_kjmac_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.0
leahegood's review against another edition
4.0
Yeva is no maiden needing rescue. When her father's hunting dog returns without him, she promises her sisters that she will return to them and dives into the forest, determined to find her father before it's too late. Instead, she finds herself imprisoned by the beast who killed him.
The beast, in turn, needs a hunter. At first he assumes a hunter will come in search of her. In time, he realizes Yeva herself is the hunter he needs.
This retelling of Beauty and the Beast is unique in that Yeva is a fiercer version of Beauty. She loves the woods and will not be tamed. Her fear of the beast is short lived. She is not a Beauty who wins the beasts heart by wandering around the castle reading magical books and befriending invisible servants. But neither is she hardened or cruel.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I had a slight quibble with the ending. But it didn't ruin the contentment of finishing a good story. There is also a magical woman who wanders the beast woods without clothing. Not sure why that was necessary? Perhaps a bit of mythology that was lost on me.
All in all. A solid retelling with enough of the original to make it satisfying as a retelling and enough of a twist to make it original.
The beast, in turn, needs a hunter. At first he assumes a hunter will come in search of her. In time, he realizes Yeva herself is the hunter he needs.
This retelling of Beauty and the Beast is unique in that Yeva is a fiercer version of Beauty. She loves the woods and will not be tamed. Her fear of the beast is short lived. She is not a Beauty who wins the beasts heart by wandering around the castle reading magical books and befriending invisible servants. But neither is she hardened or cruel.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I had a slight quibble with the ending. But it didn't ruin the contentment of finishing a good story. There is also a magical woman who wanders the beast woods without clothing. Not sure why that was necessary? Perhaps a bit of mythology that was lost on me.
All in all. A solid retelling with enough of the original to make it satisfying as a retelling and enough of a twist to make it original.
juliterario's review against another edition
2.0
- SIN SPOILERS -
Honestamente, me decepcioné enormemente. Hace mucho que quería leer este libro, pero aún así una parte de mí sentía que no iba a ser lo que yo creía. Un sentimiento... Y al final estuve en lo correcto, ya que ahora lamento tener que decir que este libro ha sido una decepción :(
No me gustaron ni los personajes, ni los diálogos, ni el romance, ni la trama en sí. Lo único que aprecié fue la ambientación. La idea de un retelling de La Bella y La Bestia en Rusia medieval suena genial, pero a la vez el libro ya suena muy predecible. Y lo fue en todo momento. Desde la mitad del libro (o antes) ya podía saber cómo iba a terminar. Existía la posibilidad de que no fuera así, pero al final lo fue. El libro terminó justo como esperaba y fue horrible. PRE-DE-CI-BLE a muerte. El romance me pareció muy... enfermizo. Incoherente. Loco. ENFERMIZO, de nuevo. La relación no era sana! Era lo más tóxico de todo! No sé, me exasperé muchísimo leyendo esta novela y no se las recomiendo.
Le daría solamente 1 estrella en GR de no ser por un detalle: los capítulos narrados por la Bestia. Nunca había visto un retelling de este cuento de hadas donde se llega a saber el punto de vista de la Bestia. Y eso que hay muchos. Me encantó lo que la autora hizo con la Bestia en este relato, así que le doy 2 estrellas.
Honestamente, me decepcioné enormemente. Hace mucho que quería leer este libro, pero aún así una parte de mí sentía que no iba a ser lo que yo creía. Un sentimiento... Y al final estuve en lo correcto, ya que ahora lamento tener que decir que este libro ha sido una decepción :(
No me gustaron ni los personajes, ni los diálogos, ni el romance, ni la trama en sí. Lo único que aprecié fue la ambientación. La idea de un retelling de La Bella y La Bestia en Rusia medieval suena genial, pero a la vez el libro ya suena muy predecible. Y lo fue en todo momento. Desde la mitad del libro (o antes) ya podía saber cómo iba a terminar. Existía la posibilidad de que no fuera así, pero al final lo fue. El libro terminó justo como esperaba y fue horrible. PRE-DE-CI-BLE a muerte. El romance me pareció muy... enfermizo. Incoherente. Loco. ENFERMIZO, de nuevo. La relación no era sana! Era lo más tóxico de todo! No sé, me exasperé muchísimo leyendo esta novela y no se las recomiendo.
Le daría solamente 1 estrella en GR de no ser por un detalle: los capítulos narrados por la Bestia. Nunca había visto un retelling de este cuento de hadas donde se llega a saber el punto de vista de la Bestia. Y eso que hay muchos. Me encantó lo que la autora hizo con la Bestia en este relato, así que le doy 2 estrellas.
schohayes's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Read this one for book club! It was a retelling of Beauty & the Beast, so the story was familiar, but surprisingly more gory!!! It was good, not my favorite but also not the worst book I’ve read this year <3
ark99's review against another edition
4.0
Really interesting retelling! I'm glad I stuck to the audiobook because I feel like the handwriting from the beast's point of view would've been slightly annoying.
nicolerathbone's review against another edition
2.0
I honestly was just so disappointed, I had such high hopes beauty and the beast is like my favourite film of all time so I was so excited to read another retelling but I just found this so boring. I felt like it was such a slow read and I didn’t care that much about the romance or the other things that came with the story. I didn’t DNF because I never DNF books unless I absolutely hate it which I didn’t and I did want to find out what was going to happen but this just wasn’t for me.
tunnel_time's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An interesting retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I feel like the execution wasn't always spot on. I really liked the ending though.
shamma93's review against another edition
5.0
This book was amazing ! Didn't expect to love it, but I was wrong. It was one of the most unique retelling of beauty and the beast I read so far. I loved everything about this book the writing 📖, the characters 👸🏻, beast chapters !! Everything ! However, what I loved the most is how beauty is not perfect in so many ways and how beast is a "beast" and not beast wearing fancy clothes like the original story. Highly highly recommended 💖
bri_anna51's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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? N/A
5.0