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Once Upon a Princess #1
Beauty's Curse
For four years, Princess Aurora of Rhone—Rose to her friends—has searched the world for a way to break the curse placed on her by Magdalina, the wicked ruler of the fairies at war with her kingdom. Under the curse, Rose is doomed to die on her eighteenth birthday after pricking her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel. And time is running out.
On the eve of her seventeenth birthday, Rose makes the journey home with her friends—Theo, a priest with a penchant for revenge; Mary, a young and talented fairy; and Ethan and Sophia, siblings with a troubled past–as pressure from her father, King Stefanos, leaves her with two equally unsatisfying options: Abdicate the throne, or get married.
On the eve of her seventeenth birthday, Rose makes the journey home with her friends—Theo, a priest with a penchant for revenge; Mary, a young and talented fairy; and Ethan and Sophia, siblings with a troubled past–as pressure from her father, King Stefanos, leaves her with two equally unsatisfying options: Abdicate the throne, or get married.
181 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 20, 2016
173 people are currently reading
905 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Johnson
113 books631 followersC. S. Johnson is the award-winning, genre-hopping author of several novels, including sci-fi and fantasy adventures such as the Starlight Chronicles series, the Once Upon a Princess saga, the Divine Space Pirates trilogy, and more. With a gift for sarcasm and an apologetic heart, she currently lives in Atlanta with her family. Find out more at http://www.csjohnson.me.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
December 9, 2017
2.5 stars
Beauty's Curse started off a bit rocky for me. For starters, I really felt launched into a weird spot. After a bit, I settled in and the plot was interesting. Throughout the book there was high and low points. Johnson did a great job of fully fleshing out her characters and having a streamlined plot.
For me there was three major NO'S that decided my opinion.
The first is that the MC(Rose) was a little difficult to like at the beginning but around the halfway point she hit downright unlikable. Rose is not nice to the people around her. She's so focused on her own mission that she doesn't care about what anyone else wants in life or their feelings.
The worst is her treatment of her sister. Rose talks about her sister being self-absorbed, and vain, ad an attention-seeker. But I saw none of this. Her sister actually seemed like a sweetie who had been stuffed in the shadows her whole life and adored her big sister. But Rose assumes that because her sister has been hidden that she MUST grave any spotlight. Her sister can't even attend an event(veiled so as not to be obvious that it's NOT Rose) without Rose thinking about how she must be just eating up the attention.
Her sister even tried to write to her while Rose was gone and Rose never answered. And then Rose gets mad at Theo because he DID write to her sister. Her sister tells her that the fact that Theo wrote to her despite knowing Rose wouldn't like it made it all the more special to her.
It's really, really, hard for me to enjoy a story where I can't stand the MC.
Secondly, the pacing was very slow. We have a interesting start with a visit to Titania, but then a rather boring trip back, with a boring stay at the palace, and at the very end it's decided that they'll keep going on their mission. There just wasn't enough happening in this book.
Lastly, and this was huge for me, this book needed an editor. Right from the start there was a ton of grammatical errors and a smattering of spelling errors. It continued throughout the story and got to be too much. I think fixing the errors alone would've bumped it up to 3.5 stars.
And some things I couldn't tell if they were errors or just... Here's an example.
The King decides they need another baby, but unlike before with Rose they keep it a secret.
"They had the Queen shut away for weeks, ironically proclaiming a strange sleeping sickness, and a little over a year later, she gave birth to Isra and Ronan, a pair of fraternal twins. The knowledge of their birth was kept hidden, only known to the leaders of the church and the main household of the castle keep."
Let's break his down. So they shut the queen awake for weeks why?! I mean, if it was for the whole pregnancy then it wouldn't be weeks, but months. But since it was weeks was that after she got pregnant or before? Was she locked up to pretty much be on hand to you know *raises eyebrows* whenever the king wants. That's pretty disturbing.
If it's the start of her pregnancy then what? They needed to hide first trimester symptoms but thought no one would notice a woman pregnant with twins for the other two?
And a little over a year?! IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT. It's 9 months. It's less than a year, not more. In fact, the average twins are born at 35 weeks unlike singles at 39-4o.
And lastly, you really really believe that the staff are dumb enough not to notice the queen's pregnant? Or in labor? So main household or not, you know they all knew without being told. And servants TALK. People talk. There is no way this secret wouldn't have got out. It would've. Period.
Also it says their birth was kept secret. So just their birth? Or their entire lives?
I actually started keeping notes about halfway through, but I'm just going to share that one. But basically there was numerous errors and they happened about 1 every 3 pages which was just too many for me.
Despite I think there being a good premise for the story with strong secondary characters, and a good twist on Sleeping Beauty. The three above things just really sunk this for me and I won't be reading further.
Beauty's Curse started off a bit rocky for me. For starters, I really felt launched into a weird spot. After a bit, I settled in and the plot was interesting. Throughout the book there was high and low points. Johnson did a great job of fully fleshing out her characters and having a streamlined plot.
For me there was three major NO'S that decided my opinion.
The first is that the MC(Rose) was a little difficult to like at the beginning but around the halfway point she hit downright unlikable. Rose is not nice to the people around her. She's so focused on her own mission that she doesn't care about what anyone else wants in life or their feelings.
The worst is her treatment of her sister. Rose talks about her sister being self-absorbed, and vain, ad an attention-seeker. But I saw none of this. Her sister actually seemed like a sweetie who had been stuffed in the shadows her whole life and adored her big sister. But Rose assumes that because her sister has been hidden that she MUST grave any spotlight. Her sister can't even attend an event(veiled so as not to be obvious that it's NOT Rose) without Rose thinking about how she must be just eating up the attention.
Her sister even tried to write to her while Rose was gone and Rose never answered. And then Rose gets mad at Theo because he DID write to her sister. Her sister tells her that the fact that Theo wrote to her despite knowing Rose wouldn't like it made it all the more special to her.
It's really, really, hard for me to enjoy a story where I can't stand the MC.
Secondly, the pacing was very slow. We have a interesting start with a visit to Titania, but then a rather boring trip back, with a boring stay at the palace, and at the very end it's decided that they'll keep going on their mission. There just wasn't enough happening in this book.
Lastly, and this was huge for me, this book needed an editor. Right from the start there was a ton of grammatical errors and a smattering of spelling errors. It continued throughout the story and got to be too much. I think fixing the errors alone would've bumped it up to 3.5 stars.
And some things I couldn't tell if they were errors or just... Here's an example.
The King decides they need another baby, but unlike before with Rose they keep it a secret.
"They had the Queen shut away for weeks, ironically proclaiming a strange sleeping sickness, and a little over a year later, she gave birth to Isra and Ronan, a pair of fraternal twins. The knowledge of their birth was kept hidden, only known to the leaders of the church and the main household of the castle keep."
Let's break his down. So they shut the queen awake for weeks why?! I mean, if it was for the whole pregnancy then it wouldn't be weeks, but months. But since it was weeks was that after she got pregnant or before? Was she locked up to pretty much be on hand to you know *raises eyebrows* whenever the king wants. That's pretty disturbing.
If it's the start of her pregnancy then what? They needed to hide first trimester symptoms but thought no one would notice a woman pregnant with twins for the other two?
And a little over a year?! IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT. It's 9 months. It's less than a year, not more. In fact, the average twins are born at 35 weeks unlike singles at 39-4o.
And lastly, you really really believe that the staff are dumb enough not to notice the queen's pregnant? Or in labor? So main household or not, you know they all knew without being told. And servants TALK. People talk. There is no way this secret wouldn't have got out. It would've. Period.
Also it says their birth was kept secret. So just their birth? Or their entire lives?
I actually started keeping notes about halfway through, but I'm just going to share that one. But basically there was numerous errors and they happened about 1 every 3 pages which was just too many for me.
Despite I think there being a good premise for the story with strong secondary characters, and a good twist on Sleeping Beauty. The three above things just really sunk this for me and I won't be reading further.
March 24, 2018
This is not the disney sleeping beauty tale. She isn't a frail girl who gives in without a fight. This Aurora (who goes by her middle name Rose) is a warrior princess! An unlikely band of teens goes on a harrowing journey to break the curse on their beloved princess put on her by a witch. The journey is tough with evil fairies trying to attack them as they journey through the fairy lands. Will they make it in time?
For fans of clean adventure fantasy
For fans of clean adventure fantasy
October 8, 2017
Beauty’s Curse, opens mid-scene with very little introduction of characters or the problems they face. The author expects you to know the basics of the tale; princess cursed at birth by evil sorceress to prick her finger on a spinning wheel at a certain age and die–and doesn’t slow down to clue you in. This wasn’t an issue, as the problem itself is, naturally, the center of the story and comes up plenty on its own.
This first novella was a little slow going for me, as I didn’t find our main character, Aurora Rose (goes by Rose) to be likable in the least. She is a typical 17 year old girl, very much concerned with her own pain, her own problems, and how no one could possibly understand her. It’s understandable, given her age and situation (uh, cursed, hello) but the direness of her situation did not make up for her rudeness to other characters and mercurial mood swings. How a character like this could possibly be surrounded by people who not only love her, but feel loyal and compassionate toward her, is beyond me.
However, the character of Theophilous was a well thought out addition to the tale. I enjoyed the comparisons made between knights and priests, and how Theo tries to balance his unshakable belief in God, with his desire for revenge.
The ending has a nice set up for the next novella, and the writing evened out considerably.
This first novella was a little slow going for me, as I didn’t find our main character, Aurora Rose (goes by Rose) to be likable in the least. She is a typical 17 year old girl, very much concerned with her own pain, her own problems, and how no one could possibly understand her. It’s understandable, given her age and situation (uh, cursed, hello) but the direness of her situation did not make up for her rudeness to other characters and mercurial mood swings. How a character like this could possibly be surrounded by people who not only love her, but feel loyal and compassionate toward her, is beyond me.
However, the character of Theophilous was a well thought out addition to the tale. I enjoyed the comparisons made between knights and priests, and how Theo tries to balance his unshakable belief in God, with his desire for revenge.
The ending has a nice set up for the next novella, and the writing evened out considerably.
May 16, 2019
Beauty's Curse was such a cute read. It felt like a mix between the Disney version of Sleeping Beauty, and The Princess Bride. It had faeries, an evil curse, comedy, and a strong female main character. It was fun an frivolous.
What I loved about it was the friendship and banter between Rose and Theo. I loved that Rose was not a typical damsel in distress, she was a warrior fighting for what she wanted. I loved the three adorable faeries that were loyal to the crown, and to Rose, and I loved that the author added in Titania, which gave the story a little Midsummer's Night Dream feel.
The whole book just screamed "faerie tale." It had an enchanting feel to it, and offered vivid fantasy details. It also had a little bit of a Grimm's brothers feel as well, with Theo's family's dark past, and hints to the reason why Rose was cursed to punish her father.
I do wish it hadn't been so short. I wanted a little more to happen. Though it, and the rest of the series I assume, was based off the Sleeping Beauty faerie tale, it didn't give me as much of the Sleeping Beauty feel that I wanted, and it didn't really feel like the story moved as much as it should have.
I did enjoy it though, and it was very faerie tale-esque. It kept me entertained enough to want to read the next book to find out what happens. I enjoyed the variety of characters in the story, and the changes made to both Rose and "Maleficient," known as Magdalina in this story. I also loved the ending and the promise of danger and adventure to come. 3.5 stars!
Thank you to R&R Book Tours and the author for providing me with this free e-copy in exchange for my honest review and as part of the blog tour.
What I loved about it was the friendship and banter between Rose and Theo. I loved that Rose was not a typical damsel in distress, she was a warrior fighting for what she wanted. I loved the three adorable faeries that were loyal to the crown, and to Rose, and I loved that the author added in Titania, which gave the story a little Midsummer's Night Dream feel.
The whole book just screamed "faerie tale." It had an enchanting feel to it, and offered vivid fantasy details. It also had a little bit of a Grimm's brothers feel as well, with Theo's family's dark past, and hints to the reason why Rose was cursed to punish her father.
I do wish it hadn't been so short. I wanted a little more to happen. Though it, and the rest of the series I assume, was based off the Sleeping Beauty faerie tale, it didn't give me as much of the Sleeping Beauty feel that I wanted, and it didn't really feel like the story moved as much as it should have.
I did enjoy it though, and it was very faerie tale-esque. It kept me entertained enough to want to read the next book to find out what happens. I enjoyed the variety of characters in the story, and the changes made to both Rose and "Maleficient," known as Magdalina in this story. I also loved the ending and the promise of danger and adventure to come. 3.5 stars!
Thank you to R&R Book Tours and the author for providing me with this free e-copy in exchange for my honest review and as part of the blog tour.
May 21, 2019
4.5 stars
It was really nicee. The starting was a little bit slow but as I was reading it further, the novella became altogether intriguing and hard to put down. My favorite character was undoubtedly Theo. He was amazing and I especially liked the fact that he was keen on seeking revenge. I mean it was kind of the only thing that made him endure all the struggles. And this is true for all the characters as well. They had something or the other to inspire them and keep going. It was good to know that fact. And the ending was an incredible one. It was a ending which promised me that I cannot really live without reading the next one. So all in all it was amazing!
Can't wait to start the next one :))
It was really nicee. The starting was a little bit slow but as I was reading it further, the novella became altogether intriguing and hard to put down. My favorite character was undoubtedly Theo. He was amazing and I especially liked the fact that he was keen on seeking revenge. I mean it was kind of the only thing that made him endure all the struggles. And this is true for all the characters as well. They had something or the other to inspire them and keep going. It was good to know that fact. And the ending was an incredible one. It was a ending which promised me that I cannot really live without reading the next one. So all in all it was amazing!
Can't wait to start the next one :))
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October 16, 2017DNF...the opening prologue was full of grammatical errors, sentence structure issues, and story and detail problems. The author's voice is there, as well as interesting story ideas, but the amount of time I spent thrown from the book questioning and correcting was more than the time I got from simply enjoying the story.
October 4, 2017
Princess Aurora of Rhone was cursed as an infant to prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel on her eighteenth birthday and sleep forever. When Rose discovered her curse as a young girl, she determined to do everything she could to stop it from happening. So she became a knight and searched the world for a cure, coming up empty-handed - so far. Her parents want her to marry and produce an heir before her death, but she refuses to do so and therefore condemn the man to watching her die. Now, it is her seventeenth birthday, her parent's are calling her home, two men take and interest in her, and she may have discovered a new lead.
I liked Beauty's Curse. It took a new look at the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty and made it better. No longer is she the helpless girl oblivious to the fact that she will soon die. No, she is a fiery warrior princess fighting for her very life. She is brave and loyal to her companions, who are her real family. But she is too afraid to open her eyes to see the love of the man right in front of her - Theo, her best friend and comrade in arms. He is a man of God with his own messed up family history, and he loves Rose more than anyone. Then Philip enters the picture. (I know what you're thinking: Philip, like in the Disney movie.) He is a valiant and kind prince who is Rose's equal. All I can say is, I'm voting for Theo, the long-time friend who knows her inside and out.
The entire story is a different take on the fairy tale. I love the characters, as you can see. I also enjoyed the plot. This book was only the first glimpse of the story. It is a short novel that is book 1 of 4 that tell parts of Rose's story. So this one only went so far into the overall plot. It did a good job introducing the characters, their situations, and opening the overall plot. It did conclude nicely, but it ends with the beginning clues of a quest that the characters journey on during the rest of the series. I can't wait to see what's next!
I enjoyed this book very much and I recommend it to fans of fairy tale retellings.
I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I liked Beauty's Curse. It took a new look at the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty and made it better. No longer is she the helpless girl oblivious to the fact that she will soon die. No, she is a fiery warrior princess fighting for her very life. She is brave and loyal to her companions, who are her real family. But she is too afraid to open her eyes to see the love of the man right in front of her - Theo, her best friend and comrade in arms. He is a man of God with his own messed up family history, and he loves Rose more than anyone. Then Philip enters the picture. (I know what you're thinking: Philip, like in the Disney movie.) He is a valiant and kind prince who is Rose's equal. All I can say is, I'm voting for Theo, the long-time friend who knows her inside and out.
The entire story is a different take on the fairy tale. I love the characters, as you can see. I also enjoyed the plot. This book was only the first glimpse of the story. It is a short novel that is book 1 of 4 that tell parts of Rose's story. So this one only went so far into the overall plot. It did a good job introducing the characters, their situations, and opening the overall plot. It did conclude nicely, but it ends with the beginning clues of a quest that the characters journey on during the rest of the series. I can't wait to see what's next!
I enjoyed this book very much and I recommend it to fans of fairy tale retellings.
I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
August 29, 2017
Gripping from the first paragraph, this retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale feels more grounded in reality than fantasy. The characters are sharp, gritty and so familiar that you are entrenched in the adventure before you realize. The friendship between Rose – Princess Aurora and her best friend Theo is painfully realistic and reminiscent of the best friendships that our childhoods can provide. C S Johnson is uncompromising in her characterization and as such the characters prove that in life regardless of how young you are, tragedy and responsibility alike can befall you. Her characters rise to meet those challenges unflinchingly and unlike in most fairy tales the real happy ever after is in taking on the difficult task and staying true to ones morals and companions. Even when that means going up against those that are supposed to put us first. The ending leaves the reader salivating for the next installment of a story that feels like you are being let into the secret of the actual events that lie behind the fairy tale we all know so well.
December 17, 2017
The story of Sleeping Beauty told from an entirely different perspective. Not the sappy Disney version but a truly unique perspective. Sleeping Beauty prefers to be called Rose instead of Princess Aurora. She's a fighter trying to end her curse before her next birthday. Rose along with her faithful companion Theo set about trying to break the curse. Along the way, every one has a role to play whether they want to or not. Can Rose end her curse? Will Theo reveal his feelings for Rose? Your answers await you in Beauty's Curse.
This new to me author has presented a unique case for Sleeping Beauty. I'm excited to see where this author takes me on this grand adventure. The characters and story were flawed, unique, real, rich, bold, mysterious, and intriguing.
This new to me author has presented a unique case for Sleeping Beauty. I'm excited to see where this author takes me on this grand adventure. The characters and story were flawed, unique, real, rich, bold, mysterious, and intriguing.
November 24, 2017
This was Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!
March 20, 2018
A refreshing fairy tale for all ages to enjoy, Rose is a cursed princess who doesn’t wait around for a prince to come and save her. Instead, she’s on a journey to stop the evil fairy Queen and avoid the outcome of the curse placed upon her. Accompany C.S.Johnson’s young heroes and heroines on their quest to save Princess Rose from the sleeping curse.
The Story
A war between fairies and humans rages and Princess Rose of Rhone is seething. The wicked Fairy Queen Magdalina cursed her with an impending sleeping death - and worse: relentless beauty. Instead of waiting for a hero to come by, she has taken it upon herself to find answers and confront the evil fairy Queen. She’s accompanied by Theo, who wanted to become a knight like his father and uncle before him, but whose dreams were shattered when his family was murdered by the evil fairies. Taken in by the church, he now studies to become a priest. Along with them are the siblings Ethan and Sophia, who, despite being 12 and 13 years old, are already quite skilled and a talented part of their group. They also receive help from Mary, a small fairy, and Virtue, Rose’s hawk.
A Strong Heroine Princess
It’s refreshing to read a retelling of a fairy tale that isn’t entirely focused on a small children or entirely directed at adults with lots of blood and gore. Beauty’s Curse manages to wriggle itself neatly in between and by doing so will be appealing to an even greater audience. The story can be categorized as Young Adult, although anyone a tad younger might still be able to enjoy the story just as much.
Princess Aurora Rosemarie Mohanagan of Rhone, called Rosary by Theo and Rose throughout the tale, is not your typical princess and fits in nicely with the current mainstream idea of princesses we like to see as a rolemodel for our daughters. Not a passive damsel in distress but someone who seeks the answers and solutions, who is educated and not afraid to get into the field. A girl who takes fate in her own hands and doesn’t want to sit around and wait for a solution - or to be married off to a prince and produce an heir before her imminent death such as her parents want for her. She is the type of girl who demanded to be trained as a knight and to be taught how to read her own as well as foreign languages.
Friendship
One of the attractive aspects of the story are the relationships between the main characters. It’s nice to read about a band of friends on a quest and it’s impossible not to enjoy the joyful banter between them. Although the main characters are all relatively young, they face the hardships and remind us that this is, above all, a story about companionship, about morals and about loyalty.
C.S.Johnson writes away fluently and has a nice and easy reading style which makes it easy to slip into the world she presents us with. Her writing invites to read on and the characters are all realistic beings, each one with their strengths but also their flaws, making it easier to feel for their predicament. As a retelling of a fairy tale this story knows to deliver, and Johnson’s own unique voice shines through. The ending leaves the reader wanting for more. Good thing that this is only the first part in the Once Upon A Princess series, and Beauty’s Quest and Beauty’s Kiss can already be bought via amazon.
The Story
A war between fairies and humans rages and Princess Rose of Rhone is seething. The wicked Fairy Queen Magdalina cursed her with an impending sleeping death - and worse: relentless beauty. Instead of waiting for a hero to come by, she has taken it upon herself to find answers and confront the evil fairy Queen. She’s accompanied by Theo, who wanted to become a knight like his father and uncle before him, but whose dreams were shattered when his family was murdered by the evil fairies. Taken in by the church, he now studies to become a priest. Along with them are the siblings Ethan and Sophia, who, despite being 12 and 13 years old, are already quite skilled and a talented part of their group. They also receive help from Mary, a small fairy, and Virtue, Rose’s hawk.
A Strong Heroine Princess
It’s refreshing to read a retelling of a fairy tale that isn’t entirely focused on a small children or entirely directed at adults with lots of blood and gore. Beauty’s Curse manages to wriggle itself neatly in between and by doing so will be appealing to an even greater audience. The story can be categorized as Young Adult, although anyone a tad younger might still be able to enjoy the story just as much.
Princess Aurora Rosemarie Mohanagan of Rhone, called Rosary by Theo and Rose throughout the tale, is not your typical princess and fits in nicely with the current mainstream idea of princesses we like to see as a rolemodel for our daughters. Not a passive damsel in distress but someone who seeks the answers and solutions, who is educated and not afraid to get into the field. A girl who takes fate in her own hands and doesn’t want to sit around and wait for a solution - or to be married off to a prince and produce an heir before her imminent death such as her parents want for her. She is the type of girl who demanded to be trained as a knight and to be taught how to read her own as well as foreign languages.
Friendship
One of the attractive aspects of the story are the relationships between the main characters. It’s nice to read about a band of friends on a quest and it’s impossible not to enjoy the joyful banter between them. Although the main characters are all relatively young, they face the hardships and remind us that this is, above all, a story about companionship, about morals and about loyalty.
C.S.Johnson writes away fluently and has a nice and easy reading style which makes it easy to slip into the world she presents us with. Her writing invites to read on and the characters are all realistic beings, each one with their strengths but also their flaws, making it easier to feel for their predicament. As a retelling of a fairy tale this story knows to deliver, and Johnson’s own unique voice shines through. The ending leaves the reader wanting for more. Good thing that this is only the first part in the Once Upon A Princess series, and Beauty’s Quest and Beauty’s Kiss can already be bought via amazon.
May 17, 2019
3.5 stars
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book via R&R Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.
For some reason I had it in my head that this was a Beauty and the Beast retelling. I have no clue where I got that from. This is actually a Sleeping beauty retelling. I thought this was a great start to a series and I look forward to continuing on with the next book.
At first I was a little confused as to what was going on. The first few chapters I was asking myself what was the point. Eventually though once things started getting revealed the more I was into it.
I equally liked Princess Aurora’s (Rose) character and found her annoying. She is not your typical princess. Rose is a warrior princess. She doesn’t just sit in the castle waiting for others to solve her problems. She does it on her on. She isn’t afraid to fight. But she is a 17 year old girl and I found her behavior to be annoying a few times. I get that she has a lot going on and she is determined to break the curse and I feel for her but that doesn’t give her the right to act like her problems are more important than others and it doesn’t give her the right to treat certain people the way she did.
To me this was fast paced with a little bit of action. This is the first book out of 4 and it only basically introduces us to the main story line and sets us up for what’s to come next. This does end with a cliffhanger so be aware of that. I am looking forward to seeing what is in store for these characters next.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book via R&R Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.
For some reason I had it in my head that this was a Beauty and the Beast retelling. I have no clue where I got that from. This is actually a Sleeping beauty retelling. I thought this was a great start to a series and I look forward to continuing on with the next book.
At first I was a little confused as to what was going on. The first few chapters I was asking myself what was the point. Eventually though once things started getting revealed the more I was into it.
I equally liked Princess Aurora’s (Rose) character and found her annoying. She is not your typical princess. Rose is a warrior princess. She doesn’t just sit in the castle waiting for others to solve her problems. She does it on her on. She isn’t afraid to fight. But she is a 17 year old girl and I found her behavior to be annoying a few times. I get that she has a lot going on and she is determined to break the curse and I feel for her but that doesn’t give her the right to act like her problems are more important than others and it doesn’t give her the right to treat certain people the way she did.
To me this was fast paced with a little bit of action. This is the first book out of 4 and it only basically introduces us to the main story line and sets us up for what’s to come next. This does end with a cliffhanger so be aware of that. I am looking forward to seeing what is in store for these characters next.
September 13, 2017
Confession: I don't think the cover (despite how beautiful it is) gives Rose full justice. She is so unlike what I expected and absolutely loved her stubbornness, which is sort of a weird thing to say. She was very much an awesome heroine to cheer for!
I also really enjoyed the supporting characters and the relationship they had with Rose. I'm only leery of one because it's still to be determined if he can be trusted. However, Theo was great! I admired him and his conviction to have faith, despite his own personal struggles.
Though it seemed a little slow in the beginning, the way the action and suspense builds as the story progresses really had me on edge. I wanted to read the afternoon away to find out what would happen next, despite needing to cook dinner. Ha!
A good read and would recommend it to readers who enjoy fantasy, a dash of historical-feel, and romance.
I also really enjoyed the supporting characters and the relationship they had with Rose. I'm only leery of one because it's still to be determined if he can be trusted. However, Theo was great! I admired him and his conviction to have faith, despite his own personal struggles.
Though it seemed a little slow in the beginning, the way the action and suspense builds as the story progresses really had me on edge. I wanted to read the afternoon away to find out what would happen next, despite needing to cook dinner. Ha!
A good read and would recommend it to readers who enjoy fantasy, a dash of historical-feel, and romance.
September 14, 2017
This beauty is anything but sleeping.
The phrase, "I'll sleep when I'm dead," takes on new meaning in this retelling if the sleeping beauty story.
Princess Aurora is cursed to die at age 18. But until then she is unkillable. Instead of just waiting around and bemoaning her fate, this princess turns her curse into a Blessing and embarks on an adventurous life as a knight errant.
I love this non-passive version of sleeping beauty. The twists are engaging while still keeping many of the story elements the same.
This is only the beginning of the story though, here's hoping the next three books keep the pace.
The phrase, "I'll sleep when I'm dead," takes on new meaning in this retelling if the sleeping beauty story.
Princess Aurora is cursed to die at age 18. But until then she is unkillable. Instead of just waiting around and bemoaning her fate, this princess turns her curse into a Blessing and embarks on an adventurous life as a knight errant.
I love this non-passive version of sleeping beauty. The twists are engaging while still keeping many of the story elements the same.
This is only the beginning of the story though, here's hoping the next three books keep the pace.
December 16, 2020
Loved this little book—the humor in it is great!! Looking forward to the next one!
August 8, 2020
Good story, really liked it! I wish the rest of the series was on KU though, but it isn't that expensive as it is and a worker is worthy of his hire, so I don't mind.
Princess Aurora is cursed as well as blessed when she is born. The curse would have her die when she pricks her finger when she turns 18, but another fairy changes that to a death-like sleep. Rose, trained for battle, leaves home to find a cure for her curse, which means she needs to find the evil fairy who cursed her. She leaves with her Friend Theo (who has studied for the priesthood but has become an unofficial knight) and Sophia, her bodyguard, and Ethan, Sophia's younger brother.
Rose is 16 when the story starts. When she returns home for her 17th birthday the king gives her two options, abdicate the throne or get married - Rose wants to do neither so her father gives her until her 18th birthday to find the cure or abdicate. If she finds the cure she can tear up the contract and that will be that! Or will it?
This is a clean read.
Princess Aurora is cursed as well as blessed when she is born. The curse would have her die when she pricks her finger when she turns 18, but another fairy changes that to a death-like sleep. Rose, trained for battle, leaves home to find a cure for her curse, which means she needs to find the evil fairy who cursed her. She leaves with her Friend Theo (who has studied for the priesthood but has become an unofficial knight) and Sophia, her bodyguard, and Ethan, Sophia's younger brother.
Rose is 16 when the story starts. When she returns home for her 17th birthday the king gives her two options, abdicate the throne or get married - Rose wants to do neither so her father gives her until her 18th birthday to find the cure or abdicate. If she finds the cure she can tear up the contract and that will be that! Or will it?
This is a clean read.
September 30, 2017
*I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
FIRST THOUGHTS
When I was approached to read this book (and the three books that follow it), I was intrigued by the summary. If you know me, you know I love retellings and oddly enough, I have yet to read any Sleeping Beauty retellings.
PLOT
Time is running out for Rose. Her 17th birthday is approaching which means she only has one year left before her curse of pricking her finger on the spinning wheel on her 18th birthday is fulfilled. On a journey with a few friends, Rose returns back to her kingdom as she spends every waking moment trying to find a way to break the curse.
And that’s about it.
Being the first book in a series of four this felt more like an introduction. Not too much happened as Rose and her companions made their way back to the kingdom before they set out on their next adventure. There seemed to be a lot of build-up, especially where the king wants Rose to get married, but not much came from it. While they came to an agreement, it was swift and a bit anti-climactic.
The book ended on a cliff-hanger setting up the second book, but nothing from the first book, other than introducing the characters, seemed to be a big deal.
CHARACTERS
I’m not sure how I feel about Rose as a protagonist. Yes, this is a Sleeping Beauty retelling so it’s only natural she would be the center of attention, but she just seemed a little flat to me.
Theo, Rose’s priest companion and friend, was a wonderful character. He seemed fleshed out and was kind putting Rose’s needs before his own and he really seemed to know what he was doing.
Mary, Sophia, Ethan, and later Prince Philip, were good characters as well. They all have good personalities which made them fun to read.
WRITING STYLE
This seems to be told in third-person omniscient, which isn’t my favorite POV at all. There were times when a character would state the obvious or mention something that I wanted to figure out on my own or wait and see what happened.
Despite this, Rose is the main focus. Yet, sometimes we would switch to someone else for a moment just for the sake of them talking about Rose behind her back or thinking about her. I didn’t care too much for that.
OVERALL
I liked this book, though it’s not my favorite. I wish there were more high stakes against Rose and her friends. Still, it was enjoyable enough that I kept reading on.
Favorite Quote:
“He was not fooled by the calm look on her face; there would be a battle in getting her to agree.” -C.S. Johnson, Beauty’s Curse
*This review was originally published on RachelPoli.com
FIRST THOUGHTS
When I was approached to read this book (and the three books that follow it), I was intrigued by the summary. If you know me, you know I love retellings and oddly enough, I have yet to read any Sleeping Beauty retellings.
PLOT
Time is running out for Rose. Her 17th birthday is approaching which means she only has one year left before her curse of pricking her finger on the spinning wheel on her 18th birthday is fulfilled. On a journey with a few friends, Rose returns back to her kingdom as she spends every waking moment trying to find a way to break the curse.
And that’s about it.
Being the first book in a series of four this felt more like an introduction. Not too much happened as Rose and her companions made their way back to the kingdom before they set out on their next adventure. There seemed to be a lot of build-up, especially where the king wants Rose to get married, but not much came from it. While they came to an agreement, it was swift and a bit anti-climactic.
The book ended on a cliff-hanger setting up the second book, but nothing from the first book, other than introducing the characters, seemed to be a big deal.
CHARACTERS
I’m not sure how I feel about Rose as a protagonist. Yes, this is a Sleeping Beauty retelling so it’s only natural she would be the center of attention, but she just seemed a little flat to me.
Theo, Rose’s priest companion and friend, was a wonderful character. He seemed fleshed out and was kind putting Rose’s needs before his own and he really seemed to know what he was doing.
Mary, Sophia, Ethan, and later Prince Philip, were good characters as well. They all have good personalities which made them fun to read.
WRITING STYLE
This seems to be told in third-person omniscient, which isn’t my favorite POV at all. There were times when a character would state the obvious or mention something that I wanted to figure out on my own or wait and see what happened.
Despite this, Rose is the main focus. Yet, sometimes we would switch to someone else for a moment just for the sake of them talking about Rose behind her back or thinking about her. I didn’t care too much for that.
OVERALL
I liked this book, though it’s not my favorite. I wish there were more high stakes against Rose and her friends. Still, it was enjoyable enough that I kept reading on.
Favorite Quote:
“He was not fooled by the calm look on her face; there would be a battle in getting her to agree.” -C.S. Johnson, Beauty’s Curse
*This review was originally published on RachelPoli.com
May 10, 2020
A great spin on an old tale. Will have to read to next to see how it goes
May 6, 2016
I received a free copy of the book from the author in return for an honest review. Thank you C.S. Johnson!
I haven’t read fairytale retellings before so this was a new kind of read for me.
The story of Sleeping Beauty that we all know, told in a slightly different setting with many different elements, it’s almost like a seperate fiction story. The whole time I read it, I looked for similarities and differences from the classic tale and the number of differences made this read so much more interesting.
For one, Aurora isn’t just a princess living in the palace, safe away from everything else that could harm her; she is a warrior. She left her home at thirteen to fight wars and figure out a way to remove the curse placed upon her by the wicked witch Magdelina. With her is her best friend Theo, who secretly has feelings for the princess. Aurora, who goes by Rose now, also has taken on a young girl as a squire and the girl’s brother as a navigator. Along with some guards, they travel and fight, win and move on to the fairy lands where Rose hopes to find a solution.
Circumstances end in Rose going back home after four years with her small cavalry, and meet the handsome Prince Philip on the way (who kisses her and breaks her curse in the original story). But the twist! By the time Philip is introduced, the reader is shipping Rose and Theo. I found Philip to put strain and problems into the main couple’s relationship, and wanted him gone. As much as I love Philip in the original story, I am rooting for Theo.
A few more details like Rose’s secret siblings, her father’s secret and some more facts added twists and suspense to the ending of the book.
It’s the first in a series amd honestly, I would have preferred more story to be in the book. By the time I got to know all the characters and placed everyone in areas and figured out the basics, the book ended. It could have been longer, with some more of the story.
A good read to keep you in fantasies of the world you thought you knew but don’t. Often, I find myself wishing that I never knew the fairytale stories just so I could read them again with the newbie vigor. This book was perfect for my mood. It’s the story you love, yet it is also something new and makes you wait for the happy ending you wish for.
I haven’t read fairytale retellings before so this was a new kind of read for me.
The story of Sleeping Beauty that we all know, told in a slightly different setting with many different elements, it’s almost like a seperate fiction story. The whole time I read it, I looked for similarities and differences from the classic tale and the number of differences made this read so much more interesting.
For one, Aurora isn’t just a princess living in the palace, safe away from everything else that could harm her; she is a warrior. She left her home at thirteen to fight wars and figure out a way to remove the curse placed upon her by the wicked witch Magdelina. With her is her best friend Theo, who secretly has feelings for the princess. Aurora, who goes by Rose now, also has taken on a young girl as a squire and the girl’s brother as a navigator. Along with some guards, they travel and fight, win and move on to the fairy lands where Rose hopes to find a solution.
Circumstances end in Rose going back home after four years with her small cavalry, and meet the handsome Prince Philip on the way (who kisses her and breaks her curse in the original story). But the twist! By the time Philip is introduced, the reader is shipping Rose and Theo. I found Philip to put strain and problems into the main couple’s relationship, and wanted him gone. As much as I love Philip in the original story, I am rooting for Theo.
A few more details like Rose’s secret siblings, her father’s secret and some more facts added twists and suspense to the ending of the book.
It’s the first in a series amd honestly, I would have preferred more story to be in the book. By the time I got to know all the characters and placed everyone in areas and figured out the basics, the book ended. It could have been longer, with some more of the story.
A good read to keep you in fantasies of the world you thought you knew but don’t. Often, I find myself wishing that I never knew the fairytale stories just so I could read them again with the newbie vigor. This book was perfect for my mood. It’s the story you love, yet it is also something new and makes you wait for the happy ending you wish for.
March 17, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. The story of Aurora (Rose to her friends and Rosary to one person), cursed by a witch to prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel on her 18th birthday, is not unfamiliar. But CJ's spin on the story is fantastic. The way she overlaps the human world and the world of fairy is much more modern and less cute than the Disney version of the story. Additionally, she introduces the characters right in the middle of the story which is incredibly gutsy.
Princess Rose, who has been off questing for years trying to find a way to break her own curse, has been summoned home by her father. She meets some good fairies and evil fairies along the way as well as Prince Philip. At home, she is given an ultimatum. Marry and produce an heir or abdicate. The twist is especially fun, since she has two younger siblings that have been kept in hiding to avoid the curse. While the story is so familiar, the personality of the princess is not. She is very strong-willed and opinionated and absolutely unwilling to give up hope. Philip also has some depth to him. Other fun characters are Rose's younger sister, Isra, princess-in-hiding as well as the one person who always has Rose's back and who Rose takes for granted. Theo, a priest turned knight, and one of Rose's closest friends is also a wonderful addition to the ensemble. I am really looking forward to seeing where this story will lead to.
I received a free copy of this book by the author and have reviewed it willingly.
Princess Rose, who has been off questing for years trying to find a way to break her own curse, has been summoned home by her father. She meets some good fairies and evil fairies along the way as well as Prince Philip. At home, she is given an ultimatum. Marry and produce an heir or abdicate. The twist is especially fun, since she has two younger siblings that have been kept in hiding to avoid the curse. While the story is so familiar, the personality of the princess is not. She is very strong-willed and opinionated and absolutely unwilling to give up hope. Philip also has some depth to him. Other fun characters are Rose's younger sister, Isra, princess-in-hiding as well as the one person who always has Rose's back and who Rose takes for granted. Theo, a priest turned knight, and one of Rose's closest friends is also a wonderful addition to the ensemble. I am really looking forward to seeing where this story will lead to.
I received a free copy of this book by the author and have reviewed it willingly.
May 29, 2019
"Magdalina, who commands the realm of fairies surrounding the kingdom of Rhone, my home and future, cursed me when I was younger. She said I would prick my finger on a spindle of a spinning wheel when I was eighteen, and I would die."
Princess Aurora Rosemarie Mohanagan, heir to the throne of Rhone, is going to die at the age of eighteen years old if she cannot find a way to break the curse. If she cannot ask Magdalina nicely, she will try more extreme measures, with her friends by her side–“a warrior and a priest, a blacksmith and an artist, fairies and humans, new friends and old friends”.
The characters are brave and determined with vulnerabilities. I enjoy Rose and Theo’s relationship with their fun banter and hidden feelings. It will be a pleasure to see those feelings come to fruition in the series.
If you enjoy witches, fairies, kingdoms, and dragons, you will love this series. Highly recommend!
Thank you to Ms. Johnson and R&R Book Tours for giving me the opportunity to review this book with no expectations of a positive review given.
More book reviews at The Eclectic Review
Princess Aurora Rosemarie Mohanagan, heir to the throne of Rhone, is going to die at the age of eighteen years old if she cannot find a way to break the curse. If she cannot ask Magdalina nicely, she will try more extreme measures, with her friends by her side–“a warrior and a priest, a blacksmith and an artist, fairies and humans, new friends and old friends”.
The characters are brave and determined with vulnerabilities. I enjoy Rose and Theo’s relationship with their fun banter and hidden feelings. It will be a pleasure to see those feelings come to fruition in the series.
If you enjoy witches, fairies, kingdoms, and dragons, you will love this series. Highly recommend!
Thank you to Ms. Johnson and R&R Book Tours for giving me the opportunity to review this book with no expectations of a positive review given.
More book reviews at The Eclectic Review
February 24, 2019
I received this book from Voracious Readers for an honest review. Well I must say I am disappointed. I'm disappointed it ended!!!!! I want to know if Rose breaks the curse! I want to know if Rose finds true love! I want to know!!!! But I digress. This is a story that is a re-imagining of the Sleeping Beauty tale. It starts off with a bang with two young boys running for their lives with their mortally injured uncle. Then it steps seven years into the future. You find as you go along that you fall a little bit in love with Theo and are rooting for him to win Rose's (Aurora) heart. When Prince Phillip finally enters you kinda wish he'd go away - even though he is the hero in the original tale. Rose is a wonderfully complex character who is flawed and deeply troubled by the burden of the curse she carries. Theo is part religious conscience for the little band and part warrior and you can't help but love him. Fun story and I can't wait to read the rest of the series to find out what happens with Rose and Theo.... possibly even Prince Phillip.
May 18, 2019
Fairytale retellings can be hit or miss with me sometimes. However, I've decided that if C.S. Johnson wrote it, it's probably going to be amazing. And 'amazing' is how I would describe Beauty's Curse.
I love Rose, in all her stubborn glory. She was a great female lead and I really grew attached to her. The supporting cast was great too. C.S. Johnson has a talent for building strong, relatable characters.
Beauty's Curse starts off a little slow in the beginning and then it takes off, keeping you on the edge. I read this in one sitting...which is typical for me when it comes to C.S. Johnson's work. Highly recommended start to what will likely be an amazing series.
*I received a copy of this book as part of a blog tour with R&R Book Tours. All opinions are my own.*
I love Rose, in all her stubborn glory. She was a great female lead and I really grew attached to her. The supporting cast was great too. C.S. Johnson has a talent for building strong, relatable characters.
Beauty's Curse starts off a little slow in the beginning and then it takes off, keeping you on the edge. I read this in one sitting...which is typical for me when it comes to C.S. Johnson's work. Highly recommended start to what will likely be an amazing series.
*I received a copy of this book as part of a blog tour with R&R Book Tours. All opinions are my own.*
June 2, 2019
From the first paragraph, I was gripped! This retelling of Sleeping Beauty felt more grounded in reality than fantasy. The friendship between Rose and her best friend Theo is so realistic and reminds me of those friendships I had growing up in my childhood. I love how C. S. Johnson has told the all too familiar story differently, it works extremely well, it was a truly unique perspective.
Of course, I’m not going to go into too much detail, I never like revealing the whole story. This is the first book in the novella series and I love how C. S. Johnson has set up the characters and storyline for future books. The twists are engaging while still keeping many of the story elements the same. This is only the beginning of the story though, here’s hoping the next books keep the pace.
Of course, I’m not going to go into too much detail, I never like revealing the whole story. This is the first book in the novella series and I love how C. S. Johnson has set up the characters and storyline for future books. The twists are engaging while still keeping many of the story elements the same. This is only the beginning of the story though, here’s hoping the next books keep the pace.
March 10, 2016
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I totally love this retelling of Sleeping Beauty. She is not your average princess and I LOVE that about her. Even though this book isn't very long, it's not short on details or action. I love the characters, especially Beauty's little group. I see so much promise for this series and look forward to reading more about Beauty's adventures.
I totally love this retelling of Sleeping Beauty. She is not your average princess and I LOVE that about her. Even though this book isn't very long, it's not short on details or action. I love the characters, especially Beauty's little group. I see so much promise for this series and look forward to reading more about Beauty's adventures.
March 23, 2019
This is the first book I’ve read by C.S. Johnson. I am amazed at her ability to take a simple fairy tale & make it come alive. The princess doesn’t just sit around waiting for her curse to happen but it out trying to chance it in the most unusual ways. How does C.S. think of all that she puts into this story. I don’t know but love her style of doing it. I’m anxious to read “the rest of the story “. I received this book free through Bookfunnel. This is my voluntary review.
July 6, 2019
This retelling of sleeping beauty didn't quite manage to pull off well rounded believable characters. The characters were interesting enough and the plot is interesting enough that I will probably continue reading the rest of the stories. Hopefully, the characters will grow more rounded as the tale unfolds.
January 12, 2017
Just like your other books (The Starlight Chronicles series), the author gives great imagery with their words. I loved this retelling of Sleeping Beauty from a unique point of view.
( Keep writing, C.S. Johnson!! * I was given a free copy for an honest review)
( Keep writing, C.S. Johnson!! * I was given a free copy for an honest review)
January 26, 2019
A thoughtful and pleasing twist on an old fairy tale!
March 31, 2019
Full review to come -
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