Reviews

The Bear & the Rose by Erin K. Larson-Burnett

seasaltrose's review

emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

monique3's review

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

2.0

"The frost in my blood abates at her enchantress' touch, and I wonder if I've been so warm before. This, I feel, is what it is to be a raindrop permeated by sunlight, bewitched without choice by a sacred warmth." Page 74

"Heroes live for something bigger than themselves. Gods... gods only yearn to be bigger." Page 130

"No, the sound is a feeling. It is my soul made tangible, a deep ocean of emotion conjured in each note. It is a voice I didn't know I had access to, one of truth and shameless asking. It is an invitation to breathe, and a contentment with slowness I've never known. It is an ode to nature- to my nature. / A sound unfathomable. A shifting of the stars." Page 177-178

"And your light has not gone out, Dìomath. Darkness is only a season." Page 235

abbycv's review

adventurous hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

words_and_dreams's review

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Fantasy story set loosely amidst Celtic myth and lore. 
Told through the eyes of Rhoswen, 'the bear slayer' and protector of Hazelfeur. After meeting the mysterious Diomath and after the vengeful Goddess Artio's bears intensify their attacks on the village, Rhoswen seeks to find a way to break the curse. 

I found it to be beautifully written with just the right amount of purple prose. It felt very lyrical at times and read like a fairytale.  The world it was set in was both brutal and beautiful. It was interesting to see such a fierce, strong character such as Rhoswen suffer from anxiety and it was shown in a realistic way that I could definitely relate to. It explores grief, love, death, the cyclic nature of the earth and healing. 
  
 I just wish some of the plot points could
 have been expanded on a little more, like the Puca. What exactly was their deal, their motives? I also didn't buy that Diomath loved Rhoswen, they were very manipulative and did some truly terrible things that they never seemed sorry for or show any remorse over.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Death, and Violence

Minor: Child death and Death of parent

amandareads23's review

DNF at 66%.

I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn’t. While I appreciate an extensive vocabulary as much as the next reader, the writing was far too flowery. Every single noun doesn’t need an adjective to make a sensory impact. But more than that, I found the plot pacing a bit too slow and I just wasn’t vibing with any of the characters. 

ameliakwp's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

100pagesaday's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

 Rhoswen has only ever known life in her village of Hazelfeur where she has earned the title of bearslayer.  Every spring, the villagers are plagued by bears from the nearby woods.  The bears are daughters of Artio, a cursed goddess.  This spring, Rhoswen has decided that the bears have killed their last Hazelfeur resident and she goes into the woods intending to kill Artio herself. However,  Rhoswen encounters a young woman, Diomath, who steals her heart instead.  Now, determined to help Diomath and Hazelfeur, Rhoswen goes on a quest to attain Dagda's harp which has magical properties to change the seasons and put the bears to sleep. Rhoswen's quest tests her in more ways than she knows and gives her knowledge of her heritage as well as the bears.  On her return, the bears are wreaking havoc on Hazelfeur and Rhoswen must decide who she is and who to help. 

The Bear & The Rose is a beautifully told fantasy weaving together Celtic Mythology and romance. From the beginning, Rhoswhen's character and insights gripped me.  I was intrigued by her feelings about her purpose in Hazelfeur, her friend Nathair and the town of Hazelfeur herself.  Rhoswhen struggled with her purpose in life and in the town as well as in her own life.  As she discovers the truths of the forest and her heritage, Rhoswen's understanding of herself and the world changes, challenging everything she knows.  The writing style is a lyrical prose creating a genuine and emotional journey full of self discovery and insight.  With a fairy tale worthy romance, touches of magic and a satisfying conclusion, The Bear & The Rose is a wonderful story of hope and purpose. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

mockingbear's review

adventurous reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

3.5

oxfordcommaenthusiast's review

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

adearajean's review

Did not care about the characters. Had too many made up words for their culture, creatures, etc that I couldn't keep track of.