Rose Daughter — Robin McKinley

The Beast's hand closed around the rose's stem; when he opened it, the palm was pierced, and drops of blood fell softly, making a dark stain like the first unfurling of a rosebud...

Twenty years ago, Robin McKinley dazzled readers with the power of her novel Beauty. Now this extraordinarily gifted novelist returns to the story of Beauty and the Beast, with a fresh perspective, ingenuity, and mature insight. With Rose Daughter, she presents her finest and most deeply felt work, a compelling, richly imagined, and haunting exploration of the transformative power of love.