

This was one of my favorite books of the year so far, and I can’t wait for the next book in the Queen’s Council series to be released!!īe sure to check out my video review and if you like it, please give me a thumbs up and subscribe to my channel, Life on the Sunny Side! Don’t get me wrong, I adore the retellings, but it was quite refreshing to go further in the story and explore past the “Happily Ever After.”

I loved how Rebel Rose was a continuation and not a retelling. Rebel Rose does not refer to Beast as Adam, but does not say it wasn’t either.

The only person who called him by his real name was his father. The book, on page 15, explains that his mother called him Lio and after she died, he refused to be called by anything else. Disney refers to his real name as Adam, while Rebel Rose refers to him as Lio. I’ve seen reviews where fans are confused about the Beast’s real name. I believe she was scared she could not be the Queen that Aveyon needed, although we all know the truth that she would make a great Queen! She still voices her opinions to the King’s Council, but learns that without a title, they pay her no respect. And while yes, this does make her seem far different from the headstrong girl we know from the Disney movie, I feel there is a fine line between her seeming self-pity and not wanting to disappoint her kingdom. Belle does this because she does not think she can provide assurance to her kingdom. She refuses to take the title as Princess of Aveyon, and when Lio is crowned King, she once again refuses a title. Rebel Rose portrays Belle as uncertain and not sure of herself. Most important of all, Belle starts to wonder… What if they never broke the curse? Belle quickly learns that there are diabolical plans afoot, and she isn’t sure who can be trusted. Belle and Lio return home, along with Bastien, to help keep their home of Aveyon safe. When they reach Paris, Lio’s cousin, Bastien, also known as the duc de Vincennes, informs them of the French Revolution, and how the working class of Paris is not happy. The story opens with the curse broken and newlyweds, Belle and Lio, off on a grand tour of the world, only for it to be cut short.

The story is tied into the French Revolution, giving it a political feel. Rebel Rose follows Belle and Lio(Beast) after their wedding. Set in 1789, Rebel Rose by Emma Theriault is a continuation of the classic tale, Beauty and the Beast. Rebel Rose is the first in the Queen’s Council series, an empowering fairy tale reimagining of the Disney Princesses-and the real history behind their stories-like you’ve never seen before.
