Release Day Review: One Cursed Rose by Rebecca Zanetti

Happy Release Day! 

One Cursed Rose is the first book in Rebecca Zanetti's Grimm Bargains series.

This is a new series of dark retellings of fairytales and Rebecca's first foray into the dark romance genre. 

First fairytale up is Beauty and the Beast

If you're looking for a Disney prince to come save you, you've come to the wrong place!

Get your copy today!

About the Book

They christened me Alana—and while the name means beauty, beneath that surface is a depth I allow very few to see. I’m sole heir to Aquarius Social, a media giant about to succumb to an unseen enemy. My father’s solution is to marry me off to the son of a competing family. My reaction? Not a chance. Now I have just a week before the wedding to change my fate.

Who knew the unforeseen twist would be an assassination attempt on me and an unwanted rescue by Thorn Beathach, the head of the rival social media empire driving Aquarius under? The richest, most ruthless of them all, the Beast protects his realm with an iron rule: no one sees his face. When he shows himself to me, I know he’ll never let me go.

Thorn may think he can lock me in his enchanted castle forever, but I’m not the docile Beauty he expects. If the Beast wants to tie me up, I’m going to take pleasure from every minute of it . . .and we’ll just see who ends up shackled.

Excerpt

 Visit Kensington's website HERE for an excerpt!

My Review

This is NOT your average Rebecca Zanetti read. 

**Check your trigger warnings**

Abuse
BDSM
Knife play
Graphic violence
Childhood trauma

Wow…. 

I’ve been a Rebecca Zanetti fan for YEARS, almost since the beginning of her career. She is a versatile author, can write just about any genre. Rebecca’s character development is top notch and her storytelling is best of the best. And now she’s dipped her proverbial toe into the dark romance genre with One Cursed Rose. 

After I finished One Cursed Rose, I feel I have to side-eye Rebecca and wonder where she pulled THAT out of her bag of author tricks. There were some parts of the book that did make me uncomfortable so I’ll say again, check your trigger warnings before reading. 

One Cursed Rose is a dark and twisted retelling of Beauty and the Beast. In this world, depravity and immorality run rampant, vengeance is just, and power is the ultimate prize and the greatest equalizer. If you’re looking for a Disney prince to save you, you’ve come to the wrong place.

Alana is a multifaceted woman with so much strength and passion. I really like her. Thorn is sinfully decadent and a mystery the readers need to unravel for themselves. The secondary characters are complex and mysterious and absolutely kept me engaged in the story until the very end. The book left me wanting to know ALL their stories.

I do have mixed feelings about One Cursed Rose. The story is solid and entertaining. But the relationship that develops between Alana and Thorn is a dark and twisty mess, leaving me with confused and uncomfortable feelings I’m still trying to process. 

I would recommend the book to those that truly enjoy reading dark romances. Check your trigger warnings and be prepared. I’m looking forward–hesitantly–to the next Grimm Bargains tale. 

FTC Disclaimer: I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts or feelings about the book or the content of my review.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books

Kobo | Google Play | Kensington Books

About the Author

New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly and #1 Amazon bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti has published more than sixty novels, which have been translated into several languages, with more than five million copies sold world-wide. Her books have received Publishers Weekly starred reviews and have been featured in Entertainment Weekly, Woman’s World, and Women’s Day Magazines. Her novels have also been included in Amazon best books of the year and have been favorably reviewed in both the Washington Post and the New York Times Book Reviews. Rebecca has ridden in a locked Chevy trunk, has asked the unfortunate delivery guy to release her from a set of handcuffs, and has discovered the best silver mine shafts in which to bury a body…all in the name of research. Honest. Find Rebecca at:  www.RebeccaZanetti.com