Review: ‘One Cursed Rose’ by Rebecca Zanetti
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One Cursed Rose
by Rebecca ZanettiSeries: Grimm Bargains #1
Published by Kensington Books on June 25, 2024
SubGenres: Dark Romance, Fantasy Romance
Format: AudioBook, eBook
Pages: 369
Narrator: Felicity Monroe, James McAdams
Length: 11 Hours And 42 Minutes
Source: Library - Libby, Purchased
Audience: 18+/Adult
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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 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 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.
One Cursed Rose is the first installment in Rebecca Zanetti’s newest series, Grimm Bargains. This book is quite different from others I have read by Rebecca Zanetti. It is a dark fantasy romance with a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast. While it features some mafia elements, what stands out the most is how Rebecca weaves a storyline involving social media companies and the powerful families that control them, utilizing crystals.
The FMC, Alana, is the sole heir to the social media company Aquarius Social after a tragedy strikes her family. As the company’s biggest influencer, she attracts followers to the platform with her daily posts. However, an unseen enemy is working to dismantle the family company, and they suspect it is one of their competitors. In response, Alana’s father has decided to form an alliance with one of their competitors by arranging a marriage for Alana. Despite her father’s wishes, Alana is determined to seek revenge for what happened to her brother while she also fulfills her duty of marrying someone whom her father arranged.
On the other hand, someone is out for Alana, trying to harm her, but before they can get to her, someone saves her. Her savior ends up being one of her competitors, Thorn Beathach. He’s not really a savior because he’s ruthless, and he’s all about saving his own empire and himself. This is when the book takes on dark elements because Thorn is not a white knight; he’s the Beast in the story, and he’s determined to keep Alana to himself, even if, at first, he suspects she’s the reason why he’s cursed.
This book is filled with mystery and suspense as the plot unfolds, revealing who cursed Thorn and who is pursuing Alana. If you enjoy dark elements in your romance stories, you will likely appreciate this book. As I mentioned earlier, it’s quite different from what I’m used to reading from Rebecca. The concept of social media companies powered by crystals and four different families was intriguing, but at times, it felt overwhelming. I found myself more captivated by the romance between Thorn and Alana. Their chemistry was off the charts, but Thorn did do some questionable things to Alana. Other than that, I loved their romance story and how they were meant to help one another.
I did enjoy this book and I give it 3.5-stars. I’m looking forward to reading the next book since I’m interested in the other characters who were introduced and their HEA in the series.
Single/Dual POV: Dual POV.
Standalone or Part of Series: It’s the first book in the Grimm Bargains Series.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you enjoy reading dark and modern retellings of Beauty and the Beast, check out One Cursed Rose
What to Expect:
✔️Dark Fantasy Romance
✔️Billionaire Romance
✔️Forbidden Romance
✔️Forced Proximity
✔️AntiHero/Morally Grey Hero
About Rebecca Zanetti
New York Times, USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti has published more than seventy novels and novellas, which have been translated into several languages, with millions of copies sold world-wide. Her books have received Publisher’s Weekly and Kirkus starred reviews, favorable Washington Post and New York Times Book Reviews, and been included in Amazon best books of the year.
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.
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