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paperbacksandsnacks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I asked my husband to pick my next book for me and this is what he chose and I’m actually super glad he did. I really enjoyed it.
This beauty and the beast fairytale retelling was just different enough to be engaging whilst still holding true to the classic. The modern day parallel universe vibe was fun for sure! I loved the characters and felt attached to all of them, but I think I was rooting for the wrong love interest (sorry not sorry).
It had a nice level of representation for disabled people, and the LGBTQ community without being super obvious about it. It didn’t feel like a plot point or that is was there for the sake of meeting a diversity request. Just added to the story in a great and subtle way.
I am super intrigued to see where this series goes next. I have a lot of questions and I am invested so that’s a positive sign. I would say maybe slightly longer than it needed to be. Perhaps a bit of a frustrating ending too, but I do see the point of it as it’s building up to the next book. But maybe something to note. I also felt like this was mostly YA but then some moments felt a bit unnecessary for this particular series. Maybe that’s just me being super fussy.
Overall, an enjoyable fairytale retelling and I am looking forward to the next.
Graphic: Cancer, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
cdoubet's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Cancer, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gun violence, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Sexual harassment
luna_lovelace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I love Harper, she is such a courageous character that truly cares about people and goes through great lengths to help others. I also love Grey, he's loyal and
Graphic: Chronic illness, Confinement, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Kidnapping, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
qrschulte's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Things I loved:
- a protagonist with a disability who is affected by their disability but not defined by it. So refreshing that she was a fully realized person
- the Rhen narrator. Honestly, the book might have been better with just him narrating the whole thing.
- believable reasoning for why someone from our world could ride a fucking horse
Things I did not love:
- How whiny the Harper narrator made her sound sometimes. It made it a lot less believable it was the same character between the narrators.
- The monster narration (so fucking creepy/scary). Could have done without that.
- The parts where it was said Harper was “not like other girls” *cue vomiting*
Graphic: Ableism, Cancer, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Gore, Self harm, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Child death, Gun violence, and Infidelity
taryn_g's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Death, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Gore, Terminal illness, Kidnapping, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Ableism, Gun violence, Infidelity, and Vomit
diana_raquel's review
- 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
4.5
As I said in other reviews, Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairy tales. Therefore, I'm always looking for retellings of this fairy tale. But I'm always very cautious because not everything that is marketed as a retelling is really a retelling or they are but they are really bad books. And so, I was reticent in starting this trilogy, especially because is a hyped one. It seems that, in social media, everyone and their mother loves this trilogy.
Nonetheless, I decided to read it. And I ended up loving it! The bones of the original fairy tale are there, but it also can stand up as its own story. The characters are interesting and well-written (and there is disability representation, which is a positive point). The story is well-structured and the pacing is just right. I loved it! Its probably one of my favorite books of 2023.
Overall, it's a solid story that I recommend if you're looking for retellings that can be their own story.
Graphic: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcohol
amykwrites's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
sirkeili's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I found Harper to be both intriguing, but also sometimes frustrating when she takes things too literally. She grows a lot during book, but I still found most of her troubles could be solved by trusting Rhen and Grey a lot more than she initially did (even when they proved they meant no ill will).
I think Grey was my favourite, as he seemed the most well rounded and intruguing character. His abilities, attitude and mysterious past seem to all line up in a way that I wanted to follow along with him and see his side of the story. He has so much to tell, and yet so much to unravel about himself as well. Despite the rough and scatter hand of cards he's been given, Grey still shows an innate softness and care for those he holds close.
Harper has all the aspects of a great heroine, but I feel the author hinges everything on her disability, and yet its rarely addressed in the novel. It's almost as though it's just for the ✨ d r a m a ✨ and the "I'm not like other girls" trope (ugh), and not to really showcase how exceptional Harper is despite - and because- of it. I think if there was substance and heart going into developing her character more, Harper could really shine as bright as I know she can. She has a spark big enough to even set Emberfall ablaze, truly.
If you need a softer, yet still slightly gritty retelling, this is a solid one. Very spunky, goofy and generally easy-going-ish book.
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Confinement, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Stalking
Minor: Child death, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, and Classism
lotte5322's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Cancer, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
bookishgoob's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Confinement, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail