Bitten by Books
One is imprisoned in his own body from a witch’s curse. One is imprisoned in a dungeon waiting to meet an executioner. Erik Trevayne, seventh lord of Hawksbridge, is turning into a beast. His wife and child died on the birthing bed and her mother, calling him a “rutting beast,” laid a curse on him that he would slowly and painfully turn into a beast. The only way for the curse to be broken is if his dead wife forgave him. A school-teacher’s daughter, now orphan, Kristine Arrington is awaiting the executioner’s noose for the murder of a Lord who tried to take her innocence.
Erik had promised his dying father that he would provide an heir for Hawksbridge and it was a promised he intended to keep. But he knew that no woman in his circle would consent to marry a half-man/half-beast, so he went to a prison to find his bride. He chose the one who was the least attractive to him so there would be no danger of emotional attachment, but found instead a spirit and heart that touched his own and a beauty that left him breathless. Despite their growing love, they both knew their future held only tragedy unless the curse could be broken.
Beauty’s Beast is another spin on “The Beauty and The Beast” fairytale. There is a risk in a re-telling of a well-known tale. The reader will already know the basic premise and the ending, so the author has to capture the reader by adding a few new twists or insights or with exceptional story-telling. Beauty’s Beast does not meet the challenge, although the underlying love story beautifully captures the ethos of love and loss.
The hero is bold and complex. The heroine, however, is rather shallow and a bit too innocent. I never really got a handle on her because I kept waiting for her mature and she didn’t. There are a few enjoyable twists, but the ending is anti-climactic.
Book Stats:
- Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
- Publisher: Zebra (September 2, 2014)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1420135627
- ISBN-13: 978-1420135626
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Review Overview
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Summary : Beauty’s Beast is another spin on “The Beauty and The Beast” fairytale. There is a risk in a re-telling of a well-known tale. The reader will already know the basic premise and the ending, so the author has to capture the reader by adding a few new twists or insights or with exceptional story-telling. Beauty’s Beast does not meet the challenge, although the underlying love story beautifully captures the ethos of love and loss.
