If hyper alpha male dominance, obsession, lust, and open door sex makes you uncomfortable you may find this otherwise suspenseful story not your cup of tea. But if you enjoy rich people behaving badly, banter, mystery, and a puzzle to solve before time runs out this is your cup of tea. You may want to make that an iced drink as this is a really hot story!

Viscous Computer Virus!!! One Cursed Rose is one of the most unique stories I have read in a while. It is the darkest retelling of Beauty and the Beast that I have read. I never want to get in the author's head because this story was totally insane. That being said, I can't wait to read what she publishes next.

There are four major families in Once Cursed Rose, each controlling social networking powered by gemstones. I compare the families to the mafia. There is lots going on behind the scenes. One family wants control over another. Others want to merge with arranged marriages.

Someone has already started to destroy one of the families by introducing a computer virus into their system. The most advanced malware can't touch what is destroying Malice Media and its owner, Thorn. He has one desire before he dies. He wants Alana, the daughter of Aquarius Social owner, to be his. Sounds simple enough.

Nothing is simple. People are dying. There are attempts on Alana's freedoms. Each of the families want more power. The question is how far will they go? The story is a major "who done it" with more twists than a corkscrew. The clock is ticking. Time is frequently running out. Dip your nails in hot sauce, because you are going to want to bite them. My nerves are shot. But that ending, was such a rush.

One Cursed Rose is the first book in Rebecca Zanetti's new Grimm Bargains series. It's a combination of dark romance, suspense, and paranormal/magic (hello fairytales!).

I went into this story not knowing much about it. I knew it was a darker, paranormal fairytale retelling and it was the start of a new series by one of my favourite authors.

This story was incredible!

One Cursed Rose was a really fun, original, and dark retelling of Beauty and the Beast. There were power exchanges between social media and crystal networks, a dark and mysterious (anti)hero who sees nothing wrong in stalking and adultnapping the heroine, lots of spicy scenes, entertaining villains with nefarious plots, and a mystery to solve.

I won't give too much of the plot away, but I really enjoyed the banter between the two MCs, Thorn and Alana. Thorn was the typical domineering alphahole that most dark romance readers would expect and Alana was the bold, strong heroine that was his perfect match.

I loved the give-and-take between them. Alana held her ground when necessary, and she fell in love with him beyond his public persona. Their relationship grew through many other factors, from their moments together and how they handled all the situations thrown their way to her time in his house (especially his library) and around the people who know him best.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat, and I just wanted to figure out who was behind everything and how the MCs would get their HEA. Rebecca Zanetti is such as great writer, and this was a fantastic start to a new series that I can't wait to continue.

Disclaimer: Thank you to Kensington Books and the author for the e-ARC.

Sharing on Goodreads & Instagram:

4⭐️ “One Cursed Rose” by Rebecca Zanetti - available June 25th, 2024

As soon as I read this was a Beauty and the Beast retelling I was in! I loved the science meets fantasy element this story took. Set in a high tech, AI, computer programming, social media is everything world, Beauty and the Beast are from two of four families battling for the spot of the best all while trying to survive. The curse, reimagined as a computer virus, has to be broken in time or else it will be too late to save Thorn (The Beast). Alana (Beauty) grapples with gaining the respect she deserves all while fighting off unwanted marriage arrangements, healing trauma, and studying crystals and gems — the source of power to this alternative Silicon Valley! 🥀💎💻

🏙️ Contemporary Fantasy
❤️‍🔥 Dark Romance
🏰 Fairytale Retelling
🌶️ Spicy (including BDSM)
🪢 Kidnapping
💻 Tech x Magic
🎭 Dual POV
🖤 Irish MMC

⛔️ SPOILERS BELOW ⛔️

I loved that this not only covered Beauty and the Beast, but glimpsed into other retellings to come (hopefully) including Cinderella! 👠

I was definitely intrigued by the crossover between a high tech world of computer programming, hacking, AI, social media that still relies on energy from crystals and gems that families are connected to and draw power from as well as charge.

I was a huge fan of the crime aspect of the story as well with Thorn’s vigilante/mafia lifestyle taking out p*d*ph*l*s and s*x tr*ff*ck*rs. Who doesn’t love a man who uses his powers and connections for good! And a family business man no less. Justice right beside him keeping the mafia in tip top shape.

The Nico story line threw me for a loop! Once I read it I was like woah okay I see it now, but the problem on my side was I did not appreciate the age gap between Alana and Nico at first so I hadn’t even considered the possibility he was the murderer until it was revealed.

Also Cal deserved it. 😇

The only thing I really wished for was more. I would have loved more stories with Alana & Thorn. I hope they are still in the future books in this series!

❗️Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.❗️

This Beauty and the Beast retelling takes such a twist that at the beginning I even forgot it was meant to be a retelling.

I was fully attracketed by the introducation to the world building which I find fairly original. I combines nowadays tech tycoons and social media with fantasy elements in a way that makes this a great metaphor of how those companies make profit out of people's attention and of how they would fight for getting more of it.
I was so intrigued by the Alana's forced marriage and plotting that I struggled for a minute to point my finger to who would be the Beast counterpart in this story, something I ultimately found exciting because it kept me on the edge of my seat.

This is without any doubt a dark romance story as the male main character is no softie. There is kidnapping, BDSM and the MMC is no gentleman. Even is he may have his heart in the right place, his attituted and actions can cause discomfort if the reader approaches the novel without the right warnings.

However the steam is right on point, the chemistry and attraction between the two main characters eventually is undeniable and the plot twists keep coming one after another making this a great page turner!

Title: One Cursed Rose
Author: Rebecca Zanetti

Review:

✨★★★★☆ 4.5/5 Stars

Rebecca Zanetti's "One Cursed Rose" is a tantalizing and captivating retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast tale, infused with dark romance and set against the cutting-edge backdrop of an alternate Silicon Valley. This steamy romantasy is the first in a seductive new series that explores the thin line between power and passion, and it will leave readers utterly engrossed from the opening chapter to the very last page.

At the heart of the story is Alana, a woman whose name may mean beauty, but whose soul harbors complexities and depths that few are privileged to see. As the sole heir to Aquarius Social, a media empire teetering on the brink of collapse due to an unseen enemy, Alana is confronted with her father’s drastic solution: marriage to the son of a competing family. Unyielding and fiercely independent, Alana refuses to be a pawn in this strategic game and is determined to alter her fate within one week.

However, her plans are abruptly shattered by an assassination attempt, resulting in an unexpected rescue by Thorn Beathach. Thorn, the enigmatic and ruthless head of a rival social media giant, enforces an iron rule over his domain: his face remains unseen by all. His intervention comes with a price, ushering Alana into a world where power dynamics are as fraught as their simmering attraction.

Zanetti expertly crafts Thorn as a modern-day Beast, whose dominance and secrecy shroud a complex personality. The chemistry between Thorn and Alana is volatile and electric, driving the narrative forward with a blend of tension and desire that only intensifies with each interaction. Alana is no helpless Beauty; she matches Thorn's dominance with her own brand of strength and cunning, ensuring that their encounters crackle with equal parts challenge and passion.

The alternate Silicon Valley setting enriches the story with its high-stakes environment where information equals power. This modern twist adds layers of intrigue and relevance, making the traditional fairy tale elements feel fresh and exciting. The plot weaves corporate espionage, familial loyalty, and the quest for control into a tapestry that is as intellectually stimulating as it is emotionally compelling.

Thorn’s realm, reminiscent of an enchanted castle, provides a fitting backdrop for the evolving power play between him and Alana. Zanetti's portrayal of their dynamic is unapologetically intense and erotic, with both characters pushing each other’s boundaries in a dance of dominance and submission. Alana’s defiance and determination to not only survive but thrive in Thorn’s world makes her a formidable and relatable protagonist.

While Zanetti’s narrative is undeniably enthralling, some readers might find certain aspects of the plot predictable due to its fairy tale origins. Nonetheless, the expertly developed characters, rich setting, and searing romance ensure that these familiar elements are given a fresh and riveting spin.

In conclusion, "One Cursed Rose" is a spellbinding start to Rebecca Zanetti's new series. It masterfully blends dark romance, intense passion, and high-stakes intrigue in a modern, fantastical setting. Fans of reimagined fairy tales and steamy romances will find themselves utterly captivated by Alana and Thorn’s powerful and provocative story. If you're in search of a novel that delves deep into forbidden desires and the intoxicating dance of power and passion, "One Cursed Rose" is a must-read. Prepare to be entranced by this darkly seductive tale where beauty and power collide in an unforgettable way.

I don't believe I've ever read anything comparable. This is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast with a very special twist. The reason some families are drawn to particular stones and the crystals themselves is a little enigmatic. Though there seems to be a lot of power associated with the stones, much remains unclear in this first volume. I liked the characters -- the chemistry and banter are fantastic. I was completely captivated by that. I adored these two when they were together.

Buckle up, readers! "One Cursed Rose" is a dark, delicious, and steamy retelling of Beauty and the Beast that you won't be able to put down.

Alana, our female lead, is a social media influencer with brains, defiance, and a stubborn streak that makes her a joy to root for. Even though her agency is constantly under threat, she fights to reclaim it, making her a solid and compelling character. Thorn, our male lead, however, is a bit of a mixed bag. He’s the quintessential dark romance hero—possessive, brooding, and problematic. While his behavior skirts dangerously close to abusive, he still manages to captivate, if not entirely convince, me.

The novel's world is a fascinating blend of Silicon Valley tech and fantasy, with four powerful families controlling social media empires through gemstone magic. This modern twist added a fresh layer of intrigue, even if some aspects felt underexplored.

The story is relentless, never letting up as it delivers twist after twist, mystery upon mystery. The retelling cleverly weaves in elements of other classic tales, adding depth and richness. The library scenes alone were worth the read!

Expect a hefty dose of steam. The chemistry between Alana and Thorn is electric, and their interactions will have you questioning your own moral boundaries right alongside Alana. It's dark romance done right—intense, thrilling, and a little bit wicked.

Despite my reservations about the male lead, I couldn’t help but love this book. It's a thrilling, page-turning ride with a unique premise and compelling characters. If there's a sequel, count me in. A must-read for fans of dark romance and modern fairy tales!

**I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review * *

One Cursed Rose is a spicy twisted hang onto the edge of your seat action packed retelling of a classic with a interesting cast of character's and a unique plot twist keeping the motivation for the killings, stalking and other grey area activities a closely guarded secret right to the end .
I received a advance readers copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

This was good, It started out rocky start but I was interested till the end of the book. This is a dark romance so please check the tw's before you read it cause there are a lot. It's a dual POV that follows the fmc Alana, a social media influencer, and the heir to a family business after her brother dies. The mmc who is some sort of mafia villain is obsessed with her and kidnaps her bit and as they get to know each other she realizes that she is attracted to his dark side despite his villain ways. There's also a fantasy element to the book because the mmc is infected by a bug that's killing him by freezing his insides and the crystal energy part. The romance worked for a dark romance, there's some non-consent, knife and razor play, light BDSM and it's quite spicy. There's also a mystery element as they try to figure out what happened to the fmc's brother. My biggest issue was the virgin fmc trope, it's icky especially when its a point that the characters discuss. Overall I liked it and if you like dark romance that's also loosely inspired by The Beauty and the Beast you should check this out.

One Cursed Rose was my first Rebecca Zanetti novel! I found the writing gripping, the characters well formed and the story really fast paced.
I enjoyed the dark Beauty and the Beast retelling concept, but I also enjoyed the ultra modern urban fantasy aspects too, I've never read anything like it.
The only part I couldn't really get into was the spice scenes, although there was definitely heat, I didnt feel like there was connection (or any real love?) - there were some scenes where there wasn't implicit consent, and some scenes that pushed the boundaries of pleasure/pain/weirdness too far.
I did enjoy the book as a whole, and really enjoyed the writing style, I will definitely be looking for Rebecca Zanetti reads!
Thank you to Net Galley, Rebecca Zanetti and Kensington Books for the ARC.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

One Cursed Rose by Rebecca Zanetti is a dual-POV high spice dark Romantasy mafia retelling of Beauty and the Beast. When influencer and heir to Aquarius Socials, Alana, is kidnapped by Thorn, the owner of Malice Media, she learns of his obsession for her and peels back parts of her past. Thorn is cursed to slowly freeze to death as the garnet connected to him was infected by another powerful family.

The magic system has some pretty interesting ideas. Four powerful families have had control over the world in the shadows for all of human history with connections to crystals, such as garnets or citrine or rose quartz, that they fuel. In the modern age, the power of social media clout and influence determines which of the four is the most powerful and likes and comments can boost the magical power of the family members. In the age of social media where it feels like everyone is online, it’s cool to see different interpretations of how that could be combined with a magic system.

Thorn is the head of an Irish mafia group and his right hand is his half-brother, Justice. Thorn is known as a dangerous individual with the scars and tattoos to prove it, but much of his violent history is linked to trying to protect children from predators. We open the novel from his POV and his obsession with Alana, a woman he has never spoken to, but he feels that knows from her social media content, paralleling parasocial relationships.

For her part, Alana calls Thorn out on the worst parts of his behavior and questions some of his possessiveness and the parasocial aspect to their relationship. Alana is intelligent, knowing multiple languages to read as many books as possible, and is being pressured by her father to marry someone she isn’t interested in. Alana is more likely to suggest compromises or talking things out which puts her in direct opposition with Thorn and most of the world she lives in as they believe marriage is the best way to form a strong union.

The sexual scenes are more leaning into BDSM, particularly bondage and submission and there are conversations around virginity that might make some readers uncomfortable. A lot of value is placed on Alana’s virginity early on though Thorn is not obsessed with it while Cal, the man Alana’s father wants her to marry, is.

I would recommend this to fans of dark romance looking for a fantasy twist, readers of Romantasy who want to try something more mafia-leaning, and those looking to sample a dark romance fairy tale retelling with social media aspects.

Such a good read! The banter between Anna and Thorn is hilarious! I like that through the story you can see the growth in both characters. The story line was great and interesting! The magic side of things is nothing I've ever read and was a really cool twist on how jems and stones are used. With the plot twist I definitely did not see that coming! Loved the different take on the beauty and the beast retelling!

When I first saw this was a Beauty and the Beast retelling and a dark romance, I was sold. I knew I had to read it. This author is pretty known for their writing and the world's they create, so I was equally excited about seeing if I'd enjoy their writing. I did enjoy the writing and suspense that was created, but this was a bit of a mess.

Now here's the thing, I didn’t find this to be a dark romance. I'm not sure if it's because of the type of dark romance I read, but this felt more like a romantic suspense with a sprinkle of dark elements. I felt misled and that this was trying too hard to be a dark romance. I feel this should not be marketed as a dark romance. I also found myself confused by the use of gems powering the computers. Although I did like the unique take on it, I just couldn't get into it. Unless I missed something, I just couldn't understand how it worked and the power they generate to their owner. I felt the world building was lacking and too many plot holes that were left oddly hanging.

I really couldn't get with the romance of this. I felt the chemistry between Alana and Thorn was not believable. Thorn was obsessed with Alana to the point of being her stalker (for a short amount of time), but nothing was ever explained as to why. What drew him to her? I just didn't believe that he was obsessed with her. Chemistry and swooning is very important to me in romance and unfortunately that was lacking for me. Another issue I had was the way this wrapped up and the person that "cursed" Thorn. Again, it just wasn't believable and I felt it didn't give me that OMG factor.

Obviously, I was a little invested since I finished the book, but felt it was lackluster and left me a bit disappointed. I'm not sure I'd recommend this, but if I do it would be to someone that's new to dark romance.

I should have known this book wouldn’t be for me due to the “dark romance”, however I am a sucker for Beauty & The Beast retellings so figured I’d give it a shot.

I should have stuck to my guns! I DNF’d. Don’t understand the “world”, the “crystal charging”. It makes zero sense.

Thorn was OBSESSED with Alana from the very first page - literally, with absolutely zero context as to why, how that started ect.

He PENETRATED her with a knife? Like, no. I’m out. Dark romance just is not for me 😂

This is going to be a hard one to give a comprehensive review to, mainly because the dichotomies are so pronounced.

On the one hand, Rebecca Zanetti is an amazing writer. Man, she can write suspense and thrillers while weaving fabulous romance in and add intriguing side-stories like nobody’s business! Whether it’s paranormal or just straight up suspenseful and scary, her books are always page-turners. And this one is no different. It is hard to put down, for sure!

On the other hand, this is the first book of hers in memory that isn’t completely tight and understandable. There are tons of plot holes that aren’t explained and just left oddly hanging. For instance, what is up with the odd mention of child trafficking, or the Italian Mafia mention? Or all the references to the crystals, how they power computers, how they affect people to the point of being able to kill them with viruses? It’s all part of the story but the holes in understanding are huge! Also, so many small threads that are never closed. And, that is weirdly unlike this super talented author.

On a personal note - the whole “dark” romance aspect didn’t work for me at all in this instance, either. I just can’t wrap my head around (and therefore accept) shoving a knife inside a woman, or whipping a woman’s private parts with a belt being a turn-on or for that matter ANY part of making someone fall in love. Nope, nope, nope.

So, while I love the writing style and the suspenseful aspects were top-notch, I would probably recommend other works from this author if one is taking a gander.

This is a dark retelling of Beauty and the beast, and I’ve read many retellings but this book had so much potential. The magic was so confusing with the crystals and modern twists that it really blindsided me to enjoying the book.

This was...ok. It didn't seem that dark to me? I do love a Beauty and the Beast retelling though and that mostly worked here, but I could not take the crystals thing seriously.

I loved reading this book so much. I haven't read any other books by Rebecca, but I loved this one so much I feel like I need to go see about her other books. The whole primase of this story of being a beauty and the beast retelling with a twist. The author threw in magic through crystals powered by social media which is distinctive and modern. These twists had me hooked from the beginning but then adding in Dark Romance, Kidnapped/Forced Proximity and Touch Her and You Die had my jaw dropping. This is so addicting to read, and I cannot express enough how much I enjoyed the writing style and the whole world that the author created.

Ok, I gotta admit... this was ingenious! I thoroughly enjoyed the play on social media. It did not take me long to get the idea and be caught up in what Alana would do to get herself out of the bad situation her dad wanted. The chemistry was there between her and Thorn and I felt their story was effortlessly written. Enjoyed this one!