La Belle Rose

Ok, so you all know the story of Beauty and the Beast. Beauty’s father stumbles upon a mansion in the woods and prays for his life to be spared from the wolves. This is where Beast lives. The gate opens letting him in; furthermore there is a garden where located in it is a single red rose just like Beauty wanted. He plucks the rose and Beast tells him that will take a life for a life, so he chooses Beauty. Beauty goes to Beast. She falls in love with him and they live happily ever after or so you thought.

The Briar Rose

The Briar Rose is the classic saga of Sleeping Beauty. There is Princess Aurora and her handsome champion is Phillippe. It is told that on Princess Aurora’s seventeenth birthday she will prick her finger and die. The youngest fairy attending the coronation steps forward and casts a spell that on Princess Aurora’s seventeenth birthday when she pricks her finger she will not die but instead fall into a deep slumber till her handsome prince kisses her to waken her.

Eleanor of the Ashes

In this tale Eleanor is Cinderella and Raphael is the prince. Eleanor has to deal with her evil step-mother and step-sisters after the death of her father. She has everything taken away from her and has to live in the attic. Eleanor gets invited to the ball the prince is giving. Her evil step-mother will not allow her to attend. Luckily, Eleanor will not stand by so idly while her step-mother and step-sisters attend.

The Woodman’s Daughter

This tale is about the beautiful Manon, the woodman’s daughter. She was tall, had raven colored hair and black eyes. In seven days, she is to marry Angelus, who is handsome, wealthy, and the man Manon is intended to marry. One day a little bird comes to Manon and tells her there is something she must see at her soon-to-be-groom’s house. There she finds a surprise in addition to learning something terrible about her intended.

In La Belle Rose the new twist that was presented was a good one. It had just the right amount of everything, whether it is romance between Beauty and Beast or the extra something that was included in the story. I enjoyed reading La Belle Rose. I have to say that La Bella Rose was probably the one I liked the most.

The Briar Rose was my second favorite fairy tale that was redone by Caroline Aubrey. Both the leading lady and leading man had equal parts. That is a fine thing. I only wish that The Briar Rose could have lasted longer.

I was glad to read Eleanor of the Ashes. Because what is a novel about fairy tales if it does not include Cinderella! The story was fine as were Eleanor and the prince, but I thought Eleanor was the stronger of the two characters. I am always glad to read about strong women but just wished the prince was a little more dominant in Eleanor of the Ashes.

Manon in The Woodman’s Daughter was a great character. She grew up into a strong woman. The relationship between Manon and Angelus was a good one. I have to say I don’t remember The Woodman’s Daughter tale, but from what I read it was a very good version.

The concept and idea of retelling four fairy tales was great. Unfortunately there was just something about the stories that missed its mark. I don’t know whether it was that they weren’t long enough, maybe the sex scenes were mild to me or just not long enough. I think what it was for me is there wasn’t enough build up between the characters from the time they met to the time they were intimate. Please do not let this defer you from reading First Night: Four Fairy Tales Retold as this is just me. Caroline Aubrey’s novel was a well written one. For a quick, good read, you should read First Night: Four Fairy Tales Retold.

Reviewed by: Cheryl