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A Curse of Roses Kindle Edition
There's a famine plaguing the land, and Princess Yzabel is wasting food simply by trying to eat. Before she can even swallow, her magic--her curse--has turned her meal into a bouquet. She's on the verge of starving, which only reminds her that the people of Portugal have been enduring the same pain.
If only it were possible to reverse her magic. Then she could turn flowers...into food.
Fatyan, a beautiful Enchanted Moura, is the only one who can help. But she is trapped by magical binds. She can teach Yzabel how to control her curse--if Yzabel sets her free with a kiss.
As the King of Portugal's betrothed, Yzabel would be committing treason, but what good is a king if his country has starved to death?
With just one kiss, Fatyan is set free. And with just one kiss, Yzabel is yearning for more.
She'd sought out Fatyan to help her save the people. Now, loving her could mean Yzabel's destruction.
Based on Portuguese legend, this #OwnVoices historical fantasy is an epic tale of mystery, magic, and making the impossible choice between love and duty...
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherEntangled: Teen
- Publication dateDecember 1, 2020
- Reading age14 - 18 years
- Grade level10 - 12
- File size2427 KB
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Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Review
"This immersive, richly imagined queer love story set in medieval Portugal is guaranteed to enchant. A skillful weaving of history and mythology, Pinguicha will leave you rooting for her two headstrong heroines, brought together by fate but separated by duty and the prejudices of their world." - Ellen Goodlett, author of the Ruleseries
"Brimming with heart, A Curse of Roses is magical, romantic, and impossible to put down.Yzabel and Fatyan's love story will enchant you from the first page to the last. I loved it!" - Meredith Tate, author of The Last Confession of Autumn Casterly
"Pinguicha writes with such texture, creating an exquisitely detailed and vibrant world, full of color and energy. Yzabel and Fatyan are real and complicated characters, both vulnerable and strong in their own ways, reaching across time and space to find one another and to fight for a love that seems as impossible as it is inevitable." - Emma Berquist, author of Devils Unto Dust and Missing, Presumed Dead
"A rich and captivating retelling of the legend of a Medieval saint, Pinguicha's debut gripped me from its first page. An utter delight to read -- meticulously researched, refreshingly queer and sharp as thorns!" -- Julia Ember, author ofRuinsong and The Seafarer's Kiss.
"Suspense, romance, compelling characters, and a unique setting make A Curse of Roses a strong addition to the growing body of folktale retellings for teen and crossover readers." - Lyn Miller-Lachmann, The Pirate Tree
"A Curse of Roses belongs in every public high school media center, and in the hands of every parent who questions how to help their child accept the love and gifts that are out there waiting for them. Beyond that, it is a tale rife with magic and intrigue, and even one almost spicy love scene, for those more interested in reading just for fun." -Lit Buzz
"Full to the brim with gorgeous prose, A Curse of Roses is a mesmerizing take on a tale interwoven into Portuguese culture. The writing is BEAUTIFUL, so so stunning. The way that magic is described is both very visual and incredibly poetic. Brilliant. And entirely significant." -The Paperback Collector
"The characters were remarkably developed. I also really enjoyed Pinguicha's writing, which is beautiful and pleasing to read." -Valentina C., NetGalley
"A tightly woven sapphic story of a young princess trying her best to help her people, while finding love for the first time." -A Cup of Cyanide
"A beautiful tale of century long curses and people using any means available to them to ensure they experience some happiness in life. It's a wonderful story of a lesbian learning to accept herself, enriched by magic and roses." -Reading Peaches
"What an unexpected GEM! It took me a few pages to understand what an incredible story this would turn out to be, and I'm so glad because I LOVED IT. The narrative is so well written, the description of places, people.. FOOD was page turning, and you bet I kept reading! I finished this book in less than two days!" -Ellie's Infinite Books
"A really unexpected mind blowing read! I don't know what I was expecting from this story but I was swept away by this enchanting story." -Olivia E., NetGalley
"What a well crafted story with beautiful, developed characters who stay true to themselves the whole time. You'll want to read this is you love sapphic fantasy!" -Brittany Z., NetGalley
About the Author
Diana Pinguicha was born and raised in the sunny lands of Portugal. A computer engineer graduate who currently lives in Lisbon, she can usually be found writing, painting, devouring extraordinary quantities of books and video games, or walking around with her bearded dragon, Norbert. She also has two cats, Sushi and Jubas, who would never forgive her if she didn't mention them.
Rebecca Mozo is a voice artist and an actress best known for her performances in the films Zerophilia, Headless Horseman, and Pizza Time, as well as roles in such television series as Modern Family and Kittens in a Cage. A two-time Ovation Award nominee, she is a member of the Antaeus Company in North Hollywood, California.
Product details
- ASIN : B0893STH7L
- Publisher : Entangled: Teen (December 1, 2020)
- Publication date : December 1, 2020
- Language : English
- File size : 2427 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Not Enabled
- Sticky notes : On Kindle Scribe
- Print length : 326 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #819,292 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Born in the sunny lands of Portugal, Diana is a Computer Engineer graduate who currently calls Lisbon home. She can usually be found writing, painting, devouring extraordinary quantities of books and video games, or walking around with her bearded dragon, Norberta. She also has two cats, Sushi and Jubas, who would never forgive her if she didn’t mention them.
Customer reviews
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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From the beginning- Yzabel’s relationship, or should I say arrangement, with Denis was intriguing. He seemed so patient and kind, yet it seemed like she still had doubts about him. My love for Brites, her wisdom, and her wits is infinite. Although I truly think the star of the show is the Moura, Fatyan. While Yzabel’s strength gives us the greatest parts of the novel (hell yeah for badass women MC’s), Fatyan’s ability to be unapologetically herself really shines. The way she teaches Yzabel to grow into herself and her desires is such a beautiful arc. I also really enjoyed the full arc of Denis and how understanding he truly was. It was a little surprising.
What a well crafted story with beautiful, developed characters who stay true to themselves the whole time. You’ll want to read this is you love sapphic fantasy!
Thank you NetGalley & Entangled Teen for the arc and allowing me to write an honest review.
Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2020
From the beginning- Yzabel’s relationship, or should I say arrangement, with Denis was intriguing. He seemed so patient and kind, yet it seemed like she still had doubts about him. My love for Brites, her wisdom, and her wits is infinite. Although I truly think the star of the show is the Moura, Fatyan. While Yzabel’s strength gives us the greatest parts of the novel (hell yeah for badass women MC’s), Fatyan’s ability to be unapologetically herself really shines. The way she teaches Yzabel to grow into herself and her desires is such a beautiful arc. I also really enjoyed the full arc of Denis and how understanding he truly was. It was a little surprising.
What a well crafted story with beautiful, developed characters who stay true to themselves the whole time. You’ll want to read this is you love sapphic fantasy!
Thank you NetGalley & Entangled Teen for the arc and allowing me to write an honest review.
It will definitely appeal to queer religious people who are looking for solace when others in their faith try to use their texts against them and those who enjoy historical retellings (with magic!). The author has a note at the end about her experience with the setting of this novel, and I definitely felt her passion to tell this story and make it her own.
The only nitpick I have is I don’t think that people in this time period understood as much about the spread of disease as the characters in the book do, but since it is fantasy and not just a historical I’ll let that slide.
She has tried self-flagellation and physical pain as methods to keep the curse at bay, but it seems to only be getting worse. When her maid suggests she seeks a Moura, Yzabel takes the chance, hoping that magical Moura will grant her wish of removing the curse. Once she finds the Moura, Fatyan, she explains that a cure is not so simple. However, she promises to help her if Yzabel helps to break her curse - with a kiss. Yzabel is torn about this sacrilegious act, but she ultimately kisses her, feeling things that cause increasing inner turmoil.
What I loved: This is a really intense story with a lot of inner struggle. The beginning is a little scattered, but it begins to really take shape about a third of the way through. The themes are dark but intriguing. There is a lot about acceptance of LGBT individuals and the struggles they face for living their truths. There are also intriguing discussions and symbolism around morality and religion. Yzabel learns from Fatyan that her curse could be viewed differently by different perspectives as well as that the interpretations of religious texts are not as simple as she had thought. The lens through which magic (or miracles) and religion is viewed matters.
What left me wanting more: As many of the struggles are internal, I wanted to hear more of Yzabel's changes and how she comes to terms with herself and her own truths - I think this would have been even better in a first person story to really get immersed into Yzabel's mindset and thoughts. As a small point, the beginning felt a bit scattered, and it was hard to find my footing in the story with different magic, plagues, and so on. This was a small point, as it really firmed up later in the story, and the ending was strong.
Final verdict: Intense and with intriguing themes, A CURSE OF ROSES is a fascinating, dark YA historical fantasy. Recommend for fans of THE GILDED WOLVES, GIRLS OF PAPER AND FIRE, and BEYOND THE RUBY VEIL.
Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.