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Fairy Tale Adventures #4
Princess of Roses
A beastly prince. A beautiful servant. Can two imperfect souls learn to love before the last petal falls?
When a kraken attack leaves her family destitute, Rosemary Mercer strikes a bargain. She will serve Prince Darian for a year to erase her father’s debts. But there is more at stake than money, and the prince’s beastly curse changes more than his appearance. Can Rosemary uphold her end of the bargain without getting caught in the spell herself?
A lifetime of selfishness and pride has cost Prince Darian his humanity, his throne, and the means to make it right. As shadows gather around his kingdom, his only hope for redemption is the brave servant who refuses to be intimidated by his monstrous form. But would she still help him if she was free to leave?
Can Rosemary and Darian see past appearances and find the beauty within themselves? Or will they be torn apart by a plot much bigger than an evil curse?
Princess of Roses is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast and the fourth book in the Fairy Tale Adventures series. These books take place in the same world, but each novel is a stand-alone with a fairy tale ending. Enjoy them one by one or read the entire series to see how everything connects.
If you like strong characters, sweet romance, and daring escapades, buy Princess of Roses today!
When a kraken attack leaves her family destitute, Rosemary Mercer strikes a bargain. She will serve Prince Darian for a year to erase her father’s debts. But there is more at stake than money, and the prince’s beastly curse changes more than his appearance. Can Rosemary uphold her end of the bargain without getting caught in the spell herself?
A lifetime of selfishness and pride has cost Prince Darian his humanity, his throne, and the means to make it right. As shadows gather around his kingdom, his only hope for redemption is the brave servant who refuses to be intimidated by his monstrous form. But would she still help him if she was free to leave?
Can Rosemary and Darian see past appearances and find the beauty within themselves? Or will they be torn apart by a plot much bigger than an evil curse?
Princess of Roses is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast and the fourth book in the Fairy Tale Adventures series. These books take place in the same world, but each novel is a stand-alone with a fairy tale ending. Enjoy them one by one or read the entire series to see how everything connects.
If you like strong characters, sweet romance, and daring escapades, buy Princess of Roses today!
676 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 22, 2020
130 people are currently reading
696 people want to read
About the author
A.G. Marshall
24 books308 followersAngela Marshall loves fairy tales and has been writing stories since she could hold a pencil. She works as a professional pianist and teacher and enjoys crocheting.
In addition to writing books, she has published numerous piano solos including Romanza, Forgotten Waltz, and Notes from the Past.
In addition to writing books, she has published numerous piano solos including Romanza, Forgotten Waltz, and Notes from the Past.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
January 22, 2021
*shrieks*
Now that I have that out of my system....this book was wonderful. It characterized the heroes AND side characters amazingly (and set up for possible books, too, which was SO NICELY done). And the incorporations of cameos and surprise cameos and alllllll the beautiful character things.....and how they didn't make the MCs pale in comparison or take over the story. The plot moved at a very nice pace and fell into place in a believable way (though I'll be honest and say I thought the romance should have been a bit slower at the end, maybe less forth-heading and a bit...slower?). The redemption/villain arcs were equally believable, though I still do want more backstory on the main villains (because what are they UP to??). The book-specific villains were also well portrayed, though I will say one of them felt a bit more 3-D because of their association with the hero. I also enjoyed all the worldbuilding elements incorporated into the merchant and political as well as daily life; and the smoothness at which this book connected to the others without overtaking the plot was wonderful.
And the ending left me wanting more with the sides, heh...
So yeah, this was an amazing book that I can't believe I put off reading. Amazing more so especially since I spent 2/3rds of the book despising the male MC. Well, "first half" would be more accurate while the rest of the book was spent wanting to shake him (even at the end, I still thought she was too good for him, :P). But I do enjoy a good redemption arc, and it was surprisingly and beautifully pulled off without making me feel as if he hadn't atoned enough. No, seriously, every time you want to scream at him, at least he made amends for *most* of his jerkish ways. And the heroine was amazing. Yes, she had flaws, but I honestly was too invested in hating upon the hero (my bad)... There IS one thing about the prince's sister I kind of wanted tied off (like...does it really end that way??) but maybe possible future resolution?
AND THE TWISTS!!! *screams* I mean, I KIND OF FIGURED BUT IT STILL WAS INCREDIBLE! The kind of twists that you see coming and it makes you SO happy when it happens instead of exasperated. And the cameoooossss. But I've rambled long enough.
Content: Some violence, dark magicy stuff, and kisses. Also, the heroine's reputation is put into question by some nasty people. (FInally, just cause I need to say, there are some /pretty/ nasty villains here...like, emotionally crushing kind, which is great for the book but :|)
Now that I have that out of my system....this book was wonderful. It characterized the heroes AND side characters amazingly (and set up for possible books, too, which was SO NICELY done). And the incorporations of cameos and surprise cameos and alllllll the beautiful character things.....and how they didn't make the MCs pale in comparison or take over the story. The plot moved at a very nice pace and fell into place in a believable way (though I'll be honest and say I thought the romance should have been a bit slower at the end, maybe less forth-heading and a bit...slower?). The redemption/villain arcs were equally believable, though I still do want more backstory on the main villains (because what are they UP to??). The book-specific villains were also well portrayed, though I will say one of them felt a bit more 3-D because of their association with the hero. I also enjoyed all the worldbuilding elements incorporated into the merchant and political as well as daily life; and the smoothness at which this book connected to the others without overtaking the plot was wonderful.
And the ending left me wanting more with the sides, heh...
So yeah, this was an amazing book that I can't believe I put off reading. Amazing more so especially since I spent 2/3rds of the book despising the male MC. Well, "first half" would be more accurate while the rest of the book was spent wanting to shake him (even at the end, I still thought she was too good for him, :P). But I do enjoy a good redemption arc, and it was surprisingly and beautifully pulled off without making me feel as if he hadn't atoned enough. No, seriously, every time you want to scream at him, at least he made amends for *most* of his jerkish ways. And the heroine was amazing. Yes, she had flaws, but I honestly was too invested in hating upon the hero (my bad)... There IS one thing about the prince's sister I kind of wanted tied off (like...does it really end that way??) but maybe possible future resolution?
AND THE TWISTS!!! *screams* I mean, I KIND OF FIGURED BUT IT STILL WAS INCREDIBLE! The kind of twists that you see coming and it makes you SO happy when it happens instead of exasperated. And the cameoooossss. But I've rambled long enough.
Content: Some violence, dark magicy stuff, and kisses. Also, the heroine's reputation is put into question by some nasty people. (FInally, just cause I need to say, there are some /pretty/ nasty villains here...like, emotionally crushing kind, which is great for the book but :|)
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November 21, 2020Princess of Roses comes out on November 22! I'm so excited to share this story with everyone! :)
November 21, 2020
Rosemary just wants to help with the family business, take care of her father, and ensure her sisters are happy. A big new opportunity is risky but would not only set up the business to grow but allow her father to stop traveling and provide good dowries for her sisters. She decides the risk is worth taking.
Crown Prince Darian is tired of endless meetings and definitely does not want to get married, no matter how much his parents push it. He just wants to focus on his fascination with architecture by rebuilding the ruins of Rosewell Castle. If he feels servants and his subjects should follow along with his desires, well that's his right as Crown Prince, isn't it?
With a kraken attack forcing Rosemary to find a way to settle mountains of debt and Darian's pride (and prejudice) contributing to him being cursed, all of the elements are in place for a tale as old as time. Rosemary negotiates for her father's freedom and to pay off her debt, agreeing to stay at the castle as servant to no-longer-Crown-Prince Darian.
This Beauty and the Beast story is a beautiful take on the various versions we're familiar with. It fills in details and the holes often seen in the story, and gives us a chance to get to know Rosemary and Darian long before curses and servitude enter in. There are even little Easter eggs of other fairytales and myths throughout.
Though this is definitely a standalone story, there are some treats for those who've read the previous books in the series. We get some wonderful appearances by people we've met or heard about in previous stories (and one or two whose stories we can look forward to). We also get a bit of what-happens-next for some of the couples.
Princess of Roses is a perfect addition to the Fairytale Adventure series with a satisfying mix of both fairytale retelling and fun adventure. It's in fact the best in the series so far. It covers time before the main story of the first book, Princess of Shadows, and goes through and past Princess of Mermaids, making it also the longest in the series so far. Every page is needed, though, as the story flows well; leaving any of it out would be a disservice to the reader.
Crown Prince Darian is tired of endless meetings and definitely does not want to get married, no matter how much his parents push it. He just wants to focus on his fascination with architecture by rebuilding the ruins of Rosewell Castle. If he feels servants and his subjects should follow along with his desires, well that's his right as Crown Prince, isn't it?
With a kraken attack forcing Rosemary to find a way to settle mountains of debt and Darian's pride (and prejudice) contributing to him being cursed, all of the elements are in place for a tale as old as time. Rosemary negotiates for her father's freedom and to pay off her debt, agreeing to stay at the castle as servant to no-longer-Crown-Prince Darian.
This Beauty and the Beast story is a beautiful take on the various versions we're familiar with. It fills in details and the holes often seen in the story, and gives us a chance to get to know Rosemary and Darian long before curses and servitude enter in. There are even little Easter eggs of other fairytales and myths throughout.
Though this is definitely a standalone story, there are some treats for those who've read the previous books in the series. We get some wonderful appearances by people we've met or heard about in previous stories (and one or two whose stories we can look forward to). We also get a bit of what-happens-next for some of the couples.
Princess of Roses is a perfect addition to the Fairytale Adventure series with a satisfying mix of both fairytale retelling and fun adventure. It's in fact the best in the series so far. It covers time before the main story of the first book, Princess of Shadows, and goes through and past Princess of Mermaids, making it also the longest in the series so far. Every page is needed, though, as the story flows well; leaving any of it out would be a disservice to the reader.
October 4, 2021
"Princess of Roses" is a good book, but not my favourite in this series. I still found Fiora's story to be more interesting, adventure and highly engaging - especially thanks to Fiora.
However, I must say that I liked the main character - Rosemary. She was confident, pugnacious, wise and had her own opinion. The chapters from her perspective enjoyable and they made it so much more pleasant for me to flow through the entire book.
As for Prince Darian, I even liked him, but for the first part of the book I had a problem with him. He showed his side of the "beast", although at times he was really likeable. Still, I liked Rosemary better.
The plot - it was even interesting. The story did not start immediately with the curse and interaction between "beautiful with the beast", but with a general acquaintance with the characters before all these events. It was an interesting idea, because we have the opportunity to follow the fate of the characters before the curse and their interactions with each other. However, I felt a bit bored in the middle of the book and just waited for the main characters to be stuck with each other.
Finally, it was a good book, although not my favorite in the series.
However, I must say that I liked the main character - Rosemary. She was confident, pugnacious, wise and had her own opinion. The chapters from her perspective enjoyable and they made it so much more pleasant for me to flow through the entire book.
As for Prince Darian, I even liked him, but for the first part of the book I had a problem with him. He showed his side of the "beast", although at times he was really likeable. Still, I liked Rosemary better.
The plot - it was even interesting. The story did not start immediately with the curse and interaction between "beautiful with the beast", but with a general acquaintance with the characters before all these events. It was an interesting idea, because we have the opportunity to follow the fate of the characters before the curse and their interactions with each other. However, I felt a bit bored in the middle of the book and just waited for the main characters to be stuck with each other.
Finally, it was a good book, although not my favorite in the series.
November 24, 2020
I really enjoyed this book! It came out yesterday and I ended up reading it until 4:30am. The only thing I regret about that, was that I didn't just finish when I decided to go to sleep.
December 19, 2020
You know me, I'm a sucker for a good Beauty and the Beast retelling. This book did not leave me wanting, although I would highly recommend reading every single book before this one. There are details within this that would be missed if you skipped the first few.
The characters in this one I found especially compelling. It's so hard to create a person who is ghastly enough to be turned into a beast but is also redeemable enough to turn him back into a prince. I loved how Darian's character was handled. Yes, he was a snobbish jerk, but he did have enough redeeming qualities to turn him into a prince I was proud of by the end. And Rosemary, bless her, was perfect from the start. Kind and bookish enough to be Belle and sassy enough to be her, too.
The plot got a bit weird at times to catch up from other books, but overall, I enjoyed it. It was just the right amount of the larger scheme versus the fairy tale. It progressed nicely, although I will say it took time getting to the point. Granted, though, it was a lovely retelling that had depth, creativity, and heart. Would read again in a heart beat!
The characters in this one I found especially compelling. It's so hard to create a person who is ghastly enough to be turned into a beast but is also redeemable enough to turn him back into a prince. I loved how Darian's character was handled. Yes, he was a snobbish jerk, but he did have enough redeeming qualities to turn him into a prince I was proud of by the end. And Rosemary, bless her, was perfect from the start. Kind and bookish enough to be Belle and sassy enough to be her, too.
The plot got a bit weird at times to catch up from other books, but overall, I enjoyed it. It was just the right amount of the larger scheme versus the fairy tale. It progressed nicely, although I will say it took time getting to the point. Granted, though, it was a lovely retelling that had depth, creativity, and heart. Would read again in a heart beat!
March 3, 2025
Awesome Beauty and the Beast retelling
Super fun Beauty and the Beast retelling. I loved how the author tied in characters and more from the other books and how she made the contract between beauty and the beats more believable. The story was inventive and interesting, and I can't wait foe book 5!
Super fun Beauty and the Beast retelling. I loved how the author tied in characters and more from the other books and how she made the contract between beauty and the beats more believable. The story was inventive and interesting, and I can't wait foe book 5!
November 24, 2020
okay, but this book is worth reading if only for the fact that
November 25, 2020
This is my favorite fairy tale retelling series, and this installment was so great. I really like that this one harkens to the original story, also throws in nods to the disney version, and still keeps all of the lore and world building in tact for its own universe. I loved all of the characters in this, Rosemary and Darian's relationship was so well done and a great slow burn that was super sweet and satisfying at the end. Rosemary's family ties, and the "Gaston" of the story were great too, and I really liked seeing characters foreshadowed for the next book, and also loved all the cameos in this one! I really liked the donkey in this, the reveal of who it is was what I suspected, but still a great surprise and I can't wait to read more about these characters later. And epic climax, great morals, great story arcs, great characters. Keep up the amazing work with this series! This is my second fav retelling in the series, as Princess of Mermaids still tops it for me, but this is definitely the best Beauty and the Beast retelling I've read. I really want to reread all of these when the series is done, I enjoy this series so much! This book can technically be stand alone, but there are a lot of cameos that are more exciting if you've read the previous books. There's also an overarching plot for the world that progresses significantly in this book, but it doesn't detract from the overall story. You may be a bit lost if you haven't read the prior books on those parts though. So if you want to read this as a stand alone, you could, but it's better as a series imo. Read all the books is my suggestion, since this series is a fantastic read!
November 13, 2021
Rosemary isn't your usual beauty, she's more
Rosemary isn't your usual beauty, she's more than a pretty face, she is loyal and steadfast and brave and smart. She values the importance of family and fights for what she feels is right. I enjoyed the twist on the typical beauty and the beast story with her being a merchant's daughter who enters into a contract with the prince and becomes his servant after he is cursed to become a goblin monster to pay off the debt when his order ends up at the bottom of the ocean. I like the idea of her working as a servant and teaching him how to do things for himself. Such a wonderful story.
Rosemary isn't your usual beauty, she's more than a pretty face, she is loyal and steadfast and brave and smart. She values the importance of family and fights for what she feels is right. I enjoyed the twist on the typical beauty and the beast story with her being a merchant's daughter who enters into a contract with the prince and becomes his servant after he is cursed to become a goblin monster to pay off the debt when his order ends up at the bottom of the ocean. I like the idea of her working as a servant and teaching him how to do things for himself. Such a wonderful story.
August 21, 2021
This is the fourth book that I have read in this series, and while the author didn't disappoint me in any of the other stories, I liked this one even more. There was a strength in Rosemary, a determination that she will be mistress of her own destiny, a stubborn loyalty to her family and a willingness to make sacrifices to achieve her goals. She holds herself to a higher standard and has a heart full of compassion to complement her strengths. The supporting characters are well written and there are even hints to earlier stories in the series, for those who have already read them.
April 18, 2023
I enjoyed this story.
Content: clean
Content: clean
November 29, 2020
When you love a book series as much as I love A.G. Marshall's Fairy Tale Adventures, you are bound to come upon a book that you don't love quite as much as the rest. The first three books in this series were just about perfect in terms of creative retellings, relatable characters, and playful references to other adaptations. I cannot recommend them enough. The latest Fairy Tale Adventures release is Princess of Roses, a retelling of the beloved classic "Beauty and the Beast." On its own, this book is a perfectly fine adaptation that expands upon the universe of the series and adds ample backstory to both main characters. However, after being spoiled by the overwhelmingly magical other books in this series, I found this one to be a tad bit lacking. It downplays much of the magic and mystery that I love about the original fairy tale by devoting an extensive section to the realistic and mundane elements of the main characters' lives before they were touched by magic.
Rosemary Mercer is the hard-working daughter of a merchant who must run the shop while her father is away to help her two sisters. Her fiancé, Tonio, runs another local shop, and their marriage is meant to unite their two businesses. If this story doesn't sound like the one you were expecting, that's because the "Beauty and the Beast" section of the book doesn't begin until the halfway point. The elements are all there--the daughter of a merchant with two superficial sisters, a self-absorbed prince, and a father who was sent away on a business deal promising to bring back gifts for his daughters--but as the longest book in the series, Princess of Roses spends an inordinate amount of time developing the characters' lives prior to the curse. Due to A.G. Marshall's skillful writing, the pacing never feels slow in spite of the length. In, the first half of the book, Rosemary's engagement gets broken off, and she unknowingly meets the prince prior to his transformation. These chapters help to build the world to a larger extent than most other adaptations do, but they do not feel entirely necessary to tell this story.
The thing that I missed the most from other "Beauty and the Beast" adaptations that I've read is the mysterious magical element of the castle where the "Beauty" character is held prisoner. Though some have criticized this beloved story in which a maiden falls in love with her captor, most versions portray her being treated well during her stay with fine gowns, grand feasts, and magical servants. In this version, Rosemary is the servant. She makes an agreement with Prince Darian to free her father from captivity in exchange for one year of service in the unfinished new castle that he commissioned. His regular staff has abandoned him due to his gruesome appearance. There are no magical secrets awaiting Rosemary amongst the towering staircases that she must traverse to haul water up to cook for the cursed prince. She has no clothes except for a tattered yellow ballgown that gets covered in sweat and filth from everyday wear and tear. By the time Darian inevitably realizes what he has done by working her to the bone to singlehandedly perform the duties of an entire palace staff, it is almost too late.
At this point, I feel like I'm being harder on this book than it deserves. The setting and descriptions are terrific. I loved the references to the first three books in the series, which were my favorites. Rosemary is a wonderful heroine who teaches Darian the value of hard work, similar to Tiana and Naveen from The Princess and the Frog. The climax is brilliantly executed and packed with all the magic that I wish I had seen throughout the rest of the book. It brings back some of my favorite elements from the first book, Princess of Shadows, by having Rosemary enter the mysterious and dangerous shadow realm to rescue Darian. As bothered as I was with the way Darian treats Rosemary as his servant, it is easy to understand his ignorance due to his upbringing and subsequent regret after he develops feelings toward her. The alternating viewpoints among the chapters give readers an opportunity to grasp the story from both perspectives.
Princess of Roses is a fine adaptation of "Beauty and the Beast." It is just not my favorite entry in an otherwise brilliant series that expands upon some of the most underappreciated elements of classic fairy tales in a creative and original way. I enjoyed watching the romance develop between Rosemary and Darian, though I wish the first half of the book did not spend so much time on her relationship with Tonio when I knew they were never going to end up together. It was exhausting to read about Rosemary's trials and tribulations as the sole servant of an enormous castle in a sweaty old dress. If you are new to this series, I would not recommend starting with this book. There were so many wonderful references to the first three books that can only be truly appreciated by reading them first. I guarantee you will not regret it if you do.
Rosemary Mercer is the hard-working daughter of a merchant who must run the shop while her father is away to help her two sisters. Her fiancé, Tonio, runs another local shop, and their marriage is meant to unite their two businesses. If this story doesn't sound like the one you were expecting, that's because the "Beauty and the Beast" section of the book doesn't begin until the halfway point. The elements are all there--the daughter of a merchant with two superficial sisters, a self-absorbed prince, and a father who was sent away on a business deal promising to bring back gifts for his daughters--but as the longest book in the series, Princess of Roses spends an inordinate amount of time developing the characters' lives prior to the curse. Due to A.G. Marshall's skillful writing, the pacing never feels slow in spite of the length. In, the first half of the book, Rosemary's engagement gets broken off, and she unknowingly meets the prince prior to his transformation. These chapters help to build the world to a larger extent than most other adaptations do, but they do not feel entirely necessary to tell this story.
The thing that I missed the most from other "Beauty and the Beast" adaptations that I've read is the mysterious magical element of the castle where the "Beauty" character is held prisoner. Though some have criticized this beloved story in which a maiden falls in love with her captor, most versions portray her being treated well during her stay with fine gowns, grand feasts, and magical servants. In this version, Rosemary is the servant. She makes an agreement with Prince Darian to free her father from captivity in exchange for one year of service in the unfinished new castle that he commissioned. His regular staff has abandoned him due to his gruesome appearance. There are no magical secrets awaiting Rosemary amongst the towering staircases that she must traverse to haul water up to cook for the cursed prince. She has no clothes except for a tattered yellow ballgown that gets covered in sweat and filth from everyday wear and tear. By the time Darian inevitably realizes what he has done by working her to the bone to singlehandedly perform the duties of an entire palace staff, it is almost too late.
At this point, I feel like I'm being harder on this book than it deserves. The setting and descriptions are terrific. I loved the references to the first three books in the series, which were my favorites. Rosemary is a wonderful heroine who teaches Darian the value of hard work, similar to Tiana and Naveen from The Princess and the Frog. The climax is brilliantly executed and packed with all the magic that I wish I had seen throughout the rest of the book. It brings back some of my favorite elements from the first book, Princess of Shadows, by having Rosemary enter the mysterious and dangerous shadow realm to rescue Darian. As bothered as I was with the way Darian treats Rosemary as his servant, it is easy to understand his ignorance due to his upbringing and subsequent regret after he develops feelings toward her. The alternating viewpoints among the chapters give readers an opportunity to grasp the story from both perspectives.
Princess of Roses is a fine adaptation of "Beauty and the Beast." It is just not my favorite entry in an otherwise brilliant series that expands upon some of the most underappreciated elements of classic fairy tales in a creative and original way. I enjoyed watching the romance develop between Rosemary and Darian, though I wish the first half of the book did not spend so much time on her relationship with Tonio when I knew they were never going to end up together. It was exhausting to read about Rosemary's trials and tribulations as the sole servant of an enormous castle in a sweaty old dress. If you are new to this series, I would not recommend starting with this book. There were so many wonderful references to the first three books that can only be truly appreciated by reading them first. I guarantee you will not regret it if you do.
December 8, 2020
I loved this! Not a requirement, but I do recommend reading (or re-reading, if it's been awhile!) the other books in the series. There are a few references to characters from previous books and understanding them will make this book even more enjoyable!
December 30, 2020
Blew me away!
I can’t get enough of this series. I love how each book helps build the world more and more but still ties back in with the others before it. This clean version of a beauty and the beast retelling is still so well developed and fleshed out. The characters are amazing and the plot was so engaging and moved so well you don’t even realize how big this book is. Ps. I want MORE big books in this series. I can’t wait for cinder girl’s story and I have a feeling we met the evil queen from Snow White too. Eeeeee! So excited for the next book.
I can’t get enough of this series. I love how each book helps build the world more and more but still ties back in with the others before it. This clean version of a beauty and the beast retelling is still so well developed and fleshed out. The characters are amazing and the plot was so engaging and moved so well you don’t even realize how big this book is. Ps. I want MORE big books in this series. I can’t wait for cinder girl’s story and I have a feeling we met the evil queen from Snow White too. Eeeeee! So excited for the next book.
December 23, 2020
Excellent continuation of the series
This entire series has me devouring each book and then just waiting desperately for the next story.
Rosemary is relatable and Darian is obnoxious. A perfect combination for a lesson in humility and love.
This entire series has me devouring each book and then just waiting desperately for the next story.
Rosemary is relatable and Darian is obnoxious. A perfect combination for a lesson in humility and love.
February 3, 2021
I really liked this book. It was a full book!
There were aspects of previous books intertwined with this one too! I could see the other story lines and knew what would happen with tiny aspects of the story.
There was a lot of storytelling. My only complaint is the romance didn't feel like romance at all.
Generally with AG's books, there's a blossoming effect with the romance, this one is sorely lacking that. However, I didn't grab the book for the romance, I grabbed it for the adventure and action I knew that would be present in the story!
While it is a retelling of La Belle et la Bête and there were TONS of references to roses, at times, I forgot about the retelling and just thought this was Rosemary's story. Yes, there's a beast. Yes, there's a merchant's daughter. Yes, there is a curse, a destroyed ship, and there are roses. But to my brain, that's where the similarities end and this wonderful story picks up.
I loved that Lina, Corrina, Stefan, and Luca(!!!) from previous books were present! Others were mentioned from books 2 and 3 also, mermaids and bad guys too.
I loved the interaction with the beast and the cinder girl. I can't wait to read her story (it's next).
I liked how Rosemary and Darian grew closer together and that she could see beyond his flaws and he beyond hers. I did wish to see some sparks between them. It was more of a friendly love than a passionate one.
There are a couple of twist and turns along the way. HEA all the way! Not a cliffhanger in the traditional sense but you really are left wanting more information at the end.
I'm eager to read the next book in the series once it is released later this year!
There were aspects of previous books intertwined with this one too! I could see the other story lines and knew what would happen with tiny aspects of the story.
There was a lot of storytelling. My only complaint is the romance didn't feel like romance at all.
Generally with AG's books, there's a blossoming effect with the romance, this one is sorely lacking that. However, I didn't grab the book for the romance, I grabbed it for the adventure and action I knew that would be present in the story!
While it is a retelling of La Belle et la Bête and there were TONS of references to roses, at times, I forgot about the retelling and just thought this was Rosemary's story. Yes, there's a beast. Yes, there's a merchant's daughter. Yes, there is a curse, a destroyed ship, and there are roses. But to my brain, that's where the similarities end and this wonderful story picks up.
I loved that Lina, Corrina, Stefan, and Luca(!!!) from previous books were present! Others were mentioned from books 2 and 3 also, mermaids and bad guys too.
I loved the interaction with the beast and the cinder girl. I can't wait to read her story (it's next).
I liked how Rosemary and Darian grew closer together and that she could see beyond his flaws and he beyond hers. I did wish to see some sparks between them. It was more of a friendly love than a passionate one.
There are a couple of twist and turns along the way. HEA all the way! Not a cliffhanger in the traditional sense but you really are left wanting more information at the end.
I'm eager to read the next book in the series once it is released later this year!
September 23, 2021
I’ve been watching A G Marshall, waiting for a Beauty and the Beast retelling, and she did not disappoint!
I read standalone interwoven fairytales often, but this one was the first in which the tales were interwoven to such a degree! I haven’t read the first three books, but now I certainly want to and the hints at well known fairy tale characters make me eager to watch for a Cinderella and possible Snow White/Rose Red retelling in the future!
My main complaint about Princess of Roses is that the prince wasn’t turned into a beast until around page 200- though even that gave a depth to the characters and a backstory to their motives that isn’t often seen.
I read standalone interwoven fairytales often, but this one was the first in which the tales were interwoven to such a degree! I haven’t read the first three books, but now I certainly want to and the hints at well known fairy tale characters make me eager to watch for a Cinderella and possible Snow White/Rose Red retelling in the future!
My main complaint about Princess of Roses is that the prince wasn’t turned into a beast until around page 200- though even that gave a depth to the characters and a backstory to their motives that isn’t often seen.
June 22, 2021
Reader thoughts: This book dragggggged. We were about 50% into the book before the prince is turned into a beast (c'mon, that's not a spoiler). And the pace finally picked up for a few chapters. We seriously didn't need most of the first 200 pages. The plot with Tonio didn't interest me. I thought Rosemary had way overextended their finances. The Puercos were a good side plot but got too much attention. The prince was never likable. Rosemary's sisters were stupid most of the time.
I did like that Cinderella's tale was woven in. I also liked how the magical mirrors were incorporated.
I get that Rosemary's flaw was that she was too doting on her sisters, but this wasn't an interesting flaw to me. She wouldn't let them help in the family business, and they spent their time shopping and discussing fashion. She overworked herself and had made them into nincompoops. Rosemary's other flaw was trusting Tonio, which was well foreshadowed from the beginning.
The prince/beast was never likable because he was negative toward everyone. He was so full of pride and disdain, that it felt dirty to be in his pov. Yes, he is supposed to be uncharming, but this extreme lasted too long. Since he didn't even become a beast until 50%, his character growth didn't start happening until 60 or 70 percent. Plus, he didn't really have a character trait I admired. All of the traits were bad. What, he cares about Rosemary? He finally realizes that putting the kitchen 6 floors above the well is idiotic? He finally realizes that So, yeah, I didn't like the prince at all.
Also, the mermaids should have been willing to help merchants find things at the bottom of the sea, even for a price. It was annoying even in the last book that the mermaids ignored the plight of all those people.
Writer thoughts: Is the Beast supposed to be an unsympathetic good guy or a sympathetic villain? Either way, for the audience to like him by the end, he'll need some positive character traits. Some of these traits should be obvious from the start, just overshadowed by his negative ones. In this book, Marshall wrote him as caring about beautiful architecture. I suppose he was also smart. That was about it, though. He shirked his princely duties, was rude to his family and the peasants and his servants, and only cared about his own happiness. What aspect of him was the audience supposed to be cheering for? He needed a redeeming quality, and he didn't have one. (Unless handsome is supposed to be a character trait, but I don't think it is.)
I did like that Cinderella's tale was woven in. I also liked how the magical mirrors were incorporated.
I get that Rosemary's flaw was that she was too doting on her sisters, but this wasn't an interesting flaw to me. She wouldn't let them help in the family business, and they spent their time shopping and discussing fashion. She overworked herself and had made them into nincompoops. Rosemary's other flaw was trusting Tonio, which was well foreshadowed from the beginning.
The prince/beast was never likable because he was negative toward everyone. He was so full of pride and disdain, that it felt dirty to be in his pov. Yes, he is supposed to be uncharming, but this extreme lasted too long. Since he didn't even become a beast until 50%, his character growth didn't start happening until 60 or 70 percent. Plus, he didn't really have a character trait I admired. All of the traits were bad. What, he cares about Rosemary? He finally realizes that putting the kitchen 6 floors above the well is idiotic? He finally realizes that So, yeah, I didn't like the prince at all.
Also, the mermaids should have been willing to help merchants find things at the bottom of the sea, even for a price. It was annoying even in the last book that the mermaids ignored the plight of all those people.
Writer thoughts: Is the Beast supposed to be an unsympathetic good guy or a sympathetic villain? Either way, for the audience to like him by the end, he'll need some positive character traits. Some of these traits should be obvious from the start, just overshadowed by his negative ones. In this book, Marshall wrote him as caring about beautiful architecture. I suppose he was also smart. That was about it, though. He shirked his princely duties, was rude to his family and the peasants and his servants, and only cared about his own happiness. What aspect of him was the audience supposed to be cheering for? He needed a redeeming quality, and he didn't have one. (Unless handsome is supposed to be a character trait, but I don't think it is.)
December 9, 2020
3.5 stars
I want to clarify before I continue that I did enjoy this book.
That being said, oh my gosh there are a couple of things that really annoyed me.
Rosemary isn't like other girls. She isn't interested in the prince just for his money. She can have an intelligent conversation. She's intelligent. She's also very small and petite. And intelligent.
Did I mention intelligent? Because I'm not kidding when I say that every time Darian would talk about her he would use the word intelligent. Like, I'm sorry, I don't think you were looking too hard if she was the first girl you've ever met who can have an intelligent conversation. Darian also calls her small and petite multiple times. I get it, it's in comparison to his large size as the beast, but it still feels very superficial. Like the only things he cares about are her "intelligent" conversations and appearance.
Not only that but when he does start to realize how all the tasks he's been making her do are very difficult, he makes sure to point out that it is difficult for a normal human, let alone a woman.
I understand that men tend to be stronger than women so of course, physical laborious tasks like hauling buckets of water up six flights of stairs would be easier for them, but you really didn't need to say that. The audience would understand if you would have simply said person.
Overall, the story was pretty good. The only reason I rated it as low as I did was that these things were literally everywhere in the book.
I want to clarify before I continue that I did enjoy this book.
That being said, oh my gosh there are a couple of things that really annoyed me.
Rosemary isn't like other girls. She isn't interested in the prince just for his money. She can have an intelligent conversation. She's intelligent. She's also very small and petite. And intelligent.
Did I mention intelligent? Because I'm not kidding when I say that every time Darian would talk about her he would use the word intelligent. Like, I'm sorry, I don't think you were looking too hard if she was the first girl you've ever met who can have an intelligent conversation. Darian also calls her small and petite multiple times. I get it, it's in comparison to his large size as the beast, but it still feels very superficial. Like the only things he cares about are her "intelligent" conversations and appearance.
Not only that but when he does start to realize how all the tasks he's been making her do are very difficult, he makes sure to point out that it is difficult for a normal human, let alone a woman.
I understand that men tend to be stronger than women so of course, physical laborious tasks like hauling buckets of water up six flights of stairs would be easier for them, but you really didn't need to say that. The audience would understand if you would have simply said person.
Overall, the story was pretty good. The only reason I rated it as low as I did was that these things were literally everywhere in the book.
September 17, 2021
So I know this book has been published for awhile now, but I hadn’t made up my mind if I was going to continue the series or not. Plus the fact that this book was so long and had some mixed reviews made me hesitant read it.
Now that I have read it I am very glad that I did and the characters in this series are becoming very dear to me. So I will definitely be following this series more closely.
This book is a stand alone, but takes place simultaneously with the other books in the series. Like Rosemary and her sisters heard rumors that Evangelina Shadow Storm had won a Princess test, and later on that a kraken was destroying ships.
Each chapter alternates between Darian’s POV and Rosemary’s POV. The story had a great pace with no lull, and the book had multiple villains. And even though the settings weren’t super descriptive I still had a great picture in my mind of what the castle and village looked like. The characters were unique and the ending let me revisit some characters from the previous books. There are also scenes in here that give us a hint for a Cinderella and Snow White retelling.
Overall I am glad to have read and bought this book. 4 instead of 5 stars because some of the descriptive words and/or phrases were just used too much and weren’t varied at all.
Now that I have read it I am very glad that I did and the characters in this series are becoming very dear to me. So I will definitely be following this series more closely.
This book is a stand alone, but takes place simultaneously with the other books in the series. Like Rosemary and her sisters heard rumors that Evangelina Shadow Storm had won a Princess test, and later on that a kraken was destroying ships.
Each chapter alternates between Darian’s POV and Rosemary’s POV. The story had a great pace with no lull, and the book had multiple villains. And even though the settings weren’t super descriptive I still had a great picture in my mind of what the castle and village looked like. The characters were unique and the ending let me revisit some characters from the previous books. There are also scenes in here that give us a hint for a Cinderella and Snow White retelling.
Overall I am glad to have read and bought this book. 4 instead of 5 stars because some of the descriptive words and/or phrases were just used too much and weren’t varied at all.
November 26, 2020
Another hit by A G Marshall.
A.G.Marshall is an extremely talented writer, and she's woven together a wonderful world with intertwined yet stand-alone stories - an incredibly challenging feat that's she's accomplished with grace. I'll admit that Princess of Roses was not my favourite story, though. Beauty and the Beast is my favourite fairytale, so i always have really high expectations for it. I felt Princess of Roses was rather draggy (especially since you already KNOW the business deal is going to fall through) - Rosemary took way too many business risks, she allowed herself to be a doormat for Tonio, and the Prince was just so awful for most of the book. Nonetheless, it did get much better at the end, and i would definitely still recommend this book. But i definitely prefer Princess of Shadows and Princess of Mermaids.
A.G.Marshall is an extremely talented writer, and she's woven together a wonderful world with intertwined yet stand-alone stories - an incredibly challenging feat that's she's accomplished with grace. I'll admit that Princess of Roses was not my favourite story, though. Beauty and the Beast is my favourite fairytale, so i always have really high expectations for it. I felt Princess of Roses was rather draggy (especially since you already KNOW the business deal is going to fall through) - Rosemary took way too many business risks, she allowed herself to be a doormat for Tonio, and the Prince was just so awful for most of the book. Nonetheless, it did get much better at the end, and i would definitely still recommend this book. But i definitely prefer Princess of Shadows and Princess of Mermaids.
February 21, 2021
One of my favorite Beauty and the Beast retellings
Beauty and the Beast is somewhat sacred to me. This book definitely did the story justice. I loved the connection to the other books in the series but it could really stand on it's own.
Favorite parts-The prince completed the library first in his renovations even though it was completely impractical.
How Rosemary was so hard working and a woman of integrity.
The sister's relationship. It was sweet and believable and I appreciated that they weren't villains.
Cameos from some of my favorite characters in another book from the series.
Seriously, this book was just *chefs kiss*
Beauty and the Beast is somewhat sacred to me. This book definitely did the story justice. I loved the connection to the other books in the series but it could really stand on it's own.
Favorite parts-The prince completed the library first in his renovations even though it was completely impractical.
How Rosemary was so hard working and a woman of integrity.
The sister's relationship. It was sweet and believable and I appreciated that they weren't villains.
Cameos from some of my favorite characters in another book from the series.
Seriously, this book was just *chefs kiss*
August 30, 2022
The last half of this book was great! The first half was mostly unnecessary if you've read the others in the series up to this point. It took a very long time to get to the plot points revealed in Princess of Mermaids. And since I knew where it was going, it felt tedious and slow. After the plot line caught up, it was really great and had some wonderful tie ins to the previous books and characters. First half of the book would probably be a 3 for me, 2nd half would be a 5. So I'll meet in the middle. Kind of concerned about the Cinderella story coming up for the same reason, but I'll still pick it up for sure.
January 27, 2021
I was skeptical about the length of this retelling, but ended up enjoying it. There was a lot of context for the characters (better if read after the previous books in the series for backstory on secondary characters), a believable reason for her to be stuck living with the Beast, a fun usage of magic along with the Beast's new form, and a believable growth of regard & friendship. There weren't enchanted servants; Beauty was the *only* servant. This was an interesting take on an often-retold story with plenty of humor intermixed.
November 5, 2025
4.5 stars
I LOVE this series! This book took me a little longer to finish than the other, and has probably been my least favorite from the series so far, but it was still really good! My slightly lower rating might have to do with the fact that the two main characters weren't featured in any of the previous books like the other were. Im very excited for Princess of Mirrors!
(Spoilers)
I loved that Stefan, Carina, Lina, and Cinderella all had appearances and was so happy that Lina finally got to reunite with her brother! Which i guessed from the beginning that the donkey was Luca 🤭)
I LOVE this series! This book took me a little longer to finish than the other, and has probably been my least favorite from the series so far, but it was still really good! My slightly lower rating might have to do with the fact that the two main characters weren't featured in any of the previous books like the other were. Im very excited for Princess of Mirrors!
(Spoilers)
I loved that Stefan, Carina, Lina, and Cinderella all had appearances and was so happy that Lina finally got to reunite with her brother! Which i guessed from the beginning that the donkey was Luca 🤭)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2020
I loved this read!!!!♥️♥️♥️♥️
The characters of Beauty and the Beast retelling in a new light! I’ve never read it in their king of plot. It was a slow start at the beginning and I had skipped a lot but after mid-way it started getting more exciting! There was a little bit of mystery, slow burn romance, companionships and the magical world! I haven’t ready the previous books but after this I’ll have to go back and ready! There was humor that cracked me up so! Prince Darian, Princess Carina and Prince Stefan we’re hilarious 😂 and of course I loved the donkey♥️
RECOMMEND!!!!!
The characters of Beauty and the Beast retelling in a new light! I’ve never read it in their king of plot. It was a slow start at the beginning and I had skipped a lot but after mid-way it started getting more exciting! There was a little bit of mystery, slow burn romance, companionships and the magical world! I haven’t ready the previous books but after this I’ll have to go back and ready! There was humor that cracked me up so! Prince Darian, Princess Carina and Prince Stefan we’re hilarious 😂 and of course I loved the donkey♥️
RECOMMEND!!!!!
January 26, 2021
Another great fairytale retelling
Darian and Rosemary have a lot of pride in themselves and prejudices towards each other. Darian is every inch the disdainful of all things below him Crown Prince and Rosemary is disdainful of snobby royals and nobles. They have to look past each other’s faults to the quality and goodness underneath their outward words and appearances and find no fault in each other. Who knew curses had so many rules to follow?
Darian and Rosemary have a lot of pride in themselves and prejudices towards each other. Darian is every inch the disdainful of all things below him Crown Prince and Rosemary is disdainful of snobby royals and nobles. They have to look past each other’s faults to the quality and goodness underneath their outward words and appearances and find no fault in each other. Who knew curses had so many rules to follow?
November 13, 2022
My all time favorite from this series, and my all time favorite Beauty and the Beast retelling.
It was soo good! I love how long this book is, nothing was rushed. You got to know the main characters and watch the romance blossom!
My favorite thing about this book was that it was more of a slow burn romance, where as in the previous books in this series the romances developed rather quickly.
It was also super fun to see a bit of Carina and Stefan, and Lina.
and the donkey ❤️
It was soo good! I love how long this book is, nothing was rushed. You got to know the main characters and watch the romance blossom!
My favorite thing about this book was that it was more of a slow burn romance, where as in the previous books in this series the romances developed rather quickly.
It was also super fun to see a bit of Carina and Stefan, and Lina.
and the donkey ❤️
August 7, 2023
Believe me when I tell you that the author has done a fantastic job writing the story. As a woman who adores fairytales especially Beauty and the Beast, I couldn’t wait until I read this book from the series. It’s amazing, filled with breath-holding scenes and the classic romance between ‘Belle’ and the beast.
Hello, author, when will you release Princess of Mirrors?
Sincerely,
An overeager and patient fan.
Hello, author, when will you release Princess of Mirrors?
Sincerely,
An overeager and patient fan.
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