Gilded Rose (A Beauty and the Beast Retelling)

Celestials, Book 1

By: Emma Hamm

Narrated by: Aida Reluzco

Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

A monster is holding me hostage inside a chateau.

The world is plagued by creatures called the Dread.

And he’s their king.

I’ve tried to run. I’ve tried to hide. But there’s no escaping him.

He wants to turn me into one of the creatures.

Unless...I find a way to break the curse.

A curse that has turned him into the monster that he is.

He wasn’t supposed to destroy cities. He’s one of the Celestials meant to save humanity.

As I uncover the truth and break his curse, I wonder if I’ve lost myself in the process.

Can I still escape him?

Or has he taken my heart forever?

A new and unique retelling of Beauty and the Beast from USA Today best-selling author Emma Hamm!

©2019 Emma Hamm (P)2020 Emma Hamm

Wonderful retailing

Wonderful beauty and the beast retailing. Finished it in one day, I simply could not stop listening to it.

Keeps you on the edge of your seat every second!!!

I read the book first. Kept me enthralled with the adventure. I then found the audiobook. I am now listening to it for the second time. Thank you Emma for writing such a masterpiece!

I love how suspense filled this retake of beauty and the beast is!

I was constantly guessing. The alchemists were very mysterious and frightening and the mysteries still unsolved I can only imagine. I eagerly anticipate listening/ reading the next installment.

Beautiful

The story was beautiful and well written!! And the Narrator Aida Reluzco; perfect! The way her voice worked with the story to draw one in was so perfect!! I love this story so much, it was such a joy to listen to!

Narration was rough

I finally got to a point where I was able to ignore the over exaggeration of this narrator. But I think it ruined to story for me a little. Not my favorite

great narration and story

The beginning of this was so much like the original story that I had a hard time continuing. But I eventually reached a point where I couldn't stop listening (like pause wasn't an option anymore)! I enjoyed the characters and how they developed into their old selves. There were a few parts that I think could have been explained more, but as this is only book 1 perhaps they will be explained later. I'm intrigued by the new world they found at the end and what will happen with all the freed people. Is Alexander immortal and she not? I really grew to like Alexander although I think Bernard was my favorite. I will check out the next one to see if it has answers for me.

The narrator was really good for this story. Her french accents and male portrayal were well done I think. She spoke with a dramatization that fit the characters and story perfectly.

Interesting retelling.

A new twist on the beauty and the best story. This darker tale makes the beast deadlier due to his curse and only our heroine can return him to hi true form as a Celestial. Throughout this book you are filled with many emotions as each new twists leads you wondering how the book will end.

Captivating, imaginative retooling of a classic

Strong female protagonist in a dark world. Narrator is wonderful! I could listen to her all day! The book was a terrific fantasy escape & I look forward to other entries in the series, hopefully with the same narrator.

Beauty and the Beast retold

I enjoyed this story. Emma has such a way in telling a story, and I could not put this down. I love Beauty and the Best, and this was an amazing retelling. Looking forward to more in the series.

Breathtaking!

This book was incredible! I love fairy tale retellings, but Emma Hamm has such a special skill set for taking a classic tale and elevating it. I fell in love with Amica and her spunky personality! I felt like the story was totally original despite being a “retelling.” The creativity, and the detail is so impressive, and the audience truly just gets whisked away into this beautiful and compelling world. The story truly has it all, romance, suspense, danger, twists and turns and an unbelievable heroine. I also enjoyed the Dread, and the “evil” in the book that challenged the main characters in a unique way. Emma totally crushed this and I would absolutely recommend to anyone who enjoys Disney princesses, Leigh bardugo, Sarah Maas and dark twists on classics! I received this title for free, but chose to leave this review of my own will.