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hannahwoycik's review
3.0
Thank you to the author, Megan Crewe, for supplying me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Beast is a YA Urban Fantasy/Paranormal/Horror novel. When I first requested an ARC of this book, I didn’t read the description, and so I thought it was a Beauty and The Beast retelling. I was very wrong.
I don’t normally read ‘scary’ books, but Beast was scary – and I loved it.
For the first 30% of the book, I was bored. I didn’t like Max, or any of the side characters, and I didn’t like the choices that were being made by the characters (such as not going to the hospital. Like come on!!) I was considering DNFing it, but I decided to push on.
I’m glad I did. By 45%, I was sucked in and I needed to know what was going to happen. This book kept me up at night, because I was scared and intrigued.
Max was an unlikeable character. I never liked him, not even in the end. His decisions were questionable, and his morals were way out of wack. I also hated his constant rambling inner monologue about how he loved Jena, he needed to protect Ash (more like be a controlling jerk), and how he knew the real Davey was still stuck inside. I quite disliked Max, although I didn’t really like any of the characters – except for Vicky; I liked her. I felt they were very fake and two dimensional, and didn’t really speak like how teenagers speak (I should know, I’m a teenager myself).
I also had issues with Davey’s feelings for Ash. That felt very cliché. Max’s feelings for Jena were pretty cliché too. I felt the book could have been better without any romance at all, in my opinion.
While I wouldn’t have normally read Beast, I’m glad I did. Overall, I enjoyed it, especially the parts with Davey and him killing everyone. The descriptions of the deaths were awesome.
My BIGGEST problem with this book is when the gerbils are eaten by Davey. I thought that, while it may have been important to the plot, the extreme detail was unnecessary. I wish there had been a warning, at least, because although I did skim the part as much as possible, I felt quite upset by it.
All in all, Beast was a good book and I would recommend it for people who have a strong stomach and don’t mind being creeped out.
Beast is a YA Urban Fantasy/Paranormal/Horror novel. When I first requested an ARC of this book, I didn’t read the description, and so I thought it was a Beauty and The Beast retelling. I was very wrong.
I don’t normally read ‘scary’ books, but Beast was scary – and I loved it.
For the first 30% of the book, I was bored. I didn’t like Max, or any of the side characters, and I didn’t like the choices that were being made by the characters (such as not going to the hospital. Like come on!!) I was considering DNFing it, but I decided to push on.
I’m glad I did. By 45%, I was sucked in and I needed to know what was going to happen. This book kept me up at night, because I was scared and intrigued.
Max was an unlikeable character. I never liked him, not even in the end. His decisions were questionable, and his morals were way out of wack. I also hated his constant rambling inner monologue about how he loved Jena, he needed to protect Ash (more like be a controlling jerk), and how he knew the real Davey was still stuck inside. I quite disliked Max, although I didn’t really like any of the characters – except for Vicky; I liked her. I felt they were very fake and two dimensional, and didn’t really speak like how teenagers speak (I should know, I’m a teenager myself).
I also had issues with Davey’s feelings for Ash. That felt very cliché. Max’s feelings for Jena were pretty cliché too. I felt the book could have been better without any romance at all, in my opinion.
While I wouldn’t have normally read Beast, I’m glad I did. Overall, I enjoyed it, especially the parts with Davey and him killing everyone. The descriptions of the deaths were awesome.
My BIGGEST problem with this book is when the gerbils are eaten by Davey. I thought that, while it may have been important to the plot, the extreme detail was unnecessary. I wish there had been a warning, at least, because although I did skim the part as much as possible, I felt quite upset by it.
All in all, Beast was a good book and I would recommend it for people who have a strong stomach and don’t mind being creeped out.
wilko's review against another edition
4.0
Solid 3.5 star,
This is definitely a slow burn book but well worth persevering as it becomes a pretty crazy ride with some jaw dropping events and twists that keep you turning the page. The characters are pretty well developed and you can feel their highs and lows, as well as desperation to help their friend. The thing I really liked about the book was you really didn't know who would come out on top until the end and wow what an ending!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review and was not compensated in any way.
This is definitely a slow burn book but well worth persevering as it becomes a pretty crazy ride with some jaw dropping events and twists that keep you turning the page. The characters are pretty well developed and you can feel their highs and lows, as well as desperation to help their friend. The thing I really liked about the book was you really didn't know who would come out on top until the end and wow what an ending!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review and was not compensated in any way.
bookwormbunny's review against another edition
4.0
Beast by Megan Crewe is a paranormal/supernatural YA horror story. In this book we are introduced to Max, Jena, Davey, Vicky and Ash, Max's little sister. They're just a group of teenagers hanging out, smoking, drinking, partying and having a good time. Max, his best friend Davey, Max's girlfriend Vicky and a couple of their friends are heading out to the lake to set up for the party when on the way there they come across a mutilated body of a cow. Something really went at it but they don't know what but it does bother a couple of the girls. But they dismiss it thinking coyotes or some other animal had a go at the carcass. Night falls and the party is in full swing with some of their friends and Max's sister showing up. Max tells his friend Davey to go get some more wood for the fire and while he's walking into the woods to do so he is attacked by a creature. Max rushes to help his friend and fight off the monster. It looks vaguely human but is much stronger than a human which freaks Max out and the monster runs away and disappears. Since there are only a few of them left the friends split up to get Davey to the hospital but en-route he heals almost completely from his wounds. This scares his friends but since his dad tends to go off the deep end they agree to just keep an eye on him in case he ends up needing medical attention. What they don't expect is the speedy recovery that comes and the changes that soon begin to follow concerning Davey and how he goes from being the quiet shy nice guy to more confident, sly, aggressive and down right dangerous. Is the real Davey still in there or is he lost to them now?
Beast is an interesting read by Megan Crewe. In this story we see things through Max's eyes. Max isn't the brightest guy when you get down to it. It's a typical guy of where he's focused on getting through school, having a good time and having fun with his friends and girlfriend. Some people will view how he deals with and treats his best friend as bullying but it's all in your perspective. Me, I see it as typical male teenage behavior of a bit of rough housing at times until Davey begins to change and then things become more dangerous as things take on an edge that can't be ignored. Max and his friends try to understand what is going on with Davey and even try to find a way to help him but sometimes there just is no real help to be found because no one wishes to acknowledge that some things are possible.
This is a dark story but it's really engaging. I didn't really like the attitude that Max tended to take when dealing with certain situations and even certain individuals but then you have to remember that teenagers think they know everything and so get mad when they think adults are interfering. Max's sister Ash has been hurt by a boy she really liked and so instead of helping her deal with the pain he tells and encourages her to change and be different than who she is. Since Davey views the people who are trying to help him as being "manipulated" and "used" by Max they become targets in his sick game.
This book is very dark with a supernatural/paranormal twist. But in all reality it doesn't focus on that. It focuses mostly on the characters themselves as they watch Davey go through the changes that he goes through after being attacked and wondering what it is going on. Some wish to help while others simply are fascinated in the changes themselves. For me the characters are pretty well developed and are for the most part very true to life.
All in all I enjoyed reading this book though I would have liked a bit more of a supernatural/paranormal element to it than just the changes behind the attack and the creature who attacked him. The ending is not your typical ending and not what you'll expect when you finish this story but that is one element that I both like and dislike about it. LOL! At the end of the day I enjoyed reading this book and it kept me turning the pages wanting to know what happened next. So job well done to the author for that. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
I received a copy of this book for review.
Beast is an interesting read by Megan Crewe. In this story we see things through Max's eyes. Max isn't the brightest guy when you get down to it. It's a typical guy of where he's focused on getting through school, having a good time and having fun with his friends and girlfriend. Some people will view how he deals with and treats his best friend as bullying but it's all in your perspective. Me, I see it as typical male teenage behavior of a bit of rough housing at times until Davey begins to change and then things become more dangerous as things take on an edge that can't be ignored. Max and his friends try to understand what is going on with Davey and even try to find a way to help him but sometimes there just is no real help to be found because no one wishes to acknowledge that some things are possible.
This is a dark story but it's really engaging. I didn't really like the attitude that Max tended to take when dealing with certain situations and even certain individuals but then you have to remember that teenagers think they know everything and so get mad when they think adults are interfering. Max's sister Ash has been hurt by a boy she really liked and so instead of helping her deal with the pain he tells and encourages her to change and be different than who she is. Since Davey views the people who are trying to help him as being "manipulated" and "used" by Max they become targets in his sick game.
This book is very dark with a supernatural/paranormal twist. But in all reality it doesn't focus on that. It focuses mostly on the characters themselves as they watch Davey go through the changes that he goes through after being attacked and wondering what it is going on. Some wish to help while others simply are fascinated in the changes themselves. For me the characters are pretty well developed and are for the most part very true to life.
All in all I enjoyed reading this book though I would have liked a bit more of a supernatural/paranormal element to it than just the changes behind the attack and the creature who attacked him. The ending is not your typical ending and not what you'll expect when you finish this story but that is one element that I both like and dislike about it. LOL! At the end of the day I enjoyed reading this book and it kept me turning the pages wanting to know what happened next. So job well done to the author for that. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
I received a copy of this book for review.
tracie_nicole's review
4.0
*Thanks to Megan Crewe for providing me with this in exchange for a review!*
This was not the book I thought it would be. Usually, I don't read horror books, but this one was pretty good. At first it read like a typical teen-into-bloodthirsty monster book, but then it got so different around halfway through. It was fast paced, and Megan didn't shy away from the gory details of becoming a bloodthirsty monster. She kept you on your toes throughout the whole book. Sometimes I would want to put it down, but I would have to keep going because the chapters ended on a cliffhanger.
What I didn't like were the characters. I hated max so much. I hated how he pushed everyone around, and how he treated the women in this book. Especially his girlfriend. And I really disliked the ending of this and his "sudden redemption". The other characters were okie, but the teen drama made me roll my eyes so bad.
This was not the book I thought it would be. Usually, I don't read horror books, but this one was pretty good. At first it read like a typical teen-into-bloodthirsty monster book, but then it got so different around halfway through. It was fast paced, and Megan didn't shy away from the gory details of becoming a bloodthirsty monster. She kept you on your toes throughout the whole book. Sometimes I would want to put it down, but I would have to keep going because the chapters ended on a cliffhanger.
What I didn't like were the characters. I hated max so much. I hated how he pushed everyone around, and how he treated the women in this book. Especially his girlfriend. And I really disliked the ending of this and his "sudden redemption". The other characters were okie, but the teen drama made me roll my eyes so bad.
saccalai's review against another edition
4.0
Max is a great character, a real charmer though I thought he was way too hard on himself as the story went on. The book reminds me of Point Horror type that I used to read. It was full of suspense with a very unexpected ending, definitely not what I was anticipating.
I would love to read more about some of these characters.
I would love to read more about some of these characters.
katlynduncan's review
4.0
I’m a newbie when it comes to Megan Crewe’s novels, but I’m glad I started. I really enjoyed Beast, so much that I finished it within a few days. The writing style was great and kept the story moving at a fast pace. This book was unlike anything I’ve ever read and I look forward to reading more from Crewe in the future!
ruthsic's review
3.0
If you are a Teen Wolf fan, this book feels a lot like it. The story is basically of two friends, (think Stiles and Scott) but the two had sort of an unequal relationship. Max pretty much takes charge of Davey's life, and though the latter appreciates it at times, at most he resents it. Davey also has a terrible life at home due to an abusive father, and when he gets bit on a full moon and starts to change, he revels in this newfound power that he has. Max, on the other hand, is understandably afraid and hunts down cures for him. Davey, however, is letting the dark side of his transformation take over, and with that they are placed at odds.
As an action thriller, the book offers a lot of horror and the uncertainty that Teen Wolf fans will come to appreciate. Davey is unpredictable and vicious, and Max is running around trying to be one step ahead of him. Their relationship itself plays against them, because as Max is used to being the guy in charge, he doesn't offer Davey the knowledge or choice in the initial days. Nope, he jumps right to fear (even if it was warranted, as proved by the second half of the novel) and ruins any hope of reconciling their friendship and taking a less brutal way out.
As a character, Max is not much likeable. He directs the lives of the people around him, including Davey and his own younger sister, Amy. He plays with the hearts of the girls in the school, just because he can. His and Jena's arc did not fit well in the whole story overall, so I pretty much ignored that part going down. What I felt was amiss with the novel was the connection to characters. They are given ample backstories, but not fleshed out enough. Davey is not given a voice as to why he goes homicidal in such a short span of time. It feels, in a word, formulaic.
As a whole, it is enjoyable as a horror story. It certainly has its good moments but I wish more effort had gone into characterization.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from the author.
As an action thriller, the book offers a lot of horror and the uncertainty that Teen Wolf fans will come to appreciate. Davey is unpredictable and vicious, and Max is running around trying to be one step ahead of him. Their relationship itself plays against them, because as Max is used to being the guy in charge, he doesn't offer Davey the knowledge or choice in the initial days. Nope, he jumps right to fear (even if it was warranted, as proved by the second half of the novel) and ruins any hope of reconciling their friendship and taking a less brutal way out.
As a character, Max is not much likeable. He directs the lives of the people around him, including Davey and his own younger sister, Amy. He plays with the hearts of the girls in the school, just because he can. His and Jena's arc did not fit well in the whole story overall, so I pretty much ignored that part going down. What I felt was amiss with the novel was the connection to characters. They are given ample backstories, but not fleshed out enough. Davey is not given a voice as to why he goes homicidal in such a short span of time. It feels, in a word, formulaic.
As a whole, it is enjoyable as a horror story. It certainly has its good moments but I wish more effort had gone into characterization.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from the author.
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