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neelamreadsalot's review against another edition
5.0
I love Meagan Spooner’s novels. Her ability to weave a story where you FEEL the emotions of the characters is incredible.
I really enjoyed this retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I do have to admit though, that the Beast talking in plural was hilarious to me at the start. All I could think about was Gollum. But it grew on me as the book went on and became a crucial part of indicating Beast’s humanity.
I do love how the romance in this novel is so cautious and never shies away from the brutality of Beast’s curse. It’s not at all like the rainbows and sunshine of the Disney movie, and I love that.
Definitely worth a read.
I really enjoyed this retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I do have to admit though, that the Beast talking in plural was hilarious to me at the start. All I could think about was Gollum. But it grew on me as the book went on and became a crucial part of indicating Beast’s humanity.
I do love how the romance in this novel is so cautious and never shies away from the brutality of Beast’s curse. It’s not at all like the rainbows and sunshine of the Disney movie, and I love that.
Definitely worth a read.
dowryofbooks's review against another edition
3.0
> 3 / 5 stars
I'm ashamed to admit that even though Belle is my favorite princess, this is the first Beauty and the Beast retelling I've ever read. I did really like this though!! With the parallels to Russian fairy tales and the snowy atmosphere this reminded me of one of my favorite books, [b:The Bear and the Nightingale|25489134|The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy, #1)|Katherine Arden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1611440212l/25489134._SX50_.jpg|45268929]. Meagan Spooner did a great job building this atmosphere, I was immersed in a snowy forest the entire time.
I also love that the main character Yeva is headstrong, smart, and also relatable in the way that she always wants more from life and the feeling that she'll never be truly happy until she has the next thing. The Beast was an intriguing character as well. I really wish we had gotten more from his POV. (P.S. the audiobook narrator does a fantastic Beast voice)
The reason why this wasn't a five star for me is that I wanted this to be darker, more gripping and intense. Maybe it's because this is YA? But once I reached the ending it was like the stakes weren't nearly high enough and it was all wrapped up quickly. Being a fairytale, I know its gonna end in a happily-ever-after, I just wish the characters had gone through more trials before getting their happy ending.
“I would give up a thousand happy endings just to go back with you to your valley, and live as we did. I’d give up every fairy tale I’ve ever known just to hear you say my name again.”
I'm ashamed to admit that even though Belle is my favorite princess, this is the first Beauty and the Beast retelling I've ever read. I did really like this though!! With the parallels to Russian fairy tales and the snowy atmosphere this reminded me of one of my favorite books, [b:The Bear and the Nightingale|25489134|The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy, #1)|Katherine Arden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1611440212l/25489134._SX50_.jpg|45268929]. Meagan Spooner did a great job building this atmosphere, I was immersed in a snowy forest the entire time.
I also love that the main character Yeva is headstrong, smart, and also relatable in the way that she always wants more from life and the feeling that she'll never be truly happy until she has the next thing. The Beast was an intriguing character as well. I really wish we had gotten more from his POV. (P.S. the audiobook narrator does a fantastic Beast voice)
The reason why this wasn't a five star for me is that I wanted this to be darker, more gripping and intense. Maybe it's because this is YA? But once I reached the ending it was like the stakes weren't nearly high enough and it was all wrapped up quickly. Being a fairytale, I know its gonna end in a happily-ever-after, I just wish the characters had gone through more trials before getting their happy ending.
sunmoonstars9's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
evia_booklover's review against another edition
I can't stand Yeva's character. Meagan Spooner's idea of a strong female character is by making her trope trash in the 'not like other girls', 'toxic: There's only one way to be a strong, independent, and powerful girl', and 'trashy: I think I am strong because I've got a bad attitude and look down on others because of course I am a spesuil little snowflake that is a boy girl'.
It is disgusting. It is degrading to all girls and women out there. It is misogynistic. I am over it. The fact that this book was even allowed to be published when it has disgusting and harmful stereotypes associated with what is considered 'femininity' and what is considered 'strong womanhood' goes to show you that this book and the message it sends to the community was accepted in the decade it was originally published.
I will not be reading another book by this author. Can we stop with spreading a disgusting and harmful message to women and girls that the only way that they can be strong, powerful people is by not being traditionally feminine? That is not how the real world works.
It is disgusting. It is degrading to all girls and women out there. It is misogynistic. I am over it. The fact that this book was even allowed to be published when it has disgusting and harmful stereotypes associated with what is considered 'femininity' and what is considered 'strong womanhood' goes to show you that this book and the message it sends to the community was accepted in the decade it was originally published.
I will not be reading another book by this author. Can we stop with spreading a disgusting and harmful message to women and girls that the only way that they can be strong, powerful people is by not being traditionally feminine? That is not how the real world works.
anxietygirl89's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
allyreadsromance's review against another edition
5.0
I loved the fresh take on one of my favorite stories!!
tanya_tate's review against another edition
2.0
1.5 Stars
Some spoilers
I'm so disappointed in this book that it doesn't even deserve a review but I'll write one..
This was one of my most anticipated books of this year and it just disappointed me. ( Yall know how I am with BATB retellings.)
It started strong but slow but just fizzed out as I got farther into it and I had to force myself to finish it.
I loved Yeva at the beginning but now I really don't know how to feel about her.
The beast was too overdramatic for my tastes.
One of the biggest things for me is the fact I didn't connect to Yeva and the beast so called "romance". Hell I didn't even consider them friends at all. How can you when both keep telling the other that they are their captor for a cause or they will kill them in order to avenge someone that the other one didn't kill?
Beast: " I'm your captor but I need you to end my suffering so I'm going to lie to you by saying I killed your loved one and going to kill your other love ones if you don't help me. "
Yeva: "I hunt and kill you for what you did!!"
YOU KEPT REPEATING THIS SHIT DURING THE WHOLE BOOK SO IT WAS HARD TO SEE THEIR REACTIONS AS BEING FRIENDLY! THAT ANY THING THEY DID FOR EACH OTHER WAS THEM BEING FRIENDLY AND MAYBE FALLING IN LOVE! ALSO SOME OF THE THINGS THE BEAST DID WAS OF A CAPTOR! YOU CAN'T BUILD A FRIENDSHIP LET ALONE A ROMANCE WHEN YOU KEEP HANGING ON THAT!!
Also the fact this retelling of BATB ( which was a mixture of the original and the Disney version) really felt like Stockholm Syndrome to fullest because of that. In all honestly worse than the original cause with this one it seem like the author was trying to drive the point home. It honestly worked against her cause the romance wasn't believable because of it. This is why I love the disney version cause after their first icy interactions they started to become friends. The beast never referred to her as his captor at all but his friend. She never saw herself as his captor after their first couple meetings but as her friend. It wasn't until to was released and she come back to warn him about gaston that she realized she loved him. This version has nothing of that at all.
Also when you mix another fairy tale which not as known as the main one you are using,make sure it stand out more instead of being footnote that was used more towards the end. I never really heard of the Russian fairy tale "Tsarevitch Ivan, the Firebird and the Gray Wolf" so it would have been nice that it was more in the forefront while BATB was in the background.
I read a lot of reviews saying this remind them of ACOTAR which it doesn't at all to me. The only thing this got in common with ACOTAR is both of the MCs are hunters. This honestly remind me more of Wrath and the Dawn due to that fact she was telling him stories, she wanted to kill him and only tried twice, and he was under a curse. That's it.
Don't get me started with this weird love triangle between Yeva,her sister and guy who wanted to Marry Yava cause they were both hunters.. ( Which seem like the only thing they had in common) It all honestly, he didn't need to be there cause he added unnecessary drama that wasn't needed which got resolved in a nice little bow .
I do love the fact that the majority of the book was in 3rd pov cause I'm getting tired of 1st person.. That's probably the only thing I still liked as the story went.
So this one was a bomb for me.
Some spoilers
I'm so disappointed in this book that it doesn't even deserve a review but I'll write one..
This was one of my most anticipated books of this year and it just disappointed me. ( Yall know how I am with BATB retellings.)
It started strong but slow but just fizzed out as I got farther into it and I had to force myself to finish it.
I loved Yeva at the beginning but now I really don't know how to feel about her.
The beast was too overdramatic for my tastes.
One of the biggest things for me is the fact I didn't connect to Yeva and the beast so called "romance". Hell I didn't even consider them friends at all. How can you when both keep telling the other that they are their captor for a cause or they will kill them in order to avenge someone that the other one didn't kill?
Beast: " I'm your captor but I need you to end my suffering so I'm going to lie to you by saying I killed your loved one and going to kill your other love ones if you don't help me. "
Yeva: "I hunt and kill you for what you did!!"
YOU KEPT REPEATING THIS SHIT DURING THE WHOLE BOOK SO IT WAS HARD TO SEE THEIR REACTIONS AS BEING FRIENDLY! THAT ANY THING THEY DID FOR EACH OTHER WAS THEM BEING FRIENDLY AND MAYBE FALLING IN LOVE! ALSO SOME OF THE THINGS THE BEAST DID WAS OF A CAPTOR! YOU CAN'T BUILD A FRIENDSHIP LET ALONE A ROMANCE WHEN YOU KEEP HANGING ON THAT!!
Also the fact this retelling of BATB ( which was a mixture of the original and the Disney version) really felt like Stockholm Syndrome to fullest because of that. In all honestly worse than the original cause with this one it seem like the author was trying to drive the point home. It honestly worked against her cause the romance wasn't believable because of it. This is why I love the disney version cause after their first icy interactions they started to become friends. The beast never referred to her as his captor at all but his friend. She never saw herself as his captor after their first couple meetings but as her friend. It wasn't until to was released and she come back to warn him about gaston that she realized she loved him. This version has nothing of that at all.
Also when you mix another fairy tale which not as known as the main one you are using,make sure it stand out more instead of being footnote that was used more towards the end. I never really heard of the Russian fairy tale "Tsarevitch Ivan, the Firebird and the Gray Wolf" so it would have been nice that it was more in the forefront while BATB was in the background.
I read a lot of reviews saying this remind them of ACOTAR which it doesn't at all to me. The only thing this got in common with ACOTAR is both of the MCs are hunters. This honestly remind me more of Wrath and the Dawn due to that fact she was telling him stories, she wanted to kill him and only tried twice, and he was under a curse. That's it.
Don't get me started with this weird love triangle between Yeva,her sister and guy who wanted to Marry Yava cause they were both hunters.. ( Which seem like the only thing they had in common) It all honestly, he didn't need to be there cause he added unnecessary drama that wasn't needed which got resolved in a nice little bow .
I do love the fact that the majority of the book was in 3rd pov cause I'm getting tired of 1st person.. That's probably the only thing I still liked as the story went.
So this one was a bomb for me.
shaeilidh's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
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
3.5
A beauty and the beast retelling featuring a hunter as beauty chasing down the beast. Lots of fun folktales thrown in throughout which I found interesting. Nothing revolutionary, it was a fun and easy read and I'd recommend.