Seeking Persephone

By Sarah M. Eden

When Persephone Lancaster receives a marriage proposal from the ill-tempered Duke of Kielder, she refuses—and then reconsiders. The obscene sum of money he’s offering Persephone would save her family from ruin. With her characteristic optimism, she travels to the far reaches of Northumberland to wed a greatly feared stranger. Lodged deep in a thick forest infested with wild dogs, the Duke’s castle is as cold and forbidding as the Duke himself, a man with terrible scars on his body and his soul. But the Duke’s steely determination to protect his heart at all costs is challenged by his growing attachment to his lovely and gentle bride. With caring persistence, Persephone attempts to pierce the Duke’s armor and reach the man beneath. Yet he cannot tolerate such exposure, and his repeated rejections take their toll. But when grave danger arises, the Duke realizes he must face the risk of revealing his true feelings or lose the woman he cannot live without.

I was a little surprised at how much I enjoyed this book, though in retrospect, I probably shouldn’t have been. It’s a very beauty and the beast-like retelling, though it can also said to be a retelling of the mythology surrounding Persephone and Hades. I really enjoyed that not-so-subtle nudge. It actually endeared this story to me even more. Persephone was a good character, not given to being pitying, but also finding her situation difficult, she was realistic and also innocent and exactly what Adam needed. Adam himself was a great “Beast” character, being scarred and having a decidedly terrible reputation that scares the wits out of almost everyone he meets. I loved the interplay and slow blossoming love between the two of them. The awkwardness displayed by Adam as he wishes to open himself to Persephone, but not knowing quite how, is one of the best parts of the novel. I highly recommend this novel as a clean book as well as a good romance.

I give it a 4.25 out of 5

The Merchant's Daughter

By Melanie Dickerson

An unthinkable danger. An unexpected choice. Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of Lord Ranulf’s bailiff—a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past. Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff’s vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger. Ranulf’s future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart.

Hey look, I found another retelling of Beauty and the Beast! This is a Christian themed, and medieval set telling of the fairy tale. It is the second book written by Melanie Dickerson, The first of which is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty. While I worried at first that Dickerson favored having her heroines’ virtue come into jeopardy, I was relieved to note that she always has them rescued and never has it go anywhere beyond being chased and sometimes hit. Being Christian myself, I enjoyed the religious aspect of this novel, especially how God answers Annabel’s petition to be able to read the Bible through placing her in a position to read it to Lord Ranulf. I particularly enjoyed the perspective of someone reading the Bible for the first time, it was sweet and endearing. Lord Ranulf’s back story was different than any other “Beast” character than I’d previously read and that made me like the story quite a lot more than I would have, but at the same time I didn’t like the story as much as The Healer’s Apprentice because of the horrible Bailiff that had ill intentions towards Annabel, which made me nervous the entire time I was reading. For a Beauty and the Beast retelling, it was alright, though not a favorite.

I give this a 3.5 out of 5- mostly for the religious aspect that I appreciated. 

Stolen Songbird

By Danielle L. Jensen

For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fad from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cecile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined.

Cecile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity.

But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting—she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods—part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader.

As Cecile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever.

This is yet another story that had overtones of Beauty and the Beast, so how could I resist when it came on sale on my kindle for 1.99$? Reading this was a fun adventure and very emotionally yanking. Cecile is forced into a marriage that she doesn’t want, and is expected to produce the heir to the Troll throne that will save them all from their curse. Tristan, her husband, is cold toward her and barely civil. She becomes confused when she realizes that the part of their wedding that marked both of their hands was a binding deeper than skin, and she understands that she is able to tell where Tristan is and what he is feeling, and he can tell what she is feeling too. She realizes that there is more to Tristan than the mask he wears in public. His feelings betray him, and Cecile starts to see that things are not as they seem, and she begins to feel for him what she never thought she could: love. And if she isn’t mistaken, he is beginning to feel the same. While this is a neat take on the beauty and the beast story, it has some downfalls for me in the fact that it has some heated scenes between Tristan and Cecile toward the end that made me highly uncomfortable, and it will only get worse as the series continues. I hate sex scenes, as I’ve repeatedly stated, and so, with a sigh, I’ll leave this to those of you who don’t mind. It’s a good tale and will appeal to people who like teen fiction with a little bit of a steamy romance.

I give it a 3.25 out of 5- above average, but the steamy parts really lowered my score.

Beauty and the Beast

By K. M. Shea

Once upon a time Elle made a mistake. A small miscalculation sends her through the roof of an enchanted Chateau. Stranded until her broken leg mends, Elle is forced to rely on the good will of the sour chateau owner—the cursed Prince Severin.

Prince Severin—the commanding general and staunch supporter of his brother the crown prince—is cursed to look like a beast until a maiden falls in love with him. However, he has given up all hope of shattering the curse after several painful and failed attempts to break it. As such he has only disdain for Elle, leaving her to the devices of his bossy servants. This suits Elle perfectly as she dislikes the entire royal family, Severin included.

Unfortunately for the unsuspecting pair, the chateau servants are determined to break the curse and spend the majority of their time pushing Elle and Severin together. After bonding over gardens, animals, and terrifying squirrels Elle and Severin show signs of friendship, and perhaps something more…

But not all love stories can end that easily. After all, Elle is not what she seems, and Severin’s life is placed in danger when hostilities flare between his brother and the monarchs of a neighboring country.

If they really want the love of a lifetime Elle, a loyal liar, and Severin, an indifferent beast, will have to use every trick they know to survive.

Yes, I’m at it again. I found another Beauty and the Beast retelling. But I’m on a quest! I will find the best one there is, or failing that I’ll eventually write it! That being said, this is in the top tier for Beauty and the Beast retellings. I’m talking top 3. This was a great way to approach the beloved tale (I’m not the only obsessed person out there okay!) by making Elle, our heroine, a mysterious figure who is not kidnapped by the beast, but rather rescued by him, although reluctantly. Prince Severin is himself an awesome character and has much more to him than being a Beast. The byplay between the two of them is the best; the squirrel scene had me laughing out loud. But, not only is this the beloved tale retold, it’s a new tale with merits all its own, and I for one fell in love with the telling and the characters with all their stupidities and strengths. Again, I think I can safely put this in my top 3, maybe even in the top 2. I liked it that much. I know a lot of people swear up and down that Robin McKinley’s Beauty is the best one out there, but this one easily tops it for me.

I give it a 4.5 out of 5- not generally, but for the genre of fairy tale retellings. 

East

By Edith Pattou

Rose has always felt out of place in her family, a wanderer in a bunch of homebodies. So when an enormous white bear mysteriously shows up and asks her to come away with him—in exchange for health and prosperity for her ailing family—she readily agrees. The bear takes Rose to a distant castle, where each night she is confronted with a mystery. In solving that mystery, she loses her heart, discovers her purpose, and realizes her travels have only just begun.

Ever since I read Jessica Day George’s book “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” I have loved this particular fairy tale, most likely because it resembles Beauty and the Beast so much. This telling is creative and interesting, what with the “birth-direction” superstition and the way she describes the trolls, which was unlike anything I’d ever read or heard before. The characters aren’t all that memorable, and a little flat, which often happens in re-tellings of famous fairy tales. She does do Rose credibly, but most of the other characters are rather stereotypical, but that doesn’t make them less likeable in many cases. The story is told in a many-perspective view, mostly in Rose, but sometimes the bear, the troll, her brother, and her father. That was a little distracting, and I typically don’t like different perspectives while reading, it’s too jolting. It works, but I still would have preferred at least less perspectives to jump to and from. When all is said and done, this was an interesting and quick jaunt, but I did get tired of reading it, which is never good. I can’t really recommend it if you enjoy re-tellings, though many people really love this book. My best guess is that if you like young adult fiction and you like fairy tales, this is a fun read. If, like me, you want to find the best re-tellings of fairy tales, this one isn’t the best in my opinion for the fairy tale “east of the sun and west of the moon”.

I give it a 3 out of 5- average

The Cold King

By Amber Jaeger

Calia Thorn has lived her entire life in a small town sheltered by the Cold King’s mountain. Working day and night to care for her younger siblings, complete her unending chores and please her selfish, lazy mother has left her with few dreams for her own future.

But then even those meager hopes are taken from her when the Cold King comes down from his mountain to demand a new servant. Ungraceful, unladylike, undesired and unwanted by even her own family, Calia is chosen to be sent to the palace.
The Cold King has lived for three hundred years under a curse imposed by his own father. With no hope of ever breaking it, he settles for keeping his heart frozen against any pain—or hope.
When his new servant arrives, she challenges him in ways no one ever has and sparks fly. But not every Beast is a prince charming at heart and not every beauty is a maiden just waiting for love.

Sometimes happily ever after isn’t so easy…

 

This is yet another retelling of Beauty and the Beast.  My aim is to find the best one out there! This one as they go, was different and very good. It’s more ‘realistic’ rather than fantasy. It dealt with abuse and some other mature issues along those lines. Calia is treated abominably not only by her family, but by the “Cold King” as well. He isn’t the charming misunderstood cursed beast that we’re used to; he’s really quite damaged. He’s suffered a great deal and it’s made him selfish and truly cold to other people. While he offers kindness to his servants, who love serving him and would do anything for him and their home, he has difficulty trusting people and allowing them to care for him. Calia is forced to become his personal servant, basically a sacrifice. Their relationship is interesting and complicated, just as relationships are in real life. It’s a gradual thing and sometimes a very painful thing. Like I said, there are instances of abuse, neglect and attempted rape. This is a book for more mature audiences, that being said it handled things very well and tactfully. There are hard themes in this book and while I don’t particularly think this is the best re-telling of Beauty and the Beast, it is a good book. I just prefer my fairy-tales to be more whimsical, believable, but light. This was heavy and at times cringe-worthy in the cruelty shown.

I give it a 3.5 out of 5 because it was well-done and handled hard topics

The Eye of the Beholder

By Elizabeth Darcy

I am a prisoner.

Born to power, the world was my playground. My every wish was a kingdom’s command, my displeasure every man’s worst fear. But then, at the whim of a merciless enchantress, all was stolen from me. My once lavish castle became my dungeon. My once-handsome form became that of a beast. There is no hope of release from the prison of my own body, for the only way to break this curse is to earn the love of another. I, who have never felt a drop of compassion, must hope to inspire devotion. I, who am hideous beyond compare, must hope to inspire passion. After hundreds of years, I have come to accept the truth: I will never know love. There is no escape for me.

I am a prisoner.

Born to two loving parents and a happy home, I was grateful for my good fortune. Though I was plain and prone to living in my head, forced to live in the shadow of my beautiful sisters, I had everything my heart desired. Then tragedy struck, and I lost my mother and my home. Papa was all I had left in the world, and I was utterly devoted to him. When his thoughtful gesture earned him the wrath of a horrible monster, I sacrificed myself for the sake of the one person I love. Now I am a prisoner in a decaying castle with only a terrifying beast for companionship. But I am determined not to give in to the beast’s wrath, to prove to him that he can never truly ensnare me.

I have read a lot of retellings of Beauty and the Beast. It’s my favorite fairy tale, in case you haven’t been paying attention. I’ve been searching for the best one, one that fit my idea of ‘yes, this is how it would be!’ and I think I’ve come as close as I’m going to get. I love this book. It is by far the best book I’ve read about Beauty and the Beast, not just for the romance, which was done properly and slowly built up. But the actual human psychology and change within the Beast was absolutely fantastic.  Again, it was slow! I like slow, it’s realistic and it makes the journey to the end all the more worthwhile, even though you know what will happen. Mirabelle was a good character as well, nicely fleshed out and portrayed well.  My favorite part was the fact that she wouldn’t allow herself to be in love because she was…well afraid to be in love. I could completely relate to that notion, it’s illogical but it’s real! The only beef I had was with the end. It’s a small beef though. Mira is a little slow to figure out that the guy before her is the beast she loved, and I thought that was unrealistic with how intelligent she is portrayed throughout the book. It’s fairly obvious and it bothered me.  Also, they start a kissing-fest and I thought that was a bit unrealistic as well…but perhaps not. It would be for me. Anywho, YAY! I found you at last! The best Beauty and the Beast read thus far. (Sighs in contentment)

I give it a 4.25 out of 5

Beauty and the Beast

By Jenni James

 A prince by day and a wolf by night-

Prince Alexander has been turned into a werewolf and has one year to find someone to love the beast and break the spell, or he will be a wolf forever. He has nearly given up achieving the impossible, knowing no girl would ever fall in love with such a monster.

Just when he is about to abdicate the throne to his cousin, he meets Cecelia Hammerstein-Smythe, while a wolf, and begins to hope for the first time in months. Can he balance both worlds as a human and beast, gaining the love and trust of a girl who has every reason to despise him?

Cecelia detests the prince. She only knows Alexander as the arrogant monarch—the tyrant who has made her life miserable-though perhaps he’s changed right before her eyes. He’s not as full of himself as he once was. The prince is gentle now…but then again, so is the beast.

 

This was so stinking cute.  As a story it held me captivated and I read it in a day. It was a lovely rehash of my favorite fairy tale. Basically you have the werewolf prince who was a jerk to everyone under his station, including Ceclia, who is one of those people who is annoyingly good. When he is turned into a werewolf it is a maturing experience for him, and he becomes both more observant toward others, but stoic and silent in his troubles of the kingdom and ruling when he isn’t even human. I enjoyed this so much because of the dynamic between beast, Cecelia, and Alexander. There were, of course, things that bothered me though.  As per usual, it’s difficult to show the slow process of change within the prince, so it felt like it was this sudden happening where all at once he became gentle and loving. The story was too quick for me, I would’ve rather had it drawn out more. I want to slowly fall in love with the characters as they start to really see each other. But this was fantastic for a romantic warm-fuzzy book. If you enjoy the fairy tale, I highly suggest this book.

 

I give it a 3 ½ out of 5

Love Sworn

By Tess Williams

An enchanted castle, a self-absorbed rich boy, a painful curse, and the quiet heart of a beautiful girl…

Can a monster fall in love?

Love Sworn is a modern day retelling of the classic story, Beauty and the Beast, with a werewolf twist.

Adelle is trapped by a man, a monster, with a serious attitude problem. Her only comfort comes from the furry, scaly, and feathered household help, and her unexpected friendship with a white wolf named Max.

Dmitri is trapped by a curse and now by a girl. One way or another, he has to find freedom.

So I’ve been hunting for ages for a really good beauty and the beast book, and this one came pretty dang close to fitting the mold for me. It went slower and developed the relationship between Adelle and Dmitri, which was sweet, if a little confusing at times. I liked Adelle, but she came across as a little dim-witted at times. Dmitri was (sadly) a gorgeous guy when he wasn’t a…gorgeous wolf. The beast part never really played in for me. Wolves are not what I’d considered Beast material, I think they are beautiful. Dmitri was also a little quick to ‘change’ for me, it seemed like he suddenly decided that he was going to be nice to Adelle and then just as sudden he realizes he loves her. Her feelings were a little slower and therefore more realistic to me. She was infatuated and curious, but love didn’t come until later. When all is said and done though, it was a fun and entertaining read as well as warm-fuzzy at moments. It’s a nice romantic read that I did enjoy despite my critiques. As far as Beauty and the Beast re-tellings go, this one is probably toward the top for me.

3 ½ out of 5 because it was sweet and fun.

Beauty

By Robin McKinley

Sixteen-year-old Beauty has never liked her nickname. Thin, awkward, and undersized, with big hands and huge feet, she has always thought of herself as the plainest girl in her family-certainly not nearly as lovely as her elder sisters, Hope and Grace. But what she lacks in looks, she makes up for in courage. When her father comes home one day with the strange tale of an enchanted castle in the wood and the terrible promise he has made to the beast who lives there, Beauty knows what she must do. She must go to the castle and tame the Beast-if such a thing is possible…
Here is the unusual love story of a most unlikely couple: Beauty… and the Beast.


This happens to be pretty much the best adaptation of Beauty and the Beast out there right now that I’ve read. It’s fun and entertaining, Beauty is a likeable character right from the start and her sisters and father make a loving family. The beast however, I wish was more developed. I always wish he was. But if you’re looking for a great beauty and the beast story, this is the one to start with.

By These Ten Bones

By Clare B. Dunkle

A mysterious young man has come to a small Highland town. His talent for carving soon wins him work at the castle-and the admiration of the weaver's daughter, Maddie. Fascinated by the silent carver, she sets out to gain his trust, only to find herself drawn into a terrifying secret that threatens everything she loves.

There is an evil presence in the wood carver's life that cannot be controlled, and Maddie watches her town fall under a shadow. One by one, people begin to die. Caught in the middle, Maddie must decide what matters most-and what price she is willing to pay to keep it.

This was my second time around reading this book, and it passed the test of time. I still absolutely was engrossed. The best part about this book is the characters and the timelessness of good vs. evil and love crossing all boundaries. Just the kind of thing that is right down my alley. I would highly recommend this book to people who love mythological creatures (especially Werewolves) and medieval times. This book is set in Scotland fairly soon after Christianity was introduced and accepted, but still harbors Pagan beliefs and superstition. My only warning is this: it has some quite gruesome descriptions and gory sections in it that on my first reading I felt were overdone. Although, it didn't truly bother me because it was so over-the-top I couldn't believe it anyway. Although it does make for some strong imagery in your brain. I suggest ages being at least 14 to read this. Just to get where it's coming from. Overall though, I'd love to own this book for the great story, characters, plot, and message. It gave me some things to think about.

Beastly

By Alex Flinn

I am a beast. A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright- a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.
You think I’m talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It’s no deformity, no disease. And I’ll stay this way forever-ruined-unless I can break the spell.Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I’ll tell you how I became perfectly….beastly.

I’ve been in a Beauty and the Beast kick lately, so I apologize to everyone who is annoyed with it, but this one was pretty good. There were two things that bothered me: one was the references to sex and the other was the rather un-real change Kyle goes through after he becomes the beast. Oh, wait I forgot one, after each ‘part’ in the book there is a section where other people who have been transformed have an online chat and that was just really stupid. It detracted from everything and made me say, “Man, this is so lame.” It broke whatever hold the story had on you. But for the good, it was probably the best present-set telling of the story I’ve ever read. I liked how character-focused the book was instead of trying to fit the plot into a more prominent role. Although the dialogue became slightly un-real toward the end I was hooked enough to read the whole 300 pages in 4 hours. It’s a fun read. I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone under the age of 16, possibly 17-18; just for the crude stuff- although it’s different for everyone.

The Fire Rose

By Mercedes Lackey

Rosalind Hawkins is a medieval scholar from a fine family in Chicago, unfortunately, her professor father has speculated away the family money and died, leaving young Rosalind with no fortune and no future. Desolate with grief, forced to cut her education short, she agrees to go west to take a job as a governess to a wealthy man in San Francisco. However, when she arrives, she finds that there are no children at all: only a man who wishes her to read to him through a speaking tube. As she takes on the strange task of translating and reading aloud to her employer, she finds many mysteries to be solved; her employer being one of them. As she comes to know him she finds a keen mind and wit akin to her own. But when Rose discovers his secret and the bitter pain that comes with it, will she be able to find a way to help the man who took her out of poverty before he destroys himself?

This was one of the most original ‘Beauty and the Beast’ type books I’ve read to date. It was however highly disturbing in many ways. I would suggest if you read it to skip chapters 5 and 12. They deal with the man-servant Paul du-mond, who is the most unsavory and vile of characters. This book was strange to say the least and had a lot of anti-religion in it, and dealt mostly with ‘logic’ despite the fact that it had magic in it. I felt like I was reading a witch-craft book and it was just odd. I didn’t like it very much, and it was far too…something for me. It was just too much. I don’t recommend it.

Belle

By Cameron Dokey

Certain that she has the wrong name, as she lacks the beauty of her two sisters, Belle dedicates her time to woodcarving and withdraws from society. Secretly, Belle longs to find the fabled Heartwood Tree, for if carved by the right hands, it will reveal one’s true love. During a strange storm, Belle’s father is lost and comes upon the Heartwood Tree, and upon a horrible beast. Now, Belle must carve the Heartwood tree at the Beast’s command, to save her father and to learn to see not with the eyes of her mind, but the eyes of her heart.

As far as fairy-tales turned into novels go, this one was a little disappointing, especially since it was about Beauty and the Beast, my favorite. It was a little drab to read, even though I had high hopes and pushed through to the end, which was far too quick to enjoy. The book focuses a lot on Belle’s feelings, but not enough on the romantic parts at the end of the book with the Beast. I adore other of Cameron Dokey’s books, but this one was a let-down. But to be fair, I expected something spectacular and I have read many adaptations of Beauty and the Beast.

Interesting Info: Cameron Dokey has written many adaptations of fairy tales, famous and less-known. Golden was my favorite, an adaptation of Rapunzel. And Beauty Sleep was also very fun to read, the retelling of Sleeping Beauty.

The Hollow Kingdom

By Clare Dunkle

Kate and Emily have just moved to Hallow Hill, after the death of their father, to be with their only relatives. Kate is a reputable beauty, though she doesn’t seem to believe it, and also very intelligent. Young Emily is the bolder of the two, with a curiosity and tactlessness that often makes Kate blush. The two sisters are settling in as well as can be expected, but one day during a jaunt into the woods they become lost and wander into a camp of gypsies. But Kate finds out there is something foul afoot. After one, Marak, guides them home, Kate discovers to her horror that he is not even human. And Marak is not done with her yet. Because he is determined to take Kate as his stolen bride. Will Kate be able to escape this horrible fate, to be trapped in marriage with a monster? Things are not what they seem, as trouble looms from more than the hideous goblin Marak…

Clare Dunkle has a way with making old lore and legend into a fantastic story. This is one of my favorite stories that I just happened upon in the library. I have read my fair share of fantasy and fairy tale, but I have never read a story about goblins. This is such a fun read, and reminds me a little of Beauty and the Beast…though don’t expect the same kind of happily ever after ending. Dunkle has a unique writing style that subtly wraps you into her world of Elves, Goblins, and magic. With some darker undertones, I would suggest a little caution if you, like me, are prone to take on the emotion of a book as you read. It can be a little depressing. But otherwise, a great read and very entertaining.

Interesting Info: The Hollow Kingdom is the first in a set of three, but can stand alone by itself, as can the other two books in the series. I liked this because it gave me the freedom to decide if I wanted more or just wanted to stop. The other two books are: Close Kin, and In the Coils of the Snake.