Roses in Amber

A Beauty and the Beast Story

By: C. E. Murphy

Narrated by: Zehra Jane Naqvi

Length: 7 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's Summary

There is a story of a beast, and a merchant's daughter, and a curse that must be broken.

This is not - quite - that story.

Amber Gryce believes in magic the way anyone does: as a thing of the past, marked now only by the long reign of an ancient queen sworn to live until her stolen son is returned to her. Such stories are romantic but distant for Amber, surrounded by family and wealth.

But like magic, wealth can disappear. Left destitute, Amber's family retreats to a forest holding far from their city home, where Amber's love of roses leads her into the heart of enchantment, and draws her into a retelling of the tale as old as time....

©2018 C.E. Murphy (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Quite unique, but not my favorite retelling

I have had this ebook in my wish list for several years, but couldn't quite commit to purchasing it. I bought the audible version while trying to find a B&B retelling to listen to as a filler as a break between two non-related book series. It is told well enough, but it felt empty of any real substance when compare to other retellings like Robin McKinley 'Beauty' or even K M Shea's 'Beauty and the Beast'.

The story takes quite a long time, about half the book, to get to the beast and his castle. The story kind of evolves and devolves from there. It is unique in its telling of the curse background, but doesn't exactly feel like the interaction between Amber and the beast was genuine. enough before love is declared.

The ending of the curse is interesting, though, and there is a Happily Ever After.


**Warnings for those who may be easily offended**

There are references to same-sex relationships. There are references to sex out of wedlock. There is a morally gray area of sexual interaction between individuals- though the extent of which is unknown to one person in the party until after it had gone on for a bit.

Overall it was ok.

Favorite Fairytale Retelling

New twist to old tale, particularly for fans of the Beauty and the Beast TV show of the late 80s.

Not a fairytale ending

Was disappointed only at the end. It was like left unfinished and incomplete and definitely not a happily ever after

ummm ..... what to say about this book....

first, I loved the narrator!!
now for the book... I love fractured fairy tails and this tale did not fail me! I was disappointed in the reviews but listen to the boom any way(twice). the first time through the boom I was mad how it basically just ended. so I listened again and was not as mad. the creativity in this story was wonderful!! the magic, fairies, witches, enchantments, beasts, and the roses of course!! however the book spent a ton of time building up and I feel like it ended really fast... I honestly want a sequel. I had some many questions by the time the boom ended I was disappointed! but I loved the story.. so is that a 4 or 5 star? I can't decide? I was also a little caught of guard with the homosexual content that took place (not my thing) but there were minimal sexual scenes with it and it pertained to the story, so I continued on listening to the book.

I guess in summary I loved the creativity, the retold fairy tale and flow of the book, but was disappointed that it ended (I guess that's a good thing), and not into books pertaining homosexuality. (No judgement, I'm just straight.)