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prashiie's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
“I am always surprised to discover that when the world seems darkest, there exists the greatest opportunity for light.”
A retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but in this story the prince is cursed to find his love before the end of the season and turns into a beast. If he doesn’t, the season starts again. An endless loop. The female main character is a girl from D.C. who tries to save a woman from getting kidnapped and gets kidnapped herself in the process. She’s described to have cerebral palsy and at first I didn’t know what to expect. I don’t know much about cerebral palsy but I was surprised to find out more about it. I didn’t realise that people with this condition still can do a lot.
I have a lot of thoughts on Harper, but it was funny when she explains to the people of Emberfall that she’s from D.C. and the kingdom of Disi is born, lol. Other than that, Harper was exhausting and annoying, mainly because of her short-sightedness and impulsiveness.
“I don't know what's happening to my mother or my brother, but the unknown can't compete with what she's doing right in front of me.”
AND she doesn’t trust Rhen’s judgement on his OWN kingdom. Harper who had been there for one day already knows Emberfall and its people better than Rhen. And when he says that, he’s patronising her. Great. And the moment she slaps Rhen… not cool.
“She has been here one day and I am already exhausted.”
Same…. But I guess her impulsiveness, even though it was annoying, was what Emberfall needed.
My favourite character was definitely Rhen, surprise surprise! The curse has made him hopeless, but it also did a lot for his personal development. He became a better version of himself–merciful, understanding, and patient. He’s great!
“True love is not about romance. True love requires sacrifice. A willingness to place another's life above your own.”
AND GREY IS THE ACTUAL HEIR TO THE THRONE?! I hope this doesn’t turn into a tiresome love triangle, but it probably will.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Kidnapping, Death, Violence, Murder, Suicide, Grief, Cancer, Self harm, Abandonment, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, War, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Ableism
Moderate: Death of parent
sunnyrees's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
i was a bit hesitant to read this book after finding out it’s a beauty and the beast retelling because that meant i already know how the story would go. but this was so beautifully written and i loved the story! if you’re looking for a romantasy read w high stakes, i’d definitely recommend this one!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Suicide
jazzy_readss's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
qrschulte's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Enjoyable book, but I didn’t love it as a whole. And I CALLED IT!
Things I loved:
- a protagonist with a disability who is affected by their disability but not defined by it. So refreshing that she was a fully realized person
- the Rhen narrator. Honestly, the book might have been better with just him narrating the whole thing.
- believable reasoning for why someone from our world could ride a fucking horse
Things I did not love:
- How whiny the Harper narrator made her sound sometimes. It made it a lot less believable it was the same character between the narrators.
- The monster narration (so fucking creepy/scary). Could have done without that.
- The parts where it was said Harper was “not like other girls” *cue vomiting*
Things I loved:
- a protagonist with a disability who is affected by their disability but not defined by it. So refreshing that she was a fully realized person
- the Rhen narrator. Honestly, the book might have been better with just him narrating the whole thing.
- believable reasoning for why someone from our world could ride a fucking horse
Things I did not love:
- How whiny the Harper narrator made her sound sometimes. It made it a lot less believable it was the same character between the narrators.
- The monster narration (so fucking creepy/scary). Could have done without that.
- The parts where it was said Harper was “not like other girls” *cue vomiting*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Medical content, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, War, Ableism, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Cancer, Suicide, Torture, Emotional abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment, Body horror, Self harm, Classism, Death of parent, Gore, Murder, and Stalking
Minor: Gun violence, Child death, and Infidelity
autumnaldragon's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Violence, War, and Self harm
supernova7's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I picked this book up from the local library on a whim, and wow! This is the most inventive retelling of Beauty and the Beast I’ve ever read. The prince is still cursed, but he isn’t always a beast, and the Beauty has cerebral palsy, which some female characters try to use against her. She does not take any of that attitude and earns the title of Princess. The story takes place from multiple perspectives. I appreciate that the romance took a long time to develop, which felt realistic compared to other romance-focused books I’ve read. I loved this book. The pace, the writing, the characters, the conflict and scope—everything. Can’t wait to read the sequel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Blood, and Ableism
Minor: Suicide, Gore, Pedophilia, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, War, and Suicidal thoughts
karelidz's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
4.8 ⭐
I'm not sure what was missing for me to give it 5 stars, but 4.8 just seems right.
I went into it just knowing that it was a beauty and the beast retelling, and that was all I needed to know.
I enjoyed every second of this book, I was a quarter of the way in and I already didn't want it to end. From the first chapter I immediately liked Rhen and his suicidal tendencies 😂.
I'm always a bit skeptical when a book has more than 1 pov because for me it tends to feel "choppy" or it doesn't retain my attention as much but I feel like this book made the shifts between pov's so seamlessly, you started right where you left off, and you didn't miss a single second in between.
I don't think I have any complaints; you ultimately know how the story is going to end, but it was still entertaining enough that it held my attention and I wanted to know what was gonna happen next.
I loved it, I loved the characters, I loved the story... Ugh it was just so good.
I'm not sure what was missing for me to give it 5 stars, but 4.8 just seems right.
I went into it just knowing that it was a beauty and the beast retelling, and that was all I needed to know.
I enjoyed every second of this book, I was a quarter of the way in and I already didn't want it to end. From the first chapter I immediately liked Rhen and his suicidal tendencies 😂.
I'm always a bit skeptical when a book has more than 1 pov because for me it tends to feel "choppy" or it doesn't retain my attention as much but I feel like this book made the shifts between pov's so seamlessly, you started right where you left off, and you didn't miss a single second in between.
I don't think I have any complaints; you ultimately know how the story is going to end, but it was still entertaining enough that it held my attention and I wanted to know what was gonna happen next.
I loved it, I loved the characters, I loved the story... Ugh it was just so good.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Death, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Death of parent
sirkeili's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This book is a good retelling of Beauty and the Beast, especially with the monster being something brief and yet uncontrollable for the male lead. I have not seen the retellings depicted this way, and it was heartbreaking to watch him slowly lose hope after knowing what comes next.
I found Harper to be both intriguing, but also sometimes frustrating when she takes things too literally. She grows a lot during book, but I still found most of her troubles could be solved by trusting Rhen and Grey a lot more than she initially did (even when they proved they meant no ill will).
I think Grey was my favourite, as he seemed the most well rounded and intruguing character. His abilities, attitude and mysterious past seem to all line up in a way that I wanted to follow along with him and see his side of the story. He has so much to tell, and yet so much to unravel about himself as well. Despite the rough and scatter hand of cards he's been given, Grey still shows an innate softness and care for those he holds close.
Harper has all the aspects of a great heroine, but I feel the author hinges everything on her disability, and yet its rarely addressed in the novel. It's almost as though it's just for the ✨ d r a m a ✨ and the "I'm not like other girls" trope (ugh), and not to really showcase how exceptional Harper is despite - and because- of it. I think if there was substance and heart going into developing her character more, Harper could really shine as bright as I know she can. She has a spark big enough to even set Emberfall ablaze, truly.
If you need a softer, yet still slightly gritty retelling, this is a solid one. Very spunky, goofy and generally easy-going-ish book.
I found Harper to be both intriguing, but also sometimes frustrating when she takes things too literally. She grows a lot during book, but I still found most of her troubles could be solved by trusting Rhen and Grey a lot more than she initially did (even when they proved they meant no ill will).
I think Grey was my favourite, as he seemed the most well rounded and intruguing character. His abilities, attitude and mysterious past seem to all line up in a way that I wanted to follow along with him and see his side of the story. He has so much to tell, and yet so much to unravel about himself as well. Despite the rough and scatter hand of cards he's been given, Grey still shows an innate softness and care for those he holds close.
Harper has all the aspects of a great heroine, but I feel the author hinges everything on her disability, and yet its rarely addressed in the novel. It's almost as though it's just for the ✨ d r a m a ✨ and the "I'm not like other girls" trope (ugh), and not to really showcase how exceptional Harper is despite - and because- of it. I think if there was substance and heart going into developing her character more, Harper could really shine as bright as I know she can. She has a spark big enough to even set Emberfall ablaze, truly.
If you need a softer, yet still slightly gritty retelling, this is a solid one. Very spunky, goofy and generally easy-going-ish book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Torture, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, War, Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Stalking, Terminal illness, Ableism, Bullying, Confinement, Gun violence, and Medical content
Minor: Child death, Cursing, Classism, Misogyny, and Sexism
mmage's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Torture, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Blood, War, Violence, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Domestic abuse
alexiab's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I dunno how I can rate this 4.25 stars it’s just about the vibes, 4 was too low but 4.5 was too high.
I’m genuinely VERY surprised by this book. The idea of another BATB retelling interested me but didn’t overly excite me, but this story went several directions that I was not expecting at all and I was genuinely very impressed.
I love this approach to the curse/what Harper knows about said curse, and addressing how a leading lady tries to figure out her feelings when she knows she’s supposed to fall in love with someone who abducted her. Overall I think Harper’s mixed emotions about the conflict/Rhen were really well done.
The climax was also super exciting and very well done. It just kept coming and kept coming. I like a book with *good* conflict and I think this delivered.
If this was supposed to be a love triangle I think that definitely fell flat. Grey was a pretty monotone, uninteresting character for the most part, and his unyielding oath felt like it removed a lot of personality from him. I dunno man “loyal to a fault” isn’t really a personality trait.
Also not a fan of Jake. Harper spent so long worried about this dude just for him to act like a Jack ass for most of his scenes. But shout out to Noah the exhausted gay and Rhen the broodiest son of a bitch I’ve ever seen.
I’m genuinely VERY surprised by this book. The idea of another BATB retelling interested me but didn’t overly excite me, but this story went several directions that I was not expecting at all and I was genuinely very impressed.
I love this approach to the curse/what Harper knows about said curse, and addressing how a leading lady tries to figure out her feelings when she knows she’s supposed to fall in love with someone who abducted her. Overall I think Harper’s mixed emotions about the conflict/Rhen were really well done.
The climax was also super exciting and very well done. It just kept coming and kept coming. I like a book with *good* conflict and I think this delivered.
If this was supposed to be a love triangle I think that definitely fell flat. Grey was a pretty monotone, uninteresting character for the most part, and his unyielding oath felt like it removed a lot of personality from him. I dunno man “loyal to a fault” isn’t really a personality trait.
Also not a fan of Jake. Harper spent so long worried about this dude just for him to act like a Jack ass for most of his scenes. But shout out to Noah the exhausted gay and Rhen the broodiest son of a bitch I’ve ever seen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Gore, Violence, and Blood