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A review by imme_van_gorp
Laurent and the Beast by K.A. Merikan
4.0
➛First read: April 2022 | ★4.0 stars
➛Second read: January 2023 | ★4.0 stars
"Even though we were born centuries apart, I'm sure our souls are entwined."
Even though I did enjoy this a lot, I have mixed feelings about it. It had aspects I absolutely adore, but also things that frustrated me to no end…
The main thing I loved here was the general idea of the book: it’s a beauty and the beast retelling mixed in with time-travel, a biker gang, and a pact with the devil.
You cannot tell me that that doesn’t sound good!
Thus, it is not a big surprise that I ended up really enjoying the plotline and tropes that were explored with this novel. It was engaging, intriguing and even quite unique.
Unfortunately, I do have to say that the pacing was a bit off and I couldn’t help but feel bored from time to time. Some scenes were just too long and the book could be very heavy on the descriptions, which I’m not a big fan of.
Luckily, I absolutely adored one of the main characters: Laurent.
His ignorance about all things concerning modern times was simultaneously adorable as well as hilarious, especially since he was otherwise clearly such a smart guy. His innocence, kindness and just overall sweetness also warmed my heart.
His personality truly made me see him as the beautiful angel he was described as looks-wise.
However, my love for Laurent also leads me to one of my biggest complaints with this book which was the treatment he sometimes received from Beast.
Beast might have been terribly insecure about his looks and scarred skin, but he honestly didn’t need to worry about that, because even if he had been as handsome as he used to be, there is no way he had been good enough for Laurent as a person on the inside.
I just didn’t like how Beast got angry over nothing, had so much mistrust, or lashed out quite viciously when things didn’t go exactly the way he wanted them to.
The worst thing about it was that every time something like this happened, it was Laurent who tried to appease him and came crawling back. It was never the other way around, and I don’t think Beast ever apologized first, if at all.
At least he did always forgive Laurent quickly, as it was impossible for Beast to stay mad at him long and he just wanted to be with the sweet and beautiful boy so badly.
And honestly, I did really enjoy their relationship when Beast wasn’t being completely unreasonable.
Outside of their quarrels, Beast had a lot of affection for Laurent and seemed to adore his beauty and character. In their better moments, he damn near worshiped the ground Laurent walked on. I loved that.
What I also loved was the way Laurent saw Beast. He never saw him as ugly or monstrous: instead, he was completely accepting and gentle with him. It warmed my heart to watch Laurent see through Beast’s outside to look at his inside only and fall irrevocably in love with him that way.
All in all, their relationship could definitely make me swoon just as much as it could irritate me. Hence, my mixed feelings. But overall, I had a lot of fun with this book and my love for Laurent was very strong.
➛Second read: January 2023 | ★4.0 stars
"Even though we were born centuries apart, I'm sure our souls are entwined."
Even though I did enjoy this a lot, I have mixed feelings about it. It had aspects I absolutely adore, but also things that frustrated me to no end…
The main thing I loved here was the general idea of the book: it’s a beauty and the beast retelling mixed in with time-travel, a biker gang, and a pact with the devil.
You cannot tell me that that doesn’t sound good!
Thus, it is not a big surprise that I ended up really enjoying the plotline and tropes that were explored with this novel. It was engaging, intriguing and even quite unique.
Unfortunately, I do have to say that the pacing was a bit off and I couldn’t help but feel bored from time to time. Some scenes were just too long and the book could be very heavy on the descriptions, which I’m not a big fan of.
Luckily, I absolutely adored one of the main characters: Laurent.
His ignorance about all things concerning modern times was simultaneously adorable as well as hilarious, especially since he was otherwise clearly such a smart guy. His innocence, kindness and just overall sweetness also warmed my heart.
His personality truly made me see him as the beautiful angel he was described as looks-wise.
However, my love for Laurent also leads me to one of my biggest complaints with this book which was the treatment he sometimes received from Beast.
Beast might have been terribly insecure about his looks and scarred skin, but he honestly didn’t need to worry about that, because even if he had been as handsome as he used to be, there is no way he had been good enough for Laurent as a person on the inside.
I just didn’t like how Beast got angry over nothing, had so much mistrust, or lashed out quite viciously when things didn’t go exactly the way he wanted them to.
The worst thing about it was that every time something like this happened, it was Laurent who tried to appease him and came crawling back. It was never the other way around, and I don’t think Beast ever apologized first, if at all.
At least he did always forgive Laurent quickly, as it was impossible for Beast to stay mad at him long and he just wanted to be with the sweet and beautiful boy so badly.
And honestly, I did really enjoy their relationship when Beast wasn’t being completely unreasonable.
Outside of their quarrels, Beast had a lot of affection for Laurent and seemed to adore his beauty and character. In their better moments, he damn near worshiped the ground Laurent walked on. I loved that.
What I also loved was the way Laurent saw Beast. He never saw him as ugly or monstrous: instead, he was completely accepting and gentle with him. It warmed my heart to watch Laurent see through Beast’s outside to look at his inside only and fall irrevocably in love with him that way.
All in all, their relationship could definitely make me swoon just as much as it could irritate me. Hence, my mixed feelings. But overall, I had a lot of fun with this book and my love for Laurent was very strong.