Withering Rose (Once Upon a Curse Book 2)

urbangirlreview - The story starts out with Omorose traveling with her father when a earthquake hits and merges her magic world with our magicless world. Our world hunts the people from their world that have magic. Omorose having magic must hide it for years before running away to the Beast's kingdom to freely use her magic even through her magic drains her life. While learning how to use her magic, she falls in love with Cole the "beast" of the book. During Omoroses time in the castle she discovers a sleeping luminous lady, why she's cursed, and Cole's secrets. Going into the Withering Rose, I wasn't sure if I'd actually would like the book because the reviews were only lukewarm and I can be fussy about my books ;). But I figured it's a fairytale retelling and I have a hard time finding retellings I don't like or love. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading Withering Rose and I really liked it. I mean I really liked it - like a lot. It was creative and well thought out how the magic and fairytale characters came to our world. The book is similar to a traditional Beauty & Beast story but with some differences. Such as the "Beast" is a shapeshifter not actually cursed (though his subjects are kind of cursed) and it is Omorose (Beauty) who is cursed. Another difference (and for me one of the negatives of the book) is that Cole (Beast) doesn't have any character growth. He's not brutish, cruel, or lacking manners like the traditional Beast. Although if anyone in the book were to have character it'd be Omorose but even she really doesn't have any character growth. For me, Withering Rose is a now in my top 5 fairytale retellings books. I'd recommend for anyone who likes Beauty & the Beast, fairytales retellings, or Once Upon a Time. I'm now going to buy the first book in the series because I loved and enjoyed Withering Rose so much. I read Withering Rose without reading Gathering Frost the first book in the series. It can be read as a stand-alone but will spoil some stuff from the first book. *I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.