Blue Rose and Raven: A Gothic Retelling of Beauty and the Beast

by Connor W.S. Fineran

An endless Winter. A dark Manor. A frightful Beast.

An uncommon Beauty.

And the power of True Love.

To save his family from poverty, Marius Dufresne chooses to become the captive of a mysterious Beast. Her domain is an eternal winter's night, deep and dark and hidden far away from the world.

Soon Marius discovers that there is more to his mysterious captor than meets the eye. A terrible curse has taken hold of this place, and only the compassion and forgiveness in a young man's heart may be able to break it.


Content themes about mental illness, depression, trauma, and some mild violence.

253 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 23, 2024

Reviews

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blue Rose and Raven by Connor W.S. Fineran is a simple yet poignant gothic retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast fairytale, with a genderbent twist. I really enjoyed this fast read. I found the characters of Marius and Faustine very relatable as someone that has struggled with my own more self image and mental health. The themes of the book center much around depression, trauma, and poor self image, and does so with great sensitivity and realism but also realized hope for redemption and forgiveness. As for the prose, they are very straightforward and simple, I'd say just about appropriate for all ages to enjoy. The ending made me teary eyed. I highly recommend it.

[Cris M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most wholesome retellings of Beauty and the Beast that I've read. It's short but full of beautiful (and occasionally ominous) descriptions, and it's clear the author is very talented. I really enjoyed the novel's twist on the original fairytale, as well as the gender-bent dynamics. It felt fresh and true in its message that sometimes we are our own worst enemy. I think this would be a great read for anyone looking for a redemption story.

[Eleanor Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming and beautiful story that's appropriately familiar but doesn't feel like a mere retread of the fairytale it's retelling. It's a quick, breezy read and I recommend all looking for a heartwarming romance.