The MC was nice and I found her interesting (except some scenes were she exasperated me eek). Also, the ''Beast'' was one of my fav characters but I feel the author could have helped us to know him better - he still had a lot of potential for further development.
This story revolves a disfunctional human family of three sisters and a drunken/neglectful father.I wouldn't consider the scenes with him descriptive but I just wanted to mention that.
There is also the mention of one of the sisters casualy drinking (she's underage but it's only mentioned in like two sentences). Also the kisses are non descriptive. There is mention of the MC praying and about having a pastor.
Overall, a nice cozy read inspired by Irish folklore that is perfect as a autumn or winter read. Loved the elf and fairy aspect to it combinad with portals and magic mirrors :)
June 19, 2019
*4.5 stars! So I adored this book. It’s definitely a Beauty & the Beast retelling, but I was pleasantly surprised at the fresh take on it! Since I hardly ever read contemporary, the beginning was a bit slow for me (who normally reads action-packed stuff). Don’t get me wrong though, there’s action! When I hit the middle of the book, I was glued to my seat. The tale transformed into something unique and I had to know what happened next!
This retelling is sweet and cute and heart-warming. If you’re looking for a light contemporary fantasy read, this book is for you!
This retelling is sweet and cute and heart-warming. If you’re looking for a light contemporary fantasy read, this book is for you!
May 20, 2025
This was super cute and cozy, and I loved all the illustrations in the deluxe kickstarter edition. Can't wait to read the rest of the series!
June 15, 2019
I was sent an e-ARC of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
A lot has been written when it comes to Beauty and the Beast retellings, but The Rose Gate definitely adds a new, original twist to a tale that by now everyone knows by heart.
The beginning of the story reads very much like a contemporary: our Beauty, Isobel, is an 18 year old girl working at a preschool. She has recently moved to a new small town in Canada and she has many family dramas: an indebted father, an absentee mother, a rebellious younger sister. Her two means of escape are books and hiking in the woods close to her home.
Not being a lover of contemporary books, this part was the hardest for me to get into, but luckily the beautiful writing and Isobel’s charming personality were enough to keep me reading.
I enjoyed the story much more once magic entered the pages. Some elements echo the original tale: Isobel is saved by wolves from the Beast, and she is taken to his castle where she befriends the cursed household and falls in love. Tradition, however, mingles with innovation. For starters, Isobel is not kept at the castle against her will, which better suits the tone and the building of the relationships in the story. The Beast’s castle is in a faerie kingdom, with many elements of faerie folklore mentioned, such as Seelie and Unseelie courts and a carefully constructed world-building that is at once simple but rich. The curse itself pitches into the mundane: the household shifts into talking animals that recall the Canadian setting of the story (otters, raccoons, wolves, foxes) and the Prince shifts into a bear rather than a terrifying horned beast when he is not in the confines of his kingdom.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters had very fun personalities and in the end I also enjoyed the modern world aspects that were woven into the story. It is definitely a read I would recommend to lovers of fairytale retellings, pointing out, however, that the tone of the story is very suited for younger readers so, depending on personal tastes, lovers of more mature YA or adult books may not fully enjoy it.
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
A lot has been written when it comes to Beauty and the Beast retellings, but The Rose Gate definitely adds a new, original twist to a tale that by now everyone knows by heart.
The beginning of the story reads very much like a contemporary: our Beauty, Isobel, is an 18 year old girl working at a preschool. She has recently moved to a new small town in Canada and she has many family dramas: an indebted father, an absentee mother, a rebellious younger sister. Her two means of escape are books and hiking in the woods close to her home.
Not being a lover of contemporary books, this part was the hardest for me to get into, but luckily the beautiful writing and Isobel’s charming personality were enough to keep me reading.
I enjoyed the story much more once magic entered the pages. Some elements echo the original tale: Isobel is saved by wolves from the Beast, and she is taken to his castle where she befriends the cursed household and falls in love. Tradition, however, mingles with innovation. For starters, Isobel is not kept at the castle against her will, which better suits the tone and the building of the relationships in the story. The Beast’s castle is in a faerie kingdom, with many elements of faerie folklore mentioned, such as Seelie and Unseelie courts and a carefully constructed world-building that is at once simple but rich. The curse itself pitches into the mundane: the household shifts into talking animals that recall the Canadian setting of the story (otters, raccoons, wolves, foxes) and the Prince shifts into a bear rather than a terrifying horned beast when he is not in the confines of his kingdom.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters had very fun personalities and in the end I also enjoyed the modern world aspects that were woven into the story. It is definitely a read I would recommend to lovers of fairytale retellings, pointing out, however, that the tone of the story is very suited for younger readers so, depending on personal tastes, lovers of more mature YA or adult books may not fully enjoy it.
February 14, 2021
3.5 ★
A lovely fae-retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I liked it, but it was a tiny bit more juvenile than I expected. I think it's just more suited to teens and younger YA readers.
One of the reasons I started reading this book was this absolutely amazing artwork by arz28
A lovely fae-retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I liked it, but it was a tiny bit more juvenile than I expected. I think it's just more suited to teens and younger YA readers.
One of the reasons I started reading this book was this absolutely amazing artwork by arz28
March 29, 2020
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One of my reading missions this year is to discover some indie authors of quality. I love the indie space for many reasons: it’s easier for authors to make a living, authors retain complete creative control over their work, and the author community has a positive, entrepreneurial vibe, rather than the doom-and-gloom of trad pub.
Story quality, however, can be an overlooked issue in the indie space; with the push to rapidly release books (I’m talking 4+ books a year, and sometimes wayyyy more than that), the majority of the indie books I read don’t meet my personal threshold for a quality novel. I totally get why indie authors release like this; readers and store algorithms respond well to rapid release, so there’s a lot of money to be made. When voracious romance fans are breathing down your neck for the next book in a series so they can throw money at you, who can blame an author for getting their book to market as swiftly as possible?
But I’m just not personally a fan of these pulp fiction-type books. No matter how cool a story’s premise, flat characters and weak prose will doom a book for me every time. So that’s why I was so happy to finally get a chance to read Hanna Sandvig’s Beauty and the Beast retelling, The Rose Gate.
Sandvig as an author has been on my radar for a while. (Her author Instagram is to die for, and I’m in the mood for Beauty and the Beast retellings, since I’m writing one myself.) The first in a fairy tale romance series, The Rose Gate follows MC Isobel (otherwise known as Bel–get it?) as she accidentally leaves our modern world for Faerie. Of course, there’s a handsome prince, a curse, and lots of fun flirtation.
This book is a strong first entry in Sandvig’s series. I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s voice, world-building, the characters, and especially the budding romance between Bel and her faerie beau. I do think the book could have done with another pass by an editor, as there are some punctuation issues and especially run-on sentences, but these lessened as the book went along, and I didn’t find they hindered my enjoyment.
Can I also talk real quick about the production quality behind this book as well? Sandvig designs her own covers, and the paperback edition is gorgeous, including full-spread illustrations also by the author. I’m so glad I picked up the paperback version!
The Rose Gate was a twenty-four hour read that really swept me up–it was the palate cleanser I desperately needed after the disastrous The Sound of Stars. I will definitely be taking a look at Sandvig’s future work!
One of my reading missions this year is to discover some indie authors of quality. I love the indie space for many reasons: it’s easier for authors to make a living, authors retain complete creative control over their work, and the author community has a positive, entrepreneurial vibe, rather than the doom-and-gloom of trad pub.
Story quality, however, can be an overlooked issue in the indie space; with the push to rapidly release books (I’m talking 4+ books a year, and sometimes wayyyy more than that), the majority of the indie books I read don’t meet my personal threshold for a quality novel. I totally get why indie authors release like this; readers and store algorithms respond well to rapid release, so there’s a lot of money to be made. When voracious romance fans are breathing down your neck for the next book in a series so they can throw money at you, who can blame an author for getting their book to market as swiftly as possible?
But I’m just not personally a fan of these pulp fiction-type books. No matter how cool a story’s premise, flat characters and weak prose will doom a book for me every time. So that’s why I was so happy to finally get a chance to read Hanna Sandvig’s Beauty and the Beast retelling, The Rose Gate.
Sandvig as an author has been on my radar for a while. (Her author Instagram is to die for, and I’m in the mood for Beauty and the Beast retellings, since I’m writing one myself.) The first in a fairy tale romance series, The Rose Gate follows MC Isobel (otherwise known as Bel–get it?) as she accidentally leaves our modern world for Faerie. Of course, there’s a handsome prince, a curse, and lots of fun flirtation.
This book is a strong first entry in Sandvig’s series. I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s voice, world-building, the characters, and especially the budding romance between Bel and her faerie beau. I do think the book could have done with another pass by an editor, as there are some punctuation issues and especially run-on sentences, but these lessened as the book went along, and I didn’t find they hindered my enjoyment.
Can I also talk real quick about the production quality behind this book as well? Sandvig designs her own covers, and the paperback edition is gorgeous, including full-spread illustrations also by the author. I’m so glad I picked up the paperback version!
The Rose Gate was a twenty-four hour read that really swept me up–it was the palate cleanser I desperately needed after the disastrous The Sound of Stars. I will definitely be taking a look at Sandvig’s future work!
September 22, 2020
This was a lovely read. Respect to Hanna Sandvig, who not only wrote a retelling of Beauty and the Beast for sensible girls (and Bel is very sensible), but also designed and drew her own cover and the sweet illustrations that feature throughout the book.
I loved Bel’s practical, down-to-earth attitude, and her relationship with her sisters. There’s a gentle humour that runs throughout this story too, and I love that it doesn’t take itself too seriously.
A great read.
I loved Bel’s practical, down-to-earth attitude, and her relationship with her sisters. There’s a gentle humour that runs throughout this story too, and I love that it doesn’t take itself too seriously.
A great read.
March 29, 2023
This was very cute and overall light-hearted, despite also touching on kind of a lot of heavy, complex topics--past death/loss/grief, divorced parents, narcissist (and now absent) mother, alcoholic father who endangered his kids, a bratty-but-hurting teen (not the MC) who is developing a drinking and partying problem. There's kind of a lot of bickering and fighting among the MC's family members (mostly started by aforementioned surly teen) which is not the escapism I'm looking for when picking up a fairy tale retelling (especially not one that otherwise could classify as fairly cozy).
Leith and Isobel were cute, even if for some reason their romance didn't totally sweep me off my feet. While Leith has a few moments of anger issues, they weren't excused or at all portrayed as romantic, and I appreciated the moment where Isobel is talking to Ena and basically says that Leith's grief and heartache and trauma explain why he lashed out but doesn't excuse it and she doesn't have to accept that treatment (and Leith later admits to the same and apologizes, even if it takes some prodding and more time than it should have). I applaud (and then feel sad that that's unusual enough to warrant applause).
The worldbuilding was solid and fun and this version of faerie is one that I'll happily return to in the other books.
Quibbles: The inclusion of Isobel's Christian faith felt slightly uneven, so that it felt kind of abrupt and random the few times it came up. There's kind of a lot of objectifying men, imo, but it's usually very brief and mostly joking. 🤷♀️ A tricky thing of having a reader character in a contemporary setting and name-dropping books she's reading are some of them had me wrinkling my nose. The copy editing and formatting were also a little rough which was occasionally distracting. Part of the end confused me slightly. SPOILER END SPOILER But again...these are quibbles.
Overall, this was an enjoyable, cute, and satisfying take on Beauty and the Beast, so I'll read more of the series. Maybe next. Trying to decide if I'm in the mood for more cute romantasy or want to shift to something more epic. 😆
Leith and Isobel were cute, even if for some reason their romance didn't totally sweep me off my feet. While Leith has a few moments of anger issues, they weren't excused or at all portrayed as romantic, and I appreciated the moment where Isobel is talking to Ena and basically says that Leith's grief and heartache and trauma explain why he lashed out but doesn't excuse it and she doesn't have to accept that treatment (and Leith later admits to the same and apologizes, even if it takes some prodding and more time than it should have). I applaud (and then feel sad that that's unusual enough to warrant applause).
The worldbuilding was solid and fun and this version of faerie is one that I'll happily return to in the other books.
Quibbles: The inclusion of Isobel's Christian faith felt slightly uneven, so that it felt kind of abrupt and random the few times it came up. There's kind of a lot of objectifying men, imo, but it's usually very brief and mostly joking. 🤷♀️ A tricky thing of having a reader character in a contemporary setting and name-dropping books she's reading are some of them had me wrinkling my nose. The copy editing and formatting were also a little rough which was occasionally distracting. Part of the end confused me slightly. SPOILER END SPOILER But again...these are quibbles.
Overall, this was an enjoyable, cute, and satisfying take on Beauty and the Beast, so I'll read more of the series. Maybe next. Trying to decide if I'm in the mood for more cute romantasy or want to shift to something more epic. 😆
June 15, 2019
I was sent an eARC of this book in exchange of an honest review
What can I say, I simply love retellings!
The Rose Gate is a Beauty and the Beast retelling written by Hanna Sandvig, the first in a trilogy of retellings in which each book will stand on its own. When I started reading it, I immediately felt as if I were watching a very cute movie—you know, the ones that come on TV, usually during the summer, set in a small town, with the relatable female lead and the romance you wish you could live. Those who have been following me for a while know that I especially love books when I can also picture them like this.
The book is not long, which helped keep a good pacing to the story and it also gave it a fairytale vibe that I really enjoyed. After we get to follow our “Beauty”, Isobel, for a little while in her everyday life, we see what happens when she finds herself in the forest after dark, chased by a vicious pack of wolves. A bear saves her, and it turns out this bear is actually a broody fae prince, who brings her through the Rose Gate, a portal that connects our world to the fae realm of Tir Na Nog. Time moves differently here, and as she waits for the safety of morning in our world, Isobel spends two weeks in the fae realm—two weeks in which she befriends the inhabitants of the castle and uncovers the truth about a terrible curse set upon them and their Prince, Leith, by the Unseelie Queen. Unlike the original Beauty and the Beast tale, Isobel is not initially kept in the castle against her own will, better suiting the building friendship and romance between her and Leith.
My favorite element of the story was, of course, the romance. What a surprise, really! *insert laughing emoji* I am a big Beauty and the Beast fan and I love the way the author recreated that dynamic between Isobel and Leith. (A special applause is reserved to Ms. Chloe, who was absolutely hilarious and very relatable in her love for Chris Hemsworth.) The story was a modern fairytale, fun to read and fast paced. I cannot wait to read the next book, especially since there were some carefully placed hints about it that tease which tale will be retold next!
I recommend this book to lovers of fairytales and Beauty and the Beast retellings!
What can I say, I simply love retellings!
The Rose Gate is a Beauty and the Beast retelling written by Hanna Sandvig, the first in a trilogy of retellings in which each book will stand on its own. When I started reading it, I immediately felt as if I were watching a very cute movie—you know, the ones that come on TV, usually during the summer, set in a small town, with the relatable female lead and the romance you wish you could live. Those who have been following me for a while know that I especially love books when I can also picture them like this.
The book is not long, which helped keep a good pacing to the story and it also gave it a fairytale vibe that I really enjoyed. After we get to follow our “Beauty”, Isobel, for a little while in her everyday life, we see what happens when she finds herself in the forest after dark, chased by a vicious pack of wolves. A bear saves her, and it turns out this bear is actually a broody fae prince, who brings her through the Rose Gate, a portal that connects our world to the fae realm of Tir Na Nog. Time moves differently here, and as she waits for the safety of morning in our world, Isobel spends two weeks in the fae realm—two weeks in which she befriends the inhabitants of the castle and uncovers the truth about a terrible curse set upon them and their Prince, Leith, by the Unseelie Queen. Unlike the original Beauty and the Beast tale, Isobel is not initially kept in the castle against her own will, better suiting the building friendship and romance between her and Leith.
My favorite element of the story was, of course, the romance. What a surprise, really! *insert laughing emoji* I am a big Beauty and the Beast fan and I love the way the author recreated that dynamic between Isobel and Leith. (A special applause is reserved to Ms. Chloe, who was absolutely hilarious and very relatable in her love for Chris Hemsworth.) The story was a modern fairytale, fun to read and fast paced. I cannot wait to read the next book, especially since there were some carefully placed hints about it that tease which tale will be retold next!
I recommend this book to lovers of fairytales and Beauty and the Beast retellings!
June 27, 2019
This book was 4.5 stars for me. I really loved it! I like to go into books with the least amount of information possible. I never read the back cover and I never read reviews. Basically, I only knew this was a Beauty and the Beast retelling, which let's be honest, was more than enough to hook me. ;)
Anyway, I was surprised that the story begins in the real world. I wasn't expecting that at all, especially because I saw the map of the fantasy world on the author's instagram. I am not usually a fan of anything contemporary. In fact, I usually avoid contemporary at all costs. But since this was a Beauty and the Beast retelling, I happily overlooked the contemporary thing.
I'm so glad I did because this book stole my heart!! I loved Isobel and I adored her sisters. I loved how they interacted with each other in both good and bad ways. I loved watching them get in fights, and then apologize and make things right. It was so sweet!
I also loved Ena. She was one of my absolute favorites. She's so sweet and helpful and always had Bel's best interest in mind.
The ending was awesome. I loved how all the little threads of mystery tied up at the end. Also, I don't want to give anything away, but one of my favorite parts was when Bel gets ready to wear her rose gold dress. There was some serious sister bonding (which was amazing) and even some googling (which made me laugh out loud). Then, the actual night was both romantic and unexpected.
The only bad thing about this book is now I can't wait for the next one!!
Anyway, I was surprised that the story begins in the real world. I wasn't expecting that at all, especially because I saw the map of the fantasy world on the author's instagram. I am not usually a fan of anything contemporary. In fact, I usually avoid contemporary at all costs. But since this was a Beauty and the Beast retelling, I happily overlooked the contemporary thing.
I'm so glad I did because this book stole my heart!! I loved Isobel and I adored her sisters. I loved how they interacted with each other in both good and bad ways. I loved watching them get in fights, and then apologize and make things right. It was so sweet!
I also loved Ena. She was one of my absolute favorites. She's so sweet and helpful and always had Bel's best interest in mind.
The ending was awesome. I loved how all the little threads of mystery tied up at the end. Also, I don't want to give anything away, but one of my favorite parts was when Bel gets ready to wear her rose gold dress. There was some serious sister bonding (which was amazing) and even some googling (which made me laugh out loud). Then, the actual night was both romantic and unexpected.
The only bad thing about this book is now I can't wait for the next one!!
July 10, 2021
Well that was fun. Some of this review might be vague because I'm trying to avoid spoilers.
I thought it was a very original B&B retelling that mixed the fairy tale and faerie lore together smoothly. Isobel was a good protagonist who didn't put up with any crap pertaining to romance. Speaking of romance, it was one of the better slow burn romances that I've read (especially in B&B stories, when they normally just decide to be in love spontaneously). I loved the tone and voice of the book, it was fun and a little sassy (think My Lady Jane mixed with sassy tumblr posts). Also, it was clean! Yay!
I thought it was a very original B&B retelling that mixed the fairy tale and faerie lore together smoothly. Isobel was a good protagonist who didn't put up with any crap pertaining to romance. Speaking of romance, it was one of the better slow burn romances that I've read (especially in B&B stories, when they normally just decide to be in love spontaneously). I loved the tone and voice of the book, it was fun and a little sassy (think My Lady Jane mixed with sassy tumblr posts). Also, it was clean! Yay!
January 21, 2020
Such a sweet, fun, escapist read! I normally don't like contemporary romance, but this was mixed with just enough fairy-tale fantasy to really draw me in. I'm looking forward to more novels set in this world.
June 16, 2019
3.5 stars.
The Rose Gate is exactly what it sets out to be: a light, YA retelling of a classic fairytale.
It’s a pleasant summer read, and one that I thought was beautifully packaged by Hanna, who illustrates the cover and map etc herself - she is VERY talented.
When the book starts, it reads like a YA contemporary and I must admit I was a little put off by this as I wasn’t expecting it. But I persevered and once Isobel enters into the magic of the world I found it much more enjoyable. I felt the characters were packaged well and were likeable. The story itself isn’t too long and so the pace helps keep the story moving.
For a debut - Hanna shows real passion and talent, and I expect there will be much more to come.
I’ve rated it 3.5 stars because for me, as a 33yo mum, it didn’t quite wow me. I can imagine for the intended audience it would be higher.
Thank you to Hanna for the e-arc to review honestly.
The Rose Gate is exactly what it sets out to be: a light, YA retelling of a classic fairytale.
It’s a pleasant summer read, and one that I thought was beautifully packaged by Hanna, who illustrates the cover and map etc herself - she is VERY talented.
When the book starts, it reads like a YA contemporary and I must admit I was a little put off by this as I wasn’t expecting it. But I persevered and once Isobel enters into the magic of the world I found it much more enjoyable. I felt the characters were packaged well and were likeable. The story itself isn’t too long and so the pace helps keep the story moving.
For a debut - Hanna shows real passion and talent, and I expect there will be much more to come.
I’ve rated it 3.5 stars because for me, as a 33yo mum, it didn’t quite wow me. I can imagine for the intended audience it would be higher.
Thank you to Hanna for the e-arc to review honestly.
Read
December 5, 2024Rating: 4.5
Highlights:
��Super fun, super cute, unique take on Beauty and the Beast
🌟 I loved all the “smaller Fae” characters, especially Ena and Tait
🌟 I really enjoyed Leif and Isobel’s relationship, sometimes Beauty and the Beast re-tellings can have some uncomfortable unequal power dynamics, but thjs one didn’t
🌟 Leif himself was pretty darn loveable, even when he struggled with being a “bear”
🌟 Nice twist at the end on “true love’s kiss”!
Highlights:
��Super fun, super cute, unique take on Beauty and the Beast
🌟 I loved all the “smaller Fae” characters, especially Ena and Tait
🌟 I really enjoyed Leif and Isobel’s relationship, sometimes Beauty and the Beast re-tellings can have some uncomfortable unequal power dynamics, but thjs one didn’t
🌟 Leif himself was pretty darn loveable, even when he struggled with being a “bear”
🌟 Nice twist at the end on “true love’s kiss”!
June 18, 2019
It was a nice and light read, a book which intrigues to keep on reading. It was to the point the plot was not dragged unnecessarily.
It’s a perfect romantic happy ending fairy tale.
I loved it and I want more of it.
Like what happened after , with Moriath. Also Fiarcha’s mention.
I would also like to read more about Miss Cloe.
All in all I loved it.
Thank you Hannah for sending across ARC.
It’s a perfect romantic happy ending fairy tale.
I loved it and I want more of it.
Like what happened after , with Moriath. Also Fiarcha’s mention.
I would also like to read more about Miss Cloe.
All in all I loved it.
Thank you Hannah for sending across ARC.
December 26, 2022
I was pulled into this book immediately! It begins with Isobel reading Sleeping Beauty to a group of preschoolers - her version of Sleeping Beauty anyway. It made me laugh out loud! I couldn't wait to see how this practical heroine reacted when she ended up in her own fairy tale. I loved the book and am excited to read the rest of the series!
June 17, 2019
When Isobel finds a strang arch of roses in the middle of a forest, she finds it very strange--even more so when she passes through it and enters the realm of the Fae, or a piece of it anyways. When she finds herself falling for the handsome, scarred fae prince in charge of a cursed estate, she becomes determined to break his curse and save the estate.
I love a good modern, fae-retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and The Rose Gate didn't disappoint. Something about this story just lends itself to old fae stories. It just makes sense.
I think it would be better to compare this book to Disney's BATB instead of the older French version, as there are a lot of influences from the former than the latter (Bel loves to read, wolves chase her, servants are talking animals instead of invisible ghosts). But Sandvig still differentiates her story from many different retellings of this classic story, and in the end, I was satisfied.
I did struggle a little bit during the first half of the book--there's a lot of explaining that needs to be done, and a lot of the time it seems that Isobel is just walking around with someone who explains things to her. However, once all the explanations are finished, the story gets really exciting. After that point, I couldn't put it down.
The strongest parts of this novel are when Sandvig veers away from the original story. Those parts felt especially fresh and fun. They really showed Sandvig's excellent storytelling.
Isobel is an easy character to connect with. She loves to read and take walks in nature. She's caring and curious, though she has her flaws as well. There were a couple of times her voice felt a bit inconsistent--sometimes she would sound like a true YA, and others times she acted a little older. But then YA's do that, so it isn't a big complaint. I especially loved her relationship with her sisters--I'm such a sucker for sister characters, and this was awesome!
I actually struggled a bit in the beginning with the beast character. The first third of the book it felt like he was simply there to fill a role in a story. He was grumpy one moment, kind the next, so there was some inconsistency. But after the story veers away from the original fairy tale, I began to like the beast a lot more. His character really became real for me after that.
The romance is sweet and easy to cheer on. The two characters have a lot of chemistry.
I want to give a shout out to all of the animal servants in this book. I love them ALL! They were so sweet and funny, each with their own personality. They just made me so happy.
I like how contained the world building in this story is--most of it is in the beast's estate, with tiny glimpses into the bigger world Sandvig has created. She also uses Irish fairy tales, which I will always enjoy.
This is the first book in a faerie tale series, so I'm interested to see how Sandvig expands her world.
This is definitely one of the most satisfactory BATB retellings I've read in a long time. Sandvig's creative spin on the fairy tale is interesting and intriguing, and I'm looking forward to see what else she writes next.
Read more of my reviews on my blog: allisawhite.com
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I love a good modern, fae-retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and The Rose Gate didn't disappoint. Something about this story just lends itself to old fae stories. It just makes sense.
I think it would be better to compare this book to Disney's BATB instead of the older French version, as there are a lot of influences from the former than the latter (Bel loves to read, wolves chase her, servants are talking animals instead of invisible ghosts). But Sandvig still differentiates her story from many different retellings of this classic story, and in the end, I was satisfied.
I did struggle a little bit during the first half of the book--there's a lot of explaining that needs to be done, and a lot of the time it seems that Isobel is just walking around with someone who explains things to her. However, once all the explanations are finished, the story gets really exciting. After that point, I couldn't put it down.
The strongest parts of this novel are when Sandvig veers away from the original story. Those parts felt especially fresh and fun. They really showed Sandvig's excellent storytelling.
Isobel is an easy character to connect with. She loves to read and take walks in nature. She's caring and curious, though she has her flaws as well. There were a couple of times her voice felt a bit inconsistent--sometimes she would sound like a true YA, and others times she acted a little older. But then YA's do that, so it isn't a big complaint. I especially loved her relationship with her sisters--I'm such a sucker for sister characters, and this was awesome!
I actually struggled a bit in the beginning with the beast character. The first third of the book it felt like he was simply there to fill a role in a story. He was grumpy one moment, kind the next, so there was some inconsistency. But after the story veers away from the original fairy tale, I began to like the beast a lot more. His character really became real for me after that.
The romance is sweet and easy to cheer on. The two characters have a lot of chemistry.
I want to give a shout out to all of the animal servants in this book. I love them ALL! They were so sweet and funny, each with their own personality. They just made me so happy.
I like how contained the world building in this story is--most of it is in the beast's estate, with tiny glimpses into the bigger world Sandvig has created. She also uses Irish fairy tales, which I will always enjoy.
This is the first book in a faerie tale series, so I'm interested to see how Sandvig expands her world.
This is definitely one of the most satisfactory BATB retellings I've read in a long time. Sandvig's creative spin on the fairy tale is interesting and intriguing, and I'm looking forward to see what else she writes next.
Read more of my reviews on my blog: allisawhite.com
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November 22, 2021
The Rose Gate is a Young Adult/New Adult Portal Fantasy/Romance novel, book 1 in The Fairy Tale Romance series.
Book Cover: 5* - This part is for the new cover now. To me, the cover looks beautiful still. Isobel, bear Leith, the roses about the cover, it's beautiful yet simple, but showing you some whimsy in the process. I think this cover still helps illustrate what kind of read you're going to get.
**OLD**I'm going to drop this here first, this book is getting a cover change and will be revealed on the author's Instagram account on 02/22/21. So the review I'm leaving is for the old illustrated one. Ok now back to the review. I'm not going to lie, this book was SERIOUSLY a cover buy lol. It's so beautiful. I'm easily drawn to illustrated covers, especially if they give me hints to what might go on in the book and what the character/s will look like/be able to do. Plus, look at that dress! I want to wear that dress lol, and it obviously tells me that this is a Beauty and the Beast Retelling.
Summary/Tagline: 4* - I think the summary is fairly simple and enticing enough to get me curious to read this book. It tells me a little bit about the main character Isobel, a dangerous situation that gets her into a new world, and a little bit about a fae prince. That's it.
Characters: 3* - In this book you only follow one character, a young woman named Isobel(the Beauty) who loves to read romance books and vampires, who lives in a questionable home with irresponsible parents, or, more like parent, and she's stubbornly determined, but dangerously too curious for her own good. She has 2 sisters, one older who's doing all she can to be there for her sisters and a younger one who mostly acts like a spoiled brat. Unfortunately, I felt nothing for most of the characters in this book for too long and had a huge disconnect with Isobel. The only interest we share is books, but that's it. This is the first book that shared how religious the main character is, no this isn't a Christian Romance book and no she doesn't shove the information in my face, she just brings it up a couple of times, but it was enough to close myself off from Isobel for awhile. However, the fae characters we meet are pretty adorable and Leith(the Beast) is a very curious case, the thing is, I felt like we didn't get enough of him. Although it's a short book, he's still pretty absent, but he is a noble still trying to take care of the faes trapped in his castle so I figured he was tending to his duties while Isobel was trying to figure out how to break a curse, and we learn enough about him to sate most of my curiosities about him. Oh before I forget, unlike many BatB retellings, Leith is NOT a terrible, rude, mean, and aggressive male character. He's nice, a bit surly at times, but I like him more than MOST beast iterations.
World Building: 4* - The information about Tir na nOg is pretty informative and relative for this book alone, similar to what was explained in The Wolf Gate for that story alone. We got to learn about Leith and his time amongst the Seelie Court, the Unseelie Queen, I like how the magic is explained and done, the difference between a fae and other Faerie inhabitants, and so on. It was really fun being in this world and I look forward to seeing what the next book would bring forth.
Story: 3* - Now I'm sure you've noticed, The Rose Gate is a Beauty and the Beast Retelling. Each book in this series is a standalone story, so you don't have to read previous stories in this series to know what is going and who is who. Isobel and her small family recently moved to a small town in Canada because her parents had a really bad divorce. We enter the story when Isobel has started her last summer break before she leaves her family for good for college. After a heated argument at dinner time, Isobel leaves her house, needing time away from her family, only to be chased by some really clever wolves, and being saved by a bear of all creatures. After a huge misunderstanding and scare, Isobel has to stay in a castle in a world called Tir na nOg, also called Faerie, for 2 weeks, which equates to an entire night in the human world. There, Isobel finds out about a curse that's keeping the Prince and his subjects trapped in his castle, unable to find ways to break it and leave freely. Now she's taking it upon herself to help her new friends, and quite possibly, fall for the handsome fae Prince, Leith. Really quick, from what I heard about many romance books, this book does also have the 3rd Act Break Up, which felt pretty forced, and the reason behind Leith's rudeness was obvious. Even though the moment was short and solved pretty quickly, my feelings felt middling to say the least. Now, although the story isn't bad, it took me over 260 pages to grab me. It's around the time an old friend of Leith was introduced, Tiernan, and he was a character you get to meet in The Wolf Gate. I did have moments where I was hooked earlier in the book, but it quickly left me as I kept reading. It also doesn't help that there are quite a lot of call backs to the Disney Retelling of Beauty and the Beast as it isn't my favorite movie. That being said, if BatB is your favorite faerie tale and/or is your favorite Disney movie, and you like a fluffy and cute romance, I highly suggest you pick this book up and give it a try yourself.
Over All: 3.5* - Even though I struggled with how I felt about this book, I think I'm satisfied with this score. Although the original Beauty and the Beast faerie tale is an interesting story, this story has more closeness to the Disney retelling, and like I said, not my favorite movie, but there were enough originality to keep me reading and wanting to learn more. I enjoyed the characters, after reaching a certain point of the story, but I still enjoyed them, and I really enjoyed following what goes down in the 3rd act to the end. All in all, I'm looking forward to the next story in this series. I have a Frog Prince Retelling to read and a Cinderella Retelling is currently in the works. So, what are you waiting for, pick this series up, it's light, cute, and fun to read, and I think others will enjoy it too.
Book Cover: 5* - This part is for the new cover now. To me, the cover looks beautiful still. Isobel, bear Leith, the roses about the cover, it's beautiful yet simple, but showing you some whimsy in the process. I think this cover still helps illustrate what kind of read you're going to get.
**OLD**I'm going to drop this here first, this book is getting a cover change and will be revealed on the author's Instagram account on 02/22/21. So the review I'm leaving is for the old illustrated one. Ok now back to the review. I'm not going to lie, this book was SERIOUSLY a cover buy lol. It's so beautiful. I'm easily drawn to illustrated covers, especially if they give me hints to what might go on in the book and what the character/s will look like/be able to do. Plus, look at that dress! I want to wear that dress lol, and it obviously tells me that this is a Beauty and the Beast Retelling.
Summary/Tagline: 4* - I think the summary is fairly simple and enticing enough to get me curious to read this book. It tells me a little bit about the main character Isobel, a dangerous situation that gets her into a new world, and a little bit about a fae prince. That's it.
Characters: 3* - In this book you only follow one character, a young woman named Isobel(the Beauty) who loves to read romance books and vampires, who lives in a questionable home with irresponsible parents, or, more like parent, and she's stubbornly determined, but dangerously too curious for her own good. She has 2 sisters, one older who's doing all she can to be there for her sisters and a younger one who mostly acts like a spoiled brat. Unfortunately, I felt nothing for most of the characters in this book for too long and had a huge disconnect with Isobel. The only interest we share is books, but that's it. This is the first book that shared how religious the main character is, no this isn't a Christian Romance book and no she doesn't shove the information in my face, she just brings it up a couple of times, but it was enough to close myself off from Isobel for awhile. However, the fae characters we meet are pretty adorable and Leith(the Beast) is a very curious case, the thing is, I felt like we didn't get enough of him. Although it's a short book, he's still pretty absent, but he is a noble still trying to take care of the faes trapped in his castle so I figured he was tending to his duties while Isobel was trying to figure out how to break a curse, and we learn enough about him to sate most of my curiosities about him. Oh before I forget, unlike many BatB retellings, Leith is NOT a terrible, rude, mean, and aggressive male character. He's nice, a bit surly at times, but I like him more than MOST beast iterations.
World Building: 4* - The information about Tir na nOg is pretty informative and relative for this book alone, similar to what was explained in The Wolf Gate for that story alone. We got to learn about Leith and his time amongst the Seelie Court, the Unseelie Queen, I like how the magic is explained and done, the difference between a fae and other Faerie inhabitants, and so on. It was really fun being in this world and I look forward to seeing what the next book would bring forth.
Story: 3* - Now I'm sure you've noticed, The Rose Gate is a Beauty and the Beast Retelling. Each book in this series is a standalone story, so you don't have to read previous stories in this series to know what is going and who is who. Isobel and her small family recently moved to a small town in Canada because her parents had a really bad divorce. We enter the story when Isobel has started her last summer break before she leaves her family for good for college. After a heated argument at dinner time, Isobel leaves her house, needing time away from her family, only to be chased by some really clever wolves, and being saved by a bear of all creatures. After a huge misunderstanding and scare, Isobel has to stay in a castle in a world called Tir na nOg, also called Faerie, for 2 weeks, which equates to an entire night in the human world. There, Isobel finds out about a curse that's keeping the Prince and his subjects trapped in his castle, unable to find ways to break it and leave freely. Now she's taking it upon herself to help her new friends, and quite possibly, fall for the handsome fae Prince, Leith. Really quick, from what I heard about many romance books, this book does also have the 3rd Act Break Up, which felt pretty forced, and the reason behind Leith's rudeness was obvious. Even though the moment was short and solved pretty quickly, my feelings felt middling to say the least. Now, although the story isn't bad, it took me over 260 pages to grab me. It's around the time an old friend of Leith was introduced, Tiernan, and he was a character you get to meet in The Wolf Gate. I did have moments where I was hooked earlier in the book, but it quickly left me as I kept reading. It also doesn't help that there are quite a lot of call backs to the Disney Retelling of Beauty and the Beast as it isn't my favorite movie. That being said, if BatB is your favorite faerie tale and/or is your favorite Disney movie, and you like a fluffy and cute romance, I highly suggest you pick this book up and give it a try yourself.
Over All: 3.5* - Even though I struggled with how I felt about this book, I think I'm satisfied with this score. Although the original Beauty and the Beast faerie tale is an interesting story, this story has more closeness to the Disney retelling, and like I said, not my favorite movie, but there were enough originality to keep me reading and wanting to learn more. I enjoyed the characters, after reaching a certain point of the story, but I still enjoyed them, and I really enjoyed following what goes down in the 3rd act to the end. All in all, I'm looking forward to the next story in this series. I have a Frog Prince Retelling to read and a Cinderella Retelling is currently in the works. So, what are you waiting for, pick this series up, it's light, cute, and fun to read, and I think others will enjoy it too.
October 3, 2022
This book is SO ADORABLE!!! It is a lovely retelling of Beauty and the Beast, just without the icky kidnapping and Stockholm Syndrome stuff.
Instead of kidnapping her, the "Beast" aka an adorable, scarred fae prince named Leith, rescues Isabel from fae wolves. She has to stay safe in his palace until it is safe to return home to the human realm. Cue lots of lovely, fun moments. I adored this cast of characters, and I loved the staff of the palace (who are turned into animals).
I gobbled this book up in a single day. This whole series is so adorably sweet. It is set in modern day in the human realm with faerie gates connecting our world to the fae world of Tir na Nog. It is such a fun concept!
Instead of kidnapping her, the "Beast" aka an adorable, scarred fae prince named Leith, rescues Isabel from fae wolves. She has to stay safe in his palace until it is safe to return home to the human realm. Cue lots of lovely, fun moments. I adored this cast of characters, and I loved the staff of the palace (who are turned into animals).
I gobbled this book up in a single day. This whole series is so adorably sweet. It is set in modern day in the human realm with faerie gates connecting our world to the fae world of Tir na Nog. It is such a fun concept!
September 22, 2022
Sweet and funny and poignant. It gave me a serious case of the warm fuzzies. :-)
September 25, 2023
Such a cute story with no smut but a lovely romance! I really enjoyed that it was sweet and short. Anything with a cute fae romance, and I’m sold!
April 22, 2022
Really enjoyed this one; looking forward to the rest in the series.
May 24, 2019
I loved The Rose Gate! The characters were great, and the author explored their relationships really well. The plot had good pacing and was exciting, and I love the illustrations! I look forward to the next one.
September 5, 2024
Re-read February 2024:
I gave this book a second chance.... and found myself loving it all the more!! The scenes with the wolves and the Unseelie Queen were even less tense than I thought they would be. Almost Disney level.
Enjoyable read!
First Read - November 2022:
Having read and fallen in love with "The Lily Gate: A Retelling of The Frog Prince by the same author, I grew curious about Sandvig's other fairytale retellings.
Now, I'm not much a "Beauty and the Beast" fan, but THIS was LOVELY! I really liked the unique idea of our main character being "kidnapped" for her own protection. And the castle fae staff as animals was such a fun twist!
On the other hand, given that I love my fantasy books set in other worlds, I felt I was spending too much time in the "modern world" in the beginning and somewhere in the middle. But the transition to the Faerie Realm felt pretty seamless that I was able to enjoy it.
The mystery of the curse and the wicked Unseelie Queen certainly keeps the story going... though I was surprised at the action scenes, not that they were too heavy and dark, but a little tense.
Overall, the "slow-burn" romance between Bel and Leith was very sweet-- and at times funny--, and the hint of future characters that would emerge in the author's later standalone sequels was certainly a treat.
Definitely a loveable, cozy-fantasy read!
I gave this book a second chance.... and found myself loving it all the more!! The scenes with the wolves and the Unseelie Queen were even less tense than I thought they would be. Almost Disney level.
Enjoyable read!
First Read - November 2022:
Having read and fallen in love with "The Lily Gate: A Retelling of The Frog Prince by the same author, I grew curious about Sandvig's other fairytale retellings.
Now, I'm not much a "Beauty and the Beast" fan, but THIS was LOVELY! I really liked the unique idea of our main character being "kidnapped" for her own protection. And the castle fae staff as animals was such a fun twist!
On the other hand, given that I love my fantasy books set in other worlds, I felt I was spending too much time in the "modern world" in the beginning and somewhere in the middle. But the transition to the Faerie Realm felt pretty seamless that I was able to enjoy it.
The mystery of the curse and the wicked Unseelie Queen certainly keeps the story going... though I was surprised at the action scenes, not that they were too heavy and dark, but a little tense.
Overall, the "slow-burn" romance between Bel and Leith was very sweet-- and at times funny--, and the hint of future characters that would emerge in the author's later standalone sequels was certainly a treat.
Definitely a loveable, cozy-fantasy read!
August 7, 2020
4.5 stars. A well written retelling of Beauty and the Beast. The writing was solid, the editing was good. I feel like I want to call this book sturdy. All the things we expect from a B&B retelling with the occasional flourish to elevate it above a lot of the self published retellings flying around these days.
I did find the MC a touch sanctimonious from time to time (especially that first chapter) but power through, she improves.
Recommended.
I also have a curiosity about the print version which apparently contains illustrations from the author.
Added a second read date to this Because the NL subscriber novella The Wolf Gate isn't on Goodreads yet. Need more from this author and this world.
I did find the MC a touch sanctimonious from time to time (especially that first chapter) but power through, she improves.
Recommended.
I also have a curiosity about the print version which apparently contains illustrations from the author.
Added a second read date to this Because the NL subscriber novella The Wolf Gate isn't on Goodreads yet. Need more from this author and this world.
June 19, 2019
The Rose Gate is a very cute contemporary retelling of the Beauty and the Beast. And let me tell you, it's really hard to rewrite this one into a healthy romance but Hanna Sandvig managed that beautifully (as did Juliet Marillier, in a very different way, and it's the only exception I can think of). The main character, Isobel is smart and witty - everyday badass, which is my favourite sort of bookish badass - and the love interest is likeable and starts off simply as a friend. There are a couple of twists on a way (another hard thing to pull off in a retelling) and the story opens up a new universe ready for more retellings - Red Riding Hood is up next and I believe I spied a hint at Cinderella, too - set in British Columbia.
My only issue was that even though the protagonist has finished high school, the book reads like more of a late-MG/early-YA. It's not necessarily a bad thing and it complemented the story well, but it was a surprise.
My only issue was that even though the protagonist has finished high school, the book reads like more of a late-MG/early-YA. It's not necessarily a bad thing and it complemented the story well, but it was a surprise.
January 7, 2023
Sweet and cosy, but it was a bit too light for me - 2.5 stars.
This is a portal fantasy where the MC, Isobel lives in the modern world and is taken to Faerie. I didn't realise this from the blurb, but it worked alright for the most part.
My biggest issue was that Isobel had no prior interest in Faerie, didn't think magic was real, yet after a very brief initial shock she took it all in her stride and accepted it far too easily.
It had a whimsical quality too it, but even though there were some darker topics, they were treated quite lightly or surface-level, which didn't quite work for me here.
I enjoyed it overall, but it wasn't memorable for me.
This is a portal fantasy where the MC, Isobel lives in the modern world and is taken to Faerie. I didn't realise this from the blurb, but it worked alright for the most part.
My biggest issue was that Isobel had no prior interest in Faerie, didn't think magic was real, yet after a very brief initial shock she took it all in her stride and accepted it far too easily.
It had a whimsical quality too it, but even though there were some darker topics, they were treated quite lightly or surface-level, which didn't quite work for me here.
I enjoyed it overall, but it wasn't memorable for me.
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