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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
Jennifer Donnelly's retellings are incredible! her mind for crafting unique and brilliant versions of classic tales is absolutely unparalleled. I loved this gender-reversed Beauty and the Beast tale! Although it read a bit younger than a typical YA, novel, I still liked the story and think it's interesting for readers of all ages!
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
So this was mid. Honestly, I can't say much more than this. The two main leads (Beau and Arabella) were not memorable. I thought that only really some of the secondary characters were developed well. And I thought that Donnelly's writing with the breaking of the fourth wall or whatever we want to call it with other fairy tale characters started getting tiresome after a while. She writes the whole story like something dark and crazy was going to happen and I was like, um this is it? Okay then.
"Beastly Beauty" follows thief Beau and Lady Arabella. Beau and his band of merry thieves come across a castle and then a horrible beast chases them out and Beau's supposed "family" leaves him to die. Beau though finds that he is not able to leave the castle and instead is trapped there like the servants in the castle and Arabella and her court. Beau does what he usually does (tries to charm people with his face) to figure out a way to escape. Things change though when he realizes that Arabella is not like the women he has met before. She seems unbothered by him and he wants to find out what she is hiding.
There's a lot going on plot-wise with Beau and Arabella and the whole book doesn't start to gel til about the 60 percent part. I think that is when most of the "secrets" were revealed and you just wanted things to get a move on. The flow was awful. I already guessed at things before the reveal and I found out I was right. I was also bored by it too.
The best I can say is that this is definitely a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but you also get some Sleeping Beauty in here as well. But it's not something I can see myself reading again and again.
So this was mid. Honestly, I can't say much more than this. The two main leads (Beau and Arabella) were not memorable. I thought that only really some of the secondary characters were developed well. And I thought that Donnelly's writing with the breaking of the fourth wall or whatever we want to call it with other fairy tale characters started getting tiresome after a while. She writes the whole story like something dark and crazy was going to happen and I was like, um this is it? Okay then.
"Beastly Beauty" follows thief Beau and Lady Arabella. Beau and his band of merry thieves come across a castle and then a horrible beast chases them out and Beau's supposed "family" leaves him to die. Beau though finds that he is not able to leave the castle and instead is trapped there like the servants in the castle and Arabella and her court. Beau does what he usually does (tries to charm people with his face) to figure out a way to escape. Things change though when he realizes that Arabella is not like the women he has met before. She seems unbothered by him and he wants to find out what she is hiding.
There's a lot going on plot-wise with Beau and Arabella and the whole book doesn't start to gel til about the 60 percent part. I think that is when most of the "secrets" were revealed and you just wanted things to get a move on. The flow was awful. I already guessed at things before the reveal and I found out I was right. I was also bored by it too.
The best I can say is that this is definitely a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but you also get some Sleeping Beauty in here as well. But it's not something I can see myself reading again and again.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Beastly Beauty by Jennifer Donnelly
Is enchanting
We meet Beau, a young thief and his band of criminals as they try to scratch out a living and pleasures in the romanticized past, where workhouses, social betters and enchanted castles still exist. Soon he is trapped in Arabella's castle, with no way of escaping. There he finds a dangerous monster that creeps in the dark, and something even more dangerous - the people that hide secrets and their emotions.
This novel plays on fairy tales, the lessons, the gendered roles, the morals, and the place in our collected culture. Most of us will know the story from Beauty and the Beast but not all is as it seems.
It’s a lovely novel. I think it would be best however for pre-teens. Its themes and plot are perfect for those not used to in-depth reading, many parts are explained so the reader can follow. That’s not to say it’s not entertaining, just most beneficial for those readers and those who need the lessons.
This book is for anyone who enjoys fairytales, retelling, juvenile literature, and morality plays.
Is enchanting
We meet Beau, a young thief and his band of criminals as they try to scratch out a living and pleasures in the romanticized past, where workhouses, social betters and enchanted castles still exist. Soon he is trapped in Arabella's castle, with no way of escaping. There he finds a dangerous monster that creeps in the dark, and something even more dangerous - the people that hide secrets and their emotions.
This novel plays on fairy tales, the lessons, the gendered roles, the morals, and the place in our collected culture. Most of us will know the story from Beauty and the Beast but not all is as it seems.
It’s a lovely novel. I think it would be best however for pre-teens. Its themes and plot are perfect for those not used to in-depth reading, many parts are explained so the reader can follow. That’s not to say it’s not entertaining, just most beneficial for those readers and those who need the lessons.
This book is for anyone who enjoys fairytales, retelling, juvenile literature, and morality plays.
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for letting me read this arc for an honest review.
This was a different Disney version of beauty and the beast. Felt more modern, and reimagined fairy tale story.
It took me a bit to finish, but I could not put it down. It’s one of those type of books that once you open it and before you know it, you’re done reading.
Thank you again, for this opportunity.
~~~~~~~
2nd review
I have to say, this story at the end reminded me of the movie Penelope. That you don’t need some knight shinning armor to come and rescue you. You need to find yourself and love yourself.
There is a lot that was said and I love that some of them touched close to home.
We need darkness to learn to love light.
We need sorrow to learn about joy.
We cannot live one without the other.
This was a different Disney version of beauty and the beast. Felt more modern, and reimagined fairy tale story.
It took me a bit to finish, but I could not put it down. It’s one of those type of books that once you open it and before you know it, you’re done reading.
Thank you again, for this opportunity.
~~~~~~~
2nd review
I have to say, this story at the end reminded me of the movie Penelope. That you don’t need some knight shinning armor to come and rescue you. You need to find yourself and love yourself.
There is a lot that was said and I love that some of them touched close to home.
We need darkness to learn to love light.
We need sorrow to learn about joy.
We cannot live one without the other.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 Stars ✨
YA Retelling
“Not even God can teach a man to pray like fear can.”
Audio Version
YA Retelling
“Not even God can teach a man to pray like fear can.”
Audio Version
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced