A review by spootilious
Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

 

Read: April 28, 2023
 Title: Beauty
 Series: Folktales #1
 Author: Robin Mckinley
 Genre: Romance, Fairy Tales, Retellings, Fantasy
 Rating: 2.5/5
 Review: 

Beauty is… a solidly written book. It is a sort read of less than 300 pages and Mckinley is very good at setting a scene. 

To be honest though, I didn’t care for this book. It’s not that I disliked it or that it was bad; it is simply that I don’t care for it one way or another. 

Mckinley is amazing at writing descriptors, but it can cause a scene to drag on and made this book far too slow. In addition, the book is broken into three parts, two of which could have honestly been removed and the story wouldn’t have suffered for it. 

The magic in the book is fun and whimsical and I truly loved the portrayal of the beast but most of the attention was pulled away from both and focused on attire and the high quality of the food. Which honestly was a missed opportunity. 

I found most of the characters forgettable and wished there was more of a focus on Beauty’s time at the castle. 

Overall though it wasn’t terrible but certainly doesn’t make me want to read more of the folktale series or Mckinley’s work. 

 Quotes: 

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