Goddess of the Rose

Title: Goddess of the Rose
Author: P.C. Cast
Series: Goddess Summoning (Book 4)
Genre: Romance


The Goddess Summoning Series is books that are based on fairy tales. Goddess of the Rose is based loosely on Beauty and the Beast. I thought it was interesting that the dedication page said, "This book is for everyone who fell in love with the Beast, and then was truly disappointed when he turned into a handsome prince."

Mikado Empousai is a single woman who has a hard time finding someone to date. She loves her roses and feeds them her blood to keep them healthy and one of a kind. After a date gone wrong she is wandering around a Rose Garden where she volunteers when through a series of events is transported to another realm, where she is celebrated. Mikki has been entrusted with the "job" of keeping all of the roses of her new realm alive and happy. It is a pretty sweet job, except for the whole sacrificing yourself thing.

The Guardian (the Beast, Asterius) is exactly what his title suggests. He keeps the bad things away from the realm and helps Mikki in her work. He was recently freed after a long imprisonment. He had fallen in love (so he thought) with the previous Empoisa and helped her escape so she didn't have to be sacrificed. He has paid his toll but is afraid of getting close to Mikki. Unfortunately for him, Mikki has other ideas.

I felt like this was a beautiful story. Very far from Beauty and the Beast, but beautiful none the less. I love Mikki trying to break through all of the Asterius's walls and defenses as well as learning about the Dream Weavers. I really felt for Asterius throughout the story and felt as if he was a much better version of "the Beast"