Sleeping Beauty No More (Fantasy Romance, #2) by Aisha Urooj

Sleeping Beauty No More (Fantasy Romance, #2) Reviews

• 
  Jordan

  Sleeping Beauty No More is the second book I’ve read from Aisha Urooj, and I’ve got to say, this one is my favorite! I love retellings, and Urooj took quite a turn of events in this book. As the title suggests, Aurora wakes up after pricking her finger on the spindle and being cursed. BUT, she didn’t wake because of true love’s kiss. Thinking back to the Disney movie, I was wondering where the prince was…
  
  I did not see his situation coming! What a jaw drop!
  
  Urooj takes us on an adventure as Aurora tries to take back control of her kingdom and defeat the witch. With new characters about, we get plenty of new interactions, settings, and drama.
  
  Sleeping Beauty No More is a quick and easy book to read. I think it could become a favorite for young children in grade school. As I was reading, I thought that if I had a daughter, this is something I think she’d enjoy.
  
• 
  E.G. Manetti

  Dnf'd. Young adult (16 & 17) retelling based on the Disney cartoon. Not my cuppa.
• 
  Hailey Sky

  This pacing is so fast it could win the Indy 500.
• 
  Ilona Nurmela

  Too MG for me, but fans of Disney’s Rapunzel & Sleeping Beauty might like this
  
  Take Disney’s Rapunzel, substitute with Sleeping Beauty, adjust for middle grade and you have it - the tower, the thief, the forest travels, the band of friends, it’s all there. There was a fun sprinkle of Arthurian Morgana in there to add a touch of darkness, but all too sweet and in one word: innocent.
  
  Aurora wakes up after 100 years passed and realizes her prince never came. She finds a rogue in her tower and sets out to find how things stand and why noone came looking. Ofc, things are not what they seem with the rogue and there’s some adventure, battling the evil witch and an overabundcance of HEAs. Even one of the villains gets a full pardon. I roll my eyes.
  
  Not my cuppa as too middle grade (lower YA), which I simply can’t read without rolling my eyes as the dialogue comebacks are lower teens and the coming of age realisations are emotionately too glossed over. I liked that the girl was no damsel to be saved, rather it was the dude in distress trope. I didn’t like all the name recognition drops - Xander reference to Buffy, Rivendale reference to Rivendell, Morgan and Mortimer links to Arthur, Circle reference to Round Table but strangely also to Kingsman 2 - maybe that’s just me and my overactive brain and I’m seeing things that are not there; I also suspect some readers will find these references (that annoyed me) charming. I liked the hints at a mashup retelling - the apple element the witch used as punishment and another apple bite by another character made me hope for a Snow White inclusion, but not in this story. There was also a hint at a diverse relationship between support cast, but at the very end, thrown in as almost an afterthought. Loved the use of Portuguese as a magical language, though. I really would have liked to have seen a deeper emotional side for the main characters; as it stands it was too PG and too MG for me.
  
  The story flows; the characters are fine; there is action and even a kiss or two or three, but it’s too sweet for me.
  
  Going to go read darker upper YA emotionaldamage books now after all this toothwrecking sweetness.
  
  Recommended for lovers of lower YA (MG middle grade) Disney fairytale retellings, especially Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel where the story line emulates the Disney movies.
• 
  Cassie Driggs

  This was far better than I expected it to be! I won this through goodreads giveaways and boy I’m glad I did! This brought back so many childhood memories of Sleeping Beauty and the Barbie I had as a little girl. But I love the sun this novel takes where she woke up to an empty kingdom and a random boy sleeping in the corner couch. This is a love story like no other and all the true “once upon a time” kind of ending too.
  I don’t want to give too much away but if you read fairy tales as a child you’ll love this book. It takes you back to a time of kings and queens and prince and princess and a happily ever after… Or is it? ;0P
  
• 
  Purple Dragon Reader

  Unique Twist on the Sleeping Beauty Classic
  
  This is a charming and unique twist on the Sleeping Beauty classic. It's well written with just the right sprinkling of magic and suspense. There are a few spelling and grammar errors, but they don't take away from the plot line that keeps you engaged from beginning to end.
• 
  Anya Josephs

  
  

  Whenever I'm accepting ARCs, I always tell authors: if you write romance, I am probably not the best person for you. I'll read romantic fantasy (I'll read anything that isn't nailed down), but I am not an ideal audience for it, especially if it's not queer.

  
  
  
  
  

  Sleeping Beauty No More doesn't change this preconceived notion for me, but I suspect there's much to appreciate about the book for someone who is a fan of the genre. I found things I enjoyed too! I really liked Devon as a character. He was likable as well as heroic, and he had a great dynamic with Aurora. However, the jealousy dynamic between the two of them felt strained and rather petty (this is one of the things I have a hard time getting behind in romance-focused books). Nonetheless, I was definitely rooting for the couple the whole time!

  
  
  
  
  

  The side-plot with Morgan and Xavier was very compelling, and I wish it had gotten more time in the book. However, my favorite character was Anya, for obvious reasons.

  
  
  
  
  

  Also, Malorna's entrance right near the end was truly kick-ass. A great plot twist, and really well-written. (For the most part, the author's style felt unpolished to me, but this scene was an exception).

  
  
  
  
  

  It was also a cool reimagining of the Sleeping Beauty story. It's a very troubling myth, thematically speaking and in terms of its treatment of women, so it was nice to see it get this reinvention. Urooj definitely succeeded in recasting it as a love story.

  
  
  
  
  

  Other than these things, though, I felt like the book focused on romance to the exclusion of other factors--the worldbuilding was really underdeveloped, most of the characters were hard to tell apart, and the writing style was very simplistic. However, for a reader of fantasy romance, I suspect this would be a great fit!

  
  
  See full review here:
  https://anyajosephs.wordpress.com/202...
• 
  Ellie

  I like to give indie authors a bit of grace when it comes to the polish of their writing cause lord knows I would not do well at editing my own book were I to write one. Unfortunately there were a few too many grammar/syntax errors and holes/lack of support for a statement or action in the book for me to look past. On multiple occasion I found my self being told by the author an action that occurs or what a character is feeling and feeling no umph behind it. On many occasions few to no small actions, seemingly insignificant thoughts, and evidence to make you connect the dots and believe the what the character is feeling or make a significant action feel natural were present. I felt I was constantly just being told that is how it is. I understand not every book is going to be 1000 pages and give depth to every character, but not every character needs to have a relationship or unprecedented action either.
  I was also drivine crazy by how easy the confrontations with the witch and other troubles were, so often the solution just fell into there lap. I’m all for a author placing strokes of luck and easy out of a bad situation once or twice but not for almost every battle. It ooo away the satisfaction and triumph.
  I did truly like the idea of the story just wish it had been given some more depth and refining. Until someone tells me her writing style has grown I will be hesitant to dive into another one of her stories.
• 
  Cat Bowser

  What a fun retelling this was. It’s not pretending to be anything super deep, just a fun alternative view of what if Sleeping Beauty’s curse was allowed to take affect for its full 100 years. What if there was no Prince to awaken her? I was instantly intrigued by the concept.
  
  There are absolutely strong references to the animated Sleeping Beauty without necessarily taking directly from that. I loved it, given my love for that fairy tale adaption. So, some of your love for this might hinge on how much you like the animated version.
  
  I enjoy the new characters we’re introduced to. They all have personalities and personal agendas which let them play off of the MC’s lead remarkably well. I was intrigued by the politics of the world that they reside in because…well, yeah, what would happen in a power vacuum of a sleeping kingdom?
  
  Definitely worth a look if the premise even slightly catches your eye.
• 
  The one Whom Reads

  I liked the idea of this book. A twisted version of sleeping beauty, on what could have happened if the prince never showed up and aurora curse wasn't broken by true loves first kiss.
  
  The story jumps straight in from the second aurora awakens after 100 years. The castle is surrounded by enchanted thorns but she's had a visitor, a boy named Devon. Now aurora must help him and visa versa to break the evil witches curse upon their Lands, free her prince regain her godfathers powers and inevitably save Devonshire life, with the help of his outlaw friend who go by the name "the circle"
  
  Like I said I liked the idea of the books. The execution not so much. There's so much happening so fast there's no room to breath and at times I felt like i was lost. Then there's the wring style itself, it just comes across too juvenile. This isn't YA it's teen at best. I imagine my 11 year old would love reading this but it wasn't for me. I hightly doubt I'll read anymore in the series
• 
  Louise A

  First book of 2023. I give it 3.5*.
  
  I love retellings. I really liked the idea of Sleeping Beauty never had been waken by her true love's kiss and so having to sleep the curse through and have her world completely different because of it.
  
  I thought Aurora and Devon were fun. I liked the Circle a lot and whish we could have known more about them all. Especially Anya and Castian.
  
  However, I thought it was a bit confusing with Mortimer, Morgan and Xander so that explains my lower rating a bit. If we get a book/novella on that side of the story, it could be great.
  
  I love happy endings but maybe it was too happy all around and really quickly... ?
  
  Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was my first from this author and I will check her other books for sure.
• 
  Aly

  I started this book at the beginning of my shift and finished it right after work. I loved every minute of it! It’s amazing to finally see Sleeping Beauty as more than a damsel under a curse but rather a young woman moving forward in spite of all she’s lived through. And Devon is just 🤩🔥🔥
  
  The first few pages were enough to get me hooked and the story, drama, banter, and shameless flirting never stopped! Beginning to end this book was captivating! I literally sat at my desk and felt my heart rate go up and down as the events unfolded!
  
  100/10 recommend to anyone who loves Sleeping Beauty but wants a little more substance and story 🖤
• 
  Giuliana Way

  1.5 stars
  I mean, the story line would have been a good one if this wasn’t written as if that was me writing for elementary school.
  Lots of typos, rushed plots and nonsense dialogs. Characters lacked of personality and foundation and everything seemed forced and, once again, rushed.
  It was painful to read and I was really disappointed since Sleeping beauty is one of my favorite princess but this re telling did nothing to help her story feel better.
  Glad I got this for free but not happy of the time I lost reading this middle schooler writing.
• 
  Cathy Hunter

  If I had to describe this book in one word I would call it cute. Written just like a fairytale with evil witches, lost Princesses, heros and of course the fairy godmothers. The story moves along quickly, if you want deep and meaningful then this one is not for you, things happen and you don't question them. Why did that huge hole open up just in time to save our princess from certain death. Dont ask, this is a fairytale and that's just what happens.
  
  It's a delightful play on and old favourite, the writing style is not great and the plot very predicable but it's a fun, easy read.
• 
  Natha Lie

  This retelling was ok to good. In this YA-book I could really tell I wasn't the target audience but I found it hard to put a finger on what ages would be (12 - 14y maybe?). The language was quite simple, the idiom repetitions quite obvious but it was interesting enough and had a good enough flow to finish. There were some good takes, but there was more that could have been done to entice and captivate the reader.
• 
  Mirella Ivanova

  Book 13 of 2023
  
  I dont know what I did to deserve this but 2023 in books has been treating me like shaite and this book is no exception! The writing was so bad, zero editing, pretty much the Sleeping Beauty plot using synonyms and a few different, badly written, dialogues and plot lines.
  
  Uh-oh, I feel like even 2 star is generous... if I get another bad book I'm burning my kindle 😭
  
  No wonder this book was free on amazon... not cool amazon, not cool...
• 
  Anna

  I think this story really had potential to be great, but the writing style of it felt was very immature. The story was told in a very matter of a fact way, instead of allowing the reader to feel and create a picture of the world in their head. There was no embellishments of details of the world around the characters, and there was such an opportunity to really flesh out the story more. Missed opportunity.
• 
  Amber

  This was terribly written. It was almost cringey how bad the writing was in this book which is a bummer because the plot wasn't bad. This book is littered with grammatical errors and the telling instead of showing in this book makes it boring.
  
  Overall I'm disappointed in this book as the plot was a nice idea but poorly executed. No I do not recommend this book and I won't be reading the others in the series.
• 
  Lourene

  SLeeping Beauty retelling
  
  This book was a little bit all over the place with Devin and his band, then Aurora. I almost DNF'd it. But I did finish it because I don't like not finishing books. I also had the audiobook and that probably didn't help because it was monotonous, it could have help to have had two narrator's instead of just the one.
• 
  Niki Contreras

  2 star
  
  The story itself was fairly original for a Sleeping Beauty retell, if a bit predictable. However it was mostly tell with very little show, which made it hard to empathize for any if the characters. It also seems like it wasn't edited as there were many grammer mistakes and moments where names just switched (the kingdom of Lionshelm/Kingshelm)