This review was originally posted on Camryn DaytonaA bit more than my standard disclaimer: Not only was I given a free copy of this book to review, but I'm also friends with the author. However, this is still a (mostly) unbiased review. I hope!! It's also from an uncorrected proof since Emma had some issues with her editor.



Let's see, where to start with this review. Hmmm....

As always, I suppose I should say that I don't read a lot of romance. In fact, I usually avoid it at all costs (I'm more interested in dragons, after all). But Emma's books are something I always make an exception for, after all, she's a super talented author that I'm so proud to know.

Emma is best known for her Otherworld series, which is a selection of retellings of classic fairytales - including Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, The Swan Princess, East of the Sun West of the Moon - set in a fictional Scotland. In The Celestials (a new series with Gilded Rose as the first book) she is once again creating a world where famous fairytales interact.

But, these books are completely separate from The Otherworld, and even though it's some of the same stories, you can absolutely enjoy them even if you've read her other works.

I've never been disappointed by one of Emma's books. They have everything you could possibly want:

• Far off places


• Daring sword fights


• A prince in disguise

Oh, wait, that's from the Disney Beauty and the Beast movie.... Hmm. Well, to be fair, this book has all of those things (and more). And, to top it all off, some truly spectacular shade thrown at the Disney movie!!

"One of it's wings hung at its side, and there was a chip in it's right horn." - Chapter 2

 

"The chateau itself had languished in grandeur, therefore, she had assumed the library would be splendid. Something that was meant to be admired but never used. Such was not the case of the library of this haunted place." - Chapter 7

Moving on from Disney shade (which more books should have if I'm being honest), Gilded Rose is a fantastic story, even outside of its roots as a Beauty and the Beast Retelling.

It has a lot going on that will draw you in and leave you wanting more (even after the ending), and you'll never be bored with Emma's descriptive writing.

The Good Stuff: 

• The world-building is amazing!


• No cliff hanger! The end of this book wraps up the story completely. Book two is set in the same world, but with a different couple.

The Less Good Stuff: 

• Amicia is both really, really smart and really, really dumb. Which is probably realistic, to be fair, but boy, sometimes I wanted to strangle her.


• It gets sappy. And yes, that's probably what the average reader of this book is looking for, but that's just not my kind of thing.


• I'm still not sure why it's called Gilded Rose. I think it has something to do with the cracked mirror (that has a rose on it) in Amicia's room, but I didn't think the mirror was that important? I dunno.

Overall

I recommend this book for people who enjoy fantasy, romance, or any kind of retelling.