My rating is actually 3 1/2 stars.

I love fairy tales. I was very excited to read this book. Amanda Stanley (a Goodreads reviewer) gave a beautiful description of Rose's character: "Our heroine, Rose, has such a heart for others and deeply feels their pain, be it physical or emotional. She is beautiful, of course, but doesn’t seem to recognize it. She is shy and humble, yet bold and passionate when she witnesses an injustice, not content to sit by in indifference ... or stay in silence." This is what the Duke fell for, not her beauty as others have suggested. Her beauty just caught his attention.

I agree with others on several points. 1. Yes,the book was predictable because you new the outcome from the beginning. But it is a fairy tale! What else do you expect? 2. The demon possession was out there. I didn't like it. And its resolution was too simplified. 3. The book began to drag. It needed to be shorter. I understand the moral relevance of the subplot with the second son, but thought it was outside the parameter of Rose's character to fall prey to his superficiality. I did, however, appreciate the subplot with her best friend and its resolution based on an actual law of the time. 4. It had a strong beginning, but grew weaker in the second half. Some extra character building for Rose with her parents toward the beginning would have been helpful to explain why she fell for the Duke's younger superficial brother given her strong resolve not to marry.