Bryony and Roses

Bryony, one of three daughters of a broke and deceased merchant, gets lost in the woods during a snowstorm. She finds refuge in an abandoned mansion with a way to the perfect rose garden – but finds that the house is a sentient being and full of dark magic that won't let her go. She seems to lose her mind slowly being captured in this creepy sentient house. Is the beast living in the house her captor or a fellow prisoner? Is the house a friend or an enemy? And what is the most important question for the gardener Bryony: Why do the roses in the house bloom outside the season? Can she uncover the secrets of this place before they destroy her? Bryony is an active protagonist, quick-witted, and interesting. The Beast is sarcastic and charming - and you empathize so much with how the protagonist falls in love with him. And the horror in this book is real. I was in raptures. I couldn't put the book down until I discovered all the secrets of this dark place with the protagonist. A marvelous and gripping horror retelling of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale. Ursula Vernon just knows how to captivate you with mysteries and show you your worst fears.