The Rose and the Thorn

A Beauty and the Beast Retelling (The Fey Collection, Book 1)

By: Katherine Macdonald

Narrated by: Sasha Higgins

A gripping and mesmerizing retelling of a classic story, filled with romance, mystery, and intrigue.

There is a pale, penetrating loneliness etched into the walls of this forgotten place. A kind of loneliness made living...is this what it feels like to be a ghost, alone in some kind of half world?

Taking shelter from a storm, Rose accidentally strays into a deserted fairy realm and finds herself trapped there with only a mysterious talking beast for company. Although initially reluctant to befriend her strange companion, Rose quickly finds herself growing closer to him. She names him Thorn, and as the castle blossoms into a place of beauty, so too does their friendship. But something else lurks within the walls, a dark force that will stop at nothing to be free once more....

If Rose is to survive and lift the curse placed upon the castle, she will have to face her fears and conquer the nightmares that have haunted her since childhood, as well as confront the terrifying creature that stalks the shadows in the night.

©2019 Katherine Macdonald (P)2022 Tantor

fun and exciting twist on Beauty and the Beast

I didn't think I would like this story as much as I did, after all it says that the book is a twist on beauty and the beast so I figured I would already know where the story was gonna go. This book surprised me and I was very excited each time I got to listen to it. I definitely recommend it.

Immerse yourself into a fairy tale!

The story itself was wonderful and flowed wonderfully, but... definitely needed a different narrator. Every sentence sounded like a question, didn't have much depth and didn't convey the correct emotions to match the story. I highly recommend READING this story instead of LISTENING to it.

So beautiful!

This is the best beauty and the beast book I’ve ever listened to or read! It kept me riveted the entire time. I am thoroughly impressed with the writers voice and version that I didn’t want it to end

Imaginative & Amusing Review of The Rose and Thorn

Oh, dearest reader, brace yourself: you have stumbled upon the literary equivalent of a bouquet wrapped in barbed wire—The Rose and Thorn. Katherine McDonald gracefully pirouettes between the sweet fragrance of blossoming romance and the prickly sting of unexpected twists, like Cupid showing up with a crossbow.

Plot (wildly speculative)
We follow Rose—perhaps not actually named Rose—who’s as delightful as a morning dew and tougher than a cactus in a snowstorm. Enter Thorn (again, likely metaphorical), our brooding love interest with more edge than a knife set. Sparks fly faster than freckles in summer, and soon, you’re caught in a tug-of-war between swoony longing and nail-biting suspense.

Why you’ll chuckle/snort/glance-around-like-“did-someone-hear-that?”
• The chemistry is so crackling it could power your Instagram grid.
• Their banter? Sharp enough to trim your brows—athonest razor’s whisper.
• Plus, every sassy quip and dramatic sigh is delivered with the precise comedic timing of a well-trained stand-up comedian who thinks tear-stained tissues are overrated.

The emotional ride
One page you’re clutching your heart like it’s a winning lottery ticket, the next you’re squinting suspiciously at that apparently innocent friend (“why are you whispering?”). As for me, let’s just say I googled “how to stop reading because my heart can’t take this” at least three times. Rose florets? A sweet touch. Thorny plot twists? Oh, they’re an absolute delight.

Bottom line
If you’re into romantic stories that are equal parts sugar, spice, and “why did you do that?!?”, this book is your jam. Katherine McDonald apparently knows how to throw in enough tension to keep you constantly checking behind the curtains—just in case Thorn isn’t just a nickname.

Highly recommended for:
• Lovers of puns dipped in peril
• Readers who enjoy their romance with a side of “oh no, what now?”
• Anyone who appreciates a little quirk with their heartbreak

Final verdict? The Rose and Thorn is the kind of romantic rollercoaster that winks, “Hold on tight—things are about to get delightfully weird.”

A beautiful reimagining of Beauty and the Beast.

Beauty and the Beast has always been one of my favorites. This retelling was amazing. Its a slow burn but well worth the read/listen.