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freevortex's review against another edition
3.0
While this book was fun while it lasted, it was a little bit too stuck to its fairy tale roots for me to really enjoy the middle to end of the book. I didn't like the whole thing about the firebird.
m_hubnerovaa's review against another edition
3.0
3.5*. I had so much fun. The ending was kinda weird tho.
silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death
turtleswift01's review against another edition
4.0
Every once and a while I believe in reading the stockholm syndrome trope as a treat, and this was very good <3 I wish there was a lil bit more depth into the fantasy world building, but really I just love fairytales and reading this was fun and entertaining
sophi_b's review against another edition
4.0
Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite stories and the retelling of it was super awesome.
colleens_conclusions's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book!! It's the perfect Beauty and the Beast retelling.
syl_val15's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
I'm kind of disappointed that this didn't turn out as good as I was anticipating it to be, and I hate to admit this but this is kind of overhype. Then again, this is definitely the case of ''It's not you, it's me.''
Fairytale retellings have been and always will be one of my favorite things to read about and I always want to read and discover more of them. But here's the thing when it comes to Beauty and the Beast retellings, I'm not too keen on that because in my opnion it's the one that has been retold the most, plus the original fairytale isn't a favorite of mine either.
I liked that this wasn't based on the Disney version, instead the Russian version. During my childhood I always prefered the Russian versions of fairtales instead of the other ones. So, seeing the similarities of the Russian version made me very happy.
The writing style was beautiful and lyrical. It makes you think that you're really reading an old fairytale and not a modern one.
It took a few chapters with me to get into the story (even if I'm very familiar with it) but once I passed the first few chapters I found myself get pulled into the story and the next thing I knew I was already finished with the book.
One of the things that I didn't rate this book higher was that I felt like there needed to happen more and/or there was something still missing. I can't say per se that the ending wasn't satisfying enough, because it was - I still felt that more things needed to happen.
But overall, I enjoyed reading this and am hoping for the author to write more fairytale retellings, because she has the talent for it!
**************************************
I've been recommended this book endless times by literally everyone on Goodreads, so I thought reading it now would a good time.
I always have high expectations for retellings, I hope this one won't disappoint me.
I'm kind of disappointed that this didn't turn out as good as I was anticipating it to be, and I hate to admit this but this is kind of overhype. Then again, this is definitely the case of ''It's not you, it's me.''
Fairytale retellings have been and always will be one of my favorite things to read about and I always want to read and discover more of them. But here's the thing when it comes to Beauty and the Beast retellings, I'm not too keen on that because in my opnion it's the one that has been retold the most, plus the original fairytale isn't a favorite of mine either.
I liked that this wasn't based on the Disney version, instead the Russian version. During my childhood I always prefered the Russian versions of fairtales instead of the other ones. So, seeing the similarities of the Russian version made me very happy.
The writing style was beautiful and lyrical. It makes you think that you're really reading an old fairytale and not a modern one.
It took a few chapters with me to get into the story (even if I'm very familiar with it) but once I passed the first few chapters I found myself get pulled into the story and the next thing I knew I was already finished with the book.
One of the things that I didn't rate this book higher was that I felt like there needed to happen more and/or there was something still missing. I can't say per se that the ending wasn't satisfying enough, because it was - I still felt that more things needed to happen.
But overall, I enjoyed reading this and am hoping for the author to write more fairytale retellings, because she has the talent for it!
**************************************
I've been recommended this book endless times by literally everyone on Goodreads, so I thought reading it now would a good time.
I always have high expectations for retellings, I hope this one won't disappoint me.
ihateprozac's review against another edition
4.0
It might be the fact that it’s a fairytale retelling, but some irrational part of my brain went into this book expecting it to be terrible.
AND IT WASN’T.
Hunted is a simple yet elegant Slavic retelling of Beauty and the Beast, whereby a female archer is captured by a Beast while trying to save her father and fend for their ailing family. Little does she know, she was seemingly destined to play a role in breaking a curse that’s enslaved the Beast for centuries.
This was just so, so, so beautiful. Spooner’s writing style is so smooth and elegant, and I absolutely flew through the story. Spooner’s writing was so atmospheric; I could practically feel the cold winds and see the dust motes dancing in the light of the forest. I also thought the Slavic angle so refreshing, and I adored the contrast of how Beauty’s magical and almost lyrical chapters were broken up with streams of consciousness and primal thoughts from the Beast.
Can’t really say much more than that as it’s a fairytale retelling, so it’s not really worth discussing the plot at length. My only issue with the story was that I wish the magical elements and world had been explored a little more thoroughly - I could’ve done with maybe 20 more pages to flesh out the world and the beautiful mythology that Spooner created.
Overall: Sure, we’re all a bit sick of fairytale retellings at this stage, but pleeeeease give this one a go! I went into it with super low (irrationally low) expectations but absolutely adored the story, and I can’t wait to read more fairytale retellings with this Eastern European influence!
AND IT WASN’T.
Hunted is a simple yet elegant Slavic retelling of Beauty and the Beast, whereby a female archer is captured by a Beast while trying to save her father and fend for their ailing family. Little does she know, she was seemingly destined to play a role in breaking a curse that’s enslaved the Beast for centuries.
This was just so, so, so beautiful. Spooner’s writing style is so smooth and elegant, and I absolutely flew through the story. Spooner’s writing was so atmospheric; I could practically feel the cold winds and see the dust motes dancing in the light of the forest. I also thought the Slavic angle so refreshing, and I adored the contrast of how Beauty’s magical and almost lyrical chapters were broken up with streams of consciousness and primal thoughts from the Beast.
Can’t really say much more than that as it’s a fairytale retelling, so it’s not really worth discussing the plot at length. My only issue with the story was that I wish the magical elements and world had been explored a little more thoroughly - I could’ve done with maybe 20 more pages to flesh out the world and the beautiful mythology that Spooner created.
Overall: Sure, we’re all a bit sick of fairytale retellings at this stage, but pleeeeease give this one a go! I went into it with super low (irrationally low) expectations but absolutely adored the story, and I can’t wait to read more fairytale retellings with this Eastern European influence!