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chelseazhao's review
fast-paced
3.0
This is a hard review to write. I think that this book could have been helped by being longer because too much of it sped by. I wished we had more time to get to know the characters and their motivations. I think the author did this because it is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast and they were hoping that we could take our knowledge of that and use it here instead of developing it more. The author definitely took much of the original tale, like character names (even of the smaller side characters) and even mannerisms (they are constantly being referred to as singing like in the Disney film). I wish those elements weren't so similar. Because we then have a more interesting Belle and Beast. I really just wished we had more development of plot and conflict.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia
smartie_chan's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
5 / 5 Stars
CW: Blood, Violence, Transphobia
Placeholder Review:
+ Queer Retelling of Beauty & The Beast
+ Gaston villain glow-up
+ Non-Verbal!Beast 🖤
+ Found Family
+ Meet-Cute of Belle & Beast
+ girls supporting girls
+ Platonic Love Story
Plus Point:
+ Belle is a huge girlboss
"It is never too late to help, Lumiere. It's never too late to show up, even if all you're here for is the end."
CW: Blood, Violence, Transphobia
Placeholder Review:
+ Queer Retelling of Beauty & The Beast
+ Gaston villain glow-up
+ Non-Verbal!Beast 🖤
+ Found Family
+ Meet-Cute of Belle & Beast
+ girls supporting girls
+ Platonic Love Story
Plus Point:
+ Belle is a huge girlboss
"It is never too late to help, Lumiere. It's never too late to show up, even if all you're here for is the end."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Blood
Minor: Transphobia
f18's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I noticed a lot more editing mistakes in this entry than the previous two stories-- not just typos but things like Gaston's hair changing colour.
Beauty's Beast got a lower rating because I felt like there was muddled pacing which in this more complex story made it harder for the reader to believe character motivations without fleshing them out more. The moment that stands out most is Quinn struggling with their mood swings being seen by Belle as inhuman, but then later in the day she is much more understanding without the reader really seeing how she got to that point.
The big changes from the traditional formula of the story and from the Disney version were really enjoyable despite that though! I loved that Belle being accepted by Quinn and the household whether looking traditionally feminine or not is mirrored by Quinn's nonhuman looks being accepted by Belle and her father and them actively choosing how they want to present in the end.
Beauty's Beast got a lower rating because I felt like there was muddled pacing which in this more complex story made it harder for the reader to believe character motivations without fleshing them out more. The moment that stands out most is Quinn struggling with their mood swings being seen by Belle as inhuman, but then later in the day she is much more understanding without the reader really seeing how she got to that point.
The big changes from the traditional formula of the story and from the Disney version were really enjoyable despite that though!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Blood
Minor: Transphobia