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Bellarose
Join Bellarose in the adventure of a lifetime as she finds a magical library—one that turns books into portals that lead to a world of fantasy where she becomes a character inside each story.
Instead of visiting familiar tales as old as time, the classic stories each have a new twist. Characters will crossover in new retellings—with Aerowyn the Enchantress manipulating it all.
In this short four chapter prequel to The Aerowyn Tales, get ready to enter a world of magic like none you’ve ever seen before.
Instead of visiting familiar tales as old as time, the classic stories each have a new twist. Characters will crossover in new retellings—with Aerowyn the Enchantress manipulating it all.
In this short four chapter prequel to The Aerowyn Tales, get ready to enter a world of magic like none you’ve ever seen before.
35 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2020
About the author
Carla Reighard
19 books24 followersFollow me if you’re bold enough to read fairy tales & brave enough to believe in redemption—or if you like cats
#TheAerowynTales #EllesMagicalShoes #YAFantasy #MGFantasy
#TheAerowynTales #EllesMagicalShoes #YAFantasy #MGFantasy
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 3, 2020
Since finding out about this series that is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast (with a Gaston!), I just knew I would be reading it! This book is the prequel that sets the scene for Bellarose and her soon-to-be adventure.
When it comes to prequels, sometimes they can be a miss for me just because they are very short and it doesn’t always give me enough. But, this was a great prequel and made me even more curious when it comes to book one. Oh the pain of cliffhangers!
The plot is very reminiscent of the original tale for Belle when it comes to her family. I liked the nod to it. I also enjoyed the reference to Mean Girls because that movie is amazing! There is also a magical library that gives you what you want as long as it can be found within the pages of a book that is in that library. I’m going to need one of those libraries, asap.
Overall, I am really liking these characters so far. They are fun and Gerard is just over the top! Can’t wait to see what book one has in store for me!
When it comes to prequels, sometimes they can be a miss for me just because they are very short and it doesn’t always give me enough. But, this was a great prequel and made me even more curious when it comes to book one. Oh the pain of cliffhangers!
The plot is very reminiscent of the original tale for Belle when it comes to her family. I liked the nod to it. I also enjoyed the reference to Mean Girls because that movie is amazing! There is also a magical library that gives you what you want as long as it can be found within the pages of a book that is in that library. I’m going to need one of those libraries, asap.
Overall, I am really liking these characters so far. They are fun and Gerard is just over the top! Can’t wait to see what book one has in store for me!
March 19, 2022
Quick Read
How can I get a library that summons snacks and lets me step into books to explore the stories?
This is a quick read with some fun ideas to introduce you to the characters in the series as well as the author's writing style.
How can I get a library that summons snacks and lets me step into books to explore the stories?
This is a quick read with some fun ideas to introduce you to the characters in the series as well as the author's writing style.
August 6, 2020
This prequel was a quick and easy read! I love the idea of a magical library that grants wishes and takes its readers into the book’s fantasy world. I enjoyed some of the references to things in our world, such as Mean Girls and Leonardo da Vinci. I also thought it was hilarious when Layney told Bellarose her name sounded like something from a book. I’m excited to see where the book Gerard will go because it is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. This prequel finished on a cliffhanger, so I am eager to read the next book!
June 29, 2020
I was very surprised to get this recommended in my Nook for free - I thought it was a B&N promotion.
Upon reading it, I found that it was a very short story - a couple of chapters at best. I kinda felt cheated because I thought it was going to be a full story and yet apparently this is a prequel.
It was nicely written and the story held promise but now I won't find out. Oh well.
Upon reading it, I found that it was a very short story - a couple of chapters at best. I kinda felt cheated because I thought it was going to be a full story and yet apparently this is a prequel.
It was nicely written and the story held promise but now I won't find out. Oh well.
July 6, 2020
I knew going into this that it was a short story. I love the modern take on beauty and the beast with the Gaston twist. I also need one of those magical libraries. Highly recommend for anyone who loves the old classic tales with a twist.
January 14, 2021
As the prequel to The Aerowyn Tales, Bellarose is probably more accurately the prologue to Gerard. It’s a rags to riches story in reverse. Bellarose is a young woman from a wealthy family, until her family loses it’s wealth and is forced to move. Struggling with suddenly being poor, Bellarose unexpectedly makes a new friend, one who introduces her to an incredible library full of magic and waiting adventures.
I’ve been following Carla Reighard on Instagram for some time and have always loved how she takes fairy tales and mythology and makes them her own. Beauty and the Beast, the Disney version, was always one of my favorites even though the Beast scared me silly when I was 5, but I think it has to do with the library. When I learned an incredible magical library exists in Bellarose, I knew I had to start with The Aerowyn Tales.
Bellarose is a typical rich girl who has only to demand to receive. But, even in this short book, there’s something redeeming about her. There’s a kind streak to her and she manages to be befriended by Layney, a girl in the apartment complex her family now lives in. Layney introduces her to a couple of young men who live in the same complex and attend the same school Bellarose will be starting at, Gerard and Jasper. And an incredible magical library where the reader is sucked into the story.
Honestly, I think I spaced out through half of this story because I kept daydreaming about going to the library myself while my brain kept reading. But it really is a short story, so it’s both quick to read and re-read.
Since Bellarose is so short, it’s difficult to get a real sense of the characters, but they seemed fun and interesting. It’s also difficult to get a sense of story other than a girl becomes poor and is introduced to a magical library, but Reighard notes Bellarose is meant to give readers a taste of her writing and the story to come. It definitely reads more like a prologue, but, after also reading the first book in the series, I’m actually quite glad it was kept separate as Gerard is quite a different kind of story.
I’ve been following Carla Reighard on Instagram for some time and have always loved how she takes fairy tales and mythology and makes them her own. Beauty and the Beast, the Disney version, was always one of my favorites even though the Beast scared me silly when I was 5, but I think it has to do with the library. When I learned an incredible magical library exists in Bellarose, I knew I had to start with The Aerowyn Tales.
Bellarose is a typical rich girl who has only to demand to receive. But, even in this short book, there’s something redeeming about her. There’s a kind streak to her and she manages to be befriended by Layney, a girl in the apartment complex her family now lives in. Layney introduces her to a couple of young men who live in the same complex and attend the same school Bellarose will be starting at, Gerard and Jasper. And an incredible magical library where the reader is sucked into the story.
Honestly, I think I spaced out through half of this story because I kept daydreaming about going to the library myself while my brain kept reading. But it really is a short story, so it’s both quick to read and re-read.
Since Bellarose is so short, it’s difficult to get a real sense of the characters, but they seemed fun and interesting. It’s also difficult to get a sense of story other than a girl becomes poor and is introduced to a magical library, but Reighard notes Bellarose is meant to give readers a taste of her writing and the story to come. It definitely reads more like a prologue, but, after also reading the first book in the series, I’m actually quite glad it was kept separate as Gerard is quite a different kind of story.
November 17, 2023
This book is a super short (just four chapters) prequel that serves as an introduction to the author’s series, The Aerowyn Tales, which is a collection of fairytale retellings.
I’ve been following Carla Reighard for some time now on Instagram and have been meaning to read her books, so yay for finally getting around to it! And now is really a great time to read this little book, as it’s set during Christmas.
BellaRose is the main character in this reverse rags to riches story. She’s a young teenager, an only child, and has lived a lavish life of luxury, until one day when her world is turned upside down when her parents lose their wealth and she must adapt to a new way of life.
She meets a new friend who introduces her to a magical library where the stories literally pull you in and the magic begins! I won’t say more because I don’t want to drop any spoilers, but I will say you need to go ahead and have the first book in the series, Gerard, available because this prequel drops you right into his story and you will want to continue!
This prequel is available as a free kindle download, as well as available for purchase in paperback format on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
And yes, I’ve already bought the ebook version of Gerard and have started reading it, and I already know that I want physical copies for my shelves!
I’ve been following Carla Reighard for some time now on Instagram and have been meaning to read her books, so yay for finally getting around to it! And now is really a great time to read this little book, as it’s set during Christmas.
BellaRose is the main character in this reverse rags to riches story. She’s a young teenager, an only child, and has lived a lavish life of luxury, until one day when her world is turned upside down when her parents lose their wealth and she must adapt to a new way of life.
She meets a new friend who introduces her to a magical library where the stories literally pull you in and the magic begins! I won’t say more because I don’t want to drop any spoilers, but I will say you need to go ahead and have the first book in the series, Gerard, available because this prequel drops you right into his story and you will want to continue!
This prequel is available as a free kindle download, as well as available for purchase in paperback format on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
And yes, I’ve already bought the ebook version of Gerard and have started reading it, and I already know that I want physical copies for my shelves!
December 5, 2021
Bellarose is a very short prequel story of the Aerowyn Tales taking place in the present with a mere 4 chapters and 39 pages. It leads straight into Gerard which takes place during the American Revolutionary War. I’m glad I read Bellarose first as it laid the foundation so to speak. The story is so brief that there isn’t much character development…skin and bones mostly.
We meet Bellarose, once a rich girl; but now not, there’s Layney, a new friend who has taken Bellarose under her wing, Gerard who is very much full of himself and Quinn who only wants to be a friend. The story is the bridge between two worlds and the getting ready for the real story. This is a story of magic the like none other. That ending! It blew me away. Reighard sets the reader on a precipice. Good thing I had Gerard at the ready!
We meet Bellarose, once a rich girl; but now not, there’s Layney, a new friend who has taken Bellarose under her wing, Gerard who is very much full of himself and Quinn who only wants to be a friend. The story is the bridge between two worlds and the getting ready for the real story. This is a story of magic the like none other. That ending! It blew me away. Reighard sets the reader on a precipice. Good thing I had Gerard at the ready!
July 8, 2020
This books was promoted as a prequel story, a finished story, but it turned out to just be the first couple chapters of another book.
Not one I will be reading.
Not only is this really cheap way to get readers, but it's a great way to make readers blacklist you. Even if the writing was good - it was not. It was flat - and the characters interesting. They were empty- they were not - and the author actually had visited an European historical library before describing them - doesn't seem like she has - I wouldn't buy the rest of this book/series because of the little "prequel" trick.
I like the cover, tho.
Not one I will be reading.
Not only is this really cheap way to get readers, but it's a great way to make readers blacklist you. Even if the writing was good - it was not. It was flat - and the characters interesting. They were empty- they were not - and the author actually had visited an European historical library before describing them - doesn't seem like she has - I wouldn't buy the rest of this book/series because of the little "prequel" trick.
I like the cover, tho.
December 25, 2023
I love this story! It’s adorable and magical and ends entirely too quickly. (I’ve already bought the next book!) The author has a beautiful way with telling the story and describing the scenes. What we have in Bellarose is any book lover’s dream. And the author has a new fan.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews