Source: From Librarything and Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Publication Date: July 10, 2018
Rating:
Goodreads Synopsis:
Filled with magic and fierce emotion, Lisa Jensen's multilayered novel will make you question all you think you know about beauty, beastliness, and happily ever after.
They say Château Beaumont is cursed. But servant-girl Lucie can’t believe such foolishness about handsome Jean-Loup Christian Henri LeNoir, Chevalier de Beaumont, master of the estate. But when the chevalier's cruelty is revealed, Lucie vows to see him suffer. A wisewoman grants her wish, with a spell that transforms Jean-Loup into monstrous-looking Beast, reflecting the monster he is inside. But Beast is nothing like the chevalier. Jean-Loup would never patiently tend his roses; Jean-Loup would never attempt poetry; Jean-Loup would never express remorse for the wrong done to Lucie. Gradually, Lucie realizes that Beast is an entirely different creature from the handsome chevalier, with a heart more human than Jean-Loup’s ever was. Lucie dares to hope that noble Beast has permanently replaced the cruel Jean-Loup — until an innocent beauty arrives at Beast’s château with the power to break the spell.
Review:
Beauty and the Beast is probably my favorite Disney movie and story and I know that it has a lot of issues. Disney sugarcoats a lot of things and that is why we love them as kids. This book is a retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast story. It is much darker and more violent than I was expecting. My very first note to potential readers is - trigger warning -.
This book pretty much jumps right in and there is a rape it is not very detailed but it still feels very graphic and is very emotional, this is the set up for the whole tale. Lucie goes to the Château for her safety, so that her stepfather doesn't see how much of a woman she is now. She works in the Château for a while to find herself infatuated with its owner, Jean-Loup. The terrible deed happens and we are thrown into the magic that is the modern tale - a man enchanted to a Beast, but what this tale did differently is that he is changed because of Lucie's anguish and need for revenge and she is also enchanted as a candlestick - set to watch his depression and downfall.
Aside from the initial shock of the beginning of this book, I think that it was beautifully done. Lucie's emotions were strong and drove the story forward. It was both hard to read from her point of view but very direct and that is what this story was - direct and in your face. Lucie was tormented and got to watch her tormentor, but then also got to see him change into something more. The author did wonders with the change as well. I will not go into too much detail because I don't want to spoil anything, but I was so afraid that this change would lead to Lucie going back on her feelings and the whole 'love you anyway' trope but the ending was much better than that.
It was a very moving book and story and I really liked this retelling of the classic. It is emotional and deep, and the ending was creative.
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