I loved the idea of one of my favourite fairy tales told from the beast's perspective. The opportunity to get inside his head was really interesting and I enjoyed the darker elements of this story. At times, I found the plot slower paced but I appreciated the descriptive writing style throughout. Overall, this was an interesting twist on a fairy tale and I'll be interested to see what Leife Shallcross writes next.

This read was a bit of a mixed bag. I’m a huge fan of Beauty and the Beast, it was my favourite fairy tale as a child, I love the Disney version, I actively seek out retellings, hence why I read The Beast’s Heart. My love of the fairy tale is what kept me reading past the start of the book which was trying to say the least.

35667081When I first picked this book up I didn’t know it was a debut, but the writing style definitely gave it away. Leife Shallcross’s prose was self-consciously superfluous, with every description in the first few chapters utilising every adjective possible, which made it a bit hard going to begin with.

Eventually, though, this over the top description fades away and we’re left with a much more simplified prose style that is more reminiscent of middle grade books. This made me second guess who this book was even aimed at but it is marketed as YA though I wouldn’t class it as such, it doesn’t meet most of the criteria of YA, and it seems to only be placed in YA because that’s where fairy tale retellings thrive.

I’m going to go into the plot a bit now so there will be some spoilers ahead.

Okay so, most fairy tale retellings have a twist, right? Little Red Riding Hood fights werewolves, The Princess decides to live with the dragon rather than be saved, The Little Mermaid fights off people polluting the sea and so on. The Beast’s Heart is told from the point of view of the Beast, Isabeau’s (Belle) sisters are not the spoiled brats in the original tale but become self sufficient and have a much more interesting romantic arc than Isabeau, and there is a hint that the fairy that cursed the Beast was in love with his grandmother.

Having the story told from the Beasts POV was uncomfortable, but that made it a little more interesting at least. I was disappointed that the sisters were much more well rounded characters than Isbeau but I chalked this up to the fact that the Beasts narrative voice was so infatuated with Isabeau that she became just another boring Mary-Sue.

The thing that irked me the most was the fairy’s motives for cursing the Beast. Apparently the fairy loved the Beasts grandmother, an idea I liked as it makes sense that the fairy would know of the Beast before cursing him. Her motives were questionable though, apparently the Beast’s cold heart and his unwillingness to love (due to his emotionally abusive father who he watched abuse many women) caused his grandmother pain, and so the fairy cursed the Beast to wear his beastly form until someone loved him.

This is honestly ridiculous. I just couldn’t see this motive giving the fairy any closure at all about her love dying, she wasn’t presented as particularly evil so I can’t see her as the cruel sidhe type fae to take children leave changelings etc. Not to mention she laid no such curse on his horrible abusive father but instead laid a curse on his abused son? This along with Isabeau’s father attempted suicide happening then literally never being mentioned again I found the whole approach to mental health a bit surreal.

I did enjoy the book in some places, it was sweet, and I was looking forward to seeing the love story unfold. However, the ending seemed to happen all at once, much like the Disney version, and everything was wrapped up in a couple pages, which is satisfying on screen but falls very flat on the page.

Honestly, I’d recommend this book to any young kids that are particularly into Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, as it’s almost identical, but aside from that I really didn’t get much out of it.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for giving me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review

https://lynns-books.com/2018/06/05/the-beasts-heart-by-leife-shallcross/
After a rather crazy month of May I’m pretty much dedicating the month of June to catching up with all my errant reviews.

The Beast’s Heart is a retelling of my favourite fairytale – Beauty and the Beast. It’s a rather beautifully written love story told from the perspective of the Beast.

I can say immediately that I enjoyed this book very much. The style of writing is a perfect mix of beautiful description and bewitching storytelling and it’s a tale that I already know and love. I have a couple of little issues that kept this from going from a good read to a great one but overall this was a lovely story that I devoured in a couple of sittings.

I won’t go into the plot too much. I’m fairly sure that most people know the storyline for Beauty and the Beast and for the most part The Beast’s Heart is a faithful rendition that takes the opportunity to give us the Beast’s perspective.

We start off with the Beast living wild in the forest, terrorising the other animals until he remembers his humanity and the curse that brought him so low. After he recalls his past he returns to his home, a fantastic and crumbling chateau that is also cursed. The whole place is bewitched, it has it’s own seasons, the gardens can change at will and the house has it’s own personality being able to change from a place of warmth and comfort to one that is hostile and unwelcoming depending on it’s own feelings as events unfold. Eventually, following the natural course of the fairytale Isabeau comes to stay with the Beast after an agreement is reached that she will stay for the duration of one year.

Gradually the two form a sort of friendship and fall into a daily pattern however their friendship is hampered by the secrets that they both withhold from each other and a general lack of openness.

What I particularly liked about this was the style of writing. This story lends itself so well to the gothic and the author has a lovely way with words that evokes the classics. The descriptions and attention to detail are really well executed and I also particularly enjoyed the way the story splits between the time spent at the Chateau and the glimpses of Isabeau’s family and the lives they are now living, which we are able to witness alongside the Beast using his magical mirror. Isabeau’s sister’s both have their own storylines going on that help to break things up nicely whilst at the same time increasing the tension. I particularly liked that the nature of the two sisters was slightly different here. Yes, they relied heavily on Isabeau but to an extent the fact that she looked after them so thoroughly left them without the will to try things for themselves. When Isabeau left they had to cope and in doing so their characters flourished. Much as Isabeau needed more from her life so did the two sisters need more from theirs.

This is undoubtedly a love story, which I was expecting going in to the read. It focuses strongly on emotions with the Beast’s loneliness and desperation seeping onto every page. He despairs of his current form, he can’t imagine how Isabeau can ever love him and yet every day he persists in asking her to marry him – even though he can see how unhappy it makes her.

The issues I had with this book related to two different things. Firstly, the nature of the Beast’s curse – which was changed slightly but I’m not quite sure why – and in fact it made the whole cursing seem a little unfair to me. The other thing I felt was a lack of ‘beastliness’ from the Beast. To be honest, he was just too damned nice, always charming. Always trying too hard. I realise that he doesn’t want to scare Isabeau away but I almost felt like shaking him at one point. There was one part of the book where the altercations between the two became a bit tedious because of the lack of somebody having a bit more bite or backbone about them. Of course, don’t get me wrong, I can see the motivations for the Beast’s good behaviour but I think I expected every now and again for his animal nature to get the better of him and perhaps we’d witness a teeny outburst.

Fortunately there was nothing that really spoiled the read for me, just a short spell that could have become a little stilted but for the alternate chapters spent with Isabeau’s family.

On the whole I enjoyed reading from the Beast’s pov. The writing was quite captivating and rich with a delicious gothic vibe and I would certainly read more from this author. But – if love stories aren’t your thing – be aware that that is the major gist of the story here.

I received a copy from the publisher courtesy of Netgalley. My thanks for the copy and apologies for the tardiness of this review. The above is my own opinion.

In this retelling of Beauty and the Beast, the focus is on the Beast’s side of the story. A lonely beast, cursed and isolated, has a chance encounter with a lost traveller. In return for saving the man’s life, the Beast gains the company of his daughter, Isabeau, for a year, during which he finds both love and his humanity.

For the first half of this book, I felt a bit cheated. It wasn’t so much a retelling, but rather an almost identical version of the Beauty and the Beast story we’re all familiar with, from the point of view of the beast. To me, this felt like a bit of a cop-out and was a little disappointing. Fortunately, the second half of the book and the details of Isabeau’s sisters did take the story in a new direction.

The magical elements are enchanting. The book is very descriptive and beautifully written with a flowing plot and complex characters. Plus, how stunning is that cover, right?

It’s a classic story, and very well-written, if a little unoriginal. I enjoyed it a lot.

2.5 stars

The Beast was once a man but after being cursed by the Fairy he is now monstrous.
Having lived alone for numerous years, the Beast's loneliness makes him desperate for company. Desperate enough that when a man stumbles across the Beasts's domain, he comes up with a way to meet the man's daughter, Isabeau.
Will Isabeau agree to stay with the Beast for a year?
Could Isabeau be happy living with the Beast?
Will her family cope without her?

Beauty and the Beast is my favourite fairytale, so I leaped at the chance to read The Beast's Heart. Plus, the cover is absolutely gorgeous!
The Beast's Heart is told from the Beast's point of view, which I found interesting. It is also more closely based on the original fairytale (from what I can remember) in that Isabeau is the youngest sister and asked her father to bring her back a rose from his travels.
The Beast was an interesting character and I liked Isabeau. I also liked her sisters and enjoyed reading the parts about them.
The plot wasn't particularly surprising and not that much really happened.
I struggled to get into the writing style at the beginning, and while I did ease into it somewhat, I still found it a bit off-putting at times.
I have to admit to being slightly disappointed with The Beast's Heart, and I'm left with mixed feelings.

Overall this was a mostly enjoyable read.

I struggled a lot to get into this book. Once I did I found the story to be uninteresting, slow paced and the characters boring. The premise was good but the outcome was unsuccessful.

This book was a drag.
It took so much effort for me to finish this.
The language is so heavy and descriptive and that just is not my cup of tea. It was not a modern and updated version of beauty and the beast which is what I initially thought it was
Nor is the never ending internal monologue.

The Beast's Heart by Leife Shallcross

This is a charmingly told, retelling of the Beauty and the Beast.. Poignant, and sensitive, a story of love and redemption. I think Shallcross has told this story in a new way, dealing with the nature of the beast, and of how misfortune can sometimes be the making of us.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and it touched me, how love can triumph in even the worst situations. Beautiful in it's simplicity.

The Beast's Heart is a book I've needed for the longest time, finally a beauty and the beast retelling from the beast;s perspective, and it was beautiful!!

So many of the elements of this book was perfect and as I have read the original tale I can see how close it is in story, normally retellings go through the Disney version so this is definitely a must read!

Beast in this was such an important perspective as you understand what he is going through from before meeting Isabeau until the end of the story. Beast is sweet, caring and even a gentleman, he constantly thinks about how to make Isabeau life in the castle better and improving her family's situation.

The description in this world was beautiful and enthralling, it fully immerses the reader into the story almost like you are living it your self.

The perspectives through the mirror of how Isabeau's sisters are getting on without her is so emotional, you see their development from feeling lost to carving a life of their own, learning how to do everything for themselves.

The romances in the Beast's Heart are perfect, all of the men support the sisters' decisions and take the time to get to know them.

I would fully recommend this book for anyone looking for a retelling or even just for a great character driven read.

*ARC received from publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

This was the first time I’ve read a reimagined fairytale.
It was a cute but slow read for me.
I wasn’t particularly excited or captivated, if I’m being honest.
Although I did enjoy it, I just felt it maybe wasn’t for me. Like, good as a one off.

The author has created a beautiful enchanting world that is easy to imagine and jumps off the page. I adore the backstory and the story itself is wonderfully detailed and complex and I was unable to put my copy down I read this book in two sessions (only split because I prepared tea). Soft spoilers there were a couple of scenes I almost sprung a leak a little welled up but no leak.

There is no mention of dancing or talking furniture or narcissistic noblemen demanding the damsels hand in marriage here (looking at you Mr Disney), just a lonely heartbroken creature trying to preserve his humanity in a decaying castle that’s half prison, half his former home. Before we get all judgy judgy and shame the beast let’s take a minute to imagine spending all those years roaming the forest losing your humanity whilst never knowing how the curse could be broken. I'm sure you would become downhearted and ill-tempered too.

The story starts with us seeing how the beast has been alone with nothing but his own company for far too long. It is made very clear the Beast has forgotten his former, human self. After living in the forest that surrounds his long-abandoned home and intimidates the other creatures that live there. His recurring vivid dreams torment him, often confusing his perception of what is real and what he has dreamt.

When we see Isabeau’s father stumble upon his home, we see that all he really wants is companionship after centuries of isolation. Obviously, the usual trick occurs where the Beast gets Isabeau to come to the castle, it is refreshing too have this told from the beast’s perspective and that he would never have acted on any of the threats he made. There is even genuine remorse in the way he acts at times, furthermore ensuring that we truly see that the beast has retained some of his humanity despite his doubts.

Its good read for someone looking for another insight into ‘The tale as old as time’ I enjoyed the book but I like most retellings as I usually have a soft spot for the originals.. As above mentioned about I read the book in a day and enjoyed it, in my opinion worth the read.

Initially I found the writing a little clunky and the Beast's monologue difficult to get in to, but very quickly I was swept away by this retelling from the Beast's perspective. As a reader I felt emotion for the characters, and I especially loved the twist of the magic mirror and learning more about the sisters: I felt just as deeply for them as I did Beauty and the Beast which is testament to Shallcross' character development.

I was a little put out not to come across enchanted furniture, but the magic in the house and how it reflected the state of mind and state of the curse was another great writing technique. My few criticisms hardly detract from the book. The writing could have flowed a bit better but by the end I was so immersed by the story telling the writing wasn't a hindrance. I felt Belle needed to be more fierce - but that is my depiction of Beauty. And as is the way with retellings, I went into it with my version of Belle and it didn't quite match the version in the story. Still, Shallcross' Belle is likeable. Finally, I much preferred the Beast before he turns human - I feel like all the character development for his is as the beast and when he becomes human he is a stranger even to the reader and I couldn't easily transfer my connection to the Beast to Julien. Again this is my own version of Beauty and the Beast being projected onto Shallcross' work.

Shallcross has done an amazing job and definitely given me a new viewpoint on the story I had not considered. Retellings are tough as the reader has an existing idea of what the story should contain but Shallcross has pulled it off beautifully.

Description
A sumptuously magical, brand new take on a tale as old as time - read the Beast's side of the story at long last.

My review

My ARC was provided by NetGalley and this is my honest review.

Minor spoilers ahead

The Beast's Heart is a story about Beauty and the Beast told from the Beast's view point. It has a similar plot to the original story but there are a few differences in the story that unfolds.

What I loved about this book was the lush story telling and beautiful prose. We see the world through the Beast's eyes and we get to see the experience the beauty of his surroundings from his castle to the wonderfully enchanting grounds! We also get to feel his anguish and torment as he lives out his days as the Beast. We learn about Isabeau's family and the dynamics of her relationship with them makes for good storytelling and adds something extra to this tale. There's magic, there's romance, laughter and more and the cover is also stunning! There's also darker elements to this story that I found problematic and I think these issues that will always arise from this particular fairytale.

By luck, when Beauty's father stumbles upon the Beast's castle, he sets off a series of events which lead to Isabeau coming to the castle and agreeing to stay for a set term. I found myself torn between the Beast's behaviour which is out of desperation and partly because of his love (or is it an obsession) for Isabeau. Towards the beginning of the book I felt his behaviour was totally manipulating, but really putting myself in his shoes gave me an understanding of what lead him to make the decisions he did to blackmail Isabeau's father to get her to stay. Who's to say what a lifetime of living a cursed life in total solitude without human presence or touch would do or how desperate it would make us. So I did have some sympathy for the Beast and his plight. On one hand he wasn't an awful monster with no chance at redemption. He could be kind, thoughtful and attentive, however there were some elements in the book that I found very problematic. The mirror watching was a new addition that pulled the elements of the story together but it also made the Beast come across as obsessive and creepy, and he was constantly watching her move about the castle (without her knowledge). Also the Beast, desperate in his plight to break the curse asks Isabeau to marry him at dinner and she turns him down. The first time he asked was a bit uncomfortable to read but he continues to ask her every night after that despite her saying no. Isabeau's obvious distress at his repeated request is hard to read and highlights the imbalance of power in the relationship between the two. Add Isabeau's father's controlling and manipulate behaviour to the mix and I began to feel sorry for Isabeau. She does get her happy ending and Leife wraps everything up nicely.

Despite the issues I had with the behaviour of some of the characters, on the whole I did enjoy reading this book and I loved Leife's story telling. I would definitely love to read more of her books (especially original content) because she writes so beautifully.

*The book also touches on issues like (attempted) suicide.

Beautifully written, a wonderful take on a much loved disney classic which is one of my favourites. This did not disappoint.

This book was such a magical read for me, when it comes to fairytales then Beauty and the Beast has always been one of my favourites – I was hooked on the Disney version as a child! Leife’s take on the tale is so unique that at times it’s difficult to remember that this is a retelling of a classic.

Instead of the common take of Beauty/Belle’s point of view (in this story, her name is Isabeau), The Beast’s Heart is from the perspective of the Beast himself. The story starts with us seeing how he’s been alone for far too long, and instantly you can’t help but feel sorry for him. Even when we finally see Isabeau’s father stumble upon his home, we see that all he wants is for human company after centuries of isolation.

Of course, the usual trick occurs whereby the Beast gets Isabeau to come to the castle, but we read from his perspective and see that he wouldn’t have acted on his threats to her father. We even see that he genuinely regrets the way he acts at times, furthermore ensuring that we truly see the humanity within.

Leife also tells us about Isabeau’s sisters, Claude and Marie, and how them and her father are faring whilst she lives with the Beast. She uses the enchanted mirror in the Beast’s home to show this, and it really helped with the story’s development on the whole and also with showing how Isabeau felt without changing the point of view of the story. The sisters were also just so sweet that it was great to see how they were handling Isabeau being away.

And Isabeau! She was such a great character, I love how Leife made her strong and caring. During the times when she refused to marry the Beast I found myself wanting to shout at her to tell her to stop being stubborn. They have such a sweet relationship where she plays music for him, he reads for her and, owing to the magic of the house, they have times they’re able to just watch fireworks and beam at each other.

I think reading from the Beast’s point of view also really helps you see why Isabeau falls for him, Leife is able to really show his personal journey and make it the most intriguing part about the story. Although this doesn’t really pick up pace until the last parts of the story the rest is still written in such a lovely and lyrical way that you can’t help but love it.

Absolutely a 5 star read, and I’d love to see more novels of a similar fashion from Leife in the future!

The Beast's Heart tells the story of Beauty and the Beast from the Beast's point of view. The plot itself is fairly familiar and it is not a retelling as such as the events are the same but the story is told by the Beast.

I really enjoyed the writing, especially the descriptions of the castle and its grounds. However the characters fell flat for me. Even though the Beast is the narrator, I couldn't tell you exactly what he saw in Isabeau. He seemed to just be drawn to her, presumably because she is the only woman around? I suppose it is a fairytale so we have to accept to a certain extent that love just happens in these stories. Isabeau and the Beast go for long periods of time without actually speaking to each other yet he still manages to fall in love with her. He also spends a lot of time just watching her. Even when they do spend time together, Isabeau seems very distant so there's no sense of them getting to know each other.

While a lot of the story was actually fairly dull, some of it was quite disturbing. I think this is somewhat inevitable in a version of Beauty and the Beast which is essentially a story about a girl being held hostage until she falls in love with her captor, but I didn't feel like the Beast redeemed himself at any point in this book. It feels more like a story of obsession than love, and I didn't like the way the Beast reacted angrily every time Isabeau referred to him as her 'friend'.

I question whether we ever needed a version of Beauty and the Beast from the Beast's viewpoint. I don't think this book particularly added anything valuable to the story. At no point did I find myself desperate to know what would happen next or how it would all end.

I have given it two stars here because, although I thought the writing was good, my feelings towards the Beast ultimately made me dislike this book

I loved seeing a book telling us of the Beasts POV. I've only seen one other take on it, and both are so different that it was great. I loved the history of the Beast - the backstory was filled out nicely and it was one of my favourite bits. I also liked the way the mirror was used in this book - to only see Isabeau's family, and only when the magic allowed it. In fact - the magic of this story was what drew me in the most - it was so intriguing!
Definitely a fun read for those interested in Beauty and the Beast, but it did take me a while to get into it.

I will confess, I have a weakness for fairy tales. And I especially adore retellings of Beauty and the Beast which is my favourite of all. When I discovered that the story is told from the Beast’s perspective, I was completely sold. I didn’t just want it, I needed it. I’m happy to say I was not disappointed.

To put it simply, it is a gorgeously written retelling of the famous tale told through the eyes of the Beast. Though the essential backbone of the story is same as the Disney version, there are more differences aside from this main fact. For starters, at the start of the novel, we learn that the Beast has forgotten his former, human self. He lives in the forest that surrounds his long-abandoned home and terrorises the other creatures that live there. His recurring vivid dreams torment him, often confusing his vision of what is real and what he has dreamt. Only after dreaming of his human past one time does he recall the life he once lived and the curse that brought him to this state.

From there, the story starts to mirrors the original, when a old man stumbles upon his estate one night. As expected, the Beast blackmails him into bringing his youngest daughter, Isabeau, who though reluctant at first, agrees to offer him a year of companionship.

The thing I loved most about the book was getting to see the mindset of the Beast. He is gentle and kind, despite struggling with the nature of what he has become. His suffering and desperate longing for company was made crystal clear through his words and it broke my heart. The author did a great job of showcasing what so much time in solitude can do to someone. This is not only the most vulnerable Beast I have come across, but also my favourite one. It was his character that kept me engrossed in the book because I wanted to see him okay in the end.

The way the relationship between him and Isabeau grows slowly from friendship into something more was also beautifully done. We see them spend a lot of time in each other’s company, be it dining together, Isabeau playing instruments in the music room for the Beast, or him reading poetry (yes, poetry!!) to her. It allowed me to get to know both of them really well, and see them develop realistically throughout the story. I also enjoyed getting to see the lives of Isabeau’s family and how they cope with her departure. It made for a bigger story that existed far beyond the boundaries of the Beast’s Chateau.

Additionally, I found the way Shallcross threaded magic into the story to be very captivating. The estate and household objects have minds of their own. Though they can not speak, they never fail to let the Beast know when they aren’t – or, are – pleased with his doings. The house has superior knowledge, as if it knows how to break the curse, even before he does. I liked that the magic was it’s own character in this book.

“I cannot tell all the emotions that arose in my breast as I eavesdropped on my dreaming guest. The warmth of his love for his children first suffused me, then became a bitter ache as I realised I could never hope for such. My heart soared at the tenderness in the youngest daughter’s eyes, and shrivelled as I ground my teeth in rage at the remembered image of my own face, covered with fur and crowned with twisted horns. Eventually, I shut my mind to his sleeping visions, unable to bear them any longer.”

This is the type of writing you can expect from this book. It often reminded me of Pride and Prejudice. I couldn’t help but think that the author’s chosen style was inspired by classics, but with a Young Adult audience in mind. The writing, in my opinion, provided half of the charm of this book. I believe fans of Austen, or anyone who enjoys beautifully crafted sentences, will adore how it is written.

My main criticisms of the book are that I felt that the middle of the story got a little repetitive – I wish there was a bit more plot there. I also thought that the reasoning for the Beast being cursed should have been stronger than the one we were given. Aside from that, I have no complaints, and would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a refreshing take on Beauty and the Beast. It offered a perspective I didn’t know I needed, and I finished this book with a content heart.

A great retelling of Beauty and the Beast. The Beast's Heart is wonderfully written and a romance that will make you swoon.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

If you are expecting a modern, dynamic and innovative take on the classic fairy tale then look elsewhere, this is not the book for you. Shallcross has created a lush retelling of Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve's 1740 story - told entirely from the Beast's perspective. There are obviously Beauty and the Beast type stories from cultures all around the world - the Hindu 'The Tiger's Bride' and the Norwegian 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon' are two of my favourites. Ultimately like all fairytales, however, Beauty and the Beast is deeply problematic. I mean it's one of my favourites (Irish Fairy tales pip it to the post for me) but it is still a story about a young woman being imprisoned until she falls in love with her captor. No amount of desperation on the captor's part really excuses that. Ok so we all know the Beast let's the Beauty go - proving that he is no longer a beast inside the shaggy pelt - but it's all still a bit squickky. A few hundred years ago it was a parable for accepting that you may not be especially happy with your family's choice of husband for you (if you were a young woman) but that no matter what your bridegroom seemed like on the outside, he could well be a prince on the inside. You were enriching your family with his wealth. There's also a thinly veiled hint that sex is not quite the ordeal or monster you might as a blushing bride believe it to be. All this is quite distasteful to a modern audience so I was intrigued at Shallcross' decision to set it in Eighteenth century France and more or less retell the best known version of the fairy tale.

Forget the Disney film, which has given us the most enduring version of the Beauty in the zeitgeist. The author has not drawn on Disney at all for inspiration as far as I can see - ok there area few books scattered around in the story but that's it. (Really the marketing department using 'the tale as old as time' in the blurb is a bit misleading in that respect.) Instead the author has drawn heavily on Jean Cocteau's 1946 French film <i>La Belle et la Bete</i> an interesting if somewhat old fashioned aesthetic.

On the whole Shallcross does make the more unsavory aspects of the fairy tale palatable to a modern audience. The Beast is portrayed fairly sympathetically. Of course since he is a prisoner both in his castle and in his shape, there is very little action and great lengths are gone to with a magic mirror in order for him to have a voice in the parts of the story that wouldn't normally involve him. Isabeau (the beauty) has more interesting interactions with her family - two sisters and father - than she does with the beast unfortunately. You can see why Disney dispensed with invisible servants and brought in an army of singing kitchen appliances because without that, this story has two characters for most of the tale and it really stretches thing to make every walk, inner etc at all gripping. So to compensate the beast uses the magic mirror to watch Isabeau's family - unbeknownst to her - and we see what her sisters get up too. Those were some of my favourite scenes in the book actually which is a mixed blessing because the focus should be on the love story and yet I just wanted to hear more about Marie and Claude.

In the end I was left with mixed feelings about this book. On one hand the prose was gorgeous, the romantic plot was allowed plenty of space to bloom, it was interesting to see the beast's perspective and even I unromantic and unsentimental as I am found the story quite sweet. On the other hand the magic was a bit too convenient without any explanation, the reason for the beast being cursed makes no sense at all - seriously was the fairy drinking that day?!- and there is no antagonist to help drive the plot. (Disney added Gaston which turns out to be a wise decision. Even Cocteau had an under-developed love rival in his film.) You need antagonists in order to create tension and jeopardy. This had none.

And there were a few things that really made me raise an eyebrow. Isabeau spending most of the book in tears or having fits of vapours. We have hundreds of years of fairy tales and books written by men telling us this is what women do, we so don't need any more of them imo. The beast spending so much of the book just not using his brain at all. And also crying. Considering there was no antagonist and no obstacle to them being together other than stubbornness and a flimsy situation with Isabeau's father, there is a lot of needless heartbreak going on here which I grew impatient of tout de suite. And the mirror. The mirror really was an issue for me because it wasn't like turning on the tv to catch the tail end of the news. No, the beast was glued to it whenever he couldn't be with Isabeau. That and the way he watched her when she was walking in the garden having said she wanted to be alone was epically creepy. Towards the end of the book he even watches her changing clothes. I thought it was an editing blip and he'd turned away but no it's brought up later and taken as a sign devotion. Maybe if it hadn't been on top of all the other micromanaging and spying it would have been of but as it was... Bleurgh. I know a traditional component of the fairy tale is the beast asking the beauty to marry him every night after dinner but to have it replay exactly that way here was troubling. It smacked too much of not taking no as an answer if you're a man who wants a woman. It's not as if the beast even asks why she keeps saying no, he just keeps asking even though it distresses her. All in all there was just too much manipulative male BS in this book - the father's gambit to keep Isabeau home was despicable for instance. And just so you don't think I've got it in for the beast, aside from the mirror and the proposals, he acted well towards Isabeau throughout the book and she did not treat him especially well. Which probably all sounds pretty damning. It's not meant to because I actually quite liked this book. Despite no action, no antagonist, no tension and an old fashioned take on a fairy tale I know inside out, I was still enthralled. If you like quiet, clean fantasy and chaste romance this could well be for you. If you prefer more dynamic and modern retellings then I'd give this one a miss.