A Ruin of Roses (Deliciously Dark Fairytales Book 1)

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Note: the seven deadly sins are: pride, greed, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth. Lust seems to be the only one is provoked by the demons.

She was just fourteen, the age I’d been when I narrowly survived the beast only to lose Nana anyway. My nerve snapped. I clutched the books to my chest as though they would protect me—classic bookworm reaction—and hurried home. After that, the survivors—desperate, enraged, and frightened—set out for the castle. They carried pitchforks and bows, spears and torches, intent on demanding their freedom.Or that was how it clearly thought its ruse would go. Except all knew that in the Forbidden Wood, it was everyone for themselves. There were no do-gooders here. That thing could go on screaming for all I cared. That would at least prevent it from sneaking up on me. The scary thing was that I had no idea when I’d moved or how I’d gotten there. Neither of those things had registered. It was like someone else had assumed control of my movements. Control of me. But at the same time, I remembered thinking those dirty words. Remembered wanting to act on them. Remembered feeling the ache in my core at the filthy, delicious thoughts. A wall of brush waited up ahead. Two trees crossed within it, creating a narrow opening between the thorns. I took a chance and dashed between them. You know what I mean.” I recited it as if to a dunce. “Maybe she’d be your true mate if the curse hadn’t suppressed all our animals, and we could actually function like real shifters.” Before I could, the strange weight in my chest lurched. Lava spilled out and dripped down to my sodden core. I couldn’t stop a moan as an intimate presence feathered across my skin, as though someone were physically touching me with silky fingers.

I read many romance sub-genres, so I wasn’t too worried about the wilder, kinky aspects I was told this series would contain, but honestly, this first book was rather tame. Yes, we get a few glimpses at some of the weird and (possibly not so) wonderful things the castle inhabitants are into, but it really is only a passing glimpse. A Ruin of Roses is more geared towards setting the stage for the story to come. We learn the world, the people, the plot (which yes, seems to differ a little from what you might expect). I absolutely fell into this story. With her usual skill, Breene creates not only a story you need to keep reading, but a place you can picture, a cast you feel emotionally connected to and a journey you feel invested in. That’s only because we’re down to the weak everlass leaves. As soon as the spring comes it’ll be better, Hannon, you’ll see. I’ll find a cure for him. He won’t join Nana and Mommy in the beyond. He won’t. I will find a cure. It must exist.” That’s it! Nothing more than that for the blunt lines of similarities. Although there might be some singing somewhere in the book, and some form of dancing, but we’re not in the Disney realm of either, thank the Maker!Well, yeah. There is one person in all of the magical world meant for us? And they have to be the same type of shifter, same overall power level, and same general age… Lots of ‘ands.’ But it is doable, or else we wouldn’t have a name for it. Besides, Daphne is very pretty and very willing. I know how you like them curves, too.” I closed my eyes as my heart stuttered. Every nerve ending was pinging with electricity. Adrenaline had flooded my system. After a while, a yawn took hold of me, and I bumped my head against the tree, feeling a wave of fatigue. Hopefully tonight I could catch up on some sleep. It was nearly time to go hunting again, and I’d need my stamina to face down those asshole boars. I was one of the only people in the village who routinely took on those beasts, but they had the best and most meat. It was worth the risk. What was that?” Hannon asked, his temperament far sweeter than mine, though that wasn’t much of an accomplishment. I’d set the bar pretty low.

Walking would be a lot slower and not much quieter. The alternative to walking was to stand my ground with a half-starved body from years of barely getting by and a medium-sized, somewhat dull dagger. Nice odds. Finley harvested the plants at night and had a close call with the Beast when she was 14. She is now in her 20s and trying to keep her father alive, and is captured by the Beast while hunting the plant. Of course, he takes her to his castle for stealing from the forest, and this is where it gets weird.

That beast inside of you is going to get you into trouble,” he said. “You need to learn to control it.” Tears welled up in my eyes, but I didn’t give in to them. To save my family, I’d do anything, including running blindly toward the Forbidden Wood so it would chase me. So that my family could get out. The edge of my dagger slid against the hard leather of its sheath hanging from my hip. I stepped lightly and carefully, aiming for springing ground and avoiding anything that might snap or crinkle. It was easy now, still in the village. Once I passed that tree line, it would be a whole lot harder. A whole lot deadlier. Crying now, unable to help it, I kept going, getting onto my hands and knees and crawling. Dense foliage covered me overhead. Thorns ripped at my flesh. I continued to crawl, now on elbows and knees.