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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
This book presents an intriguing take on the classic "Beauty and the Beast" story. In this version, the main character, Arabella, is considered too ambitious and emotional and becomes the "Beast." As a result of societal pressure to conform, Arabella's inability to suppress her passions leads to a curse that confines her and her loved ones to a castle. Years later, a thief named Beau arrives, offering hope for breaking the curse. The novel explores themes of self-acceptance and societal expectations, challenging the traditional ideas of beauty and power. Donnelly's storytelling is captivating and urges readers to confront the emotional prisons we create for ourselves, making this story a powerful reminder of the importance of being true to oneself.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It took me a second to start this book. I was suspicious of how a classic story like Beauty and the Beast would work as a gender swap. But it does. I was also confused by the different points of view. But the more you read, the more your eyes are opened.
It's a very introspective novel.
It's a very introspective novel.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-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
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It started a little too slow for my liking. Once I got halfway it actually got more interesting and the ending made me actually appreciate the story more. She finally accepts all parts of herself and not just a part. This part of self acceptance helped her love herself truly.
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
"Some say that fairy tales are windows that show us a make-believe world. Full of impossible creatures. But they are wrong. Fairy tales are mirrors, not windows. They show us this world. They show us ourselves. . . . Come closer to the mirror, child. Closer. What do you see? Troll? Witch? Ogre? Beast? Hunt the beast, the old ones say. Kill the beast. But what if you are the beast?"
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! At first I was very confused by the magic system and it honestly felt creepy to me. This is something that could turn some people away, because the magic system is never really explained, it's more of each magical thing being a metaphor or symbol for something that you will discover as you read, which was something I personally loved! It had me wanting to go back and read some of the scenes because when my eyes were opened to what the author was getting at, I was quite literally reading in a whole new way!
This was such a good story portraying what happens when the world tells you to act a certain way and you begin to hate your emotions until you eventually wrap yourself in despair and hate yourself.
The romance was also super cute and very wholesome and true to the emotional battle that giving your heart to someone is and should be.
Content: Brief mention of two of the servant men being in a relationship however it wasn't described or even talked about for very long.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! At first I was very confused by the magic system and it honestly felt creepy to me. This is something that could turn some people away, because the magic system is never really explained, it's more of each magical thing being a metaphor or symbol for something that you will discover as you read, which was something I personally loved! It had me wanting to go back and read some of the scenes because when my eyes were opened to what the author was getting at, I was quite literally reading in a whole new way!
This was such a good story portraying what happens when the world tells you to act a certain way and you begin to hate your emotions until you eventually wrap yourself in despair and hate yourself.
The romance was also super cute and very wholesome and true to the emotional battle that giving your heart to someone is and should be.
Content: Brief mention of two of the servant men being in a relationship however it wasn't described or even talked about for very long.
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A pretty good fairytale retelling, really liked the concept. I really enjoyed the way the people in the book were handled. They weren’t a copy and paste of the original, but there were people you knew were meant to be from the original. I loved how in depth we got into the backstories/lives of the different events, really added to the story. I found everything to do with the curse a little confusing, but I really liked the whole deal with the court and then being representations of emotions, especially when all the more positive or difficult ines started coming back. The wee girls were the best, really liked how it seemed that one was in the cellar and one in the attic, far from each other. Than the plot twist that Love was hiding as the wee boy in the kitchen??? All the comments about him being dirty was really just her hiding, I loved it!! Beau and Arabella’s relationship was so good, the self-sacrificing, the learning to love, just amazing.
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced