a_ab's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was a very pleasant slow-paced character-introspective book. I appreciated the fact that the story followed the classical version of the fairytale pretty closely, eliminating unnecessary surprises and focusing instead on the inner workings of Beast's mind.
The book also avoiding the pitfall of making the first person narrator too positive - even in his own mind, he's far from perfect, but, very realistically, the imperfections he admits to in his mind are not necessarily the ones that matter the most in the situation. This level of psychological realism elevated this retelling into own fully original story despite the predetermined plot.
However, I felt that the book was longer than it needed to be, and at the same time it didn't give us enough of an insight into the relationship building between the characters. Yes, they spent a lot of time together, but most of that time is dedicated to one-sided entertainment (her playing music for him or him reading books out loud to her) and we get very little dialogue between them - they must have had some discussions about the books, the gardens, the castle, the everyday necessities of cohabitation, even in a magical castle. But just like the original, this book skips over all those interactions, even though they must have been more important for the relationship than the few after-dinner marriage proposals we did get to see.
The book also avoiding the pitfall of making the first person narrator too positive - even in his own mind, he's far from perfect, but, very realistically, the imperfections he admits to in his mind are not necessarily the ones that matter the most in the situation. This level of psychological realism elevated this retelling into own fully original story despite the predetermined plot.
However, I felt that the book was longer than it needed to be, and at the same time it didn't give us enough of an insight into the relationship building between the characters. Yes, they spent a lot of time together, but most of that time is dedicated to one-sided entertainment (her playing music for him or him reading books out loud to her) and we get very little dialogue between them - they must have had some discussions about the books, the gardens, the castle, the everyday necessities of cohabitation, even in a magical castle. But just like the original, this book skips over all those interactions, even though they must have been more important for the relationship than the few after-dinner marriage proposals we did get to see.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Minor: Infidelity, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, and Rape
The descriptions of Beast's father make it very clear that he was a philandering abusive broke l brute, who raped and abused every female in his path, and that Beast's mother died from an STD passed onto her by her despicable husband. It's never described in detail, but even as a third person description, the situation can be very triggering. So much so that I got mad at the fairy for not exacting brutal punishments on that guy instead of the Breast we have. But then, she might have been the one to cause his fairly early death - just not early enough.abomine's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Beauty and the Beast is a fairytale that's very near and dear to my heart, so I'm very picky about retellings of it. I was looking forward to a retelling from the Beast's perspective, but I couldn't keep from thinking the whole time I was reading this, "Robin McKinley did this better in Beauty."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
lizreadsbooks's review
emotional
slow-paced
3.0
If you like Beauty and the Beast, you’ll likely enjoy this rather standard retelling without many twists, though it is narrated from the Beast’s perspective. The writing is lyrical and romantic. However, it felt overly long and slow paced to me— probably didn’t need 400 pages to tell this story. Still, I enjoyed the added details and side plots about Isabeau’s family, especially her sisters. The father character felt a bit unnecessarily melodramatic. In all, as a fairytale retelling, it’s pleasant, if not revolutionary. 3ish stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
halfbloodprincess_hogwarts's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
2.5
I do love myself a good retelling, but not at this "watching paint dry" slow of a pace.
It pained me how slow The Beast's Heart is. Well, at the same time, you have no other choice but to give grave details of these 2 bound in a castle togethe ((Beast and man whom wandered into his castle (Isabeau's father) and Isabeau))....with no one else around.
I am thankful for the stories of the Beast watching over Isabeau's family and how her family evolved to be less dependent on her. Until I started blurring all the male characters together. I was still able to keep up.
Honest to God, I was not prepared for her father's reaction when Isabeau mentioned how much she missed the Beast. This was the only time this book had me hanging onto every word.
Numerous times I wanted to dnf it but stuck to it as 1) would have been 2 in a row and 2) a fellow bookstagrammer suggested this to me when I mentioned how much I adored Beasts and Beauty 😑The ending did make me happy, but I kept daydreaming while listening to the audio.
1 read through is enough for me😩😑
It pained me how slow The Beast's Heart is. Well, at the same time, you have no other choice but to give grave details of these 2 bound in a castle togethe ((Beast and man whom wandered into his castle (Isabeau's father) and Isabeau))....with no one else around.
I am thankful for the stories of the Beast watching over Isabeau's family and how her family evolved to be less dependent on her. Until I started blurring all the male characters together. I was still able to keep up.
Honest to God, I was not prepared for her father's reaction when Isabeau mentioned how much she missed the Beast. This was the only time this book had me hanging onto every word.
Numerous times I wanted to dnf it but stuck to it as 1) would have been 2 in a row and 2) a fellow bookstagrammer suggested this to me when I mentioned how much I adored Beasts and Beauty 😑The ending did make me happy, but I kept daydreaming while listening to the audio.
1 read through is enough for me😩😑
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
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