Ms. Hen reviews While Beauty Slept

Ms. Hen drinks a pumpkin cream cold brew

 

While Beauty Slept

Elizabeth Blackwell

Berkley Publishing Group

2014

Ms. Hen decided to read this book because she found it at a Little Free Library near where she lives, and she was intrigued by the title. She adores fairy tale retellings, as you may know, and she is always intrigued by SLEEPING BEAUTY stories. Many versions of this tale have been spun again and again, and she dove into this one with curiosity, and an open mind.

This novel reads like historical fiction, and it's told through the point of view of the Queen's maid, Elise. She lived with her family when she was young, and they were poor farmers. Almost her entire family died from the pox, and she went to work in the castle, which is what her mother had suggested before she passed. She started as a chamber maid, but quickly rose to be the Queen's personal maid.

Elise watched and learned; she was discreet, and did her work. She fell in love, but had her heart crushed because she felt she had a duty to the Queen and the castle. She protected Rose, the future Queen, and everyone worried about the curse that her aunt Millicent had brought on the castle when Rose was born. Elise took care of the Queen, and gave her advice when she needed it.

This novel is part historical fiction, part fairy tale retelling, and some romance. Ms. Hen kept waiting for the SLEEPING BEAUTY parts to be revealed, but they came slowly, and were anti-climactic. Ms. Hen kept saying to herself, When is she going to go to sleep? But when she did, Ms. Hen thought it was silly. This novel dragged a bit, it kept going on and on, and Ms. Hen wanted to know when it would stop. 

This novel doesn't take place in a particular country, it could be England or France or anywhere in Europe. It had its charms, and the right person would love this. Ms. Hen has a difficult time handling romance novels, because she thinks they're trite. The characters and setting are well drawn, but like Ms. Hen said the book went on too long, and the ending was odd.

Ms. Hen doesn't know if picking up books at a Little Free Library is always the best way to find books. She wants to do more research before she reads, because sometimes a free book isn't always the best. Ms. Hen likes free books, but nothing in life is truly free.

Ms. Hen in Portland, Maine