Customer Reviews
Rosy yet empty - By: E. A Solinas, 07 Mar 2007 
I guess there's a reason why authors rarely retell the same story twice -- it's not going to be as good one of those times. Sadly this is the case with "Rose Daughter," Robin McKinley's second adaptation of the traditional Beauty & the Beast fairy tale. It overflows with pretty images & words, but there doesn't seem to be a lot underneath them.
Beauty's mother died when she was only a tiny child, leaving her with only the memory of roses. Because magicians failed to predict her mother's deathin a riding accident, her father turned against magic completely, even though it ruined his business. Then one of his ships turns up again. When the father asks his daughters what they want, Beauty only asks for a rose.
But that rose comes with a price -- her father takes it from the garden of a strange Beast, who demands that Beauty be sent to his palace. Beauty goes voluntarily, if reluctantly. But she finds that the Beast is actually peaceful & gentle, & asks her to marry him regularly. So, of course, Beauty must unravel the curse that keeps him a Beast.
Robin McKinley started her career with "Beauty," a version of "Beauty & the Beast" that let us see Beauty not as a vapid victim, but as a strong, intelligent young woman. The problem with "Rose Daughter" is simple: It runs along a lot of the same story tracks, & adds nothing except a few pretty turns of phrase & some peculiar subplots that lead nowhere.
Her writing is truly exquisite -- McKinley definitely has a way with descriptions & evocation. "Rose Daughter" is verbally lush as few fantasy books successfully are. If there had been a plot to go with it, then this might have been a worthy classic.
Unfortunately, it's a thin retread of the fairy tale, with few new twists & turns; the flower theme is virtually McKinley's only new addition to B&B lore. There are quite a few moments which seem lifted from McKinley's debut, such as the Beast repeatedly asking Beauty to marry him. Both of the lead characters are almost absurdly thin; the Beast never develops a personality, & Beauty never shows a single strong or recognizable feeling. She drifts through like an emotional ghost.
"Rose Daughter" could have been an intriguing, lush look at the traditional fairy tale; instead it feels like an overstretched "Beauty Redux." McKinley's prose is exceptional, but everything else fades away.
For any one who love's romantic fanticy, read this book. - By: , 08 Feb 2006 
Rose daughter is one of the most beautiful books I've very read.
This vertion of the well known tale of beauty & the beast is a wonderfully expressed tale, filled with dark shadows of dreams, family bones & true love.
The herowine Beauty is forced to change & adapted to new world, all because the loyalty & love she feels for her friends & family.
For any one who loves & romantic fairy tale.
It was great - but... - By: , 20 Nov 2003 
For the majority of this novel I was stunned by it's maturity & interest, & believable characters.
However, when I got towards the end I lost interest. The descriptions became too long, the end was confusing & abrupt, & that disappointed me a little.
However, it was a good reworking of Beauty & the Beast. I'd recommend it.
I don't understand what there is to criticise! - By: Ms. S. Hogan, 09 Apr 2002 I was utterly absorbed & enchanted by this novel, & greatly preferred it to the author's earlier work, Beauty (which is also a retelling of the Beaty & the Beast legend). Whilst several of the other reviewers seem to have felt that it lacked charm of the earlier work, I personally found Rose Daughter to be intelligent, magical & above all, excellently written. Whilst the herione of this novel is certainly not as tom-boyish as that of the earlier work, I feel that her quality of gentleness makes her a refreshing character. In the past, I'll admit, it was usual for female protagonists to be dull & lady-like, but nowadays the "spunky" herione is just as much of a cliche. The herione of this work is a full character, not a stereotype, & so has a MIXTURE of "old-fashioned" & "modern" character traits.
I also found the ending to "Rose Daughter" supremely satisfying, since I had often wished that the story had an end which justified the moral of the story better. Robin McKinley's writing is always good, but this is my favourite of her books, apart perhaps from "Deerskin".
Perhaps the essential difference between "Rose Daughter" & "Beauty" is that "Rose Daughter" has a more mature tone, which is closer to that of "Deerskin", & whilst it may disappoint those who read "Beauty" many years ago, & who hoped unreasonably that "Rose Daughter" would be an extension or enlargement the earlier story, I found the overal effect enchanting.
The dream-like quality of the writing gives it a sense of half-hidden purposes & meanings, whilst the diffencein timings between outside & inside the beast's territory only adds to beauty & intensity of the developing love between the girl & the beast.
Frankly, I am at a loss to understand the criticism this book has recieved from other reviewers, & I would highly recommend this book to almost any reader.
Brilliant! Better than Beauty!! - By: sarah@cat-city.fsnet.co.uk, 01 May 2001 I thought that the magic & the connection that Beauty has with the garden are amazing & made this story exciting & wonderful to read. I recommend it to anyone who loves Robin McKinley's work.
