Rebel rose

Shortly after Belle breaks the curse that bound Prince Lio into the form of a beast, she finds herself in another place she never thought she'd be: on the way to Paris to meet King Louis XVI. As a peasant girl who has risen well above her station, she feels conflicted about her desire for a simple life. In the midst of the upheaval of the French Revolution, she is caught between her early pastoral upbringing and her new life as a princess who will never want for food or money. King Louis demands funds and men for his army from the prince, causing the once-enchanted castle to take action to avoid a similar revolution in the countryside. Retold fairy tales are having quite the resurgence, with series like Twisted Tales and Disney's Villains leading the charge. This first in a new series published by Disney offers a more intricate view of favorite stories, and intriguingly places them in more historical and political contexts.

Gr 9 Up--Belle's story continues where Beauty and the Beast left off, catching the peasant-turned-princess on the wrong side of the French Revolution. All memory of the curse has been erased except for those who lived it; outside the kingdom of Aveyon the prince's 10-year absence is explained away as an illness. Now Belle and her new husband are traveling to Paris to see his cousin Bastien and revive Prince Lio's relationship to King Louis. Lio heads to Versailles and Belle explores Paris--on what is about to be known as Bastille Day. Lured into a magical mirror shop, Belle is given a dire warning to save Aveyon and follow her heart before it's too late. She flees right into the path of a growing mob and the violence that ushered in the French Revolution. Theriault's writing is perfectly paced and the cast of characters developed with historical realism; fans of the movies will be satisfied by this evolution of a favorite Disney princess. Belle struggles with her change in station, especially in light of the French Revolution, and Lio struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder from his curse. The personal and national stakes of this novel root it in history but also within its backstory as a Disney classic. Side characters Marguerite and her brother are Black; the other characters are white. VERDICT The French Revolution with a Disney twist, Theriault's debut is rich in historical detail while answering the long-asked question, "What happens after happily ever after?" Recommended for general purchase.--Emmy Neal, Lake Forest Lib., IL

Ever wonder what happened to Beauty and the Beast after happily-ever-after? The curse is broken and Belle and the Beast, better known as Prince Lio, are happily married. With a 10-year-long absence to explain, Belle and Lio travel to Paris to pay their respects to the king, but during their trip Belle stumbles upon an uprising. Revolution is brewing in the streets of late-18th--century France, and despite refusing to assume the title of princess, Belle is deeply conflicted. Meanwhile a magical force tries to warn her of what is coming to Aveyon if she and Lio are not careful. What ensues are pages of long-winded accounts of Lio's trying to placate nobles and Belle's ideas being disregarded. Though Belle knows she has work to do, she makes little progress, and the story's pacing does not pick up until the very end. Intricate characterization and historical details and a satisfying ending help counterbalance the slow-moving plot, and patient readers will be rewarded for their persistence. Fairy-tale fans will enjoy the care and depth given to Belle's character and the touches of magic. With one exception, characters are cued as White. A promising start to a new series of fairy-tale continuations grounded in historical events. (Fantasy. 12-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.