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amyapple's review
2.0
Gorgeous cover reeled me in for yet another retelling of Beauty and The Beast. Yes the premise seemed hopeful as pirates aren’t the usual thing but this book fell super short.
The first half was so much like the OG beauty And the beast story tropes that it felt almost like a paraphrase of another book. It was boring.
The romance that comes through is forced and typical of the genre but not done very well. Nothing happens in the story that should change her vibes towards him and vice versa. So how ?!? Why!?
The ending was put together ridiculously and you knew what it would be ofcourse- although I was hoping for a unique twist somewhere because that was what I was waiting for through the whole book. Needless to say it never got there. Some things don’t even make sense tbh.
Some of the side characters seemed more interesting that the main ones and I wish there was more of them instead of focussing on a story we already read so many times.
The first half was so much like the OG beauty And the beast story tropes that it felt almost like a paraphrase of another book. It was boring.
The romance that comes through is forced and typical of the genre but not done very well. Nothing happens in the story that should change her vibes towards him and vice versa. So how ?!? Why!?
The ending was put together ridiculously and you knew what it would be ofcourse- although I was hoping for a unique twist somewhere because that was what I was waiting for through the whole book. Needless to say it never got there. Some things don’t even make sense tbh.
Some of the side characters seemed more interesting that the main ones and I wish there was more of them instead of focussing on a story we already read so many times.
elle1991's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-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
3.0
kelreadsbooks_'s review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Sarah Street has absolutely captured the magic of what made beauty and the beast work and transformed it into an ethereal, captivating story on the high seas with even higher stakes.
Although the premise is familiar, it's also fresh and inventive, with side characters you'll love just as much as the main ones. The mystery shrouding The Heartless King, keeps you guessing until the very last.
If you're after -
🏴☠️ fairy tale retelling
🏴☠️ slow burn
🏴☠️ pirates
🏴☠️ enemies to lovers
🏴☠️ found family
🏴☠️ brooding MMC
🏴☠️ slow burn
🏴☠️ touch her and die
🏴☠️ suitable for YA readers
this one is for you.
I dare you not to fall in love with Ria and Sebastian's story, to not be affected by their seemingly hopeless happily ever after... I'll be thinking about their story for a long time
Although the premise is familiar, it's also fresh and inventive, with side characters you'll love just as much as the main ones. The mystery shrouding The Heartless King, keeps you guessing until the very last.
If you're after -
🏴☠️ fairy tale retelling
🏴☠️ slow burn
🏴☠️ pirates
🏴☠️ enemies to lovers
🏴☠️ found family
🏴☠️ brooding MMC
🏴☠️ slow burn
🏴☠️ touch her and die
🏴☠️ suitable for YA readers
this one is for you.
I dare you not to fall in love with Ria and Sebastian's story, to not be affected by their seemingly hopeless happily ever after... I'll be thinking about their story for a long time
faye_v's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
adriannasophiabookss's review
4.0
Thank you to Hachette Children’s Group and NetGalley for this ARC! I apologise it’s taken me so long to read it. I’m always up for a beauty and the beast retelling and this one had an interesting twist to it so I was really excited read it!
This is a YA fantasy novel that is basically Beauty and the Beast x Pirates of the Caribbean. Ria Lucroy lives with her two sisters in a crumbling cottage on the seaside. The whole town of Bray is poor and hungry because the townspeople fear the “Heartless King” who is said to roam the seas and take lives at will. One night Ria’s father comes home after a run in with the Heartless King and tells her and her sisters that he has to send their sickly sister Felicie or hand himself over to the Heartless King and his crew at sunrise. Ria can’t handle either of those options so she hands herself over instead. At first she is determined to hate the King and his crew but over time the King starts to thaw and the crew become companions. However, Ria has questions and many secrets to uncover before it’s too late.
This was a fantastic retelling of the classic story. It stayed true to the main plot points of the original but there is also an element of originality as well and many twists that are unexpected. This in my opinion is a retelling done well. The characters are well developed and although very morally grey, are incredibly loveable in their own ways. I could feel the chemistry between Ria and the Heartless King developing over time rather than it being insta love and overall the book was well paced.
The writing in this is really beautiful and Sarah Street is a very talented author. This is her debut and you wouldn’t be able to tell, she has a way with words and you can tell a lot of passion and creativity has gone into this story. I really appreciated the development of Ria’s friendships with Aron and Una alongside the love story because it added more depth and made you root for a happy ending all the more. There were also some really cool (and slightly creepy) creatures included which upped the stakes.
Overall if you’re looking for a really good YA fantasy retelling you should definitely check out this underrated gem! It was released on 25th May so it’s available now and I can’t wait to see what Sarah Street releases in the future!
This is a YA fantasy novel that is basically Beauty and the Beast x Pirates of the Caribbean. Ria Lucroy lives with her two sisters in a crumbling cottage on the seaside. The whole town of Bray is poor and hungry because the townspeople fear the “Heartless King” who is said to roam the seas and take lives at will. One night Ria’s father comes home after a run in with the Heartless King and tells her and her sisters that he has to send their sickly sister Felicie or hand himself over to the Heartless King and his crew at sunrise. Ria can’t handle either of those options so she hands herself over instead. At first she is determined to hate the King and his crew but over time the King starts to thaw and the crew become companions. However, Ria has questions and many secrets to uncover before it’s too late.
This was a fantastic retelling of the classic story. It stayed true to the main plot points of the original but there is also an element of originality as well and many twists that are unexpected. This in my opinion is a retelling done well. The characters are well developed and although very morally grey, are incredibly loveable in their own ways. I could feel the chemistry between Ria and the Heartless King developing over time rather than it being insta love and overall the book was well paced.
The writing in this is really beautiful and Sarah Street is a very talented author. This is her debut and you wouldn’t be able to tell, she has a way with words and you can tell a lot of passion and creativity has gone into this story. I really appreciated the development of Ria’s friendships with Aron and Una alongside the love story because it added more depth and made you root for a happy ending all the more. There were also some really cool (and slightly creepy) creatures included which upped the stakes.
Overall if you’re looking for a really good YA fantasy retelling you should definitely check out this underrated gem! It was released on 25th May so it’s available now and I can’t wait to see what Sarah Street releases in the future!
lovely_lisa's review against another edition
I didn't like the Heartless King and how he was acting. Rias and Sebastians interactions were sooooo weird and felt honesty disturbing to me that just couldn't continue. I honestly couldn't see myself liking their relationship that was going to happen in the rest of the book. The 300 years age gap game me the rest. Nope not with me.
I also found it quite confusing how a whole library and a dining hall could fit into a ship..
I also found it quite confusing how a whole library and a dining hall could fit into a ship..
maddydaisy's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
emilyagnewbooks's review
2.0
⚠️ SPOILER ALERT ⚠️
I was really looking forward to this novel as it was based around pirates, however, it didn’t quite reach my expectations. I found that the MC Ria didn’t really think for herself. She ‘sacrificed’ herself for her sister yet took everything that the pirate crew told her as truth. These pirates who you met literally half an hour ago is saying you’re a princess when your family you’ve known for almost two decades never brought it up??? I would think a little bit more questioning might be needed. There also wasn’t a lot of chemistry between the love interest and Ria, one moment she’s terrified of him and the next she is kissing him without the tension/chemistry build up.
Overall, I did read this novel quite quickly and thought that the world building was quite good, it’s just the characters that needed a little bit more developing.
I was really looking forward to this novel as it was based around pirates, however, it didn’t quite reach my expectations. I found that the MC Ria didn’t really think for herself. She ‘sacrificed’ herself for her sister yet took everything that the pirate crew told her as truth. These pirates who you met literally half an hour ago is saying you’re a princess when your family you’ve known for almost two decades never brought it up??? I would think a little bit more questioning might be needed. There also wasn’t a lot of chemistry between the love interest and Ria, one moment she’s terrified of him and the next she is kissing him without the tension/chemistry build up.
Overall, I did read this novel quite quickly and thought that the world building was quite good, it’s just the characters that needed a little bit more developing.
kt01's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
S**.5
Unique pirate take on the beauty and the beast story. Beautiful writing style and descriptions. Well-done characters. It works as a stand-alone, but I could also see it as a series.
Sometimes portrayal of time felt a bit off - a week might have passed, but didn’t always feel like it.
Would have been 5 star but brought down by intensity of some of the relationship in middle of book
Unique pirate take on the beauty and the beast story. Beautiful writing style and descriptions. Well-done characters. It works as a stand-alone, but I could also see it as a series.
Sometimes portrayal of time felt a bit off - a week might have passed, but didn’t always feel like it.
Would have been 5 star but brought down by intensity of some of the relationship in middle of book