Beauty Sleep

Author: Cameron Dokey

Length: ~ 186 pages

Genre: Fantasy (Fairy-tale retelling) 

Heat level: Clean

Stars:  2.5  Somewhere Between Stars 

Book Summary:

The Princess Aurore has had an unusual childhood. Cursed at birth, Aurore is fated to prick her finger at the age of sixteen and sleep for one hundred years — until a prince awakens her with a kiss. So, to protect her, Aurore’s loving parents forbid any task requiring a needle. 

Unable to sew or embroider like most little princesses, Aurore instead explores the castle grounds and beyond, where her warmth and generosity soon endear her to the townspeople. their devotion to the spirited princess grows as she does. 
On her sixteenth birthday, Aurore learns that the impending curse will harm not only her, but the entire kingdom as well. Unwilling to cause suffering, she will embark on a quest to end the evil magic. The princess’s bravery will be rewarded as she finds adventure, enchantment, a handsome prince, and ultimately her destiny.

Review:

So it wasn’t great. It’s a retelling of Sleeping Beauty. We didn’t like not knowing who the main romantic interest was going to be. A love triangle is fine. But make it clear that she’s got to choose between them. When the reader has no idea what’s going on in her head? Yeah not good. Plus there were a lot of coincidences, and definitely not enough challenges. Everything just seemed a little too easy. We like there to be a happy ending but sometimes it’s okay to not be sure whether or not it’ll work out. We kept waiting for a dragon to pop out or something. Didn’t happen. Plus there was a ‘double life’ type twist at the end that really just sort of ruined it. Oh and the main character Aurore – Sleeping Beauty- actually only slept for like 30 seconds. We know right? Come on. It had some cute parts. But we won’t pick it up again. And unless you’re really in a drought of good things to read, don’t get it.