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jessielzimmer's review
5.0
This is the best book I've read all year. Hands down. Probably one of the top three books I've read in the last several years - up there for me with the likes of [b:Jane Eyre|29927134|Jane Eyre (Illustrated)|Charlotte Brontë|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1460815781s/29927134.jpg|2977639], [b:The Diary of a Young Girl|48855|The Diary of a Young Girl|Anne Frank|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1358276407s/48855.jpg|3532896], and [b:Outlander|10964|Outlander (Outlander #1)|Diana Gabaldon|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1402600310s/10964.jpg|2489796]. Being of German heritage WW2 has always been a topic I've struggled with. For a long time I carried much shame for the atrocities that happened to the German, Jewish, Romani people and so many more at the hands of Hitler and the Third Reich.
Without wanting to give anything away I will say this: Kate Forsyth pulls no punches. This is not a fluffy alt-history tale or a romance tangentially bound up in real events. It is gritty and painful and breath-taking, sometimes all at once. She never flinches from the hard realities of war to softened the blow for Ava, Leo, Jutta and Rupert.
Forsyth could've made a case for tiptoeing around all the danger, pain and loss they endure - claiming a safe spot for them to land, as fictional characters in a real war - but, instead she elegantly, honestly pays tribute to the suffering of those who both perished and survived. In a period of time so full of hate and heartache, it made the moments of hope and humanity that much sweeter. Though it was at times a difficult, angering, tear-inducing read, I am so thankful that Ms. Forsyth was true to the era.
Also, I don't know if I misread the summary, but at first the book wasn't quite what I was expecting. I was led to believe - again, by my reading of the summary - that Ava marries Leo almost instantly in order to protect her family from the Third Reich. This was incorrect, there is actually quite a long, wonderful build up of shared ideals, struggle and passion between the two before they are wed (I believe) halfway through the book. As someone who was rather dreading an Insta-Love marriage in the middle of WW2, I couldn't be more pleased with the structure, growth and ultimate fruition of both their marriage, as well as all the arcs for Ava, Leo, Jutta and Rupert.
If you're only familiar with Disney's Beauty and the Beast (which I unrepentantly adore - it's my favorite fairy tale - so no judgement here) be prepared to be introduced to its predecessor "The Singing, Springing Lark". The story of love and courage in the face of ever-deepening trials and tribulations is a beautiful motif woven throughout The Beast's Garden.
While I haven't said much about the plot or characters, I do hope this review will encourage you to give the book a try. Forsyth is truly a master storyteller, crafting characters of hearty depth, taunt plots filled with tension and emotional resonance, all while employing a gracefully poetic touch in the descriptive narrative. Lastly, if you have the pleasure of enjoying this story on audiobook, Jennifer Vuletic's delivery is absolutely flawless.
I'm officially new fan of both author and narrator. I've already grabbed Forsyth's [b:Bitter Greens|19286545|Bitter Greens|Kate Forsyth|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1405301042s/19286545.jpg|18274399] from my library and Vuletic's [b:Wattle Creek|13548902|Wattle Creek|Fiona McCallum|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1331908049s/13548902.jpg|19114514] from Audible.
Happy Reading! <3
Without wanting to give anything away I will say this: Kate Forsyth pulls no punches. This is not a fluffy alt-history tale or a romance tangentially bound up in real events. It is gritty and painful and breath-taking, sometimes all at once. She never flinches from the hard realities of war to softened the blow for Ava, Leo, Jutta and Rupert.
Forsyth could've made a case for tiptoeing around all the danger, pain and loss they endure - claiming a safe spot for them to land, as fictional characters in a real war - but, instead she elegantly, honestly pays tribute to the suffering of those who both perished and survived. In a period of time so full of hate and heartache, it made the moments of hope and humanity that much sweeter. Though it was at times a difficult, angering, tear-inducing read, I am so thankful that Ms. Forsyth was true to the era.
Also, I don't know if I misread the summary, but at first the book wasn't quite what I was expecting. I was led to believe - again, by my reading of the summary - that Ava marries Leo almost instantly in order to protect her family from the Third Reich. This was incorrect, there is actually quite a long, wonderful build up of shared ideals, struggle and passion between the two before they are wed (I believe) halfway through the book. As someone who was rather dreading an Insta-Love marriage in the middle of WW2, I couldn't be more pleased with the structure, growth and ultimate fruition of both their marriage, as well as all the arcs for Ava, Leo, Jutta and Rupert.
If you're only familiar with Disney's Beauty and the Beast (which I unrepentantly adore - it's my favorite fairy tale - so no judgement here) be prepared to be introduced to its predecessor "The Singing, Springing Lark". The story of love and courage in the face of ever-deepening trials and tribulations is a beautiful motif woven throughout The Beast's Garden.
While I haven't said much about the plot or characters, I do hope this review will encourage you to give the book a try. Forsyth is truly a master storyteller, crafting characters of hearty depth, taunt plots filled with tension and emotional resonance, all while employing a gracefully poetic touch in the descriptive narrative. Lastly, if you have the pleasure of enjoying this story on audiobook, Jennifer Vuletic's delivery is absolutely flawless.
I'm officially new fan of both author and narrator. I've already grabbed Forsyth's [b:Bitter Greens|19286545|Bitter Greens|Kate Forsyth|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1405301042s/19286545.jpg|18274399] from my library and Vuletic's [b:Wattle Creek|13548902|Wattle Creek|Fiona McCallum|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1331908049s/13548902.jpg|19114514] from Audible.
Happy Reading! <3
italianbookworm's review
5.0
Loved every minute of this story. Was the book perfect? No. Did I love it anyway? Yes. Forsyth's writing is very easy to slip into. The characters felt realistic and I cared what happened to them. There were quite a few to keep track of, but the important ones were around often, so it was easy to keep track of them. Ava and Leo were a wonderful reimagining of Beauty and the Beast.
thebookmuse's review against another edition
5.0
I loved it, from the first page I was enraptured with the story, setting aside any other reads to get through it and find out what happens to Ava, Leo and those that they love and care about, and the fate of the resistance workers under the Nazi regime. It is one of those books that has power in the words from the first line. I didn't want it to end, yet at the same time was eager to see how things would pull together. Another great read from Kate Forsyth.
Longer review at my blog, The Book Muse.
Longer review at my blog, The Book Muse.
mandabee90's review
5.0
I came across this book by accident while searching for ‘retellings’ for a book challenge I’m doing and the idea of doing a retelling in Nazi Germany grabbed me straight away. I love historical fiction and read a lot of WW2, but I’ve rarely read any books on the resistance groups in Germany during the war. One book I did read earlier this year which I loved was Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverini and I was thrilled to find that the real-life characters that Resistance Women was based on also featured in Beasts Garden. The author did a fantastic job of researching and keeping to real events as closely as possible and I adored the love story between Ava and Leo. So glad I found this accidental read!
kathryn08's review
4.0
This was one of those books which made me rather frustrated that real life sometimes has to take precedence over my reading life! It was a slow start, but once I got involved (less than a quarter of the way through), I didn’t want to put the book down.
My only complaint about this book was regarding a disconnect between the blurb on the back of my copy of the book and the story. There is one sentence about halfway through in the blurb which reveals a bit too much information and makes some of the main character, Ava’s, fears groundless, and it felt a bit strange that she was worrying about something that I knew wasn’t an issue! So read the blurb with caution - the GR blurb is slightly more circumspect, in this regard.
But Kate Forsyth’s research (in the afterword, she says that it took her 2 years of research for this book) shows through - I feel like I’ve read quite a few books about WWII, although not that much about the German Resistance, I guess. So there were things I didn’t know - the extent of some of the atrocities committed, the fact that the clothes of Jews who had been transported (and possibly exterminated?) were sent back to the Jewish Associations in Berlin, the fact that Jewish people were required to surrender their electric heaters and then their blankets and coats (under the pretext that the the German army required the blankets and coats - goodness knows what they were planning to do with the heaters!), and the acts of resistance undertaken by various anti-Nazi groups. Kate Forsyth's portrayal of what life was like for German citizens throughout the war felt incredibly realistic.
Now that I'm finished this book, I'm rather sorry that it's over!! Always a sign of a good book.
My only complaint about this book was regarding a disconnect between the blurb on the back of my copy of the book and the story. There is one sentence about halfway through in the blurb which reveals a bit too much information and makes some of the main character, Ava’s, fears groundless, and it felt a bit strange that she was worrying about something that I knew wasn’t an issue! So read the blurb with caution - the GR blurb is slightly more circumspect, in this regard.
But Kate Forsyth’s research (in the afterword, she says that it took her 2 years of research for this book) shows through - I feel like I’ve read quite a few books about WWII, although not that much about the German Resistance, I guess. So there were things I didn’t know - the extent of some of the atrocities committed, the fact that the clothes of Jews who had been transported (and possibly exterminated?) were sent back to the Jewish Associations in Berlin, the fact that Jewish people were required to surrender their electric heaters and then their blankets and coats (under the pretext that the the German army required the blankets and coats - goodness knows what they were planning to do with the heaters!), and the acts of resistance undertaken by various anti-Nazi groups. Kate Forsyth's portrayal of what life was like for German citizens throughout the war felt incredibly realistic.
Now that I'm finished this book, I'm rather sorry that it's over!! Always a sign of a good book.
jssflrnc's review
1.0
does romanticising abuse make for a beast? probably. i, personally, am very much not a fan of the "oh you are too beautiful i can not help myself" boy and the "oh please don't touch me i am so scared but wait do i like it?" girl. no thankyou. i'll pass.
i'm pretty sure the beast is supposed to turn out to be a pretty good dude, leo - i'm not sure i can forgive.
i'm pretty sure the beast is supposed to turn out to be a pretty good dude, leo - i'm not sure i can forgive.
amandawillimott's review
4.0
Set in Berlin during World World II, a young German woman, Ava, marries a Nazi, Leo, and both work separately as well as together to bring down Hitler and the Third Reich.
As romantic historical fiction this is one of the best I've read. The fictional Ava and Leo, as well as Ava's Jewish friends, fit seamlessly into the lives and actions of real people.
There are very few light moments in this story as all the horrors of war come to fall onto our two unfortunate lovers. The story is also taken up in parts by other characters in the story, who you come to care for as much as you do Ava and Leo.
As romantic historical fiction this is one of the best I've read. The fictional Ava and Leo, as well as Ava's Jewish friends, fit seamlessly into the lives and actions of real people.
There are very few light moments in this story as all the horrors of war come to fall onto our two unfortunate lovers. The story is also taken up in parts by other characters in the story, who you come to care for as much as you do Ava and Leo.
ohwowbee's review
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I picked this up after seeing Forsyth talk at a book festival and was interested in her career as a myth/fairytale interpreter. I wish I had selected another one of her books, because this retelling of Beauty and the Beast didn't do it for me in the slightest. From the outset, the heroine is fawning over the Nazi soldier. And while yes, towards the end of the book it is revealed that he is on the right side of history, the rest of the book is all about how he "isn't like other Nazis". Insertions of POV from the heroine's gay Jewish friend (doing double duty in regards to representation) in a concentration camp are likewise bizarre and unbalanced, and seem added to the novel as an afterthought.
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