A technical yet crystallized version of Beauty and the Beast?
Social media outlets charged by specific family crystals, a stalker who is obsessed with an influencer, murders that are so well done, they look accidental?

This is for fans of Butcher and Blackbird or Haunting Adaline.

I was not prepared for how deep and dark this romance would go. It’s not a frequent genre of mine; however, I realize now that I need to explore these books much more.

One Cursed Rose is a modern retelling with a sexy twist of Beauty and the Beast. The story maintains some of the old classic themes, like an old castle and an evil curse. The innovative twist is the use of social media companies as the driving force of their financial success. There are founding families running social media technology, but it is linked to their livelihood with family crystals. It’s truly a unique binding of old and new.

So how hot is the romance you ask?
There’s a scene that will have readers feeling like their riding the edge of a knife. It holds quite the build up of tension, and the potential for voyeurism. It’s exciting for Alana, even if it was meant as “lesson”. Each time that Alana is taught a lesson it seems to motivate her to do more things to poke Thorn. She revels in his form of punishment.

One Cursed Rose is the first book in Rebecca Zanetti’s new “Grimm Bargains” series. I am dying to know which retellings will come next! I need them all in their special edition glory.

At first I wasn't sure what on earth I was reading. Crystals and keeping how they kept someone alive. Social networking and people liking or exploding stars a persons posts kept them in business.

Alana who is an heir to a social network company was all about posting and keeping her families company alive and running. Her dad thinks bringing 2 social networking companies together would save their family, and business. Little did dad know that it was already in ruins from a past tragedy.

Thorn, what to say to about Thorn. He did have a heart made of ice, well just about. Also when Thorn says he wants something he gets it. AKA Alana

I liked the book, the sex scenes were a bit much and rough. It was mentioned this is a dark romance.

I liked how Alan had her little band of friends who were doing good. Crazy to think that one family member set off an incident and her life forever changed.
In the end it all worked out Alana helped Thorn even though she would always protested. Not in a bad way, just a way telling him she was her own person.

⭐️ very disappointing star. 😕

Rebecca Zanetti is one of my favorite authors, many of her stories I’ve read multiple times. But I couldn’t get through the first quarter of this one. Aside from the convoluted world of gems and social media which I did not understand, I don’t know that I have disliked two main characters as much as I do these two.

Thorn is abhorrent and Alana is not much better.He brutally murders an innocent waiter when he kidnapped Alana and then she finds herself turned on by him and they both have the waiters blood on them. What did I just read?! Mind you she just met the guy if you can call kidnapping a meet. Then again, Thorn is going to kill one of his guards because Alana stole his phone, she gets on her knees to beg for the guys life and then gets a whopping while getting turned on.

Nope. No. Nu-uh. Not reading any more of this.

I appreciate the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

First of all, dark romance is genuinely not my cup of tea, but I thought I'd give this a try. I feel like as a person who doesn't usually consume this type of book, readers who enjoy a dark romance can take my critiques with that in mind. That said, I wasn't invested in the characters at all. I found none of them sympathetic or likable. This might have been on purpose. I didn't really enjoy it because not only were they unlikeable, there was no redeeming plot/themes to help me WANT to stick with this story. The fantasy elements were haphazardly done, the romance was... traumatic? toxic? I think if you enjoy a dark sexual fantasy (kidnapping, knife-play, hitting, etc.), you might enjoy the open-door scenes in this book. It wasn't for me though! Once I reached about 60%, I found myself skimming for the major plot points and not enjoying the story.

One Cursed Rose by Rebecca Zanetti, I had to DNF about 35% of the way in. I thought this book had great promise and a good start, but the pacing and writing were difficult to follow while reading. There just didn't seem to be much editing/writing fluidity. I think with more work this could be a good book. The world building isn't there but its an interesting premise.

This book was not at all what I was expecting. - To say it is a unique twist on Beauty and the Beast would be a massive understatement. The story is futuristic, edgy and absolutely full of plot twists and mysteries. The futuristic world of social media companies powered by crystals and reliant on generating emotions in users, is both fascinating and utterly compelling. Alana is intelligent, resourceful yet also innately altruistic. Thorn shares her compassion, but that is balanced by a dark, ruthless streak and a morally grey personality. In an uncertain world where danger and deceit can come from those you trust the most, somehow these two manage to build a relationship together. I am so so excited to see where this series takes us next - there are a lot of secondary characters who I would love to have their own stories.

I loved the cover and the synopsis had me hooked. Its described as a Beauty and the Beast retelling, however I feel like the author had enough original twists that I often forgot it was related to Beauty and the Beast at all. Alana is a strong feisty FMC and her and Thorn have an instant fiery romance. Some aspects felt rushed but overall I enjoyed the characters and plot.

Billeted as a dark retelling of Beauty and the Beast, One Cursed Rose is a combination of dark romance (touch-her-and-die, tracking her to keep her out of trouble) and sci-fi set in Silicon Valley. I would say that this would be a big hit with the crystal girlies given a lot of this focuses on the power in crystals, but I don’t feel like most crystal girlies are looking for a hot tempered murderer to light up their life.

I honestly didn’t get too much of the Beauty and the Beast vibes outside of the descriptions of colors/crystals that Alana preferred, a library in a castle, and the description of Thorn having scars and such from his hard living. It was definitely a darker romance than I normally go for, but is probably less dark than some of those out there. I enjoyed the premise but felt like sometimes the plot was jumping around a bit and the insta-love/lust between Alana and Thorn didn’t really do it for me. However, the storyline was still interesting enough to keep me going. If crystals powering major IT firms, dark romance, and family intrigue are all on your list, I’d check it out.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley and am providing my unbiased review.

Ich weiß ehrlich gesagt nicht, wie ich dieses Buch bewerten soll, da ich es aufgrund relativ kurzer Ausleihdauer (ohne Verlängerung) nicht lesen konnte.

I was caught up from the very first page. I didn’t want to stop reading but I needed to eat, sleep, and work.
I’m not a huge fan of the really dark romances but I found myself rooting for Thorn and Alana. I loved her feistiness, even if it did tend to lead to a “punishment” from Thorn. He’s very intense.
You’ll love the mystery and intrigue and the twists and turns.
Rebecca has nailed the dark romance genre. 5 stars!!!

A darkly erotic and spicy retelling of a classic. I didn't know you had it in ya Zanetti!
I can't wait for more. So many different characters, and so many more books, hopefully, to come

I want to give a Big Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for my honest review. With that being said all thoughts and feelings are my own!

I feel like I should start this review off by saying I went in completely blind. I had never even heard of this author before. And was only told dark romance Beauty & the Beast retelling. For me that’s an immediate sold. Being that Beauty & the Beast is my favorite Disney Princess storyline.

One Cursed Rose however isn’t your traditional Beauty & the Beast retelling. Our books story takes place in the modern world where four families who run popular social media programs. The catch is that these programs run on gems, crystals and diamonds. It is also generated or strengthened by their fans and people responding to their posts. I have to admit this was one of the most unique and interesting world building I’ve ever seen in a retelling. I was immediately pulled in from start to finish and I can’t wait to see this world building continuing to flesh out in the next books in the series.

Another favorite part of this book has to be our two main characters Thorn and Alana. Alana is a smart, funny, kick ass heroine. Loved her from beginning to end. And then we have Thorn. Who doesn’t love a strong alpha shadow daddy who also has a sweet side.

My only qualm with the book was definitely the mystery element. Now I did enjoy it but I found it really predictable. I called who the “bad guy” was immediately. But even with that being said I still really enjoyed the suspense elements.

Overall, I really enjoyed the first book in the world Rebecca Zanetti has created and I think others should read this as well. I definitely plan to continue on with the series.

4 stars

One Cursed Rose is a contemporary fantasy romance with multiple perspectives. I have read several books by Rebecca Zanetti and really enjoyed her stories, but this one really stands out for me from her for a couple of reasons. One: the magic system in the story, it was so unique. I have not read anything close to matching it, it really drew me in, and I wanted to know more on how it worked and why. It was also one of a kind in how it tied into the modern world and how the magic functioned and who could use it was used, just so fascinating. Two: the romance and development of the characters. Rebecca does a great job with tension and the buildup between the main characters. This book definitely had a darker tone and atmospheric feel to it. Alana, I was really rooting for her at times and wanting her to turn the table on Thorn. The animosity coming from Alana and the length she was willing to go, I loved it in the first half and really fit with what was going on and the gradual change and character development was perfect. This book has enemies to lovers, stalker, and forced proximity tropes, got to love those. MMC was mysteries, dark and morally gray in a number of ways and so completely my favorite character, very dreamy. Not to mention and this book overall gives me a lot of Beauty and the beast vibes in a modern-day setting. I did think some points were too long and wanted them to wrap up a little quicker, but it was an amazing time, please check it out.
I received an advanced ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.

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.

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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.