Quest for the Beast: A Beauty and the Beast story

by Sarah Holman

Adara thought there would be nothing to do over the summer except read her favorite fairy tale stories. However, she finds herself tagging along with her brother and his friends in a quest to find a criminal known as the Beast. The quest turns out very differently than any of them imagined.
A story of faith, redemption, and happily-ever-after.

Genres: Contemporary, Christian Fiction, Short Stories, Christian, Fairy Tale Retellings, Beauty and The Beast, Retellings

41 pages, Kindle Edition

About the author

Sarah Holman lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, Scott. When not working on her next novel, she can usually be found hanging out with her family, reading, or hiking at state parks with her husband. If there is anything adventuresome about her life, it’s because she serves a God with a destiny bigger than anything she could have imagined. You can find out more about her at her website, www.thedestinyofone.com.
To keep up to date on releases, join her newsletter at http://eepurl.com/bitBIf

Reviews

[Amanda Tero · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really, really wanted to give this story a higher rating, but it still hovers between 3 and 3.5 stars for me. I guess it was one of those stories that I personally couldn't really connect with. However, I think that teen readers would probably appreciate the story more.

I liked the beginning incorporating a blip from Waltz into the Waves. :)

I have been similar to Adara and her struggle with choosing books over her family. However, I just couldn't quite "click" with the quest (probably because my mind was trying to wrap around the question of how something like the quest could be legal?)--though I did like the way the story resolved. The story is definitely not completed until you read the author's note--it helps to explain the message of the story better.

Younger readers may want to know: there are arguments, name-calling, and a very brief mention of a man trying to take advantage of Adara.

[Mikayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful re-telling of my favorite fairy tale. Being different enough to be very interesting, but still sticking to the original story plot made it a very enjoyable read. Though, truth be told, I enjoy everything Sarah Holman writes.

[Katja Labonté · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. I really loved this as a kid. Now, as an older girl and an older writer, I do see more flaws. The story is somewhat unrealistic, although fun. The writing style is a little weak. But I did like the characters and found them interesting. What I particularly like is the lessons—all about “where your heart is, there is your treasure also” and not to let your books steal you from your family; and the message on redemption.

Content: A short, barely-detailed scene of a guy wanting/trying to “have fun” with a girl; mention of a guy twirling a girl; some characters calling a child with Down Syndrome retarded and being nasty to him.

A Favourite Quote: Adara made her way to the tent, wondering if she should have said more. Why hadn’t she been able to think of the verses she had spent time memorizing as a child...? Wherever your treasure is, there you heart will be also.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “You sound like we are teens home alone!”
Adara stood, the book slipping from her grasp. “News flash, Jasper: we are teens home alone. You won’t turn twenty for another couple of months.”

[Jesseca Wheaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet, short re-telling that I really enjoyed! It captured my attention from the beginning and I finished it in around half an hour.
The spiritual aspects combined with the timelessness of a fairy-tail just made the entire story so good! The characters were developed really well for how short the book was and I felt like I got to know all of the personally. Of course, there are some, like Wolf, who I never want to actually MEET personally. ;)
Nelson was amazing and Adara was very easy to relate to with her head always stuck in a book! In fact, I think sometimes I can be to much like her and I really need to work on spending more time with my siblings.
All in all it was a very sweet story about redemption, forgiveness and second chances. If you enjoy Beauty and the Beast, definitely give this book a try!

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Wow. Wow. This book is SO GOOD!!! I read through it only stopping once (for food) and in under an hour. B-) Yep, it's that good.
Never much of a 'fairy-tale kind of girl', I'm really enjoying the Christian retellings I'm seeing around these days. This story vividly shows God's power of redemption and forgiveness. In that way it reminded me of the movie, "Beyond the Mask". Just modern day instead of 1775-6. ;)
Adara was nice and, being very much like myself, I could easily relate to her. Jasper was rude to her at times, but... ;-) Chris was sweet and I loved how Adara took up for him. Wolf's actions and language, towards Chris and Adara, made me cringe and blow and want to slap him. And don't even get me started in Nelson... :)
I kinda had a feeling as to how it would turn out, but I couldn't figure out how it would all fall into place. ;) My goodness, that ending was so super sweet!

This was the first book I've read by Sarah Holman and it will definitely NOT be the last!! :D

[Raechel Lenore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Holman writes great fairy-tale retellings. I have loved each one I've read thus far, and this is no exception! This is a very unique Beauty and the Beast tale, and very well done. The 'moral of the story' was so beautiful and touching, and I just really enjoyed it. The 'where you treasure is, there your heart will be also' really got me and made me think. The faith in these books are always strong!
The Beast character I liked right away (not really a surprise for me!), and I really liked Adara, and sweet little Chris.
Bravo to another tale well done, Miss Holman!

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never been a fan of fairy tales, but I was interested in reading this book. At first there wasn't a lot of spiritual aspect to the story. As it progressed, though, I understood why. Adara becomes too caught up in other activities, her focus on what it shouldn't be.

Personally, I would have liked the parents to be in the story. Also, the story is a little unbelievable, I will admit!

This is a story of redemption and although I figured out what was going on in the middle of the story, this did not take away the effect toward the end. This is a quick read, but a good one.

[Claire Banschbach · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

I really enjoy Sarah Holman's stories. This was a unique look at the Beauty and the Beast story. The part about spending too much time in books and ignoring family members really hit home for me, especially as I spend a lot of time on the computer with school and other things.

It's a really good short story, and I liked the way everything wrapped up. Recommended for anyone who like fairy tale retellings and stories with a message of faith and forgiveness.

[Sarah]

Beauty and the Beast is a timeless tale. This is a new spin on a very old story that I hope my readers will enjoy. It is a short story that can be read in an hour or less, but hopfully it will inspire you for far longer.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

I'm slightly prejudiced because I'm Sarah's sister, but I like this story. Once again Sarah did a wonderful job of retelling an old story with heart and life.

[Virginia Henderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite by this author due to the writing and unrealistic plot but I appreciated the messages of second chances and redemption. The use of the word "retard" really turned me off. Even though it led to the jerkiness of a character, it hindered my enjoyment. There was a very good reminder to not let things (even books) take the place of your family.

[deborah o'carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and intriguing short story. Some parts I wasn’t sure if I cared for, and/or might have disagreed with, but overall I was impressed with the writing of this story and it kept me very engaged, so I’m giving it a 4-star rating. :) It’s loosely based on the Beauty and the Beast story, which was fun to pick out, as well!

Quest for a Beast is a modern tale about a girl and her brother and some other teens who go on a slightly perilous trek through some woods (most of the story) to find a criminal (known as the Beast) and bring him in for the reward. Whether or not they succeed... well, you’ll just have to read it to find out. ;) I don’t read a lot of straight-up modern fiction, so it was a little different for me, but I was super absorbed as I read, and curious how it would turn out and what would happen. I did guess a couple of things (and kind of hoped for them) which made me super happy! :D

There were a couple different Christian messages in here and I really liked the redemption one, being a common Beauty and the Beast theme. :)

The characters were all individual, and I liked Adara okay and Nelson definitely grew on me. :) I was a little disappointed that Adara’s brother, Jasper’s, story-arc wasn’t addressed, even when another character’s was. I guess it’s a short story so there wasn’t room, but I still would have liked some sort of improvement from him. :( So that was a little sad. There’s still time, but still.

Ooh! I loved a certain reference at the beginning! :D I think Adara was reading a Cindrella retelling, also by this author (Waltz into the Waves) and that bit of meta-ness made me super happy as well! :D

Overall, it was an original and interesting short story, which, aside from a couple quibbles, I really enjoyed! ^_^

Favorite Quote

“You stay here while I go turn off the alarm.”

“How will you do that?” Philip asked.

“I have done my research,” Nelson replied nebulously.

(Review originally posted here: https://thepagedreamer.wordpress.com/...)

[Tarissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"We are going to capture one of the most wanted thieves in the state; they call him The Beast...."
- - - - -
A fantastic modern re-envisioning of The Beauty and the Beast.

Reasons I liked it:
*The story is taken completely out of a fairytale context and given a modern-day setting. I like it that way! I'd rather read a fairytale retelling that has a few small resemblances to the original, while not allowing you to figure out what will happen in advance.

*I also like it because the spiritual/Christian angle is IMPACTING. I think redemption and other good character qualities truly shine in Sarah's story.

*The characters are real and relatable in this one. For a short book, it's important that the reader connects well with the characters and Sarah pulled this off well. She allows you insight into each character's strengths, weaknesses, and how they can change -- being human.
- - - - -
"Had she become so obsessed with her books that she hadn't been there for her brother? Had her treasure become the fairy stories instead of God and the people he had placed in her life?"
- - - - -
Quest for the Beast is a good, solid story. Recommended especially for kids and young teens.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful re-telling with an extra special twist to the original story.
I enjoyed it overall, but it just didn't fell very real.

[Esther Filbrun · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely short story, perfect for a quick afternoon read. Loved the ending!

[Amanda Leite · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a really fun new twist on the Beauty and the Beast theme. Not only does it address the one thing we’re all thinking during the summers (What in the world are we going to do this summer?) but it also addresses a lot of hot issues in a Godly way. It brings the “Jesus attitude” into a today’s day and age story, realizing that we can show love to all of those around us and that although some people may seem like a beast, past the tough exterior is usually someone needing love on the inside.

Things I Loved:
I loved that this was a little longer than most of Sarah’s books; at 41 pages it was still a quick read but it made for a great “break” book. :) I loved the underlying lessons in this book and the unending love from Adara. This book had me thinking throughout it’s entirety, wondering what was coming next and if they would ever catch The Beast.

Things I Didn’t Love:
For once, I wasn’t upset at the shortness of this story. I enjoyed it’s length and was extremely pleased with the overall book. No negative comments from me!!

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a mini ‘Books For Christian Girls’ review. It is not a full content review and will not receive one. These mini-reviews are years old and just for clarity on the rating the book received on Goodreads.


12/13/2016-
“This was a short read that I enjoyed the ending of the story. There were a few parts I wasn't a fan of and a few other parts that didn't quite make sense to me, though.”


*Main Content-
Injuries, Blood, & Pain (barely-above-not-detailed); Many mentions of prison, crimes, criminals, a bounty hunt, a robbery, a gunshot, & a theft; Mentions of fighting; A couple mentions of stealing; Sibling teasing & bickering; Eye rolling; Mentions of insults & disparaging comments; Minor cussing (dumb, idiot, shut up, stupid, and retarded (four times)).
A bit of Noticing; Mentions of a man's "hungry" gaze at Adara & suggestive comments; Mentions of girlfriends & dating; A couple mentions of blushes.

[Angie Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting fairy-tale retelling in a modern setting. There wasn't a lot of action to the plot, but it did keep me guessing, and it wasn't until most of the way through that I saw the final twist.

I thought the characterization was handled well for such a short space of time. At the beginning, some of the characters seemed a bit young for the ages they were supposed to be, but that didn't nag me through the rest of the story. Things did seem to happen rather quickly at times, and some of the resolution seemed a bit rushed, but I really liked the redemptive storyline and message.

The only thing that pulled me out of the story was some of the dialogue; probably just a personal preference, but I thought that a few more contractions might have helped it to sound less stiff and more like a group of teenagers.

Content: name-calling/insults (including "retarded" for a Down syndrome boy), an attempted assault on a girl

[A.M. Heath · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting and unique twist of a classic fairytale. Holman removed the magical elements but kept the heart behind the story. Portions of the story felt very condensed and could have been written to show more detail into the setting and emotions. But there are some solid Christian messages here that were delightful to find. It's a super quick read, and likely better suited for a teen.

[Kate Willis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed taking a break with this light read. Chris and Adara's interactions were so adorable, but Wolf's treatment of them both was simply horrid. I loved the fairy tale references, and the lesson in priorities was particularly relevant for this bookworm. ;)

Not recommended for younger readers.

[Rebekah Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read. Not my favorite book, but still enjoyable.

[Agnieszka · Rating 4 out of 5]

All in all I liked the book pretty much and plan to read a full-length novel by this author in the future.

For an avid mystery reader this story didn't appear very much like one but I'm happy I forgot about this tag by the time I started to read it and expected a modern retelling of A Beauty and the Beast. Actually I only read it right now because I needed a Q-title for a challenge and this was one of my shortedst books to squeeze in-between ;-)

I liked the characters very much though wasn't that excited by their development though I'm sure it's something very subjective. I'm just pretty strong on realistic plots and this one was too cheesy in my eyes.
Another small issue though most likely not relevant for Christian readers - the style was bordering on preachy and I know if I would recommend this book to my family or most of my friends (and they would really read it) it would be the last recommendation they would accept :-( On the other hand there was a powerful message packed into this short story so I suppose most of the Christian readers will love it as well :-)

And lastly the typos - I'm aware not everyone's so sensitive about them - but as non-native English reader they are bothering me very much - the good thing about them with the next edition they can be gone - so I'm still hopefull the handfull of typos or mistaken words won't be a permanent issue.

[Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've enjoyed some of the author's recent stories, and I think I'd be a lot more interested in this one from a few years ago if she re-wrote in now. The concepts are interesting, but dialogue is stilted, some of the interactions stretch believability, and the main character is honestly kind of obnoxious. (PSA: Girls, men do not need you to tell them how to run their lives or camping trips. If a guy didn't bring bug spray on hike, it's probably because he really doesn't care about getting bitten.)

Probably not for very young readers because of an implied attempted rape, but it's handled discreetly enough to be fine for the intended audience age. No other content to speak of, just some mean words and mention of injuries.

[Katieofsix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quest for a Beast, while cute, I felt didn't reach it's full potential. Parts of the plot felt a little contrived, stretched, to me; I also felt that the main characters displayed behaviors/did things that were not quite consistent with their ages (ie, a college-aged girl allowing herself to be swept up in fairy tales; bounty hunting of sorts).
What I did find awesome were (again!) the lessons Sarah incorperates into her writing. a few lines in particular really stood out to me as I finished up this story today:

“What keeps it from being that simple for you? Following Christ is not easy, but it is a very simple message.”

“…we have both come face to face with an ugly part of ourselves. We both have to have the courage to allow Christ to transform us. If not, we will remain in our prisons.”

Still a good story, but I felt it could have been better.

[Annie Twitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute, short story. Listened to the audio version. The narrator was a little slow but concise enough that I could bump the playback speed up slightly without messing with the recording. It's a cute twist on Beauty and the Beast, one I didn't expect.

[Cate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book! I recommend that 12+ read this awesome story!

[MissFaerieKaiti · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique take on the original Beauty and the Beast, with a sweet message and cute ending.

[Maria]

FREE today (November 30, 2024) on Amazon.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

First let me start off by saying props to the author for a modern attempt at this fairytale. Beauty and the Beast is probably one of the hardest to try and recreate/rewrite. There are a lot of difficult concepts and ideas that I think would be challenging to pull off without some form of magic or enchantments. It's not impossible, just not the easiest story in the world to transform. Because of that, I really considered giving this book a higher rating. However, I just couldn't get into it while I was reading. Aside from the wonderful message of being kind to kids with special needs which I found endearing and sweet, the main characters annoyed me a bit.

Wolf especially, no offense to the author or my sister who loved that character's name, but it was just a bit too cliche' and obvious for my personal tastes. The plotline - of the kids going on a hike to try and best the fabled beast - was bland. It was the main driving force of the story but for some reason, the impact of it wasn't nearly as exciting or intriguing as the disney cartoon or other versions I've read. The mystery and threat surrounding the beast were present but also failed to make an impact which took a lot away from the suspense of the story.

I think, part of the struggle was that I didn't hate the beast as much as I hated the character of wolf. There was no question that wolf was evil. In the original story, there is that uncertainty of the level of trustworthiness with Beast vs. Gaston. In this novella, it was kind of a given. You knew who was good and who was bad and because of that, it seemed almost pointless that these kids were going to torment the beast when we knew he was the good guy.

I also just in general didn't feel that this story was as well crafted and constructed compared to many of the authors other works. The ending was a bit rushed and when I was finished, I felt a bit of mental whiplash that it was over... wait, was it really finished? I was just getting into it.
I know it's a novella but it still felt a bit short.

The faith messages were good and strong, but the story just didn't excite me.

I hate to write a bad review because I'm besties with the author and love and admire her dearly but for me, this one was just not a favorite.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A creative Beauty and the Beast retelling. There weren't as many little details as in Sarah's "Dance Into the Waves" Cinderella retelling, because this is a shorter story, but I still found a few creative things to love about it (which I can't tell you, or I'd give it away!). ;)

I wish this story had been a bit longer, because I read it in 30 minutes. Which if you like a nice easy read, this would be a good one! :D The only bit I found lacking though, really, was the twist when the main character discovered who the Beast was...that was a bit confusing, and I feel some readers will get lost and miss the "punch line", so to speak. :/

Sarah shared her heart in this story for God's redemption, and it was evident throughout this short story and was a beautiful, not hard-hitting, message. :) The characters were real and I liked the modern storyline instead of the historical feel Sarah usually writes in. That gave it a different, relatable quality, making it feel very fresh in comparison to her other beautiful stories. :)