"An ambitious, deeply insightful, diversely queer, literary fantasy novella."
"...a tale that is as much about the nature of love as anything else. It’s also about abuse, and cycles of abuse, and how women can break them working together."
"Beauty and the Beast has always been a story about looking beyond appearances (among other themes), but this version extends that far beyond the original scope. Neither Alys nor Grace nor even the rosebush are what they originally appear. While there is a romantic relationship, it’s not the one you expect. Not everyone earns forgiveness, or a happily ever after."
"This book flew past every expectation that I had of it. It stunned me with how powerfully it tied me to these characters and I absolutely loved it."
"Jones’s prose has a light, lyrical touch perfectly suited for this story and subject."
"The prose was quite magical and captivating. Right from the beginning, I was enchanted (pun intended), and wanted to know more, to read more I ended up reading this book in one sitting, start to finish. Didn't even take breaks."
"I was first sucked in by the beautiful world Jones created. Everything has a plushness with an underlying fragility. Every page was a new exploration into a complicated set of characters and a world where magic felt so real I could practically smell the roses."
"In this book, the author does a great job of portraying the exhaustion and lack of space that can be caused by a toxic relationship: the way someone has to be pacified, the emotional energy that goes into keeping them pleased, the constant, unrelenting, but not overtly cruel encroachment into one's personal time, space, and agency."
"...twists and turns that will have you second guessing your instincts, without completely deviating from the bones of the story."
"The writing is gorgeous and moody."