Goddess of the Rose

I am a sucker for fairy tale re-writes and this one fits the mold perfectly. Ms. Cast combines her Goddess Summoning world quite nicely into this tale as well. I love the way she makes her characters seem so personable and real. I could totally see myself being friends with Mikki. Ms. Cast effortlessly builds her characters for the reader, you feel like you have known them your entire life after reading a few chapters. I love that about all her writing.

The plot in this story is unique and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Not like a roller coaster but like a a romance movie where they are laughing and having fun, then something bad happens, and you are hurting for the characters, you are feeling for them and you just want everything show more to be ok. That is exactly the feeling you get while reading this book.

I love Mikki, and I love Asterus, and I love the almost effortless way Ms. Cast weaves mythology and fairy tale in this book. One of my favorites in the whole series. show less

I really wasn't expecting to like one, especially after I started it and was, like, "God, Mikki is kind of whiny. Get over yourself, girl!" but once she accepted the circumstances she found herself in I kind of fell in love with her. She reminded me of me ... a little ... blunt and to the point and not taking "No" for an answer and actually liking the roughness of the beast. I was pleasantly surprised!

Adrianne

I absolutely love this version of Beauty and the Beast. It is probably one of my favorites simply because of the ending when she chooses to stay with the Guardian in the Realm of the Rose where he will be the half man, half beast she fell in love with. Despite having the choice of having him return to modern day, in the form of a very handsome man, she chooses to stay with him, and accepts him for who he is.

My problem with the original tale of Beauty and the Beast has always been that he turned back into a handsome prince. I always wondered why he had to and how she could have accepted it when that wasn’t the one she fell in love with.

I also like how Miki, named after a beautiful Mikado rose, chose to sacrifice her instead of making show more the man she fell in love with do it, proving that some men are worth dying for in order to save them.

This steamy romance novel combines the classic fairy tale, with a new sort of danger and a small dose of gardening knowledge. It speaks of forgiveness and acceptance and despite the classic happily ever after it had a wondrous twist that would have any reader clapping their hands in a giddy delight. show less

I wasn't as into this storyline as much as some of the previous books in this Goddess series, but it was still pretty good. It gets off to a good start in which Mikki, a young single woman looking for love inadvertently finds herself in this other "world" in which she is a high priestess for the goddess Hecate and must tend these amazing roses. The guardian of the Realm of Roses is a man-beast like the Minotaur only he's kind of sexy and she is attracted to him for she had been dreaming of him before she came to this world. Sounds bizarre, but it works... kind of. Still, I was a bit bored with all the roses, roses, roses talk, but overall not bad.

I have mixed feeling about the novel itself... I found the concept original. The plot draws on Greek mythology and casts the Beast as the misunderstood Minotaur who guards Hecate's Realm of the Rose, the place where the mundane world's dreams are made. Mikki is portrayed as a strong, determined woman willing to chase her dreams, while the Beast is presented as a creature who is well aware of his position as a man-beast. The magickal elements also seemed a natural part of the world created by Cast. However, I had some trouble with the prose. I'm very particular about my idea of romance, dialog, and description when it comes to sex in literature, and the language just fell short in my opinion.

Read my full review at things she read

What I Loved
Series But An Independent Novel
This is a re-read for me, I love these books so much. What I love the most about these books is they have the same theme, modern woman is needed to help a Greek mythological character god, goddess, event etc. The books are all connected in that aspect but they are their own individual story in one novel, no having to wait years to find out if the pair of lovers ends up together. I love the individual novels at times, it is a nice break from all the long series that you are waiting for to be finished.
Story
A modern version of Beauty and the Beast, but with the Greek goddess Hecate, a modern woman and the fearsome minotaur all rolled into one amazing romantic tale. Oh and you can't forget all the show more lovely roses and beautiful dreams that pay a major part in the story.
Characters
Mikado Empousai aka Mikki (Beauty): All the Goddess Summoning series have the same theme for the female characters 30ish age females that have had experience and knowledge to help them with their trials that they have to face through the story. Mikki is a great character, she isn't physically strong, but mentally she is very capable, loving and caring.
The Guardian aka the Minotaur aka Asterius (Beast): What to say about him, he is the beast. A fearsome creature to behold, but with a need and desire to be loved by someone. Throughout the book you feel so much sorry for this poor beast, you learn about his ever neglected sad life and you just want to be the one to love him. But he also presents this raw animal strength that Mikki is completely drawn to.
Romance
The book does get a bit hot and steamy with the pair.

What I Didn't Like
There is nothing I dodn't like in this book. I completely adore this story, this version of Beauty and the Beast.

Recommendation
Every romantic reader, fantasy addict and retold fairy tale lover has got to read this tale. Even though it is part of the Goddess Summoning series, it is a complete stand alone book. The rest of the series doesn't need to be read before this book. This is the way with all of the books, some of the books will connect a little more but not much. The only connection this book made to any other the other books is that it makes a reference to the pastry shop owned by the the character in The Goddess of Spring. show less

Mikki is an Empousai, a family who have a connection with roses, her family have been giving blood to the roses for years. Their blood keeps the roses healthy. Mikki feels disconnected with the world and believes that there's something more. When she awakens the beast and finds herself in the Realm of the Rose where the roses are dying she finds a purpose.

Sweet and interesting it's quite a readable story.