A review by gonzohiccups
Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Oof. I never write out reviews but I am passionate about my beauty and the beast retellings.
The way disability is handled in this is... not good. People getting their disabilities "cured" and then getting called "complete" or "made whole".
Also on the same note: it's one thing to have an abilist character. It's another when the text itself feels like it's calling an entire class of people in the city "incomplete" and that they would be so much happier if they weren't physically disabled.
Aside from that, it took me so long to understand when the setting took place. I didn't know this was supposed to be post-apocalyptic sci-fi until several chapters in which I then had to reframe the entire way I imagined this world. The lore and exposition are poorly done, meanwhile she spends way too much time rehashing the things we definitely already understand. (We GET it, we KNOW she doesn't feel like she should find Gem attractive. There is way more telling than showing in this book and that's just not a personal favorite for me either.)
I have less than an hour of the audiobook left and I simply cannot find it within myself to care about any of these characters. During the climax!
The way disability is handled in this is... not good. People getting their disabilities "cured" and then getting called "complete" or "made whole".
Also on the same note: it's one thing to have an abilist character. It's another when the text itself feels like it's calling an entire class of people in the city "incomplete" and that they would be so much happier if they weren't physically disabled.
Aside from that, it took me so long to understand when the setting took place. I didn't know this was supposed to be post-apocalyptic sci-fi until several chapters in which I then had to reframe the entire way I imagined this world. The lore and exposition are poorly done, meanwhile she spends way too much time rehashing the things we definitely already understand. (We GET it, we KNOW she doesn't feel like she should find Gem attractive. There is way more telling than showing in this book and that's just not a personal favorite for me either.)
I have less than an hour of the audiobook left and I simply cannot find it within myself to care about any of these characters. During the climax!