Reviews

The Beast's Heart by Leife Shallcross

elodiethefangirl's review against another edition

emotional hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

epsyphus's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

I loved this! I've read a few Beauty and the Beast retellings but never from the point of view of the Beast. I loved the atmosphere and writing was beautiful. The characters were so sweet and the pining was so good it made me cry. I want to read this one again after a month or two. 

vespix's review against another edition

4.0

This was not so much a retelling as a fanfiction; there were changes, but the core story of the Beauty and the Beast remains the same. It’s well written and a pleasant read, but I didn’t like how things got resolved in the end. Still, no regrets about reading it.

katekate_reads_'s review against another edition

4.0

I loved the experience of listening to this audiobook production of The Beast’s Heart. This YA retelling of Beauty & the Beast told from the beast’s perspective was exactly what I wanted it to be.

The comfort of returning to a story that I loved from the first time I saw the animated version in 1991 - but updated for a slightly older audience and given to us from a slightly different perspective.

What bookish girl can help but feel warmth in her heart for the Beast with a love of books and a desire to make his beauty happy? But this time we feel Isabeau’s struggle as she is torn between choosing to return to her family or stay with her Beast. I think many people who have felt torn between two options can relate to this.

Making it even better - the audiobook is narrated by Jim Dale who also gives me nostalgic memories of listening to the Harry Potter series. His performance makes this tale even more magical.

I recommend if you are a fan of the Beauty and the Beast movie(s) but aren’t someone who gets upset about details being different.

ferlintokezeirquizes's review against another edition

medium-paced

2.0

missy_reads's review

4.0

This retelling of Beauty and the Beast is one of the more unique versions of this fairy tale I have read.  It is told from the perspective of the beast and shows how he developed great compassion for others through the time of his curse.

justgrace's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

What a pleasant surprise! This book has been on my shelves, in my TBR from some time, and suddenly I was inspired to pick it up and it whisked me away most pleasantly! I laughed, I cried, I swooned. Enough said.

chefgirlsatan's review against another edition

3.0

DNF at 41% into the audiobook. Audiobook narrator is Jim Dale (Harry Potter books) which I why I picked this up - I wanted to hear him! I’m not really into retelling stories although this one was fun but couldn’t keep my interest in the long run.

androids_aliens_wizards's review against another edition

emotional mysterious relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

kerrisbooks13's review against another edition

3.0

3.75 stars! This was a pretty good retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Told from the perspective of the beast himself you get a different insight. Some points dragged a little and it relied heavily on the sub plot of Isabeau’s sisters but still fun