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The Skazka Fairy Tales #1
The Scarlet Rose
A mafia heiress. A desperate bargain. A cursed wolf prince without hope.
Nikita has one goal in life: to take her father’s place in the Bratva syndicate. While her sisters want nothing more than advantageous marriages to wealthy men, Nikita wants control of her own life.
But when her father is tricked into a bargain with Gavriil, the prince of Skazka, to protect her family's legacy, Nikita has no choice but to steal the portal ring and take his place.
Within the walls of the castle, she finds a spoiled royal, hallways filled with strange statues, and a magic she didn’t know existed.
Tasked with finding a way to break the curse, Nikita spends hours pouring over ancient texts, looking for answers — and a way out.
Her one reprieve is her music. After finding the hidden piano room, she takes her refuge there. Soon, so does Gavriil. Suddenly, the broody enemy is becoming a friend—or something more.
Passions ignite and Nikita must do all she can to save the prince and his people from the curse that could destroy them.
Time is running out. Each day, Gavriil turns more and more into a wolf, losing his human emotions and memories.
If Nikita can’t break the curse, there will be no trace of Gavriil left, and he’ll become the monster he’s always feared himself to be—forfeiting his humanity, and heart, forever.
The Scarlet Rose is a retelling of the traditional Russian Beauty and the Beast fairytale. Set in the world of Skazka, this complete stand-alone novel is full of banter, heart, found family, and romance!
Nikita has one goal in life: to take her father’s place in the Bratva syndicate. While her sisters want nothing more than advantageous marriages to wealthy men, Nikita wants control of her own life.
But when her father is tricked into a bargain with Gavriil, the prince of Skazka, to protect her family's legacy, Nikita has no choice but to steal the portal ring and take his place.
Within the walls of the castle, she finds a spoiled royal, hallways filled with strange statues, and a magic she didn’t know existed.
Tasked with finding a way to break the curse, Nikita spends hours pouring over ancient texts, looking for answers — and a way out.
Her one reprieve is her music. After finding the hidden piano room, she takes her refuge there. Soon, so does Gavriil. Suddenly, the broody enemy is becoming a friend—or something more.
Passions ignite and Nikita must do all she can to save the prince and his people from the curse that could destroy them.
Time is running out. Each day, Gavriil turns more and more into a wolf, losing his human emotions and memories.
If Nikita can’t break the curse, there will be no trace of Gavriil left, and he’ll become the monster he’s always feared himself to be—forfeiting his humanity, and heart, forever.
The Scarlet Rose is a retelling of the traditional Russian Beauty and the Beast fairytale. Set in the world of Skazka, this complete stand-alone novel is full of banter, heart, found family, and romance!
Unknown Binding
Published October 6, 2021
76 people are currently reading
5125 people want to read
About the author
Valia Lind
65 books450 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author. Photographer. Artist. Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia, Valia Lind has always had a love for the written word. She wrote her first published book on the bathroom floor of her dormitory, while procrastinating to study for her college classes. Upon graduation, she has moved her writing to more respectable places, and has found her voice in Young Adult fiction.
In 2015, her YA thriller, Pieces of Revenge, was the recipient of the Moonbeam Children's Book Award.
You can visit her online at http://valialind.com or follow her on Instagram, where she spends way too much time, @ValiaLind.
For a free book, sign up for her newsletter --> https://dl.bookfunnel.com/f0t1xi1qmr
In 2015, her YA thriller, Pieces of Revenge, was the recipient of the Moonbeam Children's Book Award.
You can visit her online at http://valialind.com or follow her on Instagram, where she spends way too much time, @ValiaLind.
For a free book, sign up for her newsletter --> https://dl.bookfunnel.com/f0t1xi1qmr
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
September 24, 2021
I loved this Russian inspired take on Beauty and the Beast! I got all the feels from Nikita (the Russian mafia princess) and Gavrill (the prince turning into a beast) and their connection. I can't wait to revisit the fairytale world of Skazka again in the next book, but until then I'll just have to reread this one!
October 22, 2021
The Scarlet Rose is a Russian-inspired Beauty and the Beast retelling set in the magical world of Skazka featuring a cursed wolf prince, a feisty mafia heiress, and sweet swoony romance. It's a really fun twist on the classic tale and I loved it! It was super awesome to see the author infuse her Russian heritage into this story and I can't wait to read the next retelling she has in store!
April 28, 2022
Y'all. I did it again. For the most part I went into the book blind. All I knew about the book was this... A mafia heiress. A desperate bargain. A cursed wolf prince without hope.
To say I was intrigued would be an understatement. I quickly downloaded the book and dove right in. I absolutely loved this unique retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I was hooked from the very beginning and had the hardest time putting it down. I really did not want the book to end.
Nikita and Gavriil are fantastic! They're both loyal, kind, loving, fiercely protective of the ones they love, and will do anything in their power to make sure the people they care about most are happy. I loved their witty banter and their back and forth. Gavriil didn't know what to do with Nikita at times. It was hilarious! I have to say that these two are pretty perfect for each other and I loved seeing them get their HEA.
I was feeling all the feels with this book. I absolutely love when an author can literally make me feel the same way the characters are feeling. It makes the book more real to me, like I'm sitting right there with them experiencing everything they are. It's the best feeling in the world!
This is my first book by Ms. Lind and I will definitely be reading more by her. If I'm being honest, she had me at her author's note in the very beginning. Not only did it help me to become fully invested in the book, but it made it even that much more real to me. It was amazing. I definitely cannot wait to get my hands on the rest of this series!
As for my casting, I'm kinda really loving these two. What do you think?!
To say I was intrigued would be an understatement. I quickly downloaded the book and dove right in. I absolutely loved this unique retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I was hooked from the very beginning and had the hardest time putting it down. I really did not want the book to end.
Nikita and Gavriil are fantastic! They're both loyal, kind, loving, fiercely protective of the ones they love, and will do anything in their power to make sure the people they care about most are happy. I loved their witty banter and their back and forth. Gavriil didn't know what to do with Nikita at times. It was hilarious! I have to say that these two are pretty perfect for each other and I loved seeing them get their HEA.
I was feeling all the feels with this book. I absolutely love when an author can literally make me feel the same way the characters are feeling. It makes the book more real to me, like I'm sitting right there with them experiencing everything they are. It's the best feeling in the world!
This is my first book by Ms. Lind and I will definitely be reading more by her. If I'm being honest, she had me at her author's note in the very beginning. Not only did it help me to become fully invested in the book, but it made it even that much more real to me. It was amazing. I definitely cannot wait to get my hands on the rest of this series!
As for my casting, I'm kinda really loving these two. What do you think?!
February 20, 2024
Beauty and the Beast but make it Russian and Belle is a mob boss’ daughter. This was a ride I thoroughly enjoyed! It’s filled with a very similar story that we know and love with tender moments that just make you smile.
The FMC is tough. Thick skin, with a sense of humor. She trades her fate with her fathers and ends up a willing prisoner to a less than ideal male in a huge castle. Her only task is to read all she can regarding curses to help find a way to save everyone within.
This story takes a unique approach while still keeping elements of the fairytale we love so much. I will definitely be reading more from this author!
The FMC is tough. Thick skin, with a sense of humor. She trades her fate with her fathers and ends up a willing prisoner to a less than ideal male in a huge castle. Her only task is to read all she can regarding curses to help find a way to save everyone within.
This story takes a unique approach while still keeping elements of the fairytale we love so much. I will definitely be reading more from this author!
October 4, 2021
“My breathing slows and I give myself a small pep talk in my head. This is something I can handle, because I can handle anything. I am not a weakling and I do not cower. I am here because I am protecting my family and I am determined to succeed. From what I know of blood bargains – and it’s nearly not enough – they can be broken in two ways. Release from the bargainer or death. There are consequences when the points of the contract are not followed. So I will do what I’m told. And if the opportunity presents itself, I will kill the creature and escape with my freedom.” - Nikita
While her sisters want nothing more than advantageous marriages to wealthy men, Nikita has one goal in life: to take her father’s place in the Bratva syndicate.
But when her father is forced into a blood contract with Gavriil, the Prince of Skazka, Nikita has no choice but to steal the portal ring and take his place to protect her family's legacy.
Within the confines of the castle, Nikita encounters hallways littered with strange statues and an antagonistic Prince who for some inexplicable reason, refuses to come out of the shadows.
Eventually, Nikita learns that a curse has been placed on the Prince and those closest to him and he needs her help to find a way to break it.
Over the course of her stay, Nikita spends hours pouring over ancient texts in a desperate bid for answers and a way out. Her one reprieve is her music so when she finds a hidden piano room, she takes refuge there. Soon, so does Gavriil.
Slowly a tentative friendship develops between the two and the possibility of something more. With Gavriil’s humanity and sense of self beginning to slip away with each passing day, however, Nikita faces a monumental task in saving him and the very people she has come to see as her family. Will she succeed?
The Scarlet Rose is a retelling of the traditional Russian Beauty and the Beast fairytale. From the offset, I was impressed by the author’s unique approach and modern twist to a much-loved fairytale while still staying true to the original.
Immersive, atmospheric and brimming with magic are just some of the words that come to mind when describing the vivid imagery the author conjures up when describing the gloomy castle and each realm. I felt as though I was there breathing in the air along with Nikita.
Along with the exceptional world-building, I was equally impressed with the three-dimensional character development. Nikita is a strong, appealing and resilient protagonist who readers will instantly connect with. She's tough, courageous and resourceful - she’s had to be to survive the cutthroat male-dominated Bratva syndicate. Similarly, Gavriil has grown up under the shadow of his tyrannical father and would have followed in his footsteps had fate not intervened. Now he’s desperate to find a way to break the curse lest he dooms his own people to his fate. Additional supporting characters also add great depth and layers to this world particularly Gavriil’s companions.
The interaction between Nikita and Gavriil was my favourite overall aspect of the book. Initially, Nikita is resentful of the blood bargain she feels her father was tricked into and stands up to Gavriil’s bullying antics. He in turn is shocked at her no-nonsense attitude and comes to respect her. It’s not until Nikita meets the other doomed occupants of the castle that she comes to understand Gavriil’s predicament and the true man beneath the gruff exterior. Seeing their antagonism give way to love and mutual understanding was satisfying.
All in all, this was a well-executed, thoroughly entertaining book with characters that readers can visualise. This was my first introduction to the author and it won’t be my last. Highly recommended.
While her sisters want nothing more than advantageous marriages to wealthy men, Nikita has one goal in life: to take her father’s place in the Bratva syndicate.
But when her father is forced into a blood contract with Gavriil, the Prince of Skazka, Nikita has no choice but to steal the portal ring and take his place to protect her family's legacy.
Within the confines of the castle, Nikita encounters hallways littered with strange statues and an antagonistic Prince who for some inexplicable reason, refuses to come out of the shadows.
Eventually, Nikita learns that a curse has been placed on the Prince and those closest to him and he needs her help to find a way to break it.
Over the course of her stay, Nikita spends hours pouring over ancient texts in a desperate bid for answers and a way out. Her one reprieve is her music so when she finds a hidden piano room, she takes refuge there. Soon, so does Gavriil.
Slowly a tentative friendship develops between the two and the possibility of something more. With Gavriil’s humanity and sense of self beginning to slip away with each passing day, however, Nikita faces a monumental task in saving him and the very people she has come to see as her family. Will she succeed?
The Scarlet Rose is a retelling of the traditional Russian Beauty and the Beast fairytale. From the offset, I was impressed by the author’s unique approach and modern twist to a much-loved fairytale while still staying true to the original.
Immersive, atmospheric and brimming with magic are just some of the words that come to mind when describing the vivid imagery the author conjures up when describing the gloomy castle and each realm. I felt as though I was there breathing in the air along with Nikita.
Along with the exceptional world-building, I was equally impressed with the three-dimensional character development. Nikita is a strong, appealing and resilient protagonist who readers will instantly connect with. She's tough, courageous and resourceful - she’s had to be to survive the cutthroat male-dominated Bratva syndicate. Similarly, Gavriil has grown up under the shadow of his tyrannical father and would have followed in his footsteps had fate not intervened. Now he’s desperate to find a way to break the curse lest he dooms his own people to his fate. Additional supporting characters also add great depth and layers to this world particularly Gavriil’s companions.
The interaction between Nikita and Gavriil was my favourite overall aspect of the book. Initially, Nikita is resentful of the blood bargain she feels her father was tricked into and stands up to Gavriil’s bullying antics. He in turn is shocked at her no-nonsense attitude and comes to respect her. It’s not until Nikita meets the other doomed occupants of the castle that she comes to understand Gavriil’s predicament and the true man beneath the gruff exterior. Seeing their antagonism give way to love and mutual understanding was satisfying.
All in all, this was a well-executed, thoroughly entertaining book with characters that readers can visualise. This was my first introduction to the author and it won’t be my last. Highly recommended.
September 26, 2021
Valia Lind is an author whose books I've noticed and been meaning to read but haven't gotten to until now. The Scarlet Rose is a Russian Beauty and the Beast retelling but with a modern-day Mafia twist and it was freaking awesome. With all the best elements that the original tale had but with Lind's unique twist.
The story takes place in modern-day Russia and centers around Nikita Arturovna as she tries to take her place as her father's heir within the Bratva, the Russian Mafia, a place where women don't have any power. Honestly, it's not what Niki would have wanted she would have loved to be a musician but after her mother's death and with two spoiled older sisters her father needed the help, someone to look after him. In all honesty, Niki's papa seems like a really nice man and I'm not sure how he survived the Bratva and he most definitely doesn't deserve his other rotten daughters. Niki is smart and determined to do whatever it takes to protect her family, so she does what she has to without complaint. Niki learned the business, learned how to protect herself properly, and handle a good chunk of her father's business.
In this story, most people believe that fairytales are just that tales but somehow the Bratva finds out that fairytales are real in the realm of Skazka and are dealing between the two realms. However Skazka isn't all sunshine and rainbows, it's like the original fairytales with some dark undertones, it can be very dangerous. So when Niki's father goes to Skazka and gets into trouble Niki decides to take his place. There is a dark castle, a curse, and a grumpy werewolf prince named Gavriil.
Gavriil is cursed and has bargained for Niki to help him so Niki does research (she is a research nerd) and lives her life in the castle with the grumpy prince who at the start only stays in the shadows. Well, Nikki being strong-willed and Gavriil being grumpy, they don't get along at first. They trade shots at each other, argue all the time, and of course, Niki plots her escape. But as time goes on things change between them, Niki meets Gavriil's friends and they are good people who she comes to care about, Gavriil stops hiding, and Niki opens up and eventually wants to help break the curse. I could see the couple learning to care about each other and slowly bond over their love of music. Their relationship isn't the easiest when they start to come together but it's the strongest for all that they have endured.
I just really loved all aspects of The Scarlet Rose. The modern-day twist with the Bratva and how the organization works, the classic elements that I recognize from the original tale but with a twist, and most of all I loved learning about the Russian culture and seeing it entwined with the story. All these things worked together to create a lovely story that I will read time and time again. After this, I can't wait to jump into more of Lind's work.
The story takes place in modern-day Russia and centers around Nikita Arturovna as she tries to take her place as her father's heir within the Bratva, the Russian Mafia, a place where women don't have any power. Honestly, it's not what Niki would have wanted she would have loved to be a musician but after her mother's death and with two spoiled older sisters her father needed the help, someone to look after him. In all honesty, Niki's papa seems like a really nice man and I'm not sure how he survived the Bratva and he most definitely doesn't deserve his other rotten daughters. Niki is smart and determined to do whatever it takes to protect her family, so she does what she has to without complaint. Niki learned the business, learned how to protect herself properly, and handle a good chunk of her father's business.
In this story, most people believe that fairytales are just that tales but somehow the Bratva finds out that fairytales are real in the realm of Skazka and are dealing between the two realms. However Skazka isn't all sunshine and rainbows, it's like the original fairytales with some dark undertones, it can be very dangerous. So when Niki's father goes to Skazka and gets into trouble Niki decides to take his place. There is a dark castle, a curse, and a grumpy werewolf prince named Gavriil.
Gavriil is cursed and has bargained for Niki to help him so Niki does research (she is a research nerd) and lives her life in the castle with the grumpy prince who at the start only stays in the shadows. Well, Nikki being strong-willed and Gavriil being grumpy, they don't get along at first. They trade shots at each other, argue all the time, and of course, Niki plots her escape. But as time goes on things change between them, Niki meets Gavriil's friends and they are good people who she comes to care about, Gavriil stops hiding, and Niki opens up and eventually wants to help break the curse. I could see the couple learning to care about each other and slowly bond over their love of music. Their relationship isn't the easiest when they start to come together but it's the strongest for all that they have endured.
I just really loved all aspects of The Scarlet Rose. The modern-day twist with the Bratva and how the organization works, the classic elements that I recognize from the original tale but with a twist, and most of all I loved learning about the Russian culture and seeing it entwined with the story. All these things worked together to create a lovely story that I will read time and time again. After this, I can't wait to jump into more of Lind's work.
December 28, 2022
This was such a beautiful retelling of 𝐵𝑒𝒶𝓊𝓉𝓎 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝐵𝑒𝒶𝓈𝓉! The Scarlet Rose is book one in The Skazka Fairy Tales series and boy am I hooked. Aside from knowing that this was a retelling of one of my favorite classic tales, I went in blind and I was not disappointed.
In this Russian inspired version of 𝐵𝑒𝒶𝓊𝓉𝓎 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝐵𝑒𝒶𝓈𝓉 you have a Russian mafia princess (Nikita, the Beauty) and a cursed wolf prince (Gavrill, the Beast). I loved how feisty Nikita was and the interactions that took place between the two of them. I enjoyed seeing them warm up to each other and work together to overcome the curse and get their happily ever after.
This fairy tale sets place in the magical realm of Skazka, which is parallel to the human world. I found this to be intriguing and a unique take on classic components from the original story.
I loved how the author was able to stay true to the original story, but infused her own heritage into the tale and gave it its own unique twist.
If you are a fan of 𝐵𝑒𝒶𝓊𝓉𝓎 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝐵𝑒𝒶𝓈𝓉 you should definitely check this one out!
In this Russian inspired version of 𝐵𝑒𝒶𝓊𝓉𝓎 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝐵𝑒𝒶𝓈𝓉 you have a Russian mafia princess (Nikita, the Beauty) and a cursed wolf prince (Gavrill, the Beast). I loved how feisty Nikita was and the interactions that took place between the two of them. I enjoyed seeing them warm up to each other and work together to overcome the curse and get their happily ever after.
This fairy tale sets place in the magical realm of Skazka, which is parallel to the human world. I found this to be intriguing and a unique take on classic components from the original story.
I loved how the author was able to stay true to the original story, but infused her own heritage into the tale and gave it its own unique twist.
If you are a fan of 𝐵𝑒𝒶𝓊𝓉𝓎 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝐵𝑒𝒶𝓈𝓉 you should definitely check this one out!
November 23, 2023
Oh I loved this retelling of beauty and the beast. Based on a note from Valia Lind this is a Russian version and told in a Russian setting. I absolutely loved it. It is different and extremely well written. I love how old meets new in this telling. It has so much drama and action throughout it. It is a unique version that I personally have never heard. It definitely drew me in and kept me glued to it. I love how the personalities of the characters are felt throughout the story. The descriptions are radiant and add so much to the story. I loved how it ended and all its brilliance. This an absolute must read!!!!!!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 22, 2021
I adore Beauty and the Beast. I have more re-tellings of it than any other on my bookshelves, and I jump at nearly every opportunity to read new ones that pop up. The Scarlet Rose was a fabulous, traditional addition to my favorites pile. Nikita being a strong, relatable MC and Gavriil being a kind and worthy love interest really tied the story together nicely.
What really stood out to me, setting Scarlet apart from other re-tellings, was the world of Skazka. I am wholly invested on reading more about this magical realm that lives parallel to the human world and really hope to see more of it in Lind's future works.
What really stood out to me, setting Scarlet apart from other re-tellings, was the world of Skazka. I am wholly invested on reading more about this magical realm that lives parallel to the human world and really hope to see more of it in Lind's future works.
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October 25, 2023🌹 THE SCARLET ROSE IS LIVE! 🌹
Grab it here --> https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09...
This story is so many parts of my heart - from the fairy tale of my childhood to my Russian heritage woven throughout. It features a fierce, take charge heroine and a broody, but surprisingly kind hero.
I love their passion, their bond, and their love for each other, their families, and their people.
I hope you love this book as much as I have loved writing it.
🌹
It seems surreal to have this book out in every format: hardback, paperback, and kindle. You can also read it in KU! Just another item off the bucket list.
🌹
Thank you, thank you, for giving me a chance to share my stories with you!
🌹
To stay up to date with everything, make sure to subscribe to my newsletter! I make sure to include lots of book deals from other authors, as well as giveaways and writing insights!
🌹
My reader's group is growing! Become part of Valia's Warriors for exclusive insights, parties, and first looks!
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for reading my books! <3
Grab it here --> https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09...
This story is so many parts of my heart - from the fairy tale of my childhood to my Russian heritage woven throughout. It features a fierce, take charge heroine and a broody, but surprisingly kind hero.
I love their passion, their bond, and their love for each other, their families, and their people.
I hope you love this book as much as I have loved writing it.
🌹
It seems surreal to have this book out in every format: hardback, paperback, and kindle. You can also read it in KU! Just another item off the bucket list.
🌹
Thank you, thank you, for giving me a chance to share my stories with you!
🌹
To stay up to date with everything, make sure to subscribe to my newsletter! I make sure to include lots of book deals from other authors, as well as giveaways and writing insights!
🌹
My reader's group is growing! Become part of Valia's Warriors for exclusive insights, parties, and first looks!
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for reading my books! <3
September 17, 2021
I loved this! I mean, I'll read pretty much any Beauty and the Beast retelling, haha. But to read a retelling inspired by the Russian Beauty and the Beast... written by a Russian author!! That was enough to sell me on it. Then I found out it has a feisty mafia heiress princess as the main character??? Let's just say I was sold right from the start. This was such a delightful read with lots of magic and all the feels. I'm so glad I was able to read it. :)
September 18, 2021
First the cover is beautiful. When first reading it, I was wondering if it was going to be similar to all the other books rewritten of beauty and the beast. But I was pleasantly surprised it wasn’t. It had its own twists and turns. I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the characters and their growth.
October 6, 2021
Holy smokes! What a way better retelling of Beauty & The Beast than the typical! It was amazing! Nikita is a great “Beauty” & Gavriil was an awesome Beast. I love the twists & all the feels you get between Gavriil & Nikita.
First time reader of Valia Lind’s but safe to say it won’t be my last!
First time reader of Valia Lind’s but safe to say it won’t be my last!
January 12, 2025
The Scarlet Rose is the second book I've read from Valia Lind's Skazka Fairy Tales, a series of Russian-inspired fairy tale retellings. This story is a fairly standard adaptation of "Beauty and the Beast." She made some small changes to the story to make it her own, but for the most part, it follows the Disney movie beat for beat. This comfortable and familiar retelling falls perfectly into the "cozy fantasy romance" genre that the Skazka Fairy Tales are categorized as. I enjoyed the love story from her other book, The Cursed Beauty, more than this one since it took the main character a longer to fall in love with the beast. However, The Scarlet Rose contains some interesting family dynamics by incorporating the siblings from the original fairy tale instead of making the "Beauty" character an only child and giving the "Beast" character his own family that he swore to protect.
A young lady named Nikita grows concerned when her father accepts a business transaction to a dangerous foreign land. While her sisters request expensive gifts from their travels, she only asks for the most beautiful flower to ensure he returns safely. Little does she know that this request will force her to sacrifice everything she knows and cares about. When her father returns with a magic ring that binds him to a beast in an enchanted castle, Nikita steals the ring and travels to the castle in his place. The beast, a cursed prince named Gavriil, is less than pleased with this arrangement but eventually comes to terms with it. During her time at the castle, Nikita is charged with researching how to break Gavriil's curse, which takes away his ability to read as a side effect. She then discovers talking statues of Gavriil's loved ones throughout the grounds that only come to life at certain times.
Although this book follows the story of "Beauty and the Beast" pretty closely, there are a few changes that make it more grounded in the Russian fantasy world of Skazka. The enchantress who curses the prince is Baba Yaga, the famous Russian witch who is spoken of widely in lore. Instead of permanently taking on the form of a beast, Gavriil is cursed to slowly lose his humanity over time and turn into a mindless wolf. When Nikita finds him, he is partway through his transition, giving him the traditional humanoid beastly appearance that most adaptations use. This provides more of an urgency to break the curse before he loses his humanity entirely. It also explains his motivation in binding Nikita's father to do his research for him. Every "Beauty and the Beast" adaptation has its own version of the castle's unusual residents. The curse on Gavriil's family and friends is tied to his own but is not the same as his. While most interpretations don't sympathize much with the other cursed residents of the castle, Gavriil is just as determined to break their curse as his own.
For me, the best "Beauty and the Beast" retellings have a strong love story, and this one doesn't quite hit that mark for me. Nikita slowly grows to love Gavriil over time, but it takes the majority of the book for her to come to terms with it. There is little chemistry built between them throughout the story because most of it focuses more on trying to break the curse on Gavriil and his family. There was also a "Gaston" character to create some drama who had little importance to the story outside of drawing a parallel to the Disney film. I would have preferred to spend more time seeing Nikita and Gavriil get to know each other and rekindle his humanity based on their common interests. There was also a ballroom dance that parallels the Disney movie that feels forced and doesn't provide an opportunity for the main couple to genuinely bond with each other.
The Scarlet Rose is a cozy and familiar retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" that fits neatly into the Skazka Fairy Tales series. While it doesn't stray far from the original tale, Valia Lind adds some interesting twists, such as the incorporation of Baba Yaga and the talking statues. However, the romance, which is often the heart of a "Beauty and the Beast" retelling, feels somewhat underdeveloped. Despite this, fans of the series and cozy fantasy romances will likely find The Scarlet Rose to be an enjoyable, if not particularly groundbreaking, read.
A young lady named Nikita grows concerned when her father accepts a business transaction to a dangerous foreign land. While her sisters request expensive gifts from their travels, she only asks for the most beautiful flower to ensure he returns safely. Little does she know that this request will force her to sacrifice everything she knows and cares about. When her father returns with a magic ring that binds him to a beast in an enchanted castle, Nikita steals the ring and travels to the castle in his place. The beast, a cursed prince named Gavriil, is less than pleased with this arrangement but eventually comes to terms with it. During her time at the castle, Nikita is charged with researching how to break Gavriil's curse, which takes away his ability to read as a side effect. She then discovers talking statues of Gavriil's loved ones throughout the grounds that only come to life at certain times.
Although this book follows the story of "Beauty and the Beast" pretty closely, there are a few changes that make it more grounded in the Russian fantasy world of Skazka. The enchantress who curses the prince is Baba Yaga, the famous Russian witch who is spoken of widely in lore. Instead of permanently taking on the form of a beast, Gavriil is cursed to slowly lose his humanity over time and turn into a mindless wolf. When Nikita finds him, he is partway through his transition, giving him the traditional humanoid beastly appearance that most adaptations use. This provides more of an urgency to break the curse before he loses his humanity entirely. It also explains his motivation in binding Nikita's father to do his research for him. Every "Beauty and the Beast" adaptation has its own version of the castle's unusual residents. The curse on Gavriil's family and friends is tied to his own but is not the same as his. While most interpretations don't sympathize much with the other cursed residents of the castle, Gavriil is just as determined to break their curse as his own.
For me, the best "Beauty and the Beast" retellings have a strong love story, and this one doesn't quite hit that mark for me. Nikita slowly grows to love Gavriil over time, but it takes the majority of the book for her to come to terms with it. There is little chemistry built between them throughout the story because most of it focuses more on trying to break the curse on Gavriil and his family. There was also a "Gaston" character to create some drama who had little importance to the story outside of drawing a parallel to the Disney film. I would have preferred to spend more time seeing Nikita and Gavriil get to know each other and rekindle his humanity based on their common interests. There was also a ballroom dance that parallels the Disney movie that feels forced and doesn't provide an opportunity for the main couple to genuinely bond with each other.
The Scarlet Rose is a cozy and familiar retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" that fits neatly into the Skazka Fairy Tales series. While it doesn't stray far from the original tale, Valia Lind adds some interesting twists, such as the incorporation of Baba Yaga and the talking statues. However, the romance, which is often the heart of a "Beauty and the Beast" retelling, feels somewhat underdeveloped. Despite this, fans of the series and cozy fantasy romances will likely find The Scarlet Rose to be an enjoyable, if not particularly groundbreaking, read.
January 3, 2023
For a story where the main FL, Nikita, would give out bits of wisdom to Gavriil, including something along the lines of things aren't just black and others are white...this book felt very black and white.
I enjoyed the world building around this new adaptation of a fairytale story that we all grew up knowing and loving.. but I feel like that's all I truly enjoyed about it. I feel that the author was trying to follow the familiar narrative too closely, that it didn't feel new and exciting.
There wasn't really any character development and felt a bit juvenile, but I guess that is okay as our FL was 17/18. I feel that Nikita was always dropping some wisdom as well as trying to prove to the reader that she was learning from GRAND lesson throughout the book, but it was a complete miss for me. I feel that she was already in tune with who she was as a person, and honestly maybe what she learned from living with the Beast for months was patience? Maybe learning boundaries and who to stand up for? And that itself is a stretch. Nikita came back at some point and was convinced that she was more outspoken and mature to stand up for her father and his business... and as a reader I was like... weren't you already doing that? Now that you are 18... you are legally able to do it now... so I am not sure what lesson you think you learned.
Then there was the romance with the beast... or the lack of romance. It took until about 25-30% of the story for us to even somewhat meet him. Then around 50% where he finally showed himself. And then around 75-80% when we started seeing this weird "horny" vibe from the both of them. It didn't feel like love to me. It felt like the both were attracted to one another and were alone for a while and they only had one another. I was honestly worried towards the end, knowing that the beast needed love in order to fix the curse, and homegirl was NO WHERE NEAR love from a reader's POV.
I think I would have liked for this story to have a dual POV with both Nikita and Gavriil. It would have been cool to understand what he was thinking throughout the book as well as potentially getting a feel of him losing his humanity. I would have rather read his POV than the 20-30% of the book that was Nikita convincing him that she needed to go to the market, her walking through that long ass forest, her spending time at the market, her spending time at the tavern, and then her doing some more shopping and then heading back. I feel like most of it was not necessary. The only thing I could think of, was maybe it was written for us to understand Nikita's personality and the way she was raised... but it was a miss. With all that random detail, I still didn't understand Nikita as a person or her random unrelatable comments. I mean, I felt that the person who wrote about food in this book has never eaten food in their life - Nikita only eating eggs and saying she was eating super healthy and her making sandwiches and not being healthy. It made me feel that Nikita has a very unhealthy diet before and after.
I didn't really get much of a personality from anyone and they all seemed very one dimensional, except for the Gaston on the story. It was hard to relate / love anyone in this book. I think I felt bad for Gavriil and his family/companions... but that was about it. The Gaston character though... we did get a little life out of him.. until the ending.
I enjoyed the world building around this new adaptation of a fairytale story that we all grew up knowing and loving.. but I feel like that's all I truly enjoyed about it. I feel that the author was trying to follow the familiar narrative too closely, that it didn't feel new and exciting.
There wasn't really any character development and felt a bit juvenile, but I guess that is okay as our FL was 17/18. I feel that Nikita was always dropping some wisdom as well as trying to prove to the reader that she was learning from GRAND lesson throughout the book, but it was a complete miss for me. I feel that she was already in tune with who she was as a person, and honestly maybe what she learned from living with the Beast for months was patience? Maybe learning boundaries and who to stand up for? And that itself is a stretch. Nikita came back at some point and was convinced that she was more outspoken and mature to stand up for her father and his business... and as a reader I was like... weren't you already doing that? Now that you are 18... you are legally able to do it now... so I am not sure what lesson you think you learned.
Then there was the romance with the beast... or the lack of romance. It took until about 25-30% of the story for us to even somewhat meet him. Then around 50% where he finally showed himself. And then around 75-80% when we started seeing this weird "horny" vibe from the both of them. It didn't feel like love to me. It felt like the both were attracted to one another and were alone for a while and they only had one another. I was honestly worried towards the end, knowing that the beast needed love in order to fix the curse, and homegirl was NO WHERE NEAR love from a reader's POV.
I think I would have liked for this story to have a dual POV with both Nikita and Gavriil. It would have been cool to understand what he was thinking throughout the book as well as potentially getting a feel of him losing his humanity. I would have rather read his POV than the 20-30% of the book that was Nikita convincing him that she needed to go to the market, her walking through that long ass forest, her spending time at the market, her spending time at the tavern, and then her doing some more shopping and then heading back. I feel like most of it was not necessary. The only thing I could think of, was maybe it was written for us to understand Nikita's personality and the way she was raised... but it was a miss. With all that random detail, I still didn't understand Nikita as a person or her random unrelatable comments. I mean, I felt that the person who wrote about food in this book has never eaten food in their life - Nikita only eating eggs and saying she was eating super healthy and her making sandwiches and not being healthy. It made me feel that Nikita has a very unhealthy diet before and after.
I didn't really get much of a personality from anyone and they all seemed very one dimensional, except for the Gaston on the story. It was hard to relate / love anyone in this book. I think I felt bad for Gavriil and his family/companions... but that was about it. The Gaston character though... we did get a little life out of him.. until the ending.
October 6, 2021
I love Beauty and the Beast, so anytime I find a retelling, I can't resist reading it! I know, this could go sideways on me easily if the story doesn't live up to the hype I expect, but this one doesn't disappoint.
I have read many retellings and all have been magnificent, but this one brought something else unique to the story. It follows the Russian fairy tale of BATB, which I wasn't familiar with, but now I kinda do want to go read it also.
We have our beast, poor cursed sweetheart. There is our beauty, a mafia princess. We even have our 'GASTON' to make it all come together as BATB.
I felt so many things reading this and I want you to do the same. If you are a lover of Beauty and the Beast, you must read this!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I have read many retellings and all have been magnificent, but this one brought something else unique to the story. It follows the Russian fairy tale of BATB, which I wasn't familiar with, but now I kinda do want to go read it also.
We have our beast, poor cursed sweetheart. There is our beauty, a mafia princess. We even have our 'GASTON' to make it all come together as BATB.
I felt so many things reading this and I want you to do the same. If you are a lover of Beauty and the Beast, you must read this!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 8, 2021
This is a fantastic retelling of the traditional Russian Beauty and the Beast fairytale that is set in the world of Skazka and comes with a modern day mafia twist. The world building is incredible and the storyline is full of magic, banter, heart, family, and of course romance! Nikita Our female mc is amazing. She’s strong and loyal, she works hard and does what needs to be done and so takes her fathers place when it all goes wrong with Gavriil, the prince of Skazka. I absolutely loved the interactions between Niki and Gavriil , the banter and the humour and then later on the chemistry and the passion! There’s a few twists thrown in as Niki fights to break the curse and I have to say I loved every bit of this story!
September 21, 2021
This book was absolutely amazing! I used to read fantasy all the time, but now it's a rare thing for me. While Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairy tale, it's not one I often read retellings of, because I don't want to risk one ruining my favorite fairy tale. Well, there's definitely no risk here. This is by far the best Beauty and the Beast retelling I've read and an amazing book on its own. I'm definitely going to have to read more by this author, but I'm disappointed Gavriil and Nikita's story is done. I'd definitely read more about them if I could! All in all, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
July 18, 2024
This is my favorite fairytale retelling ever! Valia Lind does an amazing job! I've read lots of Beauty and the Beast retellings before, but none of them can compete with this book! The main character had depth and kept the story moving. The magic system in this book is unlike anything I've ever seen before, there are so many components to it that make it unique while still being easy to understand. This will always be one of my favorite quick books to reread
"We are not all black, and we are not all white. We are made up of good and evil."
"We are not all black, and we are not all white. We are made up of good and evil."
January 2, 2024
One of the best retellings of beauty and the best I've read. Though it is clear to see the original tale in the storyline I felt the authors take on it was incredible. Nikita (our belle character) is so strong and the prince is for once not portrayed as a completely evil tyrant or a snobbish prince who Nikita can eventually turn into a decent person. Gavrill (our beast) isn't exactly kind all the time but he is never cruel. Overall I loved this book and will definitely read it again.
October 7, 2021
OMG this story was amazing!! Love Nikita and Gavriil and how their relationship grows. Nikita is an extremely opinionated and fierce character. She knows who she is and isn't afraid to be herself. Throughout the story she breaks down Gavriil's walls and he grows into the person he was always meant to be. So loved this story and sad that there is not going to be more stories with these amazing characters.
December 6, 2022
Honestly? This book made its way to my top five books of this year. I don't usually read retellings of "fairytales" I adore but this book has a kind of magic you rarely find. It's a slow, heartbreaking telling of two very lost people, the sacrifice they have to make, and the love that slowly creeps into their lives but it's so hot and burning you feel it even through a screen.
Give yourself a chance and read this book. You won't regret it.
Give yourself a chance and read this book. You won't regret it.
July 10, 2022
Unique retelling of a classic tale
I really enjoyed this retelling of Beauty and the Beast. The author does an incredible job immersing you in a completely different time period, in a completely new culture, with a Russian mafia, and so many minute differences that I wasn’t quite sure what would happen next. I loved how strong Nikita was, she was such a great protagonist!!
I really enjoyed this retelling of Beauty and the Beast. The author does an incredible job immersing you in a completely different time period, in a completely new culture, with a Russian mafia, and so many minute differences that I wasn’t quite sure what would happen next. I loved how strong Nikita was, she was such a great protagonist!!
October 6, 2021
Beauty and the Beast, a diffrent place and time. When people make choices that are more a curse, it takes a while to resolve without losing all you have worked for. Sweet, but no weakling "Girl-maiden" who is looking for someone to sweep her off her feet. I really liked the twist on this one.
March 17, 2022
Enthralling version of Beauty and the beast. Loved the characters and their interaction. Was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how it all worked out at the end.
January 6, 2024
"We are not all black, and we are not all white. We are made up of good and evil."
The Scarlet Rose was unfortunately a huge disappointment. I wanted to love this book, with the Beauty and the Beast retelling and the Russian setting, but it just fell flat. Here's why:
1) The literary devices that were used in this book just didn't make sense at all. The author used the phrase, from which I assume was meant to be a simile, "As sudden as a hummingbird, exhaustion weighs on my body." The author tried to use this as an example of saying how fast she got tired, but it honestly just doesn't work. She also did things like that again later on in the book, but they were occurring too often for me to annotate them. Valia Lind also wrote, "The forest seems quieter here. I'm not sure if it's because I'm closer to the road..." which also does not seem to be written in the context that they intended it to.
2) There were also a few grammatical/punctuation mistakes throughout the story. Even the quote that I used to headline had a mistake in it, as the original quote didn't even have the "w" of "we" capitalized. Earlier in the story, there was also the quote, "But they're never recognized as such. they never get to sit at the big boy's table." As you can see, the capital "t" of "they" was not capitalized. Later on in the novel, the author introduced the captain of the guard, which was fine. That's not the problem here. What the problem is, is that the author said that "[He is] the captain of the guard for the crown king and prince." I think that that sentence should be worded a little differently.
"The worst thing you can do is never change. If you're at least working toward being a better version of yourself, then you are on the right path. Your past mistakes, you may have to make up for them, but they don't define who you are. Not if you're doing better now."
3) There were just so many clichés in this book. First, the witch that cursed the prince, Gavriil (What kind of spelling is that?) was Baba Yaga. Then, it was revealed that anyone could do magic if they tried hard enough. And then, it was revealed that Nikita, the main character, has a strong attachment to her hair. If you don't see what's wrong with that, well, I don't know how to explain that to you. Also, during the first third of the book, when she's searching for food in the castle, she claims that sandwiches are "unhealthy". Ugh.
There are so many more points that I could make, but I don't want to write anymore about this bad book.
2/5 stars. DNF at 53%.
The Scarlet Rose was unfortunately a huge disappointment. I wanted to love this book, with the Beauty and the Beast retelling and the Russian setting, but it just fell flat. Here's why:
1) The literary devices that were used in this book just didn't make sense at all. The author used the phrase, from which I assume was meant to be a simile, "As sudden as a hummingbird, exhaustion weighs on my body." The author tried to use this as an example of saying how fast she got tired, but it honestly just doesn't work. She also did things like that again later on in the book, but they were occurring too often for me to annotate them. Valia Lind also wrote, "The forest seems quieter here. I'm not sure if it's because I'm closer to the road..." which also does not seem to be written in the context that they intended it to.
2) There were also a few grammatical/punctuation mistakes throughout the story. Even the quote that I used to headline had a mistake in it, as the original quote didn't even have the "w" of "we" capitalized. Earlier in the story, there was also the quote, "But they're never recognized as such. they never get to sit at the big boy's table." As you can see, the capital "t" of "they" was not capitalized. Later on in the novel, the author introduced the captain of the guard, which was fine. That's not the problem here. What the problem is, is that the author said that "[He is] the captain of the guard for the crown king and prince." I think that that sentence should be worded a little differently.
"The worst thing you can do is never change. If you're at least working toward being a better version of yourself, then you are on the right path. Your past mistakes, you may have to make up for them, but they don't define who you are. Not if you're doing better now."
3) There were just so many clichés in this book. First, the witch that cursed the prince, Gavriil (What kind of spelling is that?) was Baba Yaga. Then, it was revealed that anyone could do magic if they tried hard enough. And then, it was revealed that Nikita, the main character, has a strong attachment to her hair. If you don't see what's wrong with that, well, I don't know how to explain that to you. Also, during the first third of the book, when she's searching for food in the castle, she claims that sandwiches are "unhealthy". Ugh.
There are so many more points that I could make, but I don't want to write anymore about this bad book.
2/5 stars. DNF at 53%.
May 2, 2025
Content Warnings: Blood, fighting
I really liked the idea of this story being based on the Russian version of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale, but that was about it.
There was a lot of telling rather than showing for the worldbuilding and the characters. I really wanted more worldbuilding and understanding of the syndicate. I felt like I was supposed to know all of the information about the Russian mafia already, but I don't have any knowledge about it so there was a major disconnect. There were also several inconsistencies throughout the story and the characters. An example would be that Nikita barely knew her mother when she was alive and learned a little piano from her, yet she remembers all of these things about her mother and is an expert at the piano. It just makes things super confusing.
There was no romance between Nikita and Gavriil. They barely interact throughout the book. They tell each other that they're a danger but never explain why. They never talk about their family or lives but suddenly they know everything about each other and are willing to die for each other. Then at the end, they just make out nonstop. It left me feeling uncomfortable and confused.
Overall, this book was boring, and it feels like it needs a major rewrite. I'm willing to give this author another chance to see if any of her other books are better.
I really liked the idea of this story being based on the Russian version of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale, but that was about it.
There was a lot of telling rather than showing for the worldbuilding and the characters. I really wanted more worldbuilding and understanding of the syndicate. I felt like I was supposed to know all of the information about the Russian mafia already, but I don't have any knowledge about it so there was a major disconnect. There were also several inconsistencies throughout the story and the characters. An example would be that Nikita barely knew her mother when she was alive and learned a little piano from her, yet she remembers all of these things about her mother and is an expert at the piano. It just makes things super confusing.
There was no romance between Nikita and Gavriil. They barely interact throughout the book. They tell each other that they're a danger but never explain why. They never talk about their family or lives but suddenly they know everything about each other and are willing to die for each other. Then at the end, they just make out nonstop. It left me feeling uncomfortable and confused.
Overall, this book was boring, and it feels like it needs a major rewrite. I'm willing to give this author another chance to see if any of her other books are better.
October 21, 2024
3 ★
────୨ৎ────
“𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙪𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚. 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙛𝙞𝙖 𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩.”
this is a beauty and the beast retelling with a Russian mafia twist, which is pretty cool! the mix of modern world and magical realms, plus the whole mafia business and syndicates going through between the families.
“𝘼 𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙡 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙗𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙, 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.”
────୨ৎ────
Nikita, the mafia princess.
🥀 she’s a total badass!! I LOVE HERR!!!
🥀 she’s super calm, doesn’t show much emotion, and really steps up to protect her family by taking her father’s place after he’s tricked by the Beast.
Gavriil, the wolf beast prince.
🥀 yes, he has an anger issue. i cant defend him.
🥀 he’s actually a sweet, kind soul.
🥀 “I love you, now shut up.” 😩🫵🏻🦋💗
instead of a library like in the original, Gavriil gives her a huge music room and a garden full of scarlet roses 😩🫵🏻🦋🌹💗 (she loves music and flowers) 🥹
────୨ৎ────
while the plot is simple and the world-building around Skazka’s magical kingdom is a bit unclear, the writing is engaging. however, the relationship between Nikita and Gavriil feels underdeveloped, and kind of blurry. overall, it’s an okay read with some intriguing moments, but nothing groundbreaking.
────୨ৎ────
“𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙪𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚. 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙛𝙞𝙖 𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩.”
this is a beauty and the beast retelling with a Russian mafia twist, which is pretty cool! the mix of modern world and magical realms, plus the whole mafia business and syndicates going through between the families.
“𝘼 𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙡 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙗𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙, 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.”
────୨ৎ────
Nikita, the mafia princess.
🥀 she’s a total badass!! I LOVE HERR!!!
🥀 she’s super calm, doesn’t show much emotion, and really steps up to protect her family by taking her father’s place after he’s tricked by the Beast.
Gavriil, the wolf beast prince.
🥀 yes, he has an anger issue. i cant defend him.
🥀 he’s actually a sweet, kind soul.
🥀 “I love you, now shut up.” 😩🫵🏻🦋💗
instead of a library like in the original, Gavriil gives her a huge music room and a garden full of scarlet roses 😩🫵🏻🦋🌹💗 (she loves music and flowers) 🥹
────୨ৎ────
while the plot is simple and the world-building around Skazka’s magical kingdom is a bit unclear, the writing is engaging. however, the relationship between Nikita and Gavriil feels underdeveloped, and kind of blurry. overall, it’s an okay read with some intriguing moments, but nothing groundbreaking.
March 11, 2024
I saw this Book on TikTok and loved the concept. The characters were interesting. I love the idea of Russian fairytales re-told. Beauty and the Beast holds a place very near and dear to my heart and I was very excited to see a mafia heiress and a Prince fall in love.
Unfortunately, the book was underwhelming. It felt like a Wattpad story: the relationships felt shallow and one-dimensional.
In certain scenes, too many characters were introduced all at once. This meant we never got to engage with each of them and learn to like them (or hate them) for what makes those characters special. It felt like they all got attributed one thing that made them special just so the readers could remember them.
I feel if there were fewer side characters to focus on, they had the chance to appear more fleshed out and interesting.
Most of the book was fine, but sometimes the wording felt slightly off, with lots of "tell" instead of "show" or even show and then tell.
I cannot count the number of times a character "did not hesitate" to do something. It became jarring.
Unfortunately, the book was underwhelming. It felt like a Wattpad story: the relationships felt shallow and one-dimensional.
In certain scenes, too many characters were introduced all at once. This meant we never got to engage with each of them and learn to like them (or hate them) for what makes those characters special. It felt like they all got attributed one thing that made them special just so the readers could remember them.
I feel if there were fewer side characters to focus on, they had the chance to appear more fleshed out and interesting.
Most of the book was fine, but sometimes the wording felt slightly off, with lots of "tell" instead of "show" or even show and then tell.
I cannot count the number of times a character "did not hesitate" to do something. It became jarring.
July 13, 2025
I picked this book solely based on the cover so i knew I was getting a Beauty and the Beast retelling. I did not know I was getting a Russian mafia princess meets Beauty and the Beast.
Nikita, the mafia princess, has learned to be strong as she plans to take her father’s place in the Bratva (mafia). But she has only recently learned that Skazka, the land of fairy tales, is real, and when her father’s business gets him into a bargain with the cursed prince, things unfold.
I really liked how I had no idea how long Gavriil, the prince, had been cursed. Skazka features elements from the 1700s to modern day, so from the prologue to chapter one, I wasn’t sure if it was 300 years later or 3 months later.
The curse was interesting too, in that Gavriil was slowly turning into the monstrous wolf, which allowed Nikita time to get to know him as a mostly-man.
Nikita was strong and determined, as she had to be to survive in the male-dominated Bratva. She was also very sarcastic, which I loved. But she had a softer side too. I really enjoyed how the main characters were well-rounded.
Nikita, the mafia princess, has learned to be strong as she plans to take her father’s place in the Bratva (mafia). But she has only recently learned that Skazka, the land of fairy tales, is real, and when her father’s business gets him into a bargain with the cursed prince, things unfold.
I really liked how I had no idea how long Gavriil, the prince, had been cursed. Skazka features elements from the 1700s to modern day, so from the prologue to chapter one, I wasn’t sure if it was 300 years later or 3 months later.
The curse was interesting too, in that Gavriil was slowly turning into the monstrous wolf, which allowed Nikita time to get to know him as a mostly-man.
Nikita was strong and determined, as she had to be to survive in the male-dominated Bratva. She was also very sarcastic, which I loved. But she had a softer side too. I really enjoyed how the main characters were well-rounded.
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