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haunt's review against another edition
5.0
After about 24 hours to ruminate, I’ve come up with my final rating and some thoughts.
4.5 stars—half of the last one deducted because I felt like the ending didn’t quite wrap everything up as well as I thought would be fitting for this kind of book. For me, this is basically a comfort read, and ideally, for me, a comfort read shouldn’t leave so many questions. For example:
-What happens with Val and Kaiya? I very much appreciate not coupling all the characters off, but this particular potentiality was practically a subplot, so it feels weird to not have some kind of resolution at all. (Personally I’ve decided, apropos of absolutely nothing, that Kaiya is ace—though not necessarily aro, soooo…!)
-Hob??? Hob Hob! Hob?! HOB
-Basically most of the side characters’ arcs felt sort of unfinished. Hob has this whole unexplored backstory (and future) I would kill to read, and Latimer’s last appearance seemed to hint at a future tale of his own, and Kate was way too hyped to be left unwritten.
All that said, though, I really do think a good epilogue would have been enough to put to rest most of these loose ends for me. It felt like one was coming, and I even went back and reread the ending to check whether I missed something the first time. (And then checked the author’s page for related short stories and novellas.) Maybe the ending was just a little too quick overall for me; it definitely felt like it was leading up to something more, like possibly a sequel/series based on side characters’ own adventures or at least an epilogue to round things out, until right at the last page.
4.5 stars—half of the last one deducted because I felt like the ending didn’t quite wrap everything up as well as I thought would be fitting for this kind of book. For me, this is basically a comfort read, and ideally, for me, a comfort read shouldn’t leave so many questions. For example:
-What happens with Val and Kaiya? I very much appreciate not coupling all the characters off, but this particular potentiality was practically a subplot, so it feels weird to not have some kind of resolution at all. (Personally I’ve decided, apropos of absolutely nothing, that Kaiya is ace—though not necessarily aro, soooo…!)
-Hob??? Hob Hob! Hob?! HOB
-Basically most of the side characters’ arcs felt sort of unfinished. Hob has this whole unexplored backstory (and future) I would kill to read, and Latimer’s last appearance seemed to hint at a future tale of his own, and Kate was way too hyped to be left unwritten.
All that said, though, I really do think a good epilogue would have been enough to put to rest most of these loose ends for me. It felt like one was coming, and I even went back and reread the ending to check whether I missed something the first time. (And then checked the author’s page for related short stories and novellas.) Maybe the ending was just a little too quick overall for me; it definitely felt like it was leading up to something more, like possibly a sequel/series based on side characters’ own adventures or at least an epilogue to round things out, until right at the last page.
donomak's review against another edition
I was promised a romp and it wasn't a romp. Unnecessary characters, main character wasn't compelling . I wanted the characters to be more complicated and believable.
cobaltbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
Genderbending Beauty and Beast is entertaining premise. While romance did little for me I liked characters Merit was fine but I really liked Tevin and his family. In end enjoyable read.
sunshinedragon14's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
marieintheraw's review against another edition
3.0
Overall, an interesting Beauty and the Beast retelling; however, not my favorite.
I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
petrifiedsap's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
4.25
faechronicler's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to love this. I love Beauty and the Beast, and the idea of a gender swapped retelling was so exciting.
But as I started reading something was missing. I wasn't super invested in the characters but the author did make some nice social commentary. The pacing was so so and made it had to push through to the end.
It could have been that I wasn't in the mood for the type of boom but I don't think so.
But as I started reading something was missing. I wasn't super invested in the characters but the author did make some nice social commentary. The pacing was so so and made it had to push through to the end.
It could have been that I wasn't in the mood for the type of boom but I don't think so.
kay_slayerofbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-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? Yes
4.75
I really enjoyed this. I like the concept, even though there wasn't great world building I liked the culture and I adored the protagonists.