The Beast of Talesend (Beaumont and Beasley)

Title: The Beast of Talesend

Series: Beaumont and Beasley (#1)

Year: 2017

Author: Kyle Robert Shultz

Summary: Private eye Nick Beasley lives in a world where fairy tales ended a long time ago – where zeppelins now soar the skies instead of dragons, and where the first automobiles have taken the place of flying carpets. He’s made a name for himself across the Afterlands by debunking fake magicians and exposing fraudulent monsters. This is the modern age, after all. Magic and monsters are long gone.

At least, that’s what Nick believes. Until he gets magically transformed into a monster, that is.

The only person who may be able to help Nick is Lady Cordelia Beaumont, one of the last enchantresses in the Afterlands. But in order for her to cure him, they’ll have to retrieve a powerful artifact from a ruthless crime lord – who is also Cordelia’s father.

The fate of the Afterlands lies in the hands of a runaway enchantress and a monstrous ex-detective. What could possibly go wrong?

Review: Ready for a quick, action-packed ride that'll have you believing in fairy tales again? I've been hearing about this book for MONTHS, had it recommended so many times by so many different bookworm friends and fairytale enthusiasts, and I finally just NOW sat down to read it.

Wow. It was everything I'd thought it would be, and nothing like what I expected.

Nick is a detective -- and, he's certain, a pretty good one at that. His job has been to rid the world of the false belief in magic. He's cracked multiple fairy tale cases wide open, proving to everyone that magic is, in fact, not real. When we first meet him, his persona is almost that of a Sherlock Holmes character -- confident and clever, but with a tick of desperate as his funds are quickly running out. If he's going to continue to support himself and his little brother, he needs to crack another case soon and get paid considerably.

The case that comes to his door is not exactly the one he's hoping for, but it does have a hefty payment attached to it. With no other option, Nick Beasley agrees to help the infamous Lord Whitlock find a magical artifact: the Clawthorn Rose of the Beauty and the Beast legend.

And that's where all his troubles start. Throw in a snarky, spontaneous younger brother and a lady-turned-enchantress who doesn't always have the best of plans, and you've got the perfect recipe for a fairytale adventure.

Is there anything really that I could say I didn't like about this book? Ummm... not really. Except the length. Way too short for the amount of adventure and humor that I wanted. Good thing this is only the first in the series. Warning: You will want book two immediately, so be prepared.

Crispin was my favorite, of course. I'm a huge fan of younger siblings with a passion for trouble, and he was just spot-on, the best, the cat's pajamas, etc. etc. And there are also steampunk things, which always makes stuff better. What's not to like about steampunk fairytale retellings? *cough* No, that's not shameless advertising.

I also really liked all the fairytale elements. Not only is the book a spin on the traditional Beauty and the Beast story, but we're also visiting things from Snow White (which Shultz's version made TONS more sense than the original fairy tale, but still creepy) and other fairy tales. And, of course, the rest of the series seems to promise only that in abounds.

Advisory: Violence. Through the magic of the Rose, several humans are turned into beasts. Fighting commences, blood is spilled, but nothing terribly graphic.

Magic, of course. There's not a ton about it packed into this book since the book itself is so short. Cordelia is one of the few Charmbloods left in existence, families who are able to learn to control magic. Apparently, only those with Charmblood, er, well, blood in their veins are able to control it, but it is a skill that must be learned. Magic can be performed through casting of runes, though it takes a life source to sustain a spell, whether that be the caster himself or another life form nearby. The magic in this book didn't really bother me, as it's clearly a fairytale setting in a fictional world.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book

Title: Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book

Series: None

Year: 2017

Author: Jennifer Donnelly

Summary: Smart, bookish Belle, a captive in the Beast’s castle, has become accustomed to her new home and has befriended its inhabitants. When she comes upon Nevermore, an enchanted book unlike anything else she has seen in the castle, Belle finds herself pulled into its pages and transported to a world of glamour and intrigue. The adventures Belle has always imagined, the dreams she was forced to give up when she became a prisoner, seem within reach again.

The charming and mysterious characters Belle meets within the pages of Nevermore offer her glamorous conversation, a life of dazzling Parisian luxury, and even a reunion she never thought possible. Here Belle can have everything she has ever wished for. But what about her friends in the Beast’s castle? Can Belle trust her new companions inside the pages of Nevermore? Is Nevermore’s world even real? Belle must uncover the truth about the book, before she loses herself in it forever.

Review: First off, can we talk about the synopsis?? GETTING LOST IN A BOOK! Belle has had plenty of practice getting swept into a book's story, falling in love with written characters, and cheering on the hero/heroine while turning the pages. This story is just like that. But not. Nevermore literally sweeps her into another world where she lives the story. And what's even better -- the author of Nevermore says she's writing the perfect story for Belle. It's just what she needs to distract her from the gloomy prisoner life of the Beast's castle.

At least, that's what she thinks.

The first and last scenes with Love and Death set the perfect tone for this book, while tying back epically to the live-action film. I've always wondered what game it was that Love and Death are always prophetically playing... and now it makes sense: Chess. I am neither Love nor Death, so now I understand why chess just isn't my thing.

I'm always a little skeptical when I pick up one of these kinds of books. The classic Disney tale is something that we all know and love, and when people try to add to it, it doesn't always come out right. This tale happens right in the middle of Disney's live-action remake, after *spoiler* the Beast saves Belle from the wolves, but before their iconic yellow-dress dance.

But getting a new story to fit in perfectly with the rest of the whole story is often a very difficult task. Because you want the book tie-in to feel complete on its own, you have to allow for character development and plot structure that doesn't compromise the story that you love in the film. Yes, I'm a story snob. But I do think that this author managed to pull it off quite nicely. I was so paranoid through the whole thing, wondering how she was going to compromise Belle, how she was going to damage the Beast's character and growth, how she was going to add too much to allow for the film's reality -- but it didn't end up that way at all. I was very happy with the satisfying ending that allowed for a smooth transition back into the finishing chapters of the film.

Honestly, this reads like a glorified fan-fiction that seamlessly transitions to and from the film. Belle's wish to get lost in the story was incredibly Belle-like, and I could see it happening. The book allows her to draw a step closer to the Beast in a way, but *spoiler* without making her confession of love in the film seem unrealistic in timing.

My only complaint with this book, really, is the beginning. We get a lot of information of the events in Belle's life leading up to the start of the book, all told in awkward flashbacks. Flashbacks are a great way to incorporate needed information, but no smooth transition into the memories or a flashback within another flashback (I mean, seriously??) only make for pages of confusion. Also, a petty complaint: with the scene of the Beast giving Belle the library, I kept waiting for the Beast's line from the film about the books being written in Greek, but it never came. *le sigh*

Anyway, if anyone ever wondered why, after the Beast gave Belle his library, Belle didn't spend the rest of the film in the library reading, read this book. It explains why.

Advisory: Some magical elements. The Beast and his castle are the recipients of an enchantress's curse (who ironically turns out to be Love), and Love and Death make a bet on whether or not Belle will break the curse. *spoiler* The whole book is basically how Death cheats. #nosurprisethere While Belle is in the book, she encounters magical illusions and later some perilous characters that try to persuade her to stay within the pages of the story. A few of the scenes tend to the more creepy side (reminding me a little of Alice in Wonderland, actually), but still within the fairytale vibe of the film. Caution for those who might want to know: walking marionettes may be included.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Dragon Rose (Tales of the Latter Kingdoms)

Title: DragonRose

Series: Tales of the Latter Kingdoms (Book #2)

Year: 2012

Author: Christine Pope

Summary: The shadow of the cursed Dragon Lord has hung over the town of Lirinsholme for centuries, and no one ever knows when the Dragon will claim his next doomed Bride. Rhianne Menyon has dreams of being a painter, but her world changes forever when a single moment of sacrifice brings her to Black's Keep as the Dragon's latest Bride. As she attempts to adjust to her new life -- and to know something of the monster who is now her husband -- she begins to see that the curse is far crueler than she first believed. Unraveling the mystery of what happened to the Dragon's Brides is only the beginning... (from Goodreads)

Main Characters:
~ Rhianne
~ Theran Blackmoor
~ Sar

Review: As far as Beauty and the Beast retellings go, this one handled the aspect of the Beast’s curse in a very creative way. However, other elements of the story make it difficult for me to recommend the book for fairy tale fanatics.

Rhianne is the eldest of four daughters born to a tradesman. She despises her mother’s choice of suitor, a rich man of forty-five years, and thrives in helping her father by painting the stoneware and other pottery he makes. However, her painting skill is somewhat of a disgrace to her name as girls aren’t supposed to be dabbling in trade.

Rhianne is only a month away from aging out of the dreaded call for the Dragon’s Bride. Fro 500 years, he's called for a bride from the little town of Lirinsholme, and no girl wants to answer that call -- because it's a death sentence. Even though the Bride’s family receives a large monetary gift, the Bride herself will be dead not long after her marriage to the Dragon. As ill luck has it, the Dragon Lord of Black’s Keep calls for a bride only just after Rhianne’s painting disgraces her to the entire town. Her best friend – a girl who is already engaged and sewing her wedding dress – is chosen as the Bride, but Rhianne decides to take her place.

As I said before, this book handles all the aspects of the Beauty and Beast story very well. I enjoyed seeing those elements fleshed out as they were. The only big thing lacking was the rose itself. Rhianne’s name means “the rose” and she and the Dragon Lord walk often in the rose gardens, but it is not the rose that begins Rhianne’s adventures with the beast.

Theran Blackmoor, the Dragon Lord himself, is very much like the beast of lore. It always bothered me that so many Beauty and the Beast retellings portray the beast as an ill-tempered brute with anger management issues when the original fairy tales (granted, depending on which variation you read) showed him as a disfigured and rather gentle man. Theran was appropriately moody, and I thought his curse was very well executed. I found I quite liked the Bride twist.

I do realize that this is the second book in a series of fairy tale retellings; however, I believe they are basically stand-alone novels. I have absolutely no idea what the first book was about -- I just read this one because I found it free for Kindle one day and thought I'd try it out as a Beauty and the Beast retelling. I can't recommend the series because I really don't know anything else about the other books.

Advisory: The biggest objection for me was Rhianne's desire for romance and physical intimacy. Once she realizes that she's fallen in love with the Dragon Lord, she wants to kiss him and be near him physically. She wonders what it would be like to be treated like a wife, leading to some not-so-graphic thoughts and feelings. There is also a scene in which she and Theran consummate their marriage, though nothing is described graphically and the scene itself is more suggestive than anything else. Still, I was uncomfortable reading it, and it is for this reason that I can't give this book a higher rating. 

Some talk and portrayal of violence/suicide/murder. The story itself has a darker, more mature tone because it includes these elements, but I didn't think any of it horribly graphic or over the top. 

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

The Rose and the Balloon (Once Upon a Twist Tales)

Title: The Rose and the Balloon 

Series: Once Upon a Twist Tales (Book #1)

Year: 2016

Author: Kirsten Fichter

Summary: In a kingdom where fauna and flora are held in higher esteem than breakfast, Dmitri is a prince who yearns for change and plans it in a single daring act that will alter his life forever. However, when his demented mother accidentally causes the destruction of a prized garden of roses, Dmitri is horrified when she proposes his hand in marriage to make up for it. Not only will a wife hamper his glorious plans, he doesn't even want one. 

Janelle has spent her whole life on her father's rose farm, tending the roses and staying simple. But she really yearns for something greater than the flower beds. But now there's a wrench thrown in the works – the crazy Queen Maeva wants her to marry the prince, and all for ruining her father's beloved roses.

This is Beauty and the Beast with a twist like you've never seen it before. (from Goodreads)

Main Characters:
~ Janelle Roux
~ Prince Dmitri

Review: Is there a law against writing a book review for a book you wrote yourself? I surely hope not, because here I am doing just that.

Most Beauty and the Beast stories start off with Beauty's father plucking a single rose from the Beast's garden. This story, however, takes everything you know about the classic fairy tale and turns it upside-down on its head. Right off the bat, we're introduced to our Beast character, the Crown Prince Dmitri, who stands in the shadow of his mentally handicapped mother, affectionately dubbed "Crazy Maeva." Her latest, childish obsession is hot air balloons and she's quite determined to fly one day. Unfortunately, the science has not been quite perfected so that she can. 

But instead of the Beast catching Beauty's father in theft, it's the Beast's own mother who commits the crime with the rose. Or roses, rather. An accident with the balloon leads to the destruction of Beauty's/Janelle's home and her father's garden of prized roses. From there, it's just a tumble downhill and upside-down into the rabbit hole world of Rohesia, where roses are held in the highest honor. Janelle, for herself, doesn't think much of roses. And she thinks even less of the prince... who ends up her sudden betrothed. 

My favorite characters hands down are Dmitri's younger siblings, the twins Nicolas and Nicoline. They are the most mischievous twelve-year-olds you ever saw, and they have a competition between the two of them to outprank/kill each other. Of course, the entrance of Janelle only makes the competitions better, and both enlist her in the efforts to top the other. This leads to one of the best scenes (which just so happens to be a jab back to the original Disney classic film with a dancing feather duster). 

So, who needs to read this book? Well, I hope everyone would need to read this book. I wrote it, after all. It's a short, fun, family-friendly, fairy tale adventure with roses and hot air balloons (duh -- that's literally the title), that holds all the classic elements of Beauty and the Beast but twists everything into a completely new story. 

When sitting down to read this story, I suggest you bring along a hot cup of your favorite beverage (I prefer coffee, but you may go for tea or hot chocolate) as well as a sturdy helmet. Nicolas may be hiding somewhere above you with a cream pie. 

Advisory: Mild peril. A few characters use the expression blast/blasted. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Beautiful Pretender (A Medieval Fairy Tale)

Title: The Beautiful Pretender

Series: A Medieval Fairy Tale (Book #2)

Year: 2016

Author: Melanie Dickerson

Summary: The Margrave of Thornbeck has to find a bride, fast. He invites ten noble-born ladies from around the country to be his guests at Thornbeck Castle for two weeks, a time to test these ladies and reveal their true character.

Avelina is only responsible for two things: making sure her deception goes undetected and avoiding being selected as the margrave’s bride. Since the latter seems unlikely, she concentrates on not getting caught. No one must know she is merely a maidservant, sent by the Earl of Plimmwald to stand in for his daughter, Dorothea.

Despite Avelina’s best attempts at diverting attention from herself, the margrave has taken notice. And try as she might, she can’t deny her own growing feelings. But something else is afoot in the castle. Something sinister that could have far worse—far deadlier—consequences. Will Avelina be able to stop the evil plot? And at what cost? (from Goodreads)

Main Characters: 
~ Avelina Klein
~ Lord Thornbeck

Review: After the adventure of The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest, Melanie Dickerson has brought us back for another fairy tale romance. I can't say that this book has topped Huntress for my favorite of this author's novels. Definitely an interesting story, but it had its ups and downs.

I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more of The Princess and the Pea in this tale. I know that this is technically a retelling of that fairy tale, and you can definitely see the connections (the margrave actually talks about putting a pea under the bed mattresses with one of the prospective brides -- a cool touch, I thought), but I wouldn't define this as a strict Princess & Pea retelling. In truth, there's more of Beauty and the Beast than anything else. And on that note, I loved all the nods to that fairy tale (i.e. the wolf attack). So, satisfying, but I do wish there could have been more of Princess & Pea. 

Avelina surprised me as a heroine. Normally, you'd expect her to be the typical heroine of these type of novels. While she does have her share of sappy thoughts and wishes for true love, she has backbone where a lot of heroines don't. AND she keeps that backbone even after she's entirely and completely smitten with the handsome margrave -- which is something that these books don't normally have. That, I will admit, surprised me and scored bonus points in my book. Avelina knows her own mind, and she isn't afraid to speak it. Even as a servant, she isn't afraid to tell it to Lord Thornbeck bluntly how things are and what she thinks of them. 

Lord Thornbeck, the Margrave Reinhart himself... I can't say that I was entirely impressed with him. He was a likable hero, but I didn't feel that there was anything exceptional about him. Magdalen was lively and fun to follow. I loved how she was incorporated; her subplot really was excellent. 

It was really fun to see Jorgen and Odette return from Huntress. You didn't need to read their story first in order to understand this book, but I would recommend reading Huntress, because you understand bits more and because that's my current favorite of Melanie Dickerson's stories. Jorgen and Odette reminded me a lot of Lumiere and Mrs. Potts from Disney's Beauty and the Beast -- trying to counsel the gruff master on the best way to treat a lady. I'll admit it readily -- that made me laugh more than once. 

Advisory: Romance, as usual. It annoyed me a little that Avelina was thinking emotionally about the margrave almost as soon as she met him. I think she had known him for about a day, and she was already wondering what it would be like to marry him. [Highlight for spoilers] After Avelina nearly freezes to death, the margrave holds her to help get her warm again. Twice. And then some physical contact as well (hand-holding, kissing, etc.), but in the normal tone of Dickerson's stories. 

Avelina takes Lady Dorothea's place because Dorothea is pregnant with the child of one of her father's knights and then runs away to marry the aforementioned knight. In addition, a character talks of his brother sleeping with a woman. The situations are not dwelt on long, but the few uncomfortable references are something to take note of.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

*Please note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*