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a_miche1s's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
4.0
I know, I know. I'm weird. I'm one of the very few bookworms who's not a huge fan of Beauty and the Beast. I can explain. I mean, of course I love the library. I just wasn't a huge fan of the Beast turning back into a handsome prince. So, I was already quite sure this book was not gonna be my favorite book in the series and therefore dreaded reading it a little, however, now I've finished I have to admit it was way more interesting than I thought it would be.
And that's mostly because there's not that much material in this from the movie we all know. Most of the story is new, fresh and quite original. I was a little sceptic of the role of the Odd Sisters in the Evil Queen book, because the Queen didn't deserve any of it, but actually the role of the Odd Sisters in this book felt a lot more natural and a lot more fitting. They really did give the story an original spin and I loved seeing it all unfold.
Although everything that happens in the movie also happens in this book, Valentino added an interesting back story. A story where the Beast and Gaston used to be best friends once upon a time and most of all a story where we actually see that the Beast deserved what happened to him. And not just because of that one time he sent an old beggar away. The book really shows us the Beast, how mean he used to be, how he treated humans and how he most of all treated girls.
What I loved most of all, is that the curse in this book was designed to have his looks reflect his soul. He didn't go from Prince to Beast within a day, it grows. Every time he treats someone badly, every time he thinks less of people, every time he blames others for his own mistakes his appearance chances. Becoming the Beast is literally a direct result of his own actions and I loved watching him realize that and I loved his emotions when he figured out the curse was very real.
I'm now even more excited to continue with the rest of the series!
And that's mostly because there's not that much material in this from the movie we all know. Most of the story is new, fresh and quite original. I was a little sceptic of the role of the Odd Sisters in the Evil Queen book, because the Queen didn't deserve any of it, but actually the role of the Odd Sisters in this book felt a lot more natural and a lot more fitting. They really did give the story an original spin and I loved seeing it all unfold.
Although everything that happens in the movie also happens in this book, Valentino added an interesting back story. A story where the Beast and Gaston used to be best friends once upon a time and most of all a story where we actually see that the Beast deserved what happened to him. And not just because of that one time he sent an old beggar away. The book really shows us the Beast, how mean he used to be, how he treated humans and how he most of all treated girls.
What I loved most of all, is that the curse in this book was designed to have his looks reflect his soul. He didn't go from Prince to Beast within a day, it grows. Every time he treats someone badly, every time he thinks less of people, every time he blames others for his own mistakes his appearance chances. Becoming the Beast is literally a direct result of his own actions and I loved watching him realize that and I loved his emotions when he figured out the curse was very real.
I'm now even more excited to continue with the rest of the series!
l_black_33's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
mauschi's review against another edition
emotional
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
eelscafe's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
paxsupernova's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
undadarsea's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
nieve24's review against another edition
4.0
This book certainly made me feel lots of different emotions! I loved getting to know more about the prince’s backstory, showing what he was like before he became the beast and how that then influenced his development into one! I also loved the use of characters to add more depth to the story with plenty of little twists along the way!
I did however feel that the relationship between Belle and the Beast could of been explored a lot more to add more depth, as it felt a bit glossed over in some places especially when coming to the end of the book!
But overall I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend! I can’t wait to read the next one in the series.
I did however feel that the relationship between Belle and the Beast could of been explored a lot more to add more depth, as it felt a bit glossed over in some places especially when coming to the end of the book!
But overall I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend! I can’t wait to read the next one in the series.
penniew79's review against another edition
4.0
Beauty and the Beast is my favorite of all of the Disney movies. So I was looking forward to this. I was curious why the beast made it to the villains book, since the character wasn’t really a villain. But as I read it, I understood. You get the backstory of his transformation. Now from the other books I’ve read, they made the back stories tie in perfectly with the movies. This one did not. Maybe I noticed it more since it is my favorite movie. But to be tied in smoothly with the movie the Beast would have been cursed by just one witch, who had not been a fiancé. She was someone who came to his door for help and he turned her away because she looked like a hag. Then she turned beautiful. But I was able to over look that part. The parts that I couldn’t get past were different. For one Gaston and he being friends. That seems impossible. Because when belle tries to tell him about the beast he thinks she’s crazy so she has to show him the beast through the mirror. He thought she made him and the castle up. But if he was a friend he knew he existed and especially when she spoke of the castle. Also, Gaston had her come to the prince’s party before he turned into the beast?! Belle had never been to the castle before. Also the items around the house told her they had been transformed years ago. In the book it just happens before belle comes. I don’t know, it was kind of a let down compared to how well the other books tied into the movies.
jade's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0