One Dark Rose is a dark retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It blends fantasy, suspense and romance in a way that had me glued to the pages even though bdsm would not be something I look for in romance novels.
I really liked the unique world the four ruling families inhabit; each family has their own type of precious stones and crystals they use for power. Magic and danger surround Alana at all times and even her own family cannot be trusted completely to have her best interests in mind.

I liked Thorn even though he is violent and not shy of meting out his own kind of justice on those he feels deserve to die. Anyone who hurts Alana immediately falls into that category.

Alana has a small group of friends who have their own unique skills and interests. I would happily pick up the next book in the series to find out what happens with them in the future.

There were a few twists and turns that took me by surprise and I ended up staying up late to finish the thrilling final chapters.
One Cursed Rose is a must-read for anyone who likes or is curious about dark fantasy romance, With thrilling suspense and its captivating plot, richly developed characters, and a touch of the supernatural, this novel leaves a lasting impression.

A fun and light read with interesting leads and supporting cast. I like the incorporation of social media, influencer marketing and tech. It has some fun banter and is an enjoyable read. Would love to read the next book in the series.

Thank you Headline and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

Firstly thank you to NetGalley for sending me this arc!

This is a dark romantic fantasy & a beauty and the beast retelling. I was sure if thus was going to be my thing but I actually really enjoyed it. It's a duel POV that follows the FMC Alana who is a social media influencer and the heir to their family business. The MMC is a mafia villain is OBSESSED with her and kidnaps her! I wont go in to too much detail but I loved this and can't wait for book 2

Rebecca Zanetti is one of those authors who are a one-click author for me. So needless to say, I was hyped to have this arc in my possession.

Let's get over with what's good about this book.

The unique magic system. It's a blend of AI technology, social media and magical crystals. Wonder how all three of them connected? Hit this book up.

Second, the he-fell-first trope. Let's just say, due to a precious someone *cough*Sunjae*cough*, I'm into hopelessly devoted male lead. Villain or morally grey as he is, Thorn is definitely an interesting persona.

And that's it guys. I ran out of things to say.

Onto some criticisms I have with this one.

First. Despite the unique magic system, I feel like we weren't given enough exposure or explanation behind them. Heck, it's even jarring in some scenes to see magic and AI tech being talk about in the same sentence. I want things to make sense. I want to understand how things work. So unfortunately, I wasn't satisfied with how things are. I mean, smut is smut. But when you promise an interesting magical system, I think I deserved to be stimulated a little bit in that department.

Second. I don't like the dynamic between the two leads. Yeesh, this could be my problem though. It seems like my standard is a little too high and so does my expectations of this book. I found our girl to be a little subdued, with no backbone. It only required a few touches from our male for her to drop all her independent self and submit to him. Hell, this could be another thing where my preference took a huge part on why I struggled with this book. I don't like the dom/sub role in romance book anymore. It's such an imbalance in a couple, especially when it wasn't developed properly. It just feels too empty for me.

Anyway, like I said, this could be my problem. My head just expected something else and this book delivered a different thing. With that said, don't let me deter you. If you love a darker gritty version of Beauty and the Beast retelling with a unique magic system, you should try it out. Never say no, you know

Didn't love this one unfortunately. I didn't think the magic system was well thought out, there were a lot of plot inconsistencies and I just didn't connect with the characters. I think it wants to be a dark Romantasy but it's neither dark enough for dark Romance nor does it have the world building needed for a good Fantasy.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. I didn't fully understand the crystals, and I'm not convinced this is a fantasy, or even dark romance? Unsure on how this is a beauty and the beast retelling either. I didn't like the writing style and the smut just made me uncomfortable.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the DRC

An enjoyable read from a very consistently good writer. Nice use of magic and technology, the strong alpha male and feisty alpha female make this overall a fun and spicy read.

Release Date: June 25, 2024
Date Read: June 24, 2024
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2024



I'm definitely excited and hoping to like this novel, considering a mutual of mine in booksta did enjoy this novel, so it added to my expectations.

I'm not gonna lie, the first half was enjoyable, the writing really gave this thrilling and suspenseful kind of atmosphere in my opinion so I was hoping that the momentum would continue in the later chapters until the end.

However, it didn’t turn out like that. It ended up quite dragging and flat for me. The characters became tedious, and I really didn't like the developments going on, especially the romance. This is another case of trope and concept that's not executed well, in my opinion.

Overall, it did quite fall flat for me. I was really hoping that it wouldn't turn out like that.

Thank you, Headline Eternal and author Rebecca Zanetti, for the e-arc opportunity.

3⭐️

lmao this was so ridiculous but also really funny and it doesn‘t take itself seriously.

It‘s a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but make it modern, include some social media, some very unclear magic system involving stones and their ability to be charget by humans & be connected to computers. Also, there‘s a virus that can affect people. Think trojan turns covid.

Anyway, at the centre of it we have Alana and Thorn who have the most ridiculous (Stockholm Syndrome) relationship ever. It‘s supposedly dark romance, but to me it was light grey.

So much didn‘t make sense - such as the distribution of shares, how medicine works, plot inconsistencies… etc. But I still ate it up and it was a ton of fun.

Which is why I‘m giving it 3⭐️. I can‘t give it a higher rating in good concience, but give it a try if you want to be entertained and like to switch off your brain every once in a while.

Also, this was the funniest sentence: „My clit jerks in denial“. Girl, same, I hate it when my clit has a mind of its own. 😂

The publisher sent me this book for review consideration but all opinions are my own.

I can only say I totally loved this concept and retelling of beauty and the beast. It had great characters, a totally unexpected villain, and included details of those that will make up the couples in the successive retellings of the Grimm Bargains series. Certainly looking forward to One Dark Kiss.

Not for me


I'd heard great things about this author, and what's not to love about a dark BATB retelling? Sadly though I ended up DNFing as I just could not get along with the style of writing in this. It was overly repetitive and overly descriptive with the prose verging on being purple and obtuse.

The caricatures, sorry, main characters were bland and dimensionless, I felt the author had thrown every cliche available into the mix. I can't comment on the supposed "darkness" of the book as I couldn't force myself any further than 23% into the story. I'm not wasting any more time on a book that uses convoluted sentences in place of an actual plot and is all "tell but no show".

If you are looking for your next possessive MMC and strong, independent FMC, then look no further! This book has a very morally grey MMC (Thorn), with a heart of ice - almost literally - who only softens when with the woman he is obsessed with, the FMC Alana.

Only after reading did I discover that this was a dark retelling of Beauty and the Beast and on reflection, I can see that vibe, but it wasn’t overly dominating in the story. There were definite hints and nods (names of the characters, an abundance of roses from the MMC, a curse etc.).

The spice, banter and action are perfect for this retelling. Thorn is exactly the type of man that many are now dreaming of and he makes sure that Alana is looked after and satisfied in every way. It is also slightly stalker-ish (if that’s a word) as he always ensures that Alana is safe wherever she is and will always get to her (think Zade Meadows). That bathroom scene? 🥵 You will know when you get there!

Some of my favourite quotes:

‘Call yourself whatever you want.’ …. ‘I’m calling you mine.’

‘ME: You’re racking up punishments faster than a demon collects debts.
ALANA: You’re the demon keeping score.
ME: Yes, I am. And baby, the house always wins. Prepare yourself.’

The only part I struggled with was the addition of crystals to the story. As a crystal-enthusiast myself, I was initially intrigued and excited by this addition, but towards the end of the story, it seemed to feel like an awkward addition to the plot and I will admit that I didn’t fully understand it.

Overall: 3.5 stars
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you to Rebecca Zanetti, Headline Publishers and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley, Headline Eternal and Rebecca Zanetti, for this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This book's description as a modern, dark retelling of Beauty and the Beast really piqued my interest. I liked that the author brought the story into a modern setting with magical elements that were truly unique. I've never before read anything where social media empires ruled the world and gained power, energy and money through user interactions and magical crystals.
Even though this was a dark romance, it wasn't too dark for a dark romance beginner like me. The MMC had an interesting curse and I liked that this strong and deadly "beast" needed saving from the FMC. The FMC was a sweet character and I enjoyed that she was a beauty but still had a brain 😂 The *scenes* between Thorn and Alana were obviously HOT (though they're kinky and very graphic, fyi).
I think for being the first book of the series and trying out a new concept, it was well done. However, in my rating, I'm torn between 3.5 and 4 stars (I rounded up here). I wished there'd been more world-building because it was sometimes confusing to figure out the rules of the magic system and crystal-technology connection. The breaking of Thorn's curse seemed a bit too rushed and easy and I think a moment of retardation/delay would've built more suspense. Additionally, the ending felt too hurried as well. It would've been nice to see the MCs take some time after what happened to truly get to know each other before a certain thing in the epilogue (no spoiler). Their romance was just a little too insta-love for me.
Still, I do think the series has potential and would read the next books coming.

I went into this expecting a fantasy romance, and being very confused and surprised when it wasn't that. It's what I get for basing off a cover vibe... I was not expecting a technology social-media based urban fantasy. Once I got over that though I was able to get into the story. It gave a mix of Green Bone Saga and Haunting Adeline, even had its' own version of the gun scene.
I really liked the writing, it flowed well. The magic system and the way the crystals work didn't make sense to me, but I don't think that mattered too much.

A really unique twist on the story. A modern theme of the digital age with social postings powering the world. I really enjoyed the story and the twists as the story developed. Loved the chemistry between the main characters.

This book was not for me 😭 I just couldn’t get into it and wrap my head around the powers, social media and crystal thing?? It didn’t make sense at all - further explanation on this and world building is definitely needed

Where was the romance? There was no chemistry, I have no clue why he had an obsession with her - it all felt so out of no where

I usually don’t mind a stockholm syndrome story but this wasn’t executed well, so I couldn’t get on board. I also couldn’t see the beauty and the beast retelling it claims to be ?? All I saw was that he had a big library and FMC was well read and smart. I didn’t find Thorn scary at all 😬

Overall it just wasn’t the book for me. I found myself cringing and eye rolling a lot when reading the book.
But maybe give this a go if u like romantic suspense, stalking, paranormal/magical elements, morally grey mmc, spankings/more kinkier steamy scenes

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

WOW when I say I was hungry and this book FED me I mean in. I ATE this up 🥵

A Beauty and the Beast retelling set in the modern day where four families control the technological world. Alana (our heroine) is the heir to one of these families and draws the attention of Thorn, the owner of one of the other companies. What follows is a steamy romance with thrilling elements, and I’m a sucker for the “who did this to you” trope 😍

It is a darker retelling compared with some others I have read (e.g. ACOTAR), but I loved all the characters, the spice was excellent and the plot actually made sense and kept me guessing. I want more please!!!

Overall 5⭐️ and 3.5🌶️

Unfortunately this one isn't for me. I'm finding that it is not engaging me and I am unable to get into it - apologies.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I can't believe Rebecca once again managed to blow my ever-loving mind. This retelling of beauty and beast, this once again danger in every given moment, this unique world she managed to create. I need this to be series and I need more of this amazing twisted and dark universe.

This is a modern day (albeit with magic) beauty and the beast retelling. We follow the story of Alana, a social media mogul who is part of one of the most powerful families in this world. Alana is kindhearted, intelligent and can hold her own. The story kicks off with Thorn kidnapping Alana after she has been promised to another man. Alana understandably dislikes him at first, but soon their irresistible attraction for each other grows into something powerful. I enjoyed reading about their relationship, and the angst as it was building up (the enemies to lovers really hits with this one). The story does have darker elements but I wouldn't necessarily class it as a *really* dark romance. The other characters within the story were brilliant, and I'd love to get to know them more in future books. The story has a modern feel to it with a big focus on social media. I did find the magic system a little confusing, wrapping my head around gemstones that can power computers/social media platforms took some time! But it didn't take away from the enjoyment of the story. In fact I really loved it and devoured it within a few days!