I've enjoyed this series a lot and this was no exception. Such an interesting take on Beauty and the Beast. So much fun to read and to see things from another point of view than those who are traditionally in the castle. Can't wait to read the next edition.

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and Leah Cypess

When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

A great story that helps show children that they are able to fight anything and stand up for what is right. It even showcases a chaotic family that still loves each other.

This is a Middle Grade Fantasy/Magical Realism Suspenseful Retelling, and this is the fourth book in the Sisters Ever After series. I have the first three books in this series, but you can read this book as a standalone without any problems. Beauty and the Beast has always been one of my favorite movies when I was a kid, and I really love this take on the story. There was some suspense built into this book, and I got pulled into this story which made me want to keep reading. I loved all these characters in this book. I loved this book so much, and I have since ordered my daughter a copy of this book. I cannot wait to hear what my 14 year old daughter thinks about this book. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

Middle grade can be very hit or miss for me, and I think this is one of those middle grade books that may be more difficult for older readers to connect with. There were some fun ideas in this, but everything felt a bit too rushed to connect with the characters.

It's similar to other books in the series though, so I'd say give it a try if you like other books in this series.

Ever since I read Glass Slippers, I have been obsessed with this author. The third book on the Pied Piper was an interesting spin on a classic tale. This one takes on Beauty and the Beast and I just didn't like it as much. It stays loose to the original tale, subtracting a sister (Perrault's version) and adding it's own hairy twist (no spoilers).

The beast has been terrorizing this village for centuries, stealing villagers away to make him part of their hunt. This bit weaves in more of the legend of the Wild Hunt (which would be German) and makes the beast the leader. I suppose if one were reading this without a lot of knowledge of fairy tales and mythology it might have been more interesting but I felt the jumble of different bits cobbled together to make this "Beauty and the Beast" tale anything but old as time and honestly most of the characters were obnoxious.

I'll be intrigued which tale she picks next.

My thanks to Delacorte Press and Netgalley for this ARC.

I loved this retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast story. It is a very fresh twist one that I have never seen before. I love the fact that there is a bit more history into the beast and why he does what he does throughout the story. Adding in the fact that there are people in the town who are born with the gene to shapeshift into wolves is also quite fun. Overall, I think this is the perfect book to give a kid who enjoys fairytale retellings with a twist. I am quite excited to recommend it. I am also wanting to go back and read some of the past stories to see what fresh twists were put on classic tales.
Thank you so much to Random House Children’s and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

It was okay. The main character's pov got annoying at times. But the story was a very interesting retelling. I liked how the author turned the story on its head. It felt like the main character was an unreliable narrator, which makes sense because a child in this setting wouldn't know or understand the ins and outs of what was happening. For me though, that really took away from the story. I didn't feel like there was much of a plot arc or character growth. The story would have continued on just fine without the main character. It felt like the story was mostly just the world building of an alternative version of Beauty and the Beast. That said, I think my younger daughter would enjoy this book in spite of its flaws. The narrator would be entertaining to a younger child and the plot issues wouldn't bother them either.

I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's through NetGalley.
The fourth in this series of younger siblings and famous older sisters. Readers meet Mera as she struggles to figure out how to save her sister, Darina, from the Beast's castle. They learn that she can shape shift to become a wolf and that she is incredibly loyal to her sister. Cypess stays true to the overall storyline of Beauty and the Beast but adds some interesting twists to make readers think. In the end, Darina marries her Beast and they ride off together. Mera and her grandmother also enjoy a race through the woods.
I appreciate the way the author changes the story to make the characters less perfect. Each is multi-dimensional and all are flawed. As the series progresses, the storylines and characters become more realistic and relatable.

When you hear that a book is going to be a fariytale retelling, you know the story. However, this book completely shocked me with the way it approached telling the tale. This book is less about the fairytale and more about the relationships of a family. Specifically, the sisterhood of Mera and Darina. This is the fourth book in the "Sisters Ever After" series, but it is the first I have read. It does a really great job of highlighting how sisters do not always get along, but they do always love each other. I appreciated seeing the fairytale from the younger sister's point of view since she is outside of the romance. As younger sister to my own sister it was enjoyable to read this novel.

This is a great continuation of the series. I have enjoyed each one on it's own and yet as part of a series. I like the twist she has put with each one. This version of Beauty and the Beast is wonderbar.

When her older sister, Darina, is kidnapped and held prisoner in the Beast’s castle, Mera must find a way to rescue her. In this fourth installment of fairy tale reimaginings where younger sisters play surprising roles, the plot twists are unexpected and make the book tough to put down. Will Mera be willing to risk revealing a dangerous secret in order to free her sister? Find out in this suspenseful retelling of the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast.

The Last Rose was an interesting take on the Beauty and the Beast story. I found it to be such a creative element that the story was told from a different perspective. That of the sister and not the one who falls for Beast. I very much enjoyed the origin story of how the curse and Beast came to be. It made alot more sense in terms of his loneliness and his behaviors.

Cute story! The characters were likable and the plot flowed well. MG readers will find a lot to like here. Beautiful cover as well that's sure to lure readers to get a closer look when they see it on the shelves!

Really fun read! Most of the characters were well developed and likeable. The story was different than I was expecting but flowed very nicely.

This fourth book in the Sister's Ever After series did not disappoint! Each book can be read as a stand alone book, but I've enjoyed them all so much! This addition to the series focuses on the story of the Beauty and the Beast as told from the beauty's untold about sister's perspective. The unexpected twists and turns I've come to expect and enjoy from Leah Cypess were present. I will definitely be adding this book to my school's library!

If you like fantasy, you'll like this book.
Delacorte Press and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published on December 5th.

The woods are dangerous. The Beast turns people into hounds. But Mera and her older sister go wandering and take care.

Mera is a hound part of the time and her sister falls in love with the Beast.

The Beast is part hound and part human. Toward the end of the book, the Beast dies.

Can they make him come back to life?

The Last Rose
Sisters Ever After #4
Leah Cypess
This is the fourth book in the Sisters Ever After Series. I love fairytales and books that tweak them and rewrite them. I will never see Beauty and the Beast in the same light again. Author Leah Cypess has taken the characters and changed them. I still knew this was based on Beauty and the Beast and yet it wasn’t the fairytale we have become accustomed to. In this version we meet Mera. Her sister Darina has been kidnapped by the beast. At night he and his hounds search the land for those he can take and turn them into hounds.
The Beast has taken Darina and her 11-year-old sister Mera is coming to the rescue. Unfortunately, the characters needed more development.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Delacorte Press for the opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy of this book for an honest review. (Publish Date: 05 Dec 2023)

I’ve read two of the other three books in this Sisters Ever After series by Leah Cypess (I’m anxiously waiting for my local library to get “The Piper’s Promise” in!), so I was very excited when I saw Leah’s next book was coming out later this fall and jumped at the opportunity to read it.

Based off a classic fairy tale, “The Last Rose” follows 11-year-old Mera as she plans to save her beautiful older sister from a terrible beast who kidnaps people from their small village and turns them into hounds for his pack.

This book was my favorite in the series so far, because the retelling was so unexpected, yet it stayed just close enough to the classic version that I thoroughly enjoyed it. Also, the cover art alone is going to sell this book – it’s absolutely gorgeous! It’s the first cover in this series to not include both siblings, but I wasn’t upset in the least.

I would highly recommend this book to older children, young adults, and anyone who loves a great fairy tale retelling. I will purchase this book as a gift to my 10-year-old daughter to read again and again!