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michelle_leitheoir's review against another edition
1.0
Oh Lord, this book is so problematic. First off, the synopsis kind of tries to disguise the chevalier's cruelty by not really saying what it is. If you can't pick up what it is from the synopsis, it's rape. And since that is such a MASSIVE trigger and it happens so early on in the book, I really feel like it was unfair not to include that detail in the synopsis for readers who have difficulty with that subject.
While I have a certain appreciation for the perspective of the handsome prince actually being monstrous on the inside while the animal form of Beast has a far more human heart, I could not shake the feeling throughout the book that what the story was saying is that it’s okay to fall in love with your rapist as long as he changes. That is probably not at all what Jensen intended, but for me, it was a subtext that was difficult, almost impossible, to ignore. And I think that’s a dangerous idea to promote, even if you didn’t mean to.
On a more technical level, the bits where Lucie was confined to a certain location by her immobility in her candlestick form just dragged by. The dialogue pretty much disappears, and we're left with Lucie's thoughts as she is stuck in one place waiting to be moved, which didn't do much to propel the plot forward. So, the pacing could have been tightened up some.
Also, speaking of Lucie turning into a candlestick, there were some alarm bells about Lucie being transformed into a beautiful but helpless tool that was only useful whenever Beast needed her.
So, basically, this book felt like some toxic advice and dangerous ideas wrapped up in a pretty little fairy tale, and even though I enjoyed certain aspects of the writing, I really can’t give it above one star because of how much the subtext that I perceived gave me the creeps.
While I have a certain appreciation for the perspective of the handsome prince actually being monstrous on the inside while the animal form of Beast has a far more human heart, I could not shake the feeling throughout the book that what the story was saying is that it’s okay to fall in love with your rapist as long as he changes. That is probably not at all what Jensen intended, but for me, it was a subtext that was difficult, almost impossible, to ignore. And I think that’s a dangerous idea to promote, even if you didn’t mean to.
On a more technical level, the bits where Lucie was confined to a certain location by her immobility in her candlestick form just dragged by. The dialogue pretty much disappears, and we're left with Lucie's thoughts as she is stuck in one place waiting to be moved, which didn't do much to propel the plot forward. So, the pacing could have been tightened up some.
Also, speaking of Lucie turning into a candlestick, there were some alarm bells about Lucie being transformed into a beautiful but helpless tool that was only useful whenever Beast needed her.
So, basically, this book felt like some toxic advice and dangerous ideas wrapped up in a pretty little fairy tale, and even though I enjoyed certain aspects of the writing, I really can’t give it above one star because of how much the subtext that I perceived gave me the creeps.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Rape