Title: Rebel Rose
Author: Emma Theriault

Ch: 30 Plus Epilogue

Pg: 345

Series: The Queen’s Council book 1

Genre: Beauty and Beast retelling, Fairytale retelling, sequel

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Rebel Rose by Emma Theriault is a book that I didn’t know that I needed. This is the what happens after the Beast and Belles happily ever after at the end of Beauty and the Beast.

What I love about this book is that it also ties on the historical time period of the French Revolution. But by making Belle and the princes kingdom a neighbor of France instead of part of that kingdom.

The Belle in this novel is how I pictured Belle being in her role as the wife of the prince being. Having either a crown or a title wouldn’t change who Belle truly was. Even more that the cartoon and movie the Belle in this book is an even stronger role model for girls.

Belle was and is still my favorite Disney Princess and Rebel Rose makes me love her even more.

This was a curious book, because I went into it fully expecting to fall in love with it...but I didn't. This might be my fault, as the reader, for having too high expectations, but I'm going to briefly outline why I liked/didn't like certain elements of the book as succinctly as I can. My overall recommendation for this book is that if it interests you, and you think you'll love it, go ahead and buy it! If not, then a library might be your next best option.

I'd say to begin with that this book is...official, I think? As in, approved by Disney? I don't know if that makes it canon or not. It's also a continuation of the story, not a retelling, in case some are confused. But the lack of action and the characters were the things I liked the least. Disney's crux is the characters--and this book did not live up to that. It fell disastrously flat of what I expected it to be. The heroine was shockingly flat too, and I felt there was a missed opportunity there. One good thing, though, that I will say about this book, is the way the author weaved history into the story. It was my favorite thing that I didn't realize I would love. Ultimately, I don't think I can label this book as "bad" (is there such thing? it's all so subjective!) but I can assuredly say that I did not love it like I wanted to; in part because of the lack of tension and conflict, and also because of the way the author rendered the characters into a shell of what they were.

However, I am curious to see what the author will do next with her career.

Rebel Rose follows Belle after "The Beast" has become human and resumes his role as a political leader in France. She is in the time of the French Revolution and is having to navigate trusting lords and ladies, and becoming a political leader herself. This is the story we have all been waiting for that we didn't know we needed.

It is full of nods to the original story while providing such a fulfilling, complex, and truly robust world. Belle is nuanced and strong and likable. I loved that rather than a "retelling", this story continues where we left off with the original story. I wish I could express how satisfying this book was, but alas, I do not a have a way with words like the author of this enchanting tale. The author also does an excellent job of incorporating true French culture that is relevant to the book's setting. The combination of the true historical elements and the familiar and magical Disney fairy tale elements, make this story exquisite.

Beauty and the Beast has never been one of my favorite Disney stories, but I adored this book. I cannot wait for more books in this series and I truly hope they tackle as many of our beloved Disney tales as possible.

Well shoot. I really really wanted to love this one. I swear! There’s nothing I love more than a fairytale reimagined. Life after The Beast turns into Adam? I need it! And I loved the idea of Belle navigating through the politics of the revolution in France.

Unfortunately… this was a miss for me. Adam – though he’s called Lio in this book – is hardly in it. He’s always conveniently going away on business to do some thing or other and leaving Belle to figure out how to run things in his absence. The problem with that is his cousin Bastien, who has come to live with them from Paris, is a nightmare – and determined to undermine Belle at every turn.

Now I know what you’re thinking. Belle is headstrong and brilliant. She wouldn’t let some little man stop her from doing what’s right. But this Belle is so full of self-doubt and continually backs down from challenges. It was so uncharacteristic of the Belle we know and love. It just didn’t really make sense. And the whole story is so steeped in politics that it becomes a bit redundant.

The parts that I really enjoyed were Belle’s interactions with Mrs. Potts and her new friend Marguerite. I like that Belle doesn’t want to become a princess or a queen. She wants to stay true to her roots and be able to connect with the people, no matter the social ramifications of her not taking a title. Marguerite seems to be as open minded and forward thinking as Belle and I think they make a good team.

I also enjoyed the ending. I think there were some characters who certainly surprised me. And some characters who got a little bit of redemption – or the justification of their actions was made a bit more clear. The mystical witch woman (I don’t know what she actually was – oracle maybe?) who comes to queens in their time of need was cool. I would liked to have seen more of her, but look forward to her role in subsequent books.

This book was marketed as what comes after happily ever after. I for one was not a fan of this book and the direction it took some beloved characters. If this was just a retelling or not to be considered a continuation of the wonderful Disney classic, it might have been okay.

This book is set in 1789 France during the time of the start of the revolution. I knew it would be a darker tone than the original story and I was ok with that. I felt like the character of Belle was changed too dramatically and made to seem weaker. This is not the headstrong girl we love from the movie who stood up to the Beast. She constantly lets others walk all over her.

Belle’s husband, called Lio in this tale, seems distant from his wife. Even though the author keeps telling us he loves Belle for saving his kingdom and he doesn’t know what he’d do without her, he very easily doesn’t take her advice or listen to her thoughts. There were times where I honestly thought the author might even end their relationship.

The majority of the book was boring. Very little happened to drive the story and I felt like the author kept repeating herself. The magic of the original story was sadly missing from this story. The last quarter of the book finally picked up and had a point.

Overall this lacks any Disney magic and would have been better as a historical fiction not related to Beauty and the Beast.

This was a surprise for me! I love any fairy tale retelling and add in a badass disney princess?! I am there! This book surpassed my expectations, I definitely did not expect the mature content that was in it and I don’t mean romantically. This is a very detailed account of Belle and Lio’s life during what would have been the French Revolution. The attention to detail was pinpointed to precision, down to the style of dress and even food. It was lavish and chock full of nobility but through it all it held a thread of revolution and tension. I read this the week of election week and let me tell you, it did not help with my anxiety.

This takes place 10 years after the curse was placed on the castle, Belle and the beast Lio, have to deal with the aftermath of the awakening. At this point, everyone is pretty much ignorant of what happened during the time and no one speaks about it. To the outside world, prince Lio was sick and became a recluse, inside they refuse to acknowledge all they went through. Belle and Lio have decided to travel the continent and what they find is the world has greatly changed while they dealt with the curse.

As Belle travels to Paris and back, she’s confronted with what she’s given up for her prince. There isn't much of a romance story line as the relationship is established but, it is great to see how they develop it. Belle and Lio are virtually strangers that were in an intense situation and now they’re discovering the ins and outs of the other. Relationships take work, add in a revolution against the nobility, spies, assianation plots and you’re bound to have some tense moments.

I loved seeing all the characters from the story, Cogsworth, Lumiere, Mrs. Potts and even Chip. These main characters shape the world of Aveyon from the baker to the bookshop keeper, they all give us glimpses to the story we shared and loved. I really love how this author has blended disney and history and I really can’t wait to see what she does with the rest of the stories. I give this a 4.5 because I think sometimes the superficial details bogged down the plot of the story. There were many great characters to explore here and sometimes the story delved too deep into a wartime strategy.

Belle is my favorite Disney princess, so I was incredibly excited to be approved for this new release from Disney following my favorite Heroine months after the curse was broken. I really enjoyed the way it contextualized the classic fairytale by couching it in reality and making it almost seem plausible. It walks a nice tightrope between historical fantasy and magical realism.

I am someone who sometimes gets overwhelmed by too much political intrigue, and this one was definitely verging on crossing that line for me. If you are someone who really likes the French Revolution and politics, the plot would likely feel more fast paced for you, but to me it felt a bit bogged down and slow.

I wished the plot was a little bit less predictable, but overall I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading more of our favorite heroines continuing their adventures after the stories we know and love.

If you liked A Curse So Dark and Lonely, Enchante, or A Golden Fury, you may really enjoy this one!

** 3.5 stars rounded up. **

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this one.

I liked the combination of fairytale and historical fiction to this twisted fairytale. It made it a lot more interesting. The writing was wonderful and there were many uncommon words so the reader could expand their vocabulary. I also enjoyed the action and twists in the plot. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I felt it was a little strong on the girl power and that the swear words were forced into the dialogue. It didn't quite mesh with the time period. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to readers that love a good twist on a beloved fairytale.

I am always looking for fun books for my students to read for Independent Reading. I was excited when this became available to me on NetGalley because it definitely hits many marks for my students. A retelling of a classic Disney tale with elements of historical fiction worked in. So many of my students will appreciate reading this for their independent choice!

I am a sucker for a good French Revolution tale. Give me blood and Robespierre and massive beheadings and LET THEM EAT CAKE! Theriault really hit the topic of the French Revolution with sophistication. She made it realistic to young readers without making it too gruesome and overwhelming. She details the pleas of the lower classes and juxtaposes Belle's former position as a commoner and her new position as nobility.

Overall, I rated this 4 stars because I see so many of my young, female students enjoying it and I enjoyed it as well! Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney-Hyperion, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review.

**3.5-stars rounded up**

Rebel Rose is the first book in the new series by Disney, The Queen's Council. Each book will be written by a different author and follow the story of a different Disney heroine. This first novel follows my favorite Disney heroine, Belle, from Beauty and the Beast. The action picks up a few months after the conclusion of the Disney animated movie.

Belle and Lio have defeated the curse and his kingdom has been restored to its former glory. The couple have since been married, although Belle refuses to take the title of Princess of Aveyon. One of their first orders of business as a couple is to travel to the beautiful city of Paris, with the hopes of restoring Lio's relationship with the King of France.

Arriving in the City of Lights, Lio is reunited with his cousin, Bastien. They will be staying with him, which is fortunate for Lio, since as a Duc, Bastien is used to navigating the ins and outs of France's ruling class. Lio's a bit out of his element, having been under the curse for a decade.

The year is 1789 and France finds itself on the brink of revolution. Belle is fascinated as she learns about the potential populous uprising. She personally feels caught between the two worlds. She lived her early life as a commoner. It was only after being held prisoner at the enchanted castle, and starting a relationship with Lio, that she would ever be allowed to walk among the aristocracy. She understands the plight and demands of the people and hopes that Lio will listen to her urgings to make their province a better place for all.

Returning to their own castle, Bastien travels along with them, trying to distance himself from the potential violence of the city. Lucky, Belle. This guy is a creeper, y'all, and Belle can see if from the very beginning. She doesn't trust him and the two are at each others throats. What happens next is an odd series of events that leaves Belle and Bastien alone in the castle while Lio travels the province. Things do not go well.

I really enjoyed this one, guys, and feel like this is a solid start to The Queen's Council series. I wasn't sure going in what the connection of the series would be, but there were some reveals in here that provided insight into that. Let's just say, I am really looking forward to continuing.

Theriault did a wonderful job of creating this historical world. I also loved how true to the characters she stuck. I felt like it was a smooth transition from the movie content to this story. Belle, Lio and some other favorites, such as Mrs. Potts, Lumiere and Cogsworth, all behaved as you would expect them too and I appreciated that consistency.

There is quite a bit of serious subject matter within this story and I do felt it read fairly slow. There were some lulls in the action, or even some portions I felt could have been removed. I love politics in stories though, so for me, it worked. I can definitely see how some people may not be as interested in those aspects however, or feel that the pace is too slow for their personal tastes.

Overall, I think this is a solid story and one that any Beauty and the Beast fan should check out. Particularly, if you are a fan of Belle's strength, stubbornness and pure heart. Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney-Hyperion, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity and look forward to the next book!

This was an interesting extension to the story of Beauty and the Beast. It was a decent read. I did not become too attached to the story, but it kept my interest throughout.

Life is too short for bad food, mean friends, and predictable books.

I had so much hope for Rebel Rose but it fell flat. The premise of continuing Belle’s story after the curse was brilliant. We never get a chance to see what kind of royalty Belle might be in most retellings. This Belle did a great job of keeping her village in her heart.

Unfortunately, the characters were so predictable. There were absolutely no surprises at all. In fact, it was so predictable that the plot seemed to drag on while I waited for confirmation. It was completely unnecessary considering you knew exactly what was going to happen about 30% in to the book.

The setting was well done, though. I enjoyed the historical elements woven in with the fantasy tale. I also enjoyed the writing overall— for the most part. My biggest complaint was pacing and predictability.

If you are a Beauty and the Beast fan and love strong female characters, you may enjoy Rebel Rose.

I adore Beauty and the Beast retellings so I knew I’d like this one. The only draw back is, there was a lot of “saying” and not a lot of “doing”. Characters are constantly about to spring into action, but a lot of those scenes fell flat. But because this is a retelling, I didn’t mind too much.

I thought the re-telling aspect was done great but there is much more telling rather than showing. Not much action takes place and I found myself being disappointed in this. I like the characters and the world build as it was a mix of historical fiction and the re-telling of beauty and the beast. Re-telling stories can be very hit or miss and I'm not the biggest beauty and the beast fan in general but I was still able to relate to the characters and pick out who was who. I would like to see what other princesses Theriault is able to conjure up next!

Thank you to Netgalley and Disney for the copy of this book!

Well, this was a slight disappointment. I liked the characters well enough, especially since we see Lio/Adam as a human instead of the Beast. But I still felt some characters weren’t the same. Yes, that might be silly to say but at the same time they didn’t feel wholly “true.” Oddly enough I found Cogsworth rather infuriating because I interpreted a lot of open disdain from him. We also see another character from the original story and I… Well, I simply don’t see him in the way the author made him. I also felt uncomfortable when, in order to justify their actions, certain characters had to out themselves to Belle. It seemed wrong. Belle was very accepting, though, which I do expect her to be.

I liked that we were taken into the early start of the French Revolution and we got the elegance and sheer pageantry of that era from the aristocracy. The idea of Belle outright rejecting the title of Queen and all she knows it would do for her and her people felt…off. Like I understand that she definitely didn’t truly know what she was getting herself into when she married the Prince but still. Surely she had SOME idea?

I’m unsure about how magic played a role in the story overall. I liked the idea but it almost felt forced—to continue to have the magic play a role when I feel like the storyline would have been fine without it. I did, however, like the background story regarding the enchantress.

I thought the contrast between Belle and Marguerite was good, as they both desired something they each had in their own life. From the moment we met who eventually became the “bad guy” I suspected them in a heartbeat so I think it really took away from the shock factor of who really betrayed the king.

Sadly not a book that I would add to my own personal library but if you’re a BatB fan, you may enjoy this one. I think I find that I seem to enjoy more “retellings” than continuations.

I ADORE Beauty and the Beast, so naturally when I came across this book, I jumped right on it. This basically follows Belle as she navigates ruling beside her husband and takes place during the time of the French Revolution. I do think the author did a great job of weaving that event and this story together. For me, this book read like a movie so it made for an easy reading experience. Overall, I gave this 3 stars because I wanted wayyyyy more interaction between Belle and Adam throughout. I would still recommend this to anyone who loves Beauty and the Beast like I do.

I’m starting this review with those dreaded 7 words — I really wanted to like this book. It had all the makings of a great story. It's about what came after the happily ever after for Belle from Beauty & the Beast. It's fantasy mixed with historical fiction and best of all, it takes place primarily in France during a major revolution and Belle has a chance to assert herself as a heroine beyond just saving the Beast. But that tale never really comes to fruition in the epic, badass way I had hoped for. After breaking the Enchantress' curse and restoring the beast to his human form Lio, along with the rest of his kingdom, it's time to join the real world again. Most of the outside world doesn't know what they all suffered in their province of Aveyon so the vast majority of the book is spent navigating politics and Belle refusing to accept that in order to make the changes she wants, she also needs to accept her true role of becoming a Queen. Far too much time is spent on Belle feeling self-doubt, waiting for her Prince to return, and quite frankly, denying reality. It made the book very slow moving as a result. Not to mention, it was far less magical than I expect and more historical instead.

<i> In all her dreams, she left the kingdom she was born in far behind her, chasing adventure on an endless horizon. Aveyon had always been too small for her, too married to tradition, too quiet. It took leaving it to realize how very wrong she had been. </i>

I’m torn on this one. There were definitely things I liked about it. I thought the concept was fascinating. Placing Belle and her prince in France during a revolution seemed like a really intriguing way to tell the story of what happens next. Adding a little history and a little magic was a great idea.
My favorite new character was Marguerite. She was independent, spunky, and bright. I would have even liked to have seen more of her in the story. Her backstory was interesting and she brought a lot to this tale. I think I would have enjoyed it less without her.
There were other aspects of the story that didn’t work quite as well for me. The first half seemed a little slow. I felt like it took awhile to pick up the pace. There was a lot of Belle being unsure of herself (perhaps a little too much) and not telling Lio (the prince) obviously important things.
It does pick up around the middle, but it was predictable. I did like LeFou’s story arc even if it did seem a little out of character is some ways, and the conflict there was a little too easily resolved.
I had trouble reconciling some of Lio’s and even Belle’s choices in this book. Some of the things they did or said just didn’t make sense to me. I won’t go into too much detail so as not to ruin the book for anyone.
I do think preteens and younger teens will enjoy this book well enough. If you are thinking of buying it for a young Belle fan, I would go ahead and get it.

This free arc was provided in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to NetGalley, Disney-Hyperion, and Emma Theriault for allowing my to read and review this novel.

Thank you to Disney Books for sending me an ARC via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
4/5 stars.
This book takes place after the curse has been lifted, and Belle and Lio (the Beast) are married. But it’s 1789 and the revolution is beginning to get underway in Paris. It’s a dangerous time to be married to a prince.
We follow Bell as she tries to avoid bringing the revolution from France into Aveyon. Belle was such a strong character, and I admired her dedication to the people. She had to struggle against many obstacles as she tried to fight for her people and her kingdom. The doubts surrounding her, and the people pushing back against her, made it feel more realistic as she attempted to give the people a voice in order to prevent revolution from taking hold.
I enjoyed trying to figure out who to trust, and watching Belle learn to trust her instincts and navigate her new role in her kingdom. I thought her relationship with Lio was sweet, and they both showed a lot of growth by the end of the book. I wish we’d been able to see more of Lio himself, because I thought he was an interesting character.
The plot was fairly slow because the focus is more on the political aspects of the book than anything else (1789 and revolution in Paris), but it was still interesting and engaging. The last quarter of the book was the most exciting because the plot picked up. The whispers of revolution were becoming real, and things started to really happen! I also enjoyed the hints of magic, and the introduction of Orella as a character. I thought she brought some mystery and magic to the story, and it added nicely to the events that were happening.
Overall, I enjoyed this one and I’d recommend it to fans of Beauty and the Beast as well as to those who enjoy political history, and historical fiction with a hint of magic!

Rebel Rose is the first installment in what's being called The Queen's Council series. Happily, ever after is only the beginning to this epic YA reimagining of the princesses as young rulers of their lands, aided by a mystical group of women called the Queen's Council, whose job it is to advise queens throughout history. Instead of calling this a retelling or re-imaging, let's say that the author writes her own story which takes place after the ending of Beauty and the Beast’s story. She also adds a historically accurate account of one of the most turbulent moments in French History, the French Revolution, and the Reign of Terror.

But, back to the beginning. This is Belle's story to tell. She's broken the 10-year curse by the enchantress. She’s risen from commoner to Princess. Adam is now fully restored to his human form, and now Belle wants to do something she's never had a chance to do because of her upbringing as a commoner; travel the world. The first place she and Adam stop is Paris where they meet with Bastien, Duke of Vincennes who is also related to Adam and Adam later meets with Louis XVI. But how do you explain to anyone that you were cursed for 10 years?

At the same time, Belle learns by exploring Paris that the Third Estate is making waves to the point that they will eventually remove Louis XVI and Mary Antoinette. Belle and Adam find themselves entwined into court intrigues, political instability, and the People’s Revolution. Both have been brought up in different circumstances, social circles, and ideals. For much of the story, Belle insists that she’s just a normal, peasant girl who just happened to marry a Prince who later will become King, but I digress. She’s constantly demoting herself, doubting herself, because she doesn't want to have power over others, and others control her because of this weakness.

Even though she has her own ideas of bringing people together no matter what their upbringing, her perceived weaknesses draw villains in to disrupt the peace that Aveyon has experienced outside of what’s happening in Paris, and other places. She must deal with Adam’s council who looks down on her. She must also deal with Bastien who thinks that because of his relationship to Adam and the fact that he’s wiser than Belle is, he can do whatever he wants. She must also deal with a reluctant Adam who honestly allows too many people to sway his choices.

Why is this called the Queen's Council you ask? The Queens are magic users who "councils" queens who are in need, who store past queen's strengths, fears, and weaknesses to aid future queens. In this case, Orella just happens to be the one who cursed Adam knowing that it would take Belle to step up and save Aveyon for what is happening in other places around the world. By the end of the book, Belle accepts that she can be queen and by being queen, she can use her power to help others far more than staying completely the simple girl she once was.

According to my own research at Disney, there will be (3) books in this series all written by different authors. Each book will focus on a different Disney Princess in her own historically accurate time frame. The next two books will be released over the next (2) years. You can tell Theriault did a lot of research into the French Revolution, which makes the world building aspect of the book phenomenal. She has a talent for putting you right in the middle of the scene. I was glad to see that Cogsworth, Lumiére, and Mrs. Potts still played large roles in the story, along with new friends for this book. I also loved Belle’s relationship with Marguerite Lambriquet. If you do research on the name, you’ll be surprised to find out who she really is.