Quirky Cat
Wait, what? There's a manga version of Beauty and the Beast that focuses on Belle's side of the story?! Why didn't anybody tell me about this? But seriously, Beauty and the Beast – Belle's Tale is a refreshing take on the tale, written by Mallory Reaves and illustrated by Gabriella Sinopoli Sinopoli and Studio Dice. Side note: It's also the first in a set. That's right! Beast also has a part to play in this.
If you ever wanted to get into Belle's head during the events of Beauty and the Beast, then you're in luck! This graphic novel covers all the same events that the classic Disney movie shows us, but it also gives us a chance to see what Belle is thinking.
I won't waste time summing up the plot of this story – I think most people probably know it by heart at this point. And those that don't have probably made a point of avoiding it and thus won't be much interested in this take.
I have to say that I enjoyed Beauty and the Beast – Belle's Tale. It was light and fun, the perfect break after a heavy read. Admittedly none of the insights were all that groundbreaking, but I wasn't exactly expecting any plot-shattering revelations, you know?
To address the artwork, we first have to discuss Beauty and the Beast – Beast's Tale. As a duology, both are intentionally illustrated and colored in different styles. Belle's has more of a classic shoujo anime style. It's bright and almost feels fluffy.
My biggest complaint about this graphic novel is that it was difficult to read. Some pages felt like they were written in American comic format (left to right), while others were in manga format (right to left). Maybe this was my review copy and not the published versions.
Thanks to Disney Manga and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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