Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fantasy series finale keeps up the excitement and adventure.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
As THE CURSED ROSE begins, Fi is imprisoned in a tower by the evil Spindle Witch, desperately trying to solve a riddle she hopes will separate the witch from her magical power once and for all. Briar Rose, now a hollow husk more monster than human, keeps silent watch over Fi at the Spindle Witch's command. Shane and Red are in the ruins of Andar along with the few people left from that great city. Shane wants to find a weapon that will help her save Andar from the hordes of Witch Hunters moving in, but to do that she'll first have to find the Lord of the Butterflies. Red knows she'll have to confront the truth about her past if she's ever going to have a future. Will the four friends find their happy-ever-after?
Is It Any Good?
This exciting, action-packed, fantasy-adventure finale has everything fans who enjoyed the first two books could hope for. Funny banter, hair-raising adventure, battles against ultimate evil, and vivid locations all continue to keep the pages of The Cursed Rose turning. Tweens and teens will continue admiring author Leslie Vedder's strong female leads, and rooting for their happy-ever-afters. Many questions are answered and circles are closed by the end, while leaving room for readers to imagine further adventures.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in The Cursed Rose. Is it too much? Is fantasy violence different from real-world violence? Is seeing it in movies, videos, and other media different from reading about it? If so, how?
Do you like new or different takes on old, familiar stories, or would you rather they stay the same? How does swapping genders change this story? Does it give you any new insights into the story itself, or what people are capable of?
Did you read the other books in the series first? If you did, do you have a favorite? If you didn't, would you like to now?
How do the main characters demonstrate teamwork, courage, and perseverance? Were there times the characters didn't do well in these areas? How did that affect their goals?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic , Fairy Tales ) , Adventures , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Razorbill
- Publication date : February 6, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 17
- Number of pages : 400
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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