why_eliza_reads 's review for:

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

4.5

relaxing medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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I'm so glad I read this. This feels like the basis for Beauty and the Beast as we know it today. And perhaps it is? So many elements from this book I saw in other retellings I've read, and there were some pretty key details that seem copy and pasted from this 1978 novel to the 1991 animated movie. 

I love Beauty and the Beast, and this rendition of it felt classic, timeless, polished and sophisticated.