Of Beast and Beauty

by Stacey Jay

[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.