Rebel Rose takes the ending of the beauty and the beast tale right after happily ever after and sets the continuing story against the backdrop of the French Revolution. The author drops the happily ever after at least for the start of the book cause, like all newlywed couples, there are bumps along the road add to the fact that you married to a king and you are refusing the queen title well it makes for some stressful situations. I liked that belle stayed true to the strong-headed, book-loving character from the movie and that the beast still has some issues figuring out to deal with humans after being cursed for years. Belle wants to fight for the commoners of her kingdom and struggles with Bastien refusing to allow a woman's opinion on the advisory council. There is a lot of political strife, a beheading, so this I would hand to upper young adult reader. A delightful continuation of the story, and I am excited to see what happens in the following tale.

Initial Thoughts
I was so excited to read this book. I always used to think about what happens after the happily ever after at the end of a Disney movie and this series answers that very question.

Also, Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorites.

Some Things I Liked
I loved the nods to history. The French Revolution serves as the backdrop for part of this story and I loved that. I wish we had actually gotten more but it was a really interesting touch to add the time period and context to the story I knew.
Older MC. While Belle’s age is not stated specifically, she’s married and has a husband so I assumed she was a little older. I loved that she was a more mature version of the girl from the Disney movie.

Some Things I Wasn’t Crazy About
Lack of romance. While Belle was already married, I was disappointed in the lack of romance in the story. I wanted more scenes of Belle and Lio together.
Lack of plot. I also feel like there was no central plot until more than 60% into the story. It was just a day in the life of Belle and I craved action or a mystery or something to puzzle out.

Series Value
I’d definitely keep reading this series. I love that each installment is written by a different author and covers a different story.

Final Thoughts
I wanted to like this so much more than I did. I had high hopes because of the premise but this story did fall a bit short.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Slowly but surely I am moving through my old titles to ensure that I give feedback to everything! I originally requested this book because nothing sounded cuter than a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but I ended up being mildly let down once I got to the end for primarily one reason: Belle's character was absolutely demolished. She was meek and nothing like she is mostly portrayed to be in the movies. I was desperately underwhelmed and felt like the characters were nothing like they should have or could have been, even if the historical accuracy was there. It wasn't a bad book and ended up being kind of cute and an easy read, but I was still left underwhelmed by the end.

I think what I struggled with is the idea of setting this Disney couple in a real historical event. I appreciated the touches to the original story, and Theriault clearly did her research on the fashion and culture of the time, but I couldn't get away from 'the idea that this was set during the French revolution...and also that guy used to be a clock.

I've often times wondered what happened after Belle and the Beast lived happily ever after. This book filled that void and helped tell the story of Belle becoming a Queen. Perfect for any age and anyone in want of a fairy tale.

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

All quotes are taken from Rebel Rose by Emma Theriault.

// Content warning: death, beheading, violence, mentions of mature content //

---

// Quick Statistics //
Overall: 3/5 Stars
Plot: 3/5 Stars
Characters: 1/5 Stars
Setting: 4/5 Stars
Writing: 4/5 Stars
Memorability: 2/5 Stars

---

// Quick Review //
I put off reading Rebel Rose until last week, and unfortunately? I was quite disappointed with this novel. Despite it not being my cup of tea, this Beauty and the Beast ‘retelling’ is a sure favorite for fans of the classic fairy tale.

---

"The happenstance of someone’s birth should not determine whether or not they are impoverished. It is up to those of us with power in whatever form to work to make the lives of everyone better, starting with those less fortunate than us…"

---

// Other Information //
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Page Count: 352 pages
Release Date: November 10, 2020
Series: The Queen’s Council #1
Genre: Fiction, Young adult, Fantasy, Retellings, Historical fiction, Fairy tales, Romance, Beauty and the beast

---

// Book Description (via Goodreads) //
Happily ever after is only the beginning as Belle takes on the responsibility of becoming queen and learns to balance duty, love, and sacrifice, all while navigating dark political intrigue—and a touch of magic.

It’s 1789 and France is on the brink of revolution. Belle has finally broken the Enchantress’s curse, restoring the Beast to his human form and bringing life back to their castle in the province of Aveyon. But in Paris, the fires of change are burning, and it’s only a matter of time before the rebellion arrives on their doorstep.

Not so very long ago, Belle dreamed of leaving her provincial home for a life of adventure. But now she finds herself living in a palace, torn between her past as a commoner, and her future as royalty. While Belle grapples with her newfound position, there are those who would do anything to keep her from power.

When she stumbles across a magic mirror that holds a dire warning, Belle wants nothing more than to ignore the mysterious voice calling her to accept a crown she never desired. But violent factions of the revolution may already be lurking within her own castle, and doing nothing would endanger everything she holds dear. With the fate of her country, her love, and her life at stake, Belle must decide if she is ready to embrace her own strength–and the magic that ties her to so many female rulers before her–to become the queen she is meant to be.

Rebel Rose is the first in the Queen’s Council series, an empowering fairy tale reimagining of the Disney Princesses-and the real history behind their stories-like you’ve never seen before.

---

// Characters //
Rebel Rose tells the story of Belle, my favorite Disney princess, and her life after the events of Beauty and the Beast. To be honest, the characters in this novel were my least favorite part of the novel.

It seemed as if the author didn’t spend enough time figuring out and creating authentic characters. First off, the characters are drastically different from the classic tale. Which I would be all for if the characters themselves were well-written. Since the novel is marketed as a retelling, it would have been nice to see a fresh twist on the characters. However, this was not the case.

I had no emotional attachments to the characters and frankly could not have cared less about their journeys in the novel.

The only bright side to the characters is the LGBTQ+ representation. I thought that Emma Theriault actually represented her queer characters very well. Rather than using her characters as tokens, their sexuality is integrated very well into the plot and story. Hercule Garoutte (aka LaFou) is gay like he is in the live-action 2017 Beauty and the Beast. However, rather than making him a stereotype like the movie, the author dove deeper into the reasoning behind his love for Gaston. Another character, Marguerite, is lesbian; her sexuality is also handled well.

The one thing that this novel does well with its characters is its representation. Despite taking place during the French Revolution, Emma Theriault authentically represents LGBTQ+ characters.

---

"They could have stood there forever, twined together and perfectly still in the midst of the chaos that had engulfed the castle, and she would have been happy."

---

// Writing and Setting //
One of the best parts of this novel is the writing and setting. I found the author’s way of writing beautiful and perfectly descriptive.

I also was intrigued by the way the author grounded the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast in a more realistic world. I found this aspect to be the most exciting for me, as it was a brilliant way that the author attempted to put a spin on the story.

---

// Plot //
The story started off very promising, but as the story continued I became less and less sucked into the novel. The story seemed to drag for a long portion of the story.

However, I did find it interesting how Belle must conquer her struggles in a time when chaos is emerging across the country.
---

"I told you once before to trust your instincts. You've suppressed them for so long you no longer recognize them for what they are - a warning."

---

// Overall Review //
I will most likely not bother reading the rest of the series, as I didn't enjoy most of the novel. However, there are some positive aspects to the novel that makes it a worthwhile read for lovers of the well-known tale.

This was a really unique take on the Beauty and the Beast tale, that I would definitely recommend to anyone who loves that story, or fairytales in general!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

If you are wondering what happens to Belle and the Beast after their happy ever after, look no further! What a great spin on a childhood favorite fairytale! I am excited to read the next Queen's Council book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this eARC!

A delightful take on a beloved Disney classic, Theriault creates a historically accurate and beautifully atmospheric story that will delight new fans and old alike.

I have to say, I found it tricky to get into this one. I'm not a big fan of Disney or beauty and the beast, so maybe that was part of the issue, but even so I didn't really see how the main character was anything like Belle at all? I also had no interest in the love interest, ironically. The author is definitely talented, I think this story just wasn't for me, and I ended up not reading very far.

If you're looking for a Beauty and the Beast retelling, this one is definitely one for the list, but unfortunately, I think I'm going to need to move on from these retellings as there's just been too many that have been kind of meh for me and I think this one is a casualty of that.

Not as magical as I was expecting but I enjoyed the historical aspect. Belle is a meek character that I felt deserved so much more building up. This reads more of a middle grade than young adult.

Beauty and the Beast retellings are some of my favorite stories so I was really excited to read this book that takes place after Belle and the Beast fall in love. The concept of this story was great and the characters you know and love are included. You also find out what happens to some of the villains from the original tale. I loved that many historical details were included regarding King Louis and Marie Antoinette making it feel more like a historical fiction rather than a fairytale retelling. However, I had a challenging time connecting with the love story of Belle and Lio. I was a bit disappointed that Belle was facing many of her obstacles alone. While Belle was certainly capable and didn’t need Lio’s help, I really wanted them to be the team I envisioned they would be from other Beauty and the Beast stories I’ve read. Overall, this was still an interesting take on this beloved tale and an enjoyable read.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read and review your titles.
I do appreciate it and continue to review books that I get the chance to read.
Thanks again!

Thank you, NetGalley, Emma Theriault, and Disney Publishing Worldwide for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I love retellings, and this one did not disappoint! I am also prone to loving anything with the time period of the French Revolution or fairytale related. It went off The Beauty and the Beast after the curse, which made it interesting to see where they would be at. However, I would have loved to see a bit more action and dialogue between Belle and Adam. Some parts seemed to slow down and really drag out with not much happening. I am giving it 3 starts because of the historical tie ins and I love Beauty and the Beast!

Taking place after Belle has broken the spell we see her and Beast try and navigate the French court during a time of unrest and social upheaval. The French insurrection is spilling across France and Beast relies on the advice of his cousin who has been knee deep in French politics during his curse. Belle has misgivings and tries to make her views known but is continually dismissed and undermined by the Duke. Belle doubts her own instincts and must learn to be the leader she always has been but doesn’t want to be. As danger circles around their court Belle finds unlikely allies and with a little bit of magic sets a new course for the future and saves Beast and her people once more.
I really enjoyed this new take on the Beauty and the Beast tale. The politics, intrigue, hidden agendas, and social unrest playing out all while relationships are tested and new ones forged made for a very interesting read. The only draw back for me was Belle’s hesitation and lack of confidence as she was always someone that was portrayed as being passionate and having conviction about her beliefs. She would never have let herself be set aside and bullied the way she was at the beginning of the story. Other than that it was a top notch story. I can’t wait to see what the author does with the other future queens.

this book had me at disney princess, but that is also we’re it left me. the whole book was like belle whinning and saying it was so hard to be rich and it got on my last nerve. but, at least the cover is pretty

Maybe it's just me, but I think that the Beauty and the Beast train has passed. I think that the whole story is a bit overdone, and it's hard to write a nuanced retelling/continuation of the fairytale when the market is so oversaturated with them. However, with all that said, I still enjoyed this book as much as I think I could have.

The action in this book picks up a few months after the conclusion of the original Disney animated movie. The Beast--now a prince--and Belle have married, but now she refuses to take the title of Princess. Adding tension to the mix is the fact that France finds itself on the brink of revolution. Belle is fascinated as she learns about the potential populous uprising. I thought the plot was compelling enough, but I was left wanting more at times. In the middle, the book dragged a bit and I skimmed those parts. Towards the eds the book definitely picked up, and I thought it was overall a fun book.

If you're looking for something slightly nostalgic, or if you're curious about what happens after the events of the Disney movie, I would recommend picking this book up.

This retelling was so fun! I love Beauty and the Beast and this unique take really filled all of that retelling goodness I love. 4/5 stars

I absolutely love fairy tale retellings, especially Beauty and the beast. However, this one wasn't my favorite. But I did love that it was after the curse was broken 💔