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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
Good to read in conjunction with "Rose Daughter" for comparing the two. Much more of the library and invisible servants type of Beauty and the Beast retelling. Not sure about how I feel about Beauty's character, but she's alright. Love Greatheart.
Beautiful retelling of Beauty & The Beast. Robin McKinley transports the reader to another world, one that is enchanted......
I loved this book! I don't know why I haven't read it before. I even suggested to my son that he read it, but he turned away just from the title - until I started telling him about it. Now he wants to read it, but I'm sure it will be read at home where no one can see!
Picked up as part of "Humble Book Bundle: Women of Science Fiction & Fantasy presented by Open Road Media" bundle and quickly read through in between heavier books.
I liked the semi-snarky writing and the self-conscious first person view, that would have been really relatable when I was 10 years younger. However the story itself was really drawn out without any actual adventure or any real conflict thrown in. Half of it was Beauty's background and when it finally came time to meet Beast, it was extremely bland, with almost no struggles whatsoever.
There are better and more exciting retellings of the story out there.
I liked the semi-snarky writing and the self-conscious first person view, that would have been really relatable when I was 10 years younger. However the story itself was really drawn out without any actual adventure or any real conflict thrown in. Half of it was Beauty's background and when it finally came time to meet Beast, it was extremely bland, with almost no struggles whatsoever.
There are better and more exciting retellings of the story out there.
I first read this book as a young teenager, and it's the first full-fledged fantasy book I can remember reading. I remember absolutely loving it at the time. While I'm not as gung-ho about it now at age 35, I still do love this book. It's a re-telling of Beauty and the Beast and uses a lot of beautiful language. When I read it the first time, I hadn't read any other fairy tale re-dos like this, so it was fascinating to me. Now, of course, we have authors like Shannon Hale and Jessica Day George and so many others doing this, so it's not a new thing. In comparison, this probably isn't even the best or near the best of this genre. However, because it's the first I came in contact with, I still love it and hold it up in my head as the example to go by.
While reading it this time, I did notice that it seemed to skip a lot of time in the story that could have really developed the characters or plot. The end felt very rushed and unbelievable. It almost felt like the author had a deadline and had to finish this, so hurried to get it done. And I agree with other reviewers... it's kind of uncanny how much the Disney movie version of Beauty and the Beast is like this story.
I recommend this for preteens or younger teens. It's clean and fun and not dumbed down at all (a big thing for me).
While reading it this time, I did notice that it seemed to skip a lot of time in the story that could have really developed the characters or plot. The end felt very rushed and unbelievable. It almost felt like the author had a deadline and had to finish this, so hurried to get it done. And I agree with other reviewers... it's kind of uncanny how much the Disney movie version of Beauty and the Beast is like this story.
I recommend this for preteens or younger teens. It's clean and fun and not dumbed down at all (a big thing for me).
{Disclaimer: I didn't stop reading because this novel because it was so instrumental in the world of YA fairy tale repackaging, but after having finished it I almost wish I had simply given up. I understand my expectations are HIGH when it comes to anything related to BatB, but it is a glorious story that I feel deserves those lofty standards.}
Why was so much of this story focused on Beauty's life before she made her honorable sacrifice and journeyed to the castle? Even more puzzling: why was so little of this book about the time she spent in the castle, experiencing her emotions changing as she allowed herself to be open to the possibility that first appearances can be deceptive?
The imbalance would have been laughable if it weren't so disappointing.
I will never understand why on earth so much time was spent getting to know the intricate goings-on of her family prior to the Beast's presence even being mentioned in any tangible manner. Of course I understand the point was to drive home that Beauty was deeply fond of her family, but in no way was I convinced that her character had developed enough during her time in the Beast to choose to leave her family and stay with the Beast when given the opportunity to leave. SO MUCH EXPOSITION was spent on her family life, and then suddenly there was a very quick flash of time spent in which she disliked the Beast, a very quick flash of time in which she decided to give him a chance, and then BAM! she's completely converted to feel empathy and friendship for her captor.
Why was so much of this story focused on Beauty's life before she made her honorable sacrifice and journeyed to the castle? Even more puzzling: why was so little of this book about the time she spent in the castle, experiencing her emotions changing as she allowed herself to be open to the possibility that first appearances can be deceptive?
The imbalance would have been laughable if it weren't so disappointing.
I will never understand why on earth so much time was spent getting to know the intricate goings-on of her family prior to the Beast's presence even being mentioned in any tangible manner. Of course I understand the point was to drive home that Beauty was deeply fond of her family, but in no way was I convinced that her character had developed enough during her time in the Beast to choose to leave her family and stay with the Beast when given the opportunity to leave. SO MUCH EXPOSITION was spent on her family life, and then suddenly there was a very quick flash of time spent in which she disliked the Beast, a very quick flash of time in which she decided to give him a chance, and then BAM! she's completely converted to feel empathy and friendship for her captor.
Wonderful retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I'm not sure how fond I am of McKinley's writing style, but it is growing on me. Her books always leave you thinking 'OH, but what about this? You never explained that.' And as far as I've seen she never writes sequels.
adventurous
medium-paced
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-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:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Kidnapping
Minor: Stalking
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A dark romance retelling of Beauty and the Beast.