Of Beast and Beauty

by Stacey Jay

What if Beauty became the Beast? Discover a new angle on the classic fairytale in this fantasy retelling that's perfect for anyone who can't get enough of Beauty and the Beast.
 
In the city of Yuan, the blind Princess Isra is raised to be a human sacrifice. Her death will ensure her city’s vitality.
 
In the desert, a mutant beast named Gem fights to save his people, known as the Monstrous, from starvation.
 
Neither dreams that, together, they can return balance to their worlds.

When Gem is captured for trying to steal Yuan’s enchanted roses, he becomes a prisoner of the city. Isra enlists his help, and soon begins to care for him—and to question everything she has been brought up to believe. . . .


“Engrossing tale . . . [an] intense love story.” —Kirkus Reviews
 
“The bones of the classic Beauty and the Beast story are all here, imaginatively fleshed out with tropes from science fiction, fantasy, and even political drama.” —The Bulletin, Recommended
 
“Jay’s characters are well-realized . . . [the] setup is intriguing and her writing assured.” —Publishers Weekly

“Revelations and plot twists keep the action flowing and romance growing. . . . A satisfying read for fans of romantic fantasy.” —School Library Journal

• ISBN10: 037599100X
• ISBN13: 9780375991004
• Publish Date: 23 July 2013 (first published 1 January 2013)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 20 April 2017
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Delacorte Press
• Format: Hardcover (Library Binding)
• Pages: 391
• Language: English

Reviews

[inlibrisveritas]

3.5 Stars

Of Beast and Beauty is a standalone novel focused on retelling the story of the Beauty and the Beast, in a futuristic new world where magic hidden in the shadows tugs at everyone’s lives.

I love Beauty and the Beast, especially the original story, but surprisingly I haven’t read that many retellings for the story. Of Beast and Beauty really adds a new spin the the tale by adding in some sci-fi elements like colonizing new worlds and dystopian government and blends them with the traditional fantasy feel of fairy tales. The fact that this planet has magic of it’s own was really awesome and I loved getting to know the lore for why those inside the cities remain unchanged but those outside have adapted to the heat of their sun by growing scaling and claws. I also loved that it included the degradation of verbally told stories, and how the story changes depending on that person’s culture and just how personal opinions alter the truth. The plot itself is relatively simple, and the book outright gives you the basis of it in the prologue…sort of like the Disney movie does. It’s the standard flow of love, curse breaking, and defying the standards set by society…so in that aspect there is anything new. However I really enjoyed the new take on just how beauty is seen through different eyes and how people can be beast like without ever showing the physical features.

Isra is the princess of Yuen, and she’s considered tainted. She’s blind and many of her subjects find her ways odd and even wild. I thought the whole blind thing could be used as a way to get her to fall in love with Gem, but it’s really not. There is plenty of animosity between the to begin with, and they come to know each other in the normal rational way…talking. Gem I liked more than Isra and I found his POV sections to be the easiest to fall into. He’s gruff and by her standards an animal, but he’s also very intelligent and picks up on things quickly. I wasn’t completely sold on their relationship, since it seemed to be fragile at best during most of the book and with all the lies it as built on I spent much of it wondering when it was going to crumble a part. I think they are cute together, but seeing as this book covers a large amount of time in only 300 + pages it’s hard to get a real feel for their relationship outside of stressful situations.

So overall I enjoyed this one. The whole idea of this society being built from a space faring people and having to deal with a new planet that is seeking to change them was incredibly cool! So while my love for this one is not great I do think it’s a fun book and certainly worth reading.

[nitzan_schwarz]

2015 tbr challenge + cleaning my shelves 2015

JUST POSTED ON MY BLOG :)

Oh my, Oh my. I never expected this book to be... well, this book. That's not to say that I didn't go into it with high exceptions, because I did. I couldn't not to when it had such a gorgeous cover and was marketed as a retelling of one of my favorite fairy-tales (and favorite Disney movie *wink*).

But I never could've expected this enchanting world, a strange mixture of a bit of sci-fi and a lot of magic, or the beautiful writing, or the captivating characters. 

It's almost a shame to call it a "retelling", because it's far more than that. It's its own story, capable of standing tall on its own two feet without the fairy-tale attached to it, and one does not necessarily need to love B&B in order to love it.

Because in Of Beast and Beauty  there is no clear "beast" and no clear "beauty". 

Isra Beast?? is a blind princess doomed to a horrible fate. She is strong, opinionated, kind, but also very much a prisoner in her own city. Her own castle. She's grown to thinks of herself as "tainted" by the mutation her people fear so much, and instead of being Belle enslaved by the beast, she is the one who does the enslavingwhen she catches Gem, a Monstrous, as he is infiltrating her city.

Gem Belle? may be a beast in his appearance, but he is such a good person. He only thinks of the best for his people, but still he can't kill even when his duty tells him he must. He tries to hate and yet finds himself unable.And no matter his motivations, he treats Isra with kindness and attention. The (almost) only person in her life who does.

These two are just... in one word? sigh. I mean, seriously, the shipping is crazy. They bring the best in each other, they encourage each other to be better, they open each other's eyes. They're also HAWT like lava and so very delicious. And the best part? It takes time for their relationship to grow. They start as semi enemies, then reluctant partners, then friends, then... more. It's beautiful!

Then there's Gaston Bo. Occasionally, we get a glimpse into his pov. That was smart, because Jay lets us seeG0aston Bo is not a bad person. He is a product of years of prejudice and false information. He truly believes what he's doing is right, and he does have a heart and a sense of right and wrong. He just can't look past all he's been told to see the truth.

okay, Gaston Bo is no monster, but how was I supposed to resist? 

Another character worth mentioning is Needle, Isra's maid. I love this girl, and I kind of really really wanted to see her happy with someone. I'm all for Jay writing a sequel for Needle, maybe with Gem's brother? I feel like she could really teach him compassion and love...

The ending of this book was so amazing! And quite different than the Disney ending. Just like, a lot of asdfghjkl really.

Honestly, I don't have enough words to recommend this book with. Just read it, please. It deserves more love!

[reveriesociety_]

I.Will.Never.See.Beauty and the Beast.The.Same.Way

What I liked the most about this book was the message, the same one from the movie, but at the same time, delivered with so much precision, and discretion.

Why do I say this?
Because it was an integral part of the story and not something set apart. Beauty was a fundamental thing in this world where a nataural adaption to survive was considered something Monstrous, Tainted

Gem's and Isra's inner problems were as messed up as the ones that came from the world around them. I already miss their angst terribly.

The writing was beautiful. It resembled reading a fairy-tale, but with the roughness of the futuristic? world they were in.

See the full review at: A Writer's Tales

[Angie]

Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairytale, so of course I was interested in this Dystopian retelling of it. The author really takes this well loved classic and flips it on its head in Of Beast and Beauty. It's without a doubt imaginative and unique, but I also felt like there was a bit too much going on. The original is simple and beautiful, and this one started out that way. It didn't need all of those embellishments to make it fantastic. In fact, I'd say all of the twists and surprises hurt more than helped. But it's also set in magical space, which is pretty awesomely epic.

So...magical space! Fairytale retellings in space! In Of Beast and Beauty, humans are living on another planet. Another planet with magic! I love space and I love magic, and therefore I loved this set up. Of course, with magic comes curses. The people and the planet both are cursed, so those within the domes are generally beautifully and whole, but it comes at a very high price. Those left outside the dome are consider monstrous, but really they just have mutations that allow them to tolerate the harsh desert landscape. It isn't until someone from inside and someone from outside fall in love that the curse can be broken and the people can be free to live their lives without blood magic and hardships. I know domes may not be the most unique Dystopian element, but I like them. They kind of make me nervous, since our own planet might be subjected that one day.

As for our Beast and Beauty, we have Gem and Isra. Neither of them are traditionally beautiful, and I liked that. I also liked how the dynamics were flipped, and it was Isra keeping Gem captive. Isra is also considered odd by her people, but not because she's a bookworm. In fact, she can't even read because she's blind. And no this isn't a gimmick so she doesn't have to look at "the beast" and fall in love with him despite him being ugly. She's just blind, much like her maid is mute. Isra is also considered tainted, so her father, the King, keeps her locked away, since the people would never accept her as their queen. Gem, on the other hand, is a warrior for his tribe and he's sent out to steal the magic from the dome in order to help his people. He's caught of course, which is how he gets to spend so much time with Isra. I wasn't sold on the romance at all in the beginning. It's based on lies and manipulations, and I never really caught the turning point. Even after their first sexual encounter, there were times when they went back to being more adversary than friend.

The plot of Of Beast and Beauty, is of course the matter of breaking the curse and healing the world. However, there are also mysteries surrounding Isra's blindness, her taintedness, her mad mother, her cruel father, the original families and their covenant, and the creepy ass roses...It just never ended! There was way too much going on, and too many secrets and lies, and truths long forgotten. It was twist after twist, and they all detracted from the main story. I mean, it's Beauty and the Beast in space, we don't need all of the extras. That's awesome enough on its own.

So, I liked Of Beast and Beauty but it failed to wow me. The setting definitely wowed me, as I'm sure you've realized. But the plot was jumbled and had way too many side things going on. The romance was okay. I'm still not sold on it, but it was surprisingly sexy at times, which was a plus. I did love the ending though. I was worried that something super cheesy or cliche would happen, but thankfully it didn't. Well, it is kind of cheesy, but I thought it was more fitting than a Disney-esque type ending.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.