Beauty of the Beast (Fairy Tale Retellings, #1)

by Rachel L. Demeter

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

REVIEW: BEAUTY OF THE BEAST Rachel L. Demeter is a new to me author, so I had no idea what to expect. I chose to read this book because it was a retelling of one of my all-time favourite fairy tales. In addition, I was curious to see how she would handle a timeless tale for a mature audience and I have to say she did a remarkable job. A captivating story, which had me hooked from the first page. I found myself completely immersed in this magical tale. The characters were intriguing and made for an interesting read, but the one that captured my heart was Prince Adam Delacroix.Adam, an enigma had emotional and physical scars, brought over from his childhood. His life has never been the same since that fateful day when he lost his family. He lived his life in seclusion and had no friends except for the man who had rescued him twenty-five years ago and a wolfhound named Stranger. He hid from the world, as those who saw him perceived him as a monster due to his physical appearance. The walls that surrounded him was not only physical, but also emotional. He struggled with hatred of self and the demons of his past, which haunted him constantly. Initially, he appeared mean and hateful, but as the many layers that made him up were slowly peeled away, I saw a man who had a huge capacity to love. The opportunity to share his capacity to love arose the day Isabella Rose came to his door seeking shelter. She touched him in ways he never expected. She brought light into his life and made him feel alive.Isabelle Rose is such a beautiful soul. She is the apple of her father's eye. Loved by the community she is kind-hearted, compassionate. A romantic at heart, she had dreams of being swept off her feet by a handsome prince. She thought her dreams came through in the person of Raphael Dumont, but she would discover that his intentions were far from honourable. I thought Raphael was the devil incarnate. The story gave insight as to why he is that way and I almost felt sorry for him, but then I realised that he was beyond redemption. To avoid being with him she ran away at his expense, but did run away propelled her into something more dangerous. When she first encountered Adam, she perceived him a monster based on his actions. However, the more time she spent in his company she came to realize that beneath his cold façade lay a heart of gold.This story reminded me that beauty lies not in the outward appearance, but within the heart. Love has the power to heal and watching Adam and Isabelle discover this was a delight. The romance was sweet and tinged with sensuality. Their love for each other grew over time as they learned to trust each other. The writing was simply beautiful, poetic and the emotions expressed on the pages were pulsating and powerful. In fact, everything about this book was beautiful, the words, the cover, the writing and the characters. I have read a few fairy tale retellings, but what makes this stands out from the rest was that it kept the original story alive but with a realistic touch.VerdictThe author has woven a magical and poignant tale of love and healing. Her diligent attention to detail coupled with the steady and constant pace allows readers to savour every moment of the story to the fullest. If you love fairy tale retellings and enjoy stories that are edgy and sensual, then this book is for you. I can’t wait to see what next the author has in store for her readers. FAVOURITE QUOTES"Adam was a flesh-and-blood enigma, a beautiful master that she ached to unravel. His music was enough to leave her breathless- and his refined mannerisms and the innate way he held and asserted himself reaffirmed that cultured upbringing""Winter melted into spring, and along with it, the icicles that had clung to Adam's heart deftly fell away like shackles""For so long, I've lived as if I'd died. I've forgotten how it feels to be alive, to breath fresh air and feel the sun on my face.""Everything seemed to fade away while the heat of their bodies mingled as one. Her heart banged against her ribs as she sought the depths of his eyes. At this range, flicks of gold contrasted against his sky-blue irises. Much of the sadness seemed to have vanished, leaving an almost boyish delight in its wake"