The Borrowed Rose: Beauty and the Beast Book Recommendations and Retellings

I read a lot in 2024 - just five shy of 100 books according to my Goodreads profile .  I've realized I don't love reading goals - they muck with the quality of what I'm reading.  Sometimes a quick and easy book is just the thing; sometimes I'm eager for a 1,000 page tome.  I'm an achiever by nature and if a goal is set, I'll strive towards it.  But reading is a passion and I don't want to muck with that, so I'm skipping a reading goal in 2025. All in all, it was a great reading year with some really excellent books.  I discovered Kate Quinn with  The Rose Code .  I enjoyed Violet and Xaden's dramatic fling in Fourth Wing and Iron Flame , and I re-read the first five of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series .  Gabriel de León in Empire of the Damned is one of my favorite not-so-heroes.  And both the Ilona Andrews Clean Sweep series and Spellslinger series by Sebastien de Castell were super fun.  What about Bride by Ali Hazelwood and ...

Beauty and the Beast has been around for a looonng time - evolving from variations of Cupid & Psyche from the 2nd century AD.  What about the werewolf trope?  It was myth and folklore long before it was a paranormal trope today.  Early writings about lycanthropy popped up early in the 1st century AD and then later in the 1100-1200s.  Dealing with werewolves was concern enough in medieval Europe to write about it.   Both mythologies involve the animal nature of man - whether good or evil, whether to embrace or to tame.  The original Beauty and the Beast used a similar animal magnetism to demonstrate how young women can claim their own agency to tame the beast in a coming of age experience. It's not surprising then, to see these two mythologies cross over from time to time.  Jerry Griswold comments in his fun Beauty and the Beast commentary,  The Meanings of "Beauty and the Beast:" A Handbook , that "in a hyper-civilized society like ou...

I see you there, you love Beauty and the Beast , too!  If you're on the hunt for new takes on this timeless classic, welcome! Grab a cuppa 🍵, find a comfy location and check out these six Beauty and the Beast inspired tales. 6  Beauty and the Beast  Fairytales to Read Today ➤ Three of the books on this list were read via Kindle Unlimited .  It's a great option to check out a variety of Beauty and the Beast tales or any other fairy tale you love.  🌹  A Ruin of Roses (Deliciously Dark Fairytales #1)  by  K.F. Breene The setting of this retelling is spicy, spicy.  Both Beauty & her Beast are dragon shifters fighting the curse of a demon-king. 🌹  The Beast:  A Beauty and the Beast Retelling (Twisted Kingdoms, Book 4) by Frost Kay Beauty is an adventurer for hire and adventures into the wrong lands.  This tale is a twist on Beauty and the Beast with magic and romance.  The Beast has iridescent scales.  Tempted to...

There's one thing that Beauty & the Beast fan fiction doesn't skimp on - racy retellings of this beloved fairy tale.  courtesy of StockSnap I've found, especially via Kindle Unlimited and with the relative ease that authors can self publish, there's a plethora of racy versions no matter the genre you're seeking.   Looking for a fun browse through stories that push the boundaries into light erotica?   Check out alien abductions, shape shifters or other paranormal topics.   I've seen equally racy selections in contemporary romance and have read my share of racy historical picks.   We love racy.   It's ok to own it.   It's safe here.   And what better time of the year to enjoy a racy retelling of a favorite fairy tale?   Summer, of course!   Beach time, pool time, sofa time, before bed time.   Anytime is a great time for a racy rendition in the summer.   Though I might posit that anytime in the year is great for a racy r...