Dragon Rose: A Free Fantasy Romance (Romantasy Beauty and the Beast Retelling)

Christine Pope

Tales of the Latter Kingdoms Book 1 · Dark Valentine Press

About this ebook

A sacrifice born of love leads to a destiny she never imagined.

Rhianne Menyon would rather face the Dragon than marry the odious wool merchant her mother has chosen. When her secret talent for painting is discovered, threatening her family's livelihood, that flippant wish becomes a desperate reality.

For five centuries, the mysterious Dragon of Black’s Keep has claimed a Bride from Lirinsholme every few years — a sacrifice that keeps the town safe but seals the chosen woman’s fate. When Rhianne’s dearest friend is selected, Rhianne makes an unprecedented choice: she offers to take her place.

At Black’s Keep, she expects to find a monster. Instead, she discovers Theran Blackmoor — a man shrouded in shadows, whose voice is gentle and whose rare kindness awakens something she never expected to feel. But when Rhianne glimpses his true, terrible form circling the castle at night, she understands why his touch burns and why the Brides before her chose death over their gilded prison.

Then her dreams begin showing her a stranger’s face — one that haunts her waking hours and drives her to paint with fevered obsession. As Rhianne uncovers the tragic truth behind the Dragon’s curse, she must decide: will her gift for seeing beyond the surface be enough to break five centuries of torment, or will she become just another “Beloved Bride” whose headstone marks the graveyard of broken dreams?

Author’s Note: All Tales of the Latter Kingdoms novels are written as standalone romances and can be read in any order.

KEYWORDS: Beauty and the Beast, Beauty & the Beast, romantasy, romantic fantasy, fairy tale retelling, fairytale retelling, arranged marriage

Ratings and reviews

Obviously a new 'take' on an old story. Nothing wrong with that though. If I have to be negative about anything ... The book moved at a good pace but the climatic ending seemed a little rushed. That being said, it was an adorable story, well told. Christine Pope can be pleased with her work. Worth a read as it had quirky differences from the old story of a similar vein.

So disappointed. The rushed ending ruined the whole book for me. I really liked the book very much up until the end😣 💔 it also sucked that it was ONLY her perspective.

Interesting take on the original, i did enjoy it however i feel that it could use some improving on the ending. it felt like a very long story and the ending cut very short. it also seemed a new take with seemingly the beauty(Rhianne) running after the beast. overall i would recommend it

About the author

Christine Pope has been writing stories ever since she commandeered her family’s Smith-Corona typewriter back in the sixth grade. Her work includes paranormal romance, fantasy romance, and science fiction/space opera romance. The Land of Enchantment cast its spell on her while she was researching the Djinn Wars series, and she now makes her home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.