Book Review & Author Guest Post: Briar Rose by Jana Oliver
Author: Jana Oliver
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books
Published: September 2013
Rating: ★★★★★
Format: Paperback
My Copy: I received a copy of this novel from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
About the Book:
she’s living one. Doomed to fall asleep for one hundred years on her sixteenth
birthday, Briar has woken up in the darkest, most twisted fairy tale she could
ever have dreamed of – miles away from the safe, boring small-town life that she
has left behind. Briar must fight her way out of the story, but she can’t do it
alone. She always believed in handsome princes, and now she’s met one her only
chance is to put her life in his hands, or there will be no happy ever after and
no waking up . . .
Book Review:
First before I start typing the review can I just mention how utterly beautiful the cover of Briar Rose actually is.. It’s breath taking! 🙂
The thing I love most about the authors creations is she writes kick assing lead heroines! This may be “a dark and twisty re-telling of Sleeping Beauty” as the author describes it but hell has more chance of freezing over before Jana Oliver writes about the “princess” being saved by her “prince” then ride off together in the sunset after he fights a terrifying dragon and she prances about in a pretty dress… Uh huh! So not gonna happen!
So what exactly does this book entail? Lets just say Briar Rose is NOT going to sit back and watch her life pass by while waiting for a prince to rescue her… She’s going to fight instead! (In true Jana Oliver style!)
The authors writing is magically obsessive. She creates a world you can’t forget and writes her books a way your unable to put them down. Being honest I was worried I wouldn’t enjoy this book as much as her Demon Trappers series but I am so thrilled I took the plunge to read it.. or more like THANK YOU Macmillan for sending it and possibly publishing the best YA read of 2013! 😉
I love Briar, Joshua, Reena, Ruric, and even Pat, who proved people can change if given half a chance.
There’s only one problem towards the authors writing which I will always tell her.. She writes in such a way it leaves readers literally craving more! 🙂
Briar Rose
Nicole Beharie is my pick for the sassy Reena Hill. Her acting experience is impressive and she’s really pretty.
Joshua Quinn
Devon Bostick has the dreamy ‘Joshua look’ I was hoping for. He’s a talented young actor with a number of television shows and movies to his credit.
Paul Butcher, who also has a number of TV shows and movies in his resume.
Ruric
This one was easy: fate ensured that I met the perfect actor during my time in Australia at SupaNova. Eoin Macken (best known for his role as Gwaine on Merlin) is my pick for Ruric. He has boyishness to him, a rich sense of humor, but can be a badass when he needs to be. And of course, he’s a very talented actor. Hands down, this Irish gent would make a great Ruric (and he already knows how to ride a horse and wield a sword!) LOL
The Regent
Given the way this tyrant presents herself, you wouldn’t see the actress behind her mask for much of the movie. That requires incredible talent to pull off and I’m thinking Claudia Black has the range to handle the role if her work from Stargate and Farscape are any indication. And her rich, throaty voice would be ideal.
OR
Oh, thank you! It has been a big challenge to follow up on the Demon Trappers since so many folks were in love with Riley and Beck. My editor's suggestion to write a "dark and twisty" fairytale retelling was just perfect. I had the joy of writing something completely different. So glad you enjoyed it!