Reviews

The Boy and the Beast by Mamoru Hosoda

sharlynnshida's review

3.0

I felt the shifting of three POVs were too distracting and one of the two was very pointless. If it stuck to Kyuta, it would have been a much more enjoyable read. I had hoped it would add more to the movie, and it did in some places. Still, it is a light novel. Cute. Fun. Colorful.

magentabyfive's review

2.0

It could have been the way it was translated, but this was a very choppy read. The story itself was good, but the way it was written jumpy and hard to follow or get into. But the worst part was that it was told in multiple first person perspectives. I get that someone is "telling" the story, but if that's the case, then please don't have that person "adopt"another persons "voice" it's distracting and I really couldn't get invested enough to pay attention.

The premise and story beats seemed interesting though, it was just the way it was written that's just not my style.

cuppa_curiositea's review

4.0

*3.5-4*

This is such an enjoyable read for all ages! I would honestly consider reading this to my kids one day, but it's sophisticated enough to keep an adult entertained also! At it's very core, I think that this book is about the importance of having both competitive and supportive relationships for our personal growth. I watched the movie just a couple days after I finished the book, and they are very true to each other (I THINK the movie came first?) and compliment each other very well. There are a few different details that were portrayed better in both mediums, so I'm glad I got to experience both to get the full picture!

My main problem was with Kaede.

I loved her character when they first met in the library, but as soon she got involved with the fight with Ichirohiko, I realized that she was just a flat archetype thrown in to give Kyuta a vague reason to start exploring the human world again. She makes this stupid speech at Ichirohiko about how he's "a monster consumed with revenge," or something along those lines, and I literally thought "What? You have no idea what's going on or anything about the Beast world, so how are you suddenly talking like a sage?"

Her character could have been really cool, but she became a plot device instead of an actual character, which bothered me.

Kyuta and Kumatetsu's relationship is honestly the major appeal to this story, both for the movie and book. There are a few major events and adventures, but they are given a surprisingly small amount of attention to keep the relationship at the focal point. I was fully convinced that the travelling to meet the different grandmasters of each city would take up most of the story, so I was very surprised when that entire adventure only got a few scenes in both the book and movie.

There are several English mistakes. Not sure if that was a writing, translating, or editing problem, but they are pretty noticeable.